The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-24
HEATING FROM NATURAL GAS.
Great Progress Has Boon Made in veAi.
cies for RsdiAting Warmth

Great Progress Has Boon Made In Veil.
cles for RsdiAting Warmth
When natural gas,was first employed for
heating dwellings, several years ago, tho
devices for adapting it 70 stoves and CRATES
were very crude, and the amount of gas
consumed was correspondingly extraga-
CANT. The end Of the pipe-from half an
inch to an inch--was run into the stove or
CRATE, perforated iron burner was fitted
upon it at right angles, and the cavity fisied
with broken fire brick, Stag from the glass
furnaces, doorknobs of porcelain, balls of
fireelay, or other substances that would
radiate great deal Of heat.
Frequently the bits of broken brick were
whitewashed, as were the back and side
walls of the CRATES, or they were artisti-
cally done in water coiors, the gas flames
neither smoking the one nor burning of
the other. After a time freclay was
nodded into limitations of logs Of wood. tho
cut ends of the logs, the cracks and knots
and the bark with moss on it being imi-
tated so successfully that the results could
scarcely be told from the real back logs
of olden times.
These imitation logs were placed on
large brass andirons, and when the flames
were seen issuing from assures the illusion
was complete TO the sense OF sight. and TO
the sense of feeling too. for while zone
side roasted the other side froze," as used
TO be said of attempts at keeping warm by
the fireplaces of our grandfathers.
A year ago il began TO be noticed that the
supply of gas was diminishing. People
woke up on cold mornings to find only a
sickly blue fame languisbing at the bottom
of the CRATE or stove where once had been
roaring furnace. They were assured that
there was plenty Of gas; that some temper
airy obstruction In the pipes had caused the
shortage. and all would soon be right.
And all WAS right as soon as the weather
become warmer; but presently the gas COM
panies were insisting that consumers
should burn gas by meter. instead Of pay
ing so much for each fire and consuming
ali they pleased. This initiated the eco
nonic stage Of natural gas use.
Inventors set their wits TO work. and
soon the market was flooded with all sorts
Of devices for getting the largest amount OF
heat from a minimum consumption OF gas.
The deep set back walls Of the frepiAoes
built for coal were moved out and the
throats Of the ckimneys stopped up.
Various metal heaters with redeeNng
surfaces and draughts arranged on sc;en-
tifc principles were made 70 set into the
freplaces, until FIRE tba. formerly r.
oaired from 100 70 TO feet Of gss an hour
could he made 70 GO the same service with
a consumption Of but fifteen feet When
The price Of Gas was raised from tan cents
20 fifteen cents per thousand feet In Pitts
burgh, Thousands ot ecoaoric gas eratss,
ranges ard stoves were sold during The
frs; cold spell.
One Of the cheapest and mos. cheerful
devices now in use f. sn adaptation Of a.
bestos 70 firebacks and rsdisting sur,aos
4 heavy cardboard, coated with asbestos,
IS perforated with rows CT holez, from
which are suspended fr1ng-s Of sks!n a.
bestoz, which becomes incsn6e>crns "a .hs
aa<na, and gives forth a beautiful &C. It'll
lat4rg yIow which inparts great caeerfzI-
ness 20 The apartment and q. the same
tine radiates considerable bsx;
Bot By far The most economical thing "a
a small sheet iroa stove Dot much larger
than ulaa's ak ha: This IL lined with
copper and sometimes filed With ssb~s-os
fiber, and Is connected with the supvIy
pipe BY means Of gum hose, SO ths. {. can
Dc set II the middle Of The roor, or near
he val. es nay BE- des1rss. One sucn
stove. consuming 10 more gas than an CT
binary arsacc burner, viii heat r.sdizua
SIZED rocEn 70 q comfortable t<r-csra.ure
and retnce gas bills 70 procortsors co--
rpcndlagly coEfo--sbse-