Britton.] 650 ^^,,ril 20. 



Anifrituin Condemed Peat : Experimental I'ents to Detennine Us Value for 

 Blunt and Pnddlinr/ Furnace Use, ifc. 



«Y .). BLODGKT HUITTON. 



(Bead before the American Pliiloxophical Society, April 20, 1877.) 



At the meeting of the fifth of January last I exhibited a small sample of 

 condensed air dried peat, prepared by the Dodge jn-ocess, at works in 

 operation near Syracuse, N. Y., under the direction of Jas. M. Hart and 

 others, and stated that my purpose was to ascertain by anal3'sis its general 

 composition in order to find what value it possessed for blast and puddling 

 furnace use and generating steam in boilers, and Avould communicate to 

 the Society the results obtained. Since then I have received more of the 

 same material charred, and some samples prejiared by the Wright process, 

 at works at Rome, N. Y., luider the direction of the patentee, W. E. 

 Wright ; and also some samples of true brown coal or lignite, apparentlv 

 a derivative of peat, found in considerable quantity in more or less dis- 

 connected deposits of from one to seven feet in thickness, principally in 

 the region of the Ouachita River in Southern Arkansas. In order to em- 

 brace in the communication the results of the analyses of these last samples, 

 there has been more delaj^ than was anticipated. Portions of the samples 

 are now presented for inspection and comparison, and also I respectfully 

 submit the results of the analj'^tical examinations so far made. 



Tiie lignite has a specific gravity of 1.29. It is lighter in color than the 

 peats, and more uniform in structure, but bj' exposure to a drying atmos- 

 phere, however slowly the drying is effected, becomes quite friable, and 

 at once breaks into pieces when roughly handled. It ignites most readily, 

 and with a draft gives a long, bright flame and ver}- little smoke, but 

 would not answer the purposes of the l)lacksmith ; it does not cake or form 

 a coherent coke. 



Results of analysis. 



Water 23.62 



Crude oleaginous matter 12.49 



Other volatile matter more or less combustible 28.44 



Ash 4.85 



Fixed carbonaceous matter 80.60 



Total 100.00 



Included in the above : 



Sulphur 551 



Siil|)hurie acid 322 



Phosphoric acid 007 



