"THE chief factor in the success of each man—wage-worker, farmer and capitalist alike-must ever be the sum total of his own individual qualities and abilities. .. The slightest study of business conditions will satisfy any one capable of forming a judgment that the personal equation is the most important factor in a business operation; that the business ability of the man at the head of any business concern, big or little, is usually the factor which fixes the gulf between striking success and hopeless failure. . . . . Each man must work for himself, and unless he so works, no outside help can avail him.” -Theodore Roosevelt The DuBois Press of Rochester, N. Y THREE years ago of the construc HREE years ago last Christmas tion of West Station spent the entire day carefully checking up the factors involved which would permit the immediate operation of the station. The second night following Christmas the first coal was put into this plant and for the next thirty-six hours the men interested and responsible for its operation did not leave West Station. Operation during the three months following was handicapped by the bitter cold winter weather and many problems had to be met and overcome at almost any hour of the day or night, but at the conclusion of that period everyone connected with the work was thoroughly convinced that the judgment of the Management in selecting this type of plant would meet our highest expectation. Now after three and one-half years of most successful and consistent operation the Management has authorized the extension of West Station so that its present capacity will be increased by one-third. This addition upon which construction is going on at the present time will require from ten months to one year for its completion. Its program calls for the erection of a quenching tower under which 550 cars of hot coke will pass every 24 hours, and there be subjected to a bath of cold water in order that the coke may be placed safely on the canvas cloth rubber covered conveying belts. The present retort house will be extended an additional 100 feet and will house the fourth battery of U. G. I. Vertical Retorts consisting of seven benches with a total of 63 retorts. This will also require the extension of the coal conveying belt of about 100 feet to supply the over-head coal hoppers which hold from 36 to 48 hours supply of gas coal. These benches which will be built of very high grade silica material to withstand a temperature of 3100° F. at 40 pounds pressure per square inch. will have some improvements in their design over the present ones, too technical to outline in this brief paper. The most notable change will be apparent in the fact that this new battery of seven benches will require only one hydraulic main for the collection of the tar, oil, ammoniacal liquor and raw gas instead of seven hydraulic mains to each battery as in the present installation. We believe that this will make for more simple control as well as an increased production of gas per pound of coal. The gas manufactured from this addition and which amounting to 11⁄2 million cubic feet every 24 hours, will require additional cooling coils and condensing surface for the reduction of the temperature of the |