liritloii.] ^^^ [Aprirjc, ls77. 



constructed ; if, unmixed with other fuel, they would answer for such use 

 at all with profit. It' they were coked and made into a compact coal, 

 tough enough to withstand the pressure and abrasion of the ore and Hux 

 without unduly crushing — wliich, I believe, would be quite impracticable 

 witlx the lignite — they might answer well ; the large quantity of ash they 

 contain would be the only objection. The ash, however, being rich in 

 lime and also containing some potash and soda, would not prove very re- 

 fractory. The sulphuric acid would not become reduced and give sulphur 

 to the iron, but pass off mostly as sulphate in the slag, and the phosphorus 

 present being small would have little etfect. The peat from Illinois would 

 afford G8.!t2 of ash with 100 parts of fixed carbon, that from Syracuse 

 31.50, and that from Rome 54.22. Wood charcoal usually affords less than 

 1 per cent, of ash ; coke from bituminous coal, variable, but usually less 

 than 12 per rent., and anthracite, also variable, but usually less than 8 per 

 cent. 



As a fuel for use in puddling furnaces these condensed peats would un- 

 questionably answer, and best when well dried. They would burn freely 

 without caking or forming any undue amount of clinker, reiiuire no excess 

 of blast or draft, and afford combustible gas free from sulphur in greater 

 volume than the ordinary bituminous coals. By mixing the gas with 

 heated air at or near the bridge walls, an exceedingly high heat could be 

 produced. For use in the Siemens regenerative furnace they would be 

 especially well adapted, their contents of moisture being no disadvantage, 

 but decidedly beneficial. Burning, as they could be made to, with a long, 

 hot and almost smokeless flame, their value for the production of steam in 

 stationary and other boilers would be great, and for the production of an 

 illuminating gas of high candle i)Ower they would be no less valuable. I 

 regard them as not at all-liable to spontaneous combustion. 



Much has been said of the value of peat for fuel [purposes. The litera- 

 ture upon the subject is voluminous. My conclusions, however, are not 

 drawn from anything hitherto pul)lished, but alone from the facts revealed 

 by the analyses and tests made as stated. Peats difler more or less, and 

 some very widely in the relative proportions of their constituents, and 

 their fitness for use depends materially upon the manner in which they 

 are prej)ared ; hence, to determine the true value of any one, a chemical 

 analysis and other tests should be resorted to. 



