The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-31

protraeted coal strike Las ~ ex-
perts OF the federal govegn0ent
to studying anew IL pro6lsm Of
the storage OF coal ON large scale.
Aside nom the expense Of extra
handling and equipment there are
two MAYOR reasons why coal cam
not successfully b stored. The
flrst IL that when exposed to the
air, coal gradually loses it, com
bustttility-that II, its burning and
heating qualities. The ages pro-
duce coal By crushing decAyed veg
etabie matter under great weight
and pressure in the depths OF the
earth, far from atmosphere. When
coal 10 brought to the surface and
exposed to the air, nature starts
to undo the process and take the
elements Of combustion away.
The second reason 10 that,
through some chemical or physts
cal action Of the air upon coal
which has been taken from the
mine, the product generates heat
Of its own and spontaneous com
bustion results. This is one Of the
mysterious forces of nature which
has baflied many scientists and en-
gineers. Without the application
OF any external heat Or inflamma-
tory matter. a pile OF coal some
times will ignite itself and burn
with dangerous intensity.
This phenomenon 10 encountered
most frequently at sea. Steamers
must store large supplies Of coal in
! their bunkers. The frequent re.
| suit is bunker fire. caused almost
always by spontaneous combustion
Every American who reads news
papers and learns Of coal strikes
| and shortages of coal due to Cal
| congestion or inadequate transpor-
tation facilities has asked the Ques
ton: Why not keep the mines run
ming and store the coal in piles
The foregoing are the good and
sufficient reasons.
These obstacles to coal storage
mean that coal cannot be minet
until there is quick market To-
1t. The demand for domestic Goa
for heating and cooking is fairl!
steady and can be reckoned upon
SO it is possible for mines to keel
a fairly steady supply Of coal NOV
ing to retail dealers. But for tn
great industrial consumers tn,
! task Is more difficult Factories
have boom periods and slack pc
RODS. Their demands for Goa
vary. The'result is that the Goa
to fill large order for a mill or ,
public utility is not taken out O
the ground until the coal compan.
has obtained the order.
In boom times when factorie
are running full blast, the order
come in fast. Then follow fever
ish efforts to get the coal out. Blu
here another factor enters. 1t is n
use to bring the coal up abov,
ground unless cars are available t,
take it away. With everybody de
handing coal at once, the railroad
cannot supply cars rapidly enough
to take care of all demands.
i All these circumstances point h
the desirability Of devising a plal
for the storage OF coal.
Water Storage System.
There has been one extensive
successful experiment In this coun
try along lines heretofore foun,
feasible in England. The Illinoi
Traction company, which operate
. network of interurban electri
railroads throughout the state, ha
. established a system of subaque
GUS storage. 1t has been learne
that coal can be stored under wa
ter. This keeps the air from work
ing its Geleterious effects on tn
coal and also prevents spontaneou
combustion. 1t is a curious fac
fact, however, that a small quaint
ty Of water will not prevent, bu
stimulates spontaneous combu:
ton. Merely to moisten coal @
have 1t half covered will set 1t afr,
Many of the bunker fires on ship
arise from. leaks. To affect prope