New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26
FUEL OIL IN TIE NAVY.

In his valuable report on the use OF petroleum
for fuel in the navy Admiral Melville mentions
three possible drawbacks which would occur
10 nracticaI engineers. He is not convinced AT
present that under forced draught when high
speed is wanted, absolutely snokeless comouS-
ton can be assured, although visible fumes are
not 10 be looked for ordinarily. In war yes
sci, as he truly remarks, the emission of smoke
is undesirable This is not so Objectionable IN
a merchant vessel. however. Moreover. Admiral
Melville desires 10 make use of oil on One-thlrd
Of the torpedo boats in the American Navy.
Such a wish indicates that he has not aban-
doned hope that Il way may yet be found 10
overcome the evil referred 70. The engineer IN
chief of the navy also notes that IL Is not so
easy 10 take liquid fuel on board as II Is to load
with coal and that the carrying or crude OIL
in bulk is attended with some risk in conse-
duence of the generation of gases. Neither or
these troubles is to be anticipated. he says
where petroleum is used TO generate steam on
land. II may he added that the latter danger
may be minimized. If not entirely obviated' by
using residuum left after removing the VIOLA
tile clements by refining.
The most important question Of expediency
which Admiral Melville raises-that of econ
omy-s really commercial one. and not tech
ponds largely on transportation. So, too,
does that of coal. At points where the former
must be brought from distance and the latter
is near al hand the three or four barrels Of the
one which contain the heat equivalents of a
ton of the other will he the most expensive.
Where the conditions are reversed tie oil will
be the cheaper Just now the latter situation
exists in Texas ami California. When pro
duction increases there and shipping now under
contract is completed for the carrying trade. IL
is not unlikely that Beaumont oil will be able
to compete with PENNSYLVANIA coal in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of New-York Should the pre-
dictiOns to that effect, I'm which enthusiastic
representatives of the Lone Star State indulge
at times BE- realized it would probably he com
mercially feasible 10 establish big storage depots
in the West Indies like those already established
in the Orient by the Shell Steamship Company,
for both naval and merchant vessels. This Is
an industrial questiGa which can safely be left
to take care Of itself. An ounce Of fact will go
further than a ton OF conjecture The world
will know much more about the economy OF oil
two or three years hence than II does now.
To those who contemplate the use Of oil In
stationary steam plants-a practice distinctly
encouraged by Admiral Melville-his report con-
tains many useful hints. He is satisfied that II
burns uniformly. He can discover special
difference in burners. hut he thinks that com
pressed air Is n better agent FOR atOmizing and
injecting the oil than is steam. He recommends
heating the air. however. before thus utilizing
It. Still. II steam is employed better results
seem 10 he secured by high than by low pressures.
Firemen, he says, are disposed 10 favor oil
because it involves 50 little trouble Had he
been considering power plants under private
ownership he would undoubtedly have added
that this reduction in the labor required reduces
the cost of operation appreciably. But that
omission does not impair the value of his report