SAVING COAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 10

SAVING COAL

MINISTER SUGGESTS JIETHODS. . The Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister-.m-Charge of Munitions and Supplies, invites the attention of all coal consumers to the necessity for the keenest economy being obse'rved in the.use of coal, as under present conditions it is only possible to maintain all activities by having regard to this important matter. In view of the present shortage of coal for domestic use and the certainty that the position of bituminous coal for . household'purposes will become more' acute as the winter advances, the Minister has had the following hints on fuel economy drawn up for general information, and ■ trusts that every householder will read same with interest, with the object of securing the maximum results from the coal and coke used, and to eliminate all wasto whatsoever. The hints are as follow:— 1. Coal and coke mixed in equal proportions give a fuel which will last longer than coal alone. Though the fuel will not , blaze to the same- extent, it will give a steady red hot effect. 2. Remove partially burnt embers when you go to bed and put them aside to cool on the hearth or hob for use tho next day. 3. Sift all cinders so as to recover all partially burnt coal. 4. Do not leave the dampers of, the coal range out longer than is necessary to heat the water in the boiler, or to do tho cooking. When dampers are out the consumption, of fuel is increased. 5. By banking down a fire with small coal slightly damped and pressed down, the lire can be kept in for a long time without waste of coal. C. If a fireplace happens to he a large one and only a small slow-burn-ing fire is required, fill in part of the space with coal balls formed by mixing coal with clay. These can easily be made at home. When dry and piaced in tho fire they will, when the coal is' well under way, form a glowing mass which will consume.very slowly, 7. Many grates, owing to their largo size, are most uneconomical in the use of coal. The size of large grates can be effectively reduced by inserting firebricks at the sides of the fire, tho firebrick becoming red hot and retaining heat for a. long time. 8. In all coal stores and storage bins j there will always be a certain amount j of small coal or slack made from the I breaking up of coal, especially when I filling it into the scuttles. This should j be used for damping the fires or for making the balls already alluded to, and should on no account be thrown ! away. 9. Use gas whenever possible, but economise to the utmost in its use. By using gas you reduce the amount of coal required to be carried and delivered in retail quantities, and so economise labour without as well as within your home. At the same time you are assisting in the further production of by-products in the gas works which are commercial necQssities at the present time. 10. For similar reasons, if you use solid fuel, use' gas coko whenever possible instead of coal.'