SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL AND FIRE-WOOD.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 364, 12 September 1874, Page 2

SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL AND FIRE-WOOD.

Is all probability the discovery noticed below is likely to become a success, and, if it proves so, it will certainly be tlie means of bringing about a great change almost everywhere for tlio better in the economy of fuel and iiglit. It U alsj worthy of consideration — in view of the veiy stringent measures which will, no doubt, be token to conserve our foiests — as to how the discovery may be <oi uri vantage to tins small spot on the globe's suifuce. Lignite nnd shale we inherit in abundance ; but wliut about the indi«pensable chnlk ? Is a -"iibstituto to be found for that ? The extract below is silowt sibifut tho comparative quantity of chalk necessun ; but, if tlie proportion is small, it might yet paj' well to import : — '" The proposition to supercede coal hy the use of enrhouio ga* extracted from ehullc lms been subjected to a practical test by its inventor, and with very satisfactory results. Extracted und applied to anthiacitc, it produce* a strong flame nnd heat and at so slow n rate of combustion tlint a good lire was maintained for twenty-nine hours in a furnace which heats a chinch, with only 561bs of anthracite and an equ >1 quantity of chalk iniwcl with it during that time. Puling the 24 hours, moreover, tho fire was untouched. Through the aid of this remarkable property of chalk, lignite known as shale may be used <or the production of an illuminating gas to an extent which will appear iucreditablo Even the coarsest clay of this singular formation is full of gas, and the experiments made in England, though imperfect, show that one ton of this substance, together with a due proportion of chalk, will yield as large an amount n* eight tons of oidinary coal. From those testa the inventor argues that Londou will be warmed and lighted at 50 per ci ni . cheaper rate ; that tho smoke, dust, and ashes nuisniu-o might be abolished ; that every good sized country lioum' and every village might be lighted with gai ; and the kitchen fire, with some slight alteration in the grate, might supplr tho home with light Finally lignite and anthracite beds would become valuable properly, and chalk would be exported as coal is now. The English papers say the prospect sCiSim almost 100 good to be true "