1890.

VICTORIA.

ROYAI.J COMMISSION ON COAL.

SECOND PROGRESS REPORT

011'

THE ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE AS TO THE

BEST MEANS OF DEVELOPING AND PROMOTING THg COAL

INDUSTRY OF VICTORIA.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.

!'~ ?>tdltoritg :

BOBT. S. lUtAIN, GOVERNMENT PBINTER, ll.lll:t.BOVRN&. Bo, 218.-(ls.]-11024.

Prcp&ration-Not given. Printing (980 copies)

APPROXIMATE OOBT 01!' REPORT. A •· If. 15 10 0

ROYAL COMMISSION ON COAL.

SECOND PROGRESS REPORT.

To His Excellency the Right Honorable JoHN AnRIAN Lours, Earl of

Hopetoun, Viscount Aithrie, and Baron Hope, in the Peerage of

Scotland; Baron Hopetoun of Hopetoun, and Baron Niddry ofNiddry

Castle, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; Knight Grand Cross

of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint M.ichael and Saint George;

Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of

Victoria and its Dependencies-, &c., &c., &c.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY :

In accordance with the terms of Letters Patent, dated 15th July, 1889, empowering your Commissioners to inquire and report as to the best means of developing and promoting the Coal Mining industry of Victoria, we, the undersigned, have the honour to submit the following Progress Report :-

your Commissioners have for some time been conducting a series of practical experiments, with a view of ascertaining the value of Victorian brown coal for manufacturing, domestic, and other economic purposes; and though all the reports of trials arranged for have not yet been received, it is considered expedient to give publicity to the subjoined statement of results so far obtained with as little delay as possible.

I.-METROPOLITAN GAS COMPANY.

Seven samples of brown coal, weighing each 1 ton, obtained from different localities in South Gippsland, were supplied by the Commission to the Metropolitan

· Gas Company's Works, to be tested as to the suitability of the several descriptions . submitted for producing illuminating gas. In the opinion of the Manager, Mr. John

'1'. Wynne, C.E., the samples tested had no commercial value for illuminating purposes. A ton of good gas coal should yield from 10,000 to 11,000 feet of gas, from 15 to 17 candles illuminating power, and a residue of about 12 cwt. of good

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marketable coke. The respective samples were designated by a distinct brand, the -results as regards each being as follows, viz. :-

Liquor. Tar. Cubic Feet Illuminating

Brand. per ton. Residue Coke. Power. Gallons Degrees Gallons. Specific per ton. Tweddle. ! Gravity.

cwt;, qrs. lbs.

AI ... 10,891 5 0 17 70 ! 9f 1,100 2·79 B1 ... 12,227 4 1 7 67 I

26! 1,122 Nil.

c 1 ~ .. 9,458 5 1 16 61 1 2.5 ... 6·54 Dl ... 6,447 5 2 26 92 ~ 24 1,120 9·3 El ... 10,670 6 2 17 77! 1 trace ... Nil. F1 ... 13,742 4 3 3 59 1 llf ... 2·28 Gl ... 15,083 4 2 16 85 1 1 1,090 Nil.

The tests were made m an experimental apparatus built and kept specially for the purpose.

Specimens weighing each 3 lbs. were taken from these samples of coal respectively, and analyzed by Mr. J. Cosmo Newbery, with the subjoined result:-

- Al. Bl. Cl. D.l. El. F 1. Gl.

-·---------per cent, per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent.

\Vater I 21·00 23•50 I 26·40 i 22·80 20·40 23·90 25·20 ... ;

Volatile Matter ... 37·40 35•65 29·25 38·50 30·40 31-15 30·95 Fixed Carbon ... 38·75 I 37•05 40·30 32·20 31•40 39•25 40·95 Ash ... . .. 2·8.) 3·80 4·05 6·50 17"80 5·70 2·90

----.- ----- ---Total ... 100·00 100·00 100·00 100·00 100·00 100•00 100·00

There were also submitted to Mr. Newhery for analysis seven tins of arrnnoniacal liquor and seven tins of ·tar, each containing about a quart measure, obtained from the samples tested by the Metropolitan Gas Company. The results are thus reported :-

Sm·en samples of ammoniacal liquor obtained from Gippsland lignite, marked A, B, C, D, E, F, and G-

Sample A contains in 1 gallon 311·24 grains of ammonia (NH3)

, B , , 309·66 , , ,

" c " , 272·80 " " "

" D

" " 227·30

" " " "

E " "

~14·80 " "

, "

F "

, 226·80 " " "

" G

" " 216·16

" " " The percentage of ammonia in these liquors is very low, which is probably du~

to raw lignite, containing a large quantity of water, having been used.

The above results are no criterion of the strength of the liquors that would be obtained from dry lignite.

Samples of tar forwarded by the Coal Commission and obtained from the brown coal tested by the Metropolitan Gas Company, upon examination, were found to contain a body closely allied to paraffine, and to give a good pitch; but, owing to the small quantity of tar yielded by the lignite, these are of no value, the average yield being about 8 gallons per ton.

