The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-11
GASOLINE TEST
ENTIRE SUCCESS
EXPLOSIONS NOT POSSIBLE If
TANKS ARE PROPERLY CON.
STRUCTED.
CITY REPRESENTED
Mayor, Fire Chief and Chamber Of
Commerce Committee Observed
Four Demonstrations to Show Stor.
age Tanks Are Not Fire Menace.

Conclusive proof that gasoline stor-
age tanks, il erected and fitted as
prescribed by the rules and regula.
tions adopted by the national board
Of fire underwriters covering such
risks, will not explode, even under
the most strenuous usage was estab-
llshed yesterday afternoon before an
audience representing Ardmores big
gest business interests, and a large
number of other interested citizens.
Four tests. each OF them especially
devised TO represent a different kind
of risk likely to cause gasoline explo-
sions. were carried ont, the demon.
stration being arranged by oil compa-
MES in answer to various complaints
which have been filed with the city
officials asking the removal of gaso.
line storage tanks to points beyond
the city limits, on the ground that
such tanks are menaces to public
safety.
+. II. knoche, of Fort Wayne, Ind.
factory representative Of the $. +.
Bowser Company, manufacturers of
oil storage supplies, had direct charge
OF the tests.
The first known as the lightning
test, consisted OF having STEADY
electric spark shooting through a
stream of gasoline being poured into
the tank. which was erected for the
purpose on concrete foundation on the
vacant property about POO yards north.
east OF the street car barns.
The second test was carried out bv
ieniting gasoline in feed pipe of the
tank, showing that the gasoline would
not burn 10 a greater depth in the pipe
than the diameter of the pipe.
Burning gasoline was used in the
third test being poured into the tank
from "a small can in the hands of Mr..
knoche, with no result except the dis.
charge of gas vapor from the vent
pipe OF the tank
The last test was really the most
interesting Fifty gallons of gasoline
was poured into the tank, and kindling
wood saturated with kerosene was
piled high about the tank. This was
then ignited, with the result that boil.
ing gasoline was discharged from the
vent pipe OF the tank. When the last
test began, those gathered on the site
TO witness the demonstration began
cdging away.
The tank used in the demonstration
was a standard BOwser tank of 100.
gallon capacity, and besides slight dis.
coloration resulting from the intense
neat to which 1t was subjected suf.
Tered practically no damage.
X. +. Tomlinson local Bowser rep.
resentative, explained each of the fonr
tests as they were prepared and con.
Quoted.
Mayor W Il Roberts. Fire Chief
Reeder prominent fire insurance men.
business men who suffered losses i'm
the explosion here in 1915. and a com.
mitttee appointed by the Chamber of
commerce, composed of Capt w. T.
Wilmington, David Daube. J. h. Ham.
ilton, Frank $ Gates and J. b. Sprag.
ms were among those who attended
the demonstration
Last night the oil men, headed by
Mr.. Tomliuson appeared before the
city commission and asked for some
definite answer regarding complaints
against gasoline storage tanks In the
city No action was taken IN the mat.
ter Mayor Roberts saving that IL
would Doe discussed at length and thai
% conclusion probably would boz reach.
ord 200 ta' near future