LOWER TAXATION FOR COKE-FIRED STEAMERS.
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A Proposal for a Rebate for Coke-fired Steamers which would Promote Benzole Production.
By E. W. L. Nicol, A.L.E.E. M.I.Mar.E., Engineer and Fuel Expert to the London Coke Committee.
IN THE flat rate taxation proposals for both pleasure and commercial motor vehicles, which are based merely upon horse-power rating, there appears to be an utter disregard for the admittedly just claim of the commercial motor owner to preferential treatment, and also for the best interests of the motor fraternity as a whole.
The possible correlation between the impending world-shortage in motor spirit and the present opportunity which the proposed new taxation offers ' to conserve motor spirit and promote the development of home supplies, does not appear to have been considered. Probably the most important potential home supply is benzole derived from the distillation of coal at coke ovens and gasworks ; but, even to the uninitiated it must be evident that the recovery of ibenzole cannot possibly be the sole primary object of coal distillation. Only about two to three gallons of refined benzole are recoveted per ton of coal treated, and the plant involved in the process of coal carbonization and benzole recovery is enormously costly, In the case of the coke oven recovery plant, metallurgical coke is the primary objective, and at gasworks it is gas. The benzole and other secondary products produce revenue, which, in the case of the gasworks, helps to cheapen the selling price of gas. The statutory sliding scale principle of gas charges and dividends payable—the lower the one, the higher the other—automatically provides the necessary stimulus to good and efficient management in the conduct of affairs at gasworks and, therefore, the recovery, to the fullest practicable extent, of all available by-products.
Benzole Output Must Depend on the Extent of the Demand i for Coke.
In the past, one of the limiting fa:Ctors to carbpnizing operations at gasworks has been a serious difficulty, in disposing of the surplus coke produced. In order, therefore, to promote the recovery of benzole to the fullest extent an adequate outlet must be found for all the secondary products which are unavoidable concomitants of profitable coal carbonization and benzoic recovery in existing forms of plant. In the case of the coke oven, the coke requirements of the iron and steel industries is in normal circumstances the principal limiting factor to carbonizing operations. Given an adequate outlet for coke (the bulkiest prbduct of carbonization), gas, and other products, there is practically no limit to the extent to which coal carbonization and benzole recovery can be carried. The fact that the value of a ton of coal carbonized is enhanced by more than 100 per cent. should be a sufficient incentive to extend carbonizing operations. The case of gasworks is different only in that the gas is the primary product. There is a big potential demand for gas as fuel ; but the revenue from the sale of coke is a prime factor in fixing the selling price of gas (and, therefore, in determining the dividends payable to gascompany shareholders). The price of coke, however, is always ruled by that of coal, with which it is necessarily sold in competition. What is required is an adequate and prompt outlet for the surplus coke in order to avoid the loss, due to breakage and cost of labour incidental to storing it at gasworks. 024 Here, then, is an opportunity to encourage not only the production of benzole but also its conservation, by promoting the r:sa et coke also as a motor fuel. In view of the fact that the proceeds are earmarked for road iniprovement and repair, total exemption from taxation cannot be expected, but a subAantial rebate on the proposed rates might at least be allowed to coke-fired wagon users. Such a rebate would not add any difficulty to the collection of the tax, and it would entail only a relatively insignificant loss to the estimated revenue—certainly much less than the 50 per cent. rebate on the petrol tax to which the commercial user was hitherto held to be entitled, and it would serve a three-fold purpose. It would tend, by encouraging tlhe manufacture and use of coke-burning wagons, to conserve motor spirit for the lighter transport services ; it Would tend to provide permanent employment for larger numbers of skilled and unskilled workers by promoting the coal carbonizing and benzole recovery and refining industries ; and, finally, it would tend materially to improve atmospheric conditions by eliminating the emission of smoke from steam wagons.
Economy of the Coke-fired Steamer.
In its present state of development, the coke-fired wagon is probably without exception the most economical vehicle for heavy road transport. There are two or three makers who, from the outset, have designed ,wagons to develop their full power on coke exclusively, but certain other steam wagons are more or less adaptable to use coke as fuel. Most steam wagons, whether designed for coal or coke, have been proved capable of using either bituminous or anthracitic coal, foundry, furnace, or gas coke, so that, with these alternative fuels available, there can be no question of creating a monopoly. Due largely to the destruction of French and Belgian coal mines, there is, at present, a shortage of coke, as there is of all forms of fuel ; and, owing to the inferior quality of the coal which gas supply authorities are forced to accept, the quality of gas coke is often below normal. With the restoration of the continental mines to their full output, the temporary shortage may be relieved, and, with a return to normal conditions, there will again be the prospect of a serious coke surplus ; and, given complete freedom in the selection of their coal supplies, gas companies naturally will select coal which for the purpose of gas and coke manufacture has proved to be the best and most economical.
Alcohol will Require Admixture with Benzole.
The highest authorities on the subject have pointed out that we must look to. alcohol as the motor fuel of the future ; but, supposing supplies of fuel in this form were immediately available, it would, in engines of existing types, be practically useless, unless used in admixture with benzole. The latter spirit, therefore, has, and will continue to have, to the motor industry, an intrinsic value far beyond its mere fuel value. Its production on an ever increasing scale should be encouraged by all possible means, and the writer has endeavoured (perhaps not altogether from disinterested motives) to indicate one of the most practical ways in which this desirable object might be accomplished.