Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-13
FUEL PROBLEM AGAIN
Revival of Interest in the
Anthracite Region.
SUBSTITU TIE DEVICES
THE PEOPLE MAKING EXPERT
MENTS WITH OIL BURNERS.
Statement by Superintendent Baird of
the State, War and Navy
Building.
SUBSTITUTE DEVICES

| Now that the encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic is over and the peo-
| pie of the city are getting back to normal
pursuits. the problem of fuel for the APP
preaching winter is again taken up for So
luton, and with greater interest than ever
| From time to time the people of Washing
| ton have been encouraged to believe the
| strike would be declared eff and that prices
would soon go back to figures that would
| place anthracite coal within the reach of
| all. The efforts of the President of the
| United States and his cabinet, together
with the interest taken by men in public
| life and business men, in the eastern states
particularly, have been fruitless, and the
people have been compelled to seek substi
| tutes for coal.
In every store today where stoves and
| other appliances for heating are sold there
| were crowds of men and women, anxiously
| inquiring for the best means of coping with
| the coal strike and providing their homes
with fuel. AS in all emergencies, the true
American spirit is manifest at this time.
| Many devices have come upon the market
within the last few weeks. Not few are
| merltorlous, particularly among those for
| the use of oil; devices that be placed
| In ranges, latrobes and smaller stoves.
An Oil Burner.
| In a store on F street between 9th and
7th streets unique oil burner Is on exhibit
ton, and the orders that have been re-
| ceived there are so large as to have made
it necessary for the manufacturers to keep
an augmented force of men busy day and
night This burner 1t is said, does all the
work of coal at a cost less than that of an
thracite coal at the normal price.
ON 18th street near F street another de-
| CT ilor tn,
has been brought to the attention Of the
public of late and is being adopted by many
persons who are unable to get coal at any
price. Each is fed by coal oil, and a gallon
range for cooking, any purpose for
which range is ordinarily used, for from
eight to twelve hours. These appliances
also heat the water-back of any stove
keeping the water in the tank always hot
From New York comes the information
that oil bricks have been used successfully,
and that they Will prove of value to the
poorer classes particularly, many of whom
are unable to invest in the latest oil and
gas appliances that are offered in the mar
ket. According to the tests made in New
York, with one ordinary terra Gotta brick,
such fireproof buildings are largely con-
structed with, soaked in cents worth of
kerosene, dinner can be cooked, the wash
boiler can be heated and sufficient warmth
may be thrown out to make room COM
Portable for an hour. With a relay of
bricks and a little more kerosene a stove
may De kept gong all DAY, 1t Is declared,
with little more trouble than it costs to re-
plenish the ordinary coal fire.
An Old Device.
Why nobody proclaimed 1t before can
hardly be explained for the fact that very
porous brick and kerosene can be used for
fuel In this way has been known by the
brickmakers, 1t is said, ever since they
began to manufacture these bricks years
ago. There Is really nothing remarkable
about 1t. The bricks have been used for
the last ten years to line ceilings and for
partitions.
They slightly hollow, and in the sides
are shallow grooves, these answering the
double purpose of decreasing the weight Of
the brick and nsuring ventilation. The
purpose in making them porous is the same.
This is done by mixing the terra Gotta clay
with sawdust. In the kiln the sawdust is
burned out, leaving the brick of fine terra
Gotta clay.
The bricks are made in various shapes
and sizes The most convenient fit for he
ordinary kitchen range is one about eight
inches long, a little less than four wide and
about two and quarter thick.
Story of an Experiment.
The New York Sun tells Of an experiment
made in that city. The brick was dropped
on its side IN a tin wash basin half full CT
kerosene. When it had lain there half
immersed for ten or fifteen seconds it was
1t was fished out by putting the end of q
stick through the hollow and set down on
two ordinary bricks and a match applied.
The oil on the brick slowly began to burn,
very much a piece of camel coal or
highly combustible wood might have done
In ten seconds the brick was throwing out
from all sides a flame which rose to a
height of about two feet. The heat cou d
be felt five feet away.
At the end of half an hour the brick was
burning as steadily as ever. To show now
easily 1t could be extinguished 1t was drop
ped into a pail of water, then fished out,
soaked in oil again and relighted 1t seem
ed to burn better after being in the water
than 1t did when first lighted. The brick
itself, except for coming out black after
burning a while, was the same as ever.
The flame given out was clear and sootless.
After soaking in oil for less than half a
minute brick seemed likely to burn for
about an hour
Capt. Baird Discusses Situation.
Capt. Baird, superintendent of the State,
War and Navy building. Is anxiously
awaiting favorable developments in the coal
situation.
What would be the result of an absolute
failure Of the coal supply at Washington
a Star reporter asked him today.
1T would be far-reaching," Superintend-
ent Baird replied land would necessarily
cause untold suffering and discomfort. For
one thing. 1t would mean a shutdown at
the electric lighting station and at the gas
| works The city would be In darkness and
also without street car service. 1t would
mean a stoppage Of the high-service pump
ing engines and absolutely no water supply
&c the higher parts of the city.
THE hydrant pressure only reaches the
third floor Of the State,7 War and Navy
| building, and on that floor the flow is so
feeble that we have connected 1t with the
high service. We keep our storage tanks in
the attic full at all times, but the stoppage
of our house pumps will oblige to close
all the latrines and lavatories on the fourth
and fifth floors.
How much coal have I? Well, about 100
| tons in the bunkers and IS tons being
| put in today. We burn about tons a day for
steam but when we light fires under the
| heating boilers the coal consumption will
| be doubled. We are not only lighting this
| building, but the White House. the hydro
graphic building. depot quartermaster's
| building and the Speiden building. Besides
| that, there is about sixty electric horse
power used to drive printing presses, ele-
vators, &c.
1--WE had at first no fear Of failure on the
| part of our contractor to furnish us Cum
| berland coal. In fact, he had figure from
| the Consolidated Coal Company on Cum
| berland coal, and relying on that he con-