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II.-HEIDELBERG GAS COMPANY.

The results of the trials made by this Company were as follows :-Production per ton of brown coal. Five hours' burning off. Heats, bright

orange. 5·390 cubic feet gas, low illuminating power. 3i gallons tar. About 70 gallons water. Uoke, none. Ashes, 9 cwt. 2 qrs. The temperature of purifiers was

1ncreased by 50 degrees.

Mr. M. J. Billings, the Engineer of the Company, on being asked for further and more specific information, supplemented the above as follows :­J.Vewcastle coal.-20 cwt., 10,500 cubic feet of gas. Coke used, 6 cwt. 2 qrs.; coke sold, 4 cwt. 2 qrs. Tar, 10 gallons. Ammonia water, 4! oz., 30 gallons. Brown coal.-20 cwt., 5,390 cubic feet of g'aB. 9 cwt. 3 qrs. ash; light coal tar, 3-! gallons; 70 gallons light oil mixture. There is a deficiency of 5,110 cubic feet in the brown coal. Illuminating power low. An entire absence of coke; in its place a light ash, value not known. 6 cwt. 2 qrs. of the ordinary coke is used in producing the 5,390 cubic feet of gas from the brown coaL The brown coal tar is much lighter than the Newcastle coal tar. The water or the light oils from the brown coal was measured in the ordinary syphon (an accumulator), being pumped out, the quantities given being approximate.

The report arranged for from the Brighton Gas Company has not been forwarded. The results also of the trials made at Messrs. Kitchen and Sons' Candle Works, at South Melbourne, from 10 tons of coal supplied by the Commission have not been received.

III.-MELBOURNE TRAMWAY COMPANY.

The trials made by this company were regarded with special interest, and took place at the tram sheds, St. Kilda-road. They were conducted with a view to ascer­taining the value of the brown coal as compared with Newcastle coal for steaming purposes. The same furnaces were used for each, and the traffic hours per day during the experiments were alike, viz., 18·42. Diagrams were taken every half-hour. The result was-brown coal consumed in 18·42 hours 10 tons 18 cwt. 3 qrs. 19 lbs., Newcastle coal (small) consumed in 18·42 hours 4 tons 12 cwt. 3 qrs.

Mr. J. W. Duncan, Superintendent at the sheds, reported further The i. average horse-power indicated each day run very nearly the same, but taking exactly t the same, the quantities would be :-Brown coal consumed in 18·42 hours 10 tons f 18 cwt. 3 qrs. 19 lbs. ; Newcastle (small) consumed in 18·42 hours= 4 tons 10 cwt. ~ 1 qr. 4 lbs. The comparisons are made upon these last quantities:-l Tons cwt. qrs. lbs. hrs. cwt. qrs. lbs.

4 10 1 4 Newcastle (small) in 18·42 = 4 3 3

17 per hour. 10 18 3 19 Brown coal , - 11 15

" Per cent.

1 4 Newcastle (small) = 29·20} F d f N or every poun o ew-3 19 Brown coal = 70·80 tl Id · __ cas e wou reqmre

100·0 2 ·42 lbs. brown coal.

410 10 18

The brown coal showed that it was good steaming fuel so long as the fires were kept clean, but our present arrangement of fire-bars are not suitable for burning so dirty a fuel; a stoking fire-grate would be more suitable, so that ashes would be got rid of without having to clean the fires in an ordinary way. The brown coal entailed a nry great deal more labour on the fireman, and one man on each shift, as at present,

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would not be able to overtake the work ; with this fuel, however, mechanical stokers would probably overcome this difficulty. With the brown coal there was no smoke, and the tubes were kept mueh cleaner than by the use of Newcastle coal ; the real difficulty lay in the bulk of ashes from the brown coal, and these choked the fires.

It may be mentioned that five distinct samples, weighing 4 tons each, were supplied to the company for the purposes of these practical tests, and that portions of these forwarded from the mines proved of very inferior quality, and contained a.

considerable percentage of mere earthy matter."

IV.-YARRA VILLE SUGAR REFINERY ·woRKS.

The experiments made at this establishment were conducted by Mr. Thos. Steele, the :Manager, with special regard to scientific accuracy and completeness of details. The brown coal was broken into pieces about 2 inches square, and fed into the hoppers of a pair of Hodgkinson mechanical stokers, fitted to a Lancashire boiler, with Galloway tubes.

According to the analysis made by Mr. H. L. \Vhittiker, analyst of the Corn· pany, the sample supplied to the works contained 41 per cent. of water, while the coals in general use rarely contain more than 2 per cent. of water. The brown coal containing 41 per cent. water evaporated in the boiler 4 lbs. of water per lh., there­fore 1 lb. coal has evaporated 4·41 lbs. water. The work done by both coals when reduced to dryness is therefore :-

Brown coal Ordinary coal ...

