Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/867

 Popular Science Munlhlij

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��An Ideal Industrial Locomotive: No Smoke, No Steam, No Coal

WITH coal scarce and gasoline high- priced and much in demand for all of our war activities, the oil-lired steam locomotive, burning heavy grades of distillate or crude oil, is now winning favor in plants where switching engines haul goods over short distances. The oil- fired locomotive has many uses. It is found hauling logs in camps far away from coal supplies; or wending its way on sugar planta- tions ; or busily transporting from the excavations for New York's new subway system muck, rails, ties and ballast. Con- tractors select the

oil-fired locomotive because it does not pollute the atmosphere with smoke.

In appearance, the fuel-fired locomo- tive, as shown in the accompany- ing illustrations, does not differ much from the familiar coal-fed type, except that a separate tank out in front of the boiler takes the place of the usual coal- tender. The cost of operation is said to be less than one cent a ton per mile. The construction is clearly shown in the accompanying cross-sectional view.

���Note the oil-tank in front of the boiler, which replaces the cumbersome coal-tender

��Death Traps in Seemingly Unoc- cupied Fields at the Front

THE precautions taken by the officers of the allied forces in order to pre- vent their men from falling into German traps during the excitement of an at- tack are brought out in a statement made by Major-General Charles M. Clement, of the United States Army, who visited the firing line in France.

"When I studied army tactics some years ago," he said, "we had five points, represented by the five fingers of our hand, and there was nothing said about killing any- body. But an ar- my order today reads: 'The object of this attack is (a) to kill the Germans; (b) to reach hill number so-and-so; (c) to stop at hill number so-and-so'; and woe betide the man who goes beyond the stopping point!"

These explicit instructions were given. General Clement explained, because the enthusiasm of the French and British soldier frequently- urged him beyond the objective; and fields back of that, which appeared to be unoccupied, often proved to be cleverly camouflaged death traps.

���The new industrial oil-fired steam locomotive in cross-sectional view. Each part is plainly indicated, showing the compact construction of this coal-saving iron horse

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