Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-08-05

Robert Haywood Fernald, professor
of mechanical engineering, Washing
ton university. ST. Louis. Mo-. and EN-
gineer in charge of producer gas tests
of the United States geological survey
fuel-testing plant, sees immense posi-
bilities in this new mode Of power pro-
duction. In speaking of the results OF
the investigations Me paints a rosy
picture for the future, not only In the
cheapening Of production but also In
the abatement Of the smoke nuisance
throughout the United States, for the
producer makes no smoke in its gen.
Grafton of power.
THE value of the results Of these
Investigations is of course not limited
to the coal producing section Of the
country" says Professor Fernald. but
extends throughout every state and
territory where coal or other mineral
fuel Is used as source of power. Thus
in the New England states no coaris
mined, but in the year 1902, the steam
power produced through the consump-
ton of coal and used for manufacture
ing purposes in these states cost APP
proximately s5O,OO0,O00. The develop
efficient method suggested by these
Investigations would mean a saving TO
the manufacturers in these states OF
$4,000. 900 to $2o.ooo.o00 per annum.
= Again, the total consumption of coal
in st. Louis, Mo-. for industrial pur-
poses alone amounts to more than s.
900. 900 tons annually. II gas producers
and gas engines were substituted for
the steam plants, this tonnage would
be reduced $4,000 to 100000 tons and
at the same time smoke would be prac-
tically eliminated.
Further. IL gas producers can be in
troduced on ships and river boats not
only will millions be saved in coal. but
far less room will be required on board
for its storage. With this much cheap
er gas operation. steamboats, and river
traffic will, no doubt. become a much
than heretofore.
Another important fact Is that
many fuels that are not fit for use
under ordinary steam boilers have
been used with the greatest ease in
the gas producer. This opens the way
to the utilization Of many fuels that
have heretofore been regarded as prac-
tically of no value. Several OF the
poorest grades of bitumiDous Goals
have shown remarkable efficiency in
the gas producers and the ligpItes and
peats have responded with great read
mess TO the demands OF this new gen.
orator. A remarkable feature of the
tests was that North Dakota and Tex
as brown Ignite and Florida peat
yielded more power In the gas pro-
Queer than the very best West Virginia
coal under the steam boiler. The lig-
mite fields of North Dakota and Texas
are almost inexhaustible and as very
little use commercially has been found
for the Ignite in the past. this will de-
velop a new industry for those states
that will grow into immense proper
tons as the years advance.
THE possibilities of this form of
power have been received with such
confidence and enthusiasm by engin-
GERS and managers Of large plants that
there are already in the United States
alone over one hundred and fifty gas
producer installations ranging In size
from fifteen hundred to nine thousand
horse power. The number Of installa-
tions and the persistent Increase has
led the National Board OF Fire Under
writer's to issue special rules and re-
quirements for the "(construction, in
stallation. and use of coal gas pro-
ducersC The economical success OF
these plants and the possibilities OF
using vast fields OF coal. lignites and
peats heretofore considered OF little
ind fol
strong indication that the gas pro-
Queer form of power will. within the
next few years. develop far beyond
present calculation.
There II no better smoke preventer
on the market today than the gas pro-
ducer. After the plant is in working
condition. there is an absolute free
dom from smoke. The general adop-
ton Of this economical system of pow
er production will mean the almost
complete elimination Of smoke.
1.-The great reduction in the cost Of
power production made possible by the
use of the gas producer means also
rapid strides In electrical development
within the next few years. Now that
Il is commercially possible TO transmit
electrical power for distances of $50
miles or more the location Of immense
power plants will speedily follow. A
central plant could distribute such
electrical current for a distance of 500
miles. that is, $50 miles either side OF
the plant, thus covering an area Of al
most 100000 square miles, an area
nearly four times the size of the state
Of Illinois. With ten or twelve of
these great central plants located at
the various mine centers. the great
railroads Of the United States can send
their trains speeding from the Allan
tic to the Pacific coast.
at would seem to some chimerical
TO predict the doom. in the near fu-
ture. Of the steam locomotive. vet one |
IF the officials Of the New York Gen. |
trail railroad has publicly stated that
in his opinion there will be no steam |
locomotives operating on the New
York Central road in ten years. Al |
'eady the New York Central Is arrang- |
ng to substitute electric power on its