New-York tribune., 1902-09-11
THINK FrEL PROBLEM SOLVED
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMISSION
ERS WILL USE A MIXTURE OF Ri
LUMINOUS COAL AND COKE.
Try TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE

W-zsHf-g-ou. Sent. I0.-Ihe District OF COlum MA
! has anrarently solved the fuel problem in way
thar should prove valuable 10 all portions OF the
country affected by the anthracite stringency The
/ great government departments and the muniei-
pality custonlary make contracts in July for the
coming years supply Of fuel but this year Il was
impossible TO obtain bids. and only few days ago
the War Department, which IS a large consumer.
was informed that its orders for anthracite could
not be filed ard that only bituminous coal could
be supplied II sufficient quantities for the present
necessities
The district commissioners. who last winter re-
qUired over 10 900 tons Of fuel OF which 1LG0 tons
were anthracite recently ordered extensive expert
ments 10 be made with a 70 heating the
schools. and il was announced to-day that a per
feet substitute for anthracite has been found in
mixture Of bituruinous coal ard coke They have
promptly procured go tons Of each fuel TO de-
Hvered in October. and fatter themselves that they
independent Of the dealers. who demand SO
a ton for anthracite From the official reports
made to the Commissioners, Il appears that by
firing the furna with first, layer OF coke, then
q layer Of bitUmi1ous coal and then top layer OF
coke a fine fire is secured. and that emts a
minimum amount Of smoke. The Commissioners
were interested not alone IN securing compar-
atively slow burning fire for the school heating
plants. but wanted as well a fire which would
make the smallest quantity OF black smoke. Speak
ing OF the matter this morning. Commissioner Mac
Farland said.
Apparently il has been demonstrated that coke
and btuminous coal, properly burned in alternate
layers furnish a substitute for anthracite coal in
the furnaces OF our school buildings, yielding salts
factory heating results without violating the
smoke law. The difficulty seemed 70 be 10 obtain
equal amount Of bituminous coal for the imme-
date future in the school buildings. The local gas
companies and the local fuel dealers generally re
sponded 10 inquiries. but they could furnish
coke except in very small quantities. kilograms
and sales agents elsewhere failed develop any
thing except promises in cases Of pos
sible future deliveries This morning, however, we
have secured a thousand tons of coke and thou
sand tons Of bituminous coal, which, with small
Quanutles ot anthracite Tor special buildings ought
10 provide for the schools until Thanksgiving.
cGratng 70 the estimates OF tne amounts required
Whlcn we nave received from the secretary Of the
Board Of Education The prices at which the
lowest market prlces al tnls ume. but are, Of
course. much higher than the normal prices There
IN TINS emergency ne ahI1rac4te coal strike may
be settled soon or II may not be If il is settled
as might be expected under normal conditions We
also Informed that. matter Of fact the
bituminous coal strike has not been settled and
therefore that it is difficult to bituminous coal
of course, made from the bituminous coal
IN giving the result OF the experiment Of burn
ing a combination Of soft coal and coke the super
ntendent OF property reported TO the commission
ers as follows:
In compliance with your recent order. an expert
raent has been made IN Of the public school
buildings of fuel consisting Of alternate LAYERS of
bituminous coal and coke. The fuel was tried in a
steam heated plant in the Webster school and In
a SmeaG furnace in the Douglass school. Atten-
2eet Ge q Of anitoTs f~e PT6neb 9f the me ]
tary of the Board Of Education, which gives a de-
different ARRANGEMENTS made the layers Of fuel
with view TO obtaining the most desirable results.
I visited the buildings during the time the expert
nents were being made. and I am of the opinion
that the Llost Satisfactory results are obtained
coal and then top layer Of coke as by the burn
Ing OF the I9el f1 IN me maner stated there
and satisfactory heating qualities were produced.