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THE colliery guardian.

February 9, 1917.

they had la certain effect upon the fire killing the volatile
matters, which otherwise would rush off. In this ques-
tion of gasification of coal, much depended upon the
chemical manufacturers. As a nation, we had not put
in anything like the research which the Germans had
done. If enormous quantities of these substances were
needed for chemical works, where were they to come
from? Some means of production would have to be
adopted. Grading of coal was an essential point. The
smudge contents in dry slack must be brought down to
a standard figure. A standard calorification and a stan-
dard method of testing coal were also needed.

Mr. Wyle said during his 13 years’ experience he had
examined hundreds of schemes of boiler firing, and
never found one that would pay. He knew little of
coke oven work, but, so far as he could see, it was not
profitable to put down a coke oven primarily for boiler
firing purposes; it would be better if engineers would
study the existing coke ovens which were put down for
the purpose of making, coke. ■ To illustrate the use
which might be made of waste gases or the waste refuse
from a coke oven plant, he pointed to what was done
in Germany and Austria, where, in addition to the power
required for the works themselves, electricity was sup-
plied for the lighting of villages and the working of
electrical tramways. This was the sort of thing which
would make this country pre-eminent'., if proper efforts
were made to utilise to the fullest its natural resources.
The by-products from coal were very important, but,
after all, they were subsidiary to its fuel value. The
chemical industry did not absorb a great deal of benzol,
toluol, and the other substances which had .been men-
tioned, and if the distillation of coal was vastly
extended, there would be such a glut of these products
that an adequate market for them would not be found.
Thiei rate of increase in the consumption of sulphate of
ammonia before the war did not warrant the’ assumption
that the demand would* grow to the extent imagined by
some people.

Cheap Electricity Essential.

Mr. Robertson said they were all agreed that the
national supply of fuel should be utilised to the greatest
advantage, but whether that could be done in the
manner suggested by Mr. Frith was another question.
Six years ago Mr. Ferranti put forward a scheme for
combining a gas works and the recovery of by-products
with the production of electricity. He had' a great
admiration for the idea; it seemed quite the right thing
to do, but his faith in such a scheme had been under-
mined by Mr. Frith’s paper. If the proposal now put
forward was the best that could be done, there was little
chance of Mr. Ferranti’s idea being realised. Mr. Frith
took an electrical station generating 20 million, units a
year, where 22,500 tons of coal was burned directly
under the boilers. Then, as an alternative, he put down
a gasifying plant which would deal with 250,000 tons of
coal in order to get the same amount of electricity. As
a result, they would have 180,000 tons of coke for which
they must find some use. He could not conceive 'how
that problem could be solved satisfactorily. For the
future industrial welfare of England, certain by-pro-
ducts were needed, and a certain amount of coal must be
set aside for their production, but the essential factor
was a cheap supply of electrical power. He disagreed
entirely with the suggestion that large gas engines
should be employed. The development of the internal
combustion engine had been a source of acute dis-
appointment to the engineering industry in this country.
Very attractive results were put before them from time
to time, but over and over again the end had been failure
—and the gas engine had been replaced. The steam
turbine was undoubtedly the prime mover for electricity
generating. It had advantages which were absent from
the gas engine. The larger it was, the more simple the
construction; with the gas engine the conditions were
reversed. Mr. Frith’s figures of coke at 15s. a ton pro-
duced from coal at 8s. a ton should be compared with
the coke at 6s. 8d. per ton in another part of the paper.
The fact that one was blast furnace coke and the other
municipal gas coke, was not a sufficient explanation. Mr.
Paton had made very useful suggestions with regard to
the problem of the national fuel supply. Coal should
be classified and graded according to the purposes for
which it was suitable. The large quantities of inferior
coal left in mines must also be dealt with. As long as
the mines were worked for private profit, the owners
would bring up the coal which commanded the best
price in the market, and leave the rest until it paid to
bring it out.

