Motor Notes SYM THETIC GASOLINE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 12

Motor Notes SYM THETIC GASOLINE

UNABLE TO COMPETE Synthetic gasoline, now being produced in Germany, from coal, will be unable to compete with natural petroleum in the United States at the present time, Dr. Thomas D. Baker, president of the Carnegie Institute of Te chnology, at Pittsburg, told the Associated press, in reviewing his recent study of fuels in Europe. Holding there is no basis for alarm of a motor fuel famine here, Dr. Baker said that even should a shortage occur, a satisfactory substitute could be secured. Such a substitute, he said, would cost more than the natural fuel. England, France and Germany, with no natural oil supplies have attempted to meet this “serious” economic problem by transforming coal into oil, continued Dr. Baker. They are possessed with abundant coal resources, he said, and are making rapid strides in research work, especially in Gernany, where the dye trust is producing all sorts of materials from coal, including synthetic gasoline. American fuel research experts are not so much concerned about motor fuel as they are with the development of bituminous coal as a suitable substitute for anthracite for domestic purposes, he said. The cost of producing synthetic gasoline may be reduced as the process is perfected, in the opinion of Dr. Baker.