The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-08
OIL As FUEL Fon WAR SHIPS
The Possibilities or Usine Petreleun II
the Furnaces Of Torpedo Boats.

WARRINGTON. Aug. The general lack OF
mon for the navy. and more especially the
trouble experienced in getting q supply Of
good stoksrs, has revived = question which
has been more than once under consideration.
that OF substituting liquid fuel for coal in war
vessels. Ono Of the results OF such change
would be great reduction in the number Of
nrsmen. Only one stoker for each watch would
DO needed At each furnace 10 attend TO the
sprinkler taps, and the large steamers pro-
vided with communicating furnaces would
only require stoker and three or four boys.
On torpedo boat. where two s,okers are now
required for each watch, one would be sum-
client. This reduction In mum bers also implies
ths reduction in weight and space for the mon.
their 1000 and other supplies and their quar-
tsrs. The problem Of the supply Of good fire.
men would thus DO diminished to that extent.
and leave more OF them available for ships In
which coal should continue to be used.
II such . substitution. however. were At.
tempted. 1t would hardly be practicable in eur
navy ut present. except for special classes OF
vessels. The United states. Russia and Eng
land are perhaps tho three powers most
looked to for the initiative In this matter. on
account OF their great petroleum resources.
But II would be necessary to arrange special
supply sta ions with oil stored In elevated
tanks. DO that 1t could be taken aboard rap
Idly through pipes England 10 tho only one
Of the three powers that now has foreign naval
stations enough In al parts Of the world to be
able to rely upon them after being fitted ND In
this fashion. Our Government. with ito lack
of'YsreiRn possessions. could only safely make
the change for Its cruisers In distant waters
aft6r oil ~ fuel had already como into general
vogue In other countries. When the CONNER
cial marine OF foreign nations had generally
adopted the new fuel, stations fitted for sup
plying 1t could be found In many parts OF the
world But Of this there Is no present liksli-
hood. afnce the cost is too great drawback.
Y&ils in addition there Is the undoubted Gle.
d III VIE eea OH IN It's
g tn; spsy to to sSos
them the Government could .erert and main
s lean o Sarbes ero1idsa p should t.
vlnced that there were great ADVANTAGES in TIE
enough has been made In. the mech anism. for
burning petroleum to avoid the choking Of the
y ee oil Viii make nearly !wss as much steam as
the same weight OF coal. owing to its greater
~ WEIGHT a 2 Sns coal TS scnd 5:
diminished By nearly one: half and the differ
Snle put in more guns and armor ". again.
On the Calculated weight Tor fuel the supply
would last t.ice as long and thus greatly in
Another advantage OF importance is the ab-
sence Of smoke. which would prevent the en-,
HS sbse cue ami erss aid It IN s.esns IN
on : merchant vessel which It should seek 10
u .o1a IL escape sna sI. from
the side Of oil. and tho -ntir. avoidance Of the
time ind labor extended IN cleaning crates:
fTi tho coal in tho bnnkers would great
no.sd Upon tlramsn Thus. IN addition to the
gaia In diminishing the number OF men. the
IL iishtened that those willing to enlist ct all
on ve.sel fuelled i1 this way would DO much
more contcn1sd and . hsys less reason Tor de-
Yet thsrs arr great drswtacke to the use Of
pe!roleum as fuel. The most obvious is that
IT,: tsn The s :
bility to accidents OF various sorts. increased
W VI 81; sr s0 s6roSeG Changes IL
P:Ts sea p tie
possibili,y that sttnGs shsi! might s1pI"d: :
se tho an oil :h
has been known to result ~ the destruction OF
her o. se hs so woSd
thcusht that Tho oil might 8 carried INV q
rom an eaolo.ion q isr. nsxsSins suss.st:
p 3. II: h.y q MY S
overestimated: and the discipline Of . war
shin affords some guarantee that tho estab-
lished precautions would be preserved;
AZ to The question o. cost It might be i:frl
With the rise IN price following q general en-
ployment OF II for this PURPOSE. and yet this
Iociaily Tor certain clasres 81 vessels. II the
advantages were great enough TO- Justify the
has been shown. through the reduction In the
number of firemen. But the whole matter fs
evidently still within the domain OF debate and
| experiment.