10 OPERATIONS OF FUEL-TESTING PLANT IN 1905. 
to do with the supplies of power, heat, and light and with metallurgical industries in every 
part of the country. 
Some of the more important of these fuel problems are outlined in the following 
paragraphs : 
SOME PROBLEMS NEEDING INVESTIGATION IN THE UTILIZATION OF 
AMERICAN FUELS. « 
FUELS FOR GENERAL AND METALLURGICAL PURPOSES. 
(1) The investigation of coal dust and coal gas in relation to fires and explosives in coal 
mines and elsewhere. 
(2) An investigation of the nature and extent of the deterioration or other changes of 
different coals when mined and stored under different conditions, as affecting (a) their 
efficiencies when used in boilers or gas producers or when used for domestic purposes; 
(6) their value for coking; (c) their liability to spontaneous combustion. 
(3) The development of quicker and cheaper methods of testing coals, lignites, and other 
fuels, based on a knowledge of their chemical and physical characteristics. 
(4) The establishment of an equitable basis for the sale and purchase of coal and other 
fuels, embodying a statement of their heat units and chemical and physical properties. 
(5) The determination of the chemical and physical properties and fuel values of coals, 
lignites, and peats from such fields as have not yet been fully examined, or from new depos- 
its that are being or may be opened up; also of the comparative values for fuel and power 
purposes of different coals, lignites, peats, and other substances. 
(6) The development of briquet ting and other methods for utilizing most efficiently 
slack or fine coals. 
(7) The development of washing and other methods of improving the quality of low- 
grade coals for different uses. 
(8) An investigation of the advantages of sizing coals for different uses, under different 
conditions, as compared with the use of run-of-mine coal. 
(9) Investigations of coals in their relation to metallurgical work; of conditions under 
which the so-called noncoking coals can be made into coke by mixing different coals, by 
mixing other materials with the coals, or by other methods; of the relative value of cokes 
made in different ovens and under different conditions; of the most economical methods 
of making and using gases for metallurgical purposes. 
(10) An investigation of the extent to which valuable by-products can be manufactured 
from the different American coals. 
FUELS FOR BOILER PURPOSES. 
A study of conditions under which different coals may be most economically burned 
under steam boiiers, including the laws of combustion and smoke prevention: 
(1) By variation of furnace conditions, as to grates, baffling, draft, rate of combustion, 
temperature, etc. 
(2) By variations in character of the coal, as to sizes, etc., rate and regularity of firing, 
condition of the coal, etc. 
(3) The effect of distribution and composition of ash in different coals, as to their eco- 
nomical burning. 
(4) Reduction in the ash by washing the coal and other methods of lessening or avoid- 
ing the slagging of the ash on grate bars. 
FUELS USED IN GAS PRODUCERS. 
(1) The conditions under which different bituminous coals, lignites, and peats may be 
most efficiently used in gas producers. 
a Reproduced largely from Senate Doc. 214, 59th Congress, 1st sess., 1906. 
