Show AS TO BURNING ASHES Sometimes we are arc almost Inclined to tot t think that It much use after atter all an Here the other day The Herald pub published published a J formula that we were assure 4 would Mould cut the coal bills of the dear public by at least The formula as lS some of you ou will remember remember remember ber contained common salt oxalic acid and water It was stated that when this mixture mature was sprinkled over oer ashes tI hes mixed with a 3 little coal the aforesaid ashes would burn bum with a steady blue and be utterly consumed Ron Hon Honestly estly it looked good goodNow Now ow comes along one of those scientific title Dr A H Gill Gm pro professor professor professor fessor of chemistry at the thc Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a cold brutal mathematical demonstration tion of ot the utter absurdity of ot tha th ash burning theory Writing to fo the Power Magazine Dr Gill says When such statements as these are pub published published In fn reputable newspapers of our large c cities es It would seem to bo be beof high high time that we had a scientific press censor to prevent the people from being fooled Statements like that quoted q above may may perhaps be described as pipe dreams fairy stories etc but It seems teems to me that the tho short word I use use it advisedly Is the proper characterization to be employed Further urther along the distinguished acl scientist no enlist hands out this jolt The rhe explanation given of ot Its behavior t oJ Is Js utterly wrong and misleading for soda soUa lye cannot be produced by bringing com coin common common mon non salt sait solution upon quicklime even much lc Ic less s upon coal ashes It is difficult to see g how by liy h any an possibility acetylene could be 00 formed using this formula and If it it could rould the quantity produced from two ounces of oxalic acid supposing all aU aUthe I the carbon contained in It to be changed to acetylene which It H cannot would be he beabout beabout i about of at an ounce equal in I heating value to a piece of or coal the size of a hazel nut When this mixture comes Into the fur furnace furnace nace the tine fire firo appears brighter from the volatilization of ot the salt which colors all aU aUtho the tho flames intensely yellow this salt condenses con condenses condenses on the cooler parts of ot the boiler and economizer and corrodes them The TIle oxalic acid ael Is ia broken up by the heat of ot the tho fire into Int steam carbonic acid and carbonic oxide nil productions of com combustion bustion and with the exception of the latter valueless as 19 fuel The quantity of carbonic oxide produced is about two fifths of an ounce equivalent in heating beating value to a piece of ot coal the size ize of ot a pea The effect of this can easily easy be imagined imag imagined ImagIned ined Professor Fischer the eminent German chemical engineer said of all such mch formulas formulae Such nonsense should hould not be We rather think that disposes of the ashes question Salt Lakers may as lS aswell aswell well prepare to spend all their money for fop coal next winter Instead of a 11 little for coal and a little for oxalic acid and salt They would have hae to have the water anyway an wa But we lay the formula In the lavender with distinct regret Like Lik the tho good It died young oun and we ought to cherish Its memory Hereafter well have to wait until all the scientists scientists scientists have 0 Kd I d a formula before we dare to reproduce it But horrible thought Perhaps l Dr Gill Gm iii has a ri relative who is s in the coal business s You might try tr the oxalic acid cd combination before you shove shoo all at f tf d dour f your our cash under the tho coal mans door |