The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-07-07
MAKING SYNTHETIC GASOLINE.
Three Men Have Laid Claims to
Production of Chemicals to
Convert Water Into
Motor Fuel.
Motor Fuel.

Among the several claims of dis
covery of chemicals by which water
can be metamophised into liquid
that will fill all the requirements of
gasoline in propelling motor
vehicles, three have appeared in the
public prints within the past few
weeks. The names by which they
are known to the inventors thereof
are "motorzine," "gasofoam" and
"motor-gas."
"Motorzine" is the invention of
two men of St. Louis, William H.
Stevens and Charles Hofmeister,
who claim that it is fully as efficient
as gasoline and exceedingly more
economical. The claims have inter
ested experts in the governments
bureau of mines and a resolution
has been introduced in the House
of Representatives to have the liquid
Investigated.
The inventors claim for motor
zine' that there is no loss by
evaporation or Leakage, as there is
with gasoline, and that it can be
made of materials too generally
available to be monopolized.
"Gasofoam," the invention of
Henry T. Caullet of Trenton, N. j..
was recently subjected to a test be-
fore group of prominent city Off
cials. In this test the tank. of a
Mercer car was emptied of its gaso-
line contents and "gasofoam," a
thick, pasty substance, was poured
in. Then followed run of about
20 miles, the motor functioning per-
fectly, it is said, and the consump-
ton being only one quart and gill.
For a run of this distance with gaso-
line more than gallon would have
been used. This economy for
"gasofoam, and the fact that the
inventor, claims it can be produced
at cost of approximately II cents
a gallon, is creating a sensation
among New Jersey motorists.
Mr.. Caullet has not divulged his
formula, beyond saying that he has
been at work upon it for about four
years and that it is made of inferior
oils Subjected to agitation IN
his opion the ratio of economy in
favor of his product is two to one
over gasoline.
Daniel e. Smith of Stoneham,
Mass, has been meeting the fate of
the majority Of inventors in trying
to introduce his synthetic gaso-
line," which he calls "motorgas. :"
The newspapers have Deen inclined
to ridicule his claims, but in spite
of that he has given several demon
STATIONS, one of the most recent of
which was held before crowd of
400 of his fellow citizens. Loading
a large automobile with eight pas
sengers, Mr.. Smith poured in his
chemical mixed with water and
started the motor. That the car
went only 600 yards is attributed by
the inventor to the fact that only
one-half quart of motor gas used,
which in his opinion is not suInclent
for the load carried.
In another test he ran car with
five passengers for about two miles
at an average of rs miles an hour.
The inventor claims the chemical
can be made so cheaply that gallon
of fuel would cost about three cents.
The formula is being held as a
secret, though it is understood that
the chemicals used are simple, are Of
American manufacture and can be
obtained anywhere. To "manufac-
ture" ave gallons of fuel it is only
necessary to fill the tank with that
amount of plain water and then add
six ounces of motor gas.-Automo-
bile Journal.