Norwich bulletin., 1922-10-13
GIVES ADVICE TO THOSE
 WHO MUST USE SOFT COAL


 With official estimates that in the fall | season just beginning only SO per cent. | of the normal annual supply of anthracite | can be produced, and the deduction that | many householders who normally use hard coal must use bituminous coal in their furnaces. the Connecticut fuel ad- ministration has prepared instructions relative to the use of soft coal in house heating.
 The best substitute for anthracite from standpoint of cleanliness and ease of operation is coke, says Thomas W. Rus sell, Connecticut fuel administrator, but here again the supply is inadequate and the householder will have to fall back on bituminous coal.
 Though bituminous coal is dirty to handle, requires more care in firing and gives off considerable smoke, it costs less | and in the better grades is higher in heat value and contains less ash than anthra- cite.
 Where a variety of bituminous coals are available, the householder should l choose low volatile coal. Though not necessary to have the coal sized, as is the case with anthracite. ft will be found cleaner to use coal which mas been screened. If it is found that excessive dust is caused when firing the coal, this can be. reduced by slightly wetting the coal at the front of the bin as if is being used.
 When burning biturnflous coal instead of anthracite in the domestic furnace. 1t will be necessary to use an entirely diff ferent method of firing.
 Instead of leveling the fuel bed and putting on fresh coal in an even layer over the entire fire box. the coke and partly burned coal remaining from the
 e ia as possible, to one side of the fire box and the fresh coal thrown into the empty side so as to leave some of the burning coal exposed In thiS gay the green coal is heated slowly. the volatile gases are given off gradually and are ignited by the burning coal, instead of going to waste up the chimney unburned.
 After a little experimenting. 1t will b, found possible, with most furnaces, tt fire so that at the. next firing the bed O coke will have become built up on on ! side of the furnace and the other sid f will be comparatively empty. s If this can be brought about the groel coal can be thrown into the empty sid without first pushing the coked coal bacl | to one side. However. if 1t is desired t heat the house quickly, the coke should b. broken up and pulled in an even lave f across the whole grate and be allowed C f Durn there until the mouse IS heated. ] can then be pushed to one side and fresl , coal added
 I The proper regulation of drafts varie so much with every combination of fur mace, chimney and kind of coal that 1 - can be determined only by trial. In gen eral, regulate the fire as much as possibl l. by the damDer, check draft and ash pi n door, not by opening the fire door wide = Immediately after firing, the fire doc should be left partly open until smokin has stopped, but ordinarily the fire doc q grid will admit sufficient air over the fir, v By opening the grid in the ash pit dool more or less, the combustion may b |, made more rapid or retarded. To get
 hot fire. the grid should be opened wid, To check the fire so as to carry 1t owe
 night, it should be almost closed. Tn
 exact amount the grid is opened to pro duce the desired results can be detsl mined only by trial
 Do not clean the fire oftener tha necessary. For the average bituninou local, shaking down the ashes will be re
 quired only once a day, and then shak
 only until glow of the fire Is seen in tn
 ash pit, not until burning coals .appea
 Putt out clinkers through the clinker doc
 from time to time.