The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-03
GOVERNMENT TRIES
OUT COAL AS FUEL
Tests Cover All Conditions I'M
der Which Bitumens and
Lignites Are Used
Results Demonstrate New VAL
!. ues for CuIm Beds and Slack
Stuff at Mines

WASHINGTON, May THE results
fuel testing plant at Forest park. St
Louis, from January ]. 1906. TO June
sc, 1897. are presented in q report Just
issued by the United States geological
survey as bulletin No. s3z
The scope OF the work during the
period covered has been largely re-
strscted TO q series OF comparative
tests made under conditions as nearly
Uniform as possible on bsturninous
Goals and iignstes from different fields
Of the United States as representative
OF known extensive deposits. 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 10
the boilers, as fed 10 the producers,
before briQueft!rg. before ard after
washing. and before coking. Samples
OF brlQuetted coal and coke were also
analysed and the results OF the entire
series Of analyses and tests are pre-
scented In the eport.
The tests 10 which the fuel samples
were subjected comprised steaming
tests 10 determine the caioriic value
OF the fuel and the relative amount OF
energy il viii furnish when used under
a boiler in connection with 6 steam
engine. as compared TO the energy OBJ
tainable from the same fuel when used
in q gas producer and gas engine, and
also 10 determine methods OF burning
fuel without smoke and IN such a man
ner as 10 secure the highest efficiency
in the combustion chamber washing
tests, TO determine the possibility Of
Improving the quality of the coal and
the availability Of such washed coal
for the production Of coke. coking
tests. 70 determine the possibility OF
utilizing the various Goals IN this way.
or OF improving coking practice;
briuuetting tests. 10 determine the ex-
tent to which slack or waste coal can
be economically made into briqueftesi
ana steaming tests on briquettes 70 de-
termine the relative and absolute en-
cheney of this form OF coal as compared
with that obtained with other forms
The producer gas Investigations have
continued 10 show the availability OF
birur1incus Goals and Ignite and peat
rich IN volatile matter for the produc-
ton of power. and have also Indicated
the lines along which improvements IN
gas producer construction might rea-
sonably be expected in order that the
producer may utilize aovantageously all
varieties of bstrninous coal. and espe-
csally low grade fuels now being
wasted
The brsouetting plant has developed
new possibilities in the utilization OF
slack coal and anthracite cuim as an
efficient fuel for combustion on loco
motives. both IN express service. where
8 smokeless fuel is required on enter
ing large cities. and IN heavy freight
service where high efficiency IN haul
ing over steep grades is required for
a limited period. Experiments are row
being extended TO determine the value
of brkcuetted coal for use IN the naval
vessels OF the United States
The report comprises an introduce
ton by Professor J. a Holmes. who
has charge OF the technologic branch
field work by Edward W. Parker and
J. Shober Burrows: the work OF the
chemical laboratory. by ~ W Lord:
steaming tests, by L P. Breckenbridge.
producer gas tests. by Robert H Fer
maid. washing tests. By G. R. Della
meter: cooking tests. by A w Belden:
cupola tests on coke. by Richard Mol
denke. and briquetting tests by c. T.
Malcomson The results OF tests are
also arranged by the states from which
the fuel samples were obtained.
The plant at Forest park was dis
mantled in March. 1907. The sections
OF steam. producer gas and briouetting
were transferred to new plant erected
at Norfolk. Va. and those OF cokfng
and washery were transferred to q
new plant at Denver. The principal
chemical laboratory OF the fuel test
ing plant has been removed TO Pitts
burg but branch laboratory will also
be maintained at Norfolk for the pur-
pose OF experimenting on the gases IN
different portions OF the combustion
chambers of steam boilers and OF gas
producers The smoke abatement in
vestigations at public buildings will
be supplemented BY more detailed ex-l
periments at the Norfolk plant All
the work OF the various plants is now
directed from the Washington Office