Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-28
WORK TOWARD
SAVING COAL.
what the Government Has Dcen Do
ing at St. Paul


The results Of the work done at the
United States fuel-testing plant at \ crest
Park. st Louis, from January /, 1906 to
June 80 1907, are represented in a report
just issued by the United States geologi-
cal survey as bulletin No. So, The
scope of the work during the period COW
cred has been largel.' restricted to a
series of comparative tests made under
conditions rs nearly uniform as possible
on htuminous Goals and l,gntes from
different fields Of the l'nited States as
representative of known extensive de-
posts. Chemical analyses were made of
samples OF these fuels collected at the
mines by United States inspectors sent
out for that purpose. and also of samples
taken from the cars from the fuel as fed
TO the boilers, as fed to the producers,
before hriquetting, before ano. after wash
Ing, and before coking Samples Of
briqnetted coal and coke were also anal
lied and the results OF the entire series
of analyses and tests are represented in
the report.
The test to which the iuel samples
were subjected comprised steaming tests
to determine the calorihc value of the
fuel and the relative amount of energy
II will furnish when used under "A boiler
compared to the energy obtained from
the same fuel when used in gas pro-
Queer and gas engine, and also to de-
termine the methods Of burning fuel
without smoke and in such a manner as
to secure tho highest efficiency In the
combustion chamber; washing tests tn
49,
the quality Of the coal and the avail
ability OF such washed coal for the pro-
ductiOn Of coke; cooking tests to deter
mine the possibility OF utilizing the vari-
Gus Goals in this way, or of improving
cooking practice briNuetting tests. to de-
termine the extent to which slack, or
waste coal, can he economically made
into briquettes, and steaming tests on
briquettes TO determine the relative and
absolute efficiency OF this form OF coal
as compared with that obtained with
other forms. The producer gas investiga-
tons have continued TO show the avail
biity of bituminOus Goals and Ignite
and peat rich in volatile matter for the
production Of power, and have also ndi-
Gated the lines along which improvements
In gas producer construction might be
expected in order that the producer ma
| utilize advanta geously all virtues OF
bituminous coal. and especially low
grade fuels now being wasted.
The briquetting plant has developed
new possibilities In the utilization o
| slack coal and anthracite culm as ar
efficient fuel for combustion on locomo
| tives both In express service, where
smokeless fuel is required on entering
large cities, and heavy freight service
where high efficiency in hauling ovel
steep grade is required for limited
| period, Experiments are now oeing ex
tended TO determine the value of briqu
cited coal for use In the naval vessels
OF the United States. The plant at For
| The sections OF steam producer OF ga
| and brquetting We're transferred to
| new plant, erected at Norfolk Va, an,
those Of coking and washery to new
plant at Denver. The principle chem!ca
| la laboratory OF the fuel testing plant ha
been removed to Pittsburg but a brancl
Ia boratory will also be maintained n
| Norfolk for the purpose Of experimental
on the gases In different portions of tn
| combustion chambers OF steam boiler
and OF gas producers. The smoke abate
ment Investigations at public building
, will ne supplemented by more detailed
experiments at the Norfolk plant. Al
the work of the various plants y Nv
directed from the Washington office