Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-30
FUEL FOR STEAMBOATS,.
FROM THE LOUISVILLE JOURNAL

.... FROM THE LOUISVILLE JOURNAL.
We publish to-day valuable letter from Professor WAL
n JOHNSON the subject Of coal ue for steamboats,.
Professor JOHNSON employed by Secretary UPsHuR to
make series of experiments with the various Goals of the
United States for the purpose OF ascetanng the appro
pirate Article for in the Government vessels The report
of Professor Johnson of the abest scientific papers
know OF, and il conclusyely establishes bis reputation
Of extensive atanments and expermenter Of the
highest ability The country is deeply indebted to Secretary
Upshur, not only for the investigation he instituted, but
for the aid and encouragement he gave Professor Johnson
throughout the examination. We have Professor Johnsons
report and appreciate of the best documents
printed by Congress.
The remarks of Professor Johnson coal as fuel for
steamboats, will arrest attention. and they should set Of
steamboat men to studying out results The country is
full Of produce far beyond the home and in order
to seek market, the present low Of freight must
be lowered In order accomplish this system Of greater
economy in working the boats be introduced and the
item Of fuel is the most important with If
thirty dollars worth of coal fuel will in place of
hundred dollars worth of wood fuel fine opening for
nomy is at once made.
Boats can be worked from Ptsburg ST. Louis with COAL
From Pttsburg Louisville there no difficulty Below
this point at Canneton hundred and twenty miles from
Louisville Bonharbor, hundred and fifty miles telow
be obtained in abundance and be placed the mouth Of
the Ohio from these points. Then there coal of excel
lent quality twelve fourteen miles back Of the Grand Tower,
between the mouth Of the Ohio and ST. Louis depot is
be made the Grand Tower said, by Boston
company. That boats which coal a great
saving certain and all that Is necessary make supply
for them is TO the Of the article The Of
wood becoming serious expense to steamboats,, and
must be devised for economizng in this important a
Gle Of consumption The letter Of Prof Johnson to the
point and hope will receive the attention Of steamboat
owners and captains
WAsHISGToS, JUsE 90, ls4s.
DEAN Sra have never entertained doubt that sooner
later, coal is destined supeede wood fuel for
boats Il is years wood almost the only
fuel used all the finest boats Eastern waters
cay those the Long Island SOUND the Hudson, the De-
aware and the less important Now scarcely say
other fuel than anthracite is used those waters and with
such advantage that the Of feghts and passage
senay reduced while the profits Of running such to
induce the building Of larger and larger vessels all with
view to that species Of fuel.
As to the question Of the relative value of COAL compared
with dry beach, ash, and cotton WOOD am not aware that
any direct experiments the latter kinds Of wood have asyet
furnished the data for computing that relation lou may
have observed that report Goals have stated that
the subject yet uneShaused and particularly that the Goals
of the West and Southwest but very imperfecy repre-
sented in the series of samples sent for trial in lS43 Mr..
Bull who made experiments the woods some twenty-five
wears ago. also experimental certain Goals, and obtained
comparative results between weights Of coal and cords wood
But the Western Goals those Of Illinois, Indiana and Ken
tucky not think, then brought into notice. and
under the impression that cotton wood among the
kinds submitted trial by him. One object had in
requesting the Government 10 continue the experiments
coal was to perform the West second series Of trials
the Goals and woods found the Western lakes and rivers
From all that do know Of the Western Goals, and from all
that have learned from others Of the wood Of the Western
country do entertain doubt 10 the great economy Of
using coal wherever be had at a moderate price,
II is very certain that with prices such have hitherto
ruled on the Ohio and its branches, could hardly sup
pose any other fuel than coal would be used the trip
confined TO the coal region, moderate distance be-
yond it,
The CRATES for using coal will in general be Of less depth
than those for the Of wood The bars will be from
half hree-quarers Of inch apart But for different Goals
different dimensions Of CRATE will be required suppose
difficulty experienced the Western boats will arise from the
attempt burn too much coal time the bars, by which
the iron will become overheated and fused and if the
cnken be also heated to the usng point the sulphur will at
tack the iron, and into compact with it. prevent
ing the clearing Of the FIRE. thin stratum Of coal .
CRATE raised within few inches Of the bottom Of the boiler,
will probby found the advantageous mode both for
the economy Of crate bars and for that Of fuel II the boilers
do not make rapidly with WOOD the obvious
pedent increase the depth Of the stratum Of COAL hut
to enlarge the Of the crate.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
WALTER R. JOHNSON.
HAMILTON SIXTH, ESQ.,