Great Falls tribune., 1921-06-05

In spite Of tie fact that Montana
motorists pay a higher price for gas
oline than those in any other state, it
has been only within the last two
years, since the starting of the state
oil inspection department, that the
grade Of gasoline has been of the same
quality or better than that sold in 9th
er states This, in substance, lis state
ment Of w. I. Ballard, state oil inspec-
tor, who was recent visitor in Great
Falls. The standard Of inspection now
insisted upon by the state oil inspector
is higher than that of many western
states and the excellent co-operatlon
which refineries, distributors and deal
ers have expanded to the state OIL ln
spector of Montana is due IN great
measure to the spirit of fairness Wh,ch
has prompted the inspector IN all MS
work.
The state oil commission was Great
ed by the legislature in 1913 ana con-
sists of the governor, the attorney
general and the secretary OF s'ate' 1ne
later being ex-officio state OIL inspect
or but it is within his province to ap-
point a deputy who performs al the
duties of the office. In 1913, secretary
of State G. T. Stewart appointed W.
I. Ballard to this position and because
of Mr.. Billiards. efficient services re-
appointed him at the beginning OF the
new term, January l. 1921. The state
oil laboratory, where all Oil samples
are tested and analyzed is at the Mon
tana State College Bozeman, and IS
in charge Of w. NJ. Cobleigh, state
chemist, and L. C. Humphrey. analyst.
Kinds OF Gasoline.
The easolines sold in Montana are
produced by several general methods
and are classified as follows:
1.-Straight refinery gasoline.
2-Blended casing gasoline.
3.-Cracked and blended gasoline.
The analyzing of gasoline for use in
motors in Montana is based on the
practices set forth in a technical paper
by r. w. Dean of the Bureau of
Mines. He says:
THE fundamental principle upon
which gasoline tests and specifications
must be based is that quality is not in
herent but is determined by the SER
vice required. For instance. gasoline
that is entirely satisfactory in present
day cars or trucks might have been
almost useless in the cars of several
years ago and would not serve in air
plane motors at all. Hence. a discus
sion of the desirable properties of gas
oline must be confined to general state
nents and then if reduced to specif-
cations, must take into account the
conditions of use. The essentially de-
sirable properties Of gasoline may be
summarized as follows:
High Volatility Not Desired.
1.-THE gasoline should not contain
too large percentage Of highly volatile
products. which tend to cause large
evaporation losses and excessive dan
ger in handling and storage, but
should have enough volatile constitu-
ents to permit starting an engine with
out preheating.
'2-The gasoline should not con-
tain considerable percentages of heavy
or non volatile constituents, which
after atomization into the engine cylin-
ders cannot be completely vaporized
and burned.
"3.-The gasoline should not con-
tain material that after combustion
leaves a residue that collects in the
motor.
"4-The gasoline should be free
from substances that attack metal
either before or after combustion. I'm
removed acid fused in refining) falls
under this head
"5.-Neither the gasoline nor its
products Of combustion should have
strong or markedly disagreeable
odor as this is Objectionable to users
Of automobiles.
These stated requirements are sim