Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-10
,000-M|LE PIPE
LINES DISTRIBUTE
OIL Of AMERICA

CHICAGO. March S.--Winding
concealed beneath the oil fields of
the United States. a, gigantic laby-
rinth of pipelines $4,000 miles long,
daily sis doing work that would re-
quire 100000 oil tank cars and 5000
locomotives fully one month to han
die, according to estimates Of pipe
line transportation experts.
Practically every barrel of oil
taken from the nations 5000. active
wells today is shot through these
pipelines and in this way reaches the
oil reneries and subsequently the oil
markets, weeks and sometimes
months sooner than if shipped by
railroads.
The rapid movement through the
pipes, compared with rail transporta-
ton, is due to the fact that the flow
through the underground system is
not stopped at any point until it
reaches it's destination in the rem
ers' tanks, whereas the tank car, at
tached to the freight train, must wait
forlb block signals, must change crews
at division points and finally, at it's
destination must await its turn in the
assembling of the train.
Consequently the oil pipelines sys-
tenn of the country has now come to
be regarded as essential to the ever
increasing rate of oil production as
we'll as the driller himself.
bo hieta nf nj, fra ~
ton goes back to Civil war days and
has it's setting in the pioneer oil
elds of Pennsylvania when produc-
ton began to outStrip transportation
facilities.
This gave birth to the first pipeline
system. In 1851 Heman Jones, of
Erie, Pa. conceived a four-inch wood
en- pipeline from the Farr farm to
Oil City, Pa, but never carried, it out
Then in 1852, bill to aid pipeline
construction was introduced in the
Pennsylvania Legislature, but it was
beaten by transfers lobby.
In 1852 j. L. Hutchings, New
inch line from the Farr farm to Hum
bolt, Pa But the teamsters destroy
ed the line, tearing up huge strips OF
it. He tried again in 1853 but again
the line was destroyed
But in 1865, with the aid of state
ponce, Henry Harley SUCCESSFULLY lc"
sisted the teamsters and operated the
first successful line of two-inch pip
ing, handling from six to eight bar
rels day from Bennington Run to
ShaffeF. Pa.
Then, the network of lines that
still operate today in Pennsylvania,
spread with such speed that soon the
supply, of lines exceeded the demand
Several lines, as result, operated at
a loss for years.
The new southern cid in Oklahoma
and contiguous states were equipped
almost from the start with the new
oil transportating system.
The southern cid is now verlta-
BILE labyrinth of lines, trunk systems
extending north to Illinois refineries
and southwark to the gulf coast sta
lions. The fields proper are honey
combed with the smaller, feeder
pipes, connecting and feeding the
trunk systems. A new vel! usually
ments a new pipeline<
The flow through this. system is
incessant but when there is a demand
for a different grade Of oil, there is
injected into sc same system a
hedder, or slug Of water, perhaps
three feet long and this hedder sep
arates the different grades. Then an
other hedder is injected and follow
ing this is the original grade of oil,
continuing its flow.
Frequently a bullet-like "go-devil"
is pumped through the piping in the
midst. of the flow. The revolving
knives at the end Of this projectile
fit the pipe snugly. cutting from the
walls as it proceeds an accumulated
sediment which would soon plug the
pipe if left alone,
The oil helped along it's course at
intervals by secondary pumping en-
gines.
posed to view, running along railroad
right of way but more frequently
they are buried about three feet in
the earth to protect them from
weather and accident. The lines fire.
quently follow the railroad tracks, be-
cause it is simpler to contract a
right-of-way with one railroad COM
pany than with score of individual
property owners.
It is estimated that the system
transports a total of 100000 barrels
Of oil daily.
The United States Geological Sur
vey estimated the fixed value of the
system at $500.000,OO0