Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1915 — Another Freak Law That Will Cause Lots of Private Expense. [ARTICLE]

Another Freak Law That Will Cause Lots of Private Expense.

The Democrat is in receipt of the following communication from the office of the state fire marshal regarding the placing of gasoline storage tanks under ground: The offices of the state fire marshal are being flooded with inquiries from over the state as a result of recent wholesale orders to retail dealers that gasoline storage tanks, containing more than ten gallons, must be placed under ground. Forty days notice have been given in a large number of cases and prosecutions are to be pressed if the order is not obeyed. A large number of communications have been received from pn vate owners of gasoline—many be ing out-of-town owners of automobiles who buy gasoline in large quantities and store it in light metal tanks or ordinary oil barrels. John W. Minor, Jr., deputy state fire marshal, states that thus far the efforts of the department have been confined to seeing that the gasoline handled by retailers is safeguarded. The law is being enforced in this regard as it has been shown to be by far the major risk or fir© hazard. The law applies in all cases. However, where gasoline in excess of ten gallons is stored within fire limits. Inquirers are being informed that outside the fire limits of cities and •owns it is permissible to store gasoline above ground provided tanks are constructed of metal of a prescribed thickness and equipped with a proper pump for removing the gasoline. A pamphlet containing the rules and regulations compiled by the department for the safe handling and storage of gasoline is furnished free on request by the state fire marshal. “r / A general disposition has been shown by dealers to obey the orders issued by mail or in person by deputies from the fire marshal department. A large number of dealers also have deemed the warning through the newspapers as being sufficient and are installing underground tanks. -