Mr. Lomax said he had been engaged for a number of
years in microscopical investigations for the purpose of
finding out the nature and quality of various coals, and
he was convinced that some seams could be made four
or five times more profitable to work. Out of 101b. of
coal dust taken from the coal face in one seata, he
obtained three gills of the most volatile material for
distillation. From another seam, under the same con-
ditions, he did not get half the quantity. Much of the
material left underground, including what wa<s known
as bastard cannel, was, in fact, most1 valuable for by-pro-
duct purposes, because it was rich in volatile properties.
There was a chance of getting it now, while the pits
were open, but once they were closed it would not pay
to re-open them. The demand for these by-products
was bound to increase in course of time. For instance,
the development of mechanical traction in this country
would increase the demand for motor spirit. That the
prices quoted did not fit in with the opinions of some
people was not an adequate reason for relaxing the
efforts to ensure the proper utilisation of the nation’s
resources.

Mr. Seaton agreed it was high time attention was
drawn to the very serious question of coal consumption,
and cited the Dunston station at Newcastle as. an
example of economical working. He hoped municipal
engineers would follow the example.

Mr. Stanley Smith endorsed what had been said
previously, that by reason of the increased facilities
for the production of sulphate of ammonia, it would
come down to a low price—about 4? 8 a ton, he thought.

Mr. Paton’s Reply.

In replying, Mr. Paton said the scheme was put for-
ward as a serious proposition. Even if the price of
by-products diminished, as suggested, in the case of
sulphate of ammonia to L8 a ton, there would still be a
good return upon the capital invested. Mr. Clayton’s
experience of the Moore producer should be considered
in the light of an examination of Mr. Lomax’s slides,
which showed the presence of dark resinous, pitchy
bodies containing a high percentage of the volatile
matters which clogged up the retort. The price of coal
was an important factor, but at one time it was possible
to procure the material he was dealing with for Is. a
ton, and at the present moment millions of tons were
treated as waste.. It was intended to turn this into a
valuable commodity. After the war there would be an
immense market for sulphate of ammonia for fertilising
purposes throughout the Empire, and this country ought
to be in a position to supply that demand. Another
consideration was the increased use of motor-cars, of
which about a million were sold in the United States
last year. The output of motor spirit must keep pace
with that. Then, with regard to coke, there was every
reason to anticipate that, to a large extent, coke would
be substituted for coal for domestic purposes. In con-
clusion, he advised Lancashire engineers to concentrate
their attention upon their own coal fields, and not allow
London or any other part of the country to dictate what
should be done in Lancashire.

STATE CONTROL OF MINERS’ WAGES.

When the Board of Trade, on November 29 last,
settled the wages dispute in the South Wales coal field
under a new regulation of the Defence of the Realm
Act, they undertook without loss of time to ascertain
independently the cost of production.

It now appears that these -steps- have not yet been
taken, and we are asked by Mr. Finlay A. Gibson, th?
secretary of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Goal
Owners’ Association, to state that the owners’ repre-
sentatives on the Conciliation Board have passed the
following resolution, and forwarded it to the Board of
Trade :—

The Board of Trade, in awarding to the workmen an
■advance of 15 per cent, as and from December I last, stated
that they had determined to appoint an independent auditor,
without loss of time, to ascertain the facts in regard to the
increase in rhe cost of production of coal in the South Wales
coal field, and that any future adjustments of wages would
be contingent on the. result of the audits to be instituted,
taken in conjunction, with all other relevant factors.

This intimation was made on December 1 last, but now,
after a lapse of two months, the owners learn with great
disappointment that no instructions to the accountants have
yet been given. On January 31 the Board of Trade decided
that, pending the taking of this audit, any application for a
reduction in the general wage rate should be withheld. This
delay is very seriously affecting the position of the collier}7
owners. The owners’ representatives on the Conciliation
Board therefore desire to enter a strong protest against the
inaction of the Board of Trade in not proceeding with this
audit.

