The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-02-15
USE WOOD FOR FUEL
Many Farmers Can Relieve
Heavy Demand for
Freight Cars.
NEEDED FOR war SUPPLIES
In Many States II Is Entirely Practl-
cable to Replace Coal with Wood
Saving Would Amount to
10000 Cars.
prepared by the United States Depart
Tnent of Agriculture)

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Farmers frequently are situated so
they can protltably supply fuel from
their woodlands and thus relieve, to
considerable extent, the heavy demand
for coal.
A maximum price for coal has been
fixed by the Government This does
not mean, however, that the railroads
will be able to transport all Of the
coal which the consumers may desire
or want. Every freight car Is per-
forming a heavy duty; and the fewer
the cars that are used for coal the
greater will be the number available
for carrying other war commodities.
Manufacturers, of course, cannot
substitute wood for coal neither can
city people, because this would result
In even greater railroad congestion.
Nor is 1t likely that In either the South
or the West the use of wood for fuel
can be greatly increased. But in
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mas
sachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan. Wis
consin Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri
it ought to be entirely practicable in
many cases to replace coal with wood
for fuel. In these II states is a rural
population of about 20,00O,OO0, which,
1t is estimated, uses annually about
100000 tons Of coal. If, by substi-
tuting wood, one-quarter Of the coal
burned by farmers and one-tenth Of
the coal burned in villages could be
saved, the total saving would amount
to nearly 100000 tons, or between
$4,000 and 10000 carloads.
Reduce Coal Consumption.
It is where team-hauled wood can
be used in place Of railroad-hauled
coal that the change should be made.
Farmers who own woodlands and peo-
pie In villages who can purchase wood
from nearby farms are the ones IN the
best position to reduce their consump-
ton of coal. 1t is not expected SUBJ
stitution of wood for coal will be COM
plete or universal; for many purposes
coal is much more convenient. But
for heating many kinds of buildings
wood is the more convenient and
cheaper fuel. This Is particularly true
in the case of churches, halls, summer
cottages, and other buildings for which
heat Is required only occasionally; but
is then wanted In large volume at
short notice.
Furnaces are built especially for
burning wood In 3 or foot lengths.
Short lengths, of course, can readily
be burned in an ordinary coal furnace
or in a box stove, though this Is rather
wasteful Of fuel. Many furnace manu-
facturers, however, make a special
wood CRATE for use In their furnaces.
One advantage in burning wood is that
on moderately cool days the furnace
can be run at lower ebb than when
coal Is used, consuming only enough
fuel to remove the chill. When wood
is used In a round pot furnace, care
should be taken to have each piece lie
fiat.
If stove CRATE is too coarse fol-
wood, q sheet iron cover over Il gooC
part of the surface will make 1t suit
able, or a few fire bricks can be used
Relative Heating Value of Wood ant
Coal
In the matter of heating value on
standard cord of well-seasoned hiclS