New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-01

erly managed the working expenses OF piouuos
the coke may be recovered by the vaIue OF th1So
The concurrent testimony OF parties VIZ
used peat fuel for heating, cooking anu tiio 80.
variety of household purposes is that IL is prelela
bic to any other. and OF peat coke that - " -, -
very best fuel they have ever USED II - 49,
kindIed burns freely and gives a quioA anu ~
tense heat is much cleaner than coal. more pleas
ant to handle and easily managed for all purposes
For the sick chamber there is no fuel whcn ylelos
mild and grateful heat as peat TOT persons
with delicate lungs 1t is especially oesiraoie' as IL
produces none of the irritating enects or WOOD
smoke coal gas
The superior fitness and great value OF this fuei
for service in manufacturing establishments
locomotives steamships etc. has been repeatedly
and abundantly demonstrated but as yet tho pro-
duction of it has not been sufficient TO insure
constant and steady supply. 1t saves half the
time in getting up steam. affords A quick and in
tense heat, with large volume of flame, and Is
easily regulated. The absence Of smoke and clink-
ers sparks and and the preservation Of crates
and hreboxes from the effects OF sulphur i'm
portant advantages while, on the score Of comfort
to travellers by rail- the annoyance and suffering
occasoned by cinders. sparks and smoke are by the
of this fuel entirely obviated.
My own personal experience during six years
while operating peat works at Lexington, Mass.
was confrmatory Of the statements here made.
During four years l ran II horsepower tubular
boiler The hrebox, fitted for COAL 32x42 inches,
with CRATE bars threequarters of inch apart and
eighteen inches below the boiler. burned moth
ing but condensed peat OF my manufacture
and, finding that the heat generated far IN
excess of what required, the area of the CRATE
was gradually reduced by laying firebricks at the
sides and rear end, to 16x36 inches, less than
haif the original area. The fuel was never more
than six inches deep the grates-seneraly less.
The gas generated produced a constant flame,
which filled the entire space under the boiler. 1t
burned with a very light draught gave quick.
steady and intense heat and. at the close of the
fourth year. the crate bars entirely unnjured
and as good when new.
At that time had not learned to coke the fuel.
but since doing so have the peat coke used
with results far in excess OF what have narrated
above OF my own experience. The same general
principles apply to locomotive service. The fuel
area should be smaller and the exhaust consider
ably less powerful than for coal. 1t be banked
and quickly started again.
Concerning peat in the manufacture of iron and
steel a few quotations from correspondence and
statements at hand must suffice to indicate the
estimation in which this fuel is held by practical
men, familiar with the requirements and use of
fuel In the important iron and steel industries:
For smelling ores. welding and annealing soften
ing steel plates. etc. good peat is preferable TO
any fuel" For giving toughness to the metal and
uniformity of chill. qualities essential TO
wheels, peat fuel is unsurpassed" Peat coke Is
of still greater value than the best charcoal and in
the manufacture OF iron it stands unrivalled."
These quotations illustrate the character of a
multitude of others OF similar import
From my own experience during six years con-
slider IL safe to say that 1t ordinarily be pro-
duced IN good shape and marketable condition for
less than s. ton. It has been sold at prices all
the way from 50 to s. ton. II Is not too much 20
say that in region where II IS produced the de-
mand will be likely TO exceed the supply.
Most of the new enterprises OF the age
derstood to demand and require for their develop
ment and success very large preliminary OUTLAWS
of money. Not with peat; the outlay required
is comparatively small while the returns quick.
large and
The men who have been, and still arc ready and
eager to sink large sums in oil wells and gold
mines at a distance apparently slow to OBJ
the wealth that lies plainly before them at
home in the peat beds which multitudes pass every
day. The next generation will probably wonder
that this generation of enterprising
blind.
If. then, We have at our own doors. and In great
abundance, an criticize OF fuel available at small
cost. which is equal in value and superior in quail
ity to that which bring from distance is Il
not plainly apparent that IT affords tempting op
portunity for the creation Of entirely
productive and profitable industry, employing cap
ital and requiring labor large scale and utiliz
ing resources now lying dormant, the Importance
of which is beyond estimate?