Arizona republican., 1903-05-11

lacking in America. The tests made in 1887 by the Pennsylvania road showe1 the feasibility of usin., liquid fuel oa locomotives. but the inatter went no further. oil was net adopted. An other interesting experiment was the operation Of the big steam plant at the worlds fair in Chicago ten years ago by the same agency. Yet the example thus set was not followed extensively. Only after petroleum was discovered in abundance in California and Texas did the art of burning it develop iu th.s country to 2 notable extent. In three or four short years scores of steamers in American waters and hun dreds of locomotives have been equip ped with apparatus for that purpose At last. therfore. the basis is afforded for profitable study.
 Freedom from smoke and ashes has long Oeen recognized as among the ad- vantages of liquid fuel So. too. has been the fact that it occupies onl'. about half as much space as the coal needed to generate the same amount Of heat. At sea, both in the merchant marine and the navies of the world, this is a strong recommendation. More room is thus left for freight, which helps to pay dividends: or, a double supply having been taken aboard, a vessels range Of activity is correspoTSi irgly extended. A merit with whicn engineers are less familiar. perhaps, and which will further commend pc troleum to naval officers, is mentioned by Professor Williston. Fires can be to o q xr-ith oil with coal The significance of that possibility is seen at once when 1t is remembered that in many crises dur ing war much depends on a slight in crease in a warship's steaming capacity .either for a short period. as during the chase after Cervera's fleet at Santiago, or long voyage like that of the Ore gon from the Pacific coast to the West Indies. It is not to be wondered at that Admiral Melville favors a considerable introduction of oil burning apparatus into the fire rooms of the American navy.
 No one suggestion has contributed so much to the efficiency of liquid fuel as the idea of atomizing it before trying to burn it. Whether the work should be performed by means of compresse1 air or steam, though, is a question upon which experts differ. If only a light pressure is adopted, air will probably be the more economical. but Professor Williston comedies that the advantage disappears with high pressures. Still, it appears that the prevalent notion about water vapor possessing some fu al value of it's own is a fallacy, whereas air is essential to combustion. Indeed more of it should be supplied than that which carries the jet of spray into the furnace. Other channels, leading past or through brickwork. such as are used in the Siemens steel process. are de- sirable, so that the air will be heated before reaching the combustion cham Der. Something can be gained, more over, by raising the temperature of the oil before atomizing it.
 In the amount of detailed information especially about burners, which is here afforded, Professor Williston meets a rapidly growing demand. Nothing SO full and satisfactory has appeared in the technical press during the last year or two. Professor Denton's interesting tests, twelve or fifteen months ago. re lated only to the burning qualities of Beaumont oil. His report concerning them did not touch the mechanical requisites of the art. Since the begin ming of the coal strike of last summer many owners of steam plants have been wishing to find some such piece of literature as is now put at their dis posal This may not answer all of the questions which have arisen in their minds, but it will repay careful exam inat.on.-New York Tribune