Science and research. Studies of non-coking coals. William S. Landers, assistant chemical engineer at the Golden, Colorado field station of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, takes a reading from moisture distillation apparatus which determines the water content of coal. Most western coal is high in oxygen and contains more water than eastern coal. Most of the coal in the research is being carried on to determine the suitability of western coal for coking operations. Sourced from the Library of Congress.