The Red Cloud chief., 1882-03-02
Wood as Fuel.
The Census Bureau epor. that u

Wood as Fuel.
The Census Bureau reportsthat wood
Is used by thrcc-fourths Of the inhabit-
ants OF the United States for cooking
and warming dwellings. The statement
seems improbable to persons who live in
cities or IN any portion If the Western
States, where soft coal j. found in great
abundance. In these places il is rare
10 lind wood employed a. fuel for other
purposes than that of kindling fires.
During the past few years coal has been
generally substituted for wood on ears
and steamboats, in nearly all parts Of
the country, as well az for generating
steam IN manufacturing establishments
run by steam power. II must be re-
m"mbcred, however, that The majority
of b inhabitants in tn" countr live in
rural districts that are not supplied with
coal, and where considerable wood still
remains that j. valuable for little else
than fuel. This i the ease in all the
New England and most Of the Middle
and Southern States. Nearly every
farmer has n wood lot from which he
obtains his supply Of fuel. Many haul
wood 10 the nearest town la sell. A
there i no money OUTLAY for this Kind IF
fuel, it is used instead Of coal. which
must be purchased for cash. Persons
who have been accustomed To the Use of
wood for fuel are generally reluctant 10
abandon it. Their preferences n
pr"iudiccs are all in favor If wood, and
they continue To use il till they are COM
PEELED Ia make a change. Many persons
have their houses fitted up with stoves
and fre-placeS for burning wood. and
DO not wish 10 chang them. Many old
persons who have been accustomed To
the Use IF wood all their lives are very
reluctant 10 commence 10 burn coat.
They dislike the smoke il produces, and
believe It's use RENDERS houses unhealthy.
II is evident. however. that coal viii
take the place Of wood in nearly all por-
tionS of the country within Il very short
time. The forests are bcing DESTROYED
very fast. and little i being don" in
most parts Of the country 10 reproduce
them. Much is said and written in
favor Of c%ultivating forest trees FOR pro-
ducing wood for fuel. There i much
question. however. about the economy
vi tsltNlil- ll'f> l'i VI lllstilllg l''l III
most parts Of the country. Trees that
furnish good fuel are Of slow growth
unless they are planted on soil that will
produce GOOD crops of corn, small grain
and other articles that have a ready sale.
Few varieties Of hardwood trees will at
tain 4 growth sufficient 10 make good
cord wood in less than twenty wears.
After that period. according 10 the cSti-
mates made in foreign countries. the
annual growth Will amount Ia about one
cord per acre. Ii i necessary, however,
in order Ia keep up the aroductivcncSs
of the forest. To take tins mount of
decay. from limbs or from II trees
that interfere with ia" growth Of others.
The expense of planting AMI c~ultiyatino
a forest is considerable. and twenty
wears is a long time 10 wait for any r..
turn. The crops that can he produced
on n piece of ground in twenty wears
will bring in n large sum. Some per
sons who are carried away with the
prospective profits of forrSt-trcc grow
inc state that considerable @rasS can he
raised on land mainly occupied with
forest trees. In point of fact. the grass
that can be- grown on land covered with
forest trees amounts to very little. II
contains little substance. aS NAV he seen
hv curing it for hav. II cannot be cut
with 4 machine. and il * very difficult
To cut il with = Scythr. II may b" eaten
Nv stock while il is green. but the ami
mails will be likely to DO much damage
10 the trees.
Coal. il pains he taken Ia Sccurc it al
the proper time. is cheap. IL needs nc
preparation for the stove. crate or fur
mace. II can he preserved in a mucE
smaller space than wood. and i injured
less 10y exposure if il IS unprotected. II
is much more convenient To use If 4 fire
i Ia be kept mp constantly. In man
places in the west a ton of coal can he
bought for the cost of preparing n cord
of wood for the fire. For fuel 10 Use
during cold weather. coal is for the
most part greatly preferable to wood. .
For cooking during warm weather.
wood * in some respects superior tc
coal. II seems likely. however. that oil
will % drive both coal and
wood from the Kitchen during the sum
mcr months. If the c~Ookin~->toyc i.
used at all during warm weather it will
be for laundry purposes. Of our
wood will he wanted for kindlino
at all seasons of the year. and the
softer kinds of wood will answer for
this purpose. \ small amount Of wood.
however. fills the requirement for kind,
linz fires, if il is prepared rs it should
be. II should he cut with a saw Ia avoid
and split fine. When dry. il
should he placed under cover. The pile
be elevated from the ground 80
hat the bottom sticks will not become
wet. The building where it is kept
not he so tight that air will not
circulate through il. for if it is the
wood may be greatly injured by the dry
rot. When wood is left out Of doors for
considerable time. il should he piled
with the bark upward. If placed in
this manner the bark will remain on the
and be Of as much value. accord
nc Ia lis bulk. rs the portions Of WOOD
% which it is attached. The bark of
most kinds of wood hindlcs easily and
produces much heat. If sticks of wood
ire piled with the bark downward.
gets between the bark and sticks
md causes the former 10 drop off. or 10
Dt.-Chir1JO Times.