Show IFUEL WASTE TESTED GOVERNMENT EXPERTS FIND USES FOR CULM AND SLACK t a d Rllults of Experiments with Coal of All Kinds Are Published by the p United States Geological Survey Washington The results of tho fork done at the United States fuel s Ittitlat plant at Forest Park st Louis j Item January 1 1906 to Juno 30 1907 nt presented In a report just Issued tjithe United States geological surrey sur-rey t ierTlie scope of the work during the period covered has been largely restricted re-stricted to a series of comparative Itttti made under conditions as nearly bituminous uniform as possible on bituminous coals and lignites from different fields of the United States as representa tive 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 to the boilers as fed to the producers before briquettlng before be-fore and after washing and before coking Samples of brlquetted coal and coke were also analyzed and the results of tho entire series of analyses analy-ses and tests are presented in the report The tests to which the fuel samples were subjected comprised steaming tests to determine tho calorific value of the fuel and the relative amount of r = energy It will furnish whra used un der tho boiler In connection with a steam engine ns compared to the en orgy obtainable from the same fuel when used In a gas producer and ga engine ana also to determine method of burning fuel without smoke and IB such a manner ns to secure the high est efficiency In the combustion chum ber washing tests to determine the possibility of Improving the quality of the coal and the availability of such washed coal for the production oi coke coking tests to determine the possibility of utilizing the various coals In this way or of Improving cok ing practice briquetting tests to determine tho extent to which slack or waste coal can be economically made into briquettes and steamlnfi tests on briquettes to determine the relative and absolute efficiency of this form of coal as compared with that obtained with other terms The producer gas Investigations havo continued to show the availability at bituminous coals and lignite and peat rich In volatile matter for the Production of power and have also Indicated the lines along which Improvements Im-provements In gasproducer construc tion might reasonably bo expected In order that tho producer may utilize advantageously all varieties of bl luminous coal and especially low grade fuels now being wasted The brlquetting plant has developed now possibilities In tho utilization oi slack coal and anthracite culm as an efficient fuel for combustion on locomotives loco-motives both In express service where a smokeless fuel is required on entering en-tering large cities and in heavy freight service where high efficiency In haulIng haul-Ing over steep grades Is required for a limited period Experiments are now being extended to determine the value of trlquettcd coal for use In the naval vessels of the United States The plant at Forest Park was dls mantled In March 1907 Tho sections of steam producer gas and briquet ting were transferred to n new gas plant erected at Norfolk Va and those of coking and wnshery to a new plant at Denver Tho principal chem foal laboratory of tho fuel testing plant has been removed to Pitts burg but a branch laboratory will also be maintained at Norfolk for tho purpose of experimenting on the gases in different dif-ferent portions of the combustion chambers of steam boilers and of gas producers Tho smoke abatement in vestlgations at public buildings will bo supplemented by more detailed ex pcrlments at tho Norfolk plant |