Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-07-23

i Robert Haywood Fernal, professor
of mechanical engineering, Washing
ton university, st. Louis, and negi-
neer in charge of the tests of the
United States geological survey fuel
Il testing plant, sees immense possibili-
4 ties in this new mode OF power pro-
duction. In speaking of the results
4 of the investig ations he paints a rosy
/ picture for the future, not, only in
i the abatement of the smoke nuisance
Throughout the United States, for the
4 producer makes no smoke in its gen
GRAFTON of power.
The value or the results of these
iny estigstions is, OF course, not limit.
ed to the coal producing section of
the country, says Prof. Fernald,
"but extends through every state and
territory where coal or other miner
FL fuel is used as a source of power.
i Thus in the New England states no.
coal is mined, but in the year 1902
| the steam consumption of coal and
used for manufacturing purposes in
I these states cost approximately SoG,-
! 0GD,000. The development of this
/ power through the more efficient
I method suggested by these investfga-l
4 lions would mean saving to the
manufacturers in these states of ST.
! 100000 to s2o,OOo.ooO per annum.
! again, the total consumption of
coal in st. Louis, Mo-, for industrial
lpurposes alone amounts to more than
/ so. 1000 tons annually. If gas and
gas engines were substituted for the
steam plants this tonnage would be
reduced 2,5O0,000 to 5000 900, and at
the same time smoke would be prac-
tically eliminated.
! Further, if gas producers can be
introduced on ships and river boats
not only will millions be saved in
coal, but far less room will be requir-
i ed on board for its storage With
this much cheaper gas operation
/ steamboats, and river traffic will, no
doubt, become a much more power
full competitor to railways than here
to fore. T.
Il Another important fact is that
many fuels that are not fit for use
4 under ordinary steam boilers have
been used with the greatest ease in
4 the gas producer. This opens the
way to the utilization Of many fuels
that have heretofore been regarded
4 as practically Of no value. Several
;, of the poorest grades of bituminous
cy in the gas producers and the Zig
mites and peats have responded with
great readiness to the demands OF
this new generator.
4 "a remarkable feature of the test
was that North Dakota and Texas
/ brown Ignite and Florida peat yield
4 ed more power in the gas producer
/ than the very best West Virginia coal
under the steam boiler. The Ignite
fields of North Dakota and Texas are
almost inexhaustible, and as very lit
i tie use commercially has been found
i for the Ignite in the past, this will
i develop a new industry for those
| states that will grow into immense
proportions as the years advance.
1.-THE possibilities of this form of
power have been received with such
confidence and enthusiasm by engin-
GERS of large plants that there are
already in the United States alone
over $50 gas producer installations
ranging in size from 1900 to 9,v,
horsepower. The number of install
lations and the persistent increase
/ has led the national board Of fire
underwriters to issue special rules
and requirements for the construc-
ton, installation and use of coal gas
producers.
stThe economical success of these
plants and the possibilities of using
vast fields of coal, 1ignites and peats
heretofore considered of little value
for industrial purposes, are strong
| indication that the gas producer form
| of power will, within the next few
years. develop far beyond present cal
| culations. 49, 49,
There is no better smoke prevent.
| err on the market today than the gas
producer. After the plant is in
/ working condition there is an abso-
| lutte freedom from smoke. The gem
/ eral adoption of this economical sys.
tenn of power production will mean
/, the almost complete elimination of
smoke. ..
''The great reduction in the cost.
of power production made possible
by the use of the gas producer means
also rapid strides in electrical devel-
4 opmsnt within the next few wears.