Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-02
HOW TO BURN SOFT COAL,
Can Be Used in tho Furnace and Range
II Treated in the Right Way.
rom the Boston Transcript.

In this city the coal situation has now
reached that stage where great mum
Der of people no longer care how the
prices on anthracite coal may rise, for
tho article is beyond their reach already
and something else must take It's place
If they are going to have any fire at ALL
SO short is the supply of hard coal in
the city that even those who can afford
to pay for it cannot obtain any. in some
instances for the reason that their own
dealers are out of stock and other deal
ers are not bidding for new customers
I1ousckeepers are reluctant. however
about buying bitumnous coal for domest ic
purposes, thinking that 1t cannot be used,
but during the present crisis the soft has
been given a fair trial and found to be
fairly satisfactory as domestic fuel
Every fireman knows how to burn 1t on
the CRATE for n steam boiler, but 1t re-
Duires somewhat different treatment from
anthracite In stoves and ranges to give
the best results.
Good results are obtained with the best
kind OF bituminous coal. sometimes call
ed semi bituminous and the price on that
article is IS a ton in Boston--not very much
more than it was year ago. Some dircC
tons for burning this kind of fuel in the
house may be of use In the feed door of
every furnace there Is a slide damper to
admit air over the fire. and the same is
When anthracite coal is used these damp
ers are kept open only when it is desired
10 deaden the fire or lower the tempera-
turc Of the house. With soft coal these
hampers must he left open all the time
The first stage in the combustion OF soft
coal is its cooking" which calls for more
air than can be had through the body OF
the fuel. and unless this air is supplied
above the fire, the best heat of the coal
is not received, the gases eScaping uD tho
chimney. Too much air for good combus-
ton can be admitted over the fire, but
1t is not likely to occur if only the slide
damper is kept open
The draft openings in the ash pit door
or under the fire do not need to be open
as widely or kept as long they would
in burning anthracite coal. with the same
amount Of bottom draft it is customary
to give anthracite coal the soft coal
would burn too freely and much of the
best heat be lost. it should be remember
ed also that the funnel pipe into the chin
ney which with hard coal usually is kept
partly closed during moderate weather
should be kept nearly open all tho time
to allow the free passage of smoke when
soft coal is used. in starting fire after
soft coal has once been used it will not
he necessary to remove all Of the coal
which was left over after tho old fire
won't out. but after freeing the fire box
from the ashes the fresh fire may be
kindlcd on top of the old coal, in most
cases. While the anthracite fire is raked
from the bottom the bitumnous should be
packed down from the top. If it Is at
tempted to burn the soft coal in the same
way as hard coal it will result in failure,
as it requires a treatment quite the re-
verse, but with proper attention to de-
tails, as outlined the soft coal will give
satisfaction in domestic use.