Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-16


their efforts TO induce the Water
BOARD TO substitute coal for gas at the
water works pumping station. Yes
terday the Arbitration Committee Oh
the Assembly appeared before the
BOARD accompanied by Mr.. II. A. Eos
ter. representative of the coal miners
and presented some facts and argu-
mente in connection with the two tests
made last year.
Mr.. H. A. Foster made the following
statement:
"The first test was made September
IA 1896. with home coal when there
were three Heine boilers used, and the
engines made 34,S2O revolutions, equal
to $685. gallons of water pumped.
There was a consumption of GA BUSH
els of coal. and al engine duty OF 49,
723 700 foot pounds developed. The
guaranteed duty was 1OO,OOO,OOO foot
mounds. In the Water Boards report
Of this test. an attempt was made TO
convey the idea that it was done under
the supervision Of our engineers.
While it is true we had two engineers
employed and paid to see this test
made. they had no authority to touch
anv machinery. nor did they make any
suggestions which might be construed
to mean that they were present Tor
the purpose of experimenting that test.
They only took such data and facts as
we deemed necessary TO enable us 10
make an intelligent report Of the test.
The test was entirely under charge of
the Boards superintendent.
We deem this test very unfair In
the first place, the water in the boilers
was blown down a half guage every
half hour. which was very injudicious.
The exhaust steam, which should, or
could have been utilized 10 heat the
feed water, was exhausted to the at
mosphere and live steam used instead.
A svphon pump was operated continu-
ouslv during the test to discharge
leakage water from the pumps wells,
but the damper in one boiler was closed
eight hours after starting before dis
covered by our engineers. The cleo
trio light engine was run eighteen
hours out of the twenty-four.
In making our report by this test
we stated that one of two facts had
been demonstrated-either the city OF
Wheeling had been imposed upon by
the Holly Company in accepting ma
chinery that did not come up to the
guaranteed duty, or otherwise the peo-
ple operating this machinery were in
competent. This placed the supefin-
tendent or the Water Board in an I'M
enviable position, which led to sec
ond test on October 2Sth with PittsDurg
coal. In making this there were but
two Heine boilers used, and the en-
eines made 1882 revolutions, equal
to 9.167.25 gallons Of water pumped
with a consumption Of only $40 bushes
Of coal and an engine duty of 123,9IO,-
600 foot pounds obtained, showing an
excess in speed over former test Of ~
revolutions. equal to 1885 gallons Of
water pumped, and an engine duty OF !
$1,000. 900 foot pounds in excess OF for
mer test. or nearly three times greater
duty obtained with little more than one
half the amount Of coal consumed.
In report of Water Board as to test
of October 2S. 1896 they state there |
was consumed at the rate of $40 bush !
els of coal per day. They multiply |
this by 965. which gives them l95,O5O |
bushels as the yearly consumption.
They reckon this at 5l2 cents per |
bushel. amounting to S,427.75. They |
also state that by returning to coal the
services of two extra firemen would be |
required at $50 per month, $l,44O per
wear: one extra man to wheel ashes |
and coal, $50 per month, $500 per year;
repairs to furnace, CRATE bars and tools,
$500: total $3.50 Added to the cost of
coal. S7,427.75, total cost required to
operate with coal S976775. Present
price of gas s72O9, making a difference
in. favor of gas of S2,567.75.
While we are not prepared to say
that there was any desire on the part
Of the Board to mislead the public in
connection with this matter, we must
say their figures are misleading, and
calculated to mslead any and every
one who has not given this matter
considerable study.
In the first place they state that the
daily coal consumption is $40 bushels,
and the yearly consumption 135,O5O
bushels, when in reality the daily con-
sumption, as per test Of October 2S is
only 323 bushels per day, and yearly
1885 bushels; and in the second
place they make the cost of coal 51s
cents per bushel, and it can be pur-
chased for ,ess than half that price.
As per report of Board as to this tes',
there was consumed at the rate of $40
bushels per "a hours. and there was