BURNING COAL TWICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1923, Page 3

BURNING COAL TWICE.

SAN KHAN CISCO, Aug. 21 In those days of fluctuating prices for gasoline, the proverbially high prices for domestic coal, and the excessive charges for electricity as a licit uic medium, Americans have rubbed their eyes wit'll surprise* nt the calm anliouncement from New York that a method of reducing the cost of automobile manufacturing, has been perleclecl hv a firm of New York chemists and taken over by Henry Ford, the American motor-ear millionaire. The experiments were conducted by Emil Piron and ms associate, V. S. Caraeristi, and it is stated that one of the principal by-products will be gasoline, which can he produced at an estimated cost of 0 cents (threepence) a gallon. Each ton of coal burned under this process will produce coke—with which Ford can make his own steel, motor • gasoline, lubricating ml, fertiliser, creosote, gas. and grease, all l’iron said. The experiments were mane in laboratory in West Virginia, and were financed by Ford. The cheapest grade of coal will he used. It is estmuued that the cost of making motor-cars uHI be materially reduced, so that it wdl be possible for the Detroit multi-inillion-,,iro to make further price reductions. The cost of motoring will he still blither slashed by the production of cheap lubricating oils and grease, .n other words, as each “tlivver «««» through the factory, its gasoline t and grease will he manutactured as ,1 side line at hitherto unheard of prices. Ford is understood to be arranging

to uso cdiil from.llia own mines in. um Virgin in- transporting it to l.isphint.„ve,- hi" own rail way linos MukinP Vis own coke. Ford expects to lie ahk . 0 erect liis own steel nulls, and tlui. tnhtnin steel at rock-bottom prices. Bvthe Piron-Carnrriati method he , 00 „1 will ho distilled at much louei temperatures than hitherto. I ndor ont ™" « iv ?"ixn-r5; i™- ? nses when o'.o ul, m. nn . into .liquods. 1 his. mmn i. ture of the process. Iheie « many disputes between s<-ientists; it t pointed out, as to whethei best»^ ull t could be obtained from distillation high or low temperatures. Piron believes tlmt a k‘c. t< l • titv of by-products is available at low temLrLU svstem and low grade coal ean be usut. it is the one which has been adopted. Coke in the United States can be nrodueed at -1.40 dollars a ton. 1 non Lid. and from it brhpuds can bo made. to bo burned in household cold, cost of gas will be reduced from oO cents a thousand cubic feet to < oi cents, with other reductions m pi«portion, Piron added.