Document MGw7noyRw598DL7V06g98gmR7

September 28, 1931 `T-xaf - i0n0 o o o C5 Ui Dr. Prank R. Morton, Standard Oil Company (Ind.), 910 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. Dear Dr. Morton: During the past year it has come to my attention on a number of occasions that certain special mixes of ETHYL flu id with gasoline are being made from time to time at refiner ies of the Standard Oil Company of Indiana, by methods which are not only a direct and Intentional Infraction of the rules and regulations which we have issued, but also such as to con stitute a definitely dangerous practise. The following things are being done from time to time. Tank cars of gasoline are being treated with very much more than the proper commercial concentrations in order that they may be shipped here and there to bring up concentrations of other batches of gasoline to their proper lead content. This is not a good practise, and would lead to rather serious complications since there is an understanding with the United-States-public Health Service that gasoline for commercial purposes will n;ot be treated in . such a way as to contain more than 3 c.c.'s of lead. It does not seem that the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation; should be in dan ger of having its good faith brought into question by this kind of action. Even if this consideration could be ignored, it is not possible to ignore the possible hazards associated with the handling of gasoline containing high concentrations of Fluid. However, this is not the worst practise of which I am cognizant. Prom time to tini Fluid is removed from drums and is sometimes carried considerable distances In five gal lon and In other containers, in order to put it into gasoline which does njot have th desired quantity of Fluid. I do not think I need emphasize th dangers which are intrinsic in this kind of practise. Such dangers involve the men who handle the Fluid, and they also reach a public significance when Fluid is handled in this fashion on either railroads or trucks If these were rare instances, and if they were car ried out through the ignorance or lack o f consideration on the part of some minor employee of the Standard Oil Company of Indiana, it would not be as significant as It is. However, I know enough of the manner in which the company handles its affairs to know that it would be utterly Impossible for this procedure to be carried out repeatedly without the consent and without specific order from a high official of the Company. This of course means that there is a deliberate willingness on the part of some person or persons to vio late both the letter and the spirit of the regulations which have been issued for the proper handling of ETHYL Fluid. I find it impossible therefore, to ignore it, for it brings about a risk which it is not safe to overlook. I do not wish to cite specific Instances, nor do I wish in any way to involve any of the employees of the Company, but it should be perfectly clear that it is almost impossible for these practises to be carried out without my knowing about them at some time. I bring the matter to your attention because that seems to me to be the simplest manner of correcting the trouble without bringing about any unpleasantness. I am quite certain that this matter has never been brought to your attention, and that through your association with the entire safety program of the Company you can easily cause it to be understood that the rules and regulations which we have issued are only the minimal requirements for the safe carrying out of the handling offeTHYL fluid.- I am sure that if you glance through the rules which we have promulgated, as you have doubtless done, you will see that there is no one of them which is unreasonable, nor is there any one which is not specifically designed to promote safety with a minimal amount of inconvenience. I would appreciate it very much indeed if you would look into this patter, or if you would let me have ... any comments or suggestions *as to what might best be done. If you prefer, I should be glad to leave the entire matter for you to handle in whatever way seems best. With kindest personal regards. Cordially yours, RAK:EJ K 00005S2