A GREAT NATIONAL ECONOMY
(To THE EDM)R OF THE SPECTATOR.1
Sur,—In further reference to " J. R. F.'s " remarks, you have not the space, nor I the time, for a full examination of the statements in his first letter respecting the particular system of low-temperature carbonization which he extols. I will take only one item. He states that this process produces ton million cubic feet of gas from two hundred tons of coal. He states also that this is " a very rich gas." Now, Sir, this is a produc- tion of fifty thousand cubic feet of " rich gas " per ton of coal ! Your readers will find on inquiry that a good coal will yield up to about thirteen thousand cubic feet per ton at a high temperature, and that low-temperature carbonization yields about five thousand cubic feet per ton. I am not quite clear whether these gas-production figures were supplied by the German company to whom your correspondent refers, but they certainly exhibit all the " frightfulness " of so many recent German statistics.—I am, Sir, &c., W. NEWTON DREW. Raincliffe, Ecclesficld, near Sheffield.
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