RELEASING TANKERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 88, 24 January 1942, Page 7

RELEASING TANKERS.

STRATEGIC OIL PIPE LINE. PORTLAND (U.S.A.) TO MONTREAL An interesting article on the new strategic pipe li ,,e f rom Portland (Maine, United States) to Montreal (Canada) is given in the December issue of “Vacuum News.” It shows how the operation of this line will release tankers for the transport of oil on other routes. The article says: The first of three great new pipe lines, being constructed in Northern America to ease the tanker situation, is scheduled to commence operations on December 1.

This lino will extend from Portland (Maine) to Montreal (Canada) and its location is shown in the map at the top of this page. Its length will he 235 miles, a short distance compared to the mileage saved in sea. transport. The diameter of the pipe itself is 12 inches, while *eight pumping stations, situated at strategic points, will ensure that the crude oil maintains its flow right through. Daily throughput: 50,000 barrels. A unique feature of this line will be the changes in temperature from oil loaded in South America or Texas at. averages of 80 to 90 degrees Fahr., and delivery at Montreal in the depth of winter at 30 degrees Farenheit. This is a relatively little reduction, when atmospheric temperatures in the St. Lawrence Valley are 35 degrees larenheit below zero. This small change is accomplished by the aid of Mother Nature.

Only the last 100 miles of the sea voyage to Portland will be outside the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. With the pipe line 3 feet below ground, in soil; feet below, in rock; and 1G feet under the bed of navigable streams, tho temperature of the crude oil on arrival at Montreal in the middle of winter will be “kept up” to about 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

The St. Lawrence River is frozen from early December until April following, and the river is not open to navigation till May. So the pipe line not only reduces each tanker voyage by some 2000 miles each way, and by 10 to 12 days, but also permits of an

uninterrupted delivery of oil to the Montreal refineries all tho year round.

The pipeline, follows the Androscoggin River valley through White Mountains, attaining a height, of 1950 foot. This was one of the strategic routes in the battles with the French by which Canada became part of the British Empire. The days of Crown Point, Ticonderoga St. Jean are of the past, but it is in keeping with the past that tin's lnodeni project should traverse this historic ground in this our latest struggle for man’s most priceless heritage, Freedom,