Preface xxv. 



York Oil and Paint Reporter told us a little 

 time back, it has undoubtedly been furnished 

 in the sharply advancing trend of crude 

 petroleum prices within the last few weeks. 

 The restriction upon the supply of gasoline for 

 the constantly growing requirements, while 

 keenly recognized during the last year or two, 

 has recently assumed a more serious aspect as 

 constituting a menace to the progress of the 

 industry. Almost every day brings some new 

 suggestion for relief, and the movement to 

 secure a more economical fuel for automobiles 

 has reached a national and international scope 

 through the initiative of the New York 

 Garage Association, the International Asso- 

 ciation, of Automobile Clubs and the Society 

 of Automobile Engineers. The reported offer 

 of a substantial financial reward by the second- 

 named organization for a substitute for gaso- 

 line is calculated to lend a quickening influence 

 to the mastery of the question. So far the 

 most practicable efforts in this direction have 

 been conceived in supplying a fuel in w r hich 

 gasoline is used on a much reduced scale. 

 Kerosene was naturally bound to attract atten- 

 tion as the most adaptable agent, for produc- 

 tion of the latter was outstripping consumption 

 at a rate to make its outlet as an illuminant 

 an occasion for increasing concern, but what 

 may have appeared as the economical advan- 

 tages of this medium were offset to a material 

 extent by the bothersome questions of starting 



