162 OIL FIELDS OF TEXAS-LOUISIANA COASTAL PLAIN. Lbull.212. 
a locomotive firebox the combustion is much more complete with 
petroleum than with coal, and a correspondingly larger proportion of 
the theoretical fuel value is utilized. This may amount to as much 
as 30 per cent added to the efficiency of the boiler. A further great 
advantage in locomotive use is that it weighs only 67 per cent as much 
as coal having the same heating capacity. 
Practical tests of Beaumont petroleum have been made by the 
Southern Pacific Railroad and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Rail- 
road. Both of these roads had already had experience with California 
petroleum, and were therefore in a position to carry out their experi- 
ments in a practical way. According to Mr. Stillmau, of the Southern 
Pacific road, the specific gravity of the oil used was 0.050-1 (16° B). 
It had a flash point of 240° F. and fire test of 200° F. The results of 
the test on this road, as compared with coal, are shown in the follow- 
ing table : 
< 'omparative test of petroleum and coal for locomotive fuel. 
Miles run 
Average steam pressure ' 
Gallons of water evaporated . . 
Gallons of oil burned ___... . 
Pounds of fuel burned 
Miles run per ton- _ 
Amount of the two fuels doing the same work 
Coal. 
224 
130 
8,043 
55.72 
&1 
a Barrels of 42 gallons. 
b Ton of 2,000 pounds. 
From this test it appears that with petroleum at 30 cents per barrel, 
which is somewhat above the market price prevailing at the time the 
test was made, coal should be worth only 03 cents per ton; or, stated 
in another form, with coal at $3 per ton, petroleum should be worth 
97 cents per barrel. 
METHODS OF BURNING THE OIL. 
Of the numerous styles of oil burners on the market, practically all 
consist of various modifications of the sprayer. Some of the earlier 
styles were of a different pattern, but these have been abandoned. 
The burners now in use all work on the principle of spraying or, as 
some claim, vaporizing the oil by the use of steam or air under con- 
siderable pressure, working somewhat on the style of a Bunsen 
burner. When steam is used it should be taken from the highest 
part of the boiler and should be dry. It need not be superheated as 
was at one time considered necessary. 
When working properly the flame is a clear white with an intense 
