1910.

VIC'l'UJUA.

ELECTRICITY COMMISSIONERS.

REPORTS

ON THE

UTILIZATION OF BROWN COAL AND WATER POWER

}'OH THE

PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY.

-·· - --~- ---·---

ALtn;!-!T J. M l1LJ,gTT) fiOYLiL'\)!ENT PIUS:T£R, hliJLDOURN&.

No. ~S.-l"7iGG --f';:,IcE h. 9o, __ l 0

C 0 N '1.' E N T S.

1. SCOPE OF INQUIRY

II. NATIO~AL AsPECT OF A PmYER ScHE)J£

IV. Scu&Mif,i' CoNSIDERED

V. ~IoRWELL CoAL·FIELD

VI. ALTONA CoAL-FIELD

VII. CHowv: o~- Bn<Jwt<.~ CoAl,·FlELD ro BF. DJ.xEL'JPED

VIII. W ATE& PowE&

xn. RF.LATlO.X OF PnoPOSJ.m S•'}fF::\IE TO Prn>E\T JII':JROPOLTTAX lJ.:;nF,RT.\KTNGS

XV. BRowx CoAL DrsnLLATION P&ocessr;s

XVl. B&ows CoA.I. CC)NSUMPTION 'l'HR)UQHorr VtrromA

xvu. B&!Ql'EIT!""

XVlll. EsTABLISHME~T OF TO\VNSHIP AT )foRV;'ELL

XIX. CusTOMs DuTms o~ I!otPORTATION oF MA.cHI~ERY

XX. 8-uMUARY OF' ,\lAIN CONCLl!SIONS

APPEXDICES.

A. Chief Engineer's Report on proposal to establish an· Electrl~1l Supply Scheme in connexion with the 1\Iorwell

3

7

10

11

ll

ll

12

12

12

13

13

14

Brown Coal-field, with plans 1 drawings, &:.c, 16

B. :IIr. Linde.ay Clark's Report on the '\iorwell Field 26

C. Messrs. Klug and Broome 's Report on the Altona Field 28

D. Brown Coal Development in Germany 32

ELECTRICITY COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.

The Honorable Artlmr 1\obinson,

Attorney-Generol,

l\Jelbonrne. SIR.

1.- -SCOPE OF ll\!Jl'll:\ Xl\D HEPflllT.

In ac.con_l0Hh' wrd1 i11-;inu·ti1•JH C(lr,Llincd in :)ed];::n 10 of t.he Elrt'ti'i('J.iu Commissicners Ad HHB, we beg to sulll'iiL hPrc>widt <! "0chellw f(lr ( o;J} mining ;nHl det tricnf" nnderkd<ing to he nnclertnken in t.lw :;eighl,ondHHHl ,,f j]onYell, ;;n,l the dir-Jribmim• of eJ,•etrieity thcrdrcm; and al.so a l{epmt "ening fm'th the ,,.,,,_lh d an in<[Uiry into the TeiatiiT pntttieability of utili7.ing \Vater pnweT for d<!ctricul HlHlcrt~tklngs.·'

in <'Oln·.:id~;riHg the qnestinns invnh't•c in the u1Hl\'e instruction,.., 1hP (\•llllltiRr->imwrs are satiRtit:t1 t1w,l, ha\'in.~ rc_ganl t.o ''the 1tltimate •·o-·nnlinution nnd llllilkatioJi cf td~ Statf1 or on1cr eleetricnl ntldcrt.nl:in.~..-.; ,,·;it,hin Yid.oi·i,:_'.- i1 will hP !;C'l'~'SB<UV to t~tkP n llHt('h witler vic\v than

0 - ~ -

oection 10 ,,f the A<'l expn·r,h- implieo. ( 'on,ider:>.i i,n lwo. t.herc•for<:, l:eeH given io the ultimate requi!·enlC'Hir; of t.h1_': ~:\(".,h:: :1:-i a whole., tmtl whik• rcnlizing nlC' iJntnediai-c pre:;~ing 11eed of ,<;tpp~ being take-11 tn provide an adequ:1.ie ~uppl;:/ uf elettricai P!H•rgy t.o th(• Jnctropolit.;nl arf'a, any :-:d1e1ue t.o :5(1tidy thnt rectairt•rHent n:n'-'t. lJC ~-on"'idercd mdy m> pt"oviding tluJ um·lew' of n ;.;y;..tPlH fnr UHl: produf'tlnn of elcd:rien.l cnr,r~v fn1til ~otnce,.; wit1!ln \'ict.{1rin) ollHl it.~S di,..,trihutinn i11 (jlWntit.ic;' sufiieient to tncct t·he fnt.nn: po\Yer 1 t'(llliteatt-llL-> of the \Y}Jolc, St.; de. 1JOth for i!;du~,trinl and dome3tic purposes. The wppiY of cheap ,;~,.,;.).(,'' is m; eSS<'Jlt.ial to 'indu't''.'' as are lahonr ami nmterialR, and in the electrienl fcm1 it. is'" Jkxihle that it,.,.~, lw a.pplied to nnarly all kindc of machinery, wheth<i\r used in transportalion. in r;,,. mill, the workshop. i he mine. or the farm, as well ~s to the many proee,''''' dt•Ycloped of lak yctll'8 time depcllll on the cleel.rie Jumace, ami on electro­chemical and elect ro-metall nrgica I action.

ll.~.\XI'l<L'\"\L .HWl~CT OF"\ PO\\'ER 8('fll•:m·;.

In the Heporl: (17 .4.17) of r.lte Coal Cun"·rviltion :-;.,],.(',,mmillec of ibe Ilcconst.ruction Con11nittcc of Gre~tt Britnin 1 he iolluwlng r·n.s~(lgP appear.">:-

In tht: industrial rcorganizatiuu which Ill\i"t take pbce on the tr.rm~nation qf t.he 'nu- :.he further de\·dopment, of puwer is of great importance. The pn:sent. U::)l' of 111otin. powrt' pC'r I'm ploy('(' is ilnly about hali t.hn.t in the TJnit.cd StatBs uf Ameri<'a. Large qmmtiti<'" of l'lcdrind powt.:r will Lr requin•1l fM tlw dt>Yf'lnpmrnt and ('arrying un of new proc~8.s.es not at prest>nt umlcrta:;:ru in f,!Ji..: ('ountr;:. . It ~·" on!~- by la.rgrly Jneren~1ng: the amount. of power m~oed in lndlliltry (by two or more tintoio!) that the a-rcrDge nut pat per head (and a;.; a •:on'iNJUCU{'e the \Yagc-:; of the individual) can be increa5f!d.

Power may be most efl1dently ap!1lieri to indw.;try h.:r t,hc uwdlnm of elt>ctr:ieit.y. Tht> p,eonomieal generation 0£ the eledrical rnergy :-:n rcqnircd i;.; thu" <Jf ~reat, import.;mce. . , . Te{·hni­

ca.Uy, and eeonomiraHy, t.J1f\ elcdrk<i.l ent>rgy ca.n be he:>t pro-ridcd hy a eomprehew:Jive '"YRtem. a~ mny be amply proved from experient>c gained in thrlti<" parts of t-he W(lrld where HU{'h ;.;yHh:m_s are in existenrc, not,ably jn Chicago (Illinois), on the north-1~<t.~t coaf-:1 of F.ngla.n1l, on t.Le P.,aud. 1ulil in t•ertain imlu~trial Jistrict.:> of Uermany.

'£hesc opinions bear with enm greater fon·c on tile situation in VietnriH, :wd we feel that, in the light of experience in ot.hcr part.s of the wurkl. the oche me !tn' providiug fnr the requirements in the metropolitan area in lhc _p:onr l!l2i.l must be regarded as' the lint: st.('P of a greater seheme, having for its ultinmtc objective the linking together of all a,-ailable soun:es of power supply, whether coal or water, fnr the benefit oi the State.

Jii.--ESSE~rri,\L HEQCIHEMENTS OF _\ PO\YEH SC'HE:l!K

The essential Tequirements to he salisiied by any seherne seleetctl as a first step m the inaugurat.ion of a. St<tt·e snpply may be snm1uarized a" undm :-'

(a) Certainty and continuity uf wpply. (b) Capability of early operation. (c) Initial capacity, (d) Capability of expansion, (e) Economic smu~dness. (f) Independence of soUJ·ecs outside Vi<'toria.

(a) Certainty and Oontinu,,J,y of Supply.~The making available of a supply of electrical energy at a cheap rate must eventually result in almost the whole of the industrial activities of

4

the State being dependent on that supply for their operation. Consequently, a ce8sation of operation from whatever cause would mean a corresponding interruption of all industrial activities. Such a disaster must be most carefully guarded against. it becomes, therefore, a matter for the most careful thought, when considering alternative schemes, that the &hcmc sdeeted mus~. be based on proved methods, and, as far as practicable, such as will guard against possible sourees of trouble or breakdown in operation. The adoption of any process, or the installation of any plant· which has not been proved economically satisfactory under continuous operation in undertakings of similar magnitude, or which are still in the experimental stage, would be nnjustifiable.

(b) Capability of Early Operatim<.-The scheme selected must be capable of being put into o,t:eration early in 1923. The two undertaking authorities supplying 2\Ielbournc. viz .. the Melbourne City ( 'ouneil and the )t[elboumc Electric Supply Company, have alrcndy mndc representa.tiollS to the Government of the seriousness of the position that "'ill arise should the matter of provision of an adequate supply of electrical energy be further delayed. The existing power-hous\s of the above-mentioned undertakings will reach the limit of their capacity in tbe year Hl21, and, indeed, arrangements have already been made whereby a supply will, before t.hcn. be furnished by the Railway Commissioners from the Xewport power-house. This arrangement, however, ean only be regarded as a t-emporary e>.-pedient to relieve the position, as the Railway Department wjll require the whole of the present capacity of the Newport power-houoc to complete the electrification of the suburban railway syst.em, pos..'libly during 192:3, or before.

(c) Initial Capacity.-The earliest date at which it will be possible to supply electrical energy will be the beginning of 1923. At this date it is estimated, on the basis of present expansion, that the power requirements in the metropolitan area alone will have reached 50,000 kw., of whieh the Newport power-house will be supplying about 10,000 kw. by agreement for five years from 1920,

In the event of any new scheme being capable of supplying energy to the existing generating authorities in the metropolitan area in snfticient quantity, and at a cost less than that at which these authorities are generating it, it may be assumed that they will readily avail themselves of the cheaper supply, and gradually shut down their own generating plants. In that case any new scheme must be judged by its ability to supply the 1923 requirements of the metropolitan ar&'t as mentioned above.

(d) Capibiliiy of Expa.nsion.---The scheme adopted must he designed Irom t,hc point. of view of a probable steady and continuous growth in the use of eleetrieal energy in Victoria, and must, therefore, be capable of ready expansion to meet that requirement, as well as any special demands cre..'lted by the establishment of industries calling for comparatively large blocks of power. As st<Jted in a former paragraph, the demand in the metropolitan area in the year 1923 will be about 50,000 kw. Natural growth of the derrmnd he expected to im·rease the requirements in 1925 to abont 61,300 kw. The needs of country centres and outlying di,tricts will yearly become more insistent. and, as the system is extended, the fnct of ade<pmte power being available at a reasonable charge will create a further demand. Any s< hemc entered npou at this stage, therefore, must be designed to take these factors into accOimt. ~eglcct of this view would mean the raising of the srtmc difficulties that have caused, an<l are at present causing, such grave concern in J;Jngland, and to remed._r which it is proposed to expend an enormous smn of money in the construction of power-generating station' on n large s<:ale,

(e) Economic Smmdness.··-Any scheme entered upon mm,t be able t.o furnish a bulk gupply of electricity at a rate beloiV that at which it is being generated at the existing power-honses in Victoria, due regard being had for the capital already expended on such power-houses.

(j) Independen,cc of Sources outside Vi<tori'l.-Any scheme umler consideratim1 must, of neeessity, be basc.d upon a supply of energy from sources, either coal or water, entirely independent of those outside the State.

At the present time importations of New South Wales coal into this t-lta.te for all purposes, except railiVays and gas making, may be stated at 450,000 tons per annum.

There is now no reason why the whole of this quantity should not be displacc.d by the UBe

o[ electrical energy generated from brown coal, or by the direct use of such coal. By such a change the great bulk of the domestic and industrial requirements of the State would be met by the development of power or fuel sources v.ithin the borders of the State, \\ith consequent financial benefit to the community.

The cost of New South Wales slack coal to the Melbourne City Council's electric. supply undertaking has increased in the last four years from about l6s. to about 3ls. per ton, partly on account of the increased mining costs, but due mainly to greatly increased cost of freight. The latter factor has placed Victoria at a great disadvantage industrially as compared with New South Wales, as can be seen by the fact that the electric supply undertakings in Sydney can obt-ain supplies of similar fuel at about 16/9d. per ton, which is about 5s. per ton increase, above pre-war

•

5

rates, whereas the increa.se to thP llelbomne undertakings is about 15s. per ton. This state of affairs is r<'acting ,;erinusly on the industrial <levelopmeut of Victoria, and is correspondingly beneficial to New i::lm1th Wales, a pmition which will be intensified by prospective increases in freights.

It would show an unjustifiable neglPct of the interests of the State if the manufacturing industries were allowed to rumain under thi,; disability while we. possess unlimited and eomparativel)llunexploitcd areas of brown coal whi<·h, if utilized, would easily meet all possible powet requit·emeHts.

It. would he equ:.tlly neglectful if no use were made of the water power resources of the State, a' these, nft..r "an·ltil in\'<"'tigation, :Ut> prove<! to be ~npa·ble of being utilized economically.

IY.--SCHBlES CONSWEHED.

The possible schemes eoming within the scope of our inq 1iries have been divided into two groups:-

l. Brown Coal. 2. Water Power.

Within these groups, and having b view the above-stat~d in1mediate requirements, we have considered-·

l. {a) :IIorwell Brown Coal-field. (b) Altoua Brown Coal-field.

2. I\ ie,nl Hi ver.

V.~I\TORWELL COAL-FIELD.

The criteria already set out on which to judge the various schemes may now be applied to the propo;;ed Mon:ell ;;cherne.

(a) Cerlai/l.ly and Continuity of Supply.-Intensive boring by the :\lines Depa<i:ment of ap area oL approximnt0ly, l square mile adjaeeut to the power-house site has proved the existence of, apprr:ximately, !20,0110,000 to 150,000,000 tons of coal which eau be won hy open-eut method of operation. These quantitiPs are ,;utficient to provide for the eontinuons operation of a power-IJouse with :m output of 100,000 kw. for a period of 150 years, while outside that area there is an <\stimMecl quant.ity of over 20,000,000,000 tons of coal.

Jlr. Lindes:1y Clark, in !1is report hereto attached, points out that the average thickne.ss of the coal seam i; 171 feet, with an average thickness of overburden of only 33 feet; that is to say, that each cubic yard uf overburden r:overs on the average rather more than 4 tons of coal. It is interesting to note .that iu the }'mtuna Brown Coal .'\'line, near Cologne, at which nearly 7,000 tons of eoi\l ar<" miser] daily, the overburden is about 60 feet in thickness, while the coal seam averages 180 feet.. The overburden and coal at this mine, as in several others· in Germany and Austria, arc both l'Pmoved by the application of mechanical appliances which have been evolved o>er a long period ef successful expNience. 'fhe process of winning open-cut coal at 1\Iorwell will involve no serious problem that has not been satisfactorily solved in similar schemes on the European ContiHPnt. and the great extent to which powerful machinery, such as steam shovels, can be utilized t.u light<>n the laborious nature of the operations usual in coal mining will he not the least int,Presting feature of the Morwell scheme. ln addition, the conditions of working from the employees' point of view will be all that can he desired, as the whole of the operatio11s will be on the sm'face, and eontmst greatly with the conditions applying to deep mine operations, such as those that would be necessary at Altona.

The necessity to tm11smit the electrical energy over a coruiderable distance at high voltage does not. in our opinion. constitute a fact.or atleeting appreciably the soundness of any proposal to estahli:;h a power-honse at l\Iorwell from the point of view of eontinuity of operation. In America a very hll'ge proportion of the po\Yer required to operate the public utilities in the main centres of population is eon rcyed thereto by means of long-distance transmission schemes, and !n Great Britain the proposals to establish super power-houses must llecessarily involve the mtroduetion of such "·hcmes in the near future. The practice of transmitting electrical energy at high voltage has been so perfected that there need be no apprehension as to the lllorwell scheme be:ng capable of ren<lering snt.i,ofaetory service from this point of view. For the first 50,000 kw. it is proposed to erect one line of towers with two circuits thereon, amf to duplicate this \\'hen the demands exceed this tigure. Wit,h both tower lines in operation there "·ill be a reserve to the extent of one ciTcuit of :!;),000 hi·.

(b) Capabilii!J of Eatl>j Opera.tion.-Snbject only to present disabilities in regard to the purchase of plant~whid.t disabilities apply equally to any scheme which may be put forward-­theTC is no apparent existing cause to prevent an early start being made with the opening of the mine, the construction of the power-house, the trapsmission line, and distribution syste:n to enable the necessary bulk supply being mi\de avaihible to }felbourne early in l!l:!3.

