The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-25
The Petroleum Cooking Stove.

We do not ordinarily bestow editorial notice
upou new inventions; but considering the
Petroleum Cooking Stove rs one of very great
value at this particular time TO our Southern
people, we make an exception from the gene
raj rule, in its favor.
A company of gentlemen in Baltimore own
! the right for this State, and their representa-
! tivcS are now in this city exhibiting the stove
! and proving by actual experiment its capacity
and general advantages. They have room
! over the store of Mcssrs FRENCH Il CRENsHAW,
! corner of Main and Ninth streets, where those
/ who are curious on the subject may see the
/ stoves and learn particulars in regard TO them
/ For chcapneSs, cleanliness, security, excel
lent cooking, and the rapidity with when the
cooking is done, we are certain there is nothing
yet invented TO compare with this stove Inc
oil used in it costs forty cents per gallon, ana
| by actual experiment this gallon has fed
stove with two burners for the purposes oil
! cooking for ten days.. e., with the cost OF
alcohol TO ignite the oil, the expense OF cook
ing three meals per day was five and Il nall
cents The fact is, the expense OF tucl IS
! mere trife, while the results are wonderful.
! The cooking of becfsteak is one test that IS
generally considered, next TO that OF good
bread the most decisive and this stove COOKS
a steak in the most complete manner, never
burning il, and cooking it perfectly done, or
rare, as may be desired. We saw q three
pound steak cooked to Il turn in fire INMATES,
and q sWeeter one no man ever ate. 1t bakes
bread and biscuit with like success, and boils
and roasts iustas readily. The heat is thrown
on by Jets of flame, having very much the
appearancc of the flame from hickory wood,
which, striking first an iron disc under
! the article 10 be cooked, passes laterally
/ to the edges of the disc, and thence upward
and over the thing cooking, dilusng
! a general and efficient, though not q scorching,
! heat throughout the stove. . The flame does
| not rise above the disc; but the heat from II
/ penetrates with equal force throughout the
! stove and cooks what's in it, every part alike,
| while the Juices of the meat are preserved
| undiminished and unaffected. SO with bread,
! the cooking is thorough and the crust is all
over alike. 1t cannot be otherwise ; n bad
cook may prepare the bread wrong, but the
stove will cook il right. With the evidence
we had yesterday, we are satisfied that this
| little petroleum apparatus will cook better
than anything ever yet invented by man.
Being an old fogy, we wonld make an excep-
| ton in favor of splitting turkey before big
hickory fire; but this we never expect to see
! in our lifetime again therefore we hail the
petroleum stove as the next best invention.
| We saw it tried in various ways, and when
| we departed, q fine canvass back duck was
lust being done to turn. We left him with
profound regret.
Now, for safety, we consider it uneXception-
able The fuel passes through an Oritice as
fine rs a cambria needle, and cannot be jetted
m do iOi IUb iS
perfectly under the control of the attendant.
No wick is used The reservoir which holds
the oil being filled-and that should be done in
| the day time-we see no possible danger. The
reservoir is closed with a screw, and flame
| cannot be communicated TO it,
We consider this stove providental dis
covery for us at this time when we are called
upon 10 revolutionize our household economy.
And il is this which induces us TO give it this
prominence 1t is so cheap, so clearly, so
complete in its performances, it may be intro
duced into the dining room, or even chamber,
without offence, and may be attended by The
most delicate lady. 1t avoids the heavy work
of handling coal or wood, and the dirty work
of removing ashes. In winter it helps to warm
the room, and in summer ii may be placed in n
hall or porch, and the moment the cooking is
done the flame is extinguished and the heat
dies.
Such an apparatus is desideratum with us,
and must soon enter into general use. Unjust
secure great economy in servants as well as
fuel Besides the cooking stove, there are
stoves for warming rooms, which are very
neat and evolve much heat; but Of their
power we cannot speak positively.
The right for this city or State is for sale, and
we hope will fall into the hands of an enter
prising company.