June, 1919 bolted directly to the forged-steel ring that encircles the offsets. Tapped holes are provided for locating the counter- weights in different positions. By pro- viding counterweights to accommodate different types of shafts, the utility of the offsets is materially increased. To Increase Oil Output According to the United States geological survey, the petroleum out- put of the country in 1918 amounted to 345,000,000 barrels. The demand for domestic petroleum in that year was approximately 366,000,000 barrels. The deficiency was made up by im- ports from Mexico. In all the known oil fields. considerable extensions were made. Extensive developments, affect- ing the future supply of high-grade oil, took place in.the central and northern Texas field. About 60 oil wells were completed during 1918, and at the end of the year the new field was credited with a potential capacity of 50,000 barrels of oil a day, though its actual capacity, limited by pipe-line facilities, was only about 18,000 bar- rels a day. The campaign of drilling over more than 40 counties in north- ern Texas before the end of 1918 would doubtless result in the opening of other pools of high grade in 1919. Diesel Engine Fuel Attempts have been made, with 'some measure of success, to use tar in diesel engines for the sake of econ- omy. ©. Schertel, of Hamburg, Ger- many, may be said ito have led the way in this direction. Now after three years' experience in the use of tar for that purpose, he announces further success through a process of filtering. The tar undergoes a_ preliminary purification by passing it through a filter consisting of gravel of from 3 to 5 millimeters size, and ithen 'passing it again, in the opposite di- rection, that is from the bottom of the filter upward through finer gravel of 1 to 2 millimeters. Much time is allowed for the filtering, the speed of flow through the gravel being only about 12 centimeters an hour. Oil Engine Developments That responsible builders are con- fident the fabricated boat is an estab- lished commercial proposition was in- dicated in the annual report of the Submarine Boat Corp. The interests owning this corporation also own the "Electric Boat Co. the" Elettre- Dynamic Co. and the New London Ship & Engine Co. Not only is it intended to build fabricated vessels for 'Drydock Co., THE MARINE REVIEW international account, but it is hoped to develop the diesel oil engine. The report stated: "The. Submarine Boat Corp. is operating the Newark Bay shipyard under lease from the Emergency Fleet corporation, which provides that no work shall be done at that plant except for the Emergency Fleet cor- poration, but the development of the standardized steel cargo vessel has progressed to such an extent that the management believes it will be able to create an international business in the production of standard steel cargo vessels and the furnishing of parts for the assembling of said vessels in foreign countries, and in addition to the standard type of 5500-ton vessel, the company has developed plans for 305 boilers. The French vessel had been anchored up the Hudson river for some time when it was decided to reset her boilers. She has four stokeholds with three boilers in each. All 12 boilers were reset. For the first time in marine history some other material than fireclay was used. In this instance the fire brick which formed the seat for the boilers were set in a high temperature cement mixture, a product of the Quigley Fur- nace Specialties Co.. New York. This material has been used in furnace work, but never before in marine construction or repairing. It is claimed to be well adapted for marine work not only be- cause of the high temperatures attained in the boilers, but also because of the motion, vibration and the tremendous SETTING BOILERS IN THE FRENCH CRUISER MARSEILLAISE--THE FIREBRICK IS LAID WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE CEMENT several types of vessels of larger dimensions. "The technical forces of the com- pany have been studying with great care the development of a proper diesel engine for cargo vessels, which is of a different type from that re- quired for submarine torpedo boats, and it is expected that during the coming year diesel engines of large power will be produced by us which will create a large business for the manufacturing facilities of the com- pany and may _ require additional plants for the manufacture of such diesel engines in quantity." Boiler Setting Cement How a newly adopted foundry prac- tice was fitted to marine work was re- cently demonstrated by the Robins 'Brooklyn, N. Y., when the French cruiser, MARSEILLAISE, was brought into the yard for work on her shocks present on a navy vessel. Un- | der such conditions fireclay may crack and break, whereas the material in ques- tion was designed to give a firm bond with the brick and withstand extremely high temperatures. Its coefficient of ex- pansion is equivalent to that of firebrick, and it is said to withstand the scouring effect of oil firing or a forced flame of any kind. Late Marine Patents Copies of any of the following patents can be obtained by sending 15 cents in stamps .to Siggers & Siggers, National Union Insurance building, Washington, by mentioning Tur Marine Review: 1270792.--Ship protector. Thomas A. Dal- ton, Hazleton, Pa. 1270903.--Launching apparatus for steam or sailin eee Joseph Weismantel, Irving- ton, 1271036.--Fin for vessels, kins, Fayetteville, N. C. 1271081.--Ship. John Reed, New York. 1271090.--Torpedo cate for ships. Robert J. Shields, Hobgood, C. Henry A. Jen-