7·48 lbs. water per lb. dry coal

7·42 " " " " Under conditions not at all specially adapted for obtaining the highest efficiency from it, the brown coal, when dry, has an evaporative power remarkably close to that of ordinary N.S. W. slacks.

According to Mr. Steele, the relative values of the two coals are stated to be as follows :-

Newcastle large Brown coal

Or, comparing with Newcastle slack-

N ewcastle slack ••• Brown coal

£ s. d. 1 0 0:1 per ton 0 10 9! "

0 15 7i per ton

0 8 4£ "

V.-VICTORIAN IRON ROLLING MILLS.

The manager of these works thus reports :-" I have the honour to report that we have tested the Victorian coal sent in by the Commission, and herewith advise as to the results. \Ve arranged for the first test by allowing one of our furnaces to cool down to nearly a black heat, and then commenced firing with a few pieces of wood and Newcastle coal to give the furnace a start; afterwards we fired with the Victorian coal for two hours and a half, without being able to get the furnace more than red-hot, using about 15 cwt. of the coal. If we had fired with Newcastle alone, we should have had the furnace at a white heat in an hour's time, and have used not more than 5 cwt. of coal. In connexion with our second test, the furnace was red-hot when the Victorian coal was charged, but after firing about an hour the test was abandoned, as the heat

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of the furnace decreased instead of increasing in proportion to the firing. We greatly regret that we have therefore to report that the coal is utterly unsuitable for our business, as we could never obtain sufficient heat from it to weld the iron."

VI.-MOUNT'S GLASS WORKS.

From the experiments made at these ·works to ascertain the value of the coal for glass manufacture, it would appear that the mechanical appliances employed neutralized the properties of the coal which had led several scientists to anticipate satisfactory results. The report of Mr. McNeilage is as follows:-" After using the brown coal supplied by the Commission for LO hours, I find it unsuitable, for the following reasons :-First: There is not sufficient carbonic oxide gas in it for our purpose; and I find that the only way I could get enough heat from it was by continually feeding the producers, and then only a very poor heat compared with that obtained from the Newcastle coal, \vith, of course, better results. Second: The coal is of such a light nature that when forcing the gas out of the producers, which is done by steam, there is a quantity of flaky matter ejected with the gas that gets into the giass, which, of course, is very injurious, and, as a matter of fact, spoils the glass altogether."

Referring to the experiments at these works, Mr. Newbery writes:-" Some trials are being made with the lignite to test its value in producing 'gaseous fuel,' but, unfortunately, the only gas producers at present in use in the colony are not adapted to its use in the raw state. The gas producers in use are vertical furnaces, fed from the top, and when wet lignite is used the moistme is given off as

' wet steam, and passed directly through the flue to the furnaces. Much of the brown coal contained from 36 to 56 per cent. of water; if the average gave 40 per cent. this would give over 44 gallons of water to be made into steam for every ton of fuel used before the ton that contained it was contributing to the heat of the furnaces. Under

. these conditions, it is not surprising that the trials at the glass works have been failures. With properly-constructed gas producers, or with dry lignite in the vertical producers at the glass works, I have no doubt that excellent results would be obtained."

VII.-AUSTRALIAN ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY.

Messrs. Newbery and Mm·ray, instructed by the Mines Department, conducted a series of trials of this fuel for engine purposes, and thus reported:-" The corn-

f. bustibility of the brown coal being already well known, the questions to be ! , determined were chiefly-( 1) Its heating powers as compared with ordinary coal.

(2) The relative quantities of lignite and coal respectively required to perform specified work. ( 3) The form of fire-bars best adapted to the use of the lignite .

. · ( 4) The relative cost of the two fuels (black and brown coal), taking into considera-( tion the respective advantages and disadvantages of each as used under various con­. ditions. An ordinary day's work--using Newcastle coal-was first observed, the result ~-being as follows :-Time, 10 hours. Quantity of coal used, 5 cwt. 1 qr. 15lbs. Work, . driving 90 feet of shafting and 3 lathes, and working the 3-cwt. steam-hammer during , 1 hour. Average stoking per hour, 3·1 times. Steam pressure, 45lbs. to 50 lbs. Fire-

bars, ordinary, with ~-inch spaces. The brown coal was then used on the same bars, and found to keep up the same pressure of steam. For 8 hours' steaming, 14 cwt. 3 qrs. of brown coal was consumed, the work being the driving of 140 feet of shafting, 7 or

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8 lathes, and about 1 hour's use of the steam-hammer. There was no trouble in keep­ing up steam as long as dry brown coal was used, but constant firing, averaging once · in 6 minutes, was found necessary owing to the construction of the fire-bars, the character of the fuel, and also, to a certain extent, the inexpe1ience of the driver in that particular kind of fuel. A second comparative trial on ordinary fire-bars was made, the results of which were as follow :-Newcastle coal, 10 (ten) hours' steaming. Quantity consumed, 522 lbs. Stoking, 4 times per hour. Brown coal, 10 (ten) hours' steaming. Quantity used, 1,129 lbs. Stoking, 4~ times per hour. Similar work, but light, on both occasions. Result--Newcastle coal, 1 ; brown coal, 2·16. It became evident that, with ordinary bars, great waste of brown coal was unavoidable. This result was not wholly unexpected, and in anticipation thereof consideration had been given to the apparent merits of various other designs of fire-bars brought under our notice."

