Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-06
TAKING CARE OF
THE COAL RANGE

| In choosing a kitchen stove it will be
wise to avoid all unnecessary decoration
| Ornaments are very pretty to look at
but they will collect the dust all the time
and must be kept bright. This means
extra labor.
| In building a fire the ashcan must be
empty, to allow free circulation of
air. Crumple news paper and lay at the
bottom. AS printers ink is inflammable.
news paper burns longer than plain paper
Next lay on fine pieces of wood and
then heavier pieces. setting in crisscross.
Light the paper, and as soon as the fine
wood has caught put on just sprinkling
Of COAL AS the wood burns put on more
coal, but do not get this above the fire
bricks.
If one wants a nice, brisk fire all day
the better plan will be to put on just a
little coal very often, rather than to let
the fire burn down and then be Obliged
to add a large quantity Of coal
At night shake the fire partially clear
of ashes. then put on the coal. Then
nearly close the draughts and open the
little sliding door that let's cold air over
the f1rebox. Always close the door in
the kitchen leading to the other rooms.
In the morning put on a little wood and
coal before shaking down the fire. Open
the draughts,. of course
Never make coal stove come to a
fierce heat gradually If you want the iron
to last. Let 1t get hot gradually.
Never pile the coal above the top of
the firebox nor allow the top of the stove
to get redhot. 1t warps and cracks the
covers.
Never let the CRATE get clogged. If
shaken down frequently the fire will be
Another thing to remember is not to
let ashes accumulate in the ashpan. They
| absorb the heat before it reaches the
oven, consequently ccoling it. They check
the draught, too.
Try to keep clinkers from becoming fas-
tened to the firebox. An oyster shell burn
ed occasionally will clear off the brick
1t Is not at all necessary to let the
| smoke draught stand open except when
fresh coal is put on. If 1T is left open
all the time the heat will go up the
chimney. and SO become wasted.
Many housekeepers burn up garbage,
wetting it first, while really the correct
thing is to dry it first. Otherwise steam
the firebox
Take care not to set leaky vessels or
| spill cold water on the range.
| Supposing one is unfortunate in getting
a spill-over, take off the lids and rub
them with paper, then use a scraper if
necessary. .
SCOT should not be allowed to accu.
mulate In the flue, and all SCOT sticking
to the bottom Of the oven must be scrap
ed off. In doing this the SCOT should be
brought toward one. Sometimes the SCOT
Is pushed back unless one is careful.
| A range If properly taken care of, will
last at least fifteen years.
| In trying a stove see that checks and
hampers are SO arranged that they may
be easily controlled, increasing and de-
creasing the heat as desired; also that the
oven space is ample, with the heated all
| so circulated as to make the top and
bottom Of the oven an equal heat.
The firebox should be large enough tc
hold coal to the depth of seven inches, a
| good warming oven and an ashpan sc
guarded that the ashes will fall directly
into the pan and not outside.