New Fuel for Engine Houses.

New Fuel for Engine Houses.

For several years the furnaces in the engine-houses, which keep the water in the fire engines at a boiling point all the time, have been using coke. Coke comes high, and is one of the most expensive items on the city fire department’s account, but the city has had to have coke for this purpose. Recently the attention of Commissioner Gilbert, of St. Louis, has been directed to a new coal which has been discovered in Arkansas on the line of the Iron Mountain road. This coal is said to be a semi-anthracite which can be utilized by the fire department in place of coke, and the agents of the mines assert that the expense to the city will be greatly reduced. The coal mine is owned by the Missouri Pacific railroad company and if the tests prove the coal to possess the merits claimed for it the property will be developed on a large scale. Commissioner Gilbert will examine specimens of the new coal to-day, and tests will be made at the engine houses in a few days. If these tests are successful contracts for this fuel will be made in June.

For several years the furnaces in the engine-houses, which keep the water in the fire engines at a boiling point all the time, have been using coke. Coke comes high, and is one of the most expensive items on the city fire department’s account, but the city has had to have coke for this purpose. Recently the attention of Commissioner Gilbert, of St. Louis, has been directed to a new coal which has been discovered in Arkansas on the line of the Iron Mountain road. This coal is said to be a semi-anthracite which can be utilized by the fire department in place of coke, and the agents of the mines assert that the expense to the city will be greatly reduced. The coal mine is owned by the Missouri Pacific railroad company and if the tests prove the coal to possess the merits claimed for it the property will be developed on a large scale. Commissioner Gilbert will examine specimens of the new coal to-day, and tests will be made at the engine houses in a few days. If these tests are successful contracts for this fuel will be made in June.