The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-20
BURN GRAIN FOR FUEL
CHEAP CORN MORE PROFITABLE
THAN HIGH PRICED COAL.
Two Tons of Corn Are Said to BE
Equivalent to About One Cord
of Hard Wood.

SSSttotfI particularly Oh the DakotaS ana
eastern Montana, mas developed many
new ideas in regard to where the future
supply or rueI ror the prairie FARMER anu
other individuals of that section must
come from. and it 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 Sc
to IS a cord, says a correspondent Of the
Chicago Record, writing from Marshall,
MINI. 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 farmers cannot afford
barely enough fuel to keep their houses
in semi-comfortable state.
The people are hardly to blame in I'M
dergoing 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 this coun-
with the ideas here expressed have been
experimenting with corn for fuel, and
they report 1t a much greater success
than they had reason to anticipate. They
are so delighted with it that they will
henceforth use no other fuel, 1t gives out
very strong, regular heat, as does good
hard wood, and it lasts nearly as long.
The maximum limits, however, would be
far better than any results yet obtained,
as the methods of burning it are as yet
very crude. There can be no doubt, how
ever, but that inventors will be equal TO
the emergency and in due time create a
nearly perfect corn stove or special fur
mace which will answer the usual re-
quirements. AS soon as this is done far
mers and others who are prepared to take
advantage of the benefits may cuI..vdte
their own fuel on their own land and
probably save so per cent by doing so
| Two tons of corn would be equivalent tc
about one cord of hardwood If the corr
were burned economically and corn fol
fuel would not need, by any means, The
care that it would when grown for food
| The stalks and blades of corn can bt
burned also, which gives a much greater
amount of fuel to the acre. They wSulc
need to be cut into short lengths and The
remnants tightly packed together, having
| the appearance of good-sized sticks o.
wood, in order for them to produce a no
fire and to last long in a stove or furnace
But they will certainly pay for the labol
by giving in return very hot fire.
Prejudice Is Dying Out.
| The prejudice and squeamishness for
merly existing against the use Of grain
for fuel are fast dying away, for the peo
| pie are realizing that grain is one of ma
lures fuels and was intended for tina
| purpose as well as to use as a cerea
| product Could the people use wood o.
coal for food there is not much doubt bu
that they would do it, but as they canno
they have no scruples OF conscience abou
burning either. So will the cereals be re
! garded when every value is extorted from
| them.
Besides burning corn regularly for fue
| many persons have tried the experiment
of burning oats and wheat. Both of thes
grains are reported as making most ex
cellent substitutes for wood, the chief dill
fculty experienced being the trouble o
putting up the fuel in small and compac
form convenient for handling and burn
ing. Dat straw or wheat straw may b
bound together in small bundles o
time. AS it is now farmer or indivld
ual in a prairie town pays out $50 for fue
in a winter. Most all of it goes to raIl
roads or syndicates and no one in tn
vicinity is profited by it. In all probabil
ity he could have saved $50 by using corr
oats or wheat for fuel, or all three. 5
he saves by turning his labor into none
and keeping his money at home to NEE
other expenses. Though the raising of hi
fuel may have cost him some time !
finds that he has been the gamer and III
actual cash outlay has been possibly nc
TO exceed IS in all.
Grain Fuels Almost Certain.
Up to the present time 1t is only tn
farmer and the frugal individual who ha
made a study of fuel economy who ar
trying the plan Of raising their own fue
but experiments prove that it will be
success. Cheap oil is about the onl
} thing that might make competitio
against grain, but it is scarcely possibl
for oil to ever become cheap enough. TIL
competition will likely be between graiE
and of course the best fuel for the lea!
money will win. But 1t is now predicte
with certainty that the era of grain flu
is near at hand.