A joint resolution to designate 1985 as the "Oil Heat Centennial Year".
PL 99-118 (S.J.Res.115), enacted 10/07/1985

99 STAT. 496 
PUBLIC LAW 99-118—OCT. 7, 1985 
Public Law 99-118 
99th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Oct. 7, 1985 
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To designate 1985 as the "Oil Heat Centennial Year". 
Whereas, on August 11, 1885, the United States Patent Office 
granted a patent to David H. Burrell of Little Falls, New York, for 
a furnace that could burn liquid and gaseous fuels, which patent is 
generally regarded by technical experts and industrial historians 
as the first technically sound oil burner; 
Whereas at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 oil 
burners, for the first time, were utilized in major public exhibit 
buildings, and these oil burners were hailed and recognized as a 
technological combustion breakthrough by most, but were con-
demned as "instruments of Satan that brought the fires of hell to 
Earth" by some; 
Whereas, by World War I, the oil burner had become the premier 
naval source of propulsion; its technology was sought and adopted 
by Russia, Germeiny, Great Britain, France, and the United States 
to power large warships, especially superdreadnoughts and battle 
cruisers; and oil burning techniques and oilfield locations became 
a major source of naval espionage; 
Whereas oil burner technology was adopted to the heating needs of 
homes, businesses, and industry in the decades that followed 
World War I, increasing from about twelve thousand installations 
in 1920 to two million in 1940 to about ten million in 1960 to more 
than fifteen million in the 1970's, helping to generate improved 
housing for all Americans and the industrial boom that powered 
post-World War II America; 
Whereas the oil burner continues to be a major, modern heating 
technology used by millions of consumers in the States of Maine, 
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, 
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, 
South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washing-
ton, and the District of Columbia; 
Whereas the oil heat industry is, and always has been, developed 
and characterized by a large and diverse group of competitive 
small businesses, many of which are family owned through a 
second, third, and fourth generation that began in their business 
endeavors by supplying ice, lumber, coal, and then oil, to their 
communities; 
Whereas many of these small businesses are in the forefront of new 
energy efficient technologies of the 1980's, leading the way toward 
higher efficiency oil heat, new conservation techniques, solar 
heating, and other technologies; and 
PUBLIC LAW 99-118—OCT. 7, 1985 
99 STAT. 497 
Whereas the one hundredth anniversary of the development of the 
oil burner is an appropriate time to recognize the overall contribu-
tions of oil heating to the technological revolution of the twentieth 
century and the individual contributions of the many thousands of 
small business men and women who made this century of heating 
comfort progress possible: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the year 1985 is 
designated as the "Oil Heat Centennial Year" thereby recognizing 
the contributions of the oil heat industry over the past century. The 
President is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the 
people of the United States to observe this commemorative year, 
with appropriate Federal agencies to participate in the observance 
of such year and cooperate with persons and institutions conducting 
related observances, ceremonies, and activities. 
Approved October 7, 1985. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 115: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
July 8, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 19, considered and passed House.