VIII.-AUSTRAL OTIS ENGINEERING COMPANY.

The fire-bars required were found to be in use at the Austral Otis Engineering Company's Works, and these were next utilized. The report continues-" The proportion of lignite to "A A " coal for similar work, but using bars suitable for each, is very nearly in the ratio of 3 to 2 by weight, as deduced from the previous trial. The four questions for determination, as stated above, may with tolerable confidence be answered as follows :-(1) The lignite (the term invariably used by Mr. Newbery when l'eferring to brown coal), when used in sufficient quantity, under proper conditions, is as capable of keeping up steam for all ordinary engine purposes as true coal. ( 2) Using each fuel under its proper conditions the weight of lignite to that of coal required to do specified work is in the proportion of about 3 to 2, though variations must be allowed for according to the quality of the coal, the amount of moisture i:r: the lignite, and other influencing conditions. (3) The form of fire-bars described, as constructed by the Otis Company, is so far the best for the use of lignite for engine purposes, and it is likely that further improvements will be effected in them ; also that their principle may be adapted ~o household grates. ( 4) It has been shown that the weight of lignite to that of good coal, required to perform certain work, is as 3 to 2 or thereabouts. Assuming the lignite to be fairly dried before transport to market and properly stored prior to use­allowing for the greater weight and bulk required as compared with coal on the one hand, and the smaller ash, absence of smoke, and less trouble in stoking and cleaning on the other-taking, also, into consideration the limitless quantity of lignite easily procurable along either side of many miles of railway within 100 miles of Melbourne­we feel justified in expressing the opinion that this fuel is capable of competing with coal as regards economy when the mines shall have been sufficiently developed to admit of a large and constant supply being furnished at a cheap rate, say less than 15s. per ton.

In a subsequent report, prepared at the instance of the Commission, Mr. J. S. Pirrie, C.E., writes emphatically as to the excellent results obtained in burning brown coal in furnaces fitted with the· step-grate. He says In many parts of Europe where brown coal is extensively used, a special type of fire-grate is adopted, called the stepped grate. I have had one of these made and erected at the Austral Otis Engineering Company's Works, and found that a much better evaporative efficiency was obtained with it than with the special fire-bars, but it is only applicable to externally fired boilers. The advantage obtained by the use of this apparatus made 25 tons of brown coal, containing about 20 per cent. of moisture, equal to 20 tons of Newcastle coal."

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IX.-BROWN COAL FOR LOCOMOTIVE PURPOSES.

The Commission have not conducted any trials with a view to. ascertaining the suitability of the brown coal for locomotive purposes. The following extract from the report of Messrs. J. C. Newbery and Reginald Murray may, however, be said to possess a certain significance :-"Mr. Allison Smith, Locomotive Superintendent of the Victorian Railways, supplied valuable information from his experience of the brown coal of New Zealand, to the effect that for locomotives no special alterations of fire-boxes were required beyond considerably increasing the draught, and that as the lignite coal gives off less heat per ton than ordinary bituminous coal it is simply a question of burning a larger quantity in a given time. Mr. Smith also informs us that no difficulty was experienced in using this coal when the firemen had tried it for a few days, and understood they had to use it; and he recommends an arrangement of bars as being advantageous in respect of allowing free access of air and easy removal of ash."

X.-BRIQUETTES.

The trials of the brown coal up to this point with the above-indicated results (which, in passing, it may be said were in the main influenced by the condition of the coal when forwarded from the mines, the unsuitability of the appliances used, and the ignorance that I) rev ails as to the proper mode of burning the fuel) had the effect of giving a new direction to the investigations of the Commis~ion. It was evident that the brown c9al in its natural state so varied in quality, and so little was known as to its proper selection and preparation for market, that it could not possibly compete with the ordinary Newcastle coal. Experts were consulted upon this point, and some very valuable information obtained as to the manufacture of the l)rown coal into patent fuel know'TI on the European continent as briquettes. Upon this question Mr. J. S. Pirrie, C.E., of the Austral Otis Engineering Works, and Captain W ageman gave important evidence, and reports upon the subject were also obtained from Mr. Newbery and from the Consuls in Melbourne and elsewhere representing foreign powers.

