The age-herald., 1901-06-20
USE IF FUEL OIL
 ON LOCOMOTIVES The Question is Being Given
 More Attention
SOME CLAIMS OF OIL MEN
President Smith of the Louisville and Nashville Has Representative at Beaumont Who Makes
 Daily Reports to Him.

The question of the effect of the intro duction of oil as a fuel Is being given more and more attention each day, as more and more gushers are being found in the oil regions of Texas and other South ern States. One of the surest and most significant signs of the fact that the in- troduction is feared by the eoal and rail- road men of this district Is that President Smith of tho Louisville and Nashville, has a representative at Beaumont, who makes daily reports on tile question.
 The Louisville and Nashville was the first road to announce the reduction of freight rates to New Orleans and other gulf points, and the statement is made that this reduction was due to the fact agents presence at Beaumont. The use of oil for locomotives Is now receiving much attention, and the question is being discussed consistently by the Texans. following claims made by the oil men, and published from a special correspon- dent who represents the St. Louis Globe Democrat in the oil district:
 Beaumont oil For Fuel.
 The fact that the tests of the Beaumont oil as fuel for locomotives proved highly successful is of the greatest importance to several companies operating extensive railway systems in Texas. This is par ucularly true as applying to the Southern Pacific, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, and the Gould lines. It Is to be ex- peoted that the railroads, by buying in large quantities, as they now do coal, will be able to get fuel oil in the Beaumont field at a very low price, probably not ex- ceeding 20 cents per barrel at Beaumont The numerous tests which have been made show that this oil is a better steam producer for locomotives than much of the coal that is now being used. These tests have demonstrated that about three and one-half barrels of oil are equal to one ton of coal for steam-producing pur- poses It is asserted by some that two and one-half barrels of the oil Is equal to one ton of Indian Territory coal, which Is used on most of the Texas roads. The reports made by the several railroads of Texas to the state railroad commission show that the total amount of coal used for locomotives on the Texas lines for the twelve months ending June 30 1900, was 1,716,4n tons. The price paid per ton for the coal ranged from $1.35 for which the Paris and Great Northern obtained 1t, to $5, which was the price paid by the Velas- co terminal The former road used 5,919 tons of coal during the year, and the lat ter only 525 tons.
 Comparative Figures.
 'The total number of tons of coal used for locomotives by all the roads belong ing to the Southern Pacific system In Texas during the last year was 539, sos, and the aggregate sum paid for this fuel was s1,764, ,97o.04. Taking the liberal esti- mate that it requires three and one-half barrels of the Beaumont fuel oil to equal one ton of coal, 1t Is shown that the 5S9,- sos tons of coal are equivalent to 1,8S9,- 32S barrels of fuel oil. 1nasmuch as this oil Is now being sold In large lots at 20 cents per barrel, 1t Is reasonable to suppose that the Southern Pacific will be able to contract for 1t at that rate, or even lower. At 20 cents per barrel, the 1928 barrels would cost $377, ,S65. 50, as against $1, 1,764 970.O4, which was the sum paid for fuel for locomotives of the Texas lines belonging to the Southern Pacific sys- tenn during the twelve months ending June 30 1900. This would mean a saving of $1, 3S4, 304. A per annum in the company's fuel bill for its Texas lines alone. The cost of installing oil burners on locomo- tives is said to be about two hundred dollars for each lo,omotive.
 'The railway group in Texas. next in importance to the Southern Pacific, Is made up of the Gould lines as follows: The Texas and Pacific which used 260,- 26S tons of coal at an average cost of g. per ton for the twelve months ending June 30, 1900; the International and Great Northern. which used 136,3A tons at an average cost of s2.A per ton; the St. Louis Southwestern of Texas, which used S6,7S1 tons at an average cost of $2. per ton. The total number of tons of coal used by the lines belonging to this sys- tenn in Texas for the year named was 4s33 393, and its cost was $1.104, ,S69. Fig 4S3 393, and It's cost was $1, ,104. .S69. Figured on the basis of three and one-half barrels of oil for one ton of coal. the Gould Tex as lines would use annually approximate ly 1,691, ,S75 barrels of oil for locomotives, at a cost of $338, ,375. This would mean a saving of s766 4e4 per annum in this item of expense. The St. Louis Southwestern has announced its intention of building an extension of it's line south from Luf- kin, Texas, to the Beaumont oil field, and when this Is done it will be on the same footing as the Southern Pacific so far as saving freight on the oil for use on its own lines is concerned"