Evening journal., 1902-09-19
ADVICE FOR
HOUSEKEEPERS
Thousands May Save Money
by Following 1t
DOIESTIC USE OF SOFT COAL
II Nav BE Used iH Ordinary Cook
Stoves Or Furnace II Proper
Rules Are Observed
DOMESTIC USE OF SOFT COAL

All people in general, and :nanufac-
turers and housewives in particular,
are interested in the heat question. and
their anxiety grows as the cool fall
days come on apade and settlement
OF the coal strike seems as far on as IN
the early days OF the summer.
There is an abundance OF soft coal on
the market and It is comparatively
cheap. but the use OF it is what bothers
would-be consumers This information
was obtained from a member OF the
firm OF George w. Bush & Sons by q
reporter for the Evening Journal, and
herewith is given to the public:
Furnaces and ranges designed for
anthracite viii burn any grade OF BIZ
luminous coal that comes 70 the local
market II intended for that fuel they
would have been made somewhat diff
ierent as TO their draught openings,
nre-pot Innings and smoke exits, but
the difference is not so great that as an
emergency fuel for two OF three
months. or longer, il necessary. the
householder cannot do very well with
soft coal ais a domestic fuel In both
cooking and heating.
Soft Coal in a Range
IL ordinary intelligence is displayed
in the management OF a fire. soft coal
IN a range or cook stove will meet all
the requirements OF domestic use. The
same Is true OF hot air furnaces. Some
whnt more trouble may be expected
with the low pressure boilers used for
steam heating. but this is largely a
question OF the type. Even In snch de-
vices soft coal can be burned without
any convenience comparable TO that OF
an uncOmfortably low house tempera4
ture. The greatest difficulty would be
to change the habits or servants who
have never known any fuel except an.
thracite. Filling the fre-pot OF a range
to the lids with soft coal will not give
good results. and attempts to brOil over
fresh fuel will be disappointing. Caro-
also must be taken in keeping oven
temperatures uniform. Soft coal ig-
mites very quickly, dies down with
equal facility. and to maintain even a
measurably constant fire. It needs con-
slant watching and freqent replenish-
ing.
1t resembles wood more than anthra-
cite In these respects, but It burns very
nearly as we'll In an anthracite range
as in one built for a market where
only soft coal is used as a domestic
fuel.
Soft Coal in a Furnace
Soft coal needs to be treated very
differently from anthracite in an an
thracite heating furnace, but the diff
ference consists in the management OF
draughts and checks There is a slide
damper 10 admit air over the fre in
the feed door OF every furnace. When
anthracite Is used this is opened only
IN IL is desired to deaden the fire and
lower the temperature OF the house.
With soft coal it must be left open all
the time.
The great volume Of gases evolved
from 1t in the cooking process, which
Is the first stage OF its combustion.
calls for more air than can be obtain
ed through the body OF fuel, and un-
less this is supplied above the FIRE the
greatest value OF the fuel is lost up the
chimney in unconsumed gases. Too much
air for good combustion can be ad-
mitted over the fire, but this is not
likely to be the case il the slide damper
in thefeed door Of furnace built fOran-
thracite is left wide open all the time.
The draugIht opening in the ash-pit
door, ON the other hand. needs to be
less widely and continuously open
than for anthracite With the same
amount Of bottom draught which 1t is
customary TO give hard coal, soft coal
would simulate the combustion in a
blast furnace and call for constant
stoking.
The householder also must remem-
ber that the check draught in the
smoke pipe. which with anthracite is
usually kept open in moderate wealth
er. cannot be opened much, II any,
with soft coal, or the house will be fill
ed with smoke To leave it closed al
together is the best way.
With attention to these details, which
reverse the customary practice with
anthracite, furnace may be run ON BIZ
luminous coal 50 as to keep a house
entirely comfortable.