OCR Text |
Show Tho Transportation of Petroleum, To what extent is the competition of Russia to affect tho sale of American petroleum in Europe? It has already nearly driven it from tho Austrian empire, em-pire, though tho effect is not yet very apparent ap-parent in western Europe. Tho transportation transpor-tation of petroleum on tho Mediterranean in summer presents dangers that render it almost impossible. When the temperature tempera-ture of the air about the vessel has reached a certain point tho volatilo elements ele-ments of tho oil escape and form a sort of element about it so combustible that it is impossible ovon to lght a match without its taking fire. Liio on a steamer under these conditions becomes horrible. In tho summer of 18S3 a steamer bound from Batoum to England went tho wholo distance dis-tance from tho Dardanelles to Gibraltar after tho point of inflammability had been passed. The fires under tho engines had to be extinguished and sho went under" sail. It was impossible to have a Cro even in tho galley. Tho sufferings of tho officers and crew during this period can 1 hardly bo conceived. Perfect safety was , not obtained till the cargo was removed , in an English port. Tho question of Russian competition ' really depends ou tho permanent supply . of oil from the Baku wells, and thero aro doubts even among tho engineers of the Russian companies upon tho subject. It ! is thought that oil will be found else- j where in the Caucasus. Thero ore do- j posits under the Caspian, as shown by oil on tho surface and in some of the islands ' also in Turkestan. It remains to bo 1 shown to what extent these resources will j prove available San Francisco Chronicle, i |