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"Scientific American Supplement, No. 430, March 29, 1884"


[Illustration: ADORNMENTS OF THE NEW POST OFFICE, LEIPZIG, GERMANY.]
* * * * *


COAL GAS AS A LABOR-SAVING AGENT IN MECHANICAL TRADES.
By THOMAS FLETCHER, F.C.S.

Gas, as a fuel, is an absolute necessity to the economical carrying out
of many commercial processes. It is often used in the crudest and most
costly way; a burner may be perfect for one purpose, yet exceedingly
wasteful for another, and however good it may be, an error of judgment
in its application may lead to its total condemnation. An excess of
chimney draught, in cases where a flue is necessary, may pull in
sufficient excess of cold air to almost neutralize the whole power of
the burner, unless a damper is used with judgment. With solid fuel, an
excess of draught causes more fuel to be burnt, but with gas the fuel
is adjusted and limited; there is no margin or store of fuel ready to
combine with the excess of air, which, therefore, lowers the amount
of work done by its cooling power.


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