El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-23

The international Railway Fuel asso-
citation, which meets in Chicago today,
is composed of practical experts who
are seeking TO solve the problem pre-
scented by the rising price of coal and
the increased demands upon the carry
ing facilities of the railroad. The co.
600 railway locomotive engines of the
United States use one-fOurth of all the
coal mined in the country each year, a
consumption of 100,000,000 tons The
price of coal is rising, and last year
the railroads paid an average OF two
dollars a ton for all the fuel they used.
The Importance of economy in the
matter of fuel supply may be Illus
trated by the fact that the total expense
amounts essentially to a tax of one
cent per. day for each man, woman
and child in the United States. The rail-
road must assess the charges for fuel
upon traffic. and every person who uses
anything which has paid freight con
tributes his share toward paying this
enormous coal bill
Locomotive Wastes Coal
1t is recognized by the experts that
the locomotive engine, on account Of
its physical restrictions, always must
use more fuel in proportion TO the power
generated than stationary engines. At
the same time it is recognized that a
large part of the coal now used is
wasted, not only in the process of burn
ing. but in the preliminary processes
Of storing and handling. Government
experts, basing their conclusions upor
a long series of practical tests of loco
motive engines engaged in actual rail-
way service. declare that 20 percent of
the total fuel supplied to locomotives
performs no function in moving trains
forward
1t is lost in the incidental leaks oc-
casioned by starting fires, maintenance
Of steam pressure while the locomotive
is standing still. the fire remaining in
the firebox at the end of the run, etc
1t is probable that a large part of this
character of waste cannot be saved so
long as the fuel IS used to generate di-
rect steam power in locomotive engines
Only the identification of the railways
would save this loss.
Loss at Mine Is Large
But the more serious and practical
loss in fuel is occasiOned by the man
ner of loading it at the mine, trans
ferring to stOTag e, and loading it into
locomotive tenders 1t is said on the
authority of expert engineers that the
average cost of loading fuel on loco
4lOl4NCS - ten CCAAAS per lO1 Ol luC
same high authority, backed by the re.
suit of actual experiments. it has been
proved possible by the use of modern
methods and machinery to reduce this
cost to two cents a ton. If this re-
duction could be applied to alK the rail-
roads II would represent an annual saw
ing of 100000.
The railroads, especially those sys-
TENS which endeavor 10 apply the best
practical economy, are engaged in in
stalling new systems of fuel supply.
1t has been demonstrated that a vast
money saving can be made by organic
ing the fuel department of a railway
system under responsible head, pro-
vided with an efficient staff of inspec-
tors and backed by an accurate system
of accounts. The association at Chi
cago will hear reports of such system,
those actually. in operation, such as that
of the Santa Fe system, and others pro-
posed by experts.
Country Interested In Conservation.
While it is manifestly to the interest
of the railroads to save money by de-
creasing their coal bill. it is also mani
testify to the interest of the whole peo-
pie Of the country that the coal itself
shall be saved. Every pound of coal
saved by a system of economy which
does not curtail the power generated, is
that much energy conserved for the use
of future generations On account Of
this feature all of the agencies of the
government interested in the work OF
conservation of natural resources are
assisting the railway engineers to solve
the fuel supply problems.
Practically every device invented for
the Improvement of locomotives bases
its claim for recognition and cOnsid-
| eI alton upon its direct or Indirect ahil-
| ity to save fuel Everyone recognizes
that small saving IL Ihc fuel supply
! of one locomotive amounts in the agg1 <
gate TO an enormous SUM. When any
| device can show that Il Viii save a ton
! Of coal day it has made its best argu-
ment for recognition by the practical
| railway man. 1t is to this end that all
| of the compromising systems and steam
! experimenting devices are being in
stalled.
Railways Should Assist.
While the inventors have done much,
and will do more, in saving fuel after it
has reached the engine, it remains for
| the railroads to devise more adequate
| systems Of saving coal between the
| mine and the tender Railways usually