PETROLEUM. 73 



ciple is the matter to which emphasis is called. " Cracking " is the 

 leading potentiality in petroleum refining, no less so because it per- 

 mits the production of the other main products according to demand, 

 without sacrifice of by-product possibilities.^ The importance of the 

 whole matter may be evalued by having regard to the fact that at 

 present, even with " cracking " well launched into practice, less than 

 one-half of the petroleum produced is manufactured into products 

 representing an ideal apportionment^ of the raw material into its 

 components.^ The production of gasoline may be doubled eventually 

 or even more greatly multiplied without increasing the production of 

 crude petroleum.* 



The internal-combustion engine of the type currently in use in the 

 United States has been the subject of greater refinements in special 

 qualities — luxury qualities — than in respect to efficiency. That is 

 evidenced in the widely varying gasoline consumption on the part 

 of the familiar brands of automobile motors, which show a range 

 from 20 miles and more to the gallon down to a yield of only 6 or 8 

 miles in the case of high-price cars. While the sacrifice of efficiency 

 in favor of special qualities is, perhaps, legitimate to a certain degree, 

 it would appear that the desire for invidious distinction has led to 

 an undue focus of attention away from utility. With the rigors 

 born of resource limitation — a certain eventuality — and upon the 

 passing of the automobile more fully from the realm of a luxury into 

 that of a necessity, a greater and more universal reach toward motor 

 efficiency may confidently be counted on. But improvements in mo- 

 tor design will not lie along the single line of gaining more energy 

 from gasoline ; the effective use of heavier petroleum distillates, such 

 as kerosene ° and fuel oil, and of other liquid fuels, such as alcohol, 

 benzol, and tar oil, will be planned for and the broad trend of motor 

 development will shape toward the character of the resource in its 



i It should be clearly held in mind that " cracking," with Its attendant by-product 

 possibilities. Is a matter in constant course of development. The Bureau of Mines Is 

 actively engaged In furthering research and experimentation along those lines, though 

 progress Is hampered by inadequate financial resources. 



»An ideal apportionment can not be attained so long as there is an overproduction of 

 crude petroleum in respect to the demand for gasoline and other motor fuel, kerosene, 

 and lubricating oil, and there remains an economic demand for such an overproduction. 

 Hence the extent to which " cracking " may be applied is, of course, limited by economic 

 factors. 



» " We are to-day using efficiently — that is, for gasoline and lubricating purposes — not 

 more than 30 per cent of our oils. The other 70 per cent is used in competition with 

 coal or exported for foreign countries and is generally sold for less than cost of pro- 

 duction." Yearbook of the Bureau of Mines, 1916, Washington, 1917, p. 133. 



* " Cracking " brings in the asphaltic oils as eCfectlve producers of gasoline, a fact of 

 no small economic significance. 



• " Perhaps no phase of the fuel situation has so interested automotive engineers as the 

 use of kerosene in place of gasoline. Present market conditions are such that kerosene 

 Is one of the cheaper petroleum products, and as It has already been demonstrated to 

 work satisfactorily in internal-combustion engines under certain conditions, there has 

 been a great desire to render it available for general use in automobiles. The Bureau 

 of Mines has had called to its attention many devices for the utiliaation of kerosene, 

 but believes that mechanical development in this particular line is a mistake. The 

 logical and reasonable way to utilize kerosene is not as such, but as a mixture with 



