Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-31
Chi.nl.cyS.

ShaInHsSSss
In building fue chmncys, in brick walls, the
inside should be Tlastcredas carefully and smooth
ly as the finishing coat of parlor. Masons do
not do this :; they put on the common lime used
by them for jonting, and the interior surface is
covered without proper regard being paid to
the functions of the chimney The reasons for
laying on the lime coat of a chimney smooth,
are obvious, if we take into consideration that
the rough edges Of the lime, when dry, serve as
points OF attraction and adhesion for SCOT, be-
cause they resist the passage of the smoke. A
smooth chimney has better drauyht, to use a
common term, than one with a rough interior :;
the reason of this is also obvious, because rough
surfaces retard the passage Of smoke, as we'll as
water or any other substance in motion is retard-
cd by them. In the building Of houses, masons
arc too careless about these things; indeed, the
majority Of them do not appear to have any
knowledge Of natural philosophy, yet there is
no man living, be lie mason, plastercr, or hod-
carrier, but stands high Us a workman according
as he is we'll informed.
Were it not for the general form of the walls
the chimneyS built Of Il round or oval shape
like the funnel Of steamboat. The hues in
brick houses should be built circular inside this
would be little more troublesome, but the iucs
would be all the better for it; yet, if they were
only plastered smooth, no one would have to
complain of a square Or rectangular form.
Some chimncys are built with tremendous
gaping tirc-paces, Others are built wide at the
base, and taper towards the top: both plans are
erroneous y moderate width of fire place is all
that is required 1--WE have wonderfully improved
our forefathcrs in this respect,) and it would BE-
far better, if chimney is built tapcring, to have
the widest part at the top, where the smoke is
to make its exit. a reason for this is, that when
the smoke is confined below, and suddenly al
lowed to expand at the top, it forms partial
vacuum, which draws up tho smoke. 1t is upon
this principle that Prof Espy's Ventilator is con-
structed. 1t may be said the open cXpanse above
the chimney, allows the smoke to expand, there
fore it is of no use TO widen the top of the CHM
ncy inside this is very true.
The rules which should be followed in the
building of chimney, is to build lit of a uniform
diameter from bottom to top not too wide, and
smoothly covered with plaster inside.
The object Of writing this article was to direct
attention to making the interior Of chimncys
smooth and well covered with lime. In many
cases there are chimncys built for small houses
of diameter which would enable them to car
ry smoke away from one of Collins steamships
Masons do not appear to take into consideration,
when they build a chimney, what it has to do,
namely, to carry off the smoke from one or two
fires. The narrower the chimney the better will
it draw, consequently a wide chimney for small
fre-a very common crrOr-cmbracrS a scientific
principle, rs erroneous as it would be to array
Tom Thumb in snit belonging to Giant Hale,
for the purpose of refrigeration in tie dog-days
We have used the term draw, in respect to the
current in the chimney, us It is generally under
$, cd th~ pri"cjple Of drau"lt III a chimney
has nothing 10 do with pulling or drawing the
smoke pressure, expansion, and absorption are
the governing causes Of aerial currents.
ScioahGc American.