The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1902-11-14

story goes inhaled deeply, bent
down above the lamp gave siren
uous puff, before the Mortified at
PENDANTS Of the temple could inter
pose, and then, in satisfied drawl
announced, "Well, l guess it's out
now!'' 1t is not superstition, but
custom, which rules Americans,
and Americans have long followed
the custom of lighting fires in their
furnaces early in September every
year and keeping them going with
out intermission until the following
May. Nor is that all. They have
had the drafts opened every morn
ing at certain hour, regardless of
the temperature and. have over
heated their homes to degree ~incon-
sistent with health. -.
The practice is not only tinhealth-I
full. 1t is also wasteful to an extra
ordinary degree. During the early
months of fall and winter while the
furnaces are kept at work supplying
heat beyond the requirements Of
health and comfort, coal is consum-
ed, which costs money. frequently
windows arr opened to lower the
temperature rather than to supply
ventilation. In that case the pocket
book which pays for the coal is de-
pleted to heat ''all out DOORS
These things have not happened
during September and October 1902.
Hard coal has been so scarce that
not all who wanted it could obtain
it and 80 dear that those who. are
supplied with it have learned to
prize it. Soft coal can be readily
ignited, and burns out 50 rapidly
that to keep soft coal fire going
requires constant attention. 1.azi
ness is a strong principle in: human
nature. 1t is easier to keep an
anthracite fire going than to sart it
again after it has gone out. 1t is:
easier to light a soft coal fire than to
keep it going. People light their
LES when they >neel them and let.
t Hi go out when they do not need
/ >m, if they burn soft coal. With
anthracite dear and difficult to pro-
cure, they have been careful not to
vast their anthracite. Therefore it
is that during the past two months
there has been al economy in the
household consumption Of fuel such
as has never heretofore been olserv
ed by dwellers in American cities.
1t is probable that in spite Of the
abnorlnally high price of coal OF all
kinds here has. been lower outlay
for heating houses in Milwaukee, 50
for this season than in any previous
September and October for many
years.
Economists are accustomed to
exclaim at the enormus fire loss in
the United States. They have re-
ference to the devastation by acct
dental fires which destroy buildings
and their contents. But there has
been no fre-loss of no mean proper
lions due to the wasteful consum-
ption of fuel. 1t has involved not
only a drain of money, but of
health, for people who live in over
heated houses suffer physically there
by. Their blood is impoverished.
Their circulation is lowered. They
are rendered und uly sensitive to
contact with the SHARP. air outdoors
which they must encounter in pass
ing between their residences and
their places of business. There is
undoubtedly connection as of cause
and effect between overheated
houses and the alarming Increase of
pneumonia.
The experience with easily ignited
soft coal which has been had this
year will lead many to always here
after use soft coal instead of anthra-
cite for heating houses in the fall.
It will teach multitudes to keep fires
going only when fires are needed.