100 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



be almost completely nullified if the fireman attends to the sanding of 

 the flues in a proper manner. There are also a niomber of points men- 

 tioned in connection with the mechanical end of the matter and with 

 regard to the maintenance and repair of oil burning locomotives. It 

 also appears that the use of fuel oil is advantageous where there is a 

 danger of snow blockade. 



Supervisor of Equipment, Public Service Commission, State of New 

 York, Second District. — There is a scale which forms on the tubes and 

 which is occasionally released and goes into the atmosphere in a lumin- 

 ous condition. This carbonaceous matter has not been noticed as com- 

 ing out in large particles. 



It is our opinion that there is no necessity for a screen in the front 

 end where crude oil is used. 



We have had no reason to doubt the complete efficiency of oil as a 

 fire-preventative so far as the locomotive is concerned. 



We do not know of any cases where, there is reason to suppose 

 fire has been caused by an oil burning locomotive. 



We consider that the abolishment of special patrols is justified 

 where oil is used exclusively, assuming that section men and other regu- 

 lar employees of the railway companies will be fully instructed as to 

 the reporting and extinguishing of fires, in cormection with their regular 

 work. 



After oiur experience of three or four years in the Adirondack Forest 

 Preserve with oil burning locomotives, we are of the opinion that oil 

 burning locomotives eliminate all fires for which locomotives were here- 

 tofore responsible. 



Chairman, Conservation Commission, State of New York. — The oil 

 used by the New York Central and the Delaware & Hudson railway is 

 supplied by the Standard Oil Company, and is delivered to the railroad 

 companies at Albany. It is shipped to Albany from Texas in oil barges ; 

 price, 2 4-10 cents per gallon f.o.b. Albany. 



I am advised that one of the essential factors in securing the use 

 of oil, in the Adirondacks, was the price which was quoted, and the 

 Standard Oil Company gave a price for a period of 5 years. I do not 

 know why oil could not be shipped from Galveston to Montreal and other 

 points as well as to Albany. 



I ana informed by the Public Service Commission that there are 

 no large railroad companies in the country which use oil exclusively, 

 only about 6,000 locomotives in the United States out of about 70,000 

 being at present equipped for the use of oil. 



