CO129-270 - Public Offices & Others - 1895 — Page 89

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م الدنيا

2.

away abobe the surface of the burning oil, and no damage whatever has been caused to the surrounding buildings. Indeed, this fire has placed interest persona into a position to convince themselves of the harmless nature of a of kerosine oil to the surroundings, which fire can easily be limited to a very narrow space, so there will not be the slightest possibility, that a single drop of oil might be sprayed to the surface of the water in the harb which latter therefore might be considered to be absolutely safe in case of erection of overground-tanks,

that, moreover, any cause of alarm, which in oase of war might be entertained through the presence of oil, might entirely be taken away by the removal of the oil, when required by the authorities, the danger, as already pointed out above, would be slighter with oil stored in tanks, than with oil in barrels or wooden cases,

that the ground selected for the erection of the tanks is situated at such a place, where the tanks are entirely out of the line of fire from the Battery,

that, apart from grave technical objections to the placing of metal tanks underground, the making of underground tanks in general would be too exceedingly expensive and offers so many technical difficulties, that the construction of same would become an impossibility,

that in case the erection of new tanks would be made impossible, the existing tanks of the firm Arnhold, Karberg & Co, to whom the erection of bverground-tanks has been allowed, would enjoy the monopoly of having no Competition to fear, a privilege which must necessarily lead to an unreason- able rise in the price of oil, which article is most extensively used both by the European and by the Chinese population of the Colony.

3.

further support of my request I beg to subjoin a letter from Messrs. ghk Orange, M.M.Inst.C.E., dated Hongkong, April 5th 1895, to my agents that City. I hope the perusal of same may contribute to your decision abandon the idea of underground-tanks and allow the tanks to be erected

rground.

I have the honour, to be

事实

sir,

Your obedient Servant

Kon. Ned. Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Petroleum Bronnen in NED. INDIE.

De Directeur,

In