Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-05-20
COAL USERS PLANNING
TO BURN Ash HEAPS

TO BURN Ash HEAPS.
A. R Lewis hands US a paper pib-
lished at Oneida, N. Y, containing an
article regarding ashes as fuel which
may interest even people residing in a
land where coal Is plentiful. and espe-
eially places like silvertou and Tellu-
ride dlting tiockades:
'An extraordinary demand upon To-
cal druggists within the last few days
for oxaiic acid, following closely upon
the publication OF an Altoona mans
secret for burning ashes with coal,
tells the story of many who are ex-
perimenting with their fuel In this
city.
Various persons who have tried
the experiment have figured that they
can save from one-third to one-half
OF their coal bills and get more heat
from a quantity of coal and ashes
chemically treated than from the same
amount of coal The formula is two
ounces OF oxalic acid and pound
OF common salt dissolved in a gallon
Of water This is to be mixed thor
oughly with one part coal and three
parts ashes.
AT the drug stores of Myers broth
ers, W. D. Parkell, Brown & Baldwin
and F. B. Herman 1t was said that
there was largely increased demand
for acid and that many persons were
endeavoring to solve the fuel saving
problem. One man bought twenty
five pounds which he took to his home
In the country to give the formula
thorough test.
at has been tried In kitchen ranges,
furnaces, stoves and in each instance
prepared a substantial saving In fuel
is reported.
Among those who have tried the
preparation 10 DIR. F. NJ. Hall OF Dur
hamville. DIR. Hall says that his sue
cess In saving fuel was away beyond
his expectations. In company with
several men from Durhamville. DR..
Hall went to Kellar's grist mill where
he mixed UP quantity of coal with
wood ashes and started fire under
the boiler This is regarded as q
severe test as coal ashes contain more
carbon and are much better than wood
ashes. The mixture burned readily
and produced a great heart. 1t was
estimated that the saving of coal was
about one-third
wv. ID. Parkell of the City drug
store tried the mixture at his home.
He Is so well satisfied with the result
OF his experiment that he will save
his winters accumulation Of ashes and
burn them over again next winter.
those who are experimenting with the
new fuel on large scale.
Although the announcement came
too late to be of immediate use to a
majority OF the coal users of Oneida
and vicinity there are indications that
experiments will become general next
fall. Many persons are saving their
ash heaps with the intention OF using
them later and some who have fore.
seen that the discovery will cause n
great demand for oxalic acid, and con
sequently boost the price. are already
getting a supply. According to drug
gists this is wise precaution. Oxalic
acid can now be had for fifteen or
twenty cents a pound and 1t is pre-
dicted that the price will go to thirty
and perhaps forty cents before next
winter.
~ Those who have tried the mixture
are satisfied that 1t is a great sue
cess as fuel saver. 1t will burn
readily and new fire can be started
with 1t. There are no clinkers when
the mixture is properly prepared.
Only fine powder remains when the
nre Is allowed to burn out. The heat
fs much more intense than that de
rived from coal and for that reason
the draughts must be carefully regu-
lated to prevent damage to the CRATE.