The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-06-23
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private dwellings TIL success, however
attained b. Mr.. Holly Of LoCkport, N. Y.
in devising and putting into practical
operation system of heating extensive
areas, whole towns in fact, bya system
of steam heating, the heating agent be.
ing generated at central st tioDs, and
from there distributed, has fully demon
strated the practicsbility of the general
adoption Of steam for warming dwelling
houses as an economical substitute for
coal. On the score of safety, as the gen.
orators are located at q distance, there
can be no valid grounds for objection;
while as convenience, the use Of steam
is infinitely superior to coal In one re-
spect, however, 1t apparently fails to fully
meet our domestic requirements. 1t
cannot, or at least ha' not yet, been made
practicable for cooking purposes. This
requirement could probably be met by
the construction OF suitable ovens for re
taintng the heating agent, and by the
u-e Of steam at sufficiently high temper
ature. But it must be remembered that
many OF the kitchens require so high
temperature that the steam would have
to he supplied under enormous pressure,
condition that would materially in
crease the element of danger in its use
and which would practically render it
unsuited for warming, for which steam
of moderate pressure is found most suit
able. Steam, therefore, does not entire
ly meet the requirements of domestic
heating agent.
The use of hot water has been sugges
ted for the same purpose; the best known
plan of this kind being the Prsll system
for transmitting heat by means of pipes
carrying water superb eated up to about
400 to 425 deg Fab. The water is super.
heated in boilers located at central sta
tions, and is distributed in the same
manner, and with similar precautions
against loss of heat by radiation and
Conduction, as with the steam heating
systems. The Prall system, which, we
are informed, is about to be tested in
this city, its representative having seCur
ed the necessary official privileges for
the purpose, contemplate dividin the
city into a number of districts, each a
lquare mile in area each of these will
have it's central station, with its battery
of furnaces, boiler superhested water
tanks and force pumps, where the heat
will be generated, stored up in the wa.
ter, sent through the street mains, and
delivered by suitable distributing pipes
into every house choosing 10 receive
connection with the sire ct main. In the
house the pipes divide, one set branch.
ing into the kitchen for cooking purpo.
poses, and another through the res Of
the house for Warmin. After making
the circuit Of the house, the water is re.
turned through separate line of pipes
to the reservoir, thus making complete
circuit.
We have no opportunity as yet of no.
ting the success of this plan, since it has
not yet gone into practical operation.
We have no desire to anticipate the re
suit, but from what we have learned re.
fpeCting it, we should incline to the
opinion that the use of water under
such high pressure as is contemplated,
would meet with objection on the score
of safety, and might be found trouble
some to manage on the scale on which t
is designed to operate the system.
The third plan-unques ionably the
plan for the future, con lists in the pro.
drCtion of gaseous fuel, at central sta
tions, and its distribution to and through
our houses. The possibilities of fuel gas
made profound impression upon Obser
wing and practical men some years ago,
when it was demons rated that water
gas, produced by he mutual interaction
of steam and carbon at high tempers-
lures, could be made in immense vol.
umes at very trifing cost. The resultir G |
gaseous product of this reaction, Consi t.
Ing substantially of hydrogen and car
bonic oxide, furnishes a fuel as nearly
perfect as can be imagined. Both ingre
dients are highly combustible, yielding
an intense heating effect when ignited, |
and the p. odu3ts of combustion are gas
eous.
By the adoption of water gas in oil r
houses for G. oking and warming, the e2-
isliug contrivanCes can be utilized with
lit e alteration, and as much or as little
heat as may be required tan be turned
on at pleasure. When not required, the
fire can he extinguished by the simple
turning of stop-CoCk. Itglves complete
exemption from the trouble, dirt and
of coal. Our fires will not
need to be kept up over night winter and
as they now are because of the
trouble of making them up fresh in the
The gas fire can be made in
an instant, and extingushed as quickly |
when il has served its purpose, and its
heating effect can be controlled to a |
nicely for bOuHs at time, By the ad
mi sion to the product at the stations, of
a trlAing percentage of napt a, or some
one of the petroleum products, to give
sensible and enetrating odor like coal
gas, so that it's leakage may be detected
by the smell, it will be as safe and as
completely under control as the latter.
1t ia a subject of surprise to us, in
view of the perfect adaprability of fue
gas for domestic purposes, that it has not
already found it's way into general use.
We are aware that many difficulties had
to be overcome before the manufacture
attained it's present economical and
practical shape; b 1t now that this e'sen-
tial has been successfully accomplished,
we look for active measures on the part
of the friends and advocates Of fuel gas,
with view to its speedy Introduction
into our towns and cities. 1t Commenda
itself by every consideration Of conve-
nience, comfort and econon y, and any
serloGs effort looking to the accomplish
ment of this reform, ill be warmly
welcomed and seconded by the intell!-
gent public.-Mcnufa and Builder.