Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-03-28
A Patent Fuel Saver.
Chemical Trade journal.

L
are yet IN store for us, that keep latent
until the keen eye OF the inventor
searches them out. One OF our cor
respondents has recently sent us u
sample of u patent cOal-saving COM
position, but for obvious reasons II
will be advisable to omit tho name OF
the ingenious inventor.
A circular accompanies the sample,
In which we find in large letters,
/" ore heat! No black smoke! % per
cent of Goals can be saved! and suit
able for all domestic purposes! The
circular states that the composition Is
perfectly free and clean, and can he
used in dry state, no mixing with or
damping the coal being required. All
that has TO be done Is to sprinkle a
small quantity over the fire after 1t has
been made up, which promotes COM
bustion. Sitting room, sick room,
Office, and greenhouse fires can be
kept burning from 6 to 10 hours with.
out attention, when the fires are made
up according to The simple directions
given on each tin. The circular goes
on to state that all the heat Is thrown
out into the room from the front Of
the fire, therefore combustion is OBJ.
tanned OF the gas and coal tar, that IN
the ordinary way OF things is allowed
10 pass of in smoke up the chimney.
This is so burned that the fire lasts
considerably longer, while also throw
ing out more heat.
The sample that has been sent to us
has been analysed in our laboratory,
and we find it 10 contain Common salt,
6S parts; chalk in powder, 81 parts.
The composition is sold in tins at Is.
each, which are stated 10 contain suf-
ficient dressing for $50 fires.
Several newspapers have testified to
the Importance OF this cOal.saving
composition. Whether the news
papers in question purchase aud use
it may be gathered perhaps by writ
ing to the various editors; but we
should hardly think that any one
would be without such a valuable
compound, if, as is stated, a fire can be
made to burn for over IL hours un-
disturbed in an ordinary Office fire.
place by merely sprinkling a few
grains Of salt over the surface Of 1t.
The sailing Of coal to prevent
smoke is a very old invention. II
was proposed for Manchester many
years ago, at time, when DIR. u.
Frankland was a resident there, and
some bitter controversies took place
with regard 10 his advocacy OF the
salt smoke annihilatOr.
Let US now turn 10 the chemical
side of the question. 1t is generally
admitted on all sides that hydrochloric
acid gas 10 more destructive to vege-
tation, and even to buildings, than
sulphurOus acid. 1t Is more soluble
IN water Chat is in the rain) than Is
sulphurons acid, and therefore falls in
a more limited area and in a more
concentrated state. II kills our trees
and shrubs, and by falling OH the
greensward renders grass land one
vast desert, as may be seen IN Widnes
and St. Helens; it dissolves carbonat'
ed building stones, and the mortar
from between the brickwOrk. Sulph'
urous acid in similar places and under
similar conditions ia not so dangerous
for being soluble only to slight extent
| in water, it is spread over a larger area
and thus becomes greatly diluted il
comparison with hydrochlOric acid.
What is now the effect Of busting
common salt over the surface OF burn
ing coal The sulphur OF the coal dur
ing combustion becomes snlphurous
acid, and this in the presence OF all
acting on the salt forms sulphate OF 90
da and hydrochloric acid, which is ia
large extent evolved and passes
away with the products Of combus'
ton. 1t is true that some OF this n.y.
drochloric acid might become absorb
ed by the carbonate of lime with
which the salt is mixed, but expert
mental trials made upon an ordinary
house chimney with this coal-saving
composition show us that hydrochlor'
ic acid is to be found in the escaping
gases. In our experiments, busting
the coal-saving composition over the
| fuel in all ordinary Office chimney, We
have observed as much as 0 :39 grain
of hydrochloric acid per cubic foot, al
amount nearly double that prohibited
by act of Parliamenl in the case Of al
kali works.
It is on account. of this .dissemina'
ton of hydrochlOric acid over such q
vast area as that over which coal l.
consumed domesticully, that we pros
test against the use of chloride Of sod
ium as q smoke annibilatOr though
we in no wise desire TO interfere will
what seems TO he 4 very lucrative bust,
ness. Salt and chalk at l.. per. pound
will no doubt make some of our read
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