The Washington times., 1902-09-07
USE OF OIL AS FUEL
. PROVES SUCCESSFUL

on board the ship as safeguard for
reaching the port in case there was a
complete breakdown of the oil fuel in
atallaticn, showing the confidence the
Oceanic Steamship Company had that
successful results would be secured
The engineering experts at the Navy
| Department are greatly interested In
the fact that a careful inspection failed
to show any bad effect of the flames
Upon any part of the boilers Upon
| reaching Tahiti. after the run of 3,43s
miles. the tubes were swept by scrapers
and all the refuse collected barely filled
two ash buckets. and some of this came
from the coal which had been used on
cne of the preliminary trials
Regulation of Oil Supply.
The principal difficulties encountered
were in the regulation of a supply of oil
to the heaters by the pumps, and the
choking OF the strainers by foreign mat
ters and the impurities of the OIL The
installation OF duplicate strainers on
the next trip will obviate this difficulty.
The speed secured on the return trip
was much higher than that attained on
the trip to Tahiti. due to the fact that
the firemen became better accustomed
to manipulating the burners, and afford
ing evidence that the work of operating
the burners will become easier rather
than more difficult on trips of great
length.
The company had taken the precau-
tioH TO arrange the burners so that
steam could be used as the atomiziny
agent in case the compressor became
impaired. On one or two instances
during the voyage the compressor did
need overhauiing. and the oil was spray
ed by steam while these repairs were
being made.
In discussing the class OF men that
should be employed in the fire rooms.
Lieutenant Winchell says that the work
neither requires physical endurance nor
previous training with coal fires. The
men placed in charge OF the contrivance.
however, should possess mechanical an
titude. and have readiness of resource
and nerve
Lieutenant Winchell's experience on
The Mariposa shows that ii is essential
to keep a constant air pressure for
atomizing the oil. TO make provision for
maintaining regular temperature of the
oil combustible. ard 10 keep steady
WITCH on tHe OII s'TdIneTS.
The voyage of the Mariposa was re-
markab!e in many respects. She made
tie trip between San Francisco and
Tahiti and return. distance of 7.O9s
miles. without any extended sea trial.
There had been three short preliminary
tests of the rachinery. On the last ERE.
liminary trial It was noted that changes
were necessary as to the details of in
stallation. and these improvements were
directed to be made. As a result. the
final touches of the oil fuel installation
on the Mariposa We're not completed un.
I'll few moments before the shin start.
ed for Tahiti, the machinists at work on
the several parts of the system having
knocked off just before the gong was
lung for the people to go ON shore.
Lieutenant Winchell says the trip was |
lot only a tribute to the skill and eff
;iency of the mechanics on the Pacific |
Coast. but it showed the enterprise of |
he Oceanic company in boldly meeting |
he question of the amplification of oil
uel installation in their fleet of vessels |
IN the Pacific Ccast.