ECONOMY IN USE OF OIL AS FUEL FOR HARBOR VESSELS. 181 
One feature of this particular plant is that the coal-burning apparatus 
remains intact; the ordinary grate bars are fitted in place, but covered over 
with fire-brick. For purposes of ballast about ten tons of coal in bags are 
carried in the bunkers, so that if it ever becomes necessary to order the 
tug to some other port where oil is not obtainable, or if for any reason the oil 
supply should become exhausted, the change to coal burning could be made 
in a very short time. 
The engineer’s force when coal was used for fuel consisted of four men; 
with oil it is found that three men can easily perform the work, and con- 
sequently one man was transferred to another vessel to filla vacancy. The 
saving in the wages, food, and clothing of the fireman thus dispensed with 
amounts annually to $674. 
Strict account of all expenditures made on Government vessels are 
rendered each month, so that itis possible to submit the following tabula- 
tions (Table I) showing the comparative costs of fuel for periods of nine 
months; first with coal as fuel and second with fuel oil. The contract price 
of coal in San Francisco during the period covered by the table was $5.40 
per ton of 2,240 pounds, and the contract for oil was made at a rate of $0.60 
per barrel of 42 gallons. 
Attention is called to the fact that the miles cruised during the period 
since the oil-burning apparatus was installed are not so great as for the 
corresponding period when coal was used; this was due to the decreased 
demands for the services of the tug and will not materially affect the general 
result. 
The average saving in fuel cost per orn for the nine-months period 
covered by the above schedule is $172.88; for a year at this rate it will be 
$2,075.26. This added to $674, the saving of expense by dispensing with one 
fireman, makes the total annualsaving $2,749.26, which it must be admitted 
is a decidedly good showing for an original investment of only $2,500. 
It is not, of course, to be contended that there would be such a marked 
saving at any port in the country as shown herein, for the high cost of coal 
and the low cost of oil in San Francisco are probably the extremes which 
would be met with at any of our large seaports. However, the saving would 
be sufficient in many harbors to warrant the necessary expenditure. 
For example, if the Golden Gate were stationed in New York harbor, 
the following would be the results based on fuel expenditures for the nine- 
months period given above. ‘The contract price for coal for revenue cutters 
in New York is $2.85 per ton, and fuel oil can be purchased at approximately 
$0.90 per barrel. ‘The amounts of the fuel used are the totals from the 
tabulations: 
