Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 257, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — CONSERVE CRUDE OIL SUPPLY [ARTICLE]

CONSERVE CRUDE OIL SUPPLY

Railroad* Meet Delay in Changing Fuel Equipment of Locomotive* —Mechanic* Ar* Shy. According to advices received by the Texas railroad commission, there Is such a shortage of expert mechanics that the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe are meeting delay in changing the fuel equipment of their locomotives from oil burners to coalburners. The purpose of going back to the use of eoal -te“ta -order -to-conserve the crude oil supply for war purposes. The demand formechanics-ls-saidto-be the greatest ever known in the history of Texas. Thousands of , these skilled artisans have left the state during the last several months to take employment in Industrial plants In the North and East. The railroad shops have been largely depleted. of this class of employees, and there Is no source open by which to fill the existing demand for them.