The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-26
The Philosophy Of Chi,nneys!

ticle upon chimneys and their belongings
The writer is apparently decided adnirer OF
the open fireplace. as a general enhancer OF
home Joys, and while he admits its defects,
and its annual chapter of accidents or annoy
ance., stiH thinks the enjoyment Of the open
fire to be too deeply seated lamoDg English
especiaIly,) to be greatly disturbed by these
causes But having this social aspect Of the
open fire place. which the weather Just now
would rob of all its charms, the writer gives
much that is new in relation 10 chimneys and
the philosophy Of their action, some portions
Of which we condense for our columns.
The chimney has been in use FOR five cen
turies. Existing remains prove that perFen
dicular fuez were constructed in England q
far back as in the twefta century. In draw
inps of tic time Of Henry III, chimncys OF a
cylindrical form are represented as rising con
siderably higher tEan tie roof and orders 10
raise the chimneys Of the kings houses were
frequent in that reign. Nevertheless, j. was
still the general custom. even in the fourteenth
century, to retain the hearth in the middle Of
the room. When TIE wood was fairly ignited
tie smoke would not be great, and the central
POSITION Of the fire was favorable to the radi
alton Of heat.
This method Of warming The hall was con-
tinucd long after fire places with chimneys
had been erected in the smaller apartments.
BY tie reign OF Elizabeth tie advantages of
the new system were so well appreciated that
ladies' in their visits to their friends, if they
could not be accommodated with rooms with
chimncys were frequently sent out TO other
houses, where they could enjoy the luxury.
But notwithstanding the chimney i so ven
cradle an institution. it has been employed
with a very imperfect appreciation of physi-
cal laws upon which it depends Probably,
he uriter from wi horn cu,.a evan
at the present day, few Of those who erect
chimneys would be able 70 explain the condi
lions Of their successful action, while the
learned chimney doctor often fails in his dag
noss, and rashly prescfibes for malady
from which the patient may be free, while
ncglecting that which would be evident to the
eye Of the man Of science.
1t is often supposed either that smoke as
cends the chimney because it is lighter than
the surrounding air, or that some mysterious
power exists in the chimney by which the
smoke is drawn up and discharged. That
smoke is not lighter than air, the following ex-
pertinent. devised by DR.. Franklin, will show:
If pipe of tobacco be lighted, lhe stem
plunged to tho bottom Of a decanter half full
of cold water, and the bowl covered with
piece of linen, SO that it may be blown thro'
without burning the lips, the smoke will de
scend the stem Of the pipe and bubble up
through the liquid, and thus becoming cooled
it will not rise ont of the decanter, but will
spread over the surface of the water. This
shows that smoke is in reality heavier than
air
But the murky cloud. which consists of
carbon, hydrogen. carbonic acid, carbonic
oxide, vapor of water and other products. Is
mixed with large proportion of'the air
winch enters the fire 1t is this invisible col
umn Of heated air that by its expansive force
carries with il the visible and less heated
smoke, until II energies from the top Of the
chimney, whore it encounters the cold Of the
external atmosphere, loses its asccntiye power,
and unless some kindly breeze conveys it
speedily away, hangs like cloud over the
crowded city, or falls in minute PARTICLES of
carbon, beginning everything below.
Air, then. being essential to the draught OF
chimneys. the quantity needed, aud the best
mode of supplying it. is an important inquiry
in connection with the subject. DR.. Prank
Inns method of ascer;aining III rough way
how much air is required to be admite per
minute, was to set the door jar until the fire
burnt properly. and gradually close it again
until the smoke BEGAN TO appear; he then
it little wider, and If the width of
the creyice was half an inch in door 8 feet
high, the room would need An aperture equal
to i8 square inches. or hole inches by 8. /
Six inches square would probably be sufficient:
for the wants Of most chmaeys.
But where TO form this aperture is difficult
question. If made in the door, it admits
cold current TO the back and feet Of persons
sitting near the fire, and also interfereS with
the privacy of the room: if made in the win
dow, 1t brings down cataract of untempered
air upon the head. The plan invented by
Gauzer a Frenchman, who a century and
tatf ago described IL IN work entitled LA
Mecsnquc du Ecu" appears to have great
merit, and is now very generally used in this
country for the purpose of supplying hot air
furnaces. He opened a hole in the hearth.
communicating with channel which passed
under the floor. and finally through an aper- /
ture in the wall of the house reached the out
side atmosphere.
The principal remedy for smoky chimneYs
being to keep up an ample supply Of air. and +
no special provision being made by the house (
builder for the purpose. the air finds its way
through the cracks of windows and doors, or
by the more easy passage of another chimney
shaft. In this way chimneys may often over
power each other. A fire in a front or back
drawing room may burn very well by itself,
but if an attempt be made to light both fires.
the rooms are filed with smoke. The strong
er burning fire draws upon the draft of the
".'AS' ~ supply oi ar, ana OF course
brings the smoke down with IT, If the two
rooms be separated by wall, the same effect
may be produced for they still communicate
atmosPherically by the joints of the doors
IL Is even possible when the windows fit
tightly, for large kitchen fire to overpower
All the other ehimneys Of the house 1t was
an old opinion that chimneys ought TO be
crooked, whereas Slight bend towards the
top is beneficial. for this prevents the sudden
descent of wind or rain. Nor is the form of
the chimney material; it may be tspering. or
of equal bore, pyramidal or square; i, is only
necessary that i. be constructed so as to offer