Increased Use of Artificial Gas in America.—According to
statistics collected by Mr. C. E. Lesher, of the United States
Geological Survey, the artificial gas included in oil and water
gas and coal gas from retorts and by-product coke ovens—
marketed and sold in 1915—amounted to 266,204,248,000
cu. ft., valued at 173,832,132 dols., an increase of 25 per cent,
in quantity and 17 per cent, in value compared with 1912,
the next preceding year for which statistics were collected.
The quantity of gas from coal gas plants in 1915 was
43,747,432,000 cu. ft., valued at 40,257,108 dols., an increase
of 24 per cent, in quantity and 25 per cent, in value com-
pared with 1912. The quantity of surplus gas sold or used
from by-product coke ovens in 1915 was 84,355,9-14,000cu. ft.,
valued at 8,624,899 dols., an increase of 55 per cent, in quan-
tity and 84 per cent, in value. The average value of the
coal gas in 1915 was 92c. per 1,000 cu. ft., and that of gas
from by-product coke ovens was 10c., the difference being
due to the fact that the value given for coal gas included the
cost of distribution to domestic consumers, whereas the value
for coke gas is reported at the place of production. The
aggregate output of coal gas in 1915 was 128,103,346,000
cu. ft., valued at 48,882,007 dols., an increase, compared with
.1912, of 33 per cent, in quantity and 93 per cent, in value.
Water gas enriched with oil—carburetted water gas—is
more generally used in American cities than coal gas. The
quantity of water gas manufactured and sold in 1915 was
124,129,569,000 cu. ft. — nearly as much as the combined
output of coal gas from retorts and coke ovens—and was
about 47 per cent, of the total quantity of artificial gas
sold. In California, Arizona, and Oregon, nearly all the
artificial gas produced is made from oil, and there are oil
gas plants in some other States. The oil gas output in
1915 was 13,971,333,000 cu. ft. The aggregate of oil and
water gais sold was 138,100,902,000 cu. ft., valued at
124,950,125 dols., an increase, compared with 1912, of 13
per cent, in quantity and 12 per cent, in value. The average
value of oil and water’ gas in 1915 was 90c. per 1,000 cu. ft..,
compared with 92c. for coal gas from retorts. No complete
figures showing the sale of artificial gas for various uses
are available, for the reason that in many cities the gais used
for illuminating and that used for fuel is not metered
separately. The statistics collected by the Geological Survey
for 1912 showed that 47 per cent, of the artificial gas sold
was used for illuminating, and the statistics for 1915 show
that 30 per cent, of the gas sold was used for illuminating,
48 per cent, for domestic fuel, and 22 per cent, for industrial
fuel,

COKE OVEN MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The second annual dinner of the above association was
held at the Queen’s Hotel, Leeds, on Saturday, the
3rd inst. There was a large attendance, but Lord
Moulton, P.C., K.C.B., F.R.S. (Director-General,
Explosives Supply Department, Ministry of Munition's)
was.unable to be present owing to illness, and was repre-
sented by Mr. A. S. Parsons, Directors of Raw Materials,
for the Department of Explosives Supplies, Ministry of
Munitions, and by Mr. Bazine, private secretary to Lord
Moulton.

Other representatives of the Department were : Dr.
Spielman, Capt. D. B. Hall, R.E., M.R., Lieut. Mont-
gomery, and Mr. Morri's. Amongst the visitors present
were: Sir William Middlebrook, M.P., Leeds; Mr.
Littlefield, TLM. alkali inspector; Prof. F. W. Burstall,
M.A., Chance Professor of Engineering, Birmingham;
Prof. Cobb, Applied Science Department, Leeds Univer-
sity; and Prof. Fearnsides, M.A., Applied Science
Department, Sheffield University.

The toast of “ The King ” was proposed by the presi-
dent of the association', Mr. G. Chrisp (Silverwood).

