New-York tribune., 1917-07-29
There Seems To Be a
Plan That Won t Kill
the Automobile
Business
By c. E. T. SCHARPS

aid toward winning the war lheSe
two questions have been asked Of the
automobile editor in relation to the
warning statement issued by A. c. Bed
ford, president of the Standard Oil
Company, regarding the dwindling sup
ply Of fuel oils. The answer is plain:
"No owner of an automobile 1--WE take
exception TO the Characterization OF
pleasure vehicle) will hesitate for a
moment to abandon his car If he by so
doing can aid in winning the war. But
is that the method to be followed"
That there is another way out Is sug-
gested by Henry L. Doherty, a Wall
Street man. He has an angle that is
of interest.
Generally speaking" he says, 81 con-
cur in what Mr.. Bedford has said, but l
hope a careful investigation will be
made before attempting to curtail the
consumption Of gasolene, for it is more
than possible that such move might
bring US closer to an oil famine rather
than bring relief from the present stu
alton.
"The cost Of oil drilling has become
almost prohibitive under present pre-
vailing market prices for material.
Well casing cannot be had for spot de-
livery without payment Of heavy pre-
MUM. Premiums have been offered for
casing which bring the cost of this
steel product above the price prevailing
for copper only a few months ago.
Drilling operations have been falling
off at an alarming rate.
"Many advisers Of the government
seem willing to pay only approximately
2 cents a gallon for fuel oil. The gaso-
lene user is willing to pay 80 cents a
gallon for his supply. A representative
Gil will contain Is per cent gasolene.
The other SIS per cent is left for fuel
oil and other purposes.
at is the high price the gasolene
user is willing to pay for his oil that
makes it economically possible to pros
pect for and produce oil. Curtail the
supply of gasolene and it may bring US
closer to an oil famine rather than in
sure against it.
coil is not like coal-or almost any
other supply we use. New wells must
be constantly put down in the existing
fields to help maintain the supply and
new fields must be constantly found.
Generally speaking, the total amount of
oil in stock is seldom equal to six
months consumption. In other words,
we are always on the verge of an oil
famine If new production is curtailed.
"lf the government commanders the
output of steel mills for shipbuilding
and other purposes an oil famine Is
inevitable. Enough steel must be sup
piled to the oil producers for we'll cas-
ing TO permit the drilling of new wells.
by supplying steel for oil and nat
Cral gas pipe lines great deal can be
done TO insure against fuel shortage
ii different parts of the country-and
not only this, IL is perhaps the quickest
way to relieve the strain on our other
transportation facilities. Fuel in the
form Of natural gas or oil, which can be
transported through pipes, will take
the place of coal and oil, which other.
wise will have to be shipped by rail-
To show, too, that there are Other
methods that may be used rather thar
laying up cars, il is worth while
quoting a part Of a letter published
last Thursday on the editorial page o
this paper:
"Seven years ago the United State
government made tests recorded !,
Bulletin 392 of the Department Of tn
Interior which showed that denature
alcohol could be used with perfect sue
cess in almost any gasolene engin,
the only change being in the adjust
ment of the needle valve of the car
buretor, which would have to delive
a double quantity of liquid. The use
would find II a little harder to start
but he would be able TO use so per cen
alcohol and even 20 per cent alcohol.
"The question. then, is not whethe
cars shall be retired from all but tn
most necessary uses, but whether tn
patriotic owner will consent TO run o,
!. alcohol and whether the Congress vii
N enact such laws as will encourage
y sufficient supply Of denstured alcoho
substantially at the cost of manu-
facture.
at needs only encouragement to ere
ate an enormous production of alcohol
and this mainly out Of what is actuall
waste material. A process now exist
by which wood alcohol may be turne
into ethyl alcohol and denatured Tn
cost Of this fuel will be somewha
greater than the present price of gaso
lene.
at is rather absurd to ask an owne
who has paid $1,000 or $4,000 for
car, on which the depreciation for tn
year will be from 5000 70 $500, to sb
stain from using IL when il is perfectl
practicable by suitable legislation an
at an increased expense TO him of no
more than $50 on perhaps 5000 mile
Of use TO provide him with an entirel
suitable substitute fuel, viz, alcohol
And not only is alcohol suggested
but actual experience in England will
coal gas-the sort that is burned for il
lumination-seem TO point way ou
for this country. A. Jackson Marshall
secretary Of the Electric Vehicle As
ISOLATION, says that the Great Grimsb,
Street Tramways Company, Clee
thorpes, have fitted some Of their fee
with flexible gas holders, holding 60I
cubic feet and requiring twelve ant
one-half minutes 20 fill. These car
are Of the Daimler make with 40-horse
power motors. No alteration 20 tn,
carburetor was necessary, beyond ft
ting a butterfly valve in the air-in
take pipe. in order TO enable the drive
20 regulate the air supply as required
and IL was found that the best result
are obtained with the valve nearl!
half closed.
Mr. White Of the above company
according 10 "The London Commercial
Motor" states that "the Daimler en-
CINE runs very smoothly on gas, &C
celebrating with the same ease as whei