Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-14
FRACTION OF FUEL
REACHES WHEELS
Problems That Face the Wider
Use of the Automobile Be
fore Meeting of Experts.

According to G. r. kcttcrng mcm-
Der OF the Society Of Automobile Eu,
gineers, only about per cent of the
total energy OF gallon OF gasoline
consumed I'm the motor reaches the
rear wheels Of an automobile on the
average. This was stated hy MIR. Kct-
toring at the last meeting of tho
Metropolitan section Of the society of
Automobile Engineers. Mr.. kcttcring
spoke Oh some Of the problems that
face the automobile engineer These
problems concern the motorist. and
the following resume Of what MIR.
Kcttering said is taken from the S. A.
j. Bulletin:
There are two sides to the dovclop-
ment Of any apparatus, according TO
/ Mr.. ketterlng. one is the bringing
>pgethcr of certain mechanical results
ava the better combination Of such
parts as the plStous, cylinders and
transmissions. The other is the i'm
prOVcmcnt of the materials that enter
into these parts. The automobile of
today rs a result OF the combination
OF mechanical paIts ana of wonderful
materials. 4 great deal Of credit is
due 10 the metallurEist for the de-
Nolopment of the automobile because
Of his work In producing high quality
Bcels, such as are used for gears
springs and for tool stccls I'm high.
speed production.
Mr.. kettoring called attention to
,he enormous extent the internal
Combustion engine has entered into
our present civilization. The measure
of the progress Of man has been his
ability to use power external from
himself The real factor i'm the de-
Velopment of modern civilization has
been that ability. Outside of the
steam engine and the locomotive, the
automobile with the gas engine has
been the first device known that pro
vides an isolated power-powcr that
he can carry around where ne wishes
to use IL.
There Is n tremendous problem be
fore the scientists of today I'm de-
Veloping what he called "A fluid eX-
tract of power. He proposed that
water power that is not commercially
developable at the present time be
utilized for eight or nine months in
the year in producing. not necessarily
new fuel, but a type Of hydro carbon
That VIII serve as a solution to the
fuel problem.
Another method he suggested for
the solution of this problem was the
production of alcohol He believed
that the present law providing for an
alconol tax should be repealed, so that
scientists would find IL worth while 10
attack the problem and make use OF
alcohol commercially practicable. The
alcohol law, Mr.. kettering asserted,
was an absolute bar To one of the
most fertile fields of investigation as
regards automobile fuel. lie suggested
the adNisabllty of the sOcictyS form
Ing committee to study the fuel Situ-
alton.
As an example of research work. he
described at some length the develop
mcnt of the metal tungsten This is
of interest to the automobile industry
in two ways. First, because of its use
In stoels used for cutting tools I'm the
modern high-speed machines that
have entirely revolutionized factory
methods; second, the development of
tungsten has led to its use in mean
descent bulbs, thus resulting In a
much more efficient and desirable
bulb. He also mentioned the work
started by Mr.. Hyatt. which resulted
In the roller bearing of that name. al
mo the research was instituted in or
der to develop billiard ball.
What is going To be the next big
step in the development of invention?
Mr.. kettering gave this answer: Tho
next greatest development will be
along the line of greater energy from
fuels AT present a gallon Of gaso-
llne is used in an automobile, and un-
uei ordinary conditions only about 3
per cent Of its total energy is de-
IiVered 10 the rear wheels. As 4 re-
suit. greater advances will be made i'm
improving this condition than in any
other line.
IN concluding an address that held
thc close attention of "A large audience
ihruout. Mr.. Kettering compared tho
workers in pure science to the path
finders who lay out the transconti-
mental and other long road tours
These pathfinders locate the road that
tho vehicles taking the tour will cover
IN the same way. the scientists are
really the pathfinders who are laying
out the road the engineer will follow
IL "a therefore. real necessity for
nm to know something about the
various branches of science. because
thoy represent the problems of the
re.-Dalas News