Evening star., 1915-12-19
IMPROVE CARBURET0R
TO OFFSET PETROL TAX
Autoists Looking for Method to
Counteract the Proposed In
creased Cost of Fuel.
Higher Efficiency of Real Heart of
Motor Is Desired to Keep
Down Expenses.

| Two developments OF commanding
Importance to automobile users throw
new and pressing scrutiny on the
carburetor. These are:
First, the advancing price of gaso-
line. 1t is believed that 1t will go to
rs cents a gallon.
Second. the proposal to place a fed
efal tax on gasoline, in carrying out
the governments preparedness pro-
gram.
| A way to checkmate greater cost of
fuel for the gas engine is higher ef-
fciency in the carburetor. Remark
able as have been the improvements in
| this mechanism, it is expected that
the demands of the present insistent
situation will result in more delicate
power-making adjustments of the car
buretor.
A carburetor that will use ifty-four
degree gasoline is believed to be in
sight. From this point it is only nine
| degrees to petroleum, SO that the eff
cheney of mixture that would be at
tanned may be realized. Only those in
close touch with the problems that
have been overcome in bringing the
automobile industry to its present
stage are aware of the part the car
buretor has played in this develop
| ment.
Real Heart OF Motor.
| The little mechanism, not much larg-
| er than a mans two fists, is the real
heart of the motor vehicle industry.
Every increase in it's efficiency has
sent a new surge of energy and expan-
| sion through the whole length and
breadth of the automobile business.
| Upon it from the beginning has beat
the concentrated thought of many men
1nnl lc n
niceties as small as needle points. in
finitesimal differences in adjustments,
the better handling of which bestows
a benefit on every man VINO uses the
automobile.
Just how the carburetor has figured
in the developments of the past and
the part expected of it in meeting the
fuel problem in the future were stated
by Alfred Reeves. manager OF the
National Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce, last week. Mr.. Reeves said:
II expect the higher price of gasoline
to be compensated for by improvements
in the carburetor which will permit of the
use of lower grade of gasoline. We have
already come a long way in that respect.
When the automobile industry started
72-degree test gasoline was used In the
carburetor-that is a very volatile fluid,
what is known as the first top. The hrst
step was an improvement by which the
carburetor was made to make an effective
mixture Of 6S-degree gasoline. Next the
instrument was adjusted SO as to use
C4-proof gasoline.
Must Improve Carburetor.
But the pressure to devise carbu
retors that would use a gasoline of
still lower grade continued. The demand
for this fuel advanced with such strides
that the call for every possible economy
in use grew ever more imperative. We
now have a carburetor that will mix So
degree gasoline. We have got to keep
On improving the carburetor. l think
we can perfect it to point where 1t
will use 54-degree gasoline. Much beyond
this do not think we can go, on account
of the odor."
climb since last year. In 1914 gasoline
sold at Is cents gallon.
The rise in price is attributed to
tremendous increase in demand as
with the enlarged calls for gasoline
and petroleum. Both the foreign and
domestic demands for gasoline have
shown great gains. With the Russian
fields out of the market the European
needs have turned strongly to this
country for satisfaction.
The growth in the domestic consump-
tion of gasoline is measured by the ex-
pansion of the motor vehicle indus
try in the United States during the past
year. There were 19S.400 more motor
vehicles sold during the past fiscal year
than in the preceding one. Gasoline
consumed by motor vehicles this fiscal
year amounted to 100000 barrels.
This was a gain of 100000 barrels
over the preceding year.
Crude Oil Will Advance.
Oil men are predicting that Penn
sylvania crude will go to $3.50 a bar
rel before many months. This is of
interest in connection with the pros
pect of a higher price Of gasoline, as
Pennsylvania petroleum is generally
credited with carrying the highest con-
tent of gasoline.
In Paris recently gasoline sold for
Is cents gallon. With the Russian
supply cut off to the other allies, and
with the closing of the Suez canal to
merchant ships, shutting off the supply
from eastern fields, the European
bids for gasoline are likely to become
stronger during the continuance OF
the war.
While the advancing price of gaso-
line is not welcomed by the automo-
bile industry, it is not expected to have
an adverse effect on the sale of cars,
because of the overbalancing improve
ment in economy OF operation spring.
ing from a mechanism ever growing
more perfect. Should the price of
period, the efforts now being made to
provide substitutes for gasoline would
be increased MANIFOLD, with tho like
lihood of complete success.
One large oil company recently ad-
vanced the price of refined petroleum
for export twenty-five points. In con-
sidering foreign demands the policy of
In