The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-23
Utilizing Fine CuIm
for Producing Gas

% HE FOLLOWING letter to the
board Of trade from j. Gardner
Sanderson on the question of
u utilizing fine culm will be
read with general interest. Three
years ago Mr.. Sanderson read a paper
before the board of trade explaining
the possibilities of producing gas for
power purposes from culm piles. The
appended letter is a further contribu-
ton on the same subject:
Mr.. d. b. Atherton, secretary Scranton
Board of Trade.
Dear Sir:-It has been nearly three
years since l, by your invitation, pre-
sented a statement to the board of
trade, as to what had been accom-
plished in the line of utilizing the fine
waste of culm piles for producing gas,
and the value of the gas for fuel and
power. ] now send you this communi-
cation, not only to reafiirm the state
ments then made and to add a few
notes of the progress made in other
parts of the world in the use of similar
gas, made at considerable cost. for the
economical generation of power, as
well as to put myself right before the
community, who naturally suppose,
from lack of development, that the
process is a failure and the statements
made so long ago were premature, but
also to assure you and the many others,
who at that time saw what was then
accomplished, that there was no hid
den, unseen or mysterious element in
the process of making gas with an
thrache cum.
In fact, the only mysterious feature
of the undertaking is that 1t should
have been so entirely neglected. This
can only be accounted for by the op-
position of coal interests to the econo-
MIXING of fuel, and the peculiar fact,
well known to promoters of new en-
terprises, that distance lends enchant-
ment to the view" Home capitalists
Will invest in distant enterprises in
preference to those near at hand.
/ am about convinced that it will be
necessary for me to seek other local
tiles to develop the undertaking to
which | have devoted so much time
and thought When experiments We're
first commenced, outside capital was
offered but declined. as il was then sup
posed local interests would be suffic
lent. 1t is not surprising that now
outside capitalists should ask why
local interests do not utilize the results
ACCOMPLISHED. and look askance at an
enterprise so entirely abandoned, es-
pecially as 1t is impossible to explain
why it has been abandoned.
1t can only be said that death, coal
mining and rallroading have removed
or absorbed the financial promoters of
the enterprise, which is a very unsatis-
factory explanation.
From the outstart ] have endeavored
to convince those interested of the i'm
pOrtance Of the cheap gas for geuer-
ating power with gas engines, but was
compelled to devote my attention to
the adaptation of the gas generating
appliance for producing fuel gas to be
used under existing boilers for gener-
ating steam. In this case ii is neCcS-
sary to produce the gas iN large guam
tity without storage, and an entirely
novel form of producer furnace was de-
Vised for this purpose, which fully met
eXDeCtati - as to the amount of gas
produced, but required various modfi-
cations to overcome the difficult prob
lem of removing the light, fine ash,
from the heavier, fine fuel without un-
duly disturbing the fire and suspend
ing the gas generating process.
1t was pending these experiments
that the death and absorption hereto
fore mentioned occurred, and although
the ash difficulty was finally overcome,
no further attention has been given the
enterprise, | therefore feel at liberty
and shall endeavor to have it taken up
elsewhere.
Now as to what has been demon-
same quality as is produced elsewhere
at considerable expense, can be gener-
ated with the fine culm at an insigniti-
cant cost and with which power can be
furnished for generating electricity and
manufacturing purposes, at lower cost
than any other known source, except
possibly hydraulic when conveniently
located and reliable (Which is rare).
SeCond-That for fuel purposes, bet
ter results and greater economy can be
gained by use of this gas in the place
of direct firing with coal, even when
prepared and used with the most ap-
proved stoker.
All OF which I am prepared to sub
stantiate and shall seek the opportun-
ity for doing so.
/ can furnish many reports of prac-
tical experiences with this gas used for
large power purposes abroad. showing
very great economy of fuel, when COM
pared with steam power, aside from
the cost of water, etc; and consider
able progress Is being made in this
country in the introduction of gas en-
gines for large power purposes.
Those familiar with the great busi-
ness prosperity natural gas" brought
to those sections of the country where
1t was available, can appreciate the ad-
Vantages of this kind of fuel
Coal dealers and producers are we'll
aware of the constant increasing use
of manufactured gas for domestic fuel
purposes and are naturally adverse to
extending or cheapening its produce
ton.
In conclusion, l predict that it Will
not be long before the present con-
fessedly wasteful method of generating
power from coal will be displaced by
the more direct, simple and economical
method as developed in the gas engine.
Very truly yours,
I Gardner Gan6arSnn