Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-11-06
EXPLOSIVE MEETING.
GASOLINE TANK HEARING DE-
CIDEDLY WARM.
ALDERMEN ORDER THE REMOVAL OF
TANKs-HAvE THEY JURIsDIc-
TIoN IN THE MATTER?
Is gasoline explosive?


room in the midst OF the oil-tank hearing
last Friday evening would certainly have
pronounced it so with decided affirma-
tive. There was mixture of gasoline
and air-''hot air. some of it-and the
very atmosphere became explosive.
As the discussion waxed warm, politics
personalities and few cuss words were
INDUCED in. Even mild-maanered Prof
Knight lost his temper for a moment
under Attorney Stuart's method of cross
examination, and refused to answer what
he characterized in scientific terms al
"damphool questions, declaring that he
"did not come here to be made monkey
of.
Even the electric lights fiared up and
went out. M. 8. Smith, the Diogenes oil
the occasion, turned his lantern to more
practical purpose than seeking for an
honest man, and by strange irony of fate,
Standard oil furnished light for part OF
the hearing.
At one time during the evening, three
separate heated discussions were going
on at one time, while THE AMERICAN re-
porter, in pitch darkness, was trying to
take notes OF all three. He may be par
doned, therefore, II any inaccuracies ap-
pear in this report.
Stripped OF legal and technical verbiage,
politics, personalities and cuss words,
here is the substance of meeting which
lasted about three hours.
It was a special meeting, called for a
hearing on petition Of M. s. Smith and
twenty-four others, residents and prop
erty-owners in ward 1, for the removal
OF the oil and gasoline tanks erected by
the Standard Oil Co. on High street,
which the petitioners declared a nuis-
ance, damage to property and a men,
ace to life and property.
Aldermen present, Eldridge, Grindal
Heath and Richardson; Mayor Cunning
ham presiding. George B.. Stuart ap-
peared as counsel for the petitioners and
John A. Peters for the Standard Oil Co.
Prof. Ora w. Knight, Of Portland, State as
sayer, appeared as chemical expert to ex-
plain the nature and qualities OF gasoline.
The petition YVES read, and Mr.. Stuart
presented the side of the petitioners,
arguing that the tanks were a nuisance, a
damage to property, and source Of dan
ger in case OF fire, which would sweep out
Of existence a large part Of the city. He
also argued that the erection of the tanks
where they are was a violation OF a city
ordinance passed in 1888 regarding the
storage Of explosives.
M. 8. Smith read letters from several
owners OF property in the vicinity OF the
tanks, who lived in constant dread OF
catastrophe, or who had moved away be-
cause of the danger which they believed
menaced those living in the vicinity OF
the tanks.
He also read a clause attached to insur-
ance policies OF garages in New York,
showing that the insurance companies
considered the gasoline a special risk.
He also read extracts showing the strin-
gent regulations of New York city regard
ing the storage and use OF gasoline.
Mr.. Peters, after outlining the history
OF the erection of the tanks and the pre-
vious hearing, argued that the city gov
eminent did not have jurisdiction in the
matter. II the tanks were a nuisance
under the general statute, action must be
through the supreme court. II viola
ton of city ordinance, it must bs
through the municipal court. He did moi
admit, however, that it was violation o.
the ordinance, as gasoline was practically
unknown when that ordinance was passed
and did not come under the general termi
OF the ordinance as an explosive. II il
was covered by the ordinance, and tn,
would stop business in Ellsworth il
would stop the sale of gasoline, stop every
automobile and every motor boat. HI
thought the only remedy the city govern
ment might have would be to pass a new
ordinance, governing all similar cases.
Prof. Knight testified that gasoline wa
not an explosive but a combustible.
became an explosive only when mixeC
with definite quantity Of air, when it wal
no longer gasoline, but gasoline mixture
He thought such conditions were practi
cally impossible to obtain at the tank
under discussion. No air could get int
the tanks, and il fire was applied to tn,
safety valve on the top Of the tank, i
would simply burn as a jet OF flame. If
very hot fire was built under the tank
and the safety valve plugged, the tanl
might blow up, just as steam boile
would blow up under similar circum
stances. He admitted that il the tanl
should be ruptured by a derailed train
and spark applied to the liquid, it woult
be practically impossible to put the fir
out. This danger, as well as the suggested
danger in case of lightning, he considered
extremely remote. The lightning, he said
would naturally follow the outside of thu
tank to the ground, and would not rup
ture the tank.
Much general discussion as to explosive
or com bustible qualities of gasoline fol
AnufrtisemeutA