248 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. — 1920. 



Fuel Economy. Third Report of Covimittee (Professor W. A. Bone * 

 {Chairmati), Mr. H. James Yates* {Vice-Chairman), Mr. Robert 

 MoND * (Secretary), Mr. A. H. Barker, Professor P. P. Bedson, 

 Dr. W. S. BouLTON, Mr. E. Bury, Professor W. E. Dalby, Mr. 

 E. V. Evans,* Dr. W. Galloway, Sir Eobert Hadfield, Baxt.,* 

 Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw,* Mr. D. H. Helps, Dr. G. Hicklino, 

 Mr. D. V. HoLLiNGwoBTH, Mr. A. Hutchinson,* Principal G. 

 Knox, Professor Henry Louis,* Mr. H. M. Morgans, Mr. vV. H. 

 Patchell,* Mr. A. T. Smith, Dr. J. E. Stead, Mr. G. E. 

 Stromeyer, Mr. G Blake Walker, Sir Joseph Walton, M.P.,* 

 Professor W. W. Watts,* Mr. W. B. Woodhouse, and'iAx. C. H. 

 WoBDiNQHAM*) appointed for the Investigation of Fuel Economy, 

 the Utilisation of Coal, and Smoke Prevention. 



Introduction. 



The Committee has held altogether six meetings since its reappointment last 

 year, and is investigating (inter alia) the following matters, namely : — 



(a) The present official methods of arriving at coal-mining statistics («.(/., 

 outputs of coal, etc.) in this and other coal-producing countries. 



(b) The efiect of the war upon the British coal export trade. 



(c) The chemical constitution of coal. 



(d) The low temperature carbonisation of coal. 



(e) The thermal efficiencies at present attainable (i) in the carbonisation and 

 gasification of coal by various systems, (ii) in domestic fires and heating 

 appliances, (iii) in metallurgical and other furnaces, (iv) in steam raising and 

 power production^ and (v) in regard to the generation of electric power lu 

 public stations. 



(/) Sources of supply of liquid fuels. 



Although the Committee has made satisfactory progress with its inquiries 

 in certain directions during the past year, both time and opportunity have been 

 wanting for completing them. The present Report, therefore, is of an interim 

 nature, but the Committee hopes to report more fully on the above matters to 

 the Edinburgh Meeting next year. 



Coal-wining Statistics. 



The attention of the Committee having been drawn by Professor Henry 

 Louis to the fact that, owing to considerable variations in the modes of arriving 

 at the official data concerning coal outputs, etc., periodically published by 

 Government Departments in the various coal-producing countries, it is impossible 

 to regard them as being properly comparable, the Committee requested him 

 to prepare a Memorandum on the subject. This he subsequently did, and, 

 having regard to the great importance of the matter, the Committee decided 

 to publish the Memorainium tn extenso as Appendix I. to this Report, in 

 the hope that it may lead to the desired reform being effected. In particular, 

 the Committee endorses Professor Louis' view concerning the importance of 

 summoning an International Conference for determining the precise manner in 

 which mineral statistics of all kinds shall be collected, tabulated, and finally 

 issued to the public. 



* Denotes a member of the Executive Committee. 



