The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-08
The Petroleum Industry.

+ CREDENCE can be given to a
fair proportion of the reports OF
Il new discoveries in oil in various
parts Of the west and southwest
and certainly there have been some
wonderful developments in this direc-
tion within the past few months-the
question Of replacing coal as fuel, long
considered in speculative way, may
become vital.
DR.. Paul Dvorkovitz, a famous Rus
sian oil expert and editor Of the Petrol
cum Review, recently visited the Amer
lean oil fields and in his journal record
ed his observations. Those which are
more especially Of present interest to
us relate to the possibilities of substi-
tuting crude petroleum for bituminous
coal in the bunkers of the trans-Atan-
tic steamships. DR.. Dvorkovitz came
over on the Lucania, which consumed
on the voyage 5000 tons of coal. To
handle this fuel and maintain proper
steaming strength required the employ
ment in the stokeholds Of. $50 men. At
night speed had to be reduced, not be-
cause of danger but to give these over
worked inhabitants of the ships in
ferno some little chance to rest. Bear
ing these facts in mind, we are pre-
pared to follow the doctor in his de-
ductions concerning this matter.
by the substitution Of liquid fuel
for coal the number of stokers would"
says he, "be reduced to a maximum of
about twenty, while the work Of even
these would be greatly lightened; in
fact, there would be practically moth
ing more to do than to watch the
burners to see that they did not be-
come choked up. The temperature of
the stokeholds would also be much more
bearable, and there would be no need
to load the bunkers with 5000 tons Of
coal, as 1,500 tons Of oil would see the
trip out. Moreover the loading of this
quantity of coal occupies, as a rule at
least three days. whereupon the neces-
sary amount Of oil could .be taken on
board in few hours.
"After inspecting carefully all other
arrangements in the stokeholds in con-
nection with the boilers, etc., came to
the conclusion that even at the price of
three to one against coal, oil would be
cheaper. In addition to this, the ves-
sci would be able to make the voyage
in a shorter time. Speed is, of course
a very important factor on the Atlantic,
especially as the new German boats
are making very rapid crossings. The
English steamers, in order to maintain
their superiority, must take advantage
of every facility to secure this end, and
there can be no doubt that the intro
duction Of liquid fuel would be of con-
siderable assistance in this direction.
What such an Introduction of liquid
fuel would mean to the oil industry
will just indicate by taking two COM
paines-the Cunard and White Star
lines. These two companies jointly
make over 200 voyages per year. using
for each voyage 5000 tons of coal, or
about 100000 tons for the year. If oil
is ssubstituted for this, it means that
100000 tons would be required for the
purposes Of these two lines only. My
readers may safely assume, also, that
II .these two companies adopted pc
trUeum others would have to follow"
The foregoing hints at one probable
outlet for the growing American oil
YIELD In recent issue the Western
oH..News notes some Of the other new
uses to, which this product is being
successfully dedicated. Thus, for ex-
ample, in France large quantity Of
petroleum Is being used in the manufac-
t,lAsof, petroleum bricquettes for fuel
purposes. These bricquettes weigh only
h93f jas much as coal Of equal volume
atn sgive from only two to three per
cent. residue, This form OF fuel pro-
duces no Stag, does not run" when
lighted, keeps it's form like coal, burns
without odor and without smoke, may
besEetted with impunity, losing none
of rs properties. consumes without ex-
plosions or sparkle and yet with a
bright and long flame, may be kept
indefinitely without deterioration, and
one ton of 1t will do the work of more
than three tons of ordinary bituminous.
Another new, use has been found for
Texas oil in the South. II is now used
In the place of creosote in preserving
railway ties and timbers that are used
In harbor improvements, the terredo re-