Arizona daily citizen., 1901-05-23
Burning Oil in
the Railroad Shops.

The first oil used in the furnaces Of
the Southern Pacific engines was burned
this week, and yesterday the stationary
engines used in the shops in Tucson were
furnished motive power through the use
OF oil in the furnaces and the permanent
use OF this new fuel has begun.
In short time the engines used upon
the road viii be equipped with tanks and
apparatus for using oil instead of coal,
and the firemen are looking forward to
tho change with delight for it means q
much easier job for them.' There, will
be no passing Of coal, NO hard work
with the shovel, but instead the fireman
| win sit upon his throne triumphantly
singing the praises o; the man who did
away with the hardships Of coal-burn-
ing.
Several tests and trials were made at
the shops in the burning OF oil before
the great boilers became adjusted TO the
change and settled down to producing
steam under the new conditions. j. q.
Wing, the engineer in charge OF the sta
tionary engine, said this morning that
the boilers and engines we're working
smoothly and the change was entirely
satisfactory.
"The engine works fine. and the
burning of oil has made big change
here" said Engineer Wing when ap-
preached by q Citizen reporter this
morning. II regulate the fow OF oil in
the morning and do not have to make
any change until noon; all have to do
is to watch the water. There is no re-
fuse, no smoke, and we are all pleased
with the change"
The oil is sprayed into the furnace.
It comes from tank and runs by grayi-
tation into the furnace. the How being
regulated at win By the engineer, The
apparatus which il placed upon the
boiler for forcing the oil into the furnace
is simple enough. The oil 10 forced In
with steam, which. combined with air,
forms gas. and it is really the gas
which burns and not the oil. The gas
generated by the spray explodes and
fills the furnace with mass of flames
which envelopes the boiler and there is
no trouble in keeping up" steam.
Master Mechanic Small said that
when coal was used il was almost Inn
possible to keep mp steam enough to
rua the shops, but since oil has been
used there has buen NO trouble. eve
have enough steam now, y said he. "and
we will ell be- glad when oil Is used In
oil the engines y
The great oil tank Is completed and
the oil to ill il 10 expected any day.
The tank will hold q million and a
quarter gallons oil oil. Mr. Small says
that the tanks at Gila Bend, Yuma and
Lordsburg will have to be finished be-
fore the general use OF oil will begin on
the road. However, as soon as the oil
arrive for the Tucson tank the oil burn
ers will be placed upon the engines used
in the yardsg here and upon the short
runs.
The Gil used Gomez from Beaumont,
Texas the new oil region, and when oil
is found in Arizona the home product
will be used. The use OF oil In this way
will bring about great change in rail-
road and mining, and is particularly
great saving In Arizona where there 10
no coal and wood is scarce.
Master Mechanic Small says that the
cost of oil, a. estimated by the use Of it
in the stationary engine at the shops. is
about one-half what coal costs, and he
thinks that the same ratio will hold
good in the operations upon the road.
No doubt the use of oil will be ex-
tended all along the system Of the
Southern Pacific.