The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-07
MILLIONS ~ OIL
ENAPORATE EACH YEAR.

/ Large loses in crude oil through
evaporation IT, storage and trans
portation were disclosed by iuveSti-
cations reported In the annual re-
port Of H. Foster Balm. director OF
: the Bureau r. Mines. made public
yesterday.
In the few days in which crude
oil il stored on the lease before be-
ing taken 10y the pipe line the ag-
Eregat, loss per year from evapora-
tion amounts to about l22 OO0. 0O0
gallons Of gasoline in the mid-cou-
tinent field alone. This has value.
at - cents per gallon. Of S26.S4O. OO0.
and represents about per cent Of
the total gasoline produced in the
United States from all nelds and all
sources. The bureau found that a
large per cent Of this loss could be
prevented by the use of efficient
equipment
The Bureau OF Mines las pointed
out the considerable losses which
have resulted from the failure OF
many ryhuerIys 10 recover gasoline
from unCond,Hsed stnI vapors. one
refinery in the mid-cOnJinent neId
IL now recovering from stun vapur,
approximately 400 barrels OF gssu-
lane dairy that before the lnstaIla-
ton Of this equipment was either
lost or burned as fuel under the
boilers and stills.
The experimental helium plant At
Petrolia, Texas. conducted under the
authority OF The army and navy he
lium board, WAS in operation during
the year at various times, and he
lium was produced for short periods
4 study OF the Practicabnity 81
storing this rare and non-inram-
mably gas in mine workings was
made at the bureaus experimental
coal mine at 5rucetOn. ia. At thu
cryogenic or low temperature labO-
ratory in Washington. y. C.. liquid
air in quantity is now being pro-
duced. The primary object Of this
laboratory is TO Investigate gases
and liquids at low Temperatures.
with special reference TO tho sepa-
ration Of h,lium from natural Eas
Field Investigations OF possible sup
plies Of helium in natural gas were
completed during the year, every
known gas field in the United
States having been tested.
An investigation Of scrap losses
in aluminium foundry Prac-
uce showed that the annual losses
In the United States amount to ST.
100000, and that universal adop-
tion OF methods recommended 10y
the Bureau Of Mines would prob
ably result in a saving OF about
$COO. 600 per annum. \ new method
was devised TO simplify the collec-
tiun Of radium emanatIon from ra-
dunn salts.
The bureau conducted studies
regarding the use OF liquid oxygen
as an explosive. In cooperation
with the Department OF Agriculture
an investigation was made Of the
use Of cclluluse from curn-cobs N
the manufacture Of dynamite. In
vcstiCatlons were conducted 10 de-
termine the best and safest cundi-
tions for the industrial use II L.
600. 600 pounds or picric acid. held
as surplus by the War Depart
ment. During the year the bureau
called attention TO the danger in
using certain low-grade foreign d't-
orators which had been coming
into the country in large numbers.
A universal gas mask has been
developed by the bureau for pro-
tecting the wearer against all poll
sonous gas not exceeding or
per cent. concentration in air where
a safety lamp will burn. fire.
mans gas mask has also been de-
veloped. A small gas mask for thc
use Of train crews In railroad tun-
nels was devised. Investigation
made in connection with the prob
lem OF ventilation u vehicular tun-
nels showed that from 20 to 80 per
cent OF the heat OF the gasoline
used as fuel for automobile engines
is lost in the form Of unburneo
gases in the exhaust due 10 I'M
proper carburetor setting.
Methods for preparing causiic
magnesia were investigated which
determined that high-grade mag
nesia can be made from some varie-
ties OF magnesia hitherto believed
TO be unsuitable for this purpose
The bureau Investigated dolOmite
as a substitute for the more costly
magnesia in preparing refractories.
and demonstrated thar there cam be
secured from Ohio dolomitc
product superior in msznesia con-
tent TO imported Canadian mag
nestle. w d.