302 cox. 



all or two-thirds b}' Philijjpine coal it would require onlj^ a simple 

 calculation from the following data when the prices per ton are known, 

 to determine the difference in cost. 



I know of but one trial of the commercial value of Philippine coal 

 where complete data of the test were kept. This was made about two 

 years ago at the Philippine Cold Storage and Ice Plant.- The test was 

 as satisfactory as possible under the existing conditions; the results 

 exceeded the anticipations of those in charge of the test and seemed to 

 indicate "its equality with many other coals on the Manila market." 

 However, the grates were not adapted to the fuel and much incon- 

 venience was experienced because the decrepitated coal passed through the 

 grate with the ash. Toward the end of the test, this ash was burned 

 over again and after the second burning the analyses of this Bureau 

 showed it to contain 62.6 per cent of combustible matter. No com- 

 parative tests were made with other coals. 



In 1904 the United States Army transports Cliukong, Sacramento and 

 Palawan made runs on Batan coal and the reports in each case were 

 favorable. The coal was easily fired, it burned well, the amount of soot 

 was comparatively small, there was no great quantity of smoke, the 

 content of ash was low and there was no clinker. 



The object of the following investigation was to determine the steam- 

 making value of the coals of the Philippine Islands, as measured by 

 kilos of water evaporated per kilo of fuel when used under a boiler, as 

 compared with the foreign coals offered on the market in this Archipelago ; 

 it has also been my purpose to make a comparative study of the individual 

 coals as well as to convert into useful work the greatest possible per- 

 centage of heat units contained in each. Careful and complete records 

 have been preserved of each test; therefore it should be possible for 

 engineers to determine from the data which are given whether or not 

 the conditions were those best suited to the coal under examination and 

 when a price is established for these coals, these tables will fonn a basis 

 of comparison not only as to the water evaporated per kilo of fuel, but 

 also in regard to the water evaporated per peso of fuel cost. In com- 

 mercial operations the all important question is to find the fuel which 

 will run a plant with the least financial outlay. 



A special grate was tried for some of the coals and an effort has been 

 made to use a method of firing which would give the best results. As 

 the supply of material at my disposal was limited, except in the case of 

 Australian coal, only a small amount of preliminary experimenting 

 could be done to determine the best practice in regard to firing and to 

 gain information regarding the fuel before beginning the test. An 

 engineer always needs experience with a coal to burn it in the most 

 efficient manner. It will be noticed from the tables that in some cases 



■The Far Eastern Review, January (1906). 



