Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-15
HOUSE FARMING


There has been considerable discussion re-
Gently upon the above subject, with heavy
blows at furnaces, CRATES and stoves, as being
unhealthy. Since the most of people are
obliged to have some kind of heating appara-
,us in their houses, they would like to know
what is best for economy and health if they
can. An article in the Springfield Republ-
can upon the subject is as follows: f
The New York Times, in an article apon
this subject. INDUCES in condemnation of
coal-grates that will deeply shock many people
who dote upon their cheerful anthracite, and
many others who long for it. The Times
thinks that the continual draft of the oxygen
from a closed room by crate robs the lungs
that may happen to be in it, while the conun-
! ual glare of the fire unpleasantly affects the
brain ''Bad as the furnace is, it is better
than this" and it thinks a furnace with heat
ing space sufficiently large, so as not TO me-
cessitate a red-heating OF the iron, better than
anything else yet made applicable to general
use. In fact, many of the objections TO fur
naces, about which our sanitarians declaim so
furiously, are being removed by the greater
perfectibility Of their make.
The stove making trade have always seemed
to US the most stupid artitcers in the market
The old cook-stoves and heating stoves were
merely piles of scrap-iron loosely riveted to-
gether and with the most bunglihg apparatus
in the world. 1t was not till within two or
three years that SO simple thing as a door
latch was put upon an oven door. The old
arrangement used to be kind of binding
catch, which illustrated perfectly 'the total
depravity of inanimate things" If a crisis
was involved in the success of the baking, the
l. v.l k.alE
way open at critical time; and, again, it
would stick so tight that the power of woman
kind prevailed not against it. 1t is only with
in few months that stove-legs have been
securely fastened, and so on of thousand
Improvements, most of which are yet to come
The stove manufacture had been carried on
nearly century before it occurred to any
body to attempt the construction of one on
common sense principles, and to meet the
convenience OF the kitchen and parlor. The
furnace manufacture was similarly behind
hand. The complaint that furnaces permit
the escape of gas and OF dusti is simple tes-
timony to the carelessness of the makers. In
this era of mechanical ingenuity, the failure
to produce fire box which would confine gas
and cinders is simply disgraceful, and has al
ready been retrived by some makers. On the
question at fresh air, we cannot conceive OF
any method of heating which furnishes more
of it. right from out doors, than the perfect
furnace.
The Germans enjoy the most agreeable
stove-heat Of any people, from their porcelain
stoves. 1t is unfortunate that our porcelain
makers are not encouraged to give attention
to these ornaments of the household. No
heat could be milder or less deoxydize than
that obtained from these monumental erec-
tons, which are as large as an ordinary
wardrobe, except in width, with an exterior
Of fine glazed porcelain, white or delicately
tinted, and perhaps ornamented with an elab-
crate medallion. Even the iron door is shut
in from deleterous contact with the air by an
outer door of polished brass. A slow FIRE in
this ornamental structure furnishes most de-
lightful and even heat. But even this ar
rangement brings no fresh air into the room,
and forces no foul air out.
House-warming is subject full OF tradi-
tions and supersttions, which science has SO
far rather fostered than dispelled. That steam
heat is moist, furnace heat burnt, fireplace
heat very salubrious, CRATES heating to the
brain, moist heat more healthy than dry, etc.,
etc are all assumptions rather than proven
facts, and some OF them assumptions which
the doctors accept rather than investigate.
And most people when they imagine the air
OF room ''clOse" g. e. fouD will still insist
on letting down a window at the top and vast
ing the pure air which has been heated at SO
much expense, and leaving the foul and heavy
air to fill the lower half of the room.