The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-03-04
NEW FUEL IN BRICKS
Recently introduced Enterprise In
the State of California.
Goal PuIverized and Compressed with
| Other ingredients Into Conven-
ient Form for Shipment to
Consumers.

Widespread curiosity exists as to
the appearance and burning quail
ties of the new briquettes. Pending
their arrival in sufficient quantities
TO satisfy this natural desire, a num-
Der of gentlemen have been investi-
eating the matter ON their own ac-
count, reports the San Francisco
Chronicle. They have visited the
briuuette factory in Stockton, have
tested the fuel in their private stoves
and CRATES and have been complaisant
enough to place samples of the prod
uct in their pockets to exhibit to
their friends and acquaintances. They
show black object, round in form,
having nine inches of circumference,
with convex ends, which, though 1t
comes from the coal pit and the pc
troleum well, leaves no trace on the
cleanest sands. The convenience of
the briquettes is apparent at first
view, and those who have tested its
burning qualities are unqualified in
their praise.
| The briquette factory is located on
the Stockton water front, adjacent to
the bunkers of the Tesla company, to
which the cars of the Alameda & San
Joaquin railroad owned by the fuel
corporation, convey the fuel from the
mines, SO miles distant. The process
of converting coal, asphaltum and
other ingredients into briquettes was
seen to be simple in it's very perfec-
ton. The main object sought is the
increase in the combustible value of
the coal by chemical process so as to
utilize the volatile gases, which, al
though containing the largest amount
of heat units, are permitted to escape
in the burning of crude coal. This
is fact recognized by several Euro
pean governments, which have intro
duced briquettes for fuel in their
navies, requiring that they shall con-
tain a greater number of heat units
than the ordinary coal. knowledge of
the superior heating qualities of bril-
quotes has also been acted upon in
the eastern states, where factories
for their manufacture are well es-
tablished.
Reduced to its simplest expression
the process of briquette manufacture
consists in the pulverization of the
coal, its mixture with the other in.
gradients and their compression into
compact shape adapted to easy han.
ding and the securing of the best
draught conditions. The reduction OF
the coal to powder form by means Of
crushers requires no description. Il
is then dried and heated to higf
point, and only when this has been &C
complished is the coal mixed with tbs
other components of briquette fuel.
Now comes the most interesting
part of the process in the shape o
the compression. This is obtained b.
passing the material, by means o
hoppers, into the two great pressers
So nicely is the machinery ADJUSTED
that nothing is lost; whereas, by tn
eastern systems large per cent. o
the material has to be returned t.
!. undergo again crushing, drying, heat
ing and mixture. By means of pts
tons working in opposite direction
under the compulsion of large sid
! wheels the fuel material is presse
!, into briquette form at a pressure O
= 22,0G0 pounds. The briquettes ar
: now perfect. They only require COO
ing, the throwing out of the fev
which do not come up to standard a
: to density or shape, and conveyanc
: to the bunkers for shipment by ca
to market. This is done by machiI
cry almost exclusively, and does nc
= call for description. The briquette
= are facts when they leave the con
: pressors.
, The daily capacity of these is 81
: tons, but undoubtedly their numbe
: will have to be increased as the publ
, becomes acquainted with the adval
. tages of the burning of briquette
: They are now in use in Stockton an
. Oakland, where it is found that to
= does the work of a ton and a quart,
= of the ordinary coast Goals for dome
tic purposes and increases the he;
production so per cent. over stea
D Goals.