The New York herald., 1870-02-01
KING COAL ATTACKED.

sabs'itats for Anthracite Ceni-rrial 81
tno Compound Ye.terda y-Unsa tisfn ctory y
hesuft.
For many years past attempts have been made to
introduce substitute for coal for use on steamships
which, While occupying less room In bunkers would
give greater heat, be less expensive and make less
ashes; but up to this time. however. all sucn
attempts have resulted in failure. Some time last
year Colonel william H0lstead discovered that peat
anthracite, coal dust and coal tar In proportions OF
seventy per cent OF the former twenty-five per cent
OF coat dust and nve per cent OF tar or
rosin, pressed together by machinery, dried
and made ready for use, would do more
work than double the quantity OF ordinary
coal and make but very little ashes. This at least
was the result OF preliminary trial. Captain Spin
ney late OF the United States Navy, subsequently
became Interested In the discovery; the Invention
was perfected, company was formed and prepara-
tons made for producing the material In quantities
sufficient for more elaborate and decisive trial.
Determined TO put their stock on the market at
the internattonat Fuel Company prepared 70 give n
public exhibltion OF the superiority OF their comous-
tiole over coa. ana WIN thls view engaged the
following gentlemen were lnvited TO act as d com
mltttee 10 examine and report upon the iuel:-Cap-
tain Albert DE Groot, w. A. Lghthali. w. W. Van
derbllt, Joseph Belknap and Henry Worden. Tne
Steamer took these gentlemen with representatives
oi tne press on board Ut pier No. North river yes
made Tor the trip
The day was cold ana damp; the alr was heavy
win wet snow drifting from the lowering, heavy
laden clouds, and tnick log lay broad upon tno
river. The weather WAS not propitious by any
detefmne Dy good run TO Sing Sing whether King
Coal was 10 b8 dep0sed or not Tne new fuel lying
On the deck did not look promising; the blocks,
nlteen inches long, ten vide ana four ard half
deep, into winch tne material Is presseo by machine
pressure or hye tons 10 the square inch, was wet
with rain, and fet hard ana heavy IN the hand.
MisgvinRs were felt that, whatever the chances OF
successful tria woua 10 with the fuel dry con-
dion, there was nut slight probability or It's realiz-
ing tine expectations OF the company at that time.
The result proved that these misgvngs were not
founded. lhe inel was weighed ilrss ty Captain
6plnney; but, Tor the purpose OF avoiding even
the suspicion Of favor, Captain DeGroos mad It
reweigned IN the presence OF the conlnitlee. A
lot ol 1000 pounos WAS carefully weighed and
sent below wnere MIR. Belknap saw 1t put INTO the
furnace The Representative OF the company wished
but TINS the comnittee would not allow. Fire was
started win wood at quarter past eleven O'Clock
A. NJ, aud lis gallons OF water put III the boiler
water III gauge nineteen inches. Half an hour later
the luei was ignited the tines wereicast or at twenty
four minutes past twelve L. Nj; twenty y-sev en
pounds OF steam was speedily Obtained and the
steamer rushed out into the stream with her pow to
the north. fhts was Il good beginning; but unlor-
tnnate mo speed dld not las! long. Tne steam ran
down to ten pounds in twenty minutes; the wheels
revoved slowly anu II became evident lnat coal
sill the reignin9 monarch. II was claimed by the
drity With the raw fuel prevented the committee or
engineers from doing 1t justice; ana the argument
eighth street tne gentleman in charge Of the furnaces
was relieved by another. wn0 was SAID was better
posted on the manner OF using the patent artlcle
the gauge showed an increase or fifteen pounds of
steam III rev mnuLes, and the boat leapcd
tnrough the water at splendid pace.
Ihe hopes or the gentlemen Interested IN
the success OF the trial with every pound or
steam ana continued nigh until the steamer touched
the dock. They dd not know, however, ynaL she
committee, VINO were satisfied OF the futliIIy of
tnutng the trial under such, circumstances, mad
ordered quantity VI anthracite coal To DO thrown
over the new fuel IN one OF the furnaces Had tins
course not been taken II would Lave been imp0ssi-
bic to reach tho landing place untii alter ngntail
~ II was, Captain DE Groot ana Inc other members
bay. This part Of the trip was very enjoyable, and
when, after reaching Romers, 1t was decided turn
back and end the trip at pier No 4, all but the In
ternationa Fuel Company regretted 1t.
Alter tne COMMITTEE OF Engineers had made uT
their mlnds as TO The merits Oi the iHcl as ue
| M0nstrated on the trp up the river, an adjourn
Hcnt to the cabin was ordercd and the sub
ject fully discussed. The committee expressed tne
opinion sthat under more favorable circumstances
the fuel would do much better. The wet ConultiOl
0i tne blocks, ninety per cent OF water Deing the
peat, rendered proper nro fmpossfDie; the CRATE
oars were too coarse ana not fitted the consump-
ton OF tHat species OF COAL IL also stated Dy
aust were not In proper proportions In the blocks
luel, anu that II change was made different re-
SUIT might fairly be anticipated. Captain Spinney
Ieea quite sangdIne OF the ultimate success or the
faei as substitute for COAL aud proposes to nave
another trial soon with the Improvement suggested
by the committee OF engineers. Should his hopes be
realized steam navigation Will be revolut0uzed
An elegant collation. was spread III the capin OF
The Schultz Ut two O'Clock, to which full justice WAS
done.