Mr. Pirrie, in a valuable paper read before the Commission on this subject, writes :-"There is no doubt that the only way in which brown coal can be made to compete with the black or true coal is by making it into briquettes, as is done in Europe and in America. All the Victorian brown coals are not suitable for making these briquettes without the addition of some binding material, such as pitch, which is used in making briquettes from slack and refuse black coal, but the Morwell district coal is most suitable. Knowing many of the German and Austrian manu­facturers of brown coal briquettes, I sent a sample of the different Victorian brown coals to them, as well as to America, and have received most s~tisfactory reports from them as to their qualities as a fuel, and as to its adaptability for making into these briquettes without the addition of pitch or other binding material. I have forwarded .you the samples of the coal which I sent to Germany, made into these briquettes,

· those marked 'B' having been made from Morwell district coal, and the others, marked X MARIE X, being made from a mixture of all the different samples. The coal is pronounced to be fully 20 per cent. superior to the average German or Austrian brown coals as a fuel for manufacturing or domestic purposes.

Descriptive and statistical particulars we1·e also furnished by this witness as to the process of manufacturing briquettes, and the profitable nature of such an industry. He also supplied the Commission with a copy of the report of the results of an analysis of a briquette made in Germany from Victorian brown coal conducted

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by the :Manager of the Y arraville Sugar Works Company, and which proved the lwating properties of the brown coal in this form to be within 10 per cent. of the average New South ·wales coal:-

Volatile hydrocarbons :Fixed carbon Ash Water ...

Ylctori~n Drown coal :briquette.

36•96 42·37 6·67

14•00

100·00

Average N.S. W. coals.

25·67 62·77

9·52 2·04

100·00

As compared with large Newcastle (N.S.W.) coal at 20s. per ton, the compressed briquette would be worth about from 17s. to 17s. 3d. per ton.

Mr. Pirrie, in his evidence before the Commission, further adds :-The coal has quite sufficient merit in it to stand on without claiming properties for it which it does not possess. In the form of these briquettes it has the following advantages over ordinary coal, viz. :-Cleanliness, lesser quantity of ash, no clinkers; no broken coal, cheaper carriage, certainty of weight (as each briquette weighs the same). In the form of briquettes brown coal can be used in either locomotive, marine, or stationary boilers without the slightest alteration being made in either fire-bars or furnaces. It will stow in the same place required for its equivalent in ordinary coal on account of its compact form. It can also be used for all domestic purposes without any alteration being made in the form of stoves or grates. The unpleasant odour arising from the coal burned in its natural state disappears when it is made into briquettes. It enables it to he transported by rail, ship, or waggon without being put into hags, as ·these briquettes stand any amount of handling '\vithout breakage, so there is no loss in dust and small coal. It is smokeless, and thus gets rid of the smoke nuisance ·without the necessity of expensive (and generally useless) apparatus. In addition to its use as a fuel brown coal is rich in oils, a very large industry being carried on in Saxony, Bohemia, and other parts of Europe in the distillation of tar from the coal. From the tar all the different varieties of mineral oil are distilled for lighting and lubricating purposes. Paraffine is also obtained and made into candles and wax used in many industries. 'Whether the Victorian brown coal is adapted for this purpose I am not yet in a position to state, but I expect to receive a report on the samples which I have sent to one of the largest manufactories in Europe. Brown coal will he largely used in the manufactme of bricks, and a considerable industry has already sprung up in the manufacture of fire-proof cellular bricks, made from a mixture of the overlaying clays on the brmvn coal deposits and refuse brown coal. These bricks burn themselves, without the necessity of building an expensive kiln; and in burning the brown coal is consumed to a fine powder ash, leaving a cellular space in its place, and burning the brick thoroughly in every part. These bricks have been tested by Professor Kernot, who reports that they are about half the weight of ordinary bricks, absorb less water, are thoroughly fire-proof, nails can be driven into them in any direction without clanger of cracking or splitting, and they stand a greater crushing strain than any other bricks.

This witness, who speaks with special knowledge, states that brown coal briquettes are almost exclusively used for locomotive purposes in Austria and Saxony, where the raw material of which they are composed is admittedly much inferior to the brown coal of Victoria.

Captain '\Vageman, C.E., also submitted a report to the Commission in which he states, inter alia:-" The heating effect of these briquettes is at least equal to that of AA coal, and they show besides considerable and highly valuable advantages, viz., no

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loss in dust and powder; the ashes have the shape of a loose powder, and, moreover, a certain manuring value; no labour in using briquettes; no breaking of large pieces to fit the gratings; no poking, no smoke, no soot; they are easily handled, carted, and closely stored (most important for steamers and for sea-carriage) ; not self-igniting, but easily lit, and are, burning with a long bright flame, particularly welcome for boilers; a briquette never extinguishes until it is fully consumed by the fire; and last, not least, it can be used on any grating." Further, in the course of his evidence, this witness urged:-" As to the future of the briquette industry in Victoria, there is but one question to be solved, viz., whether the enormous quantities of raw material stored in the extensive brown coal-fields of the colony are suitably composed for briquetting. If this is the case, and if the matter is carried on ·with energy ami knowledge, there can be no doubt that within ten years the colony will not only be perfectly independent from all coal imports, hut will also be able to become a coaling port, and to compete with New South ·wales, New Zealand, and Tasmania in other parts of the world. Although briquetting, as a real industry, was started in Germany in 1872, there were at the end of 1884 120 briquette presses in operation (92 of which manufactured by the Zeitz ironworks), with yearly output of over 1,000,000 tons of briquettes. The Zeitz ironworks supplied, from 1872 to 1889, not less than 94 establishments with 158 presses, capable of turning out more than 1,400,000 tons briquettes per annum, all of which found buyers easily, notwithstanding the great competition with other cheap fuel."

