Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-11
A Cure for smoke in Eirc.P.aces.

The growing obscurtty which distinguishes
the winter atmosphere OF London has bsan
traced 10 The partial consumption OF coal under
the present s. stem OF domestic fires. Whether
these 'fogS" are uD&Voidably connected with
The use or coal In great centers OF population is
a question now attracting general attention In
London. In an article In Nature. DR., G. vii
liam Siemens says he Is decidedly OF opinion
that the evil Is one which not only admits OF
remedy, but that It's cure would result from a
closer attention to the principles OF economy in
TIE use or fuel" The ordinary gas-grate3 are
objectionable on account OF the expense IN
CURED and the smell and dry heat which
attend their use. The first condition to be
realized In an efficient gas-grate, DR.. Sienen
says, consists In supprtSsing ali gas critic q
except immediately behind the bottom froat
Gar, and In substituting for the CRATE a solid
dead plate, instead OF using inert matter. such
as pumice stone. | consider IL far more ec5-
homlcal and efficacious TO transfer the heat
gas names 10 gas coke or anthracite which
vi en- once heated helps the gas 10 tncre8S
and maintain sufficient temperature for radll-
ton through Its own SLOW combustion. The
gas should not be mixed with atlnosDberi air
TO produce BuDsen fame, because by using
unmixed gas rich flame is set up between the
pieces OF coke near the front OF the CRATE. and
The hot caroonaceouS matter through which it
percolates insures its entire combustion before
reaching the chimney"
DIR. Siemens has constructed a gas-grate
which may be described as follows: At the
lotion OF the CRATE, Oh g. line with the TOD OF
the bottom front bar, there is an iron dead
plate riveted to stout copper plate facing the
back OF the fire-grate. The dead plate stops
short about an inch behind the bottom bar OF
the CRATE TO make room for a half-inch gas
pipe, which Is perforated with holes about
one-twentieth OF an inch In diameter. placed
Llg-Zag at distances OF three quarters OF an inch
aloDg us upper surface. The copper plate eX-
lends i've inches above and below the dead
plate. The gas pipe rests upon a plate on a line
Win the bottom OF the lower front bar and
ABOUT one inch below the dead plate. This
pate Is bent so as TO leave q vertical and hori
zontal Channel OF about one inch Ia breadth he
tweent 1t and the dead plate. A trap door nm.
der the gas pipe permits the discharge OF ashes
failing into this channel, The vertical portion
OF the channel is provided With a sheet OF
copper, about four inches deep. bent In and out
like lady'S frill. and riyeted to the copper
back piece. The back piece transfers the heat
from the back OF the CRATE to the "friu@ and
the air current created by this heat In passing
along the horizontal channel. 1mplnges on the
line OF gas flames and greatly Increases their
briiliancy. SO great Is the heat produced by
this simple arrangement that a piece OF lead
weighing 0De-lalr or q pound which WAS fR-
| troduced through the trap door was melted
IN i've minutes, proving the existence of a tenn
perature exceeding GIG degrees. The aoStrac.
I tiOH OF the heat from the back OF the crate
! (while not essentially has the advantage Of re-
/ taIding the combustion OF the coke there while
/ promoting II at the front. In nine hours this
| CRATE consumes sixty-two cubic feet OF gas
/ and twenty-five pounds OF coke. AT London
/ prices about SIS cents per thousand for gas and
s.S5 perton for coke-the cost OF the fuel for nine
| hours Is less tnan 10 cents. AS coal CRATE the
/ fireplace generally consumed forty-seveI
| pounds OF coal a day, at cost Of nearly l:
| cents Besides being cheaper, the coke fire has
| the advantage of being warmer than the Goa
fire. smokeless and easily lighted and extin
guished
| Dr. Siemens thinks the time will come wher
J all Iuet Will De separated into its two cOnstitu
ents before reaching the domestic hearths, ant
| that such measure would furnish complet,
! solution OF the smoke question and be OF grea
! value In the saving OF money.