§ MR. HOLT(for Mr. CAWLEY) asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Whether or not an investigation has been made, under the direction of the Secretary of State for War, by the Superintendent of Machinery in the Royal Arsenal as to the comparative consumption of coal per indicated horse power by different classes of steam engines in use in the War Department at Woolwich and other places, and by other engines also examined by the Superintendent; and, whether, considering the great importance of economizing the consumption of coal, there is any objection to the production of the Report of the Superintendent on this subject?
§ SIR HENRY STORKSNo special inquiry has been directed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State; but 540 the Superintendent of Machinery in the ordinary course of his duty has made investigations of the nature referred to. Two Reports have been made, and the subject is under consideration, not only by the Superintendent of Machinery, but by the heads of the manufacturing departments, who are naturally anxious to economize fuel where it can be done with safety and efficiency. The general inquiry being not yet concluded, I do not think it would be desirable that the Reports should be produced.