The Washington herald., 1918-01-15
LACK OF OIL
DELAYS MOTOR
Uncle Sam Faces Problem
in Finding New Lubri-
can't, Says Holland.


Bureau, has recently described the
progress which has been made in
the construction Of aircraft and in
the training of those who are to
drive them through the air. and
speaks encouragingly of the pros
pect that in the course of this year
the United States will have ready
for service many thousand aircraft
with competent drivers.
Sometimes the estimate has been
made that as many as twenty thou
sand. perhaps even twice twenty
thousand. OF these air machines
will have been built for the United
States by the spring of 1919. Mr..
Coffin appears to BE strongly per-
suaded that the American aero
planes will be built and operated
in sufficient numbers to enable
them to contribute greatly to the
ultimate triumph Of the United
States and our allies in the war.
Many have been the obstacles over
come in meeting this sudden and
almost overwhelming demand by
the government. not the least of
them being the construction of
motor built wonderfully conceiv-
ed and constructed with celer-
ity by experts. presumed to be bet
ter than any English or foreign ap-
paratus of that kind, and SO truly
representing a real work Of Gre
alton as to deserve an identifying
name. so that it is called the Lib
erty motor. In all respects. except
ing one, the success of this motor
is now established. Mr.. Coffin
merely hints at the single contin-
gency which remains successfully
10 meet If the Liberty motors are
do their allotted work to perfec-
ton. The contingency will be met
should there be furnished an ample
and continuing supply of lubrt-
cant perfectly adapted for use In
these motors
In a brief paragraph Mr.. Coffin
states that the government will
ask that many thousands Of acres
be planted this spring in the United
States to the cultivation OF the cas-
tor bean. Apparently upon a suf-
Hcient supply Of castor beans
manufactured into castor oil. the
complete success OF the Liberty
motors depends, in his judgment.
Appealing for Aid.
A few days before Mr.. Coffin's ar
, ticle was published business man OF
New York, who has large interests In
San Domingo. received a communities
ton from government authorities sug-
gesting, even urging. that he cause
a large cultivation Of castor beans in
San Domingo. II this business man
received such appeal, presumably
others who have interests IN tropical
countries have received similar re-
quests from the government. The area
in the United States where the castor
bean can be successfully cultivated for
industrial purposes Is somewhat lin
tied The vine grows and the bean
natures well only in a hot climate
But the statement made by Mr., Coffin
representing the cultivation of the
castor confirms information which has
come from some Of the authorities in
Washington. conveying the somewhat
remarkable statement that it has been
found that castor oil is the only lubri-
cant which can be, so far as IL Is nov
known, used successfully n the LIB
erty motors. No wonder, II that be so,
that the government is seeking a great
cultivation OF the castor bean. For
in order to supply the aircraft ard
Liberty motors with sufficient castor
oil successfully to operate them. mil
lions Of gallons of this oil must be
used. Some of the authorities look
upon II as very doubtful whether there
can be such cultivation Of the castor
bean and manufacture of oil from it
as to begin to meet the demand.
Should there be in service no more
than 1000 aircraft, and should no more
than five gallons of castor oil be need
ed for each days service. which av-
erages five hours, then az much as
5000 gallons of castor oil will be re-
quired each day. II that amount can
be supplied. then what Is probably
the greatest embarrassment of the air
craft problem will be overcome.
Liberty Motor Lubricants.
Mineral oils, the authorities have
discovered, will not serve as lubri-
csnts for the Liberty motors. If they
could, then there would be no en-
barrassrnent. Science may work out
the perfect lubricant for the Liberty
motors, and II it does the rather
puzzling question created by the
doubt whether there can be sufficient
castor oil supplied for this service
will be satisfactorily answered.
The government at Washington Is
now making tests, or Is about to make
tests. of a commodity invented by DR..
E. G. Acheson, widely known as the
discoverer and inventor Of carborun-
dunn and artificial graphite. Some of
the experts are inclined to think that
this commodity will show after tests
that It is exactly what the Liberty
motors need
Artificial graphite itself when prop
erly prepared furnishes a model lubri-
cant for many purposes. DIR. Acheson
has caused it to be known to the
government officers that In case the
test of this commodity Is satisfactory
and the government accepts 1t for
the Liberty motor, then all he will
ask the government to do Is to pay
the actual cost Of production, seeking
no profits.
It Is a curious fact that, highly
perfected as the Liberty motor is,
and encouraged as was the govern
ment that II had at last secured the
perfect motor for aircraft, there
should Of a sudden have arisen not
only a difficult problem, but one that
it Is imperative to solve, and that is
the securing or an adequate supply Of
the kind Of lubricant which Is needed
for the operation Of the Liberty
motor.
HOLLAND.