Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1919-12-04
The New Idea In Coal.

Inc tecnnlcal papers nave been
recently engaged in a discussion
OF new and inexpensive process
es whereby the by products of
coal may develop into an impor-
tant economical factor in the op-
GRAFTON of large manufacturing
and public utilities plants. The
claim is made that the value of
these by products would amount
to a practical notification of the
coal bill. 1t would not only off
set the price of coal, but operate
to it's conservation. "The new
idea" is generally worth investi-
eating by the interests which it
is claimed to benefit and no doubt
private and public concerns us.
IL Iargc LOnnage oi coal will in a
i. short time be reaping the pro
portionate advantages from tie
by-p"odncts of coal, as the pack
erS are securing from the by
PRODUCTS 0i cattle and the cotton
ala oil plants from the by-pp-
duo Of cotton. In this connec-
ton The Observer has received a
letter from John Flemmingof26O
West l27th Street, New York,
which has aroused an honestly
hopeful curiosity. 1t suggests
the utilization of the coal ashes
the people have been throwing
away and gives "a formula" by
which these ashes can be return
e ~ The furnace in the shape of
fu Mr. mining indicates
thu !. Is nothing new, as the
experience of thousands who
have tried it goes to prove" 1t
Is little strange, in view of the
great possibilities claimed, that
kuaW'od2c of the process has not
becowc more general. But why
be s., peal without reason? The
ex rlucuj Is a simple one and
the eAperimenter, at any rate,
could lose nothing by giving it a
trial. For the enlightenment of
our readers and fortheirpossible
ben fit, we are quoting from
File aiming > letter:
In view of the threatened coal
famine this winter, | have the
following suggestion to offer to
save fuel: The idea is to take
the ashes that we are now throw.
ing out, and after treating them
to simple chemical preparation,
to return them to the furnace and
obtain from them as great, if not
greater heat than We did from
he coal itself. And this can be
done, as the experience of thous,
ands who have tried the expert
ment goes to prove. The formu.
la for this chemical preparation
is as follows: Take one pound OF
common salt, two ounces OF
oxalir acid. and one gallon of va.
ter, mix, and mOisten a mixture
containing one partcoaland three
ashes, and a better fuelthan pure
coal is obtained. The ashes'of an
thrasite coal burn as do those of
bituminous. The mixture will up.
on being placed upon a burning
fire, fuse into a coaklike mass
and deposit but little residue"
1t is said in explanation of the
chemical action of thiscompound
that when an aqueous solution OF
alkaline salt is mixed with Goa
ash, the result is that a mild lye
is formed, which, when mixed
with any combustable material
such as coal, and upon the appli
cation of heat, gives off oxygel
gas, thus enabeling rapid combu'
ton. The addition of oxalic aci(
causes a chemical change ofgrea
ter value than the first, for tn,
reason that it results in the for
nation of a carbide, which IL
turn gives off acetylene gas, thi
adding to the intensity of TIN
heat, and facilitating complet
combustion. 1t is impossible up
on moistening small quantity o
ashas mithnnt the addition q