Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-18
SEEKING SUBSTITUTE
IN PLACE OF GASOLINE
A"s'hcers Of United Kingdom EN-
pertinent With Alcohol and
Illuminating Gas.
MUST REMODEL ALL ENGINES
coal Gas Used With Success, $500
vehicles In England Being Equipped
with Containcrs-Now Common
sight In London.

with gasoline selling Mt "a cents a
gallon. which was the price when m
american consul was reporting on the
"uo'ect last winter. something in the
pim OF substitute has naturally been
ohoect OF dillgent search in
england Several possibilities have
oecR .canvassed by the automobile en-
ssnects OF the United Kingdom, alco-
o' lot time seeming to offer pros
pec.s or solving the problcb. The ne
.cessity for remodeling existing types
: ~ 6aSoiine engines for its use, how
~ mas operated against the extern
oioh or alcohol. although the advocates
=. IL as domestic fuel have been laying
sfess on the possibilities Of turning
' potato supply TO greater use and
.nus reducing the national dependence
on Imported motor spirits.
=, mo most promising experimenting In
me search for gasoline substitute has
oceh along the lines Of adapting illu-
ininating gas to motor uses For more
man year automobile firms in several
h1itish cities have been evolving types
OF containers for coal gas. which could
90 hiled from the mains Of cities where
gas plants are maintained and would
!. replace the gasoline for motive power
Ihe topic has been discussed al
meetings OF technical societies and
some interesting papers has been read
on II. 4 committee has been formed
on gas traction and ingenious invcn-
tors have been applying themselves to
discovering the proper form of recep-
,acle for storing II on automobiles
FOR the present tho motive underlying
inc enort Ia to obtain temporary war
ume substitute for gasoline, but one
government official who is in charge of
petrol economy intimated at meeting
mat the use OF coal gas In motors was
not mere war expedicnt, but marked
development ''of lasting economic
Importance.
MANY NOW EQUIPPED
TO REG on COAL GAS
a considerable practical application
has already been made OF these scien-
tho Investigations, and Il Is estirnatc ted
mat more than $500 commercial vehi-
cies In England are already equipped
TO run on coal gas. while manufacture
ers report that many additional orders
Tor containers are being received. In
fact. the use Of the gas bags is becom-
ing common enough 10 attract notice
by the changes IL has made in the ap-
pearance OF London streets.
The British government does not I'M
der present conditions, permit the COM
preston of gas IN steel cylinders. and
hrm OF tire manufacturers set about
the making OF gas containers made Of
materials usually employed in motor
tire construction. These containers are
about feet 6 inches long by foot 3
inches diameter, weigh about 60 pounds
and will hold the equivalent OF two gall
Ions OF gasoline. This equivalent II
seems. Is about 500 cubic feet OF gas
ESQ feet representing one gallon Of gas
oline in power generated
\ Nottingham firm, which expert
mentcd first with COMPRISING gas IN
steel cylinders and learned the supc-
rior advantages of flexible storage
bags, has evolved a containcr for at
tachment to the roof Of the vehicle
which has worked out TO n D-shaped
affair. the bottom being fiat and Sc
curely fastened to the top Of the auto
mobile by means OF bolts and screws
1t Is fitted inside of n wooden box
made Of thin brackets. The box usually
has depth OF sl-2 feet length and
breadth depending on the size OF the
vehicle The inside on the box Is lined
with heavy canvas. to which are ap-
piled several coats OF thick oil paint
and shellac in order TO render II gas
tight
Flexible containers, circular in shape
and pointed at each end, are also being
used on motorcycles with the sidecar
attachment and arc said to be giving
satisfaction.
The chief objection to the nexible
containcr Is its bulky and somewhat
unSlSntly appearances. LEAKAGE, 100,
seems by the most recent reports TO be
material factor. II 'may after one
months use of inferior fabrics equal
the actual gas consumption. The con-
taincr itself appears to be rather short
lived as we'll, the normal working life
OF most OF them being only about eight
months.
Sufficient encouragement is felt
from the present experiments. however.
10 warrant committee which will
Investigate the subject in asking to
have inquiries carried On by experts
in connection with portable gas-gen-
Grating plants. the commercial use OF
gas for traction purposes in containers
nj high pressure, questions relating to