sine 
ECONOMY IN USE OF OIL AS FUEL FOR HARBOR VESSELS. 183 
373) tous of coal/atipa:85 per tom.s..).t sr. sak $1,063.05 
772 barrels of oil at $0.90 per barrel............ 694.80 
Net saving on fuel (for 9 months)........ $368.25 
Net saving on fuel (for one year)......... 491.00 
Add cost of one man’s services (for one year).... 674.00 
Total annual saving by use of oil fuel..... $1,165.00 
Thus, even in New York where the prices of the two kinds of fuel are not 
at such variance, an expenditure of $2,500 in the manner described, would 
result in an annual dividend of over 46.6 per cent. on the investment. 
Whether the substitution of oil fuel in the manner described would 
prove to be a good investment on an ordinary harbor tug engaged in long 
continued towing jobs is a matter of conjecture, but there is no doubt in 
the writer’s mind as to the certainty of saving by the use of this method on 
all harbor vessels engaged in work of an intermittent character, of which, 
as we all know, there are many in all large seaports. There can be but 
little doubt of a great saving if it should be applied to the number of city 
fire-boats now in use in many of our harbors. 
It is almost needless for me to dwell on the advantages other than 
monetary, which accrue from the use of oil as a fuel for steam vessels. ‘The 
smoke nuisance is almost entirely abated; there are no ashes to handle; 
the fire surfaces of the boiler do not need such frequent cleaning; in fueling 
the ship much time is saved, as are also the attendant hard work and dirt 
which accompany all handling of coal; in fact most of the disagreeable 
features connected with work in the fireroom are eradicated. 
While there is but little of value in this brief paper from a scientific 
standpoint, it is hoped that the facts detailed herein may be of some use to 
the members of the Society from the practical standpoint of saving in both 
money and needless work. 
DISCUSSION. 
THE PRESIDENT :—The paper by Captain McAllister, “‘ Economy in the Use of 
Oil as a fuel for Harbor Vessels,’’ is now open for discussion. 
Mr. Joun RE, Member:—I agree with Mr. McFarland that this paper isof par- 
ticular value, owing to the very accurate data which it gives us of an actual example 
