THOMAS ROOKE. CI, 
difficulties, but the recovery of about 90 Ibs. of sulphate of 
ammonia per ton of slack coal consumed in the producer 
promises to give this system a decided advantage over 
steam plants. There is however no conclusive experience 
on the subject at present, and a large power plant operated 
by means of gas engines using Mond gas would be to some 
extent experimental. 
From the above it is clear that electrical pumping plant 
for irrigation works, the transmission of electricity over 
long distances with economy, and the economical generation 
of electricity in bulk by means of coal are not only prac- 
ticable, but that such systems are in successful operation 
at the present time. Uptothe present nothing of the kind 
has been attempted in Australia. 
The power resources of Australia are her coal fields. 
These occur to a greater or legs extent in every State and 
they are probaby more extensive than is as yet known. 
They present the means of producing electricity under con- 
ditions which are in some respects more favourable than > 
those prevalent in England, where so much progress in this 
direction is being made. In many places the coal is much 
nearer the surface, and there is no invested capital to be 
written off by reason of the adoption of a new system, but 
a Clear field. 
One of the most important factors in the economical 
production of electricity is the load factor, and irrigation 
works offer a means of obtaining the best possible condition 
in this respect. The load factor determines the cost of 
fixed charges per unit of electricity produced, and hitherto 
it has been capable of great improvement, even where 
tramways, lighting and power loads have all been supplied 
from one plant. Irrigating pumps could be operated with 
equal advantage at all times of the day, and could be shut 
down during those hours when other demands were greatest. 
