The Washington times., 1902-10-25
Results of Experiments Con-
Quoted by Navy Depart
ment Made Public by Test
Commission.
May Be Possible, However,
to Use Liquid Fuel in
Merchant Marine Within
a Few Years.

Merchant Marine Within
a Few Years.
Forty years ago experiments were be-
gun to determine whether oil could be
used safely and effectively as fuel for
operating engines on steamers. Within
recent years the original difficulties
have been overcome to the extent that
liquid fuel is now used on number of
merchant vessels, but the problem of
substituting it for coal on men-ofwar
presented aspects that served to pre-
vent any nation from attempting the
installation CT oil-hurning furnaces on
any of its largest ships, although some
torpedo boats have been furnished with
experimental appliances.
1t was only within the past few
months that :he United States Navy
Department undertook a series of eX-
haustiye tests that were designed to
determine whether it was advisable
from every point OF view to use oil in
place of coal in the furnace rooms of
battleships and other large naval YES
sells. While these tests are TO be con-
tinued, the results so far have been
sufficiently conclusive to justify the
board which conducted them in making
a preliminary report of great value and
interest, from which il is apparent that
fbare &c M likelihood of rho cuhcfitu.
tion of oil for coal as fuel on battle
ships, armored cruisers, and other
large naval vessels for some time to
come, if al all. although tie installa-
tion of oil burning-furnaces on torpedo
boats is regarded as feasible and is
urged for the purpose of further expert
ment.
Exhaustive Tests Made.
Congress at its last session appro-
priated s20.o00 for the liquid fuel ex-
periments, and with an additional $1,000
which was available there was suffi-
cient money at hand TO enable the Navy
Department to make thorough, prac-
tical investigation of this matter, which
<
military Importance. The board con-
sisted of Lieutenant Commanders John
r. Edwards, Wythe NJ Parks. and Frank
H. Bailey, all engineers of the naval
service, who have given much time ana
attention to the study of the liquid-fuel
problem. No such exhaustive tests of
oil as substitute for coal on board
marine steamers were ever conducted
before, and the fact that the members
of the board were thoroughly disinter-
oil company. coal company. or oil Or
coal burning furnace, together with
the circumstance that they were work
ing solely for the improvement OF the
efficiency of the American fleet, made
certain that only the most valuable and
reliable results would be obtained.
AS an example of the thoroughness
and disinterestedness with which the
tests were conducted. the board found,
and has reported, that much of the data
of previous experiments with and ac-
fual use of liquid fuel were unreliable.
The tests were made in machine
shop in this city, where the Oil CITY
Boiler Works had erected, free of cost
10 the Government, a thoroughly equip
ped experimental plant. with boilers of
the Hobenstein design. A uniform quail
ity Of oil from the Beaumont tTex.) field.
slightly refined, was used The experi
men;s were begun in June and were
conducted by the board, with the as
distance Of officers and crews of the
torpedo boats Rodgers and Gwin.
Oil Preferable to Coal.
Rear Admiral George ". Melville.
chief of the Naval Bureau of Steam
las submitted to the Sec
retary of the Navy a complete review of
the boards report, in which he ex-
plains the Importance from every stand |
point of the success of efforts to use |
oil instead of coal for engine room fuel |
on ships of war. He deals mainly with |
the military aspect. but also devotes at
tention TO the commercial phase of the
matter.
1t is evident" he says. that there
is very strong desire and purpose on
the part of many ship owners to SUBJ
stitute oil for coal. The thermal. me
chanical, and commercial advantages
that would result from a change are so
we'll known that it is unnecessary to
recount them. Nearly every reason that
ian be advanced for using oil as fuel
IL the mercantile marine is also ap-
plicablc to ihe navy. In the case of
however. there are also mill
ary benefits to be secured that are as
important as the commercial and me-
'hanical advantages"
Admiral Melville notes that any fuel
which would obviate the
'mcke nuisance, reduce the complement
q the fire rooms, extend the steaming
adfus of war vessels, and permit maxi
num speed at shorter notice will in
'rease the efficiency and value of the
lighting ships.
Admiral Melville says It is now plain
'hy success was not attained in the
experiments made by the several naval
'owers in the attempt to use oil as
uel. There was too much effort ey- !
rted to burn oil in the same manner as !
oal 'It is now realized he adds. {
that the oil should be 2tomized; 1t is |,