THE GAS COALS OF OHIO. 731 
not easily accounted for, at least not all of it. By one of the tests it is 
shown that the weight of lime used in purifying the gas increased 2.75 
per cent. and this will doubtless apply to all the other tests. Still there 
is a large per cent. unaccounted for of the material charged. Doubtless 
much of it may be accounted for by the wasteful method of charging 
the coal into the retorts with a shovel or common coal scoop. From 
the time the first shovelful is thrown into the retort until the charging 
is completed and the lid put on the mouth-piece, there is a rapid genera- 
tion of moisture and heavy hydro-earbons. Much of the the volatile 
matter escaping at this time is condensable, in the main and tar scrub- 
bers, and is very heavy as compared with the gas that enters the holder. 
But the loss is not peculiar to the works making these tests nor to 
the American practice, as will be seen by glancing at the tables pre- 
sented on a another page, where tests of English coals are given. The 
loss there is reported quite as heavy as the loss shown here. In these 
tests the tar and ammoniacal liquor is separated by gravity, and it is 
possible, indeed quite probable, that had the liquid been permitted to 
settle for some hours before being separated and weighed, more tar 
would have been precipitated and the per cent. of tar increased and the 
per cent. of liquor correspondingly decreased. 
Test number 1—Hocking Valley coal, from the great vein, or No. 6 seam: 
Coal charged into retort, 150 pounds. 
Total gas made, 576 feet. 
Gas made per pound coal, 3.84 feet. 
Candle feet obtained, 52.76. 
Pounds. |Per cent. 
Weight of gas (spec. OT AVES tin OUD) ui stencteheetacsaledgedesseneeeeeteaeesGes 22.15 14.77 
i COKC Pech eer einaabn it nGhesnavuis sei hcas Biuicateubneesueesese sess. 86.50 57.67 
i LAP ANY ctca cites tamed wiekinantiies RR RURAE be URREAR AR ROR Cea Ss 5.00 3.33 
” INCLU Ol fasenaasccssaac ass seasesonnden coseteishiuele Souesthathubsbeiune see sees 9.00 6.00 
MnP LOS DUR cea tasasctTotolsctre sal saisaWaleuie slate nee sue saison adil ennweaiet waudebars 27.35 18.23 
IN tical eee waren etiais soataanndeednceoueaneansouedsaubnaveeecnnane te 150.00 100.00 
Test number I—Hocking Valley coal, from the great vein, or No. 6 seam: 
Coal charged into retort, 150 pounds. 
Total gas made, 609 feet. 
Gas made per pound coal, 4.00 feet. 
Candle feet obtained, 56.84. 
