A representative of the N.-C. Daily News on Tuesday was afforded on opportunity of seeing what has already been done in the way of preparation for the importation into Shanghai of kerosene oil in bulk. As the result of this inspection it can be suid. that within a comparatively short time—probably three months—everything will be ready for the reception of the oil. There can be no doubt that such an event will have an important effect upon the Kerosene oil trade—a trade which is already very considerable one and big with possibilities in the future, Mr. S. J. Morris, ©. E. who has been entrusted by Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg and Ca. with the designing and erection of the necessary works, is to be congratulated upon the successful progress which has already been made, Although active operations inay be said to have commenced little more than "mouth 4go, one of the lange tanks is very nearly finished, and all the works se expected to be out of hand in November. In the arrangements _to secure absolute safety and efficiency Mr. Morais has followed. the regulations which were Inid down by the Hongkong gov ment when tanks were being erected in that colony. The site of the tanks, canning house, offices, ete., covers some 34 morn of ground on the Pootung shore "little below the New Dock. Three tanks are Doing put up, one of which—is almost finished. They are of correspond size, being 35 ft, high, 64 ft. in diameter with capacity of 2,500 tons of oil, and are nf steel plates 16 ft. in length G in, wide. The plates at the lower portion "of the tar ys in. thick and higher up they are in. Outwardly the tanks rosciibte gasometers, "They reve upon a-foundation of sand 2 feet in pth, amd the whole structure have the ground. The process of building up is an interesting though rather noisy operation to watch, the ince: sant hammering of the rivets producing volume of sound which soon affects the unagenstomed tympanum,—About 140,000 rivets are used in the construction of each tank, so the amount of noisy work is very large.
Who first step in the making of the tank the piecing together of the bottom. is composed of stout steel plates, with heavy angle-irons round, double-rivetted, in onder to stand an estimated pressure of 15 Ibs. to the inch, In order to get at both sides, this part of the work has to be built on a sort of strong platform, and then when the bottom is im one piece it is lowered some 3 ft. to the ground level. The building-up then begins, the skilful Cantonese mechanics working with the white-hot rivets with a dexterity which astonishes the onlooker. The roof rests upon strong girders, Standing inside the huge eireulat iron cage gives rise to a peculiar sensation, reminding one forcibly of the incidents in Edgar Allen Poe's weird tale of "The it and the Pendulum." The roof, also of steel, will resemble a basin in shape and will carry on the top six inches of water to keep the temperature down, Ample ventilation has been provided for, so that the accumultion of dangerous gas cannot take place.
The mode of working will be somewhat as follow. The tank steaners brin; ing the oil will lie alongside a fine pontoon which will soon be constructed, where at lowest tide 20 ft. of water will be available. An 8-in. main pipe communicating with the tayks will be connected with the oil reservoir and the oil will be pumped on its way to the tank. Just before the tanks are reached the main pipe branches into two 6-in. pipes, and an arrangement of taps and stopcocks enables the oil to be run into the desired holder. A smaller settling tank is provided for the reception of the residue oil taken out of the bottom of the steamer's reservoirs and which generally needs to settle before being ready for use. out 5,000 filled curie of Kerosene a day ie 'A. canning-house, capable of turning
being built. The oil will be put in cans just ax is at present done, but it has been found unnecessary to use the wooden cases. A considerable quantity of tin plates will be imported from Cardiff for the j cans. While upon this subject it may he added that experience has shown in Hongkong that 90 per cent. of the caus come back to he refilled. A large godown with a storage capacity of 75,000 cans will be in proximity to the canning-house.
What effect this new departure will have upon the selling price it is of course not easy to say at present, but when it is stated that the oil f.0.b, at Batoum represents a cost of about 1d. a gallon, it will be seen that after the payment of subsequent expenses there is a good margin between the total and the present selling price.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.