Capt. Hall, in responding to the toast of “ The Army
and Navy,” cordially thanked the coke oven and allied
industries for the efforts they had made and the success
they had attained in raising their output of high explo-
sives, etc., to such an eminently satisfactory position.
He urged upon the members the necessity of maintain-
ing their efforts in the production of coke for shell steel,
and of benzol and toluol for high explosives. Every
ounce they could put into it would be a step nearer
victory.

Mr. Parsons, in proposing the toast of “ The Coke
Oven Managers’ Association,” referred to the disap-
pointment of Lord Moulton at being unable to be pre-
sent. Lord Moulton had been looking forward for some
time to meeting the members of the coke oven industry,
to thank them personally for what they had achieved in
the output of materials so essential to the carrying on
of the Avar, and had asked the speaker to say that he
would certainly have been there if his doctor had not
forbidden him to take the long railway journey in the'
inclement weather. It would have given him special
pleasure to be present at the dinner, and he felt it a
pleasure to have been connected in some measure with
their work. He assured them of his sympathy with the
aims, objects, and principles of the association. It had
been a great pleasure to him to note the disappearance
among them of the tendency to hold back valuable
information gained by practical experience at different
plants, which knowledge, under present circumstances,
he was of opinion should not be regarded as a trade
secret, but as an asset to our country to help to win the
Avar. Mr. Parsons concluded by urging them not to
relax their efforts for one moment to obtain every ton
of coke and every gallon of benzol and toluol it was
possible to produce to help to carry on the Avar to a
successful conclusion.

Mr. Bazire, in supporting, emphasised the necessity
of maintaining the output at the highest possible level.
He . said the enemy only understood one language, that
of high explosives., and it was up to them to help to give
him plenty of it.

The Labour Problem at Coke Ovens.

The President, in response, thanked Messrs. Parsons
and Bazire for the encouraging remarks they had made.
He was glad that one Government department, at any
rate, was aware of the importance of their industry; but
the minds of the men in the coke oven industry were
obsessed by the fear that other departments had not
thoroughly understood it. Certain steps had been pro-
posed Avhich would seriously vitiate the production of
raw materials, already stated to be so essential to the
carrying on of the Avar. He referred to the question of
labour 'substitution. Unless there Avas very strong action
taken immediately, he Avas afraid that the output of
these materials would be very seriously diminished. The
very men who alone could assist them to prolong the Life
of machinery, and plant renewals, which were so difficult
to obtain, Avere to be taken, not only for the Army, but
actually for other work of only secondary importance.
The benefit the Army could derive from the absorption
of these men was infinitesimal compared with the danger
of a reduction in output of these essentials for Avar. He
ridiculed the idea of Avomen being useful in a manual
capacity on coke oven plants, the conditions being very
strenuous. He pointed out that the industry should be
placed on a secure footing for the period Avhich Avould
folloAA7 the war, so as to be able to compete Avith the
foreign manufacturer; and he called upon the Govern-
ment to set aside money for research. He mentioned
the fact that very valuable products Avere still unre-
covered, and he instanced the case of sulphur, Avhich
Avas so difficult to obtain for the production of HoS04.
He estimated that a quantity capable of producing
10,900 tons of monohydrate per month was wasted,
although recoverable. The nitrogen, the cyanogen left
unrecovered, and the waste of heat energy, Avere a sad
reflection upon, our vaunted efficiency. All these might
be utilised if Ave kneAv how to do it, and the Government-
should be pressed to embark upon a policy of research
in the field of industrial science. He thought this was
the duty of the Government rather than of private enter-
prise. Further, he demanded that better educational
facilities should be provided for the rising generation of
coke oven men, and he welcomed the assistance they
were now receiving from the academic profession. He
announced that he was offering to the council of the
association a gold medallion for competition amongst
the members, for the best paper contributed to the asso-
ciation. The medallion Avould be of suitable design, and
inscribed with the motto, ” Ad astra per ardua,” a rough
translation of which wa,s “ Hitch your wagon to the
stars, and push.”