The Washington times., 1904-06-18
GOVERNMENT RULES
FOR LIQUID FUEL
Navy Board Wants Com
mission Appointed.
MUCH OF PROBLEM SOLVED
Engineering and Mechanical Difficulties
Disposed of-Cost and Supply
Not Satisfactory.
MUCH OF PROBLEM SOLVED

Congress viii be urged by the liquid
fuel board of the navy to appoint a joint
commission to formulate rules and regu-
lations which will provide for an econ
omical, efficient, enduring and safe oil
fuel installation
After twenty-eight months of careful
study of the oil fuel problem. the Az
beard. consisting OF Commander John
r. Edwards and Lieut.. CONS w. NJ.
Parks and F. II. Bailey. has made an
exhaustive report to Rear Admiral Rea,
chief OF the Bureau of Steam Engineer
ing. which is Of inestimable value to
the world of commerce.
Cost and Supply.
The board announces that engineering
and mechanical features of the liquid
fuel problem have been satisfactorily
and practically solved. Financial and
supply feature are now the great
hindrances to the use of crude petro-
leum as a standard fuel. Satisfactory
means of transporting and storing oil
must be devised before it's use can be-
come general on merchant and naval
vessels.
AS the available supply of crude petro-
ieum is not sufficient TO meet more than
3 per cent of the worlds demand Tor
coal and other fuel. the board suggests
that for a time there should be an ell
fort to restrict the use Of oil, for fuel
only. for special purposes IN particular
localities.
Oil Burning Apparatus.
In the report the board gives details
concerning various kinds of apparatus
for burning oil and makes ii clear that
plenty Of satisfactory burners may be
had and that there is no prejudice on
the part Of fremen against the burning
of oil. The recommendation that the
Government cooperate with the com
mercial world. through a joint commits
sion, in solving the problems with
which the use of oil fuel is hedged, is
as follows:
in view of the fact that IS per cent
Of the worlds output OF crude petroleum
is produced in the United States. and
that practically our entire yield is
secured from fields which are in pipe
line communication with important mari
time and strategic ports, the board con-
siders that a joint commission represent
ing commercial. manufacturing, mari
time and naval interests should be
authorized by Congress-. whose province
* would be TO formulate such rules and
regulations that would provide Tor an
economical. efficient, enduring and safe
oil fuel installation.
Heretofore the oil fuel problem has
been principally investigated by various
individual interests which have sought
10 secure Information along certain
lines As a result there has not been
secured that knowledge of the subject
which would secure for the country al
large such development Of the use OF
crude oil as fuel as would be warranted
considering the natural advantages pos.
sessed by the United States in having
at its command near great s~ea-ports
such a large proportionate supply Of the
worlds production Of the crude product
Particularly for the development OF
our commercial interests IN the Gulf OF
Mexico and on the Pacific Coast should
the work Of such commission have ar
important influence in extending oul
prestige and power whether viewed from
a commercial, maritime. or rava stand
point"