The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-21

r 4 VI y
sbited at the Paris Exposition was re-
garded as a wonder. but today four
cycle, twin-tandem, double-acting gas
engines run as high as S,000-horse
power.
Robert Haywood Fcrnald 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, secs immense pos
s!bilities In this new mode Of power
production.
p In speaking of the results Of the
Investigations he paints rosy picture
for the future. not only in the cheap.
cning of production, but also in abate-'
sment of the smoke nuisance through
out the United States. for the pro-
Queer makes no smoke in its genera
ton OF power,
Pipe Drcnmer's Dream.
1The value OF the results of these
Investigations is, of course, not limit
cd to the coal-producing section Of:
the country" says Professor 5F'ernald,
"but extends through every State and
Territory where coal or other min
eral fuel is used as a source of power,
Thus in the New England States no
coal is mined but In the, year 1902
consumption OF coal and used = for
manufacturing purposes in these
States cost approximately $50, 0,000
The development of this power.
through the more efficient method sug-
gestcd by these Investigations, would
mean a saving to the manufacturers in
these States Of l5.0o0,000 to SEQ, o00,-
1000 per annunl
again the total consumption OF
In ff,r Tr,I ,pf r
purposes alone amounts to more than
100000 tons annually. II gas pro-
ducers and gas engines We're substitut-
ed for the steam plants. this tonnage
would be reduced 100000 to 100000
ttons. and at the same time smoke
would be practically 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
forrits storage. With this much
| eaper gas operation, steamboats, and
river traffic will, no doubt, become a
| much more powerful competitor TO
railways than heretofore s
l."Anotiier important fact is that
many fuels that are not At for use
under ordinary steam boilers have been
used with the greatest ease in the gas
I producer.
This opens the way to the utilization
| of many fuels that have heretofore
| been regarded as practically of ne
1 value. Several of the poorest grades
| of btunlinous Goals have shown re.
markable efficiency in the gas producers
/ and the lignites and peats have re-
lsponded with great readiness to the
! demands of this new generator. A re
markablei feature of the tests was tha
4 North Dakota and Texas brown Ignite
/ and Florida peat yielded more power
| In the gas producer than the very hes
/ West Virginia coal under the steam
4 boiler. The Ignite fields Of Norti
Dakota and Texas are almost mex
| haustible and as very little use com
4 mercially has been found for the Zig
4 new industry for those States that vii
grow into immense proportions as tn
i years ADVANCE
i Dream Listened To.
4 "The possibilities of this form o
power have been received with sue
confidence and enthusiasm by engineer
4 and managers of large plants tina
. there are already in the United State
alone ovs.r $50 gas producer installa
{, tons ranging In size from 1900 t
9,000-horsenoWer.
The number of installations and tn
persistent increase has led the Nationa
special rules and requirements for TIL
!, (,constructon. installation and use Q
. coal gas-producers.D The economics
success of these plants and the posi-
n bilities of using vast fields of Goa
. lignites and peats, heretofore consider
ed of little value for Industrial pur
! poses are a strong indication that tn
{, gas producer form of power will. with
"A in the next few years. develop far be
e You'd <nresent calculations, IN
! "There IS no better smoke prevente
I on the market to- day than the gas-pro
III Queer. After the plant is in work
i ing condition, there Is an absolute free
! dom of smoke. The general adoptio
: of this. 5econominacl system OF powe
! production will mean the almost com
a plete eliminationaof smoke.
81 g''The great reduction In the cost
! power production made possible by tn