The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-28
THE COAL WE USE.
An Article of Which the Average
HousehoIder Knows Little.


New York Press
Coal is so common a necessity that we
do not take the trouble to know anything
about it. The other day 1 asked house
holder who burns twenty-five tons a sea-
son. (Which do you prefer, red ash or
white ash?" After a little hesitation he
piled: II really don't know what you mean.
didn't know that coal is made from ash.
and l don't think l ever heard of q red
ASH "Oh, that has nothing to do with
it, OF course coal is a vegetable product,
but the red ash or white ash referred TO
is not a tree. but che refuse of burnt coal
the ashes. Some Of these ashes are red;
some are white" Ee was much surprised.
and promised to find out from his dealer
whether he had always used red or white.
A second householder, being asked the
same question, replied: II always use the
white-ash COAL for the reason that it is so
much cleaner, both before and after using.
1t makes hotter fire. and never burns out
the grate-bars. 1t lasts longer than the red
ash and is cheaper in the long run. You
couldn't hire me to use red-ash coal. 1
don't like the stuff
A merchant who ought to know what he
is talking about, said: BUY red-ash coal
every time. 1t makes things very COM
Portable about the house. You can start
fire with it in half the time you can with
white ASH; the fire is twice as hot; there is
less dust; there are fewer ashes. Stoves
using the red ash seldom burn out, and
they give out more heat than when using
white ash. OF course the red ash costs
more than the white. but is cheaper in the
end"
A coal agent booking orders was told by
"A IA SiK
coal for the winter. / insist on having
white-ash coal: Can you supply It at once.
e eeETe shs price up right It T
be there" 1t came and was dumped into the
cellar. At the first cleaning out Of the ash
PIT PHI, under the furnace our friend md, found only
happened to drop in. Goal all right?" "All
right? You know it isn't all right, sir! You
white-ash coal. and you have sent red ash.
What are you going TO do about it?'' I'm
awfully sorry. / certainly put in the order
for white ash. But you've got the best OF
you at the price of white ash; and you
know 1T is worth dollar tone more. Still,
always believe in giving gentleman
back, If you say So.
''If / wanted to be mean I'd make you
take back e 6ushei of it, and then d
know ii was red ash? Lord bless you, no.
No man living tell the difference be-
tween the two kinds until he sees the ashes.
I've been in the business thirty years, and
1 can't tell. But do know one thing-red-
ash coal Is as far ahead of white-ash coal
as sunshine is ahead of moonshine." well.
I'll overlook Ii this time; but hereafter
get what i order, or therell be trouble.
I've legal right to make you take this
epser pss how give
out" That night the merchant called. and
the transaction was mentioned. Lucky
dog" he said. RED ash every time! And
<yof oh dfrf Co, fha =
ter was dropped.
The anthracite trade began with an out
put Of 1865 tons in twelve months. 1t has
grown to 100000 tons annually. In 1903
the city of Philadelphia bought 100 tons of
anthracite for use in the pumping works.
but the engineers, not knowing how to
burn ii, broke it up to gravel the walks in
the yards. In 1914 two arlS-loads were sold
| at the falls of the Schuylkill for $21 n ton.
A morning was wasted in futile attempts
to burn this coal, and at noon the en-
ployer and his workmen. discouraged at
their i'll luck, shut up the furnace and
went to dinner On their return they were
aStoniShed to find a roaring fire, the fur
mace doors red hot and the furnace itself
in danger of melting. From that day dates
the successful use of anthracite in America.
Personally, have yet to learn the differ
ence between red-ash and white-ash coal
as regards merit. But / never had the
happy experience of the furnacemen above.
Here is my luck: First; a few newspapers
crumpled up and lighted; secondly, a
bushel of kindling wood: thirdly, shovel
full of coal; fourthly. a wait for half an
hour for the coal TO start; filthy, more
coal; sixthly, my morning ablutions in
blissful consciousness of duty well done;
seventhly, return to the cellar to find-a
| roaring chiliiness. the furnace doors frigid
| to the hinges and the furnace itself in dam
ger of collapsing in liquefied air. 1 then
| drop small word or two in the cold quiet
of my subterraneanism and calmly proceed
| to shake out that roaring fire. (expected)
| into the bottomless ash pit The dust gets
| into my five senses and my hair. all over
| my shoes, up my breeches. down my collar.
! am hot enough by that time to look at a
! fire and make it burn.