Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-26
fUE|. OIL MEANS
 LIFE Of AMERICAN :: , | MERCHANT MARINE
Director of Operations For Shipping Board, So
 Declares.

to vastly increased use of Oli fuel by American Merchant vessels have been developed at conferences between heads of the larger oil producing in- terests, ship owners and representa- tives of the shipping board. John H. Rosseter, Director of Operations tor the board, said today that details of the proposals tentatively accepted were being worked out preliminary u action toward establishment of addi- tional oil bunkering facilities at var. ious ports and cooperation with the oil producers to assure a steady sup ply of fuel.
 "Oil fuel is the real solution of the American merchant marine problem,'' MT. Rosseter said in outlining the policy under development. What is chiefly necessary is complete coop eration of the various enterprises and interests concerned, and during the last few days we have succeeded in reaching an understanding, I believe, with oil producers, preliminary to proceeding further. It would be manifestly uneconomie to establish new bunkerage facilities in ports where they now are available and yet it will be necessary to widen the facilities for oil supply to vessels. We have consequently secured assurances that the issuing plants will be operat- ed in conjunction with the system the board is contemplating establishing.
 Investigate Cost. .
 Next, the question of price and the supply to bunkers has been gone. over with results approaching satisfaction. The data as to necessary new con- struction and costs is being gathered preparatory to reporting to the board. Our work so far, of course, has been preliminary only, as, the board has power to commit only itself to the en- terprise.
 "The importance of oil fuel to the future of the American merchant ma rine. I believe, cannot be over-rated. It means the difference between suc- cess and failure, in short. The increas- ed steaimng radius given to vessels operating with oil as against those operating with coal, the reduction in size of crews and the elimination of delays and loading costs are some of the considerations. Finally, the opera tion of ships with coal as fuel, espec- ially. through the tropics, means that "black gangs must be maintained in the boiler holds, working under condi. tions that eventually drive out white men. This tends to themonopolization of these trades by nations whose ship ping laws allow the employment on board vessels of Lascars, Chinese and Asiatic generally, against which American law stands as an effectual bar. .4~o
 < Supply Large
 "Fue1 oil supply; can be, assured un- der. present condition for a long dis tance in the future, though this is one of: the points on which we are assemb- ling data. Eventually we may hope probably for some cooperation on land which would forbid the use of oil on power plants where hydho-electric power is available and a general con- servation program in favor of oil utili- zation in the most necessary place, on the sea. Naturally, some of the conditions of the problem have not yet been established, but personally am most hopeful of a successful policy being established in the near future. :" ROLL, OF HONOR OF ARKANSAS.
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