PROGRESS OF OIL FUEL

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 7916, 13 June 1902, Page 4

PROGRESS OF OIL FUEL

Whilst the advantages of liquid fuel and the possibility of its successful mechanical use have been generally admitted, little or no progress in its application had been made outside the-Russian inland Caspian Sea, until recently," and the reason of this ■tagnation has been mainly of a commercial character (writes Engineering). The supply of fuel outside Russia, has been but nominal, and' no general application was possible until the recent'discovery of large!,supplies of oil suitable for fuel first in. Borneo »nd Burmah, and quite recently in Texas and California. It is to be regretted that the only one of these sources of supply that lies in British territory is fiat of Burmah. The whole aspect of the, question, whether regarded by the Admiralty, the shipowner, or the naval architect, has been changed bv the assurance of continuous supplies of liquid fuel; and it becomes necessary to treat the question, not only : as of practical importance, but of.urgency to those responsible for the highest-efficiency of fighting and carrying ships. The British Admiralty has determined to exhaustively test the use of this newly resuscitated means of evaporation, not only in destroyers, but also in three cruisers and one battleship. The Italian Admiralty have been pursuing the question for some years, even before large supplies were assured.. The German Admiralty have used the liquid fuel on the China station for many months in lieu of coal for auxiliary purposes on board ship. The Hamburg-American Steamship Company have fitted four steamers for liquid fuel, and the North GenmaiL Lloyd two vessels. The Dutch navy have fitted liquid fuel apparatus in conjunction with; coal to two destroyers, and Dutch mail and cargo steamers in the Far East have- the new liquid fuel in regular use. • Danish shipowners have ordered the building-in Germany of two steamers to burn liquid fuel, and some 20 vessels under the British flag are now running regularly under liquid fuel, whilst at least-a dozen, are building with suitable fuel; apparatus included in their design. It' may be expected that uhe supply to many existing stations will be drawn as regards the ports east of the' Suez Canal from Borneo: and Bangokm, .and as regards those west of the 'Canal and in South' America from the Texas fields 1 .;; South 'African stations being, neutral as regards the heavy charges of the Suez* Canal, are therefore likely to draw their supply from Borneo: or Texas with equal '.economy."" The South American stations will no doubt be supplied from the Texas andiCffllifbrnii fiedde. ;