1908] 
Abstracts 
109 
might be used commercially in the United States, as well as cer- 
tain other substances which seemed fitted to throw light on the 
laws governing the action of the binder. Attempt was also made 
to study such modifications and combinations of the different 
binders as it seemed might produce more efficient commercial 
results. The author gives the following summary of the investi- 
gations : 
“Definite answer to the question ‘What is the best binder to 
use in making briquets?’ depends, as repeatedly emphasized in 
this paper on the locality, on the character of the coal, and on 
the purpose for which the briquets are intended. For purposes 
of a brief comparison consideration is given to the binders avail- 
able for a coal which is fairly easy to briquet and which cakes 
rather readily. A few coals will briquet with somewhat less and 
others require greater percentages of binder, but an endeavor has 
been made in the following summary to strike a reasonable 
average. 
“The experiments herein reported show that, in general, for 
plants situated where it can be obtained, the cheapest binder will 
prove to be the heavy residuum from petroleum, often known to 
the trade as asphalt. Four per cent of this binder being suffi- 
cient, its cost ranges from 45 to 60 cents per ton of briquets pro- 
duced. This binder is particularly available in California, Texas, 
and adjacent territory. 
“Second in order of importance comes water-gas tar pitch. 
Five to six per cent usually proving sufficient, the cost of this 
binder ranges from 50 to 60 cents per ton of briquets produced. 
As water-gas pitch is also derived from petroleum, it will be avail- 
able more particularly in oil-producing regions. 
“Third in order of importance is coal-tar pitch. Being derived 
from coal, this binder is very widely available. From 6.5 to 8 
per cent will usually be required, and the cost ranges from 65 to 
90 cents per ton of briquets produced. 
“Of local importance, where the price permits, are natural 
asphalts and tars derived from wood distillation. The price of 
each of these binders varies greatly with the locality, but there 
are doubtless places where they could compete with the binders 
