El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-20
OUTPUT
Of GASOLINE
Immense Possibilities Are
Seen in Federal En-
ploye's Discovery.


here that the average mOtOrist IS not
deeply concerned in the future motor
supply, experts in FL Paso are deeply
interested IN the word from WaShlng-
ton Of the discovery by the United
states Bureau OF Mines Of two chem
ical processes, one Of which, II IS
claimed, will be Of tremendous impor-
lance to the oil industry, greatly an
creasing the supply OF gasoline.
The other may make the united
states absolutely independent Of the
rest Of the world in regard TO i'm
portant materials necessary for the dye
industry and the manufacture Of high
explosives used in warfare and in en-
cheering operations.
The first Of these processes promises
to enable the Independent retiners IN
this country to increase their output
of gasoline from petroleum 200 per cent
or more, according TO motor age
With an estimated production on the
part Of the independent refiners OF r.
100000 barrels Of gasoline in year,
this viii mean an output from the IN
dependents alone Of 36,O00,000 barrels
greater than the total production today
from all sources.
The second process includes the man
ufacture from crude petroleum OF what
is known chemically as tOluol and hen
Zol both of which heretofore have been
obtained from coal tar As Germany
has specialized far beyond other cOun-
tries in byproducts from coal the
United States and the rest Of the world
have been dominated by that country
as regards those plOQuGAS OF LoAAlA anu
benzol, which are the important bases
for the production Of dye stuffs and
high explosives, and especially smoke
less powder.
Rittman Is DiseOverer.
The discoverer Of these two valuable
processes, after many years OF re-
search, is DR.. Walter +. Rittman, chem
ical engineer Of the bureau Of mines, /
the work having been done at Columbia
university New York. the facilities OF
. T.F hnr-fr0ur haarl turned
over to the federal government by I
president Nicholas Murray Butler
Application has been made by Dr.
Rittman on behalf OF the federal gov
eminent to patent these processes in I
order to prevent any monopoly III their I
use, the patents TO be dedicated 10 the !
whole American people.
These processes" said secretary Lane !
today. ARE fraught with the utmost /
Importance to the people OF this coun- |
Now the federal government,
through the efforts Of Dr. Rittman. I
proposes TO make free for the use. of /
all Of -he people of this country who |
wish IL. a process that is confidently /
gasoline from crude petroleum fully /
200 percent and perhaps more, such re- [
suits having been obtained repeatedly |
in the laboratory. It is claimed by Dr.
Rittman that his process is safer. b
simpler and is more economical In time I
than processes now in use and these J
are economic factors Of great impor- /
of Great Value.
with a steadily increasing demand I
for gasoline for motor cars. motor boats [
and engines, this fortunate discovery I
comes at the proper time II IS but ]
two years ago that the motor industry, /
fearful that the supply Of gasoline I
might not be adequate for its rapidly 3
expo ding business, offered through the I
international Association OF Recognized ]
Automobile clubs. a prize Of 100000 ]
for a substitute for gasoline that would I
cost less than gasoline Happily the
urgency of this situation has passed ]
and at the present time there is a /
plentiful supply OF motor fuel to meet i
immediate demand
This new process adds to the hope,
that in spite Of the wonderful growth \
in the use Of gasoline. there may not I
be any shortage in the future II tndi- 4
Gates an increased production Of gaso- /
line from the present production OF i
petroleun-an output OF 100000 bar
rels instead Of $4,000, 600. as under the I
present methods It will render free
for use TO all. the results Of that eff
cient and intelligent research which
heretofore has been at the command OF
only the wealthy. I am led TO believe
that il will not only be OF inestimable
limited capital as well as those OF
wealth. but also 70 the hundreds OF
thousands of users OF gasoline. Nhen
il is realized that the gasoline industry
products amounting in value to be
tween 10000, 600 and $4,000 600. the
Importance Of this discovery is seen
Rival Of Germany.
The second process discovered by
Dr. Rittman may prove OF much more
value to the country than the first I'M
that If suggests the establishment OF
an industry in which Germany hereto /
fore has been preeminent-the dye in
dustry. and also promises indirectly
measure Of national safety Of incalcua-
BILE import. Among necessary lngre-
dents Of high explosives used in mod
ern warfare toluol ana benzol are in
the first rank
Heretofore these products have been
obtained mainly in Germany and Eng
land from coal tar, and the explosive
manufacturers have had to depend
largely on the supply from these
sources in the making Of explosives
understand that some toiuol and ben
zol have been obIeined from American
coal and water-gas tars. but this supply
does not begin TO satisfy the present
demands. The federal government now
proposes to obtain the tOluOl and BEN
zOl from crude petroleum also
7 am further informed that these
products can be produced from practi-
sally any American petroleum and that
The supply can be made sufficient not
0nly for the entire American trade but
also for other purposes