One pound of good Coast coal (Comox or Wellington) will turn 

 Into steam from 8 to 9 pounds of water from and at a temperature of 212 

 degrees F. 



The cost of fuel then, per pound of water evaporated, will be: Petro- 

 leum, 0.0099 cents; coal, 0.026 cents; showing that coal at $5.00 per ton 

 costs, as fuel, 2 6-10 times as much as oil at 45 cents per barrel; or, in 

 other words, the cost of good coal must be reduced to $1.92 per ton to 

 compete with oil at 45 cents per barrel. 



It is generally admitted in practice that four barrels of oil are the 

 equivalent of one ton of coal under average conditions. This would make 

 the equivalent cost of coal to oil at 45 cents per barrel $1.80 per ton. 



The steaming capacity of boilers is considerably increased by using 

 liquid fuel. Opinions differ as to the actual increase in capacity, claims 

 having been made that from 25 to 50 per cent more steam could be pro- 

 duced by a given boiler with oil as fuel than could be produced with coal. 



The greatest advantages In the use of petroleum as fuel, aside from 

 the low cost, are found in the saving of labor in firing, cleaning fires, clean- 

 ing boilers and handling coal and ashes — in large plants the difference 

 amounting to very considerable sums. Again, the saving of storage space 

 is of great importance, as a given supply of oil fuel can be stored in hatf 

 the space occupied by a corresponding amount of coal. Further, Uquid 

 fuel may be stored in tanks remote from the boilers and placed below the 

 ground, whilst coal must be so placed as to be easily reached from the 

 boiler room floor. 



For the production of power on board ship, petroleum has all the 

 advantages enumerated above, and is in many respects an ideal fuel. 

 Aside from its low cost, the advantages derived from ease of handling and 

 small storage bulk cannot be overrated. Not only does petroleum occupy 

 only half the space required for coal, but it can be carried in parts of the 

 ship not otherwise useful. The consequent increased cargo space means 

 increased earning power for the ship. The saving in time is also a very 

 important matter. Where formerly from one to three days' time was re- 

 quired to coal a ship, necessitating moving to the coal bunkers and a delay 

 in loading cargo, the necessary oil fuel is now pumped into the ship from a 

 barge in a few hours without interfering with the handling of cargo, and 

 consequently without loss of time. In addition, the objectionable coal 

 dust and dirt incident to coaling is entirely done away with. 



In a small coasting steamer fitted to burn oil fuel about three years 

 ago, careful records have been kept of the fuel cost, both with coal and 

 oil. The cost for fuel averaged for a period of six months in each case 

 was: Coal at $5.25 per ton, $2.65 per hour; petroleum at 70 cents per 

 barrel, $1.64 per hour. 



Petroleum is now being used as fuel on locomotives generally 

 throughout the States. On the Great Eastern Railway, England, the 

 average consumption of fuel in express locomotives is stated to be: Using 

 coal, 35.4 pounds per mile; using oil, 16.5 pounds per mile. 



Next to lower cost of fuel, the greatest advantages in using oil for 

 locomotives are undoubtedly the ease and rapidity with which fires can 

 be regulated, and the absence of sparks, which fre,quently cause exten- 

 sive fires along the route. 



As stated above, the internal combustion engine is attracting much 

 attention and is coming into very general use. These engines are of two 

 types: The gas engine proper, and the gasoline or oil engine. When a 

 simple and efficient gas producer capable of making a fixed gas from 

 petroleum at a moderate cost has been invented, there is no doubt that 

 the gas engine will to a great extent displace the steam engine. 



In California the gasoline or oil engine is in general use, the fuel 

 belnff gasoline or distillates of various kinds, produced in the process of 

 refining crude petroleum. For localities where fuel is expensive and water 

 scarce, and for the user of small amounts of power, the gasoline engine 

 is very desirable. By equipping the gzisoline engine with a generator to 

 heat the liquid fuel, it is possible to use Coalinga oil and less expensive 



