The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-17
BY-PRODUCT OF
THE COKE OVENS
Government Scientists Have
Plans as to Supply of IlIu-
minating Gas for Cities.
EXPERIMENTS TO BE MADE
SOME OF THE WORK TO BE DONE
AT DENVER.
EXPERIMENTS TO BE MADE
Especial to The Herald.)


Washington, Oct. 16.-It is the belief
of government scientists that many
cities of the United States viii get
their supply of Illuminating gas and
perhaps power in the near future from
by-product coke ovens erected in the
vicinity of these cities. Coke is an ex-
cellent fuel for both domestic and in
duStrial use, and cOke-oVen gas is well
adapted for the production of power in
gas engines. In addition, it is thought
that ammonia and tar of sufficient
value to be items of commercial i,upor-
lance will be obtained from tie same
source.
The experts of the technOIogic branch
of the United States geological survey,
who are engaged in experiments seek
ing to conserve the fuel resources of
the country, will soon begin a series of
important tests at the chemical lab
oratory of the fuel-testing division at
Pittsburg upon the by-Droducts de-
rived from coking Goals.
This work is to be done i'm co-opera-
ton with the Denver fuel testing plant
of the survey, which is now endeavor-
ing to determine methods of improv-
ing the quality of the coke made from
western coal.
1t is contemplated that, at such time
in the future as funds may permit,
standard by-product coke ovens may
be erected upon which TO make an elab-
crate series of tests showing how to
manipulate the Goals of the western
states in such manner as to procure
not only the best product Of r1ke. but
the most valuable results in by-prod-
ucts.
10 hnr tnr ut tfsa fe-
the general supervision of DR.. y. w.
Lord of Columbus, o., with DIR. Horace
c. Porter, chemist. in direct charge of
investigation work.
Laboratory Experiments.
Until we are able to erect these by
product coke ovens" said DIR. Porter,
''our work will consist of laboratory
experiments, such as Oscillations of
coal in an iron retOrt and other tests
that will give a fairly general survey
of the by-product cooking possibilities
of the western Goals. We also hope
that information will be derived from
laboratory investigations which will
show how these Goals may be handled
so as to procure an increased output in
the most valuable portion of the by
products. which at present. because of
its relative market value, is ammonia.
The three essential by-prOducts of dis
tillation of coal which may be sepa-
rated in a by-product coke oven are
tar, ammonia and gas.
ut is highly probable that by-prod-
uct coke ovens such as have been
erected I'm the neighborhood of Boston.
Philadelphia, Detroit and milwaukee,,
may in a few years be erected in the
vicinity of many other cities thai are
adjacent either to the coal fields or to
the metallurgical centers. and that be-
sides producing coke, they shall give
off a sufficient amount of illuminating
gas of high quality to supply the cities
and in addition supply ammonia aud
tar for the market.
Will Conserve Fuel Supply.
This may mean much to these cities
i'm the way of economy. 1t will GER
tainly aid in conserving the fuel sup
ply At the present time there is a
tremendous loss of valuable by-prod-
ucts from the beehive coke ovens, a
loss which might be turned into light.