Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-16
SEVEN OIL STATIONS
Navy to Keep Supplies OF
Liquid Fuel.
ONE AT GUANTANAMO, CUBA
Others Along the Atlantic Seaboard
to Be Erected by Bureau of
Yards and Docks.
ONE AT GUANTANAMO, CUBA

Plans have been made by the Navy De-
partment for establishing seven oil sta
tions in anticipation of the new vessels
of the navy that will use Oil either par
TALLY or exclusively as fuel.
1t looks like a comparatively simple
proposition to use oil instead of coal for
fuel on warships, if it is desirable to
make the change. AS a matter of fact,
while oil has been proven a good fuel in
the past ten years there are many prac-
teal objections to its general installation.
The chief of these is that foreign ports
are much more certain to be able to pro-
vide coal than OIL For that reason the
vessels OF the navy that now use oil for
fuel are torpedo boats and destroyers,
whose duties are chiefly in American
waters.
Fifteen Boats Use Oil.
1t is not generally known, but there
are fifteen boats OF these types that are
now fitted with oil burners. All vessels
now being laid down in the navy have
Oil either as a. primary or an auxiliary
fuel
For this reason there are to be seven
oiing stations established. One Of them
is already under way at San Diego. Six
others planned are to be at Norfolk,
Bradford, r. L.: Charleston, Key West,
San Juan and Guantanamo
The installation of these stations is
under the bureau Of yards and docks.
They will be simply big oil tanks. such
as used for the commercial storage of
crude OIL They will be set far enough
inland to protect them from attack by
sea and will be connected with the water
front by an underground pipe line, so that
a vessel can simply hitch on and take
her supply Of fuel like a baby at nurs-
ing bottle The oil either will flow by
gravity or there will be a pumping sta
ton to force it into the vessels tanks.
British Navy's Test.
The scheme OF using oil originated with
the British navy ten years ago. Several
British torpedo boats were equipped for
oil burning. 1t was found that the
steaming radius was increased about 10
per cent at full speed and Is per cent at
ordinary cruising speed.
There were number OF races between
vessels equipped with oil and coal from
Gibraltar to Plymouth. These races in
cluded the time taken in coaling and
Oiling.
OF course the time that small vessel,
like torpedo boat or q destroyer. takes
to coal Is comparatively small matter.
When it comes to cruisers and vessels of
to take on oil. against days for coal.
Trials with larger vessels. so far, have
been largely with the use of oil as an
auxiliary fuel. The boilers burn coal,
but nozzle is fixed for spraying oil into
the furnaces. making a much hotter
steaming fire than is possible with coal
alone.
Conversion Into Gas.
Some experiments have been tried with
converting the oil into gas and burning it
in that way. 1t has been figured also
that the oil could be converted into what
is known as producer gas" and used d.
rectly in gas engine. but this has not
yet come to practical solution.
However, after the successful expert
ments with oil burning abroad. the scheme
was tried In the American navy. Results
have been so satisfactory that all vessels
now being built are equipped either en-
tirely or partially as oil burners.
Secretary Meyer has been much inter-
ested in the experiments. One provision
of the present naval bill is for an oil ten
der to carry oil for the fleet on an ex-
tended voyage.
Many experiments have been tried for
coaling vessels at sea. The problem is
much simpler with oil. Small vessels, like
torpedo boats and destroyers, have little
trouble in replenishing their supply of
fuel while under way.
Costs May Be Equalized.
It has not been stated how much the
new oiling stations will add to the cost OF
the up-keep OF the navy, but the cost will
be somewhat offset by the reduced force
of stokers and firemen that will be re-
quired on vessels burning Oil.
When the question Of oil burning was
first seriously preached in the British
navy. the Standard Oil Company, which
furnishes the larger part Of the oil used in
the United Kingdom, as it does In this
country, did not profess to take kindly to
the innovation. OF course, whatever the
Standard said led the public to look for
an Interior motive.
The statement then made was that the
company did not care about the larger
navies Of the world adopting Oil as fuel.
because it was impossible to say what
was the total supply of Oil and how soon
1T might give out. Therefore, while the
of oil burners in the British
navy would increase the consumption of
oil, the company did not care about risk
ing this additional call upon the supply of
crude oil while there was SO much more
profit in refining and selling it.