The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-13

continuous waterway IToii TIE VIC "'"S''
the following from the Sueator Free Press
on fuel, will be interesting; Having dem
ons,rated the entire feasibility OF separa-
ting sulphur, slate and other Impurities
from the slack and nut coal, produced In
such quantities at the numerous shafts In
Streator, the Tyler & Luther coal and coke
company is now giving Its attention to coke
making Their washed nut coal gave such
eminent satisfaction that although they
produced from two hundred to three hun
dred tons per day, their entire product has
been readily marketed at good rates, This
fact has delayed long anticipated expert
ments in the manufacture of coke. The
North Chicago rolling mills, the largest
consumers Of the washed coal, shut down
a few weeks ago, and, rs consequence,
the works here for the first time since they
were started, have u surplus. Preparing
for such contingency, the company re
Gently had erected three ovens of the bee
hive design Fires were started the latter
part of last week and last evening coal for
coking was placed in the ovens. Tomor-
row the ovens will be opened and the coke
withdrawn. 1t will then be known con-
clusively whether or not coke can be sue
cessfully manufactured from StreatOr coal
The company Interested evidently thinks
there is no question as to the result. Their
ovens are constructed In the most perma-
nent manner; large tramways are being
built for the purpose of carrying coal to
the ovens, and the general arrangement
denotes the greatest confidence in the com
pany. Depending upon their degree OF
success they expect to erect fifty ovens
perhaps by next season. The time requir
ed TO burn an oven is about forty eight
hours. With fifty ovens twenty five could
be pulled each day"
There seems to be considerable of a
kick" in certain quarters at the action OF
the city council In vaCating the street run
ing down the side hill to the river east of
the mineral spring grounds, on the ground
that II is giving away public property. If
there is any living man who can present a
possible use for the street by the public We
should like TO make his acquaintance as a
curiosity, and we will telegraph the "South
Side Museum" he is here. The vacation
Of the street gives no title to 1t TO Mr.. Hos
sack or any one else,-it simply puts it into
the hands of Mr. HosSack for improvement,
rs city park; for Mr.. Hossack. who now
has charge of the Sanicula Spring property,
win proceed tn park the whole property
including this street, which shall forever,
as we'll as the water of the spring, be free
| for the use OF the people of Ottawa. What
possible objection any man can have to this
use of this streets beyond comprehension
unless it be that conservatism " too fire.
quently exhibited in Ottawa, which prefers
to let piece of property rot or be in pos
session OF weeds and cockleburs, rather than
that it he made handsome and useful-by a
neighbor, Now that this spring is to be
made real part Of Ottawa's institutions,
the people should lend helping hand to
make the place as beautiful as possible.
The work begun at the Spring Grounds has
q permanent, businesslike look, such as
has never been seen there before, and it is
gratifying 10 know that the council has
been far sighted enough to assist in the
development Of the work yet to he done 10
make the park creditable to the city