FUEL ECONOMY SURVEY OF GOVERNMENT PLANTS

Hon. L. C. CRAMPTON,

House of Representatives.

BUREAU OF MINES, Washington, November 26, 1924.

DEAR SIR: As requested by you, I inclose with this a memorandum giving illustrations of the work of the Bureau of Mines' fuel economy survey of Government plants in the District of Columbia.

Very truly yours,

O. P. HOOD, Chief Mechanical Engineer.

The Bureau of Mines purchases and delivers coal for Government purposes in the District of Columbia, and also conducts at its various experiment stations investigations concerning the efficient use of fuel. Practical application of the knowledge thus gained is made in a fuel economy survey of the Government fuel-burning plants in the District of Columbia. Money has been saved in many ways.

A common type of small furnace employs an upper and lower set of grates. They are often used unintelligently. The firing method must be adapted to the available coal, so that instructions to firemen are issued.

New grates were sold to a certain plant under a guarantee of increased efficiency. More coal was used than in the previous year. Tests showed the old original grates to be superior, and they were returned.

An old plant makes smoke and officers are fined. The proper answer is a modern plant involving a large outlay, but by changes in furnaces, a reasonable selection of coal, and demonstrations that fairly smokeless conditions can be maintained, the need of a new plant is postponed.

A plant is equipped with an old type of stokers. It was assumed that they were inefficient in comparison with new forms. A new boiler was to be equipped with stokers, and although parts of the old types were on hand it was proposed to ask for money to put in new types of stokers under both boilers. Tests showed the old type of stoker doing remarkably well under the conditions at this plant, and there was no need for change.

A plant burning anthracite wanted to save money by burning bituminous, but could not keep within the smoke ordinance. Considerable experimenting showed that this plant, although relatively new, must burn anthracite, and nothing short of a new equipment would allow cheaper coal to be used.

An expenditure of over $200,000 is being made on a new plant in the district. The specifications as drawn require the best grade of run of mine coal at an increased price to be used during the life of the plant. The fuel burning end of the equipment has received less accent than is desirable, and the physical and financial limitations led to the inclusion of less efficient stokers. Bureau representations led to a partial remedy by including under the guarantees the use of slack bituminous coal of a quality easily obtained at a saving of $10,000 to $15,000 per year. With a constructive plan for the future the whole expenditure might have been more effectively placed.

A plant found all its boilers but two unavailable because of a law suit over oil burners. Attempts to carry the load on one boiler had failed, and the prospect of going through a season with no chance for maintenance or repair of boilers was faced. The bureau showed how the load could be carried on one boiler. The second boiler was then improved, firing methods bettered, and finally slack coal used instead of a higher grade. The coal bill was not only reduced, but the grip of a law suit over spare boilers was released, and a call for new boiler equipment headed off. These are typical cases of how fuel and investment can be saved.

NEED FOR GENERAL REVISION OF THE RECLAMATION ACT

Mr. MEAD. I would like to express the belief that the future success of reclamation will be promoted by a complete revision of the reclamation act. Many things indispensable to the adjustment of project costs and to the prompt and successful colonization of

the land are not included in the bill now before Congress. Among the matters which should have consideration are the following:

(a) The Bureau of Reclamation should have its duties and responsibilities more clearly defined. At present the bureau is a creation of the Secretary to enable him to carry out the duties imposed by Congress. The extent of the commissioner's authority and the policies which control the bureau change with the views of different Secretaries. Such an arrangement is not favorable to continuity of action or the carrying out of a long-time program of development. Giving the bureau definite authority and responsibility would relieve the Secretary of a burden that is destined to become far more arduous in the future.

(b) The time has come for considering requiring interest payments on the construction costs of all new projects. If this were done, it would put reclamation on a business basis. It would end the favoritism that is now shown the owners of private land in the development of their properties with interest-free money. It would tend to stop the inflation of prices of unimproved land which has been a continuing abuse in the past and has often prevented realizing the desirable social and economic purposes of the act. If interest is paid, it does not greatly matter when payment begins on the money spent on the works. They could remain the property of the Government until irrigators were ready to assume control and if the interest rate were made low, say three or four per cent, no additional burden would be imposed on the settler of small means. On the contrary, it might improve his condition, as he now sometimes pays twice for his water right, once to the Government, and again in high land prices and high interest rates on borrowed money.

(c) The increased cost of works and the large amount of money which has to be spent in changing unimproved land into habitable farms make the methods of colonization and farm development matters of first importance. Provision should be made for soil surveys, appraisal of prices of farms according to productive value, whether the land is the property of the Government or excess holdings of private owners. The qualifications of settlers should be scrutinized. There must be publicity to call attention to the opportunities of these projects and a farm development program to aid the beginner in his development. These things are necessary to bring under cultivation abandoned farms on old projects, check the unhealthy increase in tenancy, and insure the prompt settlement, development, and payment of charges on all new projects.

(d) This law ought to be an opportunity for home ownership for the settler of small means. If it is to be this, a fund must be provided from which advances can be made to help in the improvement and equipment of farms of selected settlers who lack all the capital required. We now appropriate immense sums of money to be repaid without interest, for the construction of works which improve the landed possessions of private owners, but we do nothing to help the farmer of small means become the owner of that land. Our terms of payment for works are the most generous of any country. Our aid to the settler and for farm development is the least. The time has come for a reversal of the objects of the Government's liberality.