The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-11-24
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


coal fires is fast approaching, some sug-
gestions as to their management may not
be out of place, as the fact is incontro-
vertible that much waste of fuel and
loss of heat is occasioned by want of
knowledge and care in this respect
Anthracite coal is carbonaceous min
eral, containing larger percentage of
carbon than many carbonaceous sub
stances found in large masses. In rare
cases this percentage is as high as ninety
or ninety-fve, but generally less. 1t
contains no bituminous substance, and
does not yield inhammable gases by dis
tillation. 1t undergoes u slow combus-
tion by exposure to the atmosphere, re-
ducing in bulk and deteriorating in
heat-giving properties. 1t should,
therefore, be kept under cover and not
be LETT exposed TO the influences of sun,
rain, and frost. The waste by exposure
is q loss to the dealer by reduction in
amount and to the consumer by reduc-
ton Of heating power.
In kindling anthracite coal fires q
considerable degree of heat is required
in the first instance. Charcoal is there
fore, preferable to wood, and with either
II good draft is necessary. Wood split
fine and in length suitable to the fire.
box will, however, kindle anthracite
well. But one great mistake in starting
o coal fire is the general practice of
scrimping" the amount of kindling;
be generous i'll this respect and an ex-
cellent glowing coal fire will result in a
few minutes. For broiling purposes no
fire is superior to that of anthracite.
Coke is the nearest approach to be i'm
plicitly relied upon. The smokiness Of
bituminous coal, and the combined
smokiness and blaze of wood render
either unfit for brolling Il steak or fish,
or for toasting a slice OF bread, until the
one is cooked and the other reduced to
mass of live Goals.
To start fire, prepare by removing
with the hands, used as rake, all the
solid surface masses. These are uncon-
sumed coal the scoria is of Il metallic
nature, and being the heavier, has sunk
to the bottom or to the vicinity of the
CRATE, and the ashes are distributed
among the contents Of the fire-boX.
These surface Jumps, however small, are
valuable for use when a slow and steady
fire is required. Then dump the con-
tents Of the fire-box for future screen
ing. Open all the draughts, put in the
kindling, plenty OF it, and light. When
the wood or charcoal gets well under
way, and before it has burned down,
spread evenly q small quantity of new
coal, and feed gradually as the mass gets
well ignited. This gradual and judi
cious feeding of coal fire is important.
A mass of crude coal dumped on to q
fire will inevitably choke and retard it.
With careful feeding q glowing fire fit
to broil, can be obtained, with any sort
of decent draught, in fifteen minutes
from the time Of lighting; while with
ignorant smothering an hour will be re-
quired In dealing with an anthracite
coal the homeopathic plan is the true
principle. When thrown on in large
quantities the coal is disintegrated and
flies Off in unconsumed carbon in mi
mute flakes, or in the form of SCOT.
Anthracite coal should be used in
Jumps as fine as the interstces Of the
CRATE will allow. The mass is not easily
pcrmeated by heat, as may be proved by
removing Il glowing lump and cracking
it open with hammer; the interior is
still black and untouched by fire. so the
smaller the Jumps the sooner they ignite.
1t burns wholly from the outside, and
thus screenings and minute particles
make very hot fire. Even the ashes
contain much combustible matter, and
they are useful to keep up slow fire
when mixed with water in sort of
mortar and spread over "a bed of living
Goals. Fire may thus be preserved all
day or all night, if required, without q
new feeding of coal.
In screening or sitting coal, water
will be found useful adjunct. By
drenching the mass Of fine coal and
scOria the ashes are washed from the
small Jumps of coal and their character
exposed. In many cases those which
would have BEEN rejected as worthless
are shown to be pure coal, disguised only
by the clirging ashes.
The management OF draughts and
dampers IS also OF great importance.
As before remarked, in starting fire the
greatest possible draught should be as
surcd. After the fire is we'll agoing,
close the draught under the CRATE and
open the damper above the fire, or both
as the occasion may demand. Better
not close the damper in the flue leading
| W lhc CuliuHey III Will De Hcnerllly
found that the slowing down of combus-
ton may be assured equally well by ad-
mitting the air of the room to the space
over the fire, while the unobstructad fue
insures ventilation and prevents the es-
cape Of the gases of combustion into the
room. Open CRATES for burning authra-
cite usually expose too large a surface tc
insure good draught. This may be
remedied by fitting piece of boiler
plate to the inside of the CRATE bottom,
thus diminishing the area exposed to the
air.
The editor of the Western RUaL says
that an extensive dealer in live stock al
Chicago told him that but for the pre-.
sence Of Texas cattle at that market the
price OF beef there this season would, in
his opinion, have gone up to twelve
cents per pound, live weight, or some
three cents pound higher than it ha'
done. This estimate may possibly be {
little extravagant, but there can be nC
doubt that the Texas cattle have mater.
tally reduced the prices on our native
stock, and the New England farmers
have received many thousand dollars
less for their cattle than they would have
obtained if there had been no Texas stocl
in n, rlrof