CO A I* 61 



After being well mixed, the composition was pressed, by hand 

 merely, into small cylindrical vessels, and the cakes subsequently allowed 

 to dry. They were then almost as firm as average patent fuel ; and 

 Mr. Grant is of opinion that, when pressed by machinery, the bricks 

 could be turned out as hard as ordinary Indian coal in the block. 

 A couple of the cakes were broken up and tried by Mr. Hughes 

 on a smith's hearth at the Mint. The fuel burned clearly, with little 

 flame, and afforded a strong welding heat. It stood the blast without 

 crumbling, and left but little clinker. It should be remarked, however, 

 that the Rakti naddi coal has the best composition of any as yet assayed. 

 The amount of ash in the Darjiling coal is greater than that in Rani- 

 ganj, but the higher percentage of carbon fully compensates for this. 

 The assays indicate that the heating power of average Darjiling coal 

 is above that of average Ranfganj, and nearly equal to that of the very 

 best seams. The best Darjiling is superior to the best Raniganj.* 



Mr. Grant estimates the approximate cost of making the coal into 

 artificial fuel as follows : — 







Rs, 



A. 



Disintegrating the smalls with Parr's patent machine, 



about . . 



. 



2 



Flour (say rice) 





. 



8 



Crude carbolic acid 





. 



4 



Moulding 





. 



2 



Drying 





. 



1 



Engine-power ... 



ton 



. 



1 



Total per 



1 



2 



The first item would not be necessary in the case of most, at least, 

 of the Darjiling coal, as it is already in a sufficiently disintegrated state. 

 Ample water-power could be supplied at Sukna by an aqueduct from the 

 Mahanaddi, thereby saving the consumption of coal for engine-power. 



* Vide Records of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. VII, pt. 1, p. 20, for assays of 

 the best Ranfganj coals. 



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