Mr. Newbery does not appear to t..'lke an optimistic view of the question, and in a report forwarded to the Commission, through the :Mines Department, he points out numerous drawbacks to Victorian brown coal being turned to account in the manu­facture of briquettes. He lays special stress not only on the difference of the wages paid in this colony as compared with Germany, but doubts whether, from the nature of the fuel in its raw state, it is suitable for the purpose indicated. He writes:-" By laboratory experiments, I find that a ton of dry Gippsland lignite of ordinary quality

, will yield, on careful distillation, about 9 gallons of tarry matter, and leave a residue in the retort of from 8 to 8~ cwt. of lignite charcoal. I had hoped that the tar obtained from 1 ton would have supplied the necessary adhesive medium to hind the particles of a ton of fresh lignite, and allow the residual charcoal to he added so as to make as little waste as possible, and at the same time to raise the 'fixed carbon' of

·· the fuel, but the results have not been satisfactory. Through the courtesy of Mr. Gibbs, of the Loco. Branch of the Railway Department, my assistant, Mr. Frank Hill, obtained the use of the hydraulic press at the Newport workshops, and tried the mixture at various pressures, beginning with 2 tons, then 5, 7, 9, 11, and finally 16 tons, without producing a briquette that would stand handling. The mould used had a diameter of 2-Dr inches, so that the final pressure used was equal to about 10,727lbs. per square inch. The material is so elastic that it expands as soon as the pressure is

. removed, and the grains separate. In these tests the lignite was air-dried, i.e., con-tained about 14 per cent. of water. Subsequently experiments were made with wet lignite, containing 36 and 50 per cent. of water, the results are better than when the .dry material was used, but still the briquette is too friable to be of any practical use." Mr. Newbery adds that, "If a briquette can only be made at a reasonable cost it will solve the problem and remove all difficulties in the way of using lignite, for with them there would be no necessity for alteration in fire-boxes or grates, and stoking would be easier than with ordinary coal."

The Commission had furnished to them various specimens of briquettes made from German brown coal and Victorian brown coal, and manufactured on the

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Continent. The Victorian coal briquettes especially were found of excellent quality, being hard1 solid, and tenacious, only broken by a smart blow with a hammer. The opposite condition found by Mr. Newbery is accounted for, probably, by the fact that in the German process the coal is pressed when the bituminous or oily matter contained in it is at smelting point. Mr. Newbery's experiments were conducted without the all-important element of heat being applied to develop the agglutinating properties essential in the manufacture of these briquettes.

XL-BROWN COAL FOR DOMESTIC USE.

Opinions have been found to vary greatly respecting the suitability of brown coal for domestic use. The Commission have received verbal and documentary reports from numerous sources upon the subject, some condemnatory, others highly favorable. During the late winter this fuel was used in the Government Depart­ments, and from inquiries instituted it was not generally viewed with approval. Pre­vious trials, however, made by those who had some experienee in the proper mode of consuming the eoal, gave results much more encouraging.

The Commission being desirous of ascertaining. the adaptability or otherwise of this coal to domestic purposes, such as cooking and heating, and more particularly as to its use in stoves and open grates, arranged for a series of tests, conducted under rigid conditions.

The trials of stoves for cooking purposes took place on the 25th September, at the engineering vrorks of Mr. vV. H. Jenkins, Fitzroy. In this class there were fifteen entries, comprising specimens of English, Amel'ican, and Victorian manufac­ture, all being more or less of a distinct and representative character. The exhibitors included Messrs. James McEwan and Co.; Messrs. Saunders, Carlton; :Messrs. Long and Co. ; Messrs. Chambers and Seymour; Messrs. Hicks and Adden· brook; Messrs. Owen and Lang; Mr. James Parker; Mr. A. W. Parker; Mr. Edwin Jenkins; and Mr. Pullinger .

. Mr. J. S. Pirrie, C.E., of the Austral Otis Engineering Works, South Mel­bourne, acted as referee and superintendent of the trials, and :Mr. C. :M. W. Gilbert, chif of Messrs. Parer, Crystal Palace Cafe, conducted the culinary operations.

The following members of the Committee appointed to adjudicate attended, viz. :-Hon. J. F. Levien, M.L.A., President of the Commission; Hon. J. Woods, M.L.A. ; Hon. L. L. Smith, M.L.A. ; A. C. Gromn, Esq., M.L.A. ; F. C. Mason, Esq., M.L.A. ; A. Harris, Esq., M.L.A.

