Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

coal famine" remarked an old stove re-
pairer to a Star reporter, "and that is there
will be more stove and furnace repairing to
be done next summer than in any ten years
combined. These soft Goals are terribly ex-
hausting on stoves and furnaces, indeed
they practically burn them up so that re-
pairs are almost useless. Ordinarily good
stove will last from five to ten years with
ANYTHING like care though, of course, the
CRATES have to be renewed every couple or
years This is ON the calculation that the
hard anthracite Goals are USED. But
the soft Goals not only consume the nre
bricks and CRATES, but burn out the pipes
leading into the chimneys in an amazing
manner The fact is the stoves in general
use were made for hard Goals exclusively.
The only stoves that are made for the use
of the soft Goals are the old-faShioned egg
shaped stoves. which are now only seen in
depots and freight Offices They are made
of a peculiar kind of cast iron, which is ON
an average about half inch thick, and
while soft coal eats them up In time, 1t
takes long time to do it. The soft coa.s
leave great quantities of SCOT in the pipes
which at times burns as lively as does the
coal in the stoves. l have advised all my
customers to refrain long as they can
from using any kind of soft coal in their
furnaces or latrobes, but 1t seems as IL
they will be forced to do it. Though many
do not know it, it is fact that wood burns
out stove more than hard coal Wood
also clogs up the pipes with SCOT. The mod
ern fiues cannot be cleaned out like the old
fashioned chimneys, and the chimney sweep
is no longer a municipal attachment He
went out of existence long ago. About the
only way that | know of to properly clean
out fiue is to take down the pipes which,
of course, is big job and throws the stove
out of use while it is being done. L learned
a trick to keep chimneyS and flues clean
in my boyhood days which may be of some
service under present conditions, and that
is to occasionally throw piece of zinc into
the stove. Scraps of zinc can be found now
and then which can be used. The coverings
of wasnboards of zinc, and are very
useful in this connection. Just throw them
into the stove. The result is that the chem
ical action, in consequence of the decom-
position of the zinc. dSintegrateS the SCOT
formation. sets it free so that it is con-
stunned and goes up the chimney. If scraps
of zine have to be purchased. 1t will pay
to use it in keeping the tiues in order. 1t is
specially necessary where wood alone is
used Alternating the use of wood and coal
is also of advantage in keeping the chimney
in working order
:; X x X
Recently / saw a statement in public
print that the first Inauguration ball of
President Grant was held in the marble
bank room of the Treasury Department
building" observed an old resident to
Star reporter, land following 1t was the
additional statement that considering the
SIZE Ol the RUM, Il COulu nave Deeu
much of An affair. The first statement only
partially covered the case, for the Inaugural
ton ball was held in the entire north wing
OF the building dancing being carried on
on the three floors, there was much
of the ball on one floor as another The
presidential set was, of course, danced on
the lower floor. The basement or lower
floor was also In evidence, and the halls of
almost the entire building were used i'll the
promenades 1t was pretty big thing, l
thank you. and | do not know that any Of
any way grander. though they may have
tendance at the first Grant ball ran away
up into the thousands. 1t was famous for
the great supper that SO few got, not be-
cause there was not supper enough for all,
but because the arrangements were such
that those who got into the upper room,
owing TO the immensely of the crowd were
unable to get out, thus keeping all others
from getting bite to eat Those who got
into the supper room had to stay there and
all they saw of the ball was what occurred
in the supper room.
The music for the dance was furnished
by three famous bands, one stationed on
each floor. By telegrap hic arrangement
all started a the same time. playing the
same music. Old timers well remember
that Horace Greeley lost his hat and over
coat at the ball, and had to go to his hotel
hatless and coatless and terribly mad"
* x :; X X
The employees of the War Department"
said one Of them 70 Star reporter. have
much TO be thankful for during the present