The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-10-26 00:00:00

` In due time the bottoms of grates, for the more effectual
working of Inc plan, will be curved.

In connection with the foregoing, the following
letters have been sent to The Times for publication—

In order that the Rev, Mr. Mottles letter of to-day may
promote the object he has in view, economy of fuel, your
readers must carefully distinguish the facts from the fancies
by which they are surrounded. A layer of chalk lumps on
the bottom of a flregrate, like lire-balls, or even a sheet of
Iron, may do useful work in preventing that quick con-
sumption of fuel and that rapidity of draught which carries
most of the heat up the chimney. Such materials intelligently
disposed about the bottom, back, and sides of a fire-bed
divert some heat from the flue to the apartment, but to
suppose that the chalk contributes heat—that is to say, adds
to the total amount of heat derivable from the coal—is
erroneous. Indeed, during the conversion of chalk into lime,
heat is absorbed, secnrely locked up, not oven given out
again when the materials are cold. The van conventionally
called a " lime-burner " makes and sells lime, he does not
burn it, lie does not even burn chalk, he unburns it by aid
of t he fuel which he does burn, or rather, which nature burns
or him.

The question of economy of fuel does not make much head-
way. Nor will It, I fear, until a larger proportion of the
public possesses some knowledge of the simple natural laws
which Inflexibly govern the matter—in other words, till
scieuce te well taught in all schools.—l am, Am.,
JOHN ATTFIELD.
17, Bloomsbury-square, W.C., Oct. 18.

The Ile,. Henry Monies letter in The Times of Friday last,
which has been read with much Interest by all classes of
society, has also attracted my humble notice ; for it touches
a subje.et upon which my thoughts have been occupied for
some lima past, 6.111.1 especially of late, in consequence of the
present high price of Cal.
A feeling of great regard for any disinterested person who
comes forward at air opportane moment with a new idea
calculated to benefit the community, and not Limply with an
idea, but one beaked by experiment and caretei trial, makes
me reluctant to say anything in dinpmaxement of Air.
Monies plan; but as both he and I have the name object in
view, and as my profession has enabled me to gain practical
experience for some years past lathe combustion of fuel, a
few remarks from me may powsibly assist to bring about
come economy in the present extravagant mode of burniag
coal in our k.nglich fireplaces.

The idea of extracting carbonic oxide from carbonate of
Unto or chalk and burning P with coal is undoubtedly
valuable. It may not be generally known that this gas is
now burnt by itself on a large scale in the North of England
for heating steam boilers in the vicinity of blast furnaces.
As I fully appreciate many points in Ntr. lloule's plan, I
should be very glad if he can remove what seems to me in-
surmountable objections to its being generally adopted.
1. It is nearly impossible to induce all who have to attend
to domestic fires to bestow the care necessary ter the suc-
cessful application of chalk in them. 2. The chalk trust
materially reduce the size of the fireplace and check the
0111P/don of air at the bottom of the grate, thus retarding
the combustion within it, and, cousequemly, lessening the
amount of heat thrown off; and 3. The purest chalk aloes not
contain more than about 50 per cent. of carboidc acid gas
when dry, and only about 30 per cent. when wet; no that
for every ton of this gas generated about three tons of chalk
would be required , and, taking into account the price of
chalk hi London (roughly, at ss. a ton), and the amount of
labour required to move this large bulk of material from
place to place, the carbonic oxide thus produced would cost
more than coke, and, probably, about the same as coal.
I believe the desired object is to be attained, not by In.
troalucing any foreign substance into our fireplaces, but by
putting the coal into them in such a manner that its greatest
heating power is developed and every particle of it consumed.
This can only be done by the introduction of the coal
beneath the burning mass, instead of above it. A simple
mecbancial arrangement, unlikely to get out of order
by rough usage, is all that is required to effect an
enormous saving in coal and the complete prevention of
awoke. Coal put in at the bottom of a fire, instead of on the
top, becomes gradually heated until it gives off all the gas
contained in it. This gas passes up through the fire, and is
there consumed, instead of, as at present, going up the
chimnt yin the form of smoke. If smoke be prevented, the
accumlation of soot In chimneys is also prevented, and the
danger of their taking fire avoided.
The economy of turning a fire, ownwards is very remark-
able. Any one may try it In the following manner :—Take
the hot coals out of an ordinary fireplace, half fill the grate
with fresh coal, and teplace the hot coals on the top. The
fire so made will be found to last an incredibly long time,
and will throw out a large amount of heat.

I feel confident, now that the attention of the public,
through your Instrumentality, has been directed to Oda sub-
jcct, a suitable grate for the introduction of fuel at the
bottom will soon be forthcoming, and thus an immense boon
will be conferred upon the community at large.—l am, &c.,
V. B. M.
3, Delahar street, Great George-street,
Westminster, Oct. 21.