New-York tribune., 1902-12-07
pETR0LEEN EOR Fuel.

In the article which George Z. Walsh con-
tributes to Casters Magazine for Decem-
Der, on American Petroleum Possibilities ne
makes several impressive statements one Oh
them is to the effect that nearly all OF the OH
which California now produces is consumed
as fuel on the Pacific Coast. That State was
credited with yield exceeding eight million
barrels In 1901, or more than onennth OF the
total output of the country, and there is no
reason for believing that the ratio has been any
smaller this year The conditions prevailing TO
the westward OF the Rocky Mountains are ex-
ceptionally favorable to the use OF liquid fueL
Oil there is cheap because it is not suited TO
Illumination Moreover, coal is a very costly
commodity at all times In that region. A
greater economy results from burning pc
troleum on the Pacific Coast than in other parts
of the United States All the same, the sur
prisingly large consumption OF it there Illus
trates In forcible way the completeness with
which all technical obstacles to the procedure
have been overcome. 4 valuable object lesson
is afforded to the rest of the country, where the
prices of the two kinds of fuel are more nearly
on par.
Furthermore Mr.. Walsh declares that IL the
Texas and California fields develop such con-
tinuous and abundant supplies as the older oil
regions ''the use Of petroleum will become
permanent factor in American manufacturing
industries for the next twenty-five years"
Considering the distance of California from the
Eastern States. where the majority of the man
ufactures are now conducted, it is doubtful
whether she can help except indirectly. Trans
portation of her oil to the Atlantic seaboard.
even after an isthmian canal is cut, can hardly
be anticipated. Still, by amply meeting the local
demand, California leaves the Texas supply
i1ah Thn Stor tote
produced upward of four million barrels of oil
in 1901 and steady, though perhaps not SEN
sational increase may be looked for during the
next few years. It would not be surprising If
the yield for 1903 should closely approach or
even exceed ten million barrels. Refining will
be attempted, Of course, but not more than 20
per cent of the crude product Of Texas wells
can be utilized for Illuminating purposes.
Hence so per cent or more Is available for
fuel and nothing else. Out of the Appalachian
and Lima oil, on the other hand, the volume of
valuable distillates is so large that very little
residuum is left. Texas is thus In a position to
work serious revolution in the use Of fuel II
she only will. When barrel of oil Is sold for
ne-third or one-fourth much ton Of coal
it is formidable competitor
During the last few months, with oil at 81
or 81 % barrel and coal at $5 or more many
| managers of large steam plants have been
| tempted to substitute the former for the latter
| That impulse has by means died out.
| Active steps toward the adoption of liquid fuel
| have been checked in instances, by a.hope that
| the price of coal would go down. That expecta-
| ton will doubtless be realized, but there is an
equally good prospect that the price of oil will
| be reduced, too. Perhaps the latter event may
| come first. Whether it does or not, the tenn
porary advantage of substituting oil for coal
so long as it is relatively cheaper, is well worth
| considering. Oil burners can be attached to q
| boiler in such way that they can be removed
ON short notice If it is desirable to abandon the
| experiment Furnaces will then be as well
| adapted to the use of coal as ever In the mean
| time, the economy may far more than cover
| the trifing cost Of the burners. The construc-
| tion of suitable storage tanks is more expen-
! siye feature Of the necessary equipment but
| even this would be paid for in short time il
| there any great discrepancy in the prices
| of oil and coal. The only remaining considera-
| ton of Importance, then. would be municipal
| and insurance regulation concerning the storage
| Of oil. At present this would preclude any
| wholesale of petroleum In the heart of a
| city But there plenty of places In the
| suburbs and in small country towns where such
restrictions would prove less embarrassing.