The brown coal used during the tests had been purchased by the Commission from various companies in Gippsland, and had been stored in the Exhibition Building for some months previously, so that it was fairly dry and suitable for use. In order that competitors should be placed upon an equal footing, the coal obtained from different sources was mixed and broken into suitabl.r sized pieces and was of general average quality. Each stove was allotted 16 lbs. in weight, except in one instance where the stove was exceptionally large. The awards were made on the principle of points, with a possible maximum of 20 for each of the following qualities, by each member of the Committee, viz. 1) Simplicity combined with

13

utility ; (2) adaptability for burning brown coal ; (3) economy of fuel ; ( 4) time in cooking; and ( 5) price. The stoves were designated by the letters of the alphabet. By this process the following were the results arrived at, viz. :-

Stove D-The "Onoko," price £5 10s., exhibited by Messrs. McEwan and Co.

, A-Exhibited by Messrs. Long and Co. , M-The "Premier," price £3, exhibited by Mr.

A. W. Parker

354 points. 353

" 352

" Amongst those receiving a large number of points, other than those mentioned, were stoves E, exhibited by Messrs. Jas. McEwan and Co., and P, by Messrs. Long and Co., the latter being highly commended.

The following is Mr. J. S. Pirrie's statement as to the results:-The coal used on these trials was of good dry quality, made up of a mixture of all the different brown

eoals which have been sent to the Cou1mission for trial. Each competitor was weighed out 16 lbs. of coal, with the exception of P, which being a larger stove was given 24 lbs. The stoves were all lit up about 10 a.m, (some being a few minutes behind others). Two of the built-up ranges were not ready in time to f!ubmit them to a fair test; these were exhibited by Messrs. Owen and Lang. Some of the stoves exhibited had not been altered in any way to suit the use of brown coal, which in several cases put them completely qut of the competition. Others required no alteration, but with them were exhibited appliances which QOilld be readily att!l.ched, and which would have rendered them more efficient had they been used during

i. $he trial, notably in the case of A and P, shown by Messrs. Long and Co. There was little to choose • ' between A and D, which should be judged together as being stoves of a similar class. D [· ~,.d the advantage over A in that it cooked the joint in 55 minutes against 60 minutes taken

hy A, ~ud consumed 12 lbs. of coal against 13 lbs. consumed by the latter. The price of D was also ip. its favour, being £5 10s. against £6 10s. In connexion with the trial of these two stoves, it should be ~~tid that had .A been fitted with the very ingenious arrangement of sliding or regulating fire-bars, which

. ~~~ e~hibitor of it produced at the close of the trial, the result might have been different and the extra cost fully justified. The stove M undoubtedly takes first place among those shown for simplicity and usefulness,

,- a41}ptability for burning brown coal, and for price, but is behind the other two, A and D, in economy in . ~el, as it consumed 15lbs. as against their 12 and 13 lbs. In price (£3) it is below that of the others, but

i~ can!lot be said to be so substantial an article ; but it is well worth the money, and will be found most auitable for cottages and small dwellings, where so large a cooking stove is not required as A or B. It has a further advantage of being adapted for using wood, which is the fuel that it will be required to 8place. The stove P comes under a different class, being more adapted for use in hotels and large dwellings, ~!l P.hhough it consumed more coal and took 80 minutes to cook the joint, it must be remembered that it being so much larger a greater area had to be heated, and a much greater quantity of food could have been

· cooked in the same time. Had the sliding fire-bars been fitted to this stove, it would have probably given ; ~IJCh better results. It is well adapted for burning brown coal, it is economical in consumption of fuel, . ~4 for its capacity is undoubtedly a cheap stove, well finished, and made of good material and of the : \t•~ workmanship.

Mr. Gilbert's estimate of the stoves tested bore out the decisions of the Com­~~sioners, except that he gave a higher number of points toE than to A exhibit. ~: ~ . . .

The Commissioners have therefore made the following awards in this class:-1st Certificate-Messrs. James McEwan and Co., for stove D. 2nd , Messrs. Long and Co., for stove A. 3rd , Mr. A. W. Parker, for stove M.

. The trials of J)toves, grates, &c., for heating purposes were held O!! Thursday, :tU ~Jld. October instant. There were eleven entries, as follows;-

No. 1. Stoves-" Sca:ndinavian," Mr. G. Knowles. , 2. , "Dumpy," Messrs. McEwan & Co. " a. " H Egg," do. do.

( , 4. , "Queen," do. do.

" g. , Mr. E. Jenki.P,s.

; , 6. l."-- " do.

" 7. ,, Mr. E. S. Jeans.

~41

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No. 8. Grates-~Ir. E. Jenkins. , 9. , Messrs. Owen and Lang. , 10. , Water Heater for Baths, Mr. E. S. Jeans. , 11. , Draught Producer, do.

Mr. J. S. Pirrie, who superintended the trials, furnished the following statement to the Commission as to the results :-

In forming a judgment as to which of the several exhibits is best suited for burning brown coal, there are many points to be taken into consideration, viz.:-

(1.) Adaptability to existing stoves and grates. (2.) Economy of fuel. (3.) Price at which the exhibit can be sold. ( 4.) General usefulness.

