The sun., 1916-11-17
CALLS OIL CONTROL
ESSENTIAL TO NAVY
Secretary Roosevelt Says De-
partment Will Not Go Back
to Coal Burning.
FIGHT on PHELAN BILL
Mining Congress Hears Of the
Great Waste Of
Gas.

CHICAGO, Nov. 1.-THE life Of tho
United States navy 10 At stake In the
night TO retain Government control Of
tho California petroleum reserves. As
sistant Secretary Roosevelt Of the Navy
asserted IN . paper read tonight before
the annual meeting Of the American Min
ing Congress.
ut may be set down a. . definite con
clusion." said the paper. 'that the navy
cannot revert to coal burning vessels
without enormous loss Of efficiency. and.
furthermore, that the nav will moi 90
revert"
The article Is the Navy Departments
opening attack in the renewal OF tho
hight In Congress over the Phclan
amendment TO tho general OF land bill
designed TO protect the claims OF Cali
fornia operators. Navy onicias have
insisted that the policy OF building oil
burning ships could not be carried out II
the amendment prevailed. and Secretary
Daniels appealed directly to President
Wilson when action seemed imminent In
the last session OF Congress.
Mr.. Roosevclt's paper declared that oil
fuel for tho navy meant increased speed
and cruising radius. control Of smoke
for smoke screens. reduced frcroom
forces Of IS per cent. rcfueiing at sea
with an increased efficiency OF IS per
cent. ability to sustain maximum speed
for long periods OF time without clogeing
furnaces. nexibility In speed. and finally
greater safety from submarines. a. In
modern American ships the fuel oil 10
disposed along the bottom to cushion the
blow of exploding torpedoes.
The IS knot battle cruisers. scouts
and d~estroyers authorised by Congress
could not be built. Mr.. Roosevelt as
serted. II coal fuel were to be en-
ployed.
1T is estimated" Mr. Roosevelt o n
tinued. that the navy should have on
hand In time Of peace storage tanks
capable OF holding a full two years
supply for the feet in war time. For
our present needs We should have
probably 1000. 900 barrels SO stored.
Ten years hence we ought to have go
900. 900 barrels.
Oil men are much inclined to ridlcule
the idea that there can ever be q short
& Of oil for naval needs They base
this perhaps on lack Of knowledge OF
what our future needs are to be. The
navy burns to-day In time OF peace
$4,000 barrels a year. The construc-
ton OF ships already authorised by Con.
gress will call for an annual consump-
ton Of 6.72l.o00 barrels in 1923"
Ii battleships are to be replaced al
planned after twenty years service. the
paper stated. the annua consumption
would rts to 1o.c37.0o barrels In ten
years.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the navy was con-
tent that every j~ustlnable claim against
tho reserved lands should be compen-
stated. "bu they must cease to remove
oil from these lands" There was no
question. ne said, that a fair method OF
adjustment could be found.
MAJ w. Ball OF the United states Bu.
reau OF Mines discussed oil production and
the need OF conservation Of petroleum.
products. With 5000, 900 automobiles in
use In the United States by January 1.
1917. the waste OF gasolene was appalling,
he aid within the last few weeks" he
continued. II have seen millions OF feet
OF natural gas wasting into the air. gas
so rich In gasolene that II dropped from
tho trees like an April shower. ] have
seen wells capable OF yielding 40. 900. o0o
cubic feet Of gas, each being deliberately
drowned out by pumping water into tho
gas sands.
twenty -HSo 10 90 per cent - Iett
under Sround. 20 to 20 per cent. Of the
value OF oil produced los, through evapo-
ration In storage: s per e n OF stored
oil lost through FIRE. These losses arc
staggering and not exceptional. What
q small percentage OF this wonderful
natural Is saved to run your
machine or to deliver goods at your door
or to plough the heids from which your
goods must come"