The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-25
srREAroR, LIS.
TO ABATE COAL SMOKE.
some Valuable Suggestions In MItIgat.
ing this Nuisance.
l)oRoTIIY.

Some Valuable Suggestions In MitIgat.
ing this Nuisance.
Every one that has observed soft coal
fire, says Cincinnati paper, knows that
the greater part Of the black smoke that is
sent off is because OF the careless and ig-
norant way of feeding the fire. 1t is the
same in steam boiler furnaces, in heating
furnaces, in kitchen stoves, and parlor fire.
places. Also every one that has tried 1t
has found that to make workmen or work
women feed the fire intelligently 80 as to
burn this smoke, exceeds the power Of the
employer and housekeeper, even il the
employer is not too careless to do it when
he or she tends the fire.
In the case Of steam boiler furnaces, os
we have before times shown, the excuse
for shoveling the fireplace full OF Goals is
that the volume of cold air let in under
the boilers, by opening the furnace doors
to feed little and often, would defeat the
economy. This is but partly true. The
ease Of feeding in the bulk way is the
principal reason, and the average work.
man regards any increase OF his care in
order to save expense to his employer as
an imposition on the workingman. II
women think it any easier with their help,
let them try il with their help, let them
try 1t with their Biddies and Gretchens,
and see If they do not soon find that this
is too great disturbance to bear for what
they can do in the smoke OF reform.
They will find the same in feeding their
open fires under their own noses in the
parlor, and that even themselves, their
husbands, boys, and relations will rather
put on a lot OF Goals at once, and let them
send off black smoke for q quarter or
half an hour before getting well ignited,
than take the trouble Of putting on little
at shorter intervals. But this easy conclu.
sion on the part Of all is what makes the
bulk OF our smoke.
In the case Of steam boiler furnaces, this
inability to get any care or intelligence or
stoking has not even attempted to make
such feeding place by which the Goals
could be placed on the fire without letting
in the cold blast. Yet any mechanic will
say this is practicable.
Our information is that most OF the burn
ing OF the smoke which has been accom-.
plished in London is by the manner Of
feeding the fire. All know that il small
amount Of coal is placed on bright fire,
the smoke is mostly burned. On the other
hand, they know that il large quantity
is put on, considerable part is sent of in
thick smoke before the fire RECEIVERS
enough t. burn it. All can see that il an
apparatus were contrived at the mouth Of
the furnace, to place the Goals regularly
according TO the rate Of consumption on
the bright fire, most Of the smoke would
be burned. And any mechanic will say
that such an apparatus can be made to do
this without letting in cold air blast.
But 1t is requisite that this should be
madeto work with machine regularity If
not automatically, so that neglect aud in.
difference and laziness shall not find 1t
easier to stoke in bulk. All will agree that
II is entirely practicable to make such
feeding apparatus at no great expense.
And there can be nodoubt that the saving
thereby would make it profitable. The
expectation Of some chemical mixture, or
OF some machine by which smoke shall
be made SO intlammable as to burn itself,
will probably be disappointed, but at any
rate the reduction OF the smoke nuisance
by subdivision OF the coal in feeding the
fire is entirely practicable, and it appeals
TO ever ones common sense.