GAS, OIL AND ALCOHOL ENGINES 433 



an hour's time to get up steam. Not only is there a waste 

 of fire in the fire box, but the steam boiler when under 

 steam contains a large amount of energy, and on cooling 

 down this must all be wasted. 



In regard to the matter of safety the gasoline engine 

 has the advantage again. There is practically no danger 

 from explosion with it, for, as was stated, there is not a 

 large amount of energy stored up which may be suddenly 

 released to cause an explosion. Usually the supply tank 

 is placed outside the building, buried in the ground, so the 

 danger from fire is reduced to a minimum. Steam boilers 

 must have an attendant, lest the water get too low and 

 burn the crown sheet, or become too high so water is car- 

 ried over into the cylinder and knock the cylinder head 

 out. The fire has to be fed continually and the grates 

 cleaned, so that an attendant is needed practically all the 

 time. Such close attention is not needed with gasoline 

 engines. 



The gasoline engine is as portable as the steam engine. 

 As to furnishing its own traction, there are several gaso- 

 line traction engines on the market, and there is no rea- 

 son why with the addition of clutches and variable-speed 

 devices the gasoline engine cannot be made as reliable an 

 engine as the steam traction engine. In proof of the 

 fact that it may be made to furnish its own tractive power 

 it is only necessary to refer to the automobile, which is 

 made to work under great variance of speed. 



In regard to the cost of power from gasoline and coal, 

 each has advantages under certain conditions. The aver- 

 age consumption of gasoline per horse power per hour 

 should be about 1/6 or 1/7 gallon, with a minimum of 

 i/io gallon. The coal consumed per brake horse power 

 per hour is about 8 pounds, with a minimum near 4 

 pounds as burned under boilers to furnish steam for farm 



