El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-03
BY A. n. EOCKHART,
Rio Grunde oil Co.

THAT the use OF oil as a fuel IS be-
coming more and more popular
is indicated by the recent action
Of the Z. s. shipping board in con-
tracing Tor about 12-250.O0O gallons
u fuel oil, covering its requirement.
for six months This oil viii be used
In the governments oil burning yes
sells, Of which there are many
The consideration Of storage space
has had a great weight with ship
builders Of recent times. with the re-
suit that fuel oil is being favored for
this reason, rather than from strict
standpoint OF price Where the mat
ter Of storage space IS seriously con-
cerned, there IS q. growing tendency
10 the use OF oil. This IS true not
BnIy Of vessels. but Of industries
where space limitation prevails
Fuel OIL Gives Mere Heat
Fifty per cent more heat units are
rontained in a volume OF OIL than IN
the same volume Of coal Tor the
same amount OF calorific value, OIL
requires about One-third less SLOT
age space than coal
on has many other advantages over
coal. which the Shipping Board has
not failed TO note Some OF these
advantages are: on can De instantly
LIGHTED and furnaces brought Up 70
working temperatures quicker than
coal, Il being a fact that IN less than
half an hour, a cold boiler can be
brought up TO 3 pressure q 1sO
pounds Of steam
ReEardless Of sudden variations in
the amount Of steam consumed, fuel
oil viii maintain a pressure within
Five pounds OF blow-off. No clean
ing OF fires IS necessary. Refractory
lining IS greatly preserved, due 70 the
lack Of clinkering in the fire box
Fewer workmeu are required TO han
ole oil after # once reaches the stor-
age tank It IS cleaner, givs OF no
Emok or SCOT, perfect combustion pc
ing attained OIL in storage does nor
Fuef on Used Here
For many years the larger indus
tries o. FL Paso rave used fuel OIL,
and It's use has now invaded the
hotels, apartment houses and even
the courthouse building. The county
commissioners early last spring DE-
cfded after comparing figures win
the coal men, that II would pay 70
give oil a try-out From the first,
oil worked splendidly IN their heat
ing system and - now giving won
derful service. Several laundries fol-
lowed the example OF the county ana
At this time all but two launorles IN
Fl Paso are using fusi oil exclusive
y. Others are figuring strongly On
adopting & soon
should Pecos, Toyah or either Of
the Basin prospects prove up 70 the
ulEEA anu exp Aa=AAAAA "a q -A--A AA~ali
we NAY soon have q more plentiful
supply OF fuel oil IN this section and
& would be expected to follow that
with the already growing popularity
Of fuel oil and with coal looking up
in price, fuel oil s. destined 20 be-
come the chief fuel o. Fl Paso AID
district
Meter System Suggested
Il has already been suggested that
. pipe line. carrying fuel oil from
storage tanks. be installed and con-
nections made with buildings in the
loop district whereby users could de-
rive their supply through the same
system as Is used In supplying water
End Eas-ths meter system. use as
you want II and pay for what you
uss." This suggestion comes from q
we'll known Fl Pasoau who Is a rec
oEnized authority on pipe line mat
ters. He thinks the plan entirely
feasible and has gone to the trouble
Of outlining = route. selecting loca-
Gfous for the storage tanks II may
all be e dream. ss he says, but ons
can never tell
In Kansas City and other mid-con-
tinent cities. fuel. oil Is today being
extensively used n residences. Spe-
cial burners are required, but the
change from coal 70 oil Is a com
paratively simple operation and not
expensive
Net q Hard Task.
Conversely, the change from oil to
eoal could be made with less expense.