I have endeavom·ed to keep these points before me in coming to the following decision as to the respective merits of the exhibits. I consider thnt No. 9 is the best, for the following reasons :-It can be applied to any form of fire-grate used for domestic purposes. It will consume less coal, while giving off an equal heat, than any other exhibited for use in open grates. It is cheap, costing not more than 5s. It is more generally useful for tltc purpose of bnrning brown coal in its natural state, and equally adapted for burning it in the form of briquette~. The second best I considered to be No. 3, which is an egg-shaped stove, but is only applicable for purposes where closed stoves would be used. A great improvement could be made in this stove for burning brown coal (as sent from the mines) by making the bars closer. No. 1 is a good apparatus of the same class, but as it was not shown properly at work, I was unable to take it into consideration. For open stoves, No. 7 was undoubtedly the best on all points. With regard to the most ingenious apparatus exhibited under No. 10, it is difficult to form an opinion in connexion with a trial of stoyes, fire-grates specially adapted for burning brown coal, as although admirably adapted for burning brown coal in any form economically, still it is an apparatus for a special purpose, viz., heating water for baths, &c. In every point but its adaptability to existing stoves or fire-grates it is the best of all the .l

i exhibits, and is deserving of the highest commendation. Another exhibit is deserving of commendation, ~

No. 11, as being specially nsefnl in connexion with the use of brown coal, owing to the fact that this coal j is slow iu ignition. The nse of this blower will enable any one to make a good fire with brown coal quite ·1 as quick as with 01·dinary coal. I would add that the coal used in these tests was Thorpdale (or similar J

brown coal), which is that best adapted for use in stoves and grates in its natural state. Hence, I have 1 had to make allowances in the case of several exhibits which I did not consider so suitable for burning the ordinary brown coal.

A certificate has lleen accordingly awarded for open stoves, Mr. E. S. Jeans; closed stove, Messrs. Jas. McEwan and Co. ; open grates, Messrs. Owen and Lang ; mechanical contrivances, Mr. E. S. Jeans.

Specimens or descriptive particulars were submitted to the Commission of fire· j bars suitable for the consumption of brown coal in furnaces as follows :-Messrs. j Owen and Lang, a modification of the step-grate (model in iron); Mr. Walker (of lj

Nugent and Humble, Geelong), patent fire-bar (model in iron); Austral Otis Engineering Works, diagrams of the step-grate as used in Germany; Mr. De Beer, J

patent hollow fire-bars; a neat model, shown by Mr. Shephard, of New South j Wales; and Mr. Alves, 1)atent fire-bars. The Commissioners have not as yet been i enabled to obtain the facilities necessary for practically testing the merits of any of the fire-bars brought under their notice.

From the earliest stage .of the inquiry your Commissioners were impressed with the lamentable lack of knowledge that prevailed respecting the nature and proper use of the brown coal. In selecting for the market no attempt was made to dry or otherwise improve its condition so as to popularize its use. With few exceptions, wherever it was tested, stokers, firemen, and domestics seemed prejudiced against it, being unacquainted with its properties and mode of consumption, and because its use involved some additional labour. In the course of the evidence also, the most conflicting statements were made by scientific witnesses as to the application and value of this fuel.

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In view of the fact that millions of tons of briquettes are annually manufactured in Germany from brown coal, for the most part inferior to Victorian, and that inex­haustible deposits of the raw material exist in the colony, your Commissioners consider that it is absolutely necessary to obtain the latest reliable data respecting the methods adopted in Europe and elsewhere for manufacturing and utilizing this class of fuel. Your Commissioners feel convinced that, if the brown coal industry is to be placed upon a sound and permanent footing, to enable it to compete successfully with Newcastle coal, it is imperative that a qualified gentleman should be despatched at once to Europe for the purpose of acquainting himself with and reporting upon the methods adopted in Germany and other countries in Europe for raising and sending the coal to market, manufacturing the raw material into briquettes, and the application of the fuel to the industrial arts, to locomotive, domestic, and economic purposes. It is also essential that a sufficient quantity of the bro1"\rn coal should be obtained from different mines and forwarded to Europe in charge of the expert, for the purpose of having it manu£'tctured into briquettes, with proper machinery and under experienced supervision, in order to determine their market value as compared with the best manufactured briquettes from German brown coal and with Newcastle coal.

JAS. 'VILLIAMS, Secretary.

Melbourne, 9th December, 1890.

J. F. LEVIEN, President.

ARTHUR C. GROOM.

JAMES SHACKELL.

W. M. CLARK.

CHAS. L. FORREST.

F. C. MASON.

Yv. H. UREN.

WILLIAM ANDERSON.

,V. McCULLOCH.

ALBERT HARRIS.

LOUIS L. SMITH.

JOHN WOODS.

By Authority: RonT. S. BRAIN, Government Printer, Melbourne.

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