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Badges (Gold Pins) on hand-4 @ $2.50-$10.00.

I certify the above to be correct and a true extract from

books.

GUY D. HALLADAY, Accountant.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 3, 1910.

The chairman then appointed the following committees: Committee on Nomination-Benjamin C. Robinson, Chairman; J. G. Diffenderfer and John T. Young.

Committee on Next Place of Meeting-W. S. Blauvelt, Chairman; H. J. Waterbury and Richard Schaddelee.

The chairman explained that the next business in order should be a report of the Committee on Affiliation, but inasmuch as the chairman of that committee was not present at the meeting no report could be given.

The chairman announced the next business in order, the reading of the President's address which was read by Mr. Shacklette :

President's Address

Last year we tried the experiment of holding our meeting on board the steamer, "City of St. Ignace," on a three days' trip from Detroit to the Soo, returning by way of Mackinaw Island.

It was left to the executive committee to decide whether or not we should repeat the experiment this year. The trip last year was so universally enjoyed that it was unanimously decided by the committee to take another trip on the "water wagon," as ex-President Lynn would say.

State Railway Commission:

During the year an important step has been taken by our State in requiring the approval of the State Railway Commission on all new securities issued by a public service corporation. This should serve in giving the public still more confidence in our securities. It is to be hoped that this department of the State can be kept free of politics and that efficient men will be maintained therein. If the commissioners should be selected on account of their political prestige, rather than their ability, and should then use political methods in administering the office, a very great handicap can easily be placed on our public service companies.

Scholarship Work:

We are all deeply interested in, and justly proud, of the results being accomplished in our experimental gas plant at the University of Michigan. This plant, during the past year, has been enlarged and the apparatus re-arranged so that at present we have a finely equipped gas plant, in the results of which we can have entire confidence and of which we can hope to make practical use. Let us continue to hold the same interest in the plant that we have in the past, and continue our generous support of the work.

Coke:

Last year was a remarkable one in that nearly all gas companies in the State of Michigan ran short of coke during the

winter, many of them having exhausted their supply by the first of the year. This was the case in a city with which I am familiar, and from that time on all of the coke which the fuel dealers could purchase was shipped into the city and still without fully meeting the demand.

It is surprising to note by a canvas made during the summer that coke was used in only one house of every seven in this city, notwithstanding the fact that this very large amount of coke was sold.

Another interesting and surprising figure taken from the canvas shows that only one house in four has a furnace, the balance being heated by stoves. In another city an effort was made to install coke furnaces with the result that they succeeded in placing a great many furnaces in old houses. These furnaces were especially designed for the use of coke and will, of course, help increase the sale of this fuel very materially in that city.

Papers and Discussions:

Because there are more small companies in the State than large ones we decided to make a stronger appeal to them this year than usual and to have the majority of the papers written for this meeting on subjects which are of especial interest to small companies; also to have them written and discussed by men connected with such companies. It might be added also that the topics chosen were from suggestions offered by the managers or operators of the smaller plants. There is no doubt that those connected with larger companies will find much of interest in these papers and I trust that all will enter into the discussions.

Good Service Suggestions:

While looking over the addresses of past Presidents, I notice that many of them mention the importance of "good service." I believe that too much stress can not be laid on this, and will here mention a few points which my experience has demonstrated will insure good service, if they are properly followed through. My definition here for "good service" is gas of uniform and good quality, delivered at the consumers' premises under a fairly constant pressure of about three inches.

1. Handle only good standard appliances and install them in a satisfactory, workmanlike way.

2. Give prompt and intelligent attention to complaints.

3. Take pressures frequently on gas services before meters in all sections of your city, using a portable recording gauge which should be compared with a U. water gauge when it is installed and when removed.

4. Tap the standpipes leading from each bottom mouthpiece about two feet above the mouth-piece, and have the foreman make a record of the pressure at each of these taps, each day. Do not carry less than one-quarter inch pressure at this point while the retort is making gas.

5. Maintain a constant level of liquor in the hydraulic main. The tar displacement system with good big tar connections will solve this problem.

6. Foul main governors have been perfected during the last year which by preventing a variable vacuum being drawn with the benches, will for many dispose of the problem of the "poor gas make."

In conclusion I wish to thank you for the honor of being your President, and I wish to express my appreciation of your loyal support.

(Signed.) B. O. TIPPY, President.

The Chairman appointed as a Committee on President's Address, Mr. Howard L. Olds, Chairman; W. J. McCorkindale and D. H. Frazer.

The chairman also appointed the following Committee on Resolutions: Mr. Irvin Butterworth, Chairman; Mr. W. H. Morgans and Mr. Homer M. Eaton.

The chairman called for a reading of the first paper on the program, which was presented by Mr. B. M. Ferguson, holder of the Michigan Gas Association Scholarship at the University of Michigan, for 1910.

CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES IN THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL.

by

Alfred H. White and B. M. Ferguson.*

CONTENTS.

Introduction.

Presentation of Data

5 Tests of Coal from Hellier, Kentucky.

4 Tests of Coal from Harrisburg, Illinois.

7 Tests of Coal from Scott Haven, Pennsylvania.

4 Tests of Coal from LaFollette, Tennessee.

5 Tests of Coal from Monangah and Holden, W. Va.

Rate of Evolution of Gas from One Retort.

Rate of Evolution of Gas from One Pound of Coal.

Influence of Weight of Charge.

Influence of Variation in Pressure on Retort.

Measurement of Retort Temperature.

Influence of Retort Temperature.

Summary.

*Holder of the Michigan Gas Association Fellowship in Gas Engineering at the University of Michigan.

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