Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-30

heat being used to generate power,
which may be transmitted electrically
to the points where 1t is TO be used.
Speaking at the Inauguration of the
International Smoke Abatement Exh-
bition in London recently. he remarked
that the object of the Smoke Abate-
ment Society would be much siinpiified
if no coal were burned. and he pointed
out that the ideal state of things would
be to have a gas-retort in the bowels
of the earth AS quoted he went on:
There is absolutely nothing so far
as l can see, TO prevent a bore-hoie
from being put down until the coal
stratum is reached. and concentric
tubes being used TO set the coal on
fire (by electricity and to blow air
down to enable the coal to burn as a
preliminary operation When sufficient
heat has been engendered the amount
of air sent down might be restricted.
Coal with plenty of air gives off carbon
dioxid. coz. When half burned 1t
gives co. or what is called Dow
sons gas, which is used for gas
engines. If steam were blown in it
would give a mixture of hydrogen and
carbonic oxid, or water-gas which also
is frequently used for gas engines.
Bring your gas engines to the mouth
of your pit or bore-hole and produce
your power there
You would thus have 80 per cent of
the energy of the coal available
| against Is per cent available in fuel
energies. That energy might be trans
| formed into electricity at the mouth of
I the bore hole. and you could distribute
| il through the country-wherever you
| liked. There is nothing new in this.
| Electricity has been carried 200 miles
| in California. ! myself have seen Ii
| carried so miles in Mysore in India.
| In this way you would get electricity
available for lighting and heating tin
GLIDING domestic heating), your rail-
WAYS would be worked by electricity,
and the only fuel you would require
would be oil for ships
| 1t has been reported still more re-
Gently in the daily press that a mine
owner in England has offered Sir Will
linn the use of some coal strata to ex-
pertinent with, and that his plan is to
be tried out shortly The London cor
respondent of the New York Times, in
a dispatch dated March %, quotes him
as saying:
Il firmly believe that something will
be done in the way of not raising coal.
but letting ii remain underground,
| burning it there and taking off gases
| have been in communication with a
large colliery proprietor. and he is go
! ing to give me a chance of making an
! experiment on very small scale. If
| this succeeds a candle may be lighted
| in England which Will not be extin-
| guished in our time"
! At least one noted inventor, however.
! is not enthusiastic about the success Of
| the scheme In an interview given to
| reporter of the Sun New York. April
/ -, Nikola Tesla is quoted as saying:
| THE idea is ingenious, and not at all
unrational. but on careful computation
| it will be found that more power can
| be derived by mining coal and burning
| it under proper conditions than by us
| ing it in the manner proposed by Prof.
| Ramsey.
| Another problem presented by his
! scheme would be that of finding en-
| ployment for countless thousands who
are now earning their living in min
/ Illustrated London News.