The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-10-02

sreaming and apparently right for a
spontaneous combustion fire. A great
quantity of hay was stored in the barn
and some distance beneath the surface
I found that it had commenced TO heat
up, as it had not been thoroughly
cured. 1 explained TO the farmer that
where large quantities of hay are
stored spontaneous combustion may
be under way for two or three months
before discovery. This condition re-
suits from storing hay or grain while
damp or wet, or before it is complete
ly cured Sprinkling it with salt, at
the rate of ten pounds to the ton, is an
effective agent for preventing spon-
taneous combustion. Guard also
against leaks in the roofs and sides
of barns and ventilate the hay as fire.
quentIy as possible right after it is
stored. Placing the hand few feet
below the surface of the hay is good
precautionary method. Spontaneous
ignition has caused many mystery"
fires on farms, but they can be en-
tirely eliminated if proper precautions
are taken.
In the kitchen Of the farm I found
a kerosene cook stove, badly in need
of cleaning. Both the stove and the
walls near it were covered with spat-
tered grease To be used with safety,
kerosene stoves much be cleaned daily.
After taking a number of notes |
left the farmer, who thanked me for
the suggestions made
Careless Motorists
A few miles farther on I came to a
large field which had been burned over
and now showed black in contrast to
the waving grain on the opposite side
of the road. To obtain a better view
1 stopped the car and took out a pack
age of cigarettes In the act of light
ing one l noticed man running
across the field toward me, waving
his arms. When he reached me I had
disposed of the match in a receptacle
in the car. 81 was afraid you would
toss that match into my field and set
it on fire." he said. "Only last week
a car stopped here and someone threw
lighted match into the field on the
other side of the road, resulting, as
you see, in a fire which destroyed
acres of grain that was almost ready
to be harvested" Hundreds of acres
Of farm land are burned over each
year as a result of someone's careless
act and many times these fires spread
to forest land, causing great loss in
growing timber.
l then told him about the survey
of farm property I was making and
he invited me to look over his place.
AS we approached the house it ap-
peared to be in good condition and
well painted. Inside, however, found
many things which left the way open
for fire. Coal stoves were installed
close TO woodwork which showed the
result of exposure TO heat. 1t seemed
quite possible that fire would result
If the stove became unusually hot
There was no metal beneath the stove
TO protect the floor from the hot Goals
which sometimes fall out when the
stove door is open. Stovepipes run
ming TO the chimney appeared to be old
and rusty. One pipe went through a
partition into another room and no
protection was afforded the wall.
pointed this out TO the farmer and
explained that wherever smokepipes
are built through partition the
walls should be protected by the use
of thimble, which is a sort of hol-
low metal drum providing air space
and thus preventing excessive heat be-
ing conducted to the wall material.
The chfmneys of the house appar-
emily were poorly constructed. Cracks
that were visible had not been re-
paired and one small chimney rested
on a platform of timbers instead of
continuing on TO the ground. an ex-
tremely hazardous type of construction.
All of the chimneys were heavily coated
with SCOT. giving evidence that they
had not been cleaned in years.
In the cellar an accumulation of rub