The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-11-26
THE ENERGY IN COAL,
1t Is Chained That u Great ProbIenf
Has Been Solved by Gas aker

1t Is Claimed That u Great Problems
Has Been Solved by Gas Makers.
For several years past scientists
have been endeavoring to solve the
problem of obtaining electrical energy
direct from coal. In view of the fact
that less than q per cent of the latent
energy in coal is utilized in the most
approved incandescent lamp. the prob-
lem has had elements of interest. in q
commercial as well rs scientific sense.
Not long ago it IA announced that
Df. Jacques, an accomplished Boston
electrician, had discovered the secret
and had been enabled, by means of %
peculiar battery, to utilize from 80
to 80 per cent of the initial energy
of the carbon consumed in the cells.
Now comes a writer in the September
number of the Engineering Aklgazine'
with some alleged facts which are call
culated to dampen the arlor of tho
electrical enthusiast. This writer points
out the fact that while but eight
pounds of carbon is used in the cells
themselves in furnishing current for
thirty 1ncandcSccnt lamps of sixteen
candlc-power each for nineteen hours,
a quantity of coal. which he estimates
at eighty pounds. is consumed in the
furnace in producing the not low tenn
peraturc of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, in
melting the cauStic soda element and
maintaining the air blast. This con-
sumption of coal, the Engineering
Magazine writer assumes. was re-
garded as negligible in the somewhat
rose-colorcd account Of the alleged dis
covery. If the critics premises are
correct. it would seem that the an.
nouncement that the Boston electrician
had succeeded in evading the law Of
the conservation Of energy was at
least premature.
AT the same time the Engineering
Magazine writer makes Il statement
which is fully as marvellous as that
which he criticises. and it will UNI
doubtedly meet. with its share Of criti-
ciSm III turn. Broadly stated, his con-
tention is that modern gas-producing
methods and appliances have virtually
solved the veXed problem. and that the
desired result is reached in up-to-date
gas works. According to his statement,
20 per cent of the energy of coal is
saved from the retorts. and the by
products. which consist of coke used in
the furnaces and sold, and coal tar
and ammonia, produce enough to pay
so per cent of the entire coal bills. 1t
is certainly a less sentimental method
of arriving at the result desired. but IL
the premises are correct, it is impossi-
bic to escape the conclusion.
1t should be said, in explanation,
perhaps. that the result is made possi-
bic by the many uses which science
has found for coal tar, once regarded
as a nuisance and perpleXing factor by
managers of gas works, the improved
methods of using the coke products un<
der the r%etortS, and last. but not least,
the saving Of from soc to GOc worth of
commercial ammonia from each gross
ton of coal. While some allowance
must be made Cor the enthusiasm
with which the writer treats the in-
dustry with which he is connected, it
must be admitted that he makes a
fairly good case: Il case which is at
least not weakened by the fact that
the modern processes seem to improve
the quality of the principal product.<
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.