The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-08
PETROLEUM as
VESSEL FUEL
The National Oil Reporter Compares

The National Oil Reporter Compares
1t With Coa1-As Great Saving.
New York, April 3.-The 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 irles 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 effected
almost entirely within the last six
months, and was the result of much ex-
pertinent in 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 tnSs the use of oil, perfect,
combustion, etc. - ,s5s* +,
"Oil has been foundsto be muh cheaperl
| 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. It is loaded
ION board expeditiously; all that IS neces-
sary to do being tosEconnect a9pipe from
! a storage tank with the tank of the
vessel, turn a valve and let gravity do
4 the rest. ltsdoes away with the services
OF stokers% and coal-passers, one man be-
ing able to handlezthe oil where ten would
have been necessary with coal. Another
great saving is in the room required for.
fuel, one ton Of oil occupying less space
than two tons: coal.,and it can: be
stored In parts of ship not desirable
ut hor-
| the largs space heretofore required for
| coal bunkers. ss8z
Changes In mechanical methods are
made slowly ItscOften happens that a
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
4 unsatisfactory, there is a well-grounded
reason for prejudice against change For
4 this reason the use ofsoil as fuel has been
] adopted slowly, and then in the face of
1 open and persistent prediction of failure;
and failures have often occurred, due to
lack Of experience in the use of the new
4 fuel, lack of proper appliances, and fire.
4 quently in the ignorance OF those who
handled it, and the opposition Of those
whose preference was for coal 3stt
4 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 furnaces
1 to accommodate the new fuel. The chief
objection has teen the lack Of storage
4 facilities at distant points. This
big tank steamers loaded with oil from the
j different fields increase in number and in
i carrying capacity and transport the oil
to those ports heretofore used as coaline
stations, and where, in short time, coal
as fuel will be practically a thing of the
past. IS WI 90 s.; .sl38
1.-THE first steamer to use oil on the
Pacific coast thesG George LOOMS, used
by the Pacific Coast Oil company to trans
Iport its oil from Ventura county to the
refinery at Alameda
This steamer has burned oil for over
six yearss.and the success that has beer
iobtained IN Its use has done much TO cal