Evening journal., 1907-04-25
BURNING ACID
AND OLD ASHES
Local Company Experiments
Successfully With the
New Fuel
RECIPE AND RULES
FOR EXPERIMENTING

Many Wilmingtonians are yet try
ing the experiment of Returning
ashes and il is apparently a success.
Consequently the demand for oxalic
acid has been greater the past few
days than it has been in the history
of the local drug trade. In most
cases the quantity bought is two
ounces, but there have been cases
whore persons have bought it by the
pound
The Barr and Dougherty Leather
Company was among tne first corpor-
atiors of the city to try the expert
ment and they report il a success. IT.
is probable, therefore. that many other
companies viii later experiment with
the new fuel with the object in view
of reducing their coal bulls.
The formula as reduced for the ex-
pertinent at the Barr and Dougherty
factory was:
Four ounces of common cooking salt,
chloride sodium, IA ounce oxalic acid;
1 pint of water.
The salt and oxalic acid, when mix
ed with water had much the appear
ance of milk i'm color. This was
poured on the bucketrl OF ashes and
coal, and mixed with it until the coal
and ashes were thoroughly dampened
Already the action Of the chemicals
contained i'm the formula became no.
ticeable, and gave off an odor much
like that of acetylene carbide.
The coal and ashes as treated were
placed in a furnace. where there We're
already bed of hot Goals. The COM
D. u
blue flame much like that of an alco-
hol lamp. The fire from this mixture
lasted for two hours or more.
The recipe as published is as fol-
lows:
one sound of common salt; 2 ounces
Of oXahc acid; 1 gallon of water.
Cost But A Few Cents.
The cost of this compound is only
few cents. and so easily mixed and
prepared for use that % is probable
that many people IN this vicinity will
try the experiment. Those who have
a large amount of coal ashes in their
cellars whl be able to burn them, and
save a considerable amount of money.
The experiment will be the more Gag
crly tried because coal is very high
priced. and certain sizes are occasions
ally difficult to obtain. Mix and
moiston with fluid one part of coal ana
three parts of ashes, and one is ready
to try the experiment.
The ashes of anthracite coal burn as
readily as do those OF nituminous. The
mixture, upon being placed Upon a
fire fuses into a COX like mass and
deposits but little residue. The chomi-
cal action which takes place is ex-
plained as follows:
The Chemical Action.
When an aqueous solution of an all
kalino salt, such as common salt, is
mixed with coal ashes, the result is
that mild I've is formed which, when
mixed with any combusiible material.
such as coal. and upon the applca-
tioh of heat gives off Oxygen gas, thus
enabling rapid combustion. The adj
dition OF cXaiic acid causes n chemical
change OF greater value than the first,
for the reason that It results in the
formation of carbide, which in turn
gives OF acetylone gas. and if the
treated ashes are placed upon a light
ed fire they win fuse and burn into a
fine powder.
When the fusion takes place the fire
resembles the molten metal of a fur
race The ashes are as light and fine
as those Of cigar. and readily falt
through the CRATE Tho question of the
disposition of ashes. incidentally, is
entirely done away with, and fuel bills
are reduced one-half.
/ Gilmore Patent Protected.
Gilmore. the Altoona, Pa, shoemak-
or, who discovered the secret and
focused attention on the possibilities
that mrked in every ash heap. claims
I that his patent win fully protect him,
and further claims that the British
government has mado him an offer,
provided he can demonstrate the prac-
| ticahility Of his discovery.
While it is everywhere conceded
that Gilmore by his discovery has con-
ferrcd a great boon upon humanity
yet il IS generally thought that his
/ discovery win not henoat him greatly
/ because hundreds of others have Sc
cured the same results as he. oven
/ though his secret compound may have
/ greater power.