Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-06-12

3EO5oZE rs IE40E
One of the significant signs of the
times Is the awakening Of the Amer
ran people to the dangerous destruc-
fioa cf their forest wealth. and the
necessity of a wise use OF what re-
HEairs OF II. Undoubtedly. in the fu-
tnre the nation must utilize its forest
crDp less wastefully. both in the woods
and in the mill. and must make provi-
ss-n for future crops: but that is not
ch- only way to prolong the timber
szppN. II the service OF the wood
which is used can be heightened. II
Viii largely decrease the amount OF
czlber that must be cut
And this can be done by treating
the wood with chemicals which will
r,ison the low forms of plant life
vnjch attack 1t and cause 1t TO decay.
The growth of timber is slow. and
when the dearth OF II becomes press
zS- n rev crop cannot be grown
<S8ickly enough TO prevent a time OF
srIcre shortage. Preservative treat
u7-st OF timber has the advantage as
- remedy. that 1t can be applied i'm
ns-tiately. Its Importance is. there
eo-c- attracting increasing attention.
Many chemicals have been used for
c.1r preservation OF timber. among
Shcm blue yitriOl. corrosive sublimate
R1d chloride of zinc. The most effec-
siye preseryatIye - the substance
called "creosote oil" or "creosote."
Or account OF the similarity OF the
names. many people suppose this to
- the creosote obtained from wood
sErch as can be obtained. refined for
medicinal purposes. at the drug stores
BHr the two are quite different. and
SHOULD not be confused. The creo-
s5ts used in wood preservation is OBJ
rzin.d from coal. by a most interest
fn.s process.
Marry every city now uses gas for
usht and fuel. and many people know
rnz- this Illuminating gas Is often
uzssdr frUm coal. But the many things
ssSides gas which are obtained in
ms process are not SO well known. 1t
= uzr of these other products from
which Is obtained the creosote oil used
s1E rood preservation
To understand how all these things
a-e produced. it is necessary to know
.onsshing which the chemists can tell
- Coal, they say, Is composed part
Z of the substance called carbon. part
b Of compounds OF this carbon with the
aS hydrogen. which they have named
hydrocarbons. When the coal is
hsz.fed sufficiently. away from air. the
hydrocarbons are driven of in the
s,-a of gas. Illuminating gas Is made
kS suhiecting coal Of the proper kind
az this process, which is known as
-tES dIsti1lation." The coal Is put
1nto a long. fre-clay oven. or "retort,"
shaped much Ike a giant model of the
Isftie cakes which the bakers cali
Lady fingers. the retorts being
about I3 feet long. two feet wide and
Is inches deep. 4 number OF these
rstorts are built side by side. in three
Es~s, one above the other, the ends OF
r:e retorts being supported In
hr5cS wall which also extends around
tse ends OF the rows and over the top.
Snd thus entirely inclOses the re-
sDrts- Fire, from furnaces below. Is
carried by fues into this inclosure. so
dat the retorts are entirely enyeloped
IL flame and can be heated to a very
h.<h Temperature.
IN. rerorrs are partly filled with
c1<sI, after which they are sealed. so
thai no air can get intp them. They
sse Then heated to temperature of
zsxEJ1t 2 100 degrees Fahrenheit Un-
t5rr this intense heat almost all the
hydrocarbons OF the coal pass of. leav-
Erx behind only the fixed carbon.
which comes out Of the retort as coke.
HIzy OF the lighter compounds dis
0ged OF by the heat will remain In
ct.s. form of gas when they are cooled
g., ordinary temperatures. and It is
LEE OF these which make the gas
-nnaIly used for lighting and fuel. But
rs fr comes from the retorts. the gas
- IKE a thick. yeiiowishgreen smoke.
auf could not be used at all for such
prsrposes. This gas escapes from he
r~fDrts into a series Of large and cost.