Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-02-16

Of such power by the construction Of
an auxiliary steam plant at the mines
~ the coal fields OF Illinois. IN con
nection with the auxiliary steam pow
er plant It is proposed to construct a
plant for the destructive gasldcafi0n
oI coal for the recovery Of such fixed
nitrogen and other by-products as exc
lSt in coal, and the production og a
fuel gas 10 be- used under the boilers
~ the auxiliary steam power plant
The combined plant viii recover the
fixed nitrogen from the coal before il
is used for power purposes in the
steam power plant, and the hydro
electric plant, supplemented by She
steam power plant. VIII furnish an all
most unlimited amount of cheap power
for the recovery OF nitrogen from The
atmosphere by any process which The
government may select The location
at Rock Island IS proposed because OF
It's central position. the water power
which can be developed. the nearueas
% a suitable coal supply. the abund-
ant labor available, the uneXgelled wa
ter and rail- transportation fin all di-
recti0ns, the safety on the location.
and finally, the fact that the most i'm
portant arsenal ia the country is Io-
Gated on Rock island
The Rock Island arsenal is located
on an island in the Mississippi. al the
foot of the Rock Island rapids The
water power at this point is now used
by the United States government and
ts but partially developed. IT, is prac-
ticable to develop the water power 81
the Mississippi river eft Rock Island
TO between 10000 and 125,000 EIo-
watts Under the present conditions
the most economical devel0pmea
q traE .rE-
cost per Ellowatt-hour and per horse
power, per year. is approximately
1905 600 klowatts The cost Of the
hydraulic works IN the river viii not
be excessive. and the amount of power
developed can be increased from -Gg
beginning of 30 900 kilowatss To tae.-
900 kilowatts or more. as the deuaH-
for such power increases.
An auxiliary steam plant should ho
constructed in connection with the
water power development, TO insure
the supply of the fUll amount of power
every day of the year and for - hours
each day.
The auxiliary steam plant should be
constructed in the nearby coal fields
of Illinois. within so 10 100 miles Of
Rock Island. and preferably on the
Illinois river. The steam plant should
be equipped with apparatus Of the
highest grade and efficiency. The
plant should be located with reference
to the coal mines so that COaI.Cau be
taken directly from the mine to the
power plant and handled iE bulk. thus
avoiding the cost of rehaudinE trans
pOTtatiCD charges, and the uncertain
ties Of transp ortation service. An
auxiliary steam plant AIS designed ana
located can BE operated at minimum
.rs.r. g. .HHf % Ear
signed Tor extension 90 100000 EEio-
watts. or even to 100000 ElIoWatts.
should that amount of power be re-
qUired.
Gas Producer Coal Plant.
A by-prOduct gas producer plant
should be constructed iu connection
with the auxiliary steam power plant.
Plants Of the gas producer type
have been developed ana pert9Cl ed
which extract the nitrogen from the
coal In the form of ammonium sui
phaEe. "a common form OF fertilizer.
and produce an abundant supply 81
gas which is available for use under
the boilers in the steam power plant.
The market value of the ammonium
sulphate produced will much more
than balance the entire annual cost
Of the by-product plant including inn
terest depreciation coal supplies, F.
maiut enance and operating expenses. .
The gas produced. therefore, can be
regarded as q waste product utilized
in the steam power plant The power
so produced. combined with the hydro
electric power developed on the Miss
issippi river. utilizing the water power
now going 70 waste. viii produce pow
er at a minimum Of cost and viii rep
resent the highest type OF true con-
seryatism making use, AS il does. ot
our natural resources in the best, most
economical and most efficient manner. .
and for the most part utilizing the
natural resources which are now be-
ing wasted
Such by-product coal plants can
make use Of Goals of low grade. and
Goals. and consequently
the cost of fuel is reduced to a min
lmum, AT the same time. mining
waste viii be reduced t0 minimum.
While a gas producer plant of
special type is referred tO above any
other suitable process which accomp- .
fishes the purposes suggested can be
used. 1t is believed. however, that the
process which secures the maximum
of fixed nitrogen from the
coal and produces the maximum
amount of fuel gas viii best serve the
combination Of plants here proposed .
The plans propose high-tension
line connecting the Ivy
droeIectric plant with the steam aux
Hilary plant The transmission line
should be constructed with ample fac
tors of safety and adequate reserve. .
and tle highest type of construction .
should be used to insure continuity Of
service. The substatiOn or substa-
t0ns should 1 g equipped with appar-
atus of the highest grade The sub
stations should be located at points .
convenient to tile plants constructed .
for tie manufacture 81 uitrates for
use in the production Of fertilizers and
ammunition.
Location Of Nitrate Plants.
The plants 5Or the manufacture Of .