FIELD WORK. 
By Edward W. Parker and J. Shober Burrows. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The collection of samples of coal for testing purposes for the year 1905 was begun by 
Mr. Burrows, under the direction of Mr. Parker, during the latter part of April. The early 
work consisted of shipping several samples of coal from Illinois, arrangements for which 
had been made during the Exposition period, but which could not be carried out until the 
work was resumed under the new appropriation. 
Later, Messrs. John W. Groves and William J. Von Borries were employed as inspectors, 
and shipped most of the samples. Mr. Marius R. Campbell, of the United States Geological 
Survey, cooperated with the fuel-testing plant to the extent of shipping several samples 
of coal and lignite from points in the Western States, this work being done in connection 
with his geologic field work. 
About May 1 an application form "to have coal tested at the United States Geological 
Survey coal-testing plant at St. Louis, Mo.," was sent to each operator of a shipping colliery 
in the United States. A descriptive circular accompanying this form set forth the condi- 
tions under which coal might be furnished for testing purposes, as follows: 
1. The coal must be furnished to the testing plant free of cost to the Government. 
2. The coal must be loaded under the supervision of one of the inspectors employed for that purpose, 
who shall be at the same time allowed to visit the working places in the mine to secure samples for 
analysis. 
3. W hen it is possible to do so, the coal should be loaded in box cars and shipped under seal Lignites 
must always be shipped in this way. 
4. Where the market requires screened coal, this grade will be accepted for tests. The selection of coal 
is always to be under the direct control of the representative of the testing plant 
5. Where one of the problems involved is the better utilization of slack coal, a carload of slack may be 
accepted for testing purposes. 
6. As soon as possible after the tests are completed, a brief statement of the results will be furnished 
to parties supplying the coal, for their information, but this must not be made public until the results 
are published by the Geological Survey. 
7. Everyone interested in any particular test or in the general operation of the plant is invited to be 
present at any time, but the official record of the tests will not be given out except as indicated in the 
preceding paragraph. 
The committee in charge of the work, recognizing the probability of receiving applications 
from two or more operators working the same seam of coal in the same locality, reserved 
the right to accept but one such application, in order that unprofitable duplication of 
results might be avoided. 
The largest number of applications were received from Illinois, probably owing to the 
proximity of that field to St. Louis and the consequent low freight rates. Indiana, Ohio, 
West Virginia, and Tennessee follow Illinois in the number of applications, while Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Alabama are well represented in the tests of 
coals from the Appalachian field, and Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Indian Terri- 
tory in the tests of coals from the western interior fields. Applications for tests have also 
been received from North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, 
Oregon, North Carolina, and Georgia, and arrangements for meeting these requests have 
been made. 
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