Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-23
at(isrellanrons 8mdina.
DON'T POKE A HARD COAL FIRE.

Will WlllCll uului idSilC wal was hi"N>
to burn under boiler, when the at
tempt was first made to use it as a
steam fuel. The coal was put into the
furnace on top of large amount oi
wood. 1t was raked and poked and
blown all the forenoon, but the "black
stones" showed no signs Of burning
At noon, utterly disgusted, the pro-
prietor and his men slammed the fur
mace doors and went home to dinner
When they returned they found every.
thing "red hot" All it needed was to
be let alone. This is just what any
hard coal fire needs if the coal is to be
consumed with economy. Poking, sha'
king, raking down ashes and all other
means employed for disturbing the fire
only result in waste. In an ordinary
magazine or bass-burning stove, after
the fire is properly under way, it should
be allowed to burn without disturbance
until all the coal in the lower part Of
the fire is consumed. When the bot.
tom of the fire, for a distance of per.
haps two inches from the CRATE, has
burned until no live cinders are to be
found, the fire needs attention. The
bottom consisting entirely of clinkers
and ashes, needs to be cut off and
dumped into the ash pan without dis
turbing the upper portion. With some
forms or CRATE this can be done by the
turn of a handle. The coal will then
drop into place and the fire will 60 on
burning indefinitely without further
attention. No shaking or poking
should be allowed. With CRATES hav.
| ing shaking motion and dumping
center, the dropping of the bottom
cannot be accomplished quite so readi'
| ly, but it must be done. Put on the
dumping handle and very carefully
turn it up to one side until it reaches
an angle of about 450. 1t will turn
easily as the upper edge works up into
the ashes and the coal "scaffolds'
across from one side TO the other
Now take the poker and work out the
ashes at the center, as far as possible
and from the upper side of the central
crate. Don't try to bring down all the
fine ashes, but merely cut off the bot
tom of the fire, in the center. KeeI
the hand upon the dumping handle,
and if the coal starts down, bring the
CRATE into horizontal position instant
| ", to prevent the whole from dumping
After the coal starts, 90 around the
outside and cut off The ashes and clin'
kers which are in sight, below the teeth
of the CRATE. Take out only those thai
are dead. There will be lot of ashes
up in the fire, no doubt, but along with
them there will be lot Of fine cinders
already lighted, and if the ashes are
poked down nearly as much fine coal
will follow. By leaving them, perhaps
little more draught may be needed,
but there will be large saving of coal.
Generally the fact that the coal has not
been packed down by poking, and that
the live portion of the fire has not been
disturbed, will more than compensate
for the light deposit of ashes below.
A fire cleaned out in this way is kept
bright and driven, Unnecessary, by USE
ing the hampers instead of pokes.
AS the coal has chance to lie quietly
ly and is not packed, the air passes
freely through it and the coal is per-
fectly consumed. How great a saving
of coal can be effected by this method
of handling a fire is difficult to say,
but it must be considerable. An in.
cidental advantage is fOnnd IN the fact
that fire managed in this way is al
ways ready to respond to the blower.
1t burns up quickly as soon as the
draughts are opened. Such fire will
"keep" longer without going out than
one treated in the ordinary way, and
as a rule calls for less attention.
If economy of fuel is looked for, the
stove should be amply large for the
work it has to do without pushing.
Under ordinay circumstances, about Is
per cent. of the useful heat of the fuel
goes up the chimney, but if stove is
driven hard at least one-halfofthe heat
is lost in this way. A small stove or
furnace answers very well in mild
weather; as soon as sharp cold is felt,
trouble begins. 1t is necessary to crowd
the fire constantly, in order to get sut-
ficient heat. This wastes coal both
above and below much heat passes up
the chimney and much coal drops
through the CRATE. When a fire is
driven hard, the CRATE Innings and other
parts that are exposed to the heat burn
out very rapidly, and repairs become
frequent. 1t is difficult to make buy
ers believe that such is the case, as
they argue that the dealer is trying to
sell a more expensive stove. 1t is the
best policy, however, to purchase a
large stove or furnace, because it will
give better satisfaction in the end land
result in much economy.