6

(c) Initial Capacity.-The Morwell scheme fulfils the requirements set out under this heading. The scheme is designed to supply in the first stage the total requirements of the metropolitan area in the year 1923, namely, 40,000 kw., and on the assumption that the 11elboume City Council and the Jlelboumc Electric Supply Company will take their present and future requirements from Buch sehel!le.

1'he price at which a supply can be made available is such that these undertakers should readily avail themselves of the cheaper supply, and gradually shut clown their own pllmts.

. (d) Capabiltiy of Ex].>ansion.·-'l'he ability to meet the grauual growth in the demand for electrical energy, aR well as any suuden call on its resources, is one of the outstanding favorable features in eonnexion with the li.Iorwell projec·t. The extent of coal deposits capable of being worked on the open-cut principle is such that by the pmvision of adequate machinery any increase in output above the proposeu initial capaeity eau be provided.

(e) Economic Sourul11ess ... -This aspect is fttlly dealt with in the particulars of the J\Iorwell scheme presented wit.h this report, and estimate> and particulars are given of capital expenditure and working costs.

The results of these estimates are indicated in Table I. of the Chief I£ngineer's Report on the :liorwell Scheme hereto attached. This tahle i.'l reproduced with additional information, and from it it will be seen t,hat to deliver to :\Ielboume a given quantity of 20,000 v. energy with <\load factor of 42 per cent. at one point, such as the H.idm10nd Tcrmiual Station, the total annual cost, • including all capital charges of operating a ~(·heme br'"ed on a power-houlie situated at :llorwell with electrical transmission, would he £222,045. .

To generate and deliver to a similarly situ,tted point in tl1e metropolitan are<t <tn equal quantity of energy at the same voltage and load factor, from power houses situated alternatively near 1Ielbourne, using imported black coal, and on the Altona field, would .:ost annually £280,035 and £243,627 respectively .. that is to say, the :llorwell scheme would re'lult in an annual saving of £57,990 and £21 ,58:l in comparison with t.he two alternative schemes mentioned above.

TABLE L·~·Co>IPAR1TIVE ToTAL A!lsi:AL CosTs, D!CLGDrr;n C'AP!TAI, ('lHRGEs, OF SUPPLYING

TO }fELllOURNE 4:J,960 1; \\', IX q'IJE }'Oml OF :J0,000 \'OLT E"FJJtiY FROM PoWER· HOUSE

SITUATED AT :\lOR\\JiLL, A:-r]) F'ROM OKE l'di:-lt.< hll'(JltTUJ !3LACK t'oAL SITUATED AT OR

NEAR i\fELJ;OU!\NE (LoAD FACTOR 42 n:n CENT.). ---·--~~---~----~ ·----·-"---·-.. -~~--~---~----·--

Energy clt>li\7 ered Yt<lbournry Energj gentruted at power· house .. ::\'laximmn demand on 1 Jowt:r-housf' Coal consumpt,ion pet unit ~o~,enl?'ratrd Coal ~onStt111ption !let' annum C'o:d ~·n:"t !h ~- ton clelJn•t·Nl r•io\rt:>I'· ltou-;e

Power· house-·-Vari•ble Charges-·

Cool 'V age~:~, coal and tt.':'h hanclllug staff Pil. ~nttrr, ami swn ~

StnnL1in'! C-lw.rges-·~ Wa;.w•:, nmintPtuwce. &c, ('a 1iit,ll dlttrge;;:.

Tran•;r..tiF;.;;,m Lme­Pat.rnlling. nHl.iHh:nanee, &c. Capital dt;ll !!('"

TrrminBl :O:.tttlun-\Va!{(~:-. mai ut .. :nauc;~, &c {\t~·!l ~. dtllt'gl\S

•rotal annual cost

Cost pel' unit (pf'n('€:')

11nit~

" k\r, l~;~.

tons

_\lm\\<.•!1. 4-lt.vva. I , l'·ing Bw\\:> IU.i) wi:h !'5ing l>rowL C0a! 11\th I lkttrk.t! t,r:Jt:ih1lMion. Lk,trk.•l tr;>nsmioslt.J;_

I. I

Hll, 700,000 lS:\~tiO,OOO

.:YU,OOV ~.~!

:n2,ni)) 'Ss. ::td.

£ £ 3: ... 3CV l,~JO

l,OW :r;, hJO

:W,:'JS.~,

1u1.e:~ J:)-·!!227

~ .OH• 1 !1 .• 3;y.\

~~ - 2'J,5tib

;i,:j;.;:; W,HlJ

:?(}~·00

IL)(Ji;

Hi I ,700 000 168,3C.O,OOO

4,iJ,7flV ;) . H l

2:-:Vi.3;)0 7K. I' I.

r liH,-!00

1,2!)0 1 ,(i(l! \

·~J.:Do ':1~.020

7Ct0 1,717

3,;'",,'\:-')

.-J ,TiiJ

i

tO:l,lloO I i

1:22,8:)0

?AG7

R,:160 o,:1oo

:\f'.'ibD;1l'>W. t:~iuJ£ Sc·II<:Jst!e Coal

{S<'·!Junw).

I G I, 700,000 1 Ui )02ti,OfJO

4G, lHO 1.59

l!S.BOO '25:".. :M.

l'<'r n.nnum.

t l' l5fl,000

1.200 1,000

21,wn U7..30U

l2C485

6,300

1

In the event of the load factor (ratio of average demand to max mum) increasing beyond 42 per cent., which, in the light of experience in other parts of the worlrl may be eXTJected, these .Iifferences of annual cost would he increased considerablv in favour of 2\Iorwe\!. For instance, with a load factor of 60 per eent., the Morwell scheme would show an annual saving of £·±9,9G:l over that of Altona.

In the reports of the Advisory Committee on Brown Coal, and of Mr. Liudesay Clark respectively, the cost of winning .eoal was estimated at 2s: 3d. per ton delivered at the power­house. Mr. Clark has been engaged to revise his report in the light of more recent informatioll, and in aecordam:e with pre~ent prices of plant and mtttel'ials. ln this latter repm-t. which is atbched bereto·-(Appendix .. B ")· ·he estimates that coal ean be raieed at )Jorweil !or :.b. 2\d. per ton, based on an ontput of 2,000 tons per eigbt-l~<.m day. the estimated capital expenditure being £221,000. 1'he cost. ui •·oal to !.he power-hmbe r,,r the purpose of this n·p(•ft has been assumed at 2s. 3d. per tou.

(/) 1-ndepeil-dence of 8oHtC"S Outside V icloria. -Th<' iudepemieuee of !.he ,.;ehenw on auy outside souree of fuel supply requires 110 comment. lu view of the quautitie~ of available fuel mentioned above, Victm~a is :hsured of a source' uf eHergy cap<lble of sati,.;fying r.Jl possible requirements of the State for many generatioHS to l'Utne· a storehouse of wealth and power which any State must deem it nut only a good fortune tu posHess but a duty to develup for the use of the eommu11ity.

VI.--ALTONA COAL-FIELD.

The proximity of the Altona Coal-field to Melbourne naturally brings it into prominence as a possible site for '' power-house. Situated about 11 miles from Melbourne, nnd adjacent to Port Phillip Bay, it offers one or two advantages not possessed in the same degree by· any site situated inland. The cost of transmission of energy is reduced to a minimum, and the Bay offers unlimited cooling water supply for conder1~ing purposes. In addition, its contiguity to Melbourne, with the essential low eosts for freight, would be importrmt in the event of brown coal in the future being utilized iu a process of distillation, with the recovery of by-products. These are important advantages for any proposed schemes to start off with, and, the.relore, Yery eurelnl consideration has to be gi,·en to the merits which this site possesses.

Of the several criteria applied to the consideration of the .Morwell field, several apply equally fa vorably to the Altona field. There are two, however, with regard to which the two fields differ eonsiderably, and these are:-

(<!) Certainty and continuity of supply. (e) Economic soundness.

(a) Oert"inty and Continuity oj Supply.~~The Altona seam is about 72 feet in thickness and lies at a depth of about 349 feet, Hen,'€, the method of winning the eoal will greatly differ

' from that proposed with the Morwell seam, which has an overburden of only about 3:1 feet on the average,.and can be worked on the open-cut principle.

Messrs. Klug and Broome, in their report on Altona, point out that "an artesian or sub· artesian water pressure obtains immediately nnde1· the coal bed, while the cover or roof O\'er the seam is a swelling sandy day. Sneh conditions as these clearly indicate that the proposition is beset with difficulties, and demands that a very safe method be adopte.d for mining the coal. The evidence we have eolle.cted reve,ds several instance.~ of 'heating,' indicating that the coal is liable to fire by spontaneous combustion. Pnder the conditions the only methods oi mining, in our opinion, that should be adopted are :-(a) that which depends upon bulk timbering and dose filling; and (b) that of sectionally 'caving.' It is essential to keep weight on the bottom section of the coal seam to counteract the water pressure, and as only limited spaces eau be opened owing to its friable nature, it will be necessary to mine sectionally._ . "

These observations indicate dearly that the diflieulties likely to be met in mining at Altona are considerable in comparison with th~ simple open-cut method possible at ~Iorwell, which is the method by which the Germans have so successfully developed their bro\IT!l coal-fields on such an enormous scale. Briefly, it, may be said that t.he tried methods of winning coal possible at Morwell will give a much greater ('ertainty and tontinuity of operation than the more complicated. and, so far as brown coal mines are concerned, comparatively novel methodH whieh are available for the winning of brown coal in a mine such as Altona.

In addition, the conditions of workin!f in a mine are not. t.Jwse which would giv<: the same labour efficiency and regularity of operation as could be expected amid the healthy m!Tonndinge of an open-cut scheme of opera t.ion.

(e) Economic Soundness.~ The data as to the estimatr.<1 cost oi winning coal on the Altona field was of such a conf1icting nature that it became essential for an authoritative opinion to be obtained on that all-important factor. Messrs. G. C. King (General .Manager of Messrs. Bewick,

~forcing, and Company) and G. H. Broomc (Generall\Ianager of the State Coall\Iine, Wonthaggi), were, therefore, engaged to report on this qttcst.ion in col!.tboration. Their report, copy of which is attached, shows that the cost of mining brown coal at Altmm tlelivet·ed into trucks at the present workings would be a,; follows :

On a basis of 1,000 tons per shift of 8 hours per day • On a basis of 2,000 tons per shift of 8 bouts per day On a basis of 2,000 tons per two shifts of 8 hours each per day

.Filling Sy!!tt\ID, Per ton.

s. d. 8 5 8 2 7 8

toAving Sy&Uw, Per ton.

s. d. 7 1 6 10 (i 4

It must be pointed out that t,lw mine property is in the hands of private owners, who recently pla!'f'tl it under oiYer t.o the Government for UOO,OOO. Consequently a charge to cover the interest and sinking fund on this amount must be provided, which, on the output required, will raise the cost threepenre (3<1.) per ton.

Hefer('nre to Table I of this Report. will show that for equal quantities of energy delivered t,o J\Ielhourne wit.h a load factor of 42 per ('ent., the annual cost of operating a scheme with a power-house on the Altonn fiel<l wonl<l he £:?1,51:l:? greater than that of a scheme with a power­house at Morwell.

The load fador of the demand for energy (i.e., the ratio of the average to the maximum demand) exerc·iHL'S a considerable inl1uence upon the relativP met.h"'ls of the tw'o schemes. In the <'Vent of this fnr·tor increasing, whi('h undoubtedly will he the <·ase, the ditTerence in favour of Morwell will correspondingly increas€'. For instance, with a load factor of 60 per cent. the difference b<•tlveen the estimated annual expenditures of the two schemes wotlld he increased to £49,962. To neutralize thi~ dilterenee, Altona coal costs would have to be red need by 2s. 5d. per ton, or Morwell coal eost.s irwreased by :Js: 3d. per ton.

The respective annual 'expcuditmes have been based upon coal costs €'stimated upon pre8ent rates of wages. As the rates inr·re,tse, a" must be expected, they will have a greater influence on the winning eost, at Altona than at Morwell, where labour-saving machinery can he operated to a much grouter extent.

VH.~-CHOICE OF BROWN COAL-J;'IELD TO BE DEVl~LOPED.

A careful studv of the two alternative brown coal schemes has led to the conclusion that as the nucleus of a State supply scheme the opening up of the Morwell field should he proceeded with at once, leaving the development of the Altona field until the time arrives when its economic value will jnst.ify its utilization.

VIII.--WATER POWER

In oonnexion with the utilization of water power the only known source of supply for production of electrical energy in bulk wltich shows a reasonable prospect of approaching the mit.ial requirements is the Kiewa River, situated, approximately, 133 miles from Melbourne in a direct line.

To augment the limited data avaibole, the Commissioners have had field parties engaged in the work.of stream gaUging and contour .•mrveying in connexion with the river. No evidence, however, has so far been pmdnced to justify the opinion that there is sufficient power available to supply even the initial requireh1ents of the metropolitan area, while the probability is that there is much less.

Our hydraulic engineer, liir. A. 0. l\I. nlichell, advises that present evidence points to there being at the outside not more than 33,000 kw. available nt Kiewa for continuous supply. This in itilelf is not sufficient to meet the requirements Het out under the heading of " Initial Capacity"·; in fact, is far from being suffieient.

Further, it offers no hope of extension to meet t.he large demands that will eontinue to develop in other parts of the State as t.he ;;eherue is extended, H' well a" demands that may reasonably he anticipated from th<e estahlishment of new industries requiring large blocks of cheap power as a basis of their operation. lle.nre, the Kiewa seheme, if proceeded with, would have to he sttpplemented immediately by another source of power.

In view of the comparatively high ('apital costs of hydro-eleetrie works, it is necessiry, in order tl:utt they may be economically sue,,·,;,.ful, that such works should he opemted almost continuously to their fnll capaeity. .Particularly is it so nece;;sar·,v where the source of energy is situated at so great a distam·e from 'the main centre of demand as Kiewa, 'l'he average demand

9

to-day in the metropolitan area is less th:m lta!f the maximum demand, and until this ratio improves, or the present tn-emge demand is gn·atly incrc.scd, ir is extremely donbtful whether the Kiewa echeme eonld he proceeded with as a sound commercial propositic>ll.

In view of the fact that

l. All the data reqniretl on which a definite proposal ~honk! be hased will take some considerable time to coil en.

2. The definite limitations of eapacity whielt onr hydmulic enginePr has advist•d is availahk; and

3. The fa et that. a water-power scheme situated a'! far afield as Kiewa must he provided with a load mnch more eont-inuons than •:an be otlemtl for come tinw:

we have come to tl1e conclusion that any idea of developing Kiewa "' a hydro,eleetrie source of power shoulcl be deferred for the present.

W c are, ho\vevcr, of the opinion that with the ~ultimtion of the use of electricit-y, and the eow;equent expan'<inn in (;()Jbumption, the utilization o£ water power willlwc·ome ?co!wrnieallv po'"iblc, and, indeed, un f'sc<cntial of any comprchcnsiw State supply.

Investigatimcs are ale<o being condlwted into the possibilities of nthN sources of water power, notttbly at tlw Rubieon Rivl'r. Furt,her, in <·on junction with the Stall' Hivers and Water Supply Connnission, the prubahiEt)' of utilizing the flow from the Sugarloaf B,J.-;in ut 1he Eildou Weir (now being eon·;truutpd for irrii!<Lt-ion pmposc:;J is !wing inquired into.

A report will h0 suhmittccl as to the possibilitic•:< of the i-:iewn l~inr sdcc·nte. wi~h eRiiinates of working eosts and t'apital expenditure, as snon a< pos,,j[,],. after tlw im·estig:tt•n·y •xork is completed.

The investigation of further p0s.sihle scHll't·eo: of m1trr polvt'r will he proc·epded with as opportunity permits.

IX.-!IWRWRLL ELECTRICAL BCHR1IE-ESTEVIA'I'ED CAPITAL EXPE!\DITURR, ANNUAL COS1'S. AND HEVI~.\It'l£. . .

CAPITAL 'll;xPENDITFRE.

The Chief Engineer in his report estimates the capital cost of establishing a power house on the 11-forwell field, of an initial capacity of 50,000 kw. with a transmissiun line to ~[clbonme il!ld a terminal stat-ion thereat, as follows : -

Power house and plant Transmission line Terminal station

To distrihute the bulk supply of enRrgy from the terminal station, ·to tmnsform it from 20,000 v. to 6,000 v. or 4.000 v. and mak~ it available to the ~b:tri~ supply nndmtakings iu the metropolit;an area at the several sub-statiom pmposetl to he established, would require an additional ex-penditnre as folluws :-

M.elbourne distribution cables ~Ielbonrne sub-stations and eqnipment

£2i2,55fi 2;}].0!)8

£1 '442 '!l27 323,102 226,755

£1 ,\IH2.7R4

523,608 The total capital expenditure, therefore, on the electrical sehenw is est-imated -----·-

~ ~,5W,3~

This does not indnde the cXp0llilitnre 1ceeessary to open np tlte mine, estinmtcd hy }lr. Lillllcsay Clark at £221,000, which hus beau tnkcn into an:ount in ttrriving at tlH• l''llimated cost, 2s. 3d. per ton, of winning the coal at :11orwell. ln!C'rest on capita.! clnring pe1 iod of eonstruction has not been allow<>d for in the above estimates,

1'o t,;ndcrs h:tve he011 ealled [or t.he plant in~lndecl in thf• rtbove 0stimntes, wi1ieh are based on the most reli11ule information available, and "ea· Engineer i< of the opinion th:tt they should eover the expenditure to he incurred.

