Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-21
The Tests Made at the Worlds
Fair Proved It's Heat PRODUCE
ing Qualities Excellent
EQUALS THE ILLINOIS COAL
Average Yield of Energy Was Slightly
in Excess of Product from Western
Part of Misunderstanding and Wash
ing Tests Were Also Satisfactory in
Every Way.

| Des Moines, March 21.-A series of
tests that have been undertaken by
the state geological survey, co-operat-
ing with the United States survey,
promises to bring out facts that Will
be of interest to every user of coal.
Already it has been concluded that in
general the Goals imported into Iowa
are selling at price that is too high.
when their efficiency is compared with
the iowa Goals, which are put on the
home market at q price considerably
below the imported commodity.
When burned under the boilers at
the ST. Louis testing plant the Iowa
Goals, on the average, yielded energy
sufficient to maintain a horse power
for an hour for each 3.9 pounds of fuel
burned. For six samples of Illinois
coal, the average amount of coal burn
ed per horse power per hour was 81.
for one sample of Pennsylvania coal
81, and for thirteen samples of West
Virginia coal pounds per horse power
per hour.
The conditions under which these
lcSIS were ICpICSCAt Aoilly NAiS
conditions that prevail in the average
power plant of moderate size. The IL
linois Goals, therefore, which are ex-
tensively used In the eastern part OF
the state. and are often given decid-
ed preference, over Iowa Goals, should
sell at practically the same price as the
average Iowa coal. A study OF the
chemical analysis of the Goals from
the two states made in connection with
these tests indicates that for domestic
purposes the same statement is true,
for the content In sulphur and ash In
the Goals from the two states is about
the same, and certainly the advantage
is not with the Illinois Goals in these
particulars.
Results Of Tests.
The laboratory tests as to the heat
ing qualities of the coal tallies with
the tests in the power plant. The Iowa
GOALS gave on the average $500 calor-
les, and 1000 British thermal units,
and the same figures represent the
value Of the Illinois Goals in these
tests. The Pennsylvania coal tested
gave results one-twelfth better and
twelve samples of West Virginia coal
were one-sixth higher.
BY washing the Iowa coal, as is done
commonly In the east at a cost of 6
cents ton. the per cent of the ash
was reduced per cent and the amount
of sulphur / per cent. Coking tests
were made on four of the Iowa Goals
in the ordinary bee hive oven. On the
average $500 pounds Of coal yielded
$500 pounds of coke of a rather infer
ior quality, and the tests made were
not encouraging.
In the briquetting tests it was
found advantageous to use per cent
of tar as binder, and it was salts
factorily shown that the fine coal
waste of Iowa can be prepared and put
upon the market as an excellent fuel
by this process.
The important producer gas tests
are yet to be made with the Iowa Goals
and the probabilities are that they will
be successful, tho there will exist the
necessity of washing the gas to re-
move the excess sulphur. This pro-
cess. however, is simple and inexpen-
Siye.
Five carloads Of coal from as many
important mines in Iowa have already
been tested, and with the results OBJ
tanned 1t will be possible to illustrate
the nature and significance of the
work. For the first time in the history
of the country coal from practically
all Of the coal producing states has
been brought to a single we'll equipped
plant and has been tested under the
same conditions and by the same men,
whose position guarantees fair and
impartial statement Of results.