The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-18
GRIIN FUEL ~ THE UfSI.
Farmers Find Corn. Oats, and Wheat
Cheaper Than Conl or Wood.


The long cold winter OF the Dakotas
and eastern Montana has developed many
new ideas in regard 10 where the future
supply Of fuel for the prairie farmer and
other individuals Of that section must
come from, and 1t IS now quite definitely
settled that such supply sooner or later
must be raised upon the farm, for the
farmer who does not own any timber
finds that his fuel IN one winter Is very
costly item. wood being anywhere from
S. to 8 a cord. When the farmer lives
away from the timber belt the supply
must come by rail- whether he purchases
wood or coal Both are very expensive.
and this year few farmers have ready
money. In fact, large numbers OF farm
ers can afford ba- ely enough fuel to
keen their house in a semi-comio:taole
state.
Ine people are hardly to blame in dnder-
going suffering for the sake Of saving
expense. but It has brought them TO a
sense OF practical realization that In the
future something must be done TO furnish
cheaper fuel That this will be the next
step IN domestic economy with them there
can scarcely be any doubt. In the county
OF Lyon many people acting in line with
the ideas here expressed have been eX-
perirnenting with corn for fuel and they
report ii a much greater success than
they had reason TO anticipate. They are
so delighted with II that they will hence
forth use no other fuel IL gives out a
very strong regular heat. as does good
hard wood and II lasts nearly as long.
Tho maximum limits however. would be
far better than any results yet obtained
as the methods OF burning II are as get
very crude. There can be no doubt, how
ever. that inventors will be equal 10 the
emergency. and In due time create a near
" perfect corn stove or special furnace
which will answer the usual reIurements.
AS soon as this is done farmers and 9th
ers who are prepared 20 take advantage
Of the benefits may cultivate their own
fuel on their own land and probably save
o. per cont. by doing so. Two tons OF corn
would be equivalent 10 about one cord Of
hard wood II the corn were burned econo-
mically and corn for fuel would not need
by any means the care that II would whea
grown for food The stalks can be burn
ed also. which gives a much greater
amount Of fuel 10 the acre. They would
need 10 be cut into short lengths and the
remnants tightly packed together. having
the appearance Of good sized sticks OF
wood in order for them 20 produce a
hot fire and 10 last long In a stove or
furnace. But they will certainly pay for
the labor by giving ia return a very hot
fire.
The prejudice and squeamishness form
erly existing against the use Of grain for
fuel are fast dying away. for the people
are realizing that grain Is one of nature
fuels and was intended for that purpose
as well as TO use as a cereal product
Could the people use wood or coal for
fuel there is not much doubt that they
I1 10 btff
have no scruples OF conscience about
burning either. SO will the cereals be re-
garded when every value is extorted from
them.
Besides burning corn regularly for fuel.
many persons have tried the experiment
OF burning oats and wheat. Both Of
these grains are reported as making most
excellent substitutes for wood the chief
difficulty experienced being the trouble
Of putting up the fuel IN small and CON-
pat form convenient for handling and
burning. Dat straw and wheat straw may
be bound together in small bundles or
logs" so as TO last a considerable time,
As IL is now a farmer or individual In a
prairie town pays out $50 for fuel In a
winter. Most all OF II goes 10 railroads or
syndicates, and no one In the vicinity IS
pronted by II. In all probability he could
have saved $50 by using corn, oats. or
wheat for fuel, or all three So he saves
by turning his labor into money and keep
ing his money at home 10 meet other
expenses. Though the raising OF his fuel
may have cost him some time he finds
that he has been the gamer. and the ac-
tual cash outlay has been possibly not to
exceed s. In all.
Up to the present time II is only the
farmer and the frugal individual who
have made a study Of fuel economy who
are trying the plan OF raising their own
fuel but experiments prove that II will
be a success. Cheap oil Is about the only
thing that will make competitor. against
grain. but II IS scarcely possible
for oil ever 10 become cheap ENOUGH. The
competition will likely be between grains.
and. OF course. the best fuel for the least
money will win. But 1t is now predicted
WIKI certainty tina, the era OF grain fuel
Is near.-Chlcago Record.
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