PETROLEUM 379 



ner of earning pipe lines across large streams and rivers and 

 over high, steep hills; tlie selection of proper localities for tanks 

 and pump stations; the selection of pumps; the cleaning of the 

 pipes when foul; and the method of equalizing distance between 

 pump stations, by the doubling of a portion of the line, so as 

 to equalize the work on the pumps at each station, were all new 

 conditions and demanded the highest mechanical and engi- 

 neering skill in order to overcome them. These difliculties 

 were all surmounted in a comparatively short time. 



The pipe line companies for many years have been the 

 purchasers of the crude petroleum in the older fields. The pipe 

 line company, upon application from the producer, sends an 

 agent, generally known as a ganger, to measure and inspect the 

 petroleum in his tank and run it into its lines. The tanks 

 throughout the field are carefully measured and numbered, and 

 when the oil is accepted and run into the tanks of the pipe line 

 company a card is issued showing the numxber of barrels to the 

 credit of the producer. Every tank is carefully gauged and 

 numbered and a table prepared, which shows the number of 

 barrels it contains for every inch of liquid from top to bottom. 

 The temperature of the crude petroleum is also recorded and 

 the contents of the tank examined for water. After measuring 

 the petroleum the ganger gives the operator what is known as a 

 ''run ticket," keeping a copy for himself. The pipe line com- 

 pany deducts the royalty due the owner of the property ac- 

 cording to the terms of an agreement on file at the office, and 

 the next da}^ the producer may secure the cash for his petroleum 

 at the market quotation for the day or hour of his sale at the 

 nearest home office of the company, 