10

A·NNUAL CosTS.

As shown in Table I., the annual eost, including capital charges, of supplying to Melbourne 43,960 kw. (load factor 4:l per cent.) in the form of :20,000 v. energy at the hmllinal station, Richmond, is estimated at . . £:l2:l,045

To this must he added the costs involved in distributing the 20,000 v. energv to the sub­stations in the metropolitan area, and making it :wailahlt• at a voltage of 6,000 or 4,000, estimated as follows >~··

Annual eost of delivering •B.9fi0 kw. to the terll\inal stettion, Ri<"hmond (load factor ·t.' per n•nt .. ) £:J:2:!.Q45

Add:tionllJ <·osr of di,;trihlttion to the- •mb-st11tions ill tlw mNrnp,,litRn arPa-~

\\forking (~Xp('llS('B (\Lpita! ..Jmr·gps 011 e<tbks and •;ul;-st:ltions ..

!:2,:!00 J!,l:\3:5

37.035 Total annual cost of <leliveriu!< r:.oon an.l .J.(IIIO v. energy to the --- ·-

nml<'rtak!'rs at. 1]Je suh·.>t.ations £259,080

The item " C'apital eharg<'s" in the above est.imnte ineh;cle., inlf'n•i<t. (•cticulatml at 'J! per cent. per annum and depreeiatinn •·akulatet! on the sinking funJ :,l·':·hocl at the above r.tte of interest, th~> <Lssmnedliv<'s of the a>Set;; being as follow,-; :

Power house, terminal and :;nb·station.s r JlritllSllliXsion line H.T. und•.;rground mc~.iw:

f'OSTS PF.R UNIT.

~:j years. 40 :years. :)0 vears.

The total annual eost, viz .. £259,080, is c·qual to an awrnge cost p<'r unit of 0·35!kl. (loacl factor, 42 per c·ent.), cqui,·alenl t.o un annnal eost of £5 :ls. 6J. per kw. of maximnm demand, plus 0 ·057d. p~r unit.

H to these figures is addet! ''margin or pw.fit of 10 JPl" cpnt. on working costs, the result will be the price at which it will be quite n'asonabk to charge the nndcrtakers in the metropolitan area for their supplies. Such a price would he 0 · 4:l4d. per unit (load fact,or, ·tl per cent.), or an annual charge of £5 l:1s. lOd. per kw. of maximum <lemand, plus 0 · 063d. per unit.

ANNT;.\L REVEI>iUE AND PROFIT.

Allowing for a margin of 10 per eent. over and above working costs, the annnal revenue from the sale of energy to the undertakers in the met.ropolitan area. based on a demand at the terminal station, Richmond, of ·i3,960 kw. is er;timated at £:!11±,988, which, alter providing for all working expenses, interest on capital and depreciation of ctBsets as detailed above, will provide a profit of £25,908 to the State.

X.-BFFECT OF THE 110RWE.LL SCHE1IE UPOJ\ PRES~;NT CO:-!TS ()}'GENERATING ELf:CTRlf"ITY.

It has been already shown that w·ith the :\'Torwell sehenw it. is possible to make available to the undertakers at the sub-stations in the metropolitan area a supply of G,OOO and. 4,000 v. energy at an averttge price of 0·4:l4d. per unit (load factor, 4~ per cent.). While this price, the lowest that can be obtained from any of the alternative ~ .. hemes under eousideration, would undoubtedly he aceeptahle to the undertal{em for all their future requirements, it dO('S not follow t!Jat it wonld be so for the present rcqnil"<'ments, nnle"'s it proved to be less than the present co,st of generating sueh requirements, due allowanec being made for the c-apital expended on the existing plants, which, for several year;,, will remain a fixed 0lmrgc on the undertakf\rs' cost of •mpply.

From the Chief Engineer's Report {Table V.) it will he seen that the present generating costs (exnluding capital charges on the power house plant) of the .Melbourne undertakings may Le taken to be 0 ·56ld. per unit sent out., while it is possible that by 19~:3 they may he higher owing to further inerease;; in the price of J:~~r·'>J h: ~-: Lt(!.

lt is obvious that on this basis alone it will pay the undertakers to take all their requirements, present and future, from the State scheme. There is, however, a Ltrther it<Jm of cost, which will be afiected, viz., the prt'sent cost of high tension distribution, a considerable portion of which will be eliminated by the propo:<ed State scheme distribution in the metropolitan area. It is estimated that on these two items of cost, the .\lclbonrne undertakings, by shutting down their own plants and taking in 192:3 all thPir reqnil"ements from the St:cttc scheme, would he able to reduce their present working expenses by £80.000 in the first· t1wiYP months, with COT'I't18pondingly gl'eat€r S<.lving,, thereafter :l,s t.hc;ir requirements incr~use,

11

XL-EFFECT OF THE MORWELL SCHEJ:IE UPOX THE PRESENT RETAIL BELLING PRIC'ES.

At this stage a question naturally arise~ as to what will be the effeet of th~ ::\Iorwell scheme upon the present retail prices. It goe~ without saying that if the Btatc pledges its eredit to the extent of several millions of money, in order to make av<1ilable to the existing undertakers a eheap snpply of energy with rc·Bultant financial atll'antu.grs, And! adv,mtaged must be passed on to the public in the shape of red need cltarge">.

The C'ommi;:sioners, howe1·cr, ha Ye not the power to enforce these SkH'ings being secured to the co11sumcr, but it is presumed thllt the Govcrmw•nt will t<J.ke sneh steps as will illsttrP tltr lwndit being equitably distributed. To rcmoYe nn,l' misconceptions Oll tho pent of th,, public, it shvuld be pointed out that the reduetions in the cost of supplYing energy will haw very little effect upon the charges at p·esent in force to the avemg0 consnnwr for lighting purposes. Of tlw tohll consumption of energy for all purposes in the metropolitan area lighting aecounts l'or not nwre than nbout ~:) per cent. Fmm a careful considr•ration of i be ceonomir·s of tlw .\lorwell scheme us set out in the foregoing sections of this Heport, it will lmn• lx·en seen thut tlw item of imporhm·p in the existitt<Y C"•St'~ t'nfl•tAJl('''il h"'~ +1v"' ""''O''t'''f'[1 "~1'!'+n c_•r,L:rr•~.c:. ~~ 1hf' rrr~lrr·ti••t.f t'Ost \'if. o·SGltl TWf • b '- w>, ''-' ·'-'"-· : -·-·- J:'' r ,;:-; __ ~ ' q,\' ,n"' •. d ..... -- ~- • ' '" 'c. . ' : .,, ! . '

unit, and that the s&ving thei'COll·i . .; about 0 · .127\L per unit for a load factor of 4~ per <·ent. This saving is hut a small frcwtion of the total wsts im:urred by the mHlertak<ers in supplying the aw·rage lighting conwmer, who is charged from 4d, to 5~<L per unit. There is, however, this to be said. that in the e1bsence of a scheme such as l\[onr,ell, and in the event of the untlert.nkers having to purchase additional genera!ing plant at present-day prices, it is certain that charges for all retail supplies in the near furure wunltl adYance considerably. The benefit of tlw proposed Stat!' scheme would mainly be felt by the illrge power consumer or faeton' owner, 1rho, 01..-ing to the quantity of energy cousumed, and the hours during which the snpph· is gmwrn lly tahu, obtains his supply at a much lower average cost tlum the lighting r·onstnner. The power consumer to-day is paying an avenige price between 0 · :<:.!:J and 1 ·;) ul a penny per unit, depending on tiH•loncl factor of his demand and the quantit.y of energy eonsnmed.

In :.h~ su lMI;ittttion of a State supply for that from existing power houses there is a ec>n£illemule finllll<'i::l l.nml<'ll lo lw bmne by the present U»derbkers in the shape of deHd capital c;1used by the scrapping of pLnts. This 11.ill gmtlually disap1war by the petiodicd writillg-down of the assets, and when it does, thn full effect of the cheaper St.nt2 scheme will be demonstmtet! by tlJC retail charges being substantially low,•r than would b~ possible if existing conditions were to continue indefinitely. The above can be illustrated by reference to the estimate at which energy from Jl.iorwell can be made available to the undertakers in Melbourne, viz., 0 '434d. per unit, which, as already pointed out, includes not only working expenses bl!t interest and depreci<ttion charges and a lO per rent. margin, The undertakers' pr<•sent cost of genemtion is 0, 5t1ld. per unit, and if capital charges on their power house J.'lants he added, the totlll cost of generating their supplies and conveying them to points in their areas similarly placed as the sub-stations at \\·hich the State supply may be made available, is probably not less than ld. per unit.

Hen1•e it mav be safclv S>1id th>1t in conrse of time the community will benefit Yery substantially by the.establishnient ot a sclwme whidt c>111 make >1vailable a ;uppiy to the uudei­takers at approximately half the pres~nt cost, with the likelihood of still lower co~t,; a8 the scheme dcYelops.

XIL-RELATIOK OF' PROPOSED SCHEME TO PRE~ENT METHOPOLl'l'AX rNDEH'l'AK!NGS.

It mu,t be boml' in mind that the Order:< in Council granted to the }f<•lhmrne Electric f:lupply Company, covering a considerable portion of the metropolitan arNL, ma~- come np for review in the year l\J2ii. This matter, and the relation of the other metropolitan undert<tking; to the State supply, has not been overlooked, and will form the subject of a furt.hN' report at a later dat<e.

XIII. POSSIBLE SELLING PRICBS TO SPECIAL lXDUS'l'HIES.

ln the event of a cheap supply of energy being made available. ther<: is reason to eJcyect the establishment in Vietoria of industries requiring Yery large quantities of energy for almost continuous use, that is to say, with a load factor from 80 to 100 per cent. Such industries would iaclude the manufacture of alkalies, reduction of :..iuc concentrates, steel furnaces, prodttction of nitrates, calcium carbide, white lead, &c., &e,

Assuming that such industries can he attracted to Victoria and Sfttle out,.ide the metro­politan area (as the Commissioners have not 8tutntory authority to supply 11it.hin that ar<'a vonsumers other than electric supply umlertakings anti public bodies), it will be inter(\stiug to

•

•

12

indicate hereunder the approximate cost at wldeh n supply of 20,000 volt-. energy to snch inrlustries could be made available, at sn"h a point as the Terminal 1-ltation, Hiehmond, and nt the :ITorwell power house respectivdy >---·

Terminal 1-ltation, Richmond , .

Power House, Morwdl

·188 pence per equiva1ent to power year.

·138 pence per eqnivalent to power year.

unit ( 100 per cent. loarl factor), £4 2s. l Od. per electrical horse

unit (lOO per cent. load factor), £2 17s. Gd. per electrical horse

The consumers in sueh cases would require to provide the necessary cable to com•ey the energy from the Counnissionern' terminals or busbars to t.heir establishment.'!, am] t.lw cost of this would naturally depend upon the distance the energy has to he so conveyed.

XIV.~-CO-CHHHNATTON OF OPEHA TION OF EXISTING AND PROPOSED POWRH HOUSJ<JS .

Section 11 of the Eleetricits Commissioners' Aet provides that one of the powers and duties of the Electricity ('ommissioncrs is to "inquire into and report as soon as practicable, and from time to time. as to tl1e steps \vhich in their opinion should be taken to secure the ultinwte eo-ordination or uniiieation o[ all State or other t"leetrieal umlertakings in Victoria.''

It is essential that in the design and operation of any power houses to be erected in the future, particularly if owned by t-he State, due eonsideration should be gi\'Cn t.o the economic~ that will be elft•eted by the electrit'al inter-conncxion or linking up of such power hom1es with that at Kewport. Knt·h linking np would reduce to a minimum the amount of spare plant requireil to be held in readiness for enwrv,eneics. ami decrea.se the risk of eess>ttion of supply through failure of running plant.

FurthPr, it woL!ld bring alJout a co-ordination of functions which would enable the combined plants to be operated at a maximum efli•·ielwy. As an initiatory step it wonl<l he neces,mry to bring Xewport aur1 dw Morwell power honse;1 under the control of a single authority .

• XV.--BHOWN COAL DISTILLATION PHOCESSES.

The possibility of an eeouomic·al ut-ilization of brown coal in a distillation, or earbonization process, the use of the surplus gas in boiler fumaces and the mnrketing of the bye-products, has not been lost sight of.

At the present time there arc several experimental plants in operation in various parts of the world, and ~- great de&! of valuable research work has been done in this direction by o!!kials of the .:\lines Department of our own State. There is no C\'ideure, however, of any of the methods or processes experimented with having been prov0<l a suocrss with ],rowu coal on a commercial scale. ·

We are, therefore, of the opinion that. although a proces<' of coal distillation cannot be recommended at present as a means of utilizing brown rml as a source of power, it is essential that research work should be carried cnt ou a. sufficient scale to pmve the practicability or otherwise of any such proeess. ,

In the me,mtime developments in this direction in other parts of the world are being elosely followed.

XVI.-BROWN COAL FOR G:B}f>"l'~RAL CONSlJMPTION THROUGHOUT YICTOHIA. While not specilkally called for in the instructions contained in seetion 10 of the Ar't, we

feel that a brief reference should be made in regard to the use of imported fuel for purposes other than the public utilities of tbe State. .

The present annual importation into Victoria of black coal may be stated to be in round figmes 1,200,000 tons. Of tlii.s quantity ahont 912,000 tons are required at 'the pre,qent time for the most important public utilities, inclwlir1g gas undertakings, le~ving a balance of 288,000 tons which is utilir.ed for g.-neral purposes, both industrial and domestie.

Prom tests of C\lorwell bmwn C(ml un1er ac-tual working eonditions in Melhournc, it h'"' been prond beyond doubt that. this fuel •·an be economically bumed under boilers, equipped WJth a guitably designed furnace, without ~ redm·tion of boiler capacity. Jn {Get it has heeu repeate~ly demonstrated that providing the [uruute i~ equipped with ::rmple grate area it is possible to obtam a capacity exePeding thP normal mting of the boil~r. This has been accomplished with

•

13 . a brovm coal consumption in the ratio of less than two and a half to one of Newcastle coal for equal quantities of heat transferred to the steam in the boiler. On this basis the present, cost of the two fuels for a given quantity of heat may be stated thus-

ror tvJal n"ntin;; Y_,!u;-.

CGtt f!U \•Ja --- ---- --- ---(\hL R~<tl1)

£ 8. d. .£ s. d. Neweastle coal, ex ,\{elbourne wharf (large) ~1orwell brown coal, ex Melbourne siding, based on

" 3d ' ' ~s. . per ton at nnne , . . . . .

1 12 9 I 12 9 1

0 7 8 0 18 5 ·56

It is evident that with the opening up of the !lclorwell iield on the lines propmffid, so that, coal may be won at 2s. 3d. per ton at the mine, :tnd with Newcastle <:oal at present price, there is every reason to expect a considerable market fm the use of brown coal Jor general purposes. The displacement. of the 288,00\l tons of imported coal referred to above would result in ::>demand of, approximately, 700,000 tons o[ brown coa.l. ln view of the cvcr-grmving iieardty and cost of \\-ood fneL the clemund !or brown eoal IYOtild, doubtless, rapidly iucreasr, as the public became educated to the advantages resulting from t,IJC use of the cheaper fuel.

.\mong the adnmtages t!mt wonld aeeruc to the 1:-)tltte s'wulrl the .\line lw opcnc<l up for Lite "apply of coal, mnst be induded the additionftl revenue to be derived from iucreasml freight and passenger traffic from the }line to }Ielboume. The mihmy reecipts for carriage of coal, with an output of 500,000 tons, would amount in itself to over .£135,()()() per annum.

XVll. -BJ:UQU.E'fTING.

Although it. has been pointed <Hit that. there is a com;iderahlc market in the State for br·own coal in its raw state for genentl purposes, it has not been overlooked that pos,;ibly tbs market, or a considerable portion of it, might he more satiofacturily catered for by a Sltpply of brown coal bri<JUdtes.

In Germany '' IMge percentage of the brown coal mined is br·iquetted without 1 he use oi any hinlling material. The syJHliuctc l'ontrolling the Rhinelaud Brown Conl-ilclds turns ont 20,000 tons of brown coal briquettes per day. Before t,!Je war tire <·ost> of producing the3e amount<ld to 3s. per ton, and at the preAent time the cost varies from 4s. iid. to 3s. fi<L per ton on trucb at the works.

The lWJi;,ture content of a hriquettc would he. upproximately, 10 to 1:) per eeut., and t.he c·alorilic value, approximately. !l.OOO ·to lll,OOO B.T.l"'· per lb. The calorific n1luc of Newcaotle eoal is. approximately, 1:3,000 B.T.G's. per lb. 'rhe di!licnlty oi eRtablishing a comparison with the German costs is VC!')' great, particularly at this juueture, with the abnormal rates of exchange, &c., hut even should tltc <·.ost o£ briquettes mannfal'tured at ~lonvell he as high as 20s. per ton (and this is an ontsi<le Jignrc) deli\'CTcd at .lleJl,onmc siclings, there would he a big iield Ior their sale for all heat pro.Jdncing purposes both industrial am! domestic, The possibility of exportation of briquettes to ;;tates like i:lonth Australia dependent Dt present on imported supplies of coal should not be overlooked,

A <mm of £;JO,UUO hfls, therefore, been placed on uhc estimates herewith su bmittcd -!or the provi,;irm for experimental pnrposcR of a lirst rmit of complete briquett.ing plant, having a C''apaeity of 70 tons per day, this being the C'apaeity of one press of tl1c Zeitzcr type. Should the operation of this unit prove succcssfttl it. would he necessary to install at Jea:,t four more units of the same capacity to provide fo• t,llC householtl consumption of the metropolitan area alone, t,he probability being that the demand would proYc very considerably greater than e\'cn the five units could cope with.

