Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-24

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injustice and extortion, and corresponding
embarrassment, distress and suffering re
suit.
The scarcity Of coal and wood in many
places has thrown up prices to sn enOr-
nous pitch, producing present inoonven-
ience, and a winter prospect of real suffer
ing. This state Of things is producing en-
quiry, research and investigstion in order
to gain, if possible cheaper fuel. Happily,
these investigations are not without their
fruit. At several points it has been dis
covered that large tracts of Peat exist,
which will serve admirably as a cheap sub
stitute for GOAL and wood. Doubtless peat
exists, excellent in quality and extensive
in quantity, where it is little dreamed Of.
The present high and increasing prices of
fuel will stimulate enquiry, search and
experiment, which will be rewarded by
success in finding large tracts Of this val
liable material, In various localities in the
country.
The Rochester Democrat says that ]. R.
Garretsel, Of the town Of Ogden, New
York, is using it, derived from bog
swamp, and has demonstrated that it can
be worked into al excellent fuel at trif-
ling expense.
Peat is extensively used as all are aware,
We presume, by the Irish snd Scotch peas
antry.
The greatest peat falds yet discovered,
are those of Minnesota, as we learn from
the st. Paul Daily Press. In St. Paul,
city surrounded by immense forests, wood
is now sold at 81 and So a cord For
these e1tortiOnate prices, wood dealers re-
ceive many snathemss. The Press, very
naturally rejOices at discovery which
will bring down the price of fuel. Peat
can be cut, dried and delivered at from
81 so to s. per cord, and cord of peat,
will be just about an equivalent for cord
Of wood. We quote from The Press:
HThe discovery Of these peat beds is due
70 Jacob W. Bass, Esq, an old settler Of st.
Paul, and long q well known citizen
among US. His attention was first called
to this peat bed on his own premises, by
the scarcity and high price of fuel, and in
true Yankee spirit, he set about divining
remedy therefor. The possible existence
Of peat then occurred to him, and he cut
some last summer, and dried it. Having
tested it by some experiments, he soon be-
came convinced that it was the real arti-
Gle, and forthwith employed two men 10 cut
and dry about thirty cords which he has
now stored in the cellar Of his elegant reg
idence, and uses in place of wood.
Mr.. Bass had spade, or cutter made
purposely for the work, like 6 sod-spade.
With this it is dug and cut in blocks like
brick, only larger, and being soaked
with water, must be laid On the grass to |
dry. After partially drying, the blocks
are piled up like bricks, with interstices |
between and through the layers, in order |
to allow the air to carry of the moisture |
A few weeks Of dry hot weather will |
thoroughly dry it, and It oau then be
packed away ready for use. In bsd wealth
er it will need shelter, such as bricks /
have when drying.
A large majority of our citizens, per
hsps, have never seen peat, or seen It burn.
It takes fire readily, requiring only g little
kindling, and soon becomes q mass of coal,
burning a long while, and throwing out
violent heat. IL burns in a ate fully as
well IS stone-cOsl giving a bright light
and genial heat, free from gas, or smell, OF
sparks. In a esoking stove, it produces
that steady heat 60 much priced by cooks.
Mr.. Bass cooks use it entirely, and say it
answers ss we'll Gs wood. A single block Of
it once ignited burns for a day or twj like
"punk" and can scarcely be put out
Hence, II would be valuable to leave over
night TO start fire with in the morning.
Perhaps, cord with cord, it will 20 about
as for ss oak wood.
The supply can never be exhausted, nor
esn Its immensity be fully estimated. Mr..
Bass says he has in his Pest-bog of sixty
acres on the edge Of town, enough 10 sup
ply st. Paul for q hundred years 1t is
twenty feet deep. There are some of these
Peat-bogs on nearly every section Of land
near St. Paul. But near where the new
Cemetery road crosses the railroad, are
hundreds Of acres Of it. In fact, there are
some beds of Peat right in the city. in
The Red River Valley are literally mil
ions Of acres Of it, which are annually
burnt over and charred on the snrfsce,
And all over this State and Wisconsin are
immense beds cf it. II
From the foregoing article it will be
Ieen that by one of those admirable sys- I
ems Of compensation that Providence so
'ften deVe-opes, our cold winters and scant ]
upply Of woOd-fuel has been rendered I
harmless by an article that, like mir and ]
Tster, are common blessings to all, and q
Without price. The same hand that pour
d oil into the rocks Of Pennsylvania, and O
TAINTED coal in such illimitsble quantities Q
yer our land, has given US boon, too, s
bat suits our wants; and, however insig I
lhesnt 1t may seem to some, it is destin-
to play an Important part hereafter in
ur State economy.
Peat is a deosyed vegetable matter, =
orming the soil of swamps, almost dry Ii
pom the surface, but few inches beneath v
insisting Of q muOky substance, which q
pom being thoroughly dried, is transmut- =
/ into bituminous coke or cosl, well B
dapted for fuel. When freshly cut 1t o
'ntains so to 30 per cent. Of water, which Q
drying is commonly reduced to about
5 per cent. This subrtance has, of course, g
bscut corded and dried in summer, and e
len housed for winter use. v
Dentb of Prominent Citizen. =
F. W. Seymour, Esq, President of the