Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-05-17

Dr. Macculloch says the oaor Of burning
peat is occasioned by an essential o,lr -pd It
is traditional in Ireland that the odorTs pre-.
ventivc Of consumption.
Peat is peculiar 10 cool climates. Nature
has thus provided tue people with constant
supply Of fuel it is only necessary that they
says it has seldom If ever been discovered
within the tropics. 1t does not abound in
the valleys or warm parts Of France or Spain.
In Germany it has been long known and
used for fuel and the people have learned
the value Of compressed peat so far that they
have worked il into balls with their hands
and feet.
VALUE OF PEAT FUEL.
II France the relative value of peat has
been determined by scientific experiments,
IS follows:
One kilogram each Of wood charcoal, pu-
rifed peat charcoal, coalcoke--each gave
1000 degrees Of heat while the same weight
Of coal gave 5000; Of wood, $500; Of raw
purified peat, 1900 degrees. 1t has also
been proved that condens ed peat gives near
ly double the heat Of charcoal.
Good peat 10 equal to btuminous coal,
ton for ton, for ordinary house use. 1t pos
sesses the great advantage of burning with
out smoke and leaving but little refuse. Con-
densed peat is worth Is per cent. more for
fuel than crude peat prepared in the ordinary
manner, besides occupying very much less
space.
now TO FrxD PEAT.
Peat deposits may be examined BY dig
ging or probing, by an instrument made on
purpose, and sometimes by simply thrusiing
down pole, and carefully examining the
adhering matter. The matter at different
depths should also be proved BY careful ex-
animation BY msceration, to determine the
heat-giving power and the ash.
Remember that some American peat OF
the most valuable kind will appear like .
smooth, plastic black mud. Tests will show
this mud pure carbon when freed from wa
ter. Other peat, which to an unpracticed
eye would have exactly the same appearance,
is An intimate MIXTURE of carbon and clay,
evidently formed BY an infiltration Of q solu-
tion Of clay among the 6bers Of the peat
while growing. Other peats are found in
alternste thin layers cf decomposed fbrous
peat any earthly matter.
One Of the distinguishing features Of .
good peat bog will be found in the fact that
the water never stagnates. 1t may be col
ored dark brown, and yet be pure enough
for all culinary purposes. Therefore, if any
one has what he supposes to be peat bed,
let him first observe the character of the WA
ter; next observe the quality and depth Of
the deposit. He will generally 6nd from
four to ten inches which may be termed sod.
! II is an outer covering Of the peat, and the
| separation is sometimes so perfect that the
covering may be rolled up like . great car
pet. Immediately under this turf and above
the general level Of the water the peat is Oft
en- very fibrous, coarse, light and spongy.
As this is most easily obtained, it is the kind
generally used, and has given = character TO
| peat fuel which il does not deserve. Such
peat, when mixed with that taken from q
greater depth, and condensed BY machinery,
| IS not only greatly improved, but becomes
! sufficiently solid for making steam or manu-
featuring iron.
| Msay old farmers remember basins, some.
tin es on the highest part Of their land, which
they speak of ~ having grown up. They
ages where they grew, have formed beds oi
peat.
COST OF PRODUCING CONDENSED PEAT.
| Says the Tribune:
As we have intended to estimate literally,
We do not see how q complete peat estab.
lishment, capable with the number of labor.
ers given above, Of turning out 5 tons day
Of perfect fuel, can cos: over $4,000 We
are sure il il cost double that amount that
there is no other manufacturing establish-
| ment in America that would afford greater
profit upon the investment and labor wher.
ever coal is worth Sc per tun, for We cannot
conceive any purpose to which fuel is ever
applied in the arts. or for producing power,
that peat would not be economical At two>
thirds the rrice Of coal. The cost per tun Of
condensed peat male by this machinery,
ready for market. at the present rates Of wa
ges, would not be, at an outside estimate,
more than g per tun. Its value here would
be from $S to $40 per tun.
YIELD OF PEAT.
A cubic foot Of crude peat taken from .
well-drained bog weighs from 80 to 55 pounds.
When perfectly dry, it will weigh about one
fourth Is much. Condensing and drying re-
duces it to about one-fourth the size. An
acre Of well>drained peat-bog is estimated to
contain the following quantities Of raw or
wet peat:
I Il. deep 1000 to 1900 tuns.
3 "a. deep $500 to 5000 tuns.