New-York tribune., 1906-12-02
@R a BIO 6ISc07ERY IN FUEL: s s

Far Western states vie with another in
producing the poorest grades Congress ap-
propriated 100000 with which to make the ex-
periments. but stipulated that all the fuel tested
should be given as we'll as all the appliances
that were tried The money appropriated was,
therefore. entirely devoted to the construction
of the buildings in which the work was car
ried on and to the pay Of the employed.
There no lack of adequate machinery to
carry on the Investigations, for manufacturing
concerns all over the country fairly fell over
another in Offering their latest and most
valuable devices. They realized the value Of
the advertising they could gain through the
governments use of their engines and testing
machinery, and, as the work was inspected by
many thousands of visitors to the Worlds Fair
it is probable they Well repaid In addi-
ton to making the series of fuel tests that
turned out well. the Geological Survey con-
Quoted a number of experiments to determine
the best briquettc making materials and ma
chimes. These experiments We're successful in a
measure and are still being prosecuted by the
survey.
The gas engine is no novelty in America for
it long in use for driving dynamos and
other machinery in this country before it was
utilized to propel horseless carriages Producer
gas is cheaper than gasoiene however. Besides.
bigger gas engines being built than for
merly. Hence the Geological Survey experts
expect that its popularity will steadily increase
in the few years among all who seek 10
develop power for business purposes
To show the comparison with steam the pro-
duCer gas encine was run side by side with a
standard steam engine in the experiments, ard
the perform uiceS o. me TWO styles OF power
makers were closely watched ana recorded AS
indicated by these records the power efficiency Of
fourteen kinds of coal when used in the gas pro
ducer plant two and ore-half times grea ter
than the efficiency of the coal when used in the
steam boiler plant. In other words. one ton IF
coal. when used in the gas engine, developed on
a commercial scale as much power as two and
one-half tons of the coal used in the or
dinary steam plant. The Importance of this is
not of value 10 coal producing states alone but
extends through every part of the country
where coal mineral fuel Is used for power.
The annual coal bill of the New England States
for manufacturing purposes is about $50 900 900.
This bill could be cut in two, and there would
still be enough left of the savings to buy every
man east Of the Hudson new hat. If the coal
used were diverted into producer gas plant in
stead OF the steam engines now in vogue. The
total fuel bill of the United States for 1906 will
be nearly S2000.000.000. II all the factories |
foundries, mills, shops. locomotives and vessels
were to change their style OF power producers
to the kind advocated by the Geological Survey |
experts tho nation could inform the ooal barous !
that tho supply for this year would bs enough |
to last until tho middle OF 1908.
Tho producer gas plant Is compact, compare |
lively inexpensive. and consumes it, own |
sookst- saad Maurice r. Campbell, one Of tho
survey. axpssts Who oonduosAd The axpesdmenEs