XVllJ. -·EI:lTABLISfBlENT OF TOWNSHlP AT l\IURWELL.

In ronnexion with the proposell )iorwell scheme, a matter which will rail for attention at: an early stage i:s the necessity of providing suitable accommodation for the honsing of the employees.

The mine and power-house will he situated at too great a distance from the existing town­ships of Morwell and -11De to allow of the employees residing at, smoh place>. An excellent, opportunity is, therefore, provided for planning a township on fnodern lines, insuring the employees comfortable and hygienic aecommodation at a reasonable cost to them. Time has not permitted for details oi such a proposal t.o he preparerl, but from preliminary inquiries it would appear advisable to provide a wm of £.150,000 for such purpose. It will be net'eosary, in t.he event of t,he .M.orwell scheme being proceeded with, to obtain an expert report ou such a proposal.

14 . XIX.-ClJSTOMS DUTIES OI-l DIPORTATION OF "MACHINERY.

In the preparation of a ocheme such as the one presented herewith, we have had our attention drawn to the considerable effect that Customs duties will have upon the capital to be expended. On tlw electrical portion of the scheme these duties will probably amount t,o £180,000.

[t may be ~tssumed that ciutiec; are imposed upon the importation of machinery primarily to encourage loeal manufact-ure. While, therefore, it is necessary to assist in every reasonable manner the den 1opment of local manufacturing, it must not be overlooked that the imposition of substap.tial duties upon certain classes of heavy machinery required for the generation and wpply of cheap electrical energy, and which cannot be manufactured in the Commonwealth under existing conditions, will react ;eriously on the industrial cievelopment of the State .

. Existing imlustries, and those to be established, will depend for their existence npon a cheap supply of energy being made available. Heavy duties payable upon tl1e importation of generating plant. for proposed new power-houses will correspondingly increase t.he cost of energy, alld, conseqllently, hamper the development m establishment of industries, the encouragement of which wa.-;, doubtless, the Yery object the framers of the Cust{)lns 'l'ariJI had in view.

Reference may he made partieularly to one item, viz., ·' Electric generator" for <lircct coupling to steam turbines," five of which, each of about 30,000 h.p., may be ultimatoly required for the Morwell seheme. The duty imposahle on the first instalment of this section of the plant will amount to about £45,000, being at the rate of 25 per cent. for plant of British make and 30 per eent. for a.ll other make,-;. The steam turbines, however, to. which they are direct coupled, forming self-contained units of plant, arc on the free list so far as those of British make are concerned, while those of foreign make are tlutiablc to the extent of 5 per cent.

It is evident that the Commonwealth authorities are of the opinion that the steam turbines cannot be made in this country, while the dcctric gcneraton; for coupling to such turbines, which present jw;t a~ diflicult a manufacturing problem as the turbines, arc evidently considered plant, tile local numufaetnrc of which is practicable. This \'icw is quite erroneous, as there is not the. clightc;;t hope 1 hat generators of the capacity required for a power-house such a.s ;\'lomcll will be manufactured in this country for many year:o to come. The Inter-State Commission, in their report No. 336, 1'f! "Tariff Investigation,"' ciated 28th September, lQlG, recomnwnded that generators of a capacity of 500 h.p. or over, for direct coupling to steam tmbincs, sl10uld be admitted free of duty, if imported from Great Britain, and liable to 10 per cent. if from foreign countr1es.

We aTe of the opinion that representation should be made to the Commonwealth authorities with the objed of cn(leavonring to have at least the recommendations of the lrrter-Statc Commis­sion above rekrrc<l to adopted, although generally it may he said that the imposition of duties on turbine generator:;, boilers, and traw;formers and switch-gear of the eapacities aml voltagcq Tequired in a seheme like that proposed for .i\!Iorwell is nothing less than a direct and unfair burden on the industrial section of the community.

XX.-ST:.:I>IMARY OF MAIN CONCLUSIONS.

After a careful survey of all the requirements in regard to an ample snpply of electrieal energy and fuel (or use throughout the State, anti the dat:;; a n.ilable as to the possible sources of such supplies, the Commissioners, for the reasons set out in this Report, ha ''e arrived at the following conclusions :~·

1. That the neces&lry steps should be taken to inaugurate a State scheme for the supply of electrical energy.

2. That with this object in view, and as the nucleus of such scheme, the ,Y[orwell brown coal-field should be opened up and a power house established thercon of an initial capacity of 50,000 kw., with the necessary transmission line, cables, and sub-stations, all as described in the Report, at an estimated cost of £2,737,392.

3. That the scheme he proceede.d with immediately in view of the very serio!'-8 position in which the electric supply undertakings in the metropolitan area and their eonsumers will be placed if such 8tatc &:beme is not in operation early in 1923. ·

4. That the consideration of hydro-electric power schemes be deferred until further investi­gations now being carried out are completed.

'

15

'1. That with a view to maximum econom;~ the proposed l\!orwell <>nd any other power house that may be ereekd in conncxion with the prqpoKed State eleetric supply scheme should be electrically linked up with the Newport power house and botlt operated under the control of a single authority.

6. That research work with brown coal should be continued otl a sufficiently large scale to determine the commerrial possibilities of its nWi2ation in conncxion with disWlation or cnrboni­zation processes, gas product<ion, by-pr·odnet recovery, and as pulverised fuel.

7. Wit.h t.he object of providing brown coal as fncl at the cheapest price for ittdustrial and domest.ic purposes, t.he nece8sary authorit.y should be obtained to proceed at once \Yith the opening up of the :llorwell brown coal-field. This deYelopment, on the lines propm;crL will involve the closing down of t.he present workings and a reduct.ion in cost of winning· coal to about one-third of the present cost. The rapit.al reqnired for this purpose is estimated ·at £221,000, which is inclurled in the sum mentioned in Conclnei<.•n ~o. 2.

8. That in addit.ion the sum of t:JO,OO\J !le provided for tlte insbllation for trittl purposes of the first unit of Llw .neccss;<ry crnshlng, drying and briqe.tting machinery to be installed at Morwell for the purpooe of ruanu[adming hriqeLtes from brown coal for ittrlusLI'itll <>U<I domestic purposes.

!}, That in ll.ddition, authority slwulrl be obt11ined to procec•l with th.c uonstrnction of suitable housing accommodation for the workmen to be employed in connexion with the scheme. Time has not permitted of a det>tiletl estimate being prepared of t.he co:;t of such accommodation, but; from preliminary inquirie..s it would appear adviBahlc to provide the sum of £150,000 for the

. purpoae. 10. That reprcsentat.ions should be made to the Commonwealth authorities with the

object of effecting a redurtion of t.he Customs duties payable on many items of plant required for the )forwell scheme, whid! cannot be made in Australia, unci particularly in reference to generat.ors for direct coupling to steam turbines.

&Dl\L\lARY OF l~OAK :\ID:-fEYS REQUIRED.

Opening up of ~lor\\·eil Brown Coal-field Electrical System Towns hip at 11orwell Briquetting Plant

Total

V{ e ha. ve tlte honor to be,

Sir,

£ ~ :3:31,000 2,:Jl6,382

150,000 30,000

£2,!J17 ,382

Your obedient servants,

R. LIDDELOW, Secretary~

Date--26th November, 1919,

'l'HO::IIAS R. LYLE, Chairman. GEO. SWINBURNE, Commissioner . .ROBT. GIBSON, Commissioner.

16

APPENDIX A.

REPORT OF THE CHIEI<' ENGlKElW ON 'l'Hg PROPOSAL TO ES'fABLlSII AJ.~

l<~LECTRIC Sl:PPLY SCHE.ME IN CONNEXION WITH 'l'HE 1\IORWELL BHOWN COAL FIELD.

Electricity Commissioners' Office, 673 Bourke-street,

Melbourne, 3rd November, 1919.

ELECTJUCAL ENERGY REQUIRE:'\TENTS lN.TliE ME'l'ROPOLITAN AREA.·

'l'hc Advisory Committee on Brown Coal, nppoinicd in June of 1917 to advise the GoYernmcnt rega.rding the prospectiYc use of brown coal for power and other purposes, in their Report, dated :.l5th September, 1017, assumed as a basi" of their calculations that a demand of about 50,000 kw. would be required in the metropolitan area for light, power, and tramway requirements in the year 1021. Conditions arising out of the war have adversely affected the growth of the demand in this >~rea, and a reconsideration of this mutter has indicated that this demand is not likely to Le re'Lchcd until the year 1923, the earliest elate by whiGh any new scheme could be brought into operation.

Each of the two principal undertakers, namely, The Melbourne City Council and The Melbourne }]leetric Supply Comp~ny haYe recently entered into a five years' agreement with the R<1ilway Department for a supply of 5,000 kw. from the Newport power-house. This will affect. the demand to be met Ly the proposecl new power-house scheme to the extent of 10,000 kw., reducing it to 40,000 kw.

By the yerJT 1925 the New1>ort ·power-house plant mil"y be fully roquired for railway purposes, and therefore it nwy become neccsi'ary to transfer this dcmuud of 10,000 kw. to the proposed new scheme, whieh demand, w-ith the gro\Yth expected in the Melbourne area between 1923 and 1923, will make the total demand in the latter ycrLr about 61,300 kw. These figures do not include any special demands t,hat may ftri,e from the c"tahlishment of new industries clue to the exi~tenee of an an1ple supply of ci""'P energy_ ::Inch a development, to judge by the experience of ;<imilar sehcmes in other parts of the world, is most likely to t:1ke place.

A new power scheme such os is now under consideration, unless it Le e>tpablc of supplying energy ill bulk to the existing :I<Iclbourne undertrLkcrs at a cost less t.han their generating costs, willll(?t iJe in a position to have transferred to it the task of generating and supplying the energy which such undertakers may be genera.ting whcu the new scheme is !Jronght into opemtion.

In such a case the demand available for the new scheme would be eonfined to the increase in business over and above the generating capacities of the two Melbourne und('rtakcrs. As, however, there is no doubt whatever that the proposed power scheme will be in a position to supply to the existing undertakers energy in bulk at a price considerahly less than that at which it is being generated to-day, it may be. taken for granted that they will readily n.crcpt the opportunity to purchase the wholre of the requirements at present being generated by them, and Ly so doing gradually shut down their own plants.

CAPACITY OF POWER-HOUSE.

The proposed power-house, therefore, has been designed in the first stage to generate a supply of about 50,000 kw., with provision for extension ultimately to 100,000 kw., although it is possible, in view of the comparatively unlimited supplies of brmvn coal, to increase the plant capacity at J\Iorwell beyond this figure should it become advisable at a later date. It is a matter, however, that ca.n he left for future consideration in conjunction with the quest.ion of developing water power or brown coal fields other than Jiiorwell.

CHOICE 01<' SITE.

Assuming ample supplies of fuel, the ~hoice of a site for a steam power-house for supplying Blectrical power to Melbourne depends primarily on the cost of delivering to }ielbonrne a given quantity of electrical energy. This cost in itself depends on the price at which fuel can he made available at the power.house for a given quantity of heat energy and the cost of transmission of

17

the electrical equivalent of sudt energy to l\feli"'"n;e. ln a less degree the ehoice is affected hy the relative capital, costs of tLe pmn'r·honscs on tl:e scwmi altenmtive sites that may be under eonsideration, and the availabiliry uf euoliJ:g Ymter, ,,mple supplies u{ whidt are necessary in a modern power-house of large cnp;:eity. From " perusal of the Report of the Advisory Committee, it is evident Uwt the possible cites kr a power-houoe that daim serious consideration are limited to rmrc "" I he ~fonYell field "nd one at or near J\lclbuume. !1: the former case the fuel to be nsed wou!d ]Jc brmYI\ coni, and in \he Jatter brown c<:al from the Altona field, or black coal from Wonthaggi or Xew,.astlc.

In the AdYisory CoHlll!Jtltcp'r; llP;>orl it was Clf'>ll:.' s\,own that '""uming 2s. :ld. and Gs. :Id. per ion to be tl1e respective co~;ts of wiuning l·oal on t]J() i\lorwc!l and Altona lidds, a power-house on the former would snpply t:> .\!dbonrne cheaper electrical po"·er than one situated on tbe Altona field. Recent detailed im·est.igation,, respcerively by .\lr. Liudcsay CJark and }\cssrs. Hroome and King, l1ave resulted in codirming ihe above estinwtes o[ cost of winning coal.

Hence the Altona coal-field way be left out of any further consideration "t present as a site for a steam power-house for t.he Bupply of eleetriml energy to ?tlelbournc.

As regards the Rtute eoal mine at Wonthuggi, it is hurdly neces8ury to point. out that, apart from the 11rice of surh fuel being too Ligh for any !'ossihle consideration in a problem of this kind, the supply is evidently of too irregular aurl linnted a nature to justify its consideration for use in a power-house eitll('r on the'~' onthH.ggi field or una site near :\lelhourue.

There remains, therefore, to he considered the rival elaims of 11 site at Morwell and one at or near Melbourne using Newcastle coaL A perusal of Table L, hereto attached, will show that the latter al!crnative is in no better jJosition for the supply of cheap power than when the Advisory Committee on Brown Coal made its recom!llendation in favour of developing Nlorwell as a site for a power-house., for whereas the estimated cost. of winning :Uorwe!l coal is still 2s. 3d. per ton, the cost of Newcastle sluek coal delivered 1 o a power-house situated as Newport power­house has risen from 2ls. 5d., which was the J?rice ruling at the time the Advisory CommitteB made its Report, to 25s. 3d. per ton. ]'rom mquiries made it. seems extremely unlikely that t.he cost of such coal will be reduced iu the near future. On the contrarv, there is evideuce to show that there will be a further rise before long. •

TABLE I.- -CoMPARATIVE T<lL\J, ANN teAL n"Ts. INCLL'DIKt: c,lfiTAL CHARGES, or SU'PLYING

TO ):fELBOl:RNE 43,960 KW., 11'> TilE FOil!! OF :!fl,000 YOl!l' ENEIWY, FROM A POWJO!l-HOUSE

iJITUATED AT l\'laP.WEJ.l., AND .b'lW'l ONE L:H.NG ])lFORTED BLACK COAL oiTL'I.TlW AT OR NEAt< !\1ELBOURNE (LOAD :FACTOR ,g I'l1JR CENT.).

Energy deliver"d Melbourne Energy generated at power-hoUI:it! .. !tla.ximum demund on po\Xvr-lwu:oc Coal consumption per unit generated Coal consum·pti-on per annum Coal cost per ton delivered power-house

Power-houst··-Yariahl~ Ch!'!rgt:~t

l'oal 'Wages o[ eoa.l and ash handling sta.l-1 Oil, water, and stues

Standing c;1a:rgrc;~ Wage:;, :r.:mlntenawP, &c. Capital chargee;

Tran."mis:oionl.ine----­l)attolling, maintenanc£'. &r _ Capital charges

Terminal Siution~-"\Vages, maintenl~nec, &1:. Capital charges

Adruini~tration

Tc.tal annual u:Jst

Cost r~er tmit~ {pence)

un.Hs

" lnv. lbs.

tons

J;(lfWdl, 1' sinji; llrGwn I '(la! vo itll, Ettctrira.l t.:IW~ml>'~ion.

161,700,000 183,960,000

5i.\UOU 3·81

:m,~oo

2s. 3tL

f 3.'),200

1,250 1,000

' :u"lJ"nltJ• . 11,..lhi< ~.•wcao~Oe ~;wll

{~c:t·horrw).

lfil, 7CXJ,OOO I 67,3)?6,000

J5.490 i·Mt

1!8,800 25s. 3d.

'----·-

150,00(J 1 ,2rJO 1,000

:17.4.}0 i -~ .. I •

. ! :tG ))t'fl

l07,M2 ~---m~-~-~ t:.H/2::!7

1.0!0 l~J,5fx>

3.5~5 1 t1,£ll5

:.lLJ.~J

\l7 ,000

6,300

I 222,045 2SO,fl35 .. !---.. ---:-~---~-·--

----·-·-·~--~--~·-.-·~·-·-" ··-·-------·-sr-r£.-In this lal!!e the co~t.~ oi 20,000 \·o1t dldrlbubo11 within C'lc metropolitan area a.::e Mt Included.

17766.-2

18

The co;npctrative eosts of snpplying energy to :\Ielhourne from power-houses situated respectively at Morwell and nt or near :\lelbourne are set out in Table I., and it can be safely said that the undoubtedly faYorable position in which 1\lorwell was placed in the Advisory Committee's Report is fully confirmed t,o-day as a result of a further careful inYestigation of the f11el situation and of the relative eosts, both capital and annual, of power-houses on the two alternative sites under consideration.

