Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-11-14
NAWDUST GAS.
4 New Branch Of Trade--U Utilizing the
Sawdust Pipes.

0~VWNSS 'kS0s
So far as we are aware, the making
of illuminating gas from sawdust is
= new branch of trade; certainly 1t is
one OF considerable Importance from
the fact that it deals with what, in a
majority Of cases, is waste product.
We are advised that Il. Tomlirson,
late manager of the Nottingham gas
works, near Hull, has just completed
the erection of the gas works aud
lighting the town of Deseronta, On
tario, Canada, the works being erected
for the purpose Of making gas from
fine sawdust. The gas produced is
said to be far superior to that made
from the best camel coal. 1t would
appear that Mr.. Tomlinson is es-
pecially commissioned in the above
matter, for we learn that upon compile
ton of some water mains, which he
has also in hand, he intends returning
to England.
As basis for the manufacture OF
illuminating gas, sawdust lays claim
to many specialities, more SO in the
wood producing countries Of northern
Europe and America, where coal has
to be obtained at great cost, and
Where swwdust is a greater drug and
4 nuisance than in our own country.
Side by side with coal, they have raw
material ready to their hands, one
which in many cases they would cast
IN the rivers, but ar. prohibited in SO
doing on the ground that it sinks to
the bottom upon saturation, and like
the bark of trees, becomes injurious
up on the banks of the rivers, where
from the size Of the heaps they are
justly called "mountains of sawtaust."
We have seen sawdust so cast aside,
from features in the landscape of the
Swedish river banks, altogether dwarf
ing the mills and their surroundings,
aud we have no doubt but other
COUNTRIES, such "a Russia and Canada,
Can give like experience of this waste
Of product. In England sawdust is
not generally waste product. it is
compressed with solution of resin,
and becomes an article of commerce
for lighting fires; 1t is also used for
strewing on the floors of certain shops
after the manner of sand, as bedding
for horses, and fer packing purposes,
etc, but the bulk of it is mixed with
coal and other refuse and burnt under
the steam boilers.
AS sawdust can be practically APP
piled to the manufacture OF illumina-
ting gas, it is clear as in the above in
stance, that where the supply is at
hand, towns may be illuminated by it;
but it strikes us as being applicable
in a smaller and more general degree,
in the case Of illuminating sawmlls,
joinery works and other establish
rncnts where sawdust is produced.
We take 1t that its manufacture could
be conducted on simpler plan than
that of coal gas, because it would be
more free from the mine raj resi- Tue,
and requires less labor and plant in
connection with its publication. Fur
Their, the coke OF ash remaining would
be valuable fuel for heating and
cooking purposes, where sulphurous
fumes were objected to. We can
we'll understand that sawdust would
produce good illuminating gas, for
it is of the materials the most COM
bustible, or capable OF producing a
flame; for domestic purposes it would
be most valuable, as Its combustion
would be free from such deleterious
ingredients as sulphur. We think
there is an opening here for the OPP
erations Of our engineers to produce
small, cheap plants for gas:making
from sawdust; such plants, although
not largely applicable in England,
where there is plenty of coal and but
little sawdust, would be freely used
on the continent, where there is little
or no coal and plenty CT sawdust or
waste wood.--[Timber Trade Journal.