Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-16
THE WORLDS FUELS.
Result of German Inquiry Into Coal
Resources of the Earth.

An interesting article under the above
title is contained In the current monthly Is
sue of the bulletin of the international bu-
reau of the American republics. The devel-
opment of manufacturing industries in Eu-
ropean countries is in many cases outstrip-
ping the capacity of the home collieries The
results of an inquiry into the coal re-
sources of the world, which has been con-
Quoted with the usual German thorough
ness by DR.. Fisher of the University of
Gottingen, cannot fail, therefore, to be Of
universal interest. The attainable coal sup
ply of Germany is found to be. in round
numbers, 100 600 ,0G0 ,O00 tons; of Great Brit
ain, 81 800, 100000 tons and that Of Austria
Hungary. Belgium and France combined,
II 900 100000 tons. The coal resources of
America North and South, amount to at
least 6S4, 0tO, 100000 tons, while those of the
eighteen provinces of China amount to $780,,
OOO,O0O.OOO tons of anthracite and at least
an equal quantity of bituminous coali Very
little Of the Chinese coal is as yet available
for the generation of steam power, owing
to the absence of means of transportation;
nevertheless, it would be well to bear in
mind the potentialities of industrial produc
ton which lie dormant in the celestial en-
pire
The coal output of the United States In
1901 amounted to 800 $40. 75S short tons,
valued at S34S. s31 at the mouth of the
pit. The production of Pennsylvania an
thracite from 81 1867 .915 short tons in
1900 to 7,471 ,667 short tons in 1901-a phe-
nomenal increase of 171a per cent, and the
largest gain made in the production of this
fuel in twenty years. The increase in value
was still more striking, the amount re-
ceived at the mines showing gain Of $2T,-
1860, or more than 81 per cent over the
previous year. 1t is true that there was
shortage in 1900, owing to the miners
strike, but this shortage amounted to little
over 100000 tons. The bituminous coal
mir or In anti fu
and I per cent greater in value in 1901 as
compared with the output of 1900. This
shows a remarkable steadiness of prices in
bituminous coal, Notwithstanding the grow
ing demand. The present increase in the
cost of this fuel to consumers is due to the
sudden expansion Of the demand for the
same in localities hitherto dependent upon
anthracite. If there were any confidence
that the situation now ruling Is to continue,
the means of production and distribution
Of soft coal would ere long be enlarged and
a normal price level reached.
While coal is still the main reliance for
fuel, there are substitutes that are could
be made available II the assurance could
be had that they would be permanently
needed. Fuel oil has become established
as steam generator for seagoing vessels,
and might be adapted to the uses Of manu-
facturers and householders. Only the ne
cessity of reconstructing heating and
steam-generating apparatus prevents its
immediate general employment. The Ger
duct experiments with the object of ascer-
tanning the value of alcoholic spirits as
fuel. cubic meter of spirits has double
the heating power of cubic meter of coal
and can be distilled at a cost which would
make its employment as fuel practicable.
Any greater cost Of the spirits would be
compensated for by many and great ad-
vantages; for example, the disagreeable in
cfdents of coaling would be avoided and
StokerS and trfmmers could be dispensed
with, for the supply could be regulated au-
tomatically. Another recent introduction
Is that of solid petroleum. or rather bril-
quotes composed chiefly Of either crude or
refined oil. This fuel which Is being manu-
featured in France a considerable scale,
is said to possess all the desirable qualities
Of coal and ordinary petroleum without
the Objectionable characteristics OF either.
Says Consul Brunot Of st. Etienne, France:
''The briquettes leave only 2 or per cent
of residue; do not form ciinkers; do not
melt run: burn without smell or smoke:
do not absorb moisture; will float on the
water; do not explode; and are not liable
to spontaneous combustion under any. ctr
cumstances: VIII keep indefinitely retain
ing all their qualities Of combustion: give
Off a very white fame eight to ten inches
high; produce twice as much heat as coal;
can be used in any kind of furnace, and
are easy and agreeable to handle"
He says nothing OF their cost, but pre-
sumably the briquettes are intended to
compete with coal Of the more expensive
sort. 1t will be seen that the fuel re-
sources of mankind are many, and that
rivalry between producers Of various kinds
would In the long run establish an equilib-
rum In prices. If not pound of anthra-
,Hn he fy~nd ooDf IN IN