The Advisory Committee also gave consideration to t,he question as to whet-her it would be cheaper to con'>trnd a power-house a.t or near :\lelbourne and transport the brown coal from l\Iorwell or Altoua to it for the production of energy required for the l\Ielbourne area. The recomrnen- · dations of such Committee, to the ~ffect thnt it 1vonld he decidedly more economiral under pr<:.sent condit.ions to transmit the energy eleetri<:ally from Jlorwell than to transport the fuel to a powPr-htmse situated near :llelbourne, holds good to-day notwithstanding an increase in the capital co~t of the transmission line to ~lelbonrne since the date of the Advisory Committee's Report.

1\lORWELL INYESTJGATIONS. In anticipation that it would again be demonstrated that the l\Iorwell field provided the

most economical site for a power-house for the purpose mentioned, inYestigations have been made with a view to choosing a spot suitable for the erection of a power-house and to determining the quantity of cooliug water that would be available from the RiYer hatrt1be for condensing purposes. A piece of elevated ground south of the Rh-er L<trohe and west of th•: present open-cut, as described in the AdYisory Committee's Report, seems to offer the best position for the erection of a power­house.

The Minc.s Department are a.t present engaged in intensive boring of this ground to enable the locc.tion of the power-house "ite in relation to the mine to be definitely settled. There is every reason to expect that the site tentatively chosen 'k-ill p.t·o,·e satisfactory from all points of 1·iew. It is contiguous to the proposed scene of mining operat.ions, and which will enable t-ransportation of fuel to be ca.rried out at. a minimum cost.

The State Rivers and Water Supply Commisoion have been for some time engaged on an in1·estigation, with the object of ehoosing a suitable iiite for a weir across the River Latrobe, so aR to proYide storage of water to enable the nmximum me of the rin'r flow to be made for condensing purposes. 'l'h!l Commission has chosen a ;:ite for the erection of the weir and is submitting recom-mendations in regard to the> design of such. ,

Fortunately, records have been kept by this Commission over a period of about twenty years of the flow of the River L~trobe at Rosedale, some miles below Morwell, imd special observations made recently by the Commission have established the fact that the flow of water past '\forwellmay be taken in normal times to be 80 per cent. of th>1t at Rosedale. It. is the opinion of the stream-gauging expert of the Commission that in times of drought, when the flow of the' river iR at a minimum, the flow at Rosedalc would be practit>ally idt:"ntical with that at l\Iorwell, as the Ya.riom; ;;treams feeding the Latrohe b.:'tween J\forwell and Rosedale cease altogether to flow during such times. On the basis of 80 per cent. of the minimum flow recorded at Rosedale during the last twenty years, it is estimated that the river would be capable of supplyipg sufficient condensing water to enable the power-house at Morwell to generate about 40,000 kw. without recourse to any special cooling arrangement.,. The erection of the weir, however, and the

• eonsequent storage of water will enable the power-house to meet a demand at times of minimum flow up to about 90,000 kw. (42% load factor). Hence, it a.ppears that to the ext,ent of this larger demand there will be no need to install special appliances for the cooling of the circulating water.

CAPITAL COST AND CAPACITY OF POWER-HOUSE. The Advisory Committee in their Report in 1917 estimated that the cost of a power-house

at i\Iorwell, with a.n installed plant capacity of 75,000 kw., "·ould cost £1,262,500, or £16 · 83 per kilowatt, of installed capacity.

Owing to prices having riRen80 per cent. to 100 per cent. for machinery since pre-war days, " complete po,-er-house containing 75,000 k\Y. of t,nrbo-geuerating plant-, with boilers, buildings, and other details, would cost to-day £1,442,927, as follows:-~

TABLE H.-EsTIMATED CAPITAL CosT oF PowER-HOUSE AT MoRWELL.

1. Preparation of site, foundation, buildings, channels, &c. 2. Turbo-generating plant and auxiliaries . . . . . . 3. Boiler-house plant, including coal and ash handling, storage, &c. 4. Rwitchgear, tmnsformera, &c.

Total

£296,008 581,538 394,244 171,137

. . .£1,442,927

19

The above expenditure would provide for the snpply and im<tallation of the undermentioned plant, necessary to complete a power-house for the econotnical milization of brown coal for an output of 50,000 kw. at the power-house, with provioion for exten~ion when necessary to 100,000 kw.--

Three 25,000 kw. tnrbo-genemtun', eomplete, with ,;urfaee condensing plant and pumps.

Eight boilers, each of 14,010 oquare feet heating .-;urfaee, geueratillg steam at 27:3 lbs. per square inch at a temperature of 650° F., complete, w.ith travelling grates and balaneed dmft er1uipment and star·b.

Coal and ash handling al!(l cnal :;torage platlf, with bunkers, r·omcyors,and ele1·ators, emshers, weighing machines, &e.

Four feed pumps of eentrifugal type, tmbine dri1en, each of :.15,000 galloHs per hour eapaeit.y.

Two starting-up turbines <tnd geHerator&, each 500 kw., to opct'<lte HOlH'onrlensing. The necessary steam, feed and other piping, el-apomtors, hohwlb, and other auxiliary

appamtu~. tlwitchgear for three generators und aux1liaries, two ol!!going 25,000 kw. circmts

operating <lt l:lO,OOO ml!s., with stepping-up tmncformers and control pant'ls, wiring, instnuuents. &e.

Buildings to house the above plant ; also for offices, storeli, &c. Fitting shop with machine took Railway siding and roads. iVater channels and rotary screent~.

SUITABILiTY OF LARUE UNITS. In the Addsory Counnittee's Report prodsiou was made for the installing of five 15,000 kw.

turbo-generators as the first instalment of plant. t'inee the date of their Report considerable progress has been maEle in the design ami manufacture of larger units, even up to 45,000 kw., and in view of the appreciably le:;s capital cost pH kilowatt of capacity of such units, and the comparatiYe simplicit;- of layout obt.ainablc with tlw smaller number rerjuired nf sueh uuits, it has been deemed rlesimhle, for the pmpo;,e:; of t.lJis estim,.cte, to prefer nnitH of 25,000 lnv. capacity. Further, by the adoption of the la.rgcr uuit the steam ceonomy of the power-hon,;e will Le appreciably improved and opcrat.ing expem<es will benefit.

WEIGHTS.

Facilities in the Port o{ ~lelbonrne for disrlmrging hca 17 machinery arc lilllited to weights not exceeding 35 tons. From inquiries made it appearH that a line of steamers trading betwee.n Great Britain and this country have their ship,; equipped with derrick;; capable of discharging single pieces weighing up to 50 tons.

The stator of a 25,000 kw, generator, when completed, weighs eonsidcmbly more than this, but it can be shipped in parts and assembled on the site. 'fhe heM·iest. single piece of such a generator would not exceed 46 tons. 't'he faet that the Port of .Mclbonrue is uot equipped witlt lifting apparatus suitably situated and capable of discharging along.,ide a railway single pieces of greater weight than :35 tons is a matter that should be given careful consideration to by the authorities, in view of the likelihood of machinery of still greater weight being imported into this country in the near fnt·ure.

STORAGE OF COAL. Notwithstanding that it. is proposed to erect the po,ver-house alongside the coal mine,

it will be advisable to provide for the storage of a certu,in amount of fuel which can be conveyed readily into the boiler-hom;e in case supplies from the mine are interfered with. In a power-house being supplied with imported coal, there is alwa.y,.; the risk of interruption due to failure of tranopor­tation. This risk will not have to be provided for in the case of :\1orwcll, but there will always be the possibility of a suspension of mining operations due to inclemency of the weather, or serious breakdown of mining machinery. This risk will ue ouflkiently covered by storing about ten days' supply of coal. The l'Ost of the necessary storage accommodation, together with conveyors and elevators, has been included in the estimates of eapitul costs for the power-house. ·

OUTDOOR S\VITCH INSTALLATION.

The switchgear and transformers for stepping up the voltage at l\Iorwell to 130,000 v,ill be of the outdoor type, in accordance with the latest, practice in America with high-ten.~ion transmission line schemes. The cost of the complete switchgear installation is estimated at £171,137, and has been included in the estimate of total cost of power-house. .

20

TRANS~lJSSION LIKJ<J. It is propmecl to en·ct a single sted tower line with two transmission circuits, each capable

of transmitting 25.000 kw. At ~. later da1 re, as the power-house capacity is increased, it will be necessary to duplicate this line. It is estimated that· t.he siugle-tower line, with conductors and accessories completely ereeted, will cost £323, lO:!. Owing mainly to the increase in the price of copper calJ!cs, this estimate is £61,982 above that mentioned in the Report of the Advis,,ry Committee for a line of similar capacity. The actual cost of the line will depend to a very large extent on the market rates Jor copper and steel at the time the co!ltmct.s for the supply of material are entered into. There is, howevj':r, reason to exped,that the actual cost of the line when erected will pro,-c to be lower than the estimate, as the price of steel taken in the estimate (£23 per ton) is likely to fnll to.a less abnormcd figure when the present conditions disappear. There is, however, little reason to expect lower prices for copper cables, as it is not likely tlmt the price of electrolytic copper will ],e reclHced nmeh below the preHent price of £116 per ton, and the difference between this and the cost of tlw completed cable i::. mostly m,1de up o{ labour and other codt.s of manufacture, and t.IJese are not likely to decrease to any apprecialJ!c extent. When the time arrives t.o place orders for materials, careful e<msidemtion will be given to the clainm o{ almninium, which has been used to a ,-mT lB.rge extent ;n the U.S.A. for the conductors of overhead transmission lines.

The leading features of i.he line on which the estimate is based, are as follows:-

Route length 82 miles Voltage at gpnerating end 130,000 volts Frequency 50 cydes per second Sectional area alltl mateda.l of conductor ·182 square inch copper Number of towers per mile 8 approx. Weight of towers 2 · 7 tons eaeh C.LI>'. price of eoppcr cable £158 per ton C.LF. price of steel . . £23 per ton

Carefully recorded data secured during a flying survey of the tnursmission line route by ;\Iessrs . .J. l\L and H. E. Coane, commltiug civil engineers and surveyors, served as a basis for the estimated capital cost of sueh line.

A plan of the propo;;e<i route is herewith supplied. It will he noticed that the route of the line gmwmlly follows the Dandenong-road from Oaldeigh as far as Drouin, and thence, owing to the roati. turning too far north, it prce0cds a(Toss country in a straight line to .\lorwe!L

The diffieulties to be met in constructing the transmission line will be found to be extremely few, the t<•nitory passed through beillg on the whole gently undulating: ln those eases where it passes through private property, provision has been made in the estimates for eompelk'<ation to the owners.

In adopting a voltage of 130,000 volts at the generating end, the possibility of extension of transmission lines throughout the whole of Victoria was kept in mind.

TERMINAL STATiON. For the site of the terminal station land has been reserved at the quarries, Richmond,

sufficient for the erection of the necessary switchgear and step-down tmnsformers to transform the energy from the voltage of the transmission line to 20,000 volts, which is the voltage tentatively adopted for the purposes of distribution in the metropolitan area.

The cnpital cost of the terminal station, with its switehgear, tran&(ormers, and synchronous condcmers, is estimated at £22G,755. It.ma,y be of interest to point. out tluLt when the time arrives to erect a second trausmis,;ion line from ~lorwell, such line would pmbahly be take.n round the north of Melbourne to tl1e vieinily oi .Footscmy and Williamstown, as it is expected that in these areas a large 'industrial demand will be developed. The two terminal stations then would be tied together by means of the 20,000-volt feeders, the first portion of which is provided hereunder.

MELBOU'RKB; DISTRIBUTION A.c'{D SU'BSTATIONS. The Advisory Committee provided in their Report for the whole of the demand in the

metropolitan area being met by laying two groups of 20,000-volt feeders from the t.erminal station, one to each of the power-ho~o.es of the two principal undertakers.

Bearing in mind that the object of the Advisory Committee was to establish a cost relationship between Morwell and the existing power-houses, no serious objection could be taken to this proposal for the demand above mentioned, but it must not be overlooked that the demands in the metropolitan a~ea are growing steadily, an~ the time_ has arrived wh~n ~ hi8her voltage than those at present m use (6,000 and 4,000) reqmres to be mtroduced for distributlOn purposes to efficiently deal with the growing business, particularly that of the Melbourne Electric Supply Company whose area is extensive, many parts of which cannot be efficiently served by 4,000-volt

21

feeders. This company is at present considering a re-arrangement of its distribution system, v.-ith the introduction of a thr<'e-phase supplv to nwet tl1e demands from factories and otl1er power nsers. The moment is considered opportune to hring about in th<' inten•sts of pfficiencv a change in the system of main distribution. "

To postpone the matter and to dPiiver the whole of the e1wrgy from ilforwell to the under­takers 'power-houses will result. in them undllrtcll(J•rs bn·ing to provide for tl1e layiug of additional feeders at the low voltages in nse in their areas. 'rJ,is wonld not he l'eOJlomit·al. ami would not provide for ll.n efficient sen·i~e for all time.

Hcnc.r,, provisior:s haYe llf'£'11 madt> in the eRiiuHtte fo1· :mppJying thcRQ nlH_lcr1ak(•rs at a number of points <'>teh lomtt'd in a<·<·onbJJ<·e \Yith tlw deuwnd of the p,1rtir-uhw district·. ">\t these rentres or snhstations there conld L<· 1"ade ulsn .:.vail:•hl<· the PnppliPs for tl1e dozen or so ~mnnlcipnlitirs at. prC'se11f prnehM.:ir1g tl1Pir puwrr JPqPin•w('!!t~ iu lndk ftnlll t"J:e {'ity Council or the J\[elbourn<:> Electl'ie '':1pply Company.

These suhstalior;r; c.wned and controlled 1y the Commissioners would 1e senerl bv feerlcrs conveying the 20.000-l'<•lt <'llerg~v from the terminal'.station at Richmond, anrl would be ~quipped with the necessary tnmsfnrmeTs to reduce t lie \·ultnge to (),000 or 4.000, "·' required by the undertakers.

By these means a "tawlard aml highly-efficient system of diHtrilmtion of energy in the metropolitan area would be bn,llght about. and the ammn 1 cost ol same willnatmall~' be indnded in the charges to the undertn kcr·s for the ('!Wf!!Y they receive. In the long run the eonsmner will benefit, as by this proposal the Commissioners will lw eanying out, in 11 more e/Ecient manner, a function at present performed by the undertakt>rs,

Although the ,·oltagc of 20,000 has hcm1 adopted iu the estimates as suitable for the main distribution in lHelbonrne. investi11ations are being made in l'l'gnnl to the eeonomy of adopting '' higher voltage. sue h as :1:l,OOO. •

A plan of the proposed }felbourne 20,000-volt distribution system has been prepared and is supplierl herewith. On it is imlieatecl the approximate site.~ of the propoxed sub:'iatimlh, ,the demands in kilowatts expected at these substations by the year 192:3, and t lH' ultina<t<: c,lpaeities of the substations.

Tt will be seen tl.at the substations \\'ill be connected by a ring s1·stem of ea1lcs which ·will be laid nndergrormd, with the exception of that portion running between snbstations " G ., and "C" supplying the western municipalities. These will 1t> served b~· mean;, of an ovcr!Jead line, to be replaced at a later date wheu the growth of the demand justifies the expenditnre on underground cable . .s. The amounts to be spent on cable,,; and snhshttions for this pnrpo>e are as follows:-

'ilelbonrne distribution cables Me:bournc substations and equipments

£272,550 £251,058

ESTDIA'l'ED •roTAL CAPITAl, EXPENDI'l'URE ON 'iiORWELL POWER SCHEME. The total capital expenditure of the proposed scheme to supply ~lclbourue \\ith eloctrical

energy in bulk, and to distribute same in the metropolitan area, i.~ ,qct ont herennder :--

TABLE III.--EsTUL\TED ToTAr~ CAPITAL ExPENonran For: AN Ot'TPUT 'm· 50,000 KW. FRmr

i\fORWEU-.

Power-house Tran-smission line Terminal station ;\Iclbourne distribution cables and substations

Total

£1,442,927 323,102 226,755 523,608

£2,516,892

ANN'GAJ, COST OF 20,000-VOI!r ENERGY AT THE TER1HNH STATION, HJCHMOND.

From Table I. it will he seen that it is estimated that in the fin;t. stages of the Mon\:ell development, and assmuino an nunnulload fal'tor o{ 42 pN cent., the aYcrage cost of supplymg power to :\Ielbomne in the

0

form of 20.000-volt e11ergv nt the terminal station, Richmond. will be 0 ·329 pence per unit, equinl'lcnt to nn annual cost of £4 4s. per annum per kilowatt of maximum demand, plus 0 ·056 pence per unit. 'l'hi;; iH some\vhat. l!iglwr than the estimate in the A(h-isory Committee's Report, and is dne mair1ly to the adnmet'S in priecs of plant and materials and partly to higher rates of wages of operation iltafi, and to the smalln quantity of ener~c'Y to lw deliwred to 1\Ielboum(', on which the estimate has been based. As th<' selicmc <lewlopfl nml the rkmand increa,;es above 50,000 kw., the average cost will be gmrlu:tlly redm:cd, forth<:> i'pare plant capacity

22

in proportion to the total capacity will be smaller and the annual load factor is likely to be improved. It will further be noted that the estimated cost of supplying energy from :Morwell is 21 per cent. less than that possihle in the rase of a power-hon~e that could be constructed at or near Melbourne in which imported \,];wk coal was to lw 11sed.

