The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-25
ASHES BETTER
THAN PURE COAL
Chemists Discover Formula
Which Promises TO Revov
luti0nize Heating.
coBBLER'S SECRET TOLD
NEW FUEL POPULAR I'm PENN
SYLVANlA.
secret Of cheap FueI.


Common salt. one pound. Q
@ Oxalic acid, two ounces. 9
g Water, one gallon. 9
Mix thoroughly, and then moist Q
@ en- a mixture containing one part 9
q OF coal and three parts of ashes. g
@ Anthracite ashes burn as easily g
. as bituminous. 9
@ This is the secret OF making +.
9 ashes burn discovered by John g
Z. Fillmore. Q
@@~%~~##%~#~@%~~#~ :
Altoona, Pa, April 24.-The remark
able ashes-burning secret discovered
by John Gilmore, an Altoona cobbIer
which has excited attention almost
the world over, is out.
Almost every Householder in Altoona
is now converting his ashes into fuel
with great saving in coal bills.
Several well known chemists, imme-
diately it was announced that Fillmore
haG solved the problem of obtaining
heat from ashes, set to work TO try to
discover the formula. They were sue
cessful. and here it is: Common salt
/. one pound; oxalic acid, two ounces;
water. one gallon.
: Better Than Pure Coal.
Nix and moisten a mixture contain
ing one part coal and three parts ashes
and a better fuel that pure coal is OBJ
tanned.
The ashes OF anthracite coal burn as
readily as do those of bituminOus coal
This mixture WILL upon being placed
upon a burning fire, fuse into a cake
like mass and deposit but little residue
The chemical action of this COM
pound is thus explained:
When an aqueous solution of an al
kaline salt, such as common salt is
mixed with coal ash, the result is that
a mild I've IS formed. which when
mixed with any combustibIe material,
such as coal. and upon the application
of heat, gives off oxygen gas, thus en-
abling rapid combustion.
Gives of Acetylene Gas.
The addition of oxalie acid causes a
chemical change of greater value than
the first. for the reason that the sec
ond chemical breakdown results in the
formation OF a carbide, which in turn
gives off acetyisne gas. this adding to
the intensity of the heat and facilitat-
ing complete combustion.
1t is possible upon moistening a small
quantity of ashes, without the addition
of coal. to readily detect the odOr of
acetylene gas, and If the treated ashes
are placed upon a lighted fire they viii
fuse and burn to a fine powder.
The ash-burning compound is now
being used in many large Industrial
and mercantile places here, and it is
claimed for il that IL has reduced the
fuel item more than half. 1t has elm
mated almost entirely the question of
disposing of ashes. which has been con-
siderable where great quantities of coal
are consumed.
Retards Street Paving.
The discovery has resulted in a num-
Der of complications and is retarding
the work of paving contractors who
have utilized ashes as a foundation for
sidewalks. Heretofore it was possible
TO secure all the ashes required for this
purpose without cost, but contractors
are now complaining that it is impOs-
sible to get them.
Gilmore, who discovered the secret
and focused attention upon the posi-
bilities that lurked in ashes. claims
that his patent will protect him in his
secret. He claims to have received an
offer from the British government if
he can demonstrate the practicabiIity
% his compound.
While it is everywhere conceded that
Fillmore has conferred a great boon
upon humanity. It is feared that he VIII
not derive any tangible benefits from
his discovery, IN view of the fact that
hundreds of others have secured the
same results. following his lead