Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-08
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER s.
SUBSTITUTES FOR COAL.


The Philadelphia Press discusses the subject
Of economy in coal, and directs attention to an
Invention which has just been brought out 10
that State by which beuzine can be safely ana
economically burned in stove. 1t Is also
said that company is now forming IN London
for the purpose Of working the Scotch peat
fields. with view to make them OF more than
local Importance By process which has been
tested, this peat eau be converted luto COD
depsed pulp, which is almost equal to wood IN
solid;tv when drv. This is said to be superior
TO coal for most purposes While it is fully
equal in its heat. generating power, 1t is tree
from the bad odors and smoke arising from
coal. The individual or the company who
shall establish the possibility of making this
condensed peat an article of commerce, to COM
pete with other fuel where it is not native, Will
deserve the thanks of mankind.
Whether the predictions in relation to the
failure Of the coal supply have actually stimu'
lated invention, or merely brought to hight In
yentions that were already secretly 10 existence,
certain it is that economical appliances are now
more rapidly multiplying than ever before. The
day of stoves that are to save more fuel than
the old ones burned, if we may believe the en-
thusiastic advertisements, seems to be past,
and to have given place to means more strictly
$500
OF this character is process which has been
successfully experimental upon in England
by which coal dust can be burned. There is
about all coal mines large quantity OF refuse
dust which has been entirely uuseless; IN many
places it is a nuisances difficult to be disposed
of, and many attempts have been made to COD
vert it to some use 1t has been mixed With
peat or clay In some instances, and used for
1uel ia dried cakes or bricks but all such pro-
cesses have proved too expensive. Ii this
English invention shall be successful, therefore,
it will be great benefit to the world.
The first part of this process is the reduction
of all the waste dust to powder One account
thus describes'the machinery for this purpose !:
There is pair of common millStones, the
whole cost of grinding and screening beng
twenty FIVE cents ton. The dust which passes
through sieve of pine hundred mcshcs to the
inch is found to be most effective From the
sieve the fuel is conducted by an Archimedean
screw to the feeding apparatus, which is a
square chamber or hopper having two reVolv,
ing stirrers, which keep the whole contents OF
dust in general agitation. These stirrers fur
nish continuous and unvarylng supply OF fuel
to an annular tube leapiDg into the furnace,
and at point where it is taken by the current
of atmospheric air. The furnace is started by
lighting fire in the combustion chamber with
kindling wood and when sufficient degree OF
heat has been developed, the air and coal dust
are admitted.
A furnace for the trial of this fuel has been
in operation at the Woolwich Arsenal 10 Eng
land, and it is said not only to be success as
far as the entire consumption of the dust Is
concerned, but that it accomplishes this with,
out smoke. Furthermore, it has been found
very useful in the manufacture of malleable
iron and steel, or the process known as mcchan-
ical pudding. If all that is claimed for this
invention is true, its introduction will establish
an era in manufacturing economy and comfort,
and the day of short fuel may be postponed
some centuries beyond the limits set by the
prophets. Ball. -4n,erlcdn