The Washington times., 1902-09-19
Expert DiscuSsesMe Methods
of Firing in the Pub
lie Schools.
GREAT CARE is DEMANDED
Unless Fireman Knows His Business,
Accidents Are Likely to Occur
Change of Crate Bars Necessary to
Avoid Trouble.

Road has necessitated the use OF bl'
luminous fuel at that institution.
Col. Cecil Clay yesterday closed con-
tract with William J. Zeh for 300 tons
OF bituminous at $3.50 ton, delivered
at the school.
This supply will last the school sew
eral months, when it is hoped the set
tlement of the coal strike will then per
init of securing anthracite as usual
The school authorities also bought
yesterday three tons of anthracite in the
open market. all the fuel of that kind
which could be secured.
In this connection it may be said the
methods of firing with soft and hard
coal are radically different. and it is
feared those charged with keeping up the
heat cannot be sufficiently impressed
with this fact.
A coal and heating expert said yes
terday the responsibility of the authofi-
ties did not cease with the laying in of
a coal supply, and they should recognize
the character of the change and impress
on every janitor the special and con-
slant menace of soft coal in furnaces
built for anthracite. He said the lower
ing of the CRATES, the first remedy to
heating problems, was well-nigh inn
possible. The boilers in the District
schools are nearly all built in such a
way that lowering the crate would ne.
cessitate week or ten days work in
each case. The only way to avoid prob
able accidents. in his opinion, is 10 re-
quire the fireman to remain constantly
at the frebox and feed coal carefully. 1t
is known to anyone who has ever used
soft coal that it gives fierce heat for
perature in q furnace is only a matter
Of a few minutes. Intelligent recognition
of this fact is highly important.
Few Bituminous Furnaces.
There are 100 school buildings IL the
district The furnaces IL. nearly .afl cf
them were built for anthracite coal.
Only in the lexington. Gales, Webster
and one or two other buildings has soft
coal been used regularly. Cor the tani-
tors of the buildings. not half are fire.
men in the technical sense. About
twenty-five, it is said, are licensed en-
gineers. The coal and heating expert
above quoted says probably half the
5anitors are ignorant of the danger and
are, unless specially warned, liable to
load up the fireboxes and go about the
buildings as they have been used to do
ing. In his opinion, s.ch a course will
result in damage and probable loss of
life. Soft coal should be fed to the
flames frequently and in small quanti-
ties. Coke. which is to be used extern
sively. is worse than soft coal for quick
combustion and rapid heating
In heat units 100 pounds of soft coal
equal LOO pounds of hard coal, either
being equivalent to cord of oak wood.
This distinct difference should be borne
in mind by all who have the care of
boilers. The difference in boilers for
soft and hard coal is simply matter of
cubic feet of air and of oxygen supply.
The bituminous coal requires materially
more range than anthracite
Attention has been specially called to
the danger of soft -oal in furnaces built
for the use of hare by the explosion in
the plant of the Girard Trust Company,
Philadelphia. in which two men were
killed. II was plainly shown at the in
quest that the use of soft coal was re-
sponsible for the accident. The fur
naces had been constructed for the use
of anthracite and the heat from the
soft coal was too much for the boilers,
and they rapidly weakened and the
plates bulged.
A boiler expert, in speaking of the
he la
where from necessity the change must
be made, said:
An Expert Opinion.
IF not used properly bituminous coal
thracite is 10 be used the crate bars
are usually set from is to "a inches
from the boiler. For soft coal this |
space is made greater. from 80 TO 80 |
inches. This is because the soft coal |
makes more fame.
When soft coal is used in place of |
anthracite. great care must be taken to
prevent the boiler plates from being |
overheated, and bulging outward under |
The steam and water pressure.
Soft coal should not be fired in the |
same way as anthracite. The latter |
when shoveled into the firebox is spread |
IN layer over the fire surface. When |
This is done with bituminous. flames |
are liable 10 break through the layer |
and act as blowpipe on several spots |
In the boiler plates. lifting the water |
above these points and oyerheating the |
plate, which. In consequence, bulges /
outward.
In firing tt.aminous coal the green
fuel must be stacker -, tust inside the
furnace door. Beyond this heap, ex-
tending TO the back OF the combustion
chamber, should be layer OF incau-
descent fuel. Thus the coal near the
furnace door is coked. the gases which
are emitted being consumed as they
pass over the white-hot bed OF Goals
With this method of firing there is 10
danger OF injuring the plates.
For economy, however. users OF soft
coal should have their CRATE bars thirty
or more inches below the boiler This
gives the greater combustion space nee
ossary."
Very Short Supply.
The coal supply for the school build
fngs is the shortest ever known The
coal contractors have commenced put
ting In a lot which will run the furnaces
for only short while The present con-
signment consists of four cars of coke
and six cares of hituminous coal It'll
became apparent several weeks ago thai
sAe ne Of soft coal Eas q toreEone con-