Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-26
REDUCING THE COST OF LIVING--I
NY FREDERIC ). mAsl<IN.

WASHINGTON. December %. - The
United states Bureau OF Mines has
contributed it's share TO tho solution
OF the cost-of-livinR problem by maxi
ing elaborate studies of fuels and
their proper use. They have shown
beyond n doubt that if you know
how to select coal and how to burn
IL. YOU can cut down the cost OF
Keeping warm by very substantial
percentage. In fact, these coal experts
say that the way you fire your fur
mace really has more influence on the
cost OF heating your house than any
other factor. For this reason, IL is
strongly urged that YOU take care OF
your own furnace. No one is so apt
to develop love OF scientific and eco
the coal bill.
Before discussing fuels and their
use. however, il liz we'll to consider
what temperature you propose TO pro-
ducc. At this point the Public Health
service has Il word to say. Mos,
americans swcltcr all winter Many
residences will be found 10 have i:
temperature Of 81 degrees, or even
more. for most OF the winter Now
This is not only waste Of fuel. but
II is injurious To tn. health. reduc-
ing your vitality, making YOU ner-
EouS and liable to take cold.
a temperature OF :" degrees should
be high enough for all except inva-
lidS. and many OF them would benefit
by II, II you are used to "a higher
temperature. this may seem cool to
you. but YOU can soon accustom YOUR
self 10 il You should keep Their
momcter in your house. and sec that
the temperature does rot go much
above seventy. and that il remains as
uniform as possible. Also. remember
'hat moist air IL healthier to breathe
aud feels warmer e, tho sam. tenn
q L.,
son. keep IL pan Of water To evapor-
ate in each room. This is especially
desirable IL your house is heated by
hot air. but should be done in amy
ease
IN renting or building a house. there
are several factors To be taken into
account with regard 10 the heating of
~ In the first place. well-buiit
house with weather. boarding and good
windows aud doors viii require less
iuti to heat than poorly built one.
RrIck houses are easier TO heat than
frame. Other things being equal.
lone house jim exposed situation
where IN" wind hits il. viii require
NOR" tuel than one In Il row Of houses.
Hat Air &. Not Hest.
WITH regard to the kinds Of heating
plants. the Bureau OF Mines indicates
i" preference for steam or no; water
over hot air. Hot air tends to dry and
"rac! furniture: on windy days il i
Yer! hard 10 maintain an even tenn
persiurc by this method: and. althOuph
the initial cost is lower. the III. Of tho
apparatus is much shorter Also the
hot air system viii! generally require
more fuel 10 produce the same tenn
p"rature. Th.s" are the conclusions
al the experts who studied the matte.
for tn" bureau OF Mines.
TN" size "f the hrcboN Should he
carefully considered. Ever. fu;nar"
burns best when IL has a tire tina; jus,
iiils the boN. Hence your iuvuac.
should u. adapted 10 tn" size -: Irr
that you Will need most 81 the wintcT
but should u, the same time be large
enough ~ hold more in ;,n especially
cold snap. II II il much too small or
much too large. YOU viii never get
the most ont ~ Your fuel Depth is
also AN important consideration. Tn"
nr.boN should be Al least - foot deep
and eighteen mches is better.
What fuel you viii burn viii de-
pend upon what you can afford. An
ihraclte is the best, OF course. but it
las boromc 50 cxncnsiV" th"t many
persons are now using biiuminous or
soft coal in their furnaces. Il YOU
can obtain nnthracit. in tho smaller
sizes. such as pea coal. by mixing this
with the larger size. YOU can max.
:; very satisfactory fuel -, q lover
COS, than straight egg coal
The coming fuel for heating resi-
dcnces. in the opinion OF tho bureau oi
Miues. is coke. II is light. clean and
burns without smoke Furthermore"
80 many BY products OF coke are nov
being used in maxim. dyes. explosives
aud medicines. that larger and larger
quantities Of il arc being put on th"
market At present. in most Ntcni-
ties. coke would probably coz; more
than soft coal. and less than anthra-