Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-29

FOR Illuminating. heat and power pur-
poses.
In this direction the most extensive
scale OF operations yet reported appears
TO be that Of a large company in Chi
cago which has gone very thoroughly
into the development OF mechanical pro-
cesses for the rapid and economical pro-
duction Of briquettes which in density
compare with anthracite. In one form
these briquettes are lozenge- shaped, re-
sembling large and dark drown slices of
bologna sausage. In another they have
a cylindrical shape, The process is au-
tomato from the time the raw material
Is taken from the bog until the finished
briquettes are turned out. Not a human
hand touches II meanwhile. 1t is posi-
BILE to take II from the bog by dredges
that scoop 1t up tons at n time. II It is
impracticahle 90 drain the bog floating
dredges may be used. raising II from any
required depth. The first stage after ex-
cavation is TO squeeze out all but a
small percentage OF water. effecting a
great economy In the next stage, that OF
drying. This is n rather delicate opera
ton for the degree OF heat has to be
graduated to a nicely, so as not to lose
any OF the volatile elements. valuable both
for heat and in as-making for yielding
the numerous by-products which are
practically the same as those derived
from bituminous coal. The processes OF
drying and grinding are identical. The
result Is an exceedingly fine, snuff-like
powder fed by pipes into the briquetting
machines where under intense compress
sion or impact, 1t is formed into briquettes
Of the shapes aforesaid. The force Of the
compression is so great ms to carbonize
the surface, covering II with n black
. glaze. II desired. the compression may
be so great as to carbonize the mass
throughout, thus making II actually into
coal ne a do vi hrOxx
uncarbonized briquettes are an artificial
Ignite. These briquettes being practical
ly waterproof can be transported long
distances on open cars, like anthracite.
In n basketgrate in an open fireplace
the briquettes made as handsome a fire
as camel coal without the smooch ana
smoke Of the latter. They gave a hot
and bright yellow flame that leaped mer-
rily up chimney and made little smoke.
When through blazing the mass lay glow
ing and smouldering in the CRATE all
through the cool October evening. a few
pounds keeping the room comfortable I'M
til bedtime. On another occasion, burned
in the kitchen range, under draught the
long yellow flame reached entirely around
the oven, heating 1t to quick baking tenn
perature In n few minutes. In ordinary
Kitchen use, however, the draughts are
entirely closed as soon as the fire is
thoroughly started. making a moderate
iitt hilhl Will sIHoulutT lot nouIS until en-
tirely burned out. Such qualities make
bog fuel the ideal for domestic purposes
There are no unconsumed fragments, no
clinkers, no waste in the way Of slate
and other non-combustible minerals In
coal such waste often amounts to twenty
five per cent, And the consumer Is not
pleased to pay for rocks at the rate OF Sc
or more a ton! Bog fuel burns entirely
to ashes; even the ashes being exceeding
ly fine and free from unconsumed sub
stances have a commercial value They
are made into securing bricks and are
utilized for various other purposes; in
some cases they contain potash and are
used for fertilizing. Another great merit
OF such fuel is its absolute cleanliness in
handling.
Since It is claimed that these hard bril-
quotes can be produced at a cost OF
not more than ninety cents a ton, II is
evident that they can be sold probably
in competition with anthracite, whatever
the price of the latter may be. The cost
OF mining the bog fuel is very slight and
the element of transportation is little, II
any, more than a question OF local de-
livery the source Of supply being near at
hand.