The Chemawa American, October 23, 1918, Page 4, Image 4

TH E CHEMAWA AMERICAIN
PAGE 4
H E A T IN G A HOME
For some months to come, during the winter sea­
son, all of us will be interested in the matter of heat
and its conservation. In many parts of the country
fuel is a matter of vital importance. In answer to
the question of fuel conservation—best course to fol­
low—an exchange gives a number of hints which
may be of value to some of our readers and we re­
print the following:
It goes without saying that it is important to have
good furnace of proper size and have it in good repair.
Before starting up fire for winter be sure to give ap­
paratus thorough cleaning. Take down flue-pipe and
clean out soot; stop up any chinks in pipe with as­
bestos or clay. Keep interior heating surface of fur­
nace scraped clean of soot, so as to allow ready ab­
sorption of heat. See that proper size coal is used
and do not waste it by shaking thtough grate. Keep
bed of ashes on grate to prevent cinders falling through
if small size coal is used.
Pipes running from furnace to registers should be
covered with asbestos to save heat. Inlet pipe which
supplies fresh air to furnace should have damper so as
to regulate flow and notallow too much to enter. Fire
should be banked at night and when full heat is not
required. If house is poorly built, windows and doors
loose, etc., it is impossible to heat economically. There
is just so much heat in coal and no magic can make
it more. 5
Most people keep houses too hot; women are foolish
in going half dressed in winter, same as in summer,
and then expecting to be as warm as in a hothouse.
Fuel administration says 68 degrees is proper heat,
but 65 is better and many people do very well on
less. Europeans never knew what warm houses were;
its largely matter of habit.
It takes higher heat to make dry air feel warm than
moist air. Consequently see that ample dishes of
water are kept in rooms, to supply humidity. This
will make difference of 10 degrees in feeling of heat,
and that’s what we go by. Most hot-air furnaces
have water-pots to supply moisture but they are often
allowed to remain empty and even when filled they do
not furnish enough moisture. If large amount of un­
burned coal goes through grate, it will pay to sift
ashes, but better way is to fire furnace carefully so
that practically all of coal will be burned.
OUR C R IPPL E D SOLDIERS
When the war is over we shall find that every com­
munity in the United States will have its quota of
crippled soldiers. These men, who risked life and
limb for the sake of the nation, must be looked after
by the government. Some means fair and just to all
must be found to fit them to take care of themselves
wherever their disability will permit. With this
thought in mind many of our foremost thinkers are
already advocating this or that plan for meeting the
exigencies of the future.
Trade schools appear to be most favored as a means
to help our crippled soldiers. Already industrial
schools have been established in France, England,
Canada and Italy, and Germany, the common enemy,
also has schools for training her cripples. The pension
system of the United States, as in force in the
past, has never been the most successful imagin­
able. Some it made to feel like dependents, in others
it encouraged idleness, in most cases it was not suf­
ficient for entire support, and it was ever a heavy
burden for the public to carry.
By means of industrial schools it is hoped that our
soldier and sailor lads who are crippled in the fray
may be educated along some line which will fit them
to maintain an independence and self-respect which
so many hold dear. Douglas C. McMurtrie in an
article on this subject offers many splendid suggestions
and we are pleased to publish the following para­
graphs:
The disability of some crippled soldiers is no bar to
returning to their former trade, but the injuries of
many disqualify them from pursuing again their past
occupation. The schools of training prepare these
men for some work in which their physical handicap
will not materially interfere with their production.
The education of the adult is made up largely of
his working experience. The groundwork of training
in his past occupation must under no circumstances
be abandoned. The new trade must .be related to thi
former one or be, perhaps, an extension or specializ­
ation of it. For example, a man who had done man­
ual work in the building trades may by instruction in
architectural drafting and the interpretation of plans
be fitted for a foreman’s job, in which the lack of an
arm would not prove a serious handicap. A train­
man who had lost a leg might wisely be prepared as a
telegrapher, so that he could go back to railroad work,
with the practice of which he is already familiar.
P IL L IN G THE SILO
East week the farm and dairy squads began to do
their fall canning. The big silo beside the dairy
barn was fairly yawning for food. So the loaded
wagons began to come in from the cornfields, the busy
little engine began to buzz and puff and the sharp
blades of the ensilage cutter chopped the long stalks
into nice short lenghs. These were driven whirling
up the chute and into the silo. When this juicy
green mass has been sufficiently tamped to drive out
the air it will be held for the winter relish of the
members of the dairy herd..
As the silo is a large one it will give the farmer and
his crew several days of extra strenuous work. But
the pay will come in the steady milk-flow for the win­
ter months.