The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-12
VALUE OF PETROLEUM AS
FUEL FOR VESSELS.
National Oil Reporter Discusses the
Subject, Comparing 1t With Coal
Shows 1t Means Great Saving
and Is Being Used Successfully.


New York, April s. National oil
Reporter contains an interesting article
on the value Of petroleum when used as
fuel on board steamships. In part the
article reads as follows:
THE most important topic discussed in
oil circles recently IS the use of oil as
fuel in preference to coal by the big
ocean steamship lines running between
San Francisco and the different ports on
the coast, In the Hawaiian Islands
Japan, China, Australia, the Philippines
and elsewhere. Between the ferry boats
and other steamers running up and down
the Pacific coast there are now upward
of fifty vessels using oil in preference to
coal. This change in fuel has been CT
fected almost entirely within the last six
months, and was the result Of much OK
pertinent m the proper use of oil, style
of burners, combination Of oil with steam
or heated air, and many other conditions
which give the best results in obtaining
heat, economy in the use Of OIL perfect
combustion, etc.
'Oil has been found to be much cheaper
by at least 40 per cent in the price Of
fuel alone. Then it is cleaner to use. as
there is no dust nor ashes. 1t Is loaded
on board expeditiously; all that is neces-
a storage tank with the tanks of the
vessel, turn a valve and let gravity do
the rest 1t does away with the services
of stokers and coal-passers, one man be-
ing able to handle the oil where ten
would have been necessary with coal
Another great saving Is in the room re-
quired for fuel one ton Of oil occupying
less space than two tons of coal, and it
can be stored in parts of a ship not de-
sirable for cargo or other purposes thus
saving the large space heretofore re
quired for coal bunkers.
Changes in mechanical methods are
made slowly 1t often happens that
good theory does not work we'll in prac-
tice. The best educated and most skill
full mechanics often look askance at new
inventions, and as many of them prove
unsatisfactory, there is well-grounded
reason for prejudice against change. For
this reason the use of oil as fuel has been
adopted slowly, and then in the face Of
open and persistent prediction of failure;
and failures have often occurred, due to
lack of experience in the use Of the new
fuel, lack of proper appliances, and fire.
quently in the ignorance of those who
handled it, and the opposition Of those
whose preference was for coal
Prejudice is now well-nigh removed.
Experience has demonstrated how to use
the oil to obtain the best results. and
steamers in the East, as well as in the
West, are rapidly changing their fur
naces to accommodate the new fuel The
chief objection has been the lack Of stor-
age facilities at distant points. This OBJ
lection is being rapidly overcome as the
big tank steamers loaded with oil from
the different fields increase in number
and in carrying capacity and transport
the oil to those ports heretofore used
as coaling stations, and where in a short
time, coal as fuel will be practically a
thing of the past.
THE first steamer to use oil on the Pa
cific coast was the George Loornis, used
by the Pacific Coast Oil company to
transport it's oil from Ventura county to
the refinery at Alameda.
This steamer has burned oil for over
six years, and the success that has been
obtained in its use has done much to call
the attention OF shipping men to the
practical value of OIL New petroleum is
sounding the death knell of coal as a
fuel on steam craft at this port. The
latest inroad Of the new fuel is its estab-
lishment and use on the steamers Mari
posa and Alameda Of the Spreckles line,
running to Honolulu"