A.:-.'NUAL COST OI<' SUPPL YIXO G,OOO AND 4,000 VOLT ENERGY. In order that a definite price can be arriv<>d at, at which the existing undertakings should

be <>harged for the supply of energy, it is nccec;~ary to add to the cost of the energy at the terminal station the eost of distribution to the substations and of conversion tlwreat. The total annual east, including eapital charges of snpplying G.OOO volt nnd 4,000 Yolt energy at the substations in the metrnpolitan area, asHnming the san"' load factor as previously, is estimated at 0·::195 pence per unit, equivalent to £5 3s. 6d. per annum per kilowatt of maximum <lcmand, plus 0·057 pence per unit.

In comparing these figures with the costs mentioned in rhe Ath-isory C'ommittee's Report, it must be remembered that the former im·lmles the whole annual coRt of the main distribution system as already described, which cost,, under the conditions on which the Advisory Committee's estimate was based, wonld be. borne by the nndertaln'ro, hut at a greater east to themselves, and consequently to the public. It must also he borne in mind that underground eables ha Ye increased in price over 70 per cent. since the date of this Report (1917).

If to the costs above mentioned is added a margin of 10 per cent., the estimated ('barge to the undertakers, which could he made for G,OOO volts and 4,000 volts supplies at the Commissioners' substations, would be 0 · 434 pem·e per unit (load fact m 4:! per cent.), equivalent to £5 1:3.~. 10d. per annum per kilowatt of maximum demand, pins O·OG3 pence per unit.

GROWTH OF THE DEMAND ANTI JTP. EFFECT l7PON" THE C'OST OF SUPnY. There is every indication that the demand for electrical energy in Victoria will rapidly

increase as soon as the proposed power scheme is iu operation. New industries for the production of manufactured articles at present imported ar<' bound to arise under Nmditions that have come about as a result of the \\'ar, but such inclustries are likelY to ''ettle in other States than Victoria if the manufacturing frrr:ilities in the iormer :;.re ,quperi,,r: An ampk supply of electrical energy at cheap rates is one of the most import-ant fe,ctors to hn C<m><iden·•l by the manufacturer in arriving at a decision as to where an industry is to be established.

Given a supply of cheap energy there is every rrason to expect that Victoria will be looked upon with favour as an industrial centre, and in consequence the demand for power may be such that in about five years from the initiation of the scheme the output from Morwell will have reached 100,000 kw. Hence, it will be intere.~ting to examine the effect of such a development upon the annual costs.

The increased output would require the installation of two additional 25,000 kw. turbo-generating units with the necessary boilers, switchgear, &c., a second transmission power line and terminal station, which at to-day's prices would increase the expendit.ure on the scheme

. to the following figures :-

TABI,E IV.--RsTJ:MA"rEn ToTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITGRE

Power·honse Transmission lines Terminal stations

Total

OF 100,000 KW. FROM .l\iORWELL. FOR AN OUTPUT

£2,381,518 662,489 453,510

£3,497,517

Allowing for the increased anuual expenditure, nnd assuming the same load factor (although it would be reasonable to nssnme nn improvemenl in the load factor as the output grows, with correspondilll;( decrease in the average cost of supply), the cost of electrical energy delivered at the terminal statwn at Melbourne at the voJt,age of 20,000 would be 0·292 pence per unit, equivalent to £3 12s. 5d. per annum per kilowatt of maximum demawl, plus 0 ·056 pence per unit.

PRESENT COST OF GEI\r:ERATJNO AT THE UNDERTAKEREI' POWER-HOUSES. As already stated, unless the Morwell scheme is able to offer a supply of energy to the

generating undertakers at less than their present generating cost, it would not be commercially possible for the proposed scheme to tnke over the business of generating the present requirements of l\'felhourne.

The cost of generation, e:rcluditJI} all rapital clwr_qcs on the plamt, at the City Council's power­house for the year 1918 amounted to 0·511) peuce per unit sent. ant. For the year 1919, owing to nu increase in coal prices, t.his cost will probably be 0·5131 pence. Similar costs may be taken in the case of the "!\ielbourne Ji]lect.ric Elnpply Company for the l"\ame periods.

23

A comparison of these figures with the cost at which 6,000-\·olt and 4,000-volt energy can be made available at the proposed Commissioners' substatimc", is as follows ~

TAilLE V. J{ elbounu: Fndertakings-~-

Present generating cost (ex eluding capital charges on pow0r-bouse phmt)

ll<Iorwell Power Scheme· l1;stinmted cost of delivering 6,000-\·olt

volt and 4,000-Yolt energ:· at Commis­sione:s' subst,ttion,, plus 10 per cent. margm

Difference

0 ~ 561 pence per unit sent out from power-house

0·434 pence per unit at substation

0 ·127 pence per unit

On the estimated output of these two underLtkings for the year 1923, viz., lOS,OUO,OOO units sent out, this difference of 0·127 pence is equivalent to a reclu!'tion in workinp: expenses to these undertakings of about £ti0.000 per annum.

This, however, has not taken into account the s.;ving due to the Commissioner's making available their supply at dre substations scattered over the metropolitan area instead of concen­trating such supplies at the two power-houses of these undertaken<. This saving v.-ill be partieularly marked in the ease of the }lelbourne Electrie Supply Company. as under the scheme of distribution proposed, the bulk of their reqniremeuts will he taken at phces other than their power-house.

Tt is estimated that the ultimate rednttion in east to t.he two undertakings, based on the outputfor 1923. will amount to nearJ~~£80,000. This reduction. if passed on to the pnblie in the form of lowe1· charges 1Nill, in the e.1·es of the }lelbourne citizens. prove to be the stronge~t a.rgument for the irnmediatB proceeding with the }lorwell sdrenw, lt must not be m·erlooked that the e~timated annua,l costs of the proposed scheme have included a margin of 10 per rent. This should make the scheme attraetive from a general taxpayers' point of vimr.

EFFEC'l' ON COSTS OF IMPROVED J,OAD FACTOR. Although all eosts have so far been calcnlated on the basis of a load factor of t!2 per cent.,

a cheap supply of energy is likely to encourage the establishment of long-hour consumers, both at l\Telboume and at .1IonYell. H<Clll'e, the eostti at whidt a strpply can be made available at these places. assuming the energy to be taken steadily throughout the 24 hours for each day of the year, i.e., a load factor of lOO per cent., will he of interest, Tt has ahio been assumed that the supply is taken at the busbar,; of the terminal station, Richmond, and the Morwell power-house respectively.

Cos"'S ( 10 J. I"CLUDJXG PE)'

Melbourne

~iorwell

CEXT. MARGIN) OF SUPPLYING 20,000-VOLT ENERGY (1()0 PE!l C'EN~'. LOA!l FACTOR).

() ·188 pence per unit Pqnivalent. to £4 2s. lOd, per

, electrical horse-power year 0 ·138 pence per unit

<'quivalent to £2 l7s. 6d. per electrical horse-power year

MANNER OF UTILIZATION OF THE BROWN COAL. The plant layout ami estimates are based on the assumption that raw coal will be burned

in the boiler furnaces without preliminary drying. These fw·naccs will be equipped with travelling grates, capable of burning up to 100 lbs. per syuale foot ,,f grate area undl'r balancer! draft conditions.

The furnaces will be of special design and similar to one which has heen under constant observation, and in whic-h several thousands of tons of brown coal ha\'e been burned at the ritv Couneil'o; power-house dliTing the past year or so. ·

This special furnace arrangement (see print attached) has been evolved oince the date of the Report of the Ad,-isory Committee, in which Report an average consumption of 4 '57 lbs. of raw brown coal for every unit generated was adopted as the basis for arnving at the annual consumption of fuel. Subsequent experience has shown that this figure is too higlt, and coupled with the adoption of a higher steam pn•ssure, enables the figme of 3, 81 lbs. to be adopted for the design of the 1\Iorwell power-house.

This performance is equivalent to an average evaporation of 4·0 lbs. of water from and at 212° F. per lb. of raw coal. Bearing in mind that the heating value of this fuel in its raw state is

24

onlyabont6,250 B.T.U.'s, this would app~:H to lw a yerysatisfaetoryawmge ri'sult, as it is equivalent to a boiler a n<l stoker efl\cieucy of IH · R per ,.,,nt. On tt'"ts of :;bmt duration. an cfficieney of about 7U pH cent. illl.R been obtainNL

The estimated fuel cost per nnit generak<l is \H).J5\l pell<·e. which is probably the lowest cost of any steam power-house in the world to-day.

Experiments are being made at the present time with a view to ascertaining whether on commercial lines the eoal can he freed of a large propmti(ln of its rnoi.,turc before admission to the furnace. Fmm inquiries recently ma<k in Ccnuany in this direction, where brown coal having even a larger percent<tge of moi;;tmc than the 1\Tmwcll coal is u,""l t<• a "large extent in the production of eleetrical energy, it. does not appear that preliminary !hying of cod is resorted to.

Coal-dtying upp:tmtns to he conallcrcinlly i<ue<·cssful ll>l"t hi· of low capital cost, as the waste heat :m>ilahlc for ttc' drying o{ the rocd is of ]my mm>ct,•ry \'tthtr. The type of coal-drying apparatus ns0d in t he.Cerman brown <'oal millcs for bt·iqnetting purposes •nmld be too !'la borate and l'X]l<'llsi,·e to justify its adoption i11 t l.e design of a large pom'l' >ciH•nw.

Ji is possible that in the comse of time 1'!10 bmning of rn\Y fw·ltmrl,•r hoi!er;; may give place to thf' hurHinp; of ga~ ohtn]nuhle from thf' iJl'own eoal by a ~epal'n!P di,r-;ti11ation or gas-pl'oducer prn<T:'~: but in t.he <'nmpktc absenec of n~;y information of e<1nl l"•ing treated in this manner in power-hou'r~ oi any importanc·e, it ean only be inferred that s.<J fa.r there has not been produced any distillation pro•·c." which lll"-Y be looh•d t:pon a., a eom!llercial wecc," for application to the .'.Ionvel1 problem. fihonld \.!10 time anive. hcnY<:Ycr. wh<'H :m eh a pruce". together -with l•y-product recovery, <·:m be tegardcd a~ c<mJmenially satiRfaetory ''" <tpp!ic•d to brown coal, it would be comparatin•ly simple to d~:;ign fnture extensions of the l\lorwcll power-house to utilize the gas as a fuel i1:stead o[ the mw coal. :md it would not be a difileult or costly matter to convert the existing f1Hllt1N'S to the nse of gas for ht'aling pnrposPs should it Le possib'te to supply the gas at. a snlliciently low cost. At JW<'S<'nt it i,; wise t.o <·ousider as pnte+ieaJ,jp only t.be burning of the raw roalHmler I he hoilerN. ·

IKTERTOW:< SUPPLY. Ko prodsion has been indndcd for :my subsidiary transmir,sion lines to supply towns en rou.te

of the main tnuNnission line, but it mu·:t ],p expected tlwt :1ppli(·ations for such will be made as won n.s the rwtin operations commence. Swh a dcnlupnwnt i<hould be eonsidered on its merits as a eonnnertial proposition, and any additional capital expendilme ineurrcd thereby must he justified by a snflieicnt reYemu,-eaming en ;t:J.eity. Conf-i<kration of thb development, therefore, can be left over nntil the main problem is deeidetl on. Prclimin"-l'Y investigations indicate that it will be possible to Ponvey power from :Vforwell to places as distant. as Bendigo and Ballamt., and supply it cheaper than it is produced at those places to-day. Between these outlying points and the :Morwell power-house arc a l;:rge number of population centres that can be ultimately served by subsidiary lines giving a cheap 1mpply of 0nergy for all pnrposes.

H. R. HARPER, Chief Engineer.

TABLE VI. l'v!ORWELL POWER SCHE:~\IE.

ANNUAL 0PERATI:!'tG A:\'D CAJ'JTA1. Co.sT.s (Powtm Hocst: O:"'LY).

Maximum demand at PowFr House Units generated .. Units used on workr-.

Units sent out nf Power House Load factor on l)ower House Variable Charae9,,.~

Coal ~::: .. 'Vag£'-"' of Co;ll n,ml ~\slt handling Stafl' Oil, watt>T and stOh'''

, flhi,nding {'hargf'.;;, · HuperYision and Cledcal ;:.\t:J.lT .. \Va~w-;, l•~ngin~ Homn ~tall' \V age", Blli!•,"r Huti~': Staff \\"agt'.:;, ~\\:t<·h RtJnlll f.;t.aH' I HHUJ"<UI('('

.Malnt('H<llll't'

f'apital Charpps--Int.f'rc·~l <Jond dAJHO:('it~!.!on

TutuJ

50,000 kw. 1 s.'J,VGolooo

3,G7H,200

180,280,8(10 .. '42%

J:. per Ammm,

3i},200 L2GU J~OOO

t,~;:;o

:J.l {i:J id'JJ I.GHG

~(lfJ

l i,;}UO 2r;,JJP.0

10i,G·I2

171,67'7

rr [We per 'U nlt settt out,

·0469 ·OOl7 ·OOl:l

·003\1 •()O(:j~J

·006~

·0022 ·OOO:J ·0153

..

·03G4

·1432

•2285

25

Pnwr'"' HousE CosTs. (20,()(~). \'ult l'nrrgy),

TI~t<:t•;l on an output o( ·HU)()O kw.;;, {G!J.GXO Plf'Pfrkal lHirBe powPr),

f'o-~t~. W ifli 10 ~<> qrfded,

L £2 1-l-"1. lOd. jH'l' a.unnm pN k·,L of ~I. D., phs 0 ·(}Hl'J P<'Ht'l' pn unit.

t::to~. i1L po· nnnam pN kw. of 1tD .• plu" 0 ·otH9 prnce

2. \Vith 42 ~~ L.l1'. 0 ·228Gti. ]Wr uni!. :J. t2 J2s. ;)d. rX'r iUtHU!H pt>r f'.h.p. ·1. \\'ith lOO~~~ J,.J;' .. tl·[;2.)d. pc·l'liHiL

l'f't 11 nit. 0 ·2JJ 11 JWnee prr unit. t~ 17: •. litl pe-r· annum per e.h.p. !I·J:h jii'IH'f' pPr •mit.

TABLE VJL MOH\I'ELJ, J'(rWER ~CIIEME.

Tn'f'.\f, A:\7\T/\I, rn~'l''· OF ln·:LT\'FHI:\'G ·10.9ii0 1\Ii..O\Y.\TT~ TO '1r:J.f:OOP."\"J: J\{ THE Pr)HU OF 20J)(){).Yot:r ENF:l:G'l .

. \t T~·nl'inal St<d,iun, Hielnunnd :Vbximum 1\emallil j;~~WI'p'f dPlin·r·~d ,,~ 'SiHlOil Y;~lt

Pn\\f'J' ~frHH\l: CoAL'<---

(.,;,:·Pf' 'l\:th!f' YI. for d,.-.uil,;)

Trnn~mlksion Line . P;'llrolling, mair;t"'naw·•'. &('. C'ttpltal n(Jarg<'!\

1'ermiw.:.l RLcttion~-­Op•'raiion wa:.rt';{ Jlnintcuanc·•-' ('n.pltal Chn.rgr-q

Admini.,h'ntion , ,

Tutd

'TF'f!\lfXAf. P.T_\TIO~ ('o;:n>L

(20:(Xl0-\vul:. EnN!!Y),

4;),9t)0 kw. JIJ! .70t~.OOO urit-: nEJ,tVtlly,

4,()10 lfi,fJ)~

2,HIG L:mo

1G,!llf>

171 J)77

20.f>l~)

!J,SOO

n.-u1ed 011 ~Ul ontpnt of -}3,9(;() kws, (f}g,9~0 dt•Ctl'ir'al lwrse powrr).

('vsl--. 1Viilt 10 ~,~ ml.?d.

rencf' 1wr Uuit :WOGU V.

·2!:•5

L £:4 4s. per :1nnnm per kw. of )-T.D., plu!' 0 ·o~~~; !•t'H''(' t11Jc;. 5(1. lJ('j· atmt<m per kw. of ~l.D., plu;.; O·Ofi2 vence per uuit.

2. 'Vith 42 °/o L.F. 0 ·329 prne(' per nniL 3. £3 15:;, 4d. per annum pE'r c.h.p. 4. \Yit.h lOO •;.-~ L.l?. 0 ·171 veuce j)('t unit,

jWr nnit. 0 ·3()2 fWHN:· prr unit. £4 2~. JOd. pt>r annum pt>r e.h.p. 0 ·183 Jl.l'l\CP jH•r unit.

TABLE VIII. MORWELL Pmn;R SC'HE1!E.

ToTAL ANNUAL CosTs oF Dv:l.IvERt:s-G 4-2,800 KWS. TO nm UNDl~J::.TAKINGS IN THE Fon:\t o~o' !},OOO~VoLT oR 4-,0CIONVor.:r Rt'IElt<~V.

