The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-10
Special Detailed Instructions by Gov
cr'nment In Coal Economy--Reg-
ulation of Air Important Fuctor.

ernment In Coal Economy-Reg-
ulatIon of Air Important Fuctor.
The shortage OF coal in the United
States has become so acute that the
coal administration is sending out ap-
peal of every available sound Of fuel.
Among other things, it has suggest
ed that the schools he closed during
January and February. these two
months to be made W by having ses-
sions closed a month later IN the
spring and opened a month earlier
in the fall Honseholders have been
urged to do their bit by cutting down
the temperature OF their homes from
the usual 10 degrees to 6s, which
medical experts assert is more con-
ducive TO good health.
1t is likely that the latter sugges-
tion will be entirely lost on q majority
of those who are charged with the
scare Of residence furnaces, unless
their apparatus happens to be elabo-
rately equipped. among other things,
with a thermos The average COM
muter who fires his furnace win not
be interested IN the proposal to
change the temperature IN his house
by two degrees II ne only can get
the temperature UP to normal and
bank his fire before he has TO run
to catch the 1855 or the 8:82 But
what he cal do is to save a ton or
so of coal by properly regulating his
FIRE.
How he cen DO this ia explained
| in a pamphlet recently issued ~ the
bureau OF mines of the department
Of the interior under the title Of
Saving Fuel In Heating a House 4"
IF copy of this pamphlet were put
into the hands of every one having
the care OF a furnace, an immense
saving OF coal would be the result
One man. after careful study Of these
Instructions. has found that he viii
be able to reduce his coal consump-
ton from ten to eight tons with a.
hotwater heating system.
The total output OF coal in the
world during the calendar year 1913"
says the Introduction to the instI-uO-
tons, according to a government re-
port, was i.443.3s3.052 short tons.
and OF this amount 395 per cent. or
570,o4s.f25 tons was mined In the
United States, Probably 10 TO Is per
cent, of the coal produced In the
country went to purchasers who used
II largely In heating dwellings. Tho
/ federal government used a large
quantity Of coal for heating the many
buildings occupied by its various de-
partments and bureaus. and Is. there
fore, directly Interested not only in
selecting proper fuels but in obtain
ing the best possible results from
their consumption.
THE Importance OF providing an
inlet for the air that must enter the
furnace rooms. Roughly. iE0 to goo
cubic feet of air are required for
each pound OF coal burned. and. TO
prevent trouble from insufficient
draft, some means OF admitting this
air into the furnace room must be
provided,
The suggestions following have 70
do especially with preventing moon
pIete combustion and the admission
of large excess OF afr into the fur
mace, and the minimizing 81 the at
tention necessary to maintain the
proper temperature in the rooms
heated.
whatever fuel may ba selected.
convenience Will be promoted by hav-
ing theNheater large enough to main
tain for ri least eight hours. without
attention, proper room temperatures
under any weather conditions, ex-
| cept the m ost severe. II a heater win
not do this, 1t IS too small or the draft
| is insufficient Satisfactory regula-
ton of the IRE will be facilitated BY
the proper equipment Of hampers. IN
Guiding a hand damper in the smoke
/ pipe. a check da mper, also In the
snokepipe. and a damper. preferably
| P lift damper. In the ashpit. The
sshpit damper and ash door as we'll
as the pit itself. should be made so
| that the supply of air under the
CRATES can be entirely cut on by
| closing ths door and Gamper, other
wise proper control OF the Are viii be
difficult II not impossible, This IS
g. point often neglected. If bitumin-
GUS coal ia 10 be burned lift damper
in the firing door is advisable
Whether the fuel he hard or soTt
coal. coke, or wood. the stack damp
err should be kept partly closed at all
times except in severe weather, uu-
legs the conditions as to the size or
the boiler and draft are such that
all available draft is regularly need
ed, In most cases, with he stack
damper partly closed. the proper reg
ulation can be obtained by varying
the positions OF the check damper and
the ashpit damper. The fire door
| should not be used 20 check the fire
except In emergencies, for the reason
that the cold air admitted through
the open door cools the firepot at the
same time that II checks the fire.
| "Other suggestions that apply re-
| CARELESS of the fuel used are; Attend
to the fire regularly. do not wait un-
| I'll II has burned low and heat is
needed throughout the house, often
| the need can be anticipated spd ~
| attention at the proper time trouble
can be avoided. In addition, econ
ornv of fuel 10 more likely to be OBJ
tanned by fairly uniform yates OF
burning than by attem pting 10 sup
ply large amount OF heat in a
short period and then suddenly
checking the FIRE.
"Let the size of the coal nred be
a2 nearly uniform as possible. Us
| ing coal OF uneven sizes prevents an
even fiow Of air through the fuel bed