The San Francisco call., 1910-11-30
LOSS TOCOMPANY
Will BE SMALL
Earth Mound Around Reservoir
Prevents Petroleum
Escaping

SAN LUIS OBISPO. Nov. 29.-The
two great reinforced concrete reser-
voirs built above ground for the Pro-
ducers' transportation company, with
a capacity Of 0o0. 600 barrels each.
have been completed and turned over
to the company by the contractors. The
company did not await the completion
Of the second reservoir. but proceeded
10 III the first one; in the meantime
the second was finished. Oil was
turned into No. 1 from an eight inch
pipe line carrying a large supply
brought from the famous Lakeview
gusher in the California oil fields. The
oil flowed into the tank at the rate of
500 barrels per hour and the flow was
kept UP until a few days go. when
the first reservoir had been nearly
filed
The contractors after completing No
returned 10 Los Angeles During
the building Of the tanks they excited
considerable interest and many people
came 70 see the work that had been
done with reinforced concrete At that
time the work was regarded Is stupen-
dOus and the army OF men with teams
and scra pers a work within the walls
of one of the great structures gave the
observer an idea Of how great they
were
COVER I3 ACRES
The two reservoirs cover an area of
3 acres. both surrounded By fireWall
% feet high and with a width of
ight feet on the top and at least %
feet at the base. During their building
m army OF men and horses was en-
ployed
As the oil neared the top of the first
concrete reservoir leaks presented
themselves. but were caIked and re-
paired with asbestos and plaster. and II
was believed the walls OF the tank
would withstand the pressure Of 1885,
600 barrels Of OIL But roaring sound
was heard by the wOrkmen and it was
found that the filled reservoir had
broken its wall by the pressure and
1o5 feet OF the concrete work on one
end had been spread outward The
wall of earth which had been piled up
during the time Of its building now
came into good service, as il held the
escaping oil in check until arran ge-
ments for It 10 be stored elsewhere
could he made
Gangs Of men and teams were put
70 work to reinforce the frewall and
ma tiers looked serious, and for loss OF
some OF the oil, but the contents were
saved
LITTLE OIL LOST
As me second reservoir Is on lower
ground than the broken one it was de-
cided 10 drain the oil from il to the
new one that was yet to be used. The
oil ran by gravity 70 the second tank
and the work Of flling il from the
first one is now going on. To prevent
any escape in case the second reservoir
should break. the company has had a
huge bank Of earth thrown up in a
large circle around the two reservoirs
and thus viii he safe in holding the
OIL The two tanks are valued at
s2so.oo0. and what the damage amounts
10 IN the first one win not he found
out until the oil has been taken from
H. Thus far little oil has sbeen lost
except from seepage
PRESSURE Is MOoTED QUESTION
The tanks. It IS said. were built 70
stand pressnre OF $4,000 pounds 70
the square foot. bat others aIieee that
At the time the break occurred there
was only a pressure amounting 10
$4,000 pounds 10 the square foot That
IS question that only the engineers
can settle.
Nlth the present cold weather tho oil
has become heavy and thick and runs
slowly, and il will consume some time
in filing No. from No. /
At Port San Luis. where oil shin
ments are made and which is 2 shor.
distance from the tank farm. more
than 100000 barrels OF oil have hean
exported within the last wear which
gives q idea Of the size Of the ofl
shipping business in this mart Of tho
state