Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18
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HEARD
~MndSEEN

He put up the rents 81. 81 and 81 month
on each house, and made very handsome
profit from his venture. or course sucn
corner on houses could not last long, as
the higher rents stimulated building
for investment purposes, but the scheme
worked all right at the time though the
fact that it not pursued leads me TO
believe that it didn't pay in the long run.
Discussing possible substitutes for anthra-
cite coal. a naval officer said to a Star re-
porter:
.sThe homes of those persons who had cal
culated on economically substituting OIL
for coal, even at the present high and in
creasing price of the latter, as means Tor
household heating will not receive mucn
support from the results of elaborate ex-
periments which are now in progress III TINS
city under the auspices of the navy II -
true that these tests which are OF the mos
practicable character, are not YET coii-
plete and that they are limited TO the de-
termination of the value of crude OH 1or
strictly naval use. But certain lacts hase
already been brought to light, Which uLi-
doubtedly have an important bearing OH .ie
domestic use of oil as heating agent IN
households. An exaggerated idea Is preVa
lent as to the superior heatlng QUANTITIES y.
oil over coal measured pound Tor pouhu- II
pound of coal oil. crude. is equivalent, IN
heating value to one and one-th1rd pouhos
of coal. AS there are about elght PotIilus
of coal oil in one gallon. and consequently
900 mounds to a forty gallon barrel ny
this showing the barrel of coal oil would De
equivalent to only about a httle over 4oV
pounds or coal; in other WORDS tne equi1a
lent of a ton of coal would be nNe anu d
half barrels of coal oil. the market price OF
which at the point of consumption would
determine the relative economy OF the Two
fuels 1t should be added that In the oplh
ion of the naval engineers crude OH cannon
be used for domestic purposes, owing 10
the absence of forced draft applicances.
with which alone it can be burned, so That
the refined oil must be purchased
!; * * x 5:
A story is told on chairman OF iouse
of Representatives committee to show how
difficult it is to carry out any reform IN the
government service. During one of the
hearings before the committee an ofhclai
who was called to explain conditions in his
office made the remark that he could reduce
his force to the extent of fifteen or twenty
clerks without impairing it's efficiency as
whole That remark made deep impress
sion on the chairman. as he saw an oppor-
tunity to cut down the appropriation az
least $4,000. He heartily approved the prop
osition After the committee had taken a
recess and the official was lettering about
waiting for it to resume business the chair
man required to the proposition Tor cutting
down the force,
Il have been thinking about what you
said" he said. Il think l have one or two
appointments in that office. Now tell me
how do you propose to select those VINO are
to go under your plan for a reduction
The only way | could reduce the force
without injuring its efficiency replied the
official. would be to discharge those who
have the lowest records for efficiency in the
office"
chairman. '1et me see. I don't know about
this thing. 1t may not be wise to do that
at this time. I really don't know just how
my people there stand. Well-suppose you
don't say anything more about it just now.
We will look into that at some other time.
So the matter dropped Some time" the
subject will be preached again with proba-
bly, the same result.
x
Mild weather has served to keep from
us thus far the distress which lack of coal
causes in modern community" observed
a man who sat on the sunny side Of the
street car and seemed to enjoy basking In
the October
His companion was inclined to think that
the genial conditions had not lessened very
much the distress of mind on the part of
these who looked forward to the rapidly
approaching season of decided cold wealth ar.
However, the first speaker waived that diff
fiCulty aside as persons are apt to do when
they are interested in a particular line of
thought.
''Of course it will be a great inconvenience
and when winter comes on and a positive
calamity in many cases. he went on 'f
fuel cannot be obtained to heat our houses
throughout. They are designed, most of
them, TO be heated from one fire. and there
are but few that have stoves. Still If coal
continues to be scarce necessity will COM
pei people to resort to various exDedients
10 keep comfortable in their homes
Persons who are by no means aged" he
went on. recall very well the time when
furnaCeheated houses were comparatively
unknown. There We're then but few houses
where the halls were heated. and in a large
number of instances no heat was provided
for the bed rooms. Yet people lived their
lives and no doubt enjoyed themselves
and it is even maintained that houses thus
imperfectly heated We're far healthier than
those of today. when the temperature is
allowed TO rise above seventy. In those
days the family sitting room was kept COM
Portable and it was not thought a hardship
ii the bed room were not artifcally warm
ed. 1t may be this winter 1t will only be
possible in the case Of many families to
buy coal enough to heat one room in their
houses. While this condition in many re-
spects will be almost uncomfortable. still the
knowledge that 1t has been endured may
reconcile people to adapt themselves to the
changed circumstances