350 LOGGING 
transport oil in supply tanks than it is to handle an equal fuel 
value in wood or coal. 
(3) A saving in fuel and water is effected on heavy grades 
and the hauling ability is increased because the steam pressure 
can be held at a desired point by increasing the oil feed under 
the boilers. It is not possible to do this with wood or coal, since 
merely opening and closing the fire box has a marked effect on 
the efficiency of the locomotive under strained conditions. 
(4) A man can learn to fire an oil-burning locomotive in a 
few days because no especial skill is required. A saving in wages 
is therefore effected. 
The relative value of the three kinds of fuel is approximately 
as follows : 
One ton of good grade bituminous coal is equivalent to 1^ 
cords of oak wood, or from 2 to 2^ cords of softwood, and from 
130 to 190 gallons of crude petroleum.^ 
The choice between the different classes of fuel is made either 
on the basis of forest fire danger or on the relative cost. Some 
roads passing through the forested regions use oil during the fire 
season and coal during other periods. 
The amount of fuel consumed daily by a logging locomotive 
is extremely variable, depending on the mileage traveled, the 
loads hauled, the number of heavy grades traversed, and the 
efficiency of the fireman. A 45-ton Shay on a western operation 
averaged 9 barrels of fuel oil daily, while a 37-ton Shay in the 
same region burned about 5 cords of softwood. A 54-ton rod 
engine on a southern pine operation averaged 4 cords of pine knots 
per day, and a 55-ton Shay on the same operation burned from 
2 to 2^ tons of bituminous coal. 
SPARK ARRESTERS 
The laws of most forested states require the installation of 
some spark arresting device in wood- and coal-burning logging 
locomotives. Various types of spark arresters are in use, two 
of which are here described. 
1 Tests on the Boston and Maine, in 1903, showed that from 130 to 140 
gallons of crude petroleum were equal to a short ton of Pennsylvania bitu- 
minous coal. In 1910 the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad in 
the Adirondacks found that from 170 to 190 gallons of crude oil were equal 
to one ton of bituminous coal. ' 