At SulH<tatlons within the Jlrtropolitan Area-·· ~faximnm demand Energy cleliYcred a.t 6,001) volts or ~t,OOO voH~

T(:'J'tnina) Stabiun (h:~t_q.-

(Se(' Tablto VU, for detn ils)

Dii>tribution-~!.1iutenarrCf' of Rnh~stath)ns, Cables, &c. {

1n.pitnl (lhargt_"-\. Snb~stations, Cablf:s, &c.

Tot11l

RuR-.<;;<r.vnnx CosT<-:.

(li,(XX) or +.000 \'oit l~nrrgy).

42.800 kw. lG7,4201000 units annuu.lly.

21200 34,835

37,0%

llas<'d on nn outpu! uf .t=.;,t\Ut) kwi. (;)'i,3T(J t·h,ctrieal h.lJ.)

CosiH. fVitl1- 10 ~_,~ mMed.

f>.,nee per 11,000 \lr 4,000 Volt

Energy.

·339

·.395

l. tU 3s. 6d. per :-:t.nnum vrl' kw. of 1\tD. plu:• o·o:-.7 ,!Ji, 13". IOJ. per :ummn p<'t kw. of ::\LD. lJlus 0·063 peuee p-enH p('r unit. per unit.

2. \Vith 42 ~-~ J.~.F. 0·395 JK'UCt> per nniL 0·1:3ct perwe p(T unit.. 3. £4 10>. 4d. per annum per e-l1.p. t4 19s, 4d. per ,mmun per r.h.p. 4. "~tth lOO% L.l". O·Hm penet> JH:'l' unit. O·::!HI pence J'f'l' unit.

26

APPENDIX B.

T~VESTTGATTO~S OF THE COST OP WINKING COAL ON THE l\TORWELL BROWN f'OAL IrmLD.

The Electricity Commissioners, .:I'Ielboume.

GENTLEME!\',

Derby. Tasmania, llth Kovember, 1919.

I have the honour, as instructed, to report. to you ou the probable cost of winning Brown Coal in the vicinity of the proposed power-house near :VIorwell, as follows :~

I visited the distriet on the 8th and 9th of DPcemhrr last .. and wns afforded eYen~ assistance in my inspection by of!lcers of the }lines Departnwnt. ·

I attach a blue print supplied by the DirPetor of Ueological Survey (Appendix I.), which shows the results of boring carried out by tlw :'<lines lkpartment on the site of the proposed operations.

S!"ctions along lines of bores, which have been more purticu!arh· HS0d for the present purpose, are shown in .\ppendix [ L They an' ~ihwted ehidiy on blocks ;)HA. ;JSE. and -ll, parish of ~arracau.

GENERAL.

An inspection of Appendix IL shows the great dPpth and continuity of tlte Brown Coal, its comparatively I Peel "'uface and ·""nll cmwuut of ot·erlnmlw. a11d, _genernlly, thrfcworable conditions for open cutting.

The surface of the groun<l is low lyiHg, am! subjec·t to flooding bv the Latmbe River on the north and }!orwell River on thP etL'lt, with rising grom1d on the SOllth and west. Comparatively inexpensive earth embankments may be built along the higher gt'OEnd <Ill the• ,,onthem bank of the Latrobtl River, and thence along the western side of the milw<ty line. which will protect the ground from fiooding. A system of draills on the west and south will similinly divert 'lUrface water shed from the high!"r ground.

0VERlll'IWEN.

The bores show tlmt, although there is a considerable amount of sanely material in the overburden, there is also much clay and d<1yey sand. The Boring Foremen inform me that the ground so described by them would eorrespoml with tlw day and clayey sand exposed in the Great Morwell.l\line on the north side o{ the Latrob€' River, and that some of it was very tough. An illBpection of this ground convinced me that it wonld be unsuitable for hydranliciug, even if other necessary conditions existed. i\1ost of the overburden may be easily worked by mechanical shovels and the tougher portion without much difficulty. It is proposed to win the coal by the same means assisted by explosives if necessary.

SCHE}!E.

It. .is quite evident that a suitable and eouvenient dump for the spoil cannot be obtained on non-coal bearing ground, as large quantities of coal at a shallow depth are proved in every direction in which such a dump might be sought. The most convenient site under the circum­stances, and one involving a relatively small sacrifice of coal land, is situated to the north-west of a line through bores 83 and 64, and shown on sketch plan, Appendix I TI.

Assuming that the power-house will be situated in the most northerly portion of block 38A, this dump site should provide for :3,000,000 cubic yards of spoil, which will cover a few of the less important bores only. On the exhaustion of this site, it will probably be found advisable to start to fill in ground from which the whole of the coal has not been extracted, rather than cover a much greater area of ground containing a great thickness of coaL

Sketch plan, Appendix TII., indicates in a general way what, 1 belie,·e, will prove to he a convenient lay-out of the open cut. The coal will be delivered from the northern end of the excavation to (the stock pile at) the power-house, while the stripping will be led away to dump at the southern end, the parallel stripping and coal faces advancing in a southerly aud south-easterly direction. An ideal cross-section ,..f ih working,;, :1ltel' dnmping therein has been in operation some time, is given. On accollnt of the dayey natllre of the overbun1en, the spoil will he deposited in comparatively low banks as shown. As the extraction of the coal at this time will be proceeding at a much greater rate than the removal of overburden, there will be sufficient space to continue the deposit of spoil and take out the lower coal face, as indicttted by the dotted lines, provided the initial spoil area on the surface is not very seriou.>ly curtailed.

It is assumed the power-house will be situated within the area sh01n1. However, any moderate variation from this, necessitat<:d bv further information obtained later from bores or survey, should not seriously affect the abova general arrangement.

27

DRAINAGE.

Departmental records show that, so far, artesian water has been struck in nine bores. The drill foreman who put down the bores informed me that the main body of Brown Coal during drilling operations was perfectly dry, and t.hat much water was not met with until a depth of lOO feet below the coal was reached. In Appendix II. the strata below the main body of coal are shown to consist to a considerable extent of clayey material. Although the coal in the open face of the Great ::\iorwell Mine is traversed by a number of vertical joints, and similar jointing is to be expect;;d on the south side of the river, which may permit percolation at a considerable rate, yet the favorable underlying strata, eo m bined with the drilling foremen's experience, lead me to believe that the rate of percolation will not be excessive. It is impossible to say what amount of water will have to be dealt with, but 1 think it unlikely that provision will have to be made for greater quantities than have been dealt with in the large alluvial gold mines of the State (about 3,000,000 gallons per rlfly). At any rate, this \Yill be the caS<' until the depth of the ctttting has become considerable. lt will be possible, under the conditions that will exist at J.lorwell, to pump such a quantity at a cost of 2d. per ton of Brown Coal on an output of 2,000 tons per day until the cutting reaches a Jepth of 200 feet. Provision for dealing with t.his amount is induded in the estimate,

CosT oF ExTRACTION AND EQUIPMEJ>'l',

Within the relatively small area B, C, D, E, F shown on the plan, Appendix IlL, the average, depth of coal is 58 yards, and the amount of Brown Coal 76,000,000 tons. 'l'he depth of overburden is ll yards, and each cubic yard of overburJen covers on tl1e average rather more than 4 tons of coal. In deciding the proportion of overburden expense that each ton of coal should beaJ', I think this ratio should be increased to l cubic yard of overburden to 3 tons of eoal. The depth of coal for this purpose would be 40 yards. Coal below this depth would be relieved of auy overburden charge, which would compensate for slight extra cost of winning due to increased depth, irregularit.y of bottom, &c.

1 e~timate cost of overburden removal, including maintenance, depreciation, and interest on plant, at one shilling .and threepence (Is: 3d.) per cubic yard.

It is gem•rally considered advisable to somewhat increase the clmrge Oil each ton d ore or coal for unrbUl'd~n removal durillg the earlier par-t of the life of a mine, while shallower levels are being worked. In ordeT to provide interest Oil the money locked up in onrburden removal, and allow a margin over the estimate, I suggest that a charge of 6d. per ton of coal be made dllring the earlier life of the mine. Any necessary adjustment can be made at a later stage.

Under the present conditiolls for an output of 1,500 tons of Brown Coal per day, I estimate the cost of delivering a ton of run-of-mine coal at the stock pile at the power-house, inclusive of the above charge of 6d., at. two shillings and tivepence (2s. 5d.), and the cost of equipment at £152,500.

For outputs of 2,000 tons and 3,500 t<ms per day the working oosts would be 2s. 2!d. and 2s. 2d. per ton respectively, and the cost of equipment £171,000 and £223,700 respectively. In addition to the above, it would be necessary to spend £40,000 in the preliminary removal of over­burden, preparation of dumps, &c,

LI.N"DESAY C. CLARK.

28

APPENDIX C.

IJ~;vESTHlATIONR OF THE CORT OF WTNNING COAL ON THE ALTONA BROWN COAL FIJ;~LD.

To the Electricity Commissioners, Melbourne.

Dear Sirs,

Melbourne, Victol'ia, 25th October, 1919.

We respectfHlly beg to advist:' that,, in ael!orJancc with your reqne~t, we have examined the Altona coal~field with the view to determining the most suitable mett,oJ of mining u,nU the eosi, of winnlng brown coal.

The property 0\Yncd by the :\1elbournc Ahuna Company compri:5Pi'i ~,2G9 a0r<'t\) trppruximately '111quare mill'S.

]'rom the infurmat.ion revealed by the Government. b•)rcs Nos. 1 a.ml 2, &H per the blue print <J.t.tncLed 1 appm·cutty the depth of roal approxhnnte:"! 72 fee-t lying bet\v~_•en the vertil"al depths of ~)49 feet and 421 feet. In the compa.nis present shoJt the thif'kae::w i~ 69 fet>t, 'Y0 havl' tak<'n thP twor:~ge t.l1icki108s at 70 feet as a basis for our ('alculation::;, Before embarking upon :w exf-0n~ive sehc1ne of minin~ we -woulll Tccomutend that these data be chct·ked by further boring along the eastern and western boundary lineA of the propNty to define more ::H.:curatcly the }JltdJ of the seam, and n.s a t.('st of. its reguiarhy. 1t 'i\"OulJ be a.clvisnbie to keep the bores away from })ropo~eil workingt~ to avoid flooding of $:\.nli1 In outlinin,Q: out !ichernes of operating we have combined the above data ¥.-'ith tho:::c $npplied by l\Ir. Bunnan. the compa.nis engineer. The estimated quantity of eou.l :1vailahle by >Safe method14 of mining is 100,000,000 tont~.

The AJtona. Con1pany has done a fair amount. of work under diffh:ult conditions, and we are indebted to their engineer, 1\lr, Bunuan, for much valuable information respect-in~ the work already done. !further, we have collected similar qat.n from other individual:< who have had mining experience at Alt.ona.

An artesian or sub-artesian T,.,n1ter pressure obtain.<J immediately under the coal bed, while the cover or :roof ovel' the seam is a swelling sandy clay. ,Such conditiona as these clearly indicate that the proposition ig beset with difficulties, :md demands that a very safe method be adopted for mining t.h~: coaL

The evidence we have collected reveals several instances of "heating,'· indicating that the coal :is liable to fire by spontancouM aombul"ltion.

Under the above eonditions the only methods of mining, in our opinion. that should be adopted are: {a) that whicb depends upon bulk timbering and eime filling, and (b) tllat of sectionaUy "caving." It is essent.ial to keep weight on the bottom ,ection of the eoal seam t.o ('Ormteraet ,thr- water pressure, and .'Ls only limit.f'd spaces can be opened owing to its friable nature, it, will be necrnsary to minr sect.ionitUy for .'1 height of 7 f.eet. In the ease of (a-), or filling system, these sedions would approximate 100 feet x 100 feet.

We estimate that of the 70 feet of eoal dcvth only 33 feet of it can be saieJy extracted. Starting at a point 20 feet from the bottom of the seam the cool would be first mined ~wctionally as above described for a height of 7 feet. It could be mined and the vacant spa0es fi!INl wit.]l ~and filling until a considerable a.tea oi tbe 7 feet height had been extracted, when the second layer of 7 feet could then be ~lttacked and "0 on until 35 feet of the coal df'pth had been extracted, ~eaving HJ feet of_ coal overheaU a:>J tt protective cover.

In (b), or the ''caving" syi!tetll1 narrow ilevelopmental headings, 7 feet in height, would first be driven. leaving 14 feet of roof coal overbead to timbrr to 1 a portion of which would subsequently be recovered in pillar ext.raction. The coal would be cut up hy the headings into small panels or .sections of work about 100 foot square; a.nd provi8ion would be made for readily :Y~llling off a panel -in case of. spontaneous cotnbnstion occurring, The coal in the paneJs woulcl be worked ba-ck in 10-£-t. wide Jifts, each lift about 50 feet in length, in a similar manner to that adopted in working alluvifLl deposits. Actual ex1•eriencc gained in wodd.ng the seam woultl tlcmom:tra.te the safest a.nd most eeonomieal dimensions for the panels and -Lho lifts. 1\.s the panel pillan:; wer0 extla\'t.cd, as murh of the timber as pos~ible would be withdra>vn and the top coal: and roof allowed to rave.

From the nature of the strata, overlying the coal~ and the difficulty experienced by the Altona Company in maintaining their narrow drives near t.l1e roof, there is no doubt that the ground would cave immeiliately following the extraetion of the pillars.

After the :first I aver of coal \Yas worked out over the whole of the area to be mined, t.he method of procedure would be to start at the"' shaft piHar again and drive another t:et of devc!opmentv.l headings, leaving a certain thicknt:>.ss of top coal over the narrow \York to form a roof, and then proccNiing to workthis layer as in t,he former instance. The thickness of the coal left on top of the drive!t \vould be arrived at from the e:qwnence gained in \"I..' or king the top layer­probably from 3 to ·i- feet would suffi.cc·-and a portion of thi:-~ roal wo11ld be obtained by caving in the extraC'tion of the pillars. ·

Agn.in, after the second lay~r was exhausted, a thircl layer would be exploited in a similar manner, and so on, till the whole seam waR exhausted to n-ithin 20 feet of the bottom.tmmcly.the depth of bottom allowed for in the filling system.

The cM1ng method of mining Would cause enormous Rurface suhsitlcnee, which could be lesser:'ed, although not entirelv eliminat,ed, hv dose filling with snnd ;• and if it i~ nece".Rarv to maintain the surface level, 1t would be more econor~ical to dump ;and on the ~urface as the ground fH.I.htJidcd. In any case it wmtld br advio:ahle to leave pillar:;; of coal of adequate siz~ unde,r proposed 1)uilding sltes, rmlway linf':-3, &c., ,md it would lw a vrry neres~a.ry precaution to leave a large coal barrier adjacr:nt to the sea beach.

These syi!tem~, a.Uowing for an ac-tuaJ recovery of :':\0 fcc>t. would yi.,Jd 100,000,000 ton~ of coal, and un the basis of maximum extraction, i.e., 2,060 tons of coal per day for 2GO \'i"m·king days per yenr1 this a:r0a would supply coal for over 19[} year~<.

ln either of the schemes of mining wP would Pmploy :<elf-dumping Hhips O'pC"rated in vertical shafts. At thf' bottom~ of the slraft<'> underground storagC bins w.wld h<' proYldC'{l from whidt thr skips .,,·ould be fillc·d l1y bt:ravity.

The underground haUlage would be by a. :rope syc;tem or' by <'lectric tract inn, either of which would be ;;rtti;.;,fadory. The hauling shafts would l)e operated hy dedrie \vlndct-s,

29

The shaft pla.t8 and st,orage binr:: wOuld be constructed oi reinforced concrete, thus: proYiding good sul:~tantial struetures neces~ary to ta{,::e the weight of the overlylng coal with its swelling clay roof. The aceompanying tlrawings marked" No. 1 ., and" No. lA" ::~how the la.y~ont, of the filling scheme in pian and v;:rticalsPction re~pectively, whilst ''No. ll:., illustrates the e.aving ~chmne .

. Sketch plan marked "~o. 2" ;';ho·5~s t!tf~ position nf 0he prPr.,c:nt. :~haft. an,[ t.ha.t. <1f \..he 11rnpo8eU shaitf'. The present shaft might ultimately be n'7-t:d as a V<!nt.ibting :-;haft~ hut as it is unfawuabiy :-:it.uatu1 a,') a site for permllnPnt mining operations it wot!ld be neerssary, for an outpu:: of 1,000 tons per f'ight.~]wtn· (:ay, to ;;;ink t.hc t."wt· sl1afts provided for in tho attached .;stinate<.:1 mw~ of whi~·h would he Lt.e "\\imhng a.nrl the ot!',r>r t\1e yr>ntila~io:1 -;;1u;.it. This schr:me would alm apply to the basis of 2,000 tom~ output p('f ~ixt.cen·hour day. To product\ ::.~~)00 ton:-: per t!igln;-hour day would require two winding shu,ns. ln this event the present sha{t. ,muJd be conner:t.cd ,.,.iU1 the new sha{ts and converted into the ventilahou s-1w,h 1 wuking available bot·~l o~ -t.he new shaft;; for winding.

"~ e would answ;:>r the qu~Jstiou~ buLwitte•J to u:;; in your let<: er ol 22ud September b.s.t us follow (l) (a) Ry filling: sp:mn: Eight :.billing~ ~tnd fisrpcuce (Ss. :JcL) per ton.

By ea.\ring sy.:;.:.('m: Seven shillings and nne penny (7R, ld,) prr ton. Aa per s<:-.atcmentl'\ aUachl'd.

