The use of oil in marine boilers is rapidly forging ahead. There are 200 

 vessels with San Francisco as a home port using oil; these vessels average 

 from small tugs and ferry boats to large ocean steamers of 8,000 tons 

 register. 



There are many other reasons why steamers should use oil, but when 

 we take into consideration all its advantages, more heat units, cheapness, 

 less space occupied, cleanliness, safety, life of machinery — in fact oil as 

 a fuel has no disadvantages — we wonder that ship owners are not falling 

 over each other in adopting it, instead of the cumbersome (stage coach) 

 coal, dirt, loss of time, loss of money and loss of patience. 



If the nineteenth century was the age of coal, the present one will 

 be the age of oil. As a steam producer coal is out of date and it is my 

 belief that inside of five years there will not be a steamer leaving the port 

 of San Francisco using other fuel than oil. If the Bay of San Francisco can 

 float the navies of the world, the oil fields of California can move them. 



Petroleum as Fuel on Locomo- 

 tives AND Steamships. 



By A. M. HUNT 



CALIFORNIA as a producer of petroleum has advanced to the front 

 rank with giant strides in the past few years, and much of the oil 

 produced being of inferior grade for refining purpose, It has come into 

 extensive use as fuel in power plants. 

 It has practically displaced coal as fuel in every steam plant 

 of any magnitude in the State, by reason of its relatively low cost, 

 and simplicity, cleanliness and ease of handling. 



Its market as fuel in stationary plants has been limited, in a degree, 

 by the large amount of power in use that is developed from the water of 

 the Sierra streams, and with the growing production, it was only a ques- 

 tion of time when the railroads and steamship companies would be led to 

 adopt it for fuel. 



Relative cost as compared with other fuels is a very large factor In 

 such a case, but an adequate supply of reasonable permanence had also 

 to be assured before the railroad companies were justified in adopting it. 



Both the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroad Companies have 

 acquired extensive interests in oil properties, thus assuring themselves of 

 their supply for a number of years, and are now using petroleum fuel al- 

 most exclusively on most of their California mileage. Other smaller lines 

 throughout the Central and Southern section of the State are using it 

 exclusively. 



There is, of course, a limiting radius, measured from the oil fields, 

 beyond which it is not economical for the railroads to use the petroleum. 

 Incoming coal from outlying fields will at some point meet the outgoing 

 oil where the cost of production and transportation of the two will balance, 

 so establishing the area within which the latter can be economically used. 



The use of oil fuel on locomotives has certain incidental advantages 

 worthy of note. Freedom from cinders contributes largely to the comfort 

 of passengers. 



Relative absence of flying sparks reduces the hazard of grain fields 

 and forest fires. The handling of ashes is eliminated and the fireman's 

 work rendered infinitely less laborious. 



Mr. H, M. Honn, at one time Traveling Fireman of the Southern 

 Pacific Railroad, San Joaquin Division, comments on its use as follows: 



"Of course, oil burning in this country is in its infancy, and there is 

 room for a great deal of improvement, but considering the length of time 

 we have been at it, it is certainly remarkable to see how those engines go 

 up the hills with their heavy trains, with plenty of steam, no smoke, no 

 dust, no cinders, and no sweating fireman." 



