298 



Research on coal will * * * help to stabilize the industry by providing new 

 outlets and new markets for coal [and] raise the hopes of the communities and 

 the people who are engaged in coal mining. 



At this point, Mr. Scollon introduced a document titled "Expansion 

 of Coal Research in the United States," prepared by the Bureau of 

 Mines.^* The general policy of the Bureau was to "improve the Na- 

 tion's ability to meet the energy needs of an expanding economy and 

 to insure the Nation's security." Within this policy, Bureau projects 

 in coal research were to — 



1. Increase (a) efficiency, (b) economic development of the in- 

 dustry including new uses. 



2. Conserve resources through prevention of waste. 



3. Investigate mineral fuels belonging to or for the use of the 

 United States. 



4. Improve health and safety conditions in the mineral in- 

 dustries. 



As to whether expanded research should be conducted in-house by 

 the Bureau, or externally with Government sponsorship, the statement 

 concluded : 



* * * The most desirable method of expanding coal research in the United 

 States is through chosen projects carried out by a Federal agency with Federal 

 funds (or with added private funds as is now done at times under cooperative 

 agreements) and through chosen projects carried out by private interests with 

 non-Federal funds.^° 



Scope of potentially usefvl research in coal 



A number of witnesses addressed themselves to the question as to 

 what applied research in coal might be beneficial. The 209-item table 

 of "research possibilities for bituminous coal" presented in Bureau 

 of Mines Information Circular 7754 was before the subcommittee. 

 This listed the following categories of research projects : 



Coal reserves (three items). 



Mining methods and equipment (13 items). 



Underground haulage (three items). 



Roof control (six items). 



Ventilation (three items). 



Power (one item). 



Lighting (one item). 



Causes and control of acid mine water (five items). 



Underground gasification (10 items) . 



Dense-medium washing (four items). 



.Tig washing (three items). 



Pneumatic cleaners of fine coal (two items). 



Wet-concentrating tables (two items). 



Froth flotation (two items). 



Drying and dewatering (three items). 



Crushing and blending coal (one item). 



Performance testing of equipment (six items). 



Sulfur removal from coal by chemical means (one item.) 



Salvage of valuable products from washery refuse (two items). 



Surface treatment of coal (two items). 



Transportation and storage (seven items). 



Improved performance of coal-burning and handling equipment (four items). 



Elimination of stack emission (two items). 



Utilization of waste products (two items) . 



Economic aspects of coal-heat energy and power transmission (two items). 



" Cited in "Coal," Hearings Before the Special Subcommittee on Coal. Research of 

 the * * * on the Establishment of a Research and Development Program for the Coal Indus- 

 try, pt. 1, 19.57 (serial No. 3), op. cit., pp. 528-532. 



25 Ibid., p. 532. 



