The purchase of fuel on a British thermal unit basis

The boiler plant of the traction company which operates the street-car system of Cleveland, Ohio, is representative of modern practice in both the nature of the equipment installed and the means employed in handling and firing coal. Of the total cost of manufacturing a kilowatt-hour in this plant, exclusive of investment charges, taxes and insurance, the fuel item amounts substantially to 70 per cent. The calorific value of the fuel used is obviously of the utmost importance, and to insure a supply of coal having a high thermal value is therefore greatly to be desired. This may be accomplished by making use of one of three means which are at our command: