Evening star., 1926-05-11
DIESEL ENGINES
POWER OF FUTURE
Economical Auto Motor One
of Goals of Engineers De-
veIoping Theme.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch TO The star.
BUFFALO, n. y, May 1l.--A def
mite step forward in placing American
transportation on a better competitive
basis with other countries has been
recorded That was the opinion eX-
pressed today by eminent engineers
who gathered here to watch compile
ton of the tests of the two latest
Diesel engines built here by the
Worthington Pump and Machinery
Corporation.
They forecast not only the adapta-
tion of the Diesel engine to the Amer
lean merchant maraine engaged in
foreign trade. to coastwise and inter
coastal vessels and to those engaged
i'll transportation on inland waters,
but to the rail traffic systems of the
nation, automobiles and motor boats.
A successful automobile Di>se! engine
would probably give 40 miles to the
gallon of oil at Il present day cost of
cents.
Let Machinery Sweat
The significance of this trend lies in
the fact that it is a move in direct
accord with the successful American
policy of letting the machinery
sweat" The engineers declared that
the adaptation of the Diesel to modern
meant ability to meet the competition
OF cheap labor without reducing the
wage scale or standard of living 81
American workers.
The importance of these phases of
the economic situation is emphasized
by the difficulty experienced with
Great BritainS transport service.
The art of engineering consists of
doing more with less" said Q. A.
Jorgensen, designer of the Worthing
ton tWo-cyle double-aCting engine.
THAT is what the Diesel engine can
accomplish :
Vice President Fishwick of the
Worthington Co., said the use of pow
dered coal in Diesel engines was any
thing but a remote possibility.
May Dieselize Ships.
It was announced the United Fruit
Co. was considering the Dieselizing of
a part of the addition to its fleet of
refrigerator ships.
Representatives. of corporations
operating large fleets of vessels state
that the saving in fuel costs, esti-
mated at 33 1-3 per cent as compared
with reCiproCating steam engines: the
gain in cargo space, and the reduc
tion in engine room forces would go
far toward eQualizing the lower costs
of construction and operation of for
eign vessels.
The Diesel principle already has be-
come a factor in rail transportation
through Introduction of the gaS-eleC-
trict locomotive One such engine has
Just completed nonstop run in Can
ada from Atlantic to Pacific and re-
turn. In this model weight has been
reduced to less than % pounds per
horsepower. and the experts gathered
here declared il was only a matter OF
a short time when a high-Speed Diesel
would be perfected in the smaller and
lighter types. Wort thington is prepar-
ing to enter this field with an engine
weighing 10 pounds per horsepower.
Lloyds register states that about
"a per cent OF the shipping now un-
der construction calls for motor
driven vessels. and the improvements
of the American Diesel engine build
ers assure this country of "A strength
ened position in world trade.
Not Ai0na i'm Field.
The WolthinGtou Co. officials say
frankly that while they have perfect
ed Il new American type of Diesel,
they are not alone in the field, and
that the capitalization of the Diesel
principle was of more Importance
than the accomplishments Of any one
firm. They indicated. how ever, that
they might invade the English mar
ket on its own ground, building the
engines developed in English fac
tories.
OF the two engines tested today,
both of the four l-cylinder two-cycle
type, one will be used to convert from
steam to motor one Of the / t Shipping
Board vessels selected for such re-
habilitation. Admiral Benson, in dis
cussing this program, said America
must Dieselize its vessels or get off
the sea- The Shipping Board pro
gram is not likely to he very exten-
sive, since the demand Of world trade
now calls for freighters capable of
13 to IA knots. and most of the Ship
ping Board fleet, built on 1t dead
weight tonnage basis, cannot be forced
through the water that fast.
The other engine tested here Will
be use in a lake vessel Of the United
States Steel Corporation fleet.