ch will, no doubt, have been engaging your individual attention,
would be impossible. But I think there can be no doubt that, although at
our last meeting we had a very full and interesting discussion on the
different systems of regenerative retort settings, still we might very
profitably spend a little time to-day in hearing the experience of those
who have had some of the systems introduced into their works since then,
or who may have gained further experience with the system they were then
working, or have introduced improvements or modifications thereon.

For the purpose of inducing a discussion on this subject, I will give
you the result of the working of the bench of retorts which I erected
three years ago on the Siemens system. As I stated last year, my
experience up to that time had not been altogether a happy one, but one
of sunshine and cloud alternately. I am glad to be able to say, however,
that since then I have had nothing but the utmost satisfaction in the
working of the regenerative settings. The chief difficulties I have
before experienced were of a mixed nature--choked ascension pipes,
entailing considerable loss of gas; the choking of the orifices from
which the secondary heated air issued to join the producer gas; and the
eating away, in a "scooped-out" sort of fashion, of the brick lining of
the producers at the points where the primary air entered. These, I am
pleased to be able to say, I am now completely clear of; and this has
had the effect of converting what was before a considerable source of
annoyance and anxiety into as perfect a working bench of retorts as any
one could desire.

The results I have obtained have caused me much surprise, being far in
excess of anything I ever anticipated; and the saving effected will
materially assist in compensating for the greatly reduced value of
residuals. I may state that I have used 30 per cent. of fuel on an
average, saved from 25 to 30 per cent. on stokers' wages, and increased
my production of gas per ton of coal; while the regularity of the heats
was a pleasure to look upon.

As showing what I have been able to accomplish, I will give you a few
details. I was able regularly to produce 10,000 cubic feet of gas per
mouthpiece in 24 hours--the size of my retorts being 18 by 13 inches by
9 feet long, inside measure; and on a sudden dullness coming on, with an
increase of first class cannel I produced from 33 retorts 357,000 cubic
feet, or at the rate