The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18

NEED LUBRICANT
 FOR AIRPLANES
Fly HOLLAND

Fly HOLLAND
 New York, February T.-tSpecial.) E. c. Bedford, who is not only chairman of the board of the Standard Oil company of New Jersey but is also giving valu- able services to the government at this time upon one of the commissions, chat ted informally few days ago with representatives of the American oil in- dustry who met in New York. He spoke encouragingly of the increase in the pro- duction of crude oil in the last six months of 1917 as compared with the production in the first six months. He said that notwithstanding the mag nitude of this production there remained surplus of only about 20.000,000 bar must be greatly speeded up in 1918. Among other things mentioned by MT. Bedford was a reference to the disposi- tion of some of those who are now manufacturing lubricating oils to take advantage of the scarcity of this com modity. being disposed to raise the price 100 per cent above a reasonable charge
 
 ton in Mir. Bedford's s words, for he said if this was not stopped it would surely lead to price fixing and that would in evtable be followed by decreased pro- duction.
 In conversation with President Teagle shortly after he became president of the Standard Oil company of New Jersey a fay p-a ba oIaI evidences of his wonderfully detailed and complete knowledge of all phases of the oil business from production through manufacture to marketing information of which the public has had up to this tune no Knowledge. He said that the amount of crude oil which is now through manufacture being converted into luoricating oil is far in excess of the amount which in a general way the pub lie has been accustomed to regard as the aggregate Iubricating production. Fully 10 per cent of the crude oil, Mr. Teagle said. is now converted into lu- bricating oil. According to that estimate there must have been manufactured last year considerably over 1000 O0O, GOO gallons of lubricatng oil, and yet MT. Bedford felt justified in saying that there is now a scarcity of this commodity.
 IMPORTANCE OF FABRICATION
 Without fabrication industry in the United States would stop and the rail- ways would be compelled to send their engines to the roundhouses and their cars to the sheds. As industries increase and as the demand for railroad trans portation expands there must necessarily be greater demand for lubricants.
 But in one particular-and that is a vital one-lubricants at this time are not available. The government called to its aid, some months ago, a number of highly competent engineers-among them Col. E. A. Deeds, now the right-hand of General Squire of the signal office, and these engineers perfected with a ce- lerity that was really marvellous, the so- called new Liberty motor. It was ad- mirably conceived and is wonderfully per fected for use in the 2O-odd thousand air planes which the United States is now causing to be made. But it lacks one vital factor, and that is the right kind oe lubricant. For the delicate machinery of this motor must be sslxillfully and carefully fed with the persistency and yet the delicacy of water permeating almost insiduously over and through the parts and so adjusting these parts to the work they are to perform that they
 
 great engine upon steamship performs it's function.
 A NEW AGRICULTURE
 Apparently the government at Wash ington having listened to reports of ex- perts is persuaded that castor oil is an admirable lubricant for the Liberty mo- tor. But where is the castor oil to come from? Many thousand gallons of it would be required every day for the Liberty motors of 20-odd thousand air. planes.
 To secure it the government is now asking farmers in the south and in our tropical possessions to plant many thou sand acres to castor oil beans, In the hope that between 100000 and 3oOO0O acres will be set apart for this cultivation dur ing the spring and summer.
 But it will take a long time to grow beans and much time will also be re- quired to convert them into castor oil The government proposes subsidizing the southern planters, or at least guaran- teeing reasonable price for every bushel of castor beans that are raised
 There is to be planting in Florida, some In other states of the south and a great deal of planting in Texas, perhaps 100000 acres. But at least year will be re- quired to secure all the castor oil that Is needed for the Liberty motors.
 WHAT THE GERMANS DO
 Recently German airplane was cap- tured and brought to the surface some where near London or at least somewhere on the coast of England. The English experts have observed that the engines of the German airships work in a most satisfactory manner. but they were not certain what lubricant was employed by Germany for these motors. They found some of this lubricating material in the airplane and sent 1t to the most highly competent experts in London for analy- sis. The experts reported that in addi- tion to certain refined oil and small percentage of vegetable oil, probably ca stor oil. the German manufacturers of the lubricant had infused into the preparation one-fifth of one per cent of graphite.
 Then there came recollection of the fact that only few weeks after war began a representative of the German govern ment found his way mysteriously into London and brought with him an official proposition that Dr. F. G. Acheson. who was at that time in London, should go to Germany and establish there plants for the manufacture of lubricants, ac- cording to the formula discovered by Acheson
 The German government made tempt Ing offer, but pr. Acheson declined to consider 1t on the ground that he was neutral United States not being then one of the belligerents, but as a neutral he was in London under the protection