Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-07-20
WASHINGTON STATE COLLEGE
BULLETIN DISCUSSES METHOD
OF PREVENTION AND PRO
TECTION FROM SMUT
EXPLOSIONS.

Fires in threshing separators can be
prevented of the advice of the State
Agricultural Experiment Station is
followed. These fires are inexcusable
and uncalled for as are fires in any
other factory.
During the summer of 1914, there
occurred in Eastern Washington and
Northern Idaho, large number of fires
or " explosions in threshing separators
resulting in the loss of some three
hundred m achines. The Experiment
Station Immediately placed a half
dozen investigators at work upon this
trouble and in the latter part of the
season published bulletin Q1O call
ing attention to the fact that these
fires were undoubtedly caused by the
presence of large amounts of organic
dust, chiefly smut, at that time in a
very dry condition owing to the un-
usually dry season. 1t was also point
ed out, as result of experiments con-
Quoted, that this smut and dust could be
and undoubtedly was ignited by sparks
of static electricity generated by the
moving machinery and the movement
of materials within the machine. The
unusual dryness of the season also con-
tributed to the increase Of electricity
thus generated.
In the above mentioned bulletin, the
Station recommended that all metallic
parts of the threshing separators be
connected with the ground for the pur-
pose of conducting OFF the electricity
generated and that the moving cylinder
| be especially SO connected by an cleo
| tric brush.
1t was also further advised that
there be installed in the interior OF
each separator, a sprinkler system made
of gas pipe and connected with the
boiler of the engine, in order that in
case of fire the water from the engine
could at once be forced into the separa-
tor and the interior flooded.
1t was further recommended that
quantities of water and supply OF
shovels be kept near the separator for
emergency, also that burrows be plowed
around the setting before threshing Is
commenced in order to prevent the
Spreading Of .lre; that the extra straw
and other refuse which normally accu-
mulates about the machine should be
kept cleaned up; and that the members
of the crew be given directions for
systematic fighting of fire.
During the summer of 1915, fires were
prevalent thruout the same district the
not so numerous as in 1914. The Ex
pertinent Station again mad men IN 11,!,t tne
| field investigating the trouble. Whne
conducting the work OF TINS season
number of conferences were had with
investigators form the U. 8. Depart
ment of Agriculture working upon the
same problem In this dlstrict' Inc IN
vestigators from the U. .. Departmen' III.
of Agriculture confirmed the findings
oftbis Station in 1914 and are at the
present time issuing bulletin making
essentially the same recommendation:
as made by the Washington Station two
In June, 1915, the Washington
Station issued a newspaper puiie1ii
calling attention to fire extlngulsHnsel
for threshing separators invented by Mr
Fellows Of Cheney, and recommending
that this Or some similar device be at
tached to all machines.
Recently Professor /. d. Charletoi