Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-24

Two and a Half Barrels OF Oil
Equal to Ton Of
Coal.
matters in connection with the value of
Beaumont oil have been established
within the last week, according to for
mer Governor Hogg Of Texas, who is
spending a few days in Washington on
personal business. The first is that the
oil. which has generally been considered
as fuel oil only, can be readily refined to
yield a handsome percentage Of illumi-
mating oil. The other Is that two and q
half barrels of Beaumont fuel oil pro-
duces an amount of heat equal to that
of ton Of the best quality of bitumi-
nous cCal. The establishment of the
fact that the Beaumont oil contains q
large percentage of paraffin. the basis of
Illuminating properties. was made to the
governor yesterday by the reports of
value of the oil as fuel was established
in New York the past week by a series
of experiments conducted by Charles A.
Towne in big manufacturing estab-
lishment
THE establishment Of these two
facts said Governor Hogg yesterday,
means millions for the oil producers of
Texas. When the first discoveries were
made at Beaumont the report was circu-
lated, and generally believed, even by
cur own people, that the oil was adapted
only for fuel purposes; that Its base was
asphaltnm, and that it was, in fact,
what is termed q rotten oil, suitable for
fuel, and OF questionable value for that
purpose. know today that the oil is
the finest in the world for Illuminating
purposes and that 1T Is too valuable to
be used for fuel, altho 1t is the finest
fuel that was ever put into a furnace.
az have seen today two anlyses, one
made by a famous Washington chemist
and the other by chemist from Cleve-
land. Both show that the Beaumont oil
contains from 40 to 60 per cent of paraf-
fin, and that by-products are valuable
enough to pay the entire cost of REIN
ing. The discovery will result in the
construction Of some Of the largest oil
refineries in the world, and plans for one
OF them are now we'll under way.
But the most splendid test OF the oil
that has been made for fuel purposes
has just been completed In New York.
and the result of Ii has set the coal mag
mates to worrying. Charles A. Towne
recently secured the permission Of a big
manufacturing concern in New York to
make a test Of the Beaumont Oil for the
purpose OF comparing its value and
cheapness with coal. The concern set
aside two monster boilers OF equal ca
pacity in their plant, one to be fired with
coal and the other with fuel oil. Full
heat was secured by the use of oil in
forty five minutes, while the coal fur
mace required an hour ard half to
reach the same heat. Eight men were
required to handle the coal and care for
the coal furnace. One man did all of
the work at the oil furnace. The test
was kept up all day. and the result
showed that two and half barrels of
oil equaled one tori OF a fine quality Of
bituminous coal The oil used cost 81.
The coal cost $3.50. The test showed
that there was direct saving by the
use OF the oil by $3.50 in the cost OF
fuel; saving of wages of six or seven
men; quicker results in obtaining the
required heat, and an entire saving OF
dirt, filth and the cost of removing the
ashes and cinders. The test was COM
pleteisurprise to tine manufacturers and
feet upon the trade in fuel oil from
Texas.
THE business is growing at remark
able rate. The output OF the wells is
entirely consumed by the demand, and
the only difficulty we have now is in
providing storage tanks and transpor-
tation facilities rapidly enough to meet
the increased output and the increased
demand for oil from all parts Of the
country. The magnitude of the bust.
ness is really drawback. II we had q
river OF pure lathia water the people
would be suspicious of 1t. when they will
pay four bits gallon for the water from
e. little tricklfng creek. There's oil COM
Ing out Of the wells at Beaumont to
make pretty good-sized river, and
even the people who own it are slow to
realize That 1t IL as valuable for every
purpose as any oil that ever came out
or a hole in the ground. The producing
wells OF the Beaumont district are yield
ing, alta conservative estimate, $3.50. 600
barrels OF oil day, worth at least 20
cents q barrel at the wells. That is
little matter Of S1,6600o0 day that 'is
being added to the wealth OF Texas. and
those interested in her development.
This will be very largely increased when
the refineries are started, and the wells
will be able to produce large per cent
OF the illuminating oil of the world
Governor Hogg will go to New York
to spend Christmas with his daughter,
who is attending; college there. and will
then return to Texas.
DISPUTE CAUSES ANXIETY.
Great Britain Watching Affairs IN Chile
and Argentine.