The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-05
MILLIONS SAVED
 BY NEW COAL TESTS
Slack Can be Utilized to Pro-
 duce Gas
GOVERNMENT MAKES TESTS
Experiments With Brquettes Opens Up a New Industry and Offers Solution of a Vexatious
 Problem.

FFODiCTns
 Chicago.-wiliam E. Curtis sends the following from St. Louis to the Record Herald:
 St. Louis. January 1.-When the govern ment departments at Washington were planning their exhibits at the St. Louis exposition. Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, chief of the division of mines and metallurgy of the geological survey. conceived the idea of erecting a plant on the grounds to give visitors an idea of the coal re- sources of the country and to demon- strate the best uses to which the different varieties of coal could be applied. His plan was approved by Dr. Waleott, diree- tor of the geological survey, the Secretary of the Interior and the government board. He had the cooperation of large manu- lecturers in different parts of the eoun- try, who furnished the coal. and the railroads, which hauled it free. The Rock Island road has been especially gen erous and attentive. and now handles all of the coal between the terminal system in the City of St. Louis and the plant on the eApOSlllOu BiOuiiuS WAAhpdA cost to the government
 Director Wolcott appointed E. A. Par ker statistician of the geological sur vey, who, by the way, was member of President Roosevelt's commission that settle the anthracite strike, and M. R. Campbell, geologist from the survey to serve with pr. Holmes as board to supervise the experiments. The first ap- eDan mo rly $50, 900 more was appropriated for the ex- pense of operating the plant, and the public interest excited by the tests was so great that Congress appropriated $202,- GOO more last February, which will pay the expenses until the end of the fiscal year 1906. pr. Holmes has been con- tinued in charge, with the following staff of engineers at the head of the divisions named:
 1. Chemical analysis Prof NJ. w Lord, Ohio State university.
 Q Boiler tests, Prof. l.. P. Breckinredge, University of Illinois.
 Cooking tests, A. w. Belden, Birming ham, Ala.
 1. Coal washing tests, John B. schaef- fer, Chicago.
 5 Gas producers and engines, Prof R. E. Bernard. Washington university, St. Louis.
 g. Brquette-making c. T. Malcolmson, Chicago.
 MT Malcolmson is also in charge of the plant.
 The experiments were begun in May, 1904, and have been continued ever since. It is proposed to keep them up until July l. 1906, for which the fund has already been provided and the results are so n- portant that Congress will undoubtedly order them extended. Since the close of the exposition the plant has been en- larged and improved 1t occupies a con- spicuous place in Forest park and the South Dakota building is used for of fees. About sixty men are employed most of whom live or mess on the grounds. The number of visitors is large and is increasing. The general public knows very little of what is going on, but the engineering world, the coal miners. the railways the large manufac- turers and other consumers of coal are taking a deep interest and send experts to observe the experiments. They usual ly stay for a week or more. All the inn portant railroads in the country and all the big coal companies have had their best men here making their reports of the results The engineering societies have indorsed the work and the American So- ciety of Technical Engineers has appoint ed a committee to draft rules for stand dardizing tests of gas producers and gas engines Slnlldr to those governing the tests of boilers adopted several years ago
 When an operator wants his coal tested he writes, making inquiries. Printed blanks and instructions are sent to him. When the blanks are filled out and re- turned an inspector is sent to examine the mines If it is all right he sends in sam pies and loads car with sufficient coal to make practical test, which is brought In ba Ic i'm a he py m Ga of the operators Several of the railroads as I have already said, haul experimental coal free. When the coal arrives 1t is stored in a particular place. The tests are made and the detailed report is pre- pared giving the results, which Is after ward published by the government.
 The laboratory work conducted under the direction of Professor Lord Is very thorough and complete and is accom- panied by various other tests. There are certain coals, particularly in Pennsylva- mia and West Virginia, which are so clean that they can be burned as they come from the mines, but in the middle west particularly in the Illinois fields. the coal is so dirty that it is practi- cally worthless. It cannot be used at all until it is washed. This of necessity has developed a business of washing and experimental tests here have proved that there is scarcely any coal that cannot be improved by washing. They have also demonstrated that it is possible to use for making coke refuse from the mines which hitherto has been entirely wasted The experiments are primarily intended to show the cost of washing and the comparative value of different coals be- fore and after. The cost of washing has been reduced by experience at the test ing works as low as cents ton, which is so small charge that it is clear that almost any coal can be redeemed
 For the colSing tests there are three standard beehive ovens in which every coal is tried; and samples from several sections of the country, such as Terre Haute and Illinois near East St. Louis, which were supposed to be without coking coal have produced excellent results.
 One of the most important objects of the experiments is to discover if possible some relation between the physical ap- pearance and the chemical analysis of coal and its coking properties which has never been found. At present the keenest experts cannot tell by looking at coal whether it will produce coke or not Nor will an analysis show, but MT. Belden and his assistants are endeavoring to find some test by which this point can be determined without actually burning the coal in the coking ovens They are also trying to find out why certain coals l., ~hxx nod .ss.Ix- xxrf11