The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-11-04
ABOUT CHARCOAL BURNING
Industry Has Steadily Decreased in
Experimentation the Fuel
Is Made.


yield of many European forests was de-
voted to no worthier purpose than the
making of charcoal, for use as fuel in
iron or glass smelling works, says a
writer in Pearson's. But nowadays
good forest timber can generally be put
places charcoal burning still aourishes
on a large scale, the industry, strangled
by coal and coke, has been steadily di-
minishing in Importance.
The best site for kiln is one that
has been used before-the ground is
thoroughly dry, and is covered with alb
socptive charcoal dust.
The kiln usually consists of two tiers
of wood, one upon the other, placed as
straight up as possible, the smaller
pieces inside, the thicker pieces in the
center, and smaller pieces again toward
the outside. When two stories have
been piled up in this way, more wood is
laid horizontally across the narrow top.
This kiln is gradually shaped like a
dome. All openings are then carefully
filled in, in order to prevent unneces-
sary ,!raughts, and the whole is made
as fra as possible.
A passage is now constructed from the
outside of the kiln to the flue in the CEN
ter; or log of wood which has been
placed previously in position, is drawn
from under the bottom tier, leaving a
hollow kindling passage, in which, when
the kiln is completed, torch may be in
serted to set fire to the shavings.
Now the important work of covering
the kiln is commenced. Supports Of va
rious kinds are placed in position to save
collapse under the weight of the COW
erings, of which there is both an inner
and an outer. The kiln is first tiled, as
1t were, with thin sods, overlapping each
other. Then the outer coving is applied,
consisting of loamy forest soil and char
coal dust, we'll mixed, and firm enough
to exclude air and retain the heat, and at
the same time soft enough to allow
steam to escape, and to yield without
cracking, as the kiln gradually sinks
during the burning.
Nothing now remains but to erect
wind break, if necessary, before burn
ing the kiln.
Early in the morning, when the air
is still, a torch of pine is inserted in the
passage before mentioned, and the
flames seize hold of the dry twigs and
shavings in the fue.
At first, when the dome becomes hot,
steam and thick smoke issue from the
top; if all is we'll, the smoke should give
way to flame, and not unpleasant,
pungeant odor should be noticeable.
This is sign that carbonization is in
progress. After few hours charcoal
will form in the dome, which will grad
ually sink in.
Should the charcoal be irregular, it
is sign to the charcoal burner that the
kiln is burning unevenly. There is too
much draft from one quarter, or too
little in another; or some of the wood
in the kiln is burning quicker than other
pieces. This state of affairs must be
remedied by boring draft holes or ap-
plying water, as the case may require.
On the second day after kindling, the
first vent holes are made These holes,
bored through both coverings down to
the wood. in two rows to leeward, help
to regulate the burning, and also give
indication when the carbonizing process
nears completion. At first, smoke and
steam issue through them-and after
awhile the smoke turns blue, which is
a sure and certain sign that the char
coal is burning, and this, of course, is
the last thing the charcoal burners de-
sire. The holes must be closed imme-
diately with soil or turf, and a fresh
row opened lower down the side.