Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1922-10-04
Mind the Draft

experienced users OF soft coal, Wheth-
er they be stokers in the hold of a
ship or cooks in Maryland kitchens,
preach the doctrine Of the draft.
Each year the women of Western
Maryland start early in the fall to tell
their men that the chimneys must be
cleaned out before the fires are start
ed. The reason--because soft coal
makes more SCOT than hard, and if
the smoke is not burnt, it, too, helps
line the chimney. So word to the
wise woman--see to it that your
chimney is cleaned this fall, and, too,
this is mighty good advice to the man.
ayers of the apartment houses of Bal
timore. AS aforesaid, draft is the
main essential in burning soft coal.
Some morning, soon, "sou-easter"
is going to drive the rain against the
house and over the chill breakfast
table, that time-honored speech will
be made: Don't you think, dear, we
should build fire in the furnace ?"
The first thought of those two dears
will be of the coal pile and the condi-
ton of the heater. To them this ar
ticle is dedicated by one who has
heard that same question many times
and whose sympathy is his excuse for
plunging.
So, facing the coming situation
with calmness and comfort, the good
man goes to the basement and builds
fire. That's all, if he does it along
these lines. With his paper and wood,
just like father used to do with hard
coal, placed on the crate he picks out
few Jumps of the soft coal and lays
them, mark you, not throws them, on
the wood. The reason for this is ap-
parent, for unless he uses Jumps
when the wood is burned out, his fire
will run out through the crate. It is
surprising to the uninitiated how
quickly this fire is going to burn up:
that is, if the draft is right. This,
according to the best authorities, is
how the hampers should be. Every
thing above the firepot should be wide
open and give the smoker clear road
to the height of heaven. Beneath the
fire, judgment will dictate. The only
advice needed is to keep the fire well
fed with air.
Now, the fire is ready for more coal
probably. A much discussed ques-
ton is the value of sprinkling coal
with water. The writer strongly
urges that no coal oil be used for this
purpose, as it is not only injurious to
the stove or heater, but at times dis
figuring to the experimental. About
the water, try it. Sprinkle the coal,
one housewife suggests, as you would
clothes to be ironed.
In putting the coal on the fire, don't
throw it in by the bucketful-that is a
lirty habit. Let it gently flow off the
Aovel, or out of the bucket; build
n'e little pyramid in the middle of
70 firepot, not letting the base quite
I'll Tile Sue OF the pot.
| Y course, the reader realizes that
sottEoal cannot be stored in the mag
azln at the top of hard coal stoves,
and alowed to feed down like hard
coal. {Oh, no, soft coal to great
er OF lesser extent swells, and
the ont experiment will probably re-
SUIT IN The bursting of the magazine.
Inc rule is to keep the soft-coal fire
oeio" tn side or feed door. Now.
take look at the furnace fire YOU
nave Just luilt. Notice how much
larger yolr pyramid has grown. No
tlce, too, the crust that it forms all
around it. + the house is warmed
enough, chse the bottom hampers,
and leave tie che in the stack or pipe,
open just CROUCH to allow any gas or
smoke to pass sut.
But, perhaps, it is not warm enough.
All right. Take a poker, one that
you have Strengthened out and made
into a "slice BAR and gently break
up that pyramid enough to let the air
pass through. You notice that it
holds together well like real lumn
Really, it is very easy, building this
fire. but don't be in hurry putting
on more coal, that's, fresh coal. Get
the heat out of the cooked coal. and
only after it has performed it's fnnc-
ton, build another little pyramid, fix .
the hampers to holdiin the fire. and -,
don't forget to leave that little open
ing in the upper dan per.
Requires Nor, Care
Soft coal requires nbre care than
hard. 1t is persona, observation
that it is more susceptible to atmos-
pheric conditions than hard coal.
anyway, take look at y,ur furnace
,Df.