OIL AS LOCOMOTIVE FUEL 101 



The use of oil is governed largely by local economic conditions, 

 proximity of oil fields and remoteness of coal mines naturally being the 

 main determining factor and the use of oil fluctuates as oil sections 

 become exhausted or as new fields are opened up. 



The Delaware and Hudson Company. — I would advise that the por- 

 tion of our line on which we bum oil is a branch 83 miles long, extending 

 from Plattsburg to Lake Placid, N.Y., passing through the State 

 Forest Preserve. 



During the oil burning season last year oil cost us a fraction over 

 4c. per gallon, with a cost of $0,432 per engine mile. This year we figtire 

 it wiU cost us not less than 5c. per gallon. 



At the same time, coal cost us in 1912, $2.28 per ton, and using the 

 same mileage as operated by oil burning engines it would have cost us 

 $0,132 per engine mile. The excess cost of burning oil over coal for 1912 

 was $56,082. 



As a fire preventive measure it is very satisfactory, but the expense 

 is entirely too great. For a much less expense I beHeve an effective 

 patrol system could be installed and, I think, one just as satisfactory. 



C. S. Sims, Second Vice-president and General Manager, The Dela- 

 ware & Hudson Railway Company. {Relative to lines in the Adirondacks, 

 where use of oil is compulsory by Order of the Public Service Commission.) — 

 During the oil biuming season of 1909 coal was charged at $1.82 per ton. 

 The cost per engine mile on this basis was 10.46c. 



In 1910 oil cost $57,260.33 at 2.25c. per gallon or 28.33c. per engine 

 mile, or $36,045.88 in excess of doing the work with coal. 



In 1911 oil cost $49,916.81 at 2.25c. per gallon, or 25.21c. per en- 

 gine mile, or $26,677.25 in excess of doing the work with coal. 



The coming season of 19 12 we are obliged to contract for our fuel 

 oil requirements at an average price of 3.77c. per gallon ; the last mil- 

 lion gallons, approximately, at a price of 4.25c. per gallon, or a total 

 price of oil for 1912 of $83,703.31. Coal at the rate of $2.45, which is 

 the rate at which coal was charged for the months of January and 

 February of this year, would show an increased cost of using oil instead 

 of coal of $56,454.96. 



For three years, 1910-1912, the increased cost of using oil for fuel 

 has been $119,077.09. 



For a much lower price we could instal a wonderfiilly effective 

 patrol system. 



Extract from address by H. R. Bristol, Superintendent of Woodlands, 

 Delaware & Hudson Railway Company ; read at Forest Conference, in 

 the White Mountains, July 12, IQI2, under the auspices of the Society for 



