Year: 1867

The exDerimcnts which Tor ScVcfU months
have been in progress mt Boston, looking to the
successful application of petroleum as fuel for
steamships. have been watched with much in
terest, and their results have been very mn
portant. These results as claimed by the III
yentor Of the system under trial. are saving
of four or five to one in space required Tor tne
storage of fue and of at least five-sixths OF the
labor required for feeding and tending the
fires. to say nothing of the actual cost, which
depends upon the relative prices of coal and
oil. Application was made to the Secretary OF
the Navy in November last, for opportunity
to test the practicability Of petroleum as
fuel upon Government vessel lie De-
partment had already, in 1862, appointed a.
committee of naval engineers to experiment.
upon this subject, and upon this application
Board of three Chief Engineers was ordered 10
examine the proposed experiments, the gun
boat Palos being selected for the trial. Previous
to entering upon the petroleum trial, her en-
rines were tested with coal, thirtysx rev0lu-
tions per minute, with thirty pounds of steam,
being obtained. In the first petroleum test,
thirty-four revolutions were obtained WIN the
same head of steam and in the second test fifty
revolutions, with pressure of thirty pounds
A comparison of the weight of the oil and the
coal showed that one pound of oil had done
the work of eight pounds of coal, and the gen
eral comparison of weight has shown one bar
rel of petroleum to be equal to one tun OF coal.


Crude oils are used, OF gravity ranging
from 81 to AZ degrees The oil is first conveyed
directly to a cast-irOn retOTt, and vapO1zed by
means of q slight fire underneath. Due proper
tions of steam and common air are incorporate
ed with the vapOr, and the gases thus evolved
constitute the fuel. This burns with an intense
heat and the combustion is perfect that no
smoke is visible at the outlet of the smoke
stack The fire is under perfect control and
there being no ashes, clinker, nor refuse coal 10
clog the fires they may he run IN indefinite time
without stOppage for cleaning. The burning OF
coal upon the Palos required the services 0f
twenty lone fremen and cOal-passers; with
the petroleum only three men were need
ed. This same principle may be applied
to locomotives as well as steamers, and, indeed.
upOn the Franklin and Warren Railroad, III
Western Pennsylvania, n petroleum burning ap-
paratus has been successfully employed The
petroleum regions are making still further use
of the oil by applying the necessary apparatus
10 the fires of the engine-hOuses at the wells
thus saving very large outlay for wood or
coal. During the hight of the speculative fever,
when dozens of wells were being sunk upon
each acre on the favorte localities, all the
coal for the engines was transported ion miles
over frightful roads at great wear and tear OF
horses and wagons, and at corresponding
cost to the well-owner. Nearly all this great
expense might have been saved had the use ot
petroleum for fuel been practically understood
The experiments at Boston are to be continued,
and petroleum tested upon sea voyage. The
Importance of the subject should insure for 1t
rigid and persistent investigation. Should
the result of the experiments continue 10 be
satisfactory the carrying capacity of our steam
ships will bc largely increased, while their pay
rolls may be greatly diminished coalng sta
tons may Ice discontinued, and vessel may
leave New-Yorll with enough fuel On board 10
propcl her around the world.