The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-02-03
WASTED MUCH COAL
Railroads Use 0ne-Fifth Of Total
Production OF Country.
Enornfouc Amount Of Fuel Ia Lost
That Under Ideal Conditions Of
Operation Much Could
BE Saved.


Washington Ninety million tons OF
coal, one.6fth Of the total product OF
the country, were consumed by the
oLOOO locomotives in the United
states in 1906 in hauling freight and
passenger trains. This fuel cost the
railroad companies s17O,5OO,O0O
This enormous consumption of coal
by the railroads led the United States
geological survey through its technical
branch, to conduct series OF tests on
locomotive to determine whether or
not there could be saving to the
country in the amount OF fuel used
ana the results have Just been an
nounced in a bulletin Of the survey
Prof w, r. NJ. Goss. now dean Of
me University Of Illinois. who had
charge Of the experiments. makes The
statement that or the total 10000 900
tons Of coal used, l0,OSO 900 tons are
lost through the heat in the gases that
are discharged from he stacks OF the
locomotives: S,64O,OOO tons are lost
through cinders and sparks; 5.O4O,0 900
tons are lost through radiation. leak
age Of steam and water: 2,SsO,O tons
are lost through unconsumed fuel in
the ashes, and 100000 tons are lost
through the incomplete combustion OF
gases In addition. $4,000, 900 tons are
consumed in starting fires, IN moving
the locomotive to its train, in backing
trains into or out OF sidings and In
keeping the locomotive hot while
standing
Under ideal conditions OF opera
ton says Prof Goss. much of the
fuel thus used could be saved, and 1t
Is reasonable to expect that the nor
NAL process OF evolution In railroad
practice will tend gradually 10 bring
about some reduction in the consump-
ton thus accounted for The loss
represented by the heat Of discharged
gases offers an attractive field 10
those who would improve the eff.
cheney OF the boiler. The fuel loss In
the form OF cinders passing out OF
INC stack Is very large and may read
NY be reduced A sure road TO i'm
provement in this direction lies In an /
increased crate area. Opportunities I
Tor incidental saving are to be found
n improved fame ways such as are
% be procured by the application or
Drck arches and other devices. Such
osses may also be reduced By great
er care in the selection of fuel and In
ne preparation Of the fuel for the
service In which it Is used. It is MOI
unreasonable to expect that
he entire loss covered by this
tenn win in time be overcome. The
uel which Is lost by dropping through
rates and mingliag with the ashes IL
factor that depends on the CRATE
Iesign, on the characteristic OF the
uel, but chiefly on the degree OF care
xercised in managing the fire More
killful firing would save much OF the
uel thus accounted for
Locomotive boilers are handI.
apped by the requirement that the
oiler and all its appurtenances must
ONE within rigidly defined limits OF
pace, and by the fact that they are
orced to work at very high rates OF
over. Notwithstanding this handi.
ap. the zone of practical improve.
lent which lies between present day
esults and those which may reason
bly, be regarded as obtainable is not
D wide as to make future progress
apid or easy Material Improvement
! less likely to come in large meas. y
res as the result Of revolutionary (
hanges than as series OF relatively
nall savings II IS apparent that the
iilization of fuel in locomotive prac \
co is q problem Of large proportions.
I'D that II even small saving could
: made by all or large proportion
the locomotives OF the country 1t y
ould constitute an important factor i
the conservation Of the nations b
81 supply" A