The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-11
THE COAL WE USE.
of American Housewives
Know But Little.

Coal is so common a necessity that We
| do not take the trouble to know any
thing about it. The other day, says
| New York Press writer, asked house
holder who burns % tons a season:
(Which 90 you prefer, red ash or white
ash?" After a little hesitation he re-
piled: 81 really don't know what you
mean. 1 didn't know that coal is made
from ash, and don't think ever heard
| of red ASH 'fOh, that has nothing to
Go with it. OF course coal is q vegetable
product but the red ash or white ash re-
| ferred to is not tree, but the refuse OF
burnt coal-the ashes. Some of these
| ashes are red; some are white" He 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: Il 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. I don't like the
| stuff"
A merchant who ought to know what
he is talking about said: BUY red ash
coal ever time. 1t makes things very
comfortable 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 fever
ashes. Stoves using 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 new resident: Il shall want six
tons of coal for the winter. insist on
having white ash coal. Can you supply
it at once before the price goes up?"
Tomorrow early enongh?" Yes. ="
Cali right; it will be there" 1t came
and was dumped into the cellar. At the
first cleaning out of the ash pit under
the furnace our friend found only red
ashes. He was wroth. The coal man
happened to drop in. Goal all right?"
"All right? You know it isn't all right.
sir! You have cheated me. insisted on
having white ash coal, and you have
sent red ash. What are you going to do
about it?" I'm awfully sorry. GER
tainly put in the order for white ash.
But you've got the best of the bargain.
sir. We've billed this coal to you at the
price of white ash; and you know it is
| worth dollar ton more. Still. l al
ways believe in giving gentleman what
he orders, and we'll take this coal back
If you say So"
eff l wanted to be mean I'd make you
take back every bushel of it, and then
I'd buy my white ash elsewhere. Didn't
you know it was red ash?" Lord bless
you. no. No man living can tell the diff
ference between the two kinds until he
sees the ashes. I've been in the business
80 years, and 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 l get what Or
der. or there'll be trouble. I've legal
right to make you take this coal back
you have only to give the order, and
I'll obey" I'll see how it turns OUT
That night the merchant called, and the
transaction was mentioned. Lucky dog
he said. RED ash every time! And you
get 1t as cheap as dirt So the matter
was dropped.
The anthracite trade began with an
output of ,965 tons in II 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 it, broke it up to
gravel the walk in the yards. In 1914
two ark loads were sold at the falls of the
Schuylkfll for $21 ton. A morning
was wasted in futile attempts to burn
this coal, and at noon the employer and
his workmen, discouraged at their ILL.,
luck, shut up the furnace and went tc
dinner. On their return they were aston.
ished to find roaring fire, the furnace
doors red hot and the furnace itself in
danger of melting. From that day dates
the successful use of anthracite in Amer
lea.
Personally, have yet to learn the diff
ference between red ash and white ash
coal as regards merit. But never had
the happy experience of the furnacemer
above. Here is my luck: First, a few
newspapers crumpled up and lighted;
secondly, a bushel of kindling wood;
thirdly, a shovelful of coal; fourthly, 6
wait for half an hour for the coal tc
start; filthy, more coal; sixthly, my
morning ablutions in blissful conscious
ness of duty we'll done; seventhly, re-
turn to the cellar to ind-a roaring
chilliness, the furnace doors frigid tc
the hinges and the furnace itself in dan.
ger of collapsing in liquefied air. ther
drop a small word or two in the cole
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 ant