(b) lly filling sy;~tcn~: Eight shillings :tnd t\YopeHrc (Ss. 2iL) per ton. By caving system: f.iix :::hillings r~nd t~npence (6:-~. 10d.) per tun.

A:~ per stat.emcnb at-tru::hed.

Alternat.ively, t\'i'O shift, of eight hours each per da.y :-

By filling i:iystem : Seven shiHings anJ eight pence (7s. Sd.) pe,r t.on. By caving system: Six shillings and fourpence {6s. 4d.) per ton.

As per statements att;achell.

The coal seam would be pen€tratetl to \\·ithin a depth of 20 feet of the bottom of the coal by vertical sha.ftf; 14ft. 6 in. x 7 feet, divhled into three compartmentst two for winding of coa-l and men and the third for timber a:Hl su11plies.

The method . .; of mining, namely) (a} filling and (b) cadng, ha.ve been outlined herein, and details as to c.osts are attached.

{2) The coi;\l seam can, in our opinion, he safely worked t·o a thickne.ss of 35 feet, perhap::: in the ea ving sys:f cm to a grcarer extent. \Ve ha\ye, howen-·r, calculated 11pon a.n extraction of 30 feet on1y.

(3) From t.he company's !and there em be obtained J,bonio t.wo ycaTS' supply of hand Jllling, after which it would hn rv_,;PsAary to olJtain thi?t filling Uy dredging t 1w N'f!. Len.cl:, \rhich appan'ntly contains an nniimit.ed hUp~)ly. W'e C"~l imnte t.he cost, of M<UH.: at :Jd, per ton, dc:liv0rell on the mine.

(4_) \Vc are of the opinion that ):)O long a;; t·ltP coal ;Wnl:1 iR not pr:nctrJ.tc•(l Dcyond a total depth of 50 f~.et, 1 difficulties in n'~peet tn wu.teT ncc1l not, be· fpared wirh ''ithr-r of the~".' ..,tr:m~-< of mining reeon:mended.

As a provcct.i vc !Ht'il·l'l! re it \\ oulJ be- Jl('Ce:.:5&1')' as n; i11ing opnrations progres-: to ca.ny out a srstcm nf auger boring in the l1ottnm 20-ft,, layer of eoal, and ke('}J f·lo:"~' record~ of the data obtainer! tlterdro:n. lt is essential that the ,Jcpth. of coal underfoot should b(' kepi at the sa!e limit o:£ 20 feet.

(5) The schedules attached 3et out, the equipment required and the ('a,IJital cor;t of same.

The citpital cost of erptipment to supply 2/!00 ton::> ycr diem oi eight hours -would be about double that required tu f'Hppiy 1,000 ton:;; of eoal per eight~hour day.

(6) It ''"ould he necessary to builtl hnuses for tJ1e workmen. On thfl basis: of. 1,000 1ons output per day wc­estir.:wte about 200 workmen's cottage"' ;:;hould be built. The cost. of these wouJd approxin1ate £500 each, or a total of £100,000. 'The rents from thesf' eot.tages shurdd oi course cover inter~st, dcprcdatinn. and redemption of capitaL

In eonclusion we would ;,;tate that a~ t.he -information we have oht aitwd -in com:1•xi01: with our inYestigatinn.~ shows a diffcren~r of opinion I'e:'pecting thr_ stan(\i.r.g nainre oi t·hr. coal, it \YOHld be :vlvi:;nbie h• try out e.tch nf tlw propoRed systems experimcutaHy in the COtnlllUly's mine~) iu order to definitely detenainc- tlrc system beet suited to the e.onditions.

We are, dear Sir:-:,

Yours faithfully.

GEO. IL BROO~!I>. G. C.KLUG.

30

ALTONA BROWN COAL FIELD.

STATEMENT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

FILLING SYSTEM'

Pla.nt required for an Output of 1,000 Tons per Day ~f Eiqht Hours, or 2,000 Tons per Day of SixJeen Hour.•.

l\Iain shaft and vent,i\ation shaft., each 14 H. 6 in. x 7 feet x !00 feet, divided into three comparlment.s

Main elef'trlc v;inder

Auxiliary cle~tric wind~r for third compartment of main shaft \Vinding ropea

F:.inking an1\ refit.ting existing shaft. for pumping and ventilation purposes

Head gear and bins Main shaft--

Three sell-dumping skips

Fi:'e eager;

Plat and umlergrouml bln;; Main shaft pump Underground drives Bnd cross-cuts to de\·elop up t.o an output o{ 1,000 tons per day of eight hours; this

includes drainage and ventilation drives

Underground rope haulage Aystem (Non:.-If electric haulage decided upon this eost would approximat~ £10,000.)

Ventilation fan, 160,000 cubic feet of air per minutel at wa.t.er gauge o£ 4 inche"i, direct motor driven instaHE!'A.i

at exist.ing shaft

tJnderground trucks"-500 of !~ton capa.cit.y, fitted \Vith special oil hearing.~, e~timated rA:lst !12 each

il[ine rails~ loO tons 30·lb. and 20-lb. rails ~o•vur S';Jb,tatlnn~·~transformers, &c::.~ 1,000 lLp.

liwlf>.r~round a.nd surface electric lighting

Underground power transmiRsion

Hydraulic etowage FYAlem, inehlKi\·e of bores. pi pm\ ptml[lR; and pnmp eo)umn at exi"'ting or pumping shaft ..

Sand plant. to .-mpply filling for hydraulic stot~rage system, consisting of loc-Omotive, hopper-bottom trucks,

steam ~hovel, rails, &c.

Dredge, suct.ion-purup tyl'e, 16-iu. centrifugal, fitted wit.h sand cutter, for dredging sea beach, eapacit"y

1~300 tons of san(t l'er day of eight hours Stable:; and ponies

Railway :-tidings

Engineering and carpenters' shops

Changing house Manager's house

Mine offices

Add 10 per cmt. for contingancie5

Total

£ 10,400

5,000

3,000

300

1,500

3,000

900 1,000

7,500

1,000

12,000

5,000

3,000

6,000

3,000

3,000

900

1 '100 5,300

10,000

20,000

I ,500

3,000

5,000

3,000

2,000

2,000

119,400

11,940

131,340

31

ALTONA BRO\\'X COAL FIELD.

STATEThiEt;T OF CAPITAL EXPEND!Tl'RE.

Plant requ£red far an 011tpnt t~f l,OOU Tons per Day of E(11ht Hours, or 2,000 To11S per Day of Sixteen Hours.

Main shaft, awl \'en1ila.t.inll :o:h<~-fL ';'8rh 14-ft. 6 in x 7 fe(',t. x 40() feet, divided into three compartments 1\lain ele.drie KindPr Auxiliary electric winder f.nr third rornJ•artnwnt- of ma.in ;,)w.[t 'Yinrling rnpE'R t-linking and refitting e_'i..i~ting :-.:haft for ptunping aad n'.ntila.tinu .fllil'}JORes Head P-"ea.r and binR 1\Iaitl ~lw{t--

ThreE' self-dumping hkipf:> Five ca.ues

Plat and underground bim; Main shaft, and a,uxilit~ r.1-· pumps Pnder_gr0und driYes and •ro.'1!-H'ltt.,; t.o dt·\·i~lop lljl to an ont1•nt of 1.000 Lom. pPr day qf eight honr~: t·his

inclnder; draina,gc uud ·ventilat.ion driveh EIPctrir h:l1lbge :-;vstem YPnt.i!ation fall, 160,000 l ubi(~ fed ui air per minute. at. \Ya1n gn11ge of I inl'h('f', dirt>d mot.or driveu in~ta.lle<l

at existing shaH Underground trncb.; t100 lli !-ton ea.pacity, fitt.cd with ,c.:pccial oil bearing.-,, estimated cm:.t .£12 each :\Ilne rails ---,300 ton<-> '10-IIL nnrl 2.0-lb. rails Power ~ubsta.tion- ~-t.ranRfonnen.:. &e., 1,000 h.p. Underground and surfaee electric lighting Vndcrground power transmission Snnd phint. t.o t::upply lilling I or redamat.ion o{ surfa!'c; l'om.:i.,ting o£ loeomot-ive, ho11per-hottom trucks, st.eam

shovel, rails, &c. Dredge, suction-pump 1·_'"J,E'. l6-in. centrifugal, fitt.ed wit.b rmml cut.t.er, for dredging sea beach, <:apacit-y

1,300 tons of sand pn dny of eight hours ~Lables and ponies [{ai]v;a.~T Sidings gngineering and CarpPnten;' s1top" Cha.nging house l\lalwger'R house Mine oflicef:l

Add 10 per cent. for contingencic~

Total

ESTIMATED :~m;ING COSTS BY FILLING SYSTEM.

i\Iining Filling Timber and timbering for bulks and dri\ es Haulage a.nd trucking Pumping Ventilation Winding .. Supervision clerical staff Extra cost wages, afternoon shift . Interest, 5 per cent ; depreciation, 7 per cent.

I 1,000 Ton< pe< Eight-hour Da.y.

Cost per Ton.

I s. d. 2 0 1 g 2 0 0 6 0 2'5 0 2 0 1'5 0 6

1 2

8 5

·"· d. 2 0 I ~I

2 0 0 6 0 1•25 0 2 0 1•5 0 4

1 2

8 2

£ [0,400 5,000 3,000

300 1,500 3,000

900 1,000 7,500 .3,700

24,(100 10,000

3,000 6,000 6,000 3,000

900 1,IOO

10,000

20,000 1,500 3,000 5,000 .3,000 2,000 2,000

~----

136,800 13,680

150,480 ----

s. d. 2 0 1 \) 2 0 0 6 0 1'25 0 2 0 !•5 0 4 0 1'8 o s·s

7 8

•

---~~--- ----- --

Mining Timber and t.imbering Haulage and trucking Pumping Ventilation Winning .. Supervision clerical staff Reclamation

ALTONA BROWN COAL I<'IELD.

ESTIMATED J\lL'ifiXG COSTS BY CAVING SYST:I-:M. ~ -~~~~ ·······-----· ~ -·----········-··-~······-········--·

---------------·------ -------------·

:1

l,UOO Tons p-;r Eight-hour Day.

Cost per 'l'on.

s. ,L 2 0 1 6 0 6 0 2•5 0 2 0 1"5 0 6 0 9

Extra cost wages, afternoon shi[~ Intt:r,~st, ;) per cent-. ; dB!Jteciatlon1 7 pce c,ent. 1 "

• I '

APPENDIX D.

BROW:\' COAL DIGVEI.OP}JE!\T I~ GKR\!A~Y.

2,000 1'ons per 2,Guti Tou,; ptr Elght.-hour Day. Sixt,ce-n-lnJttr Day. ('o~t· per Ton. Ct.:HC Jmr 'nm-

8. d. s. d. 2 0 2 0 1 6 1 6 0 6 0 6 u r· f..i 0 1 ·5 0 2 0 2 0 I· 5 0 J '5 0 ·1 0 1 0 9 0 !J

0 2 1 4 0 d

·---

6 10 G ·1

L Tim1u:~h the <'lrort." of UH· A.:~f>at-(~eneral (8ir Peter McHridc) and Lient.-GeneraJ Sir John l\lonar;h, aJHl by (a)tr:tt:>y of iht> War Oilier, a pa1ty uf v~ginccrs aml dn1ugLt::men \Va~ made available Lo report on the H-hiueluntl BTown CoaJfidds. Thi;.; _party hn.'- madP a VIT,Y iJw~·ou;~!;}l invi·:-Jit-t1t!on into th• rw·t-1wds cmi•loyt•rl in wml..ing iLc,.;e bnr~u \.fA\1 depr::.itt-. f\.nJ a valuable T'P]JOI't !1a~ bc•.:'n -.en•iv01l a-.; a rt'&ult ot th(·ir in•,uiriP-.:,

A:t c~~amlnation uf thii:i report a-:\d t;tc phottlgraplLs and JnJ\dn;:t."t Hlcomr:J.nyic~ it, h~l''::£ out n'l',\' ~_·h·;Fly the slmHarit,'l in mr~,ny l'l'i':ipC•tt./5 t.o thr t'(illdiiion:-. oM.aiJ ing nt )lonvt•ll. The l':t;:Kie.'l! ch;:tJ..:·.'~·01i,:t)(',<{ t;f dw Clllt] drpu~:il-< shmv man:v like feutnru;, awl t.l1c ntetbod .. o[ worki11g, partir·ularly :-.in('(' tlw W[J.t cnn.!itioll.c,; l'PlHlPn·d 1b• a..Jr1plinn of mrchar ifal 8ppliancr~ imperative. coulJ qtiite sit!lply be adnph'd to the Morw('U Browu t'on.l~f-ield;-o; ~hould Much a c·.out'ile Le corL'sitlc1"0-d dR..,irablc <'1-fter comparison with morlC'rn pnwtirL' in othC'r pM·t.-;; of the worl.d.

'fJw report sLows that-largely a4 a n;;;p\t of t-he rlct11..1nd uf men for the tmny~th:· hr<•;,1,\:i11~ and hanrlling qf the roal by lllf't.hani.c:al applinnces has been developt·d very f.1Jn~iderahly timing the Wtl.r period. Al the Furtuaa Mh1t~ 1 Qua~'h'a.th. nt,ar Colognl', (h:'-rntany, fi,JOO to 7,000 tons uf ;:o,tl are raisf'zi ('Yrry twenty-four how-.1 t•ll the opBth'Hi systmn. Thi$ method }r: cmpJo;:{ld where the rati(J or the overbu~de!! to coal is a~ BHI<'ll aF< two to on<'.

2. The rewoval of t1H' tlvc·dmrdcn i.:; nvcoJI!j'li:,hvJ by nwatt:> of lHnd drcJ~ei:J in lH.:ndth; of about. 33 ft·cf. •'ttch. These macltinf's <Hf' St!C on n1ils1 and slowly tm' t•rsc t h·· fuc;', rl':)llOYing th0 Jmthwla] tUld 1otu1inq: irr(,o sf'Jf-iippi•1g H'\H:ks: in thr our operation. Tho matt'l'ial is then ("onn~ycd hy lot~rJtn:ltivf't1 to the chmqdng area, '~ ht·rc it is dtllnpcd a,w] distrlbnt.rd by mean:-; of a mt"chanical spreading Hlf1('hinr. (Print ;).)

The trm.l:s o;1 whirh tlw va1ion"l machin1?s travr?rse the fa_r.e an: movf'cl by mcane; Df a spceialmaehinv innntcd tluring the wa.~·. Full details of this mac!Jine <lH' nl"-0 lrwlntkd in the r('port.

3. Yarious type~ o[ Hutehines have he<:u tried it; \dnuing the coaL Of the:'c Lhv m::.d.inr~ wl!ieh ;~ dr-H:ribed .as l;k.d i:-< i11ustratC'd hf'm-with. {l")rlnt :t.) Tl1i~ nl<'tchine tt<lst:ls on rails at the hott<nn of the facf'. and cuts and loarls with a er\'W o1 tv;,-o, one mechanic ancl mw a1'<:<;istant lt llHty bP emr.;t>tud1.•d fo1 JJny hr·ight of face' up t.; lOO fe£>1 1 a.ntl, brir•fly, consist.::. :Jf t1 body travt:lling on ::·ails fr01n wf•ich is !HlHJX'mled a fr::uw:work snppoltlilg: two 1ink belle eanying the Qtttter~. UndcrncuHt are su"pendN-l the lva<ting b~tt·Let.". Thf' nac·hinr· i•; wod::_c(i owd t:ontrolled eiectricaHy 1 and ClJts anrl loads the coat in onr opcmt.io11.

The haui<o•.gt· of conl iN donn by means of t:ndleH~ l'buiu" opr1atct1 hy winding h:t(;tlT, The coal t-ruck., are of stawlarJ siZ(' m1d are brid~ed in the centre. On thi;,; bridge i.'l pluccd a fork 'Yhich engages with the lirl~:; of the endless chain.

4. At the F'ortunu. workings 6):100 tCI 7,00() tons d c·oal al'e ra.ised dally. Of this quBntit~· .'-\{)0 to 1,000 tons per day of raw coal aro sold dirrct. to local factories, and the haJar.ce is utili:wtl in i,he ge11eration r•f electricity for indue,;trial lHtfpDSCl'f and the mauufadurc of briquettes. 'l'he rapneity of the ck:ttrical plant i::. 3(),000 kv•.

5. The syndicate col trolling the Rhinduud Hrown Coal·fir:-lds produces 20,000 tons of briquettes per day, which are sold all over Ger:rrutny for industrial and domestic purpo._-;e,~. 1l'he nmnufa.cturc, briefly, t-onsists of Hrst screening and cr1,1shing th<' coal (any oversize and woody porti~•ns being conveyed fQ the builel's). 11he coal is then dried and fed to a .special machine 'vhme it undergoes a pressure of 19~000 to 25,0t...10 lW. per square iw:h. No binding material is used.

By Aullkmity: Aumu J. Mutu.rr, Govero:meot PrlnterJ Melbourne,

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Fig. 17.-Brown Coal 0- Out.

Fig. 20.-Ullderhand Jllacbine ou Overburden. Fortnua.

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Fig. 26.-Mech.a.nical Overburden Spreader, Fortuna.