Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-14
GASOLINE PUMPING
PLANS COMPLETED
One of Great Carrier Sys-
tens viii Be Started
Tomorrow.
BY BENNETT WOLFE,
Associated Press Stan Writer.


TULSA, Okla, January 1.-THE
March of economic progress is about to
introduce a departure in the petroleum
ndustry--long- distance transportation
of gasoline by pipe line.
Two long underground lines are to be
placed in use soon as carriers of gaso-
line from midcontinent refinerieS to re-
tail marketing areas to the north and
east.
The building Of the two lines fires
speculative imagination with a picture
OF a revolutionized system of gasoline
distribution in which pipe lines parallel
the principal automobile highways and
move the motor fuel direct from re-
fineries to service stations.
Final Tests Made.
The Great Lakes Pipe Line Co.'S car
rier, to reach when competed from
Ponca City, Okla, to Chicago and Min
neapolis, will be placed in operation to-
morrow between Ponca City and Kansas
City, officials of the company said today
as hnal tests we're being made.
The line Is a cooperative enterprise.
sponsored by the Barnsdall Corporation
and the Continental Oil Co, and having
interests of the Midcontinent Petroleum
Corporation, Skelly Oil Co., Pure Oil Co.
and Phillips Petroleum Co. Gasoline
VIII be delivered to the line from re-
nnerles of these six companies at
Barnsdall, Ponca City. Sapulpa, Tulsa,
tlesville.
The other gasoline pipe line is being
oulit by the Phillips Pipe Line Co.. a
subsidiary OF the Phillips Petroleum Co,
from Berger, Tex, to st, Louis. via
Wichita and Kansas City. The st. Louis
terminal will afford the line outlets for
barge shipments on the Mississippi and
Ohio Rivers.
Phillips officials said today the line
should be completed and in operation
about February Is.
transportation of gasoline hitherto
mas been confined almost exclusively to
railroad tank cars and to tank shins
and trucks. The advantages claimed
for movement by pipe line are lower
distribution costs and delivery of
greater gallonage. The Great Lakes
company estimates its line will carry
gasoline at cost of about cent a gall
Ion for the long haul, as compared with
approximately 238 cents by rail.
A traffic department will maintain
close control over the Great Lakes CO.
operative line to regulate use of the
carrier by the different companies.
When a company wishes to make a
shipment, it will notify the traffic de-
partment and then await orders as to
when to turn its product into the line.
The various gaSolineS will not become
mixed in the line. Each brand will be
"slugged through" in the same manner
as different grades of crude oil are
moved separately through the same
pipe line. SwabS will hold each con-
signment intact.
Distribution of gasoline from the two
lines will be through depots located at
intervals. the sites depending upon the
areas to be served and the location of
the pump stations. Delivery from these
depots will be by tank wagon, truck,
train or rail.
Movement of the gasoline through
the lines will be about the same speed
as man walks. Pump stations to keep
the fluid moving will be situated at in
tervals of approximately so miles.
Maintenance Plans.
Each company's own telegraph and
telephone systems will parallel the pipe
lines. Line walkers, or patrolmen, will
carry extension telephone rods, Afford
ing them instant communication with
the nearest pump station in making re-
ports. The progress of shipment in
the pipe line can be gagged by sound.
The Great Lakes line, upon compile
ton will total ,440 miles in length and
have capacity of $4,000 barrels daily.
Its cost is estimated at $12,000O00.
The Phillips line will be about 700
miles long and will have a capacity of
$4,000 barrels daily.