The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-04
MILLIONS ARE SAVED
Petroleum Fuel ReyoIutionizes
Pacific Traffic.
RAILROADS ARE FIXED
VIII Make Additional Profit of
Five Millions.
ARE FIXED

Los Angeles, July "a revolution is
being wrought out in the fuel problem
Of the Pacific coast, so wide of effect
that its influence will be felt throughout
the entire country. and among those who
are most interested in the result are the
stockholders in the railroads of Califor-
MA. During the last year these roads
consumed nearly two millions Of tons
Of coal. at cost of ten millions Of dol
lars. They are now being equipped for
the burning of petroleum fuel. of which
seven million barrels win furnish an
equivalent power at a cost OF not to ex-
coed i've million dollars, leaving a net
profit to the roads for use in the payment
of dividends of at least five millions ad-
ditional to previous net earnings.
Many statements have been made Of late
regarding the saving by the ebove-men-
toned change but accurate figures have
not been heretofore obtainable on which
to base a careful estimate. For a num-
Der Of years both the Southern Pacific
and Santa Fe roads have used fuel oil
on their locomotives in that portion of
Southern California lying west OF San
Bernardino and south ofthe Tehachapi
mountains, the supply Of oil not warrant
ing the roads in extending the use OF the
new fuel further. The years during
which oil was used in the section alluded
TO, however, gave the railroads an excel
lent opportunity to test its merits, and
the result has been that they have agreed
that three and a alf barrels of oil is the
economic equivalent of a ton of bitumin-
Gus coal, costing on an average at the
point Of consumption ABOUT s.. Petoleum
fuel has been considered fully 80 per cent
cheaper at the average market price,
which is above the present price.
During the last two years immense
gains have been made in the production
of fuel oil. the established fields have
been extended and a number Of new fields
have been brought into production. Tenn
porariIy, the supply exceeds the demand
and many wells are not pumping to their
full capacity. This makes it difficult TO
determine the productive power of the
oil fields of the state at present, but it is
believed that were all the wells to be
pumped. the output ofthe state would be
productive power of the state a year ago
was 1905 600 barrels
The Southern Pacific company on its
Pacific system has 10 engines, to which
has just beenadded so engines, ordered
last year; and to which are to be added
103. for which orders are now outstand-
ing. The company now has IS engines
using petroleum fuel, while an order has
been issued for the equipment of all en-
gines for burning petroleum fuel, while
an order has been issued forthe equip
ment OF all engines for burning petrol
cum Estimating the consumption of
the engines at twenty-one barrels of oil
each a day for 800 days in the year. the
consuming power ofthe engines VIII be
5.SS42O9 barrels, compared with the pres
ent consuming power of 59S,500 barrels. |
COMPARED with coal, the use of oil fuel.
when established throughout the system.
viii represent a saving TO the company
of $4,000 annually. as determined by
previous experience Of the road in the |
use of oil.
The Santa Fe company has 135 engines |
in southern California, the last of which |
has just been converted into an oil burn
er, and al Cut Is tnole are expected 10 he /
put irto ccmmiss ion in this portion Of 1
the state curing the next six months. !
This viii make consumption OF 1850 30 /
barrels OF ell annually, compared with /
about c-@too a year ago. The saving, as /
compared With coal, viii be in the neign- /
borhood of 100000 or ore-half OF the value /
OF coal which would be consumed anna
ally. The company IS reported TO be plan |
ming for the extension of the use of oil /
through Arizona though no Official steps /
have been taken in that direction, and 4
that feature of the movement has not |
been taken into consideration.
The san Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt
Lake railroad. Pacific Coast railroad and
North Pacific Coast railroad are either
usinng or preparing TO use petroleum
fuel on about 20 engines. while the first
of these is rapidly extending its line and
win greatly increase the number of its
engines in the near future al OF which
win burn petroleum. The engines 10 use
petroleum at once VIII have a consuming
power of 10000 barrels annually. and the
saving to the roads. compared with the
cost Of coal. viii be $4,000 a year.
The railroads Of California. therefore.
in carrying out orders which have al
ready been issued for the burning Of Pc
troleum fuel. VIII have a consuming pow
er of 10000 barrels a year. and Will
thereby make a saving over the use Of
coal Of s. $500.
TAe consumption OF oil at Los Angeles
and otter points through Southern CsI-
fforaia fot industrial purposes. outside
OF She raCroads and rcdneries, exceeds q
million barrels a year. while n the city
ani ne'ehborhood the refner.cs for the
production OF asDhaltun have = capacity
of uirlon and half batre-s a year.
and can BE counted on tor tLe consump-
ton u ABOUT a taalion barrels during
ne first nvc months Of q. current year
- of ire l., gest former consumers OF ca
in san francisco have obtained permis-
sion 20 rse petroleum faoi. These IN
G., s5s stres, car naes. two shinyRyds. sew
arai huge iron works. and mar factories.
which viii consume large quantities OF
oil. The Southern Pacific ferryboats on
san Francisco hay are 10 use the new
fuel Seven OF these are always in com
mission.
Four deep water vessels are building
-