El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-10

the quality OF gasoline was because
when other fields than Pennsylvania
were opened up, II was found that the
gasoline from those fields behaved
bit differently under certain condi-
from the eastern fields. It is well
known that all products from western
oils are Of lower gravity than Penn
sylvaniS and yet, in many respects.
as service Is concerned
Then. too, as we got experimenting
with different kinds OF gasoline for
different kinds OF engines, particularly
with blending natural gas gasoline and
the naphthas we found that we could
not get the gasoline too oily and. as
means OF determining that oiliness. we
used the distillation test"
The Public Pays
Getting down to cases" do you
know why the refiners have not taken
the public into their confidence IN this
distillation test7 The answer is obvi-
Gus. The refiners are watching the
production of new carburetors. new
engines and new fuel devices. II a
lower grade Of gasoline can be uni
versally used, the refiners will give the
public that lower grade but IL isn't
at all likely that anything will be said
on the subject of lower price. Credit is
due the Rio Grande Oil company for
this article is based. City sales man
ager LOCkhart made It clear that the
Rio Grande does not deal IN the So
called blended" gasoline and insists
on the refiners supplying only the pure
grade.
Oregon has law requiring all gaso-
line to pass a certain gravity test An
oil publication carries the following
comment on the oregon law:
The effect Of restriction IS to In
crease cost II a law prevailed that
only oranges measuring three inches in
diameter could be marketed they would
richest and the California orange in
duStry would fade away II some want
extra large or extra choice fruit they
can pay for it while the majority viii
find a less imposing orange just as
palatable and health giving. The Port
land Oregonian finds that a restriction
in the state enactments regarding the
sale Of gasoline is costing the pur-
chaser OF motor fuel in that state mil
lions of dollars The publication re-
ferred 10 says the Oregonian recent
published extracts from a report br
the federal bureau OF standards to the
effect that a specific gravity test for
gasoline is practically worthless as a
gauge Of gasOlines value for use in
combustion engines
Costly for Oregon.
The state of Oregon requires nv law
that al gasoline shall meet a certain
specific gravity test The sum this
worthless law has cost consumers Of
gasoline since its enactment cannot be
accurately given, but II Is doubtless
several hundred thousand dollars
The oregOnian has attempted TO oh
tain estimates OF the amount OF CaSo-
line consumed in Oregon and those fur
nlShed by the three principal companies
vary greatly. It seems to be a con
sentative conclusion that between 20
100000 and 25.o0o,00o gallons were used
in oregon in 1915.
The extra cost imposed on the oil
companies by the Oregon test IS stated
by them 10 be one and one-half cents
"A gallon They say they absorb one
half cent Of this additional cost them
selves and charge the consumer one
cent. II IS an incontrovertible fac
that In the state of Washington. which
does not impose specific gravity test
for gasoline. that commodity sells uni
formly for one cent a gallon cheaper
than IL does in Oregon
1T thus appears that the legal I'm
position OF a worthless gravity test
cost the gasoline consumers OF oregon /
In 1916 upwards of $3.50. 0O0. Ii is a sum
levy for good roads.
There is no question as to the good
roads.
There IS no question as to the good
In tent OF the legislature Of 1918 But ,
II legislated without scientific knowl-
edge. Even the United States bureau
Of standards admits that il is not Yet
ready 20 announce what is a scien-
tific gasoline test for standard adop-
ton"
Detroit Uses New Test.
Detroit. too. seems to have its trou-
bles on the gasoline problems. Follow ,
ing a series Of Investigations conducted /
by G. J. Huxley, chief engineer OF the !
Chalmers Motor company. and J. e. |
Detroit city engineer. the city .
nj NaT - cnH 1F ct
ards for gasoline which must be strict
y observed by all dealers in the city
Designated as Detroit City Stand /
ards the new type OF gasoline IS de-
fined as a liquid hydro carbon OBJ
tanned by straight distillation or by
the cracking process and having boil |
Ing temperature not exceeding $50 de-
grees Fahrenheit. It must distnl at
least % percent at 22O degrees Fahren-
heit and 30 percent under 800 degrees
Fahrenheit when tested by the distiI-
lation test provided for in the or
dinauce.
ANY mixture OF gasoline and kero-
sene which does not measure up 70 this
test must be labeled Mixed OK and |
sold as a mixture Of the two oils. Signs
designating the quality of the gasoline
sold must be plainly displayed on the
pump from which she liquid is drawn |
so that the customer knows which type
he is paying for.
with the constantly decreasing
quality Of the gasoline being sold on
cur city streets today. We decided IL
was time to stage a campaign of edu-
cation for the benefit of motor car
users said Mr.. Huxley. discussing
the new ordinance For test purposes
we purchased samples OF gasoline al
different stations around Detroit and
tested il for kerosene. We found that
from 10 IS percent OF the liquid was
kerosene. The big oil companies blame
the various dealers for the adulteration
and have O. KID the Detroit city stand
ard as a method Of protecting the pub
lie from an inferior product
We are sending the Detroit formula
20 other cities and are endeavoring to
start a nationwide campaign which
will materially improve the operation
or cars for hundreds OF thousands of
automobile owners"
WATCH FOR BLOW HOLE