comes in compact, slablike pieces. It is found in not many
places in this country and, hence, is expensive. What is
found in the market under that name is a semi-bituminous
coal.
Bituminous. — Bituminous coal is found in eastern United
States and, to a small extent, in the West, but the mines in
that section produce what is known as non-bituminous coal.
In appearance bituminous coal is compact, but inclined to
break into irregular fragments with bright shining fracture.
As the name implies, it is pitchy in character, but this does
not become apparent till during the process of combustion,
when it seemingly partially melts, and gas escapes from the
mass until the remainder is almost pure carbon. For this
reason it is sometimes called caking coal. In the manufac-
ture of coal gas this caking portion is known as coke.
Non-bituminous coal resembles bituminous coal in appear-
ance, but lacks the property of forming a fused mass in
burning, hence, cannot be used to produce coke. Both pro-
duce much flame and smoke in burning, hence are objection-
able on ground of cleanliness.
Semi-bituminous coal lies in formation between bitumi-
nous and anthracite, possessing some of the characteristics
of both, burning with much less flame than bituminous, but
more freely than anthracite. Being fairly free from hydro-
carbons it is a cleanly fuel, and is often used for ranges and
fireplaces. It stands next to anthracite in fuel value.
Anthracite. — Anthracite coal is the most compact of all
the coals, being almost free from hydrocarbons and, there-
fore, burns with a slight, blue flame. Unless very expen-
sive this coal is the most satisfactory and economical because
of its greater heating power per ton, and because of its
more uniform combustion. It is cleanly and easily used
because of uniform size of the fragments.
Coke, like charcoal, is one of the resulting products of
44 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
distillation. It is coal heated without access of air, so that
all the hydrocarbons may be driven off. For use in the arts
coke is prepared by heating bituminous coal in special coke
ovens. It is the equal of anthracite coal as a source of heat.
Gas coke, the residue left on heating bituminous coal and
cannel coal in the manufacture of coal gas, is largely used
for household fuel. It is not equal to anthracite in fuel
value. Because of its cleanliness, it is preferable to bitumi-
nous coal, though it is thought by some to burn out grates
and fire-boxes more rapidly than other fuels.
Coal Gas is almost a pure hydrocarbon, and is prepared
by distilling any coal rich in hydrogen. Under the subject
of coke the coals most used were mentioned. Of all the
gases used this is the most perfect in its results.
Page 24
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
comes in compact, slablike pieces. It is found in not many places in this country and, hence, is expensive. What is found in the market under that name is a semi-bituminous coal.
Bituminous. — Bituminous coal is found in eastern United States and, to a small extent, in the West, but the mines in that section produce what is known as non-bituminous coal. In appearance bituminous coal is compact, but inclined to break into irregular fragments with bright shining fracture. As the name implies, it is pitchy in character, but this does not become apparent till during the process of combustion, when it seemingly partially melts, and gas escapes from the mass until the remainder is almost pure carbon. For this reason it is sometimes called caking coal. In the manufacture of coal gas this caking portion is known as coke.
Non-bituminous coal resembles bituminous coal in appearance, but lacks the property of forming a fused mass in burning, hence, cannot be used to produce coke. Both produce much flame and smoke in burning, hence are objectionable on ground of cleanliness.
Semi-bituminous coal lies in formation between bituminous and anthracite, possessing some of the characteristics of both, burning with much less flame than bituminous, but more freely than anthracite. Being fairly free from hydrocarbons it is a cleanly fuel, and is often used for ranges and fireplaces. It stands next to anthracite in fuel value.
Anthracite. — Anthracite coal is the most compact of all the coals, being almost free from hydrocarbons and, therefore, burns with a slight, blue flame. Unless very expensive this coal is the most satisfactory and economical because of its greater heating power per ton, and because of its more uniform combustion. It is cleanly and easily used because of uniform size of the fragments.
Coke, like charcoal, is one of the resulting products of
distillation. It is coal heated without access of air, so that all the hydrocarbons may be driven off. For use in the arts coke is prepared by heating bituminous coal in special coke ovens. It is the equal of anthracite coal as a source of heat. Gas coke, the residue left on heating bituminous coal and cannel coal in the manufacture of coal gas, is largely used for household fuel. It is not equal to anthracite in fuel value. Because of its cleanliness, it is preferable to bituminous coal, though it is thought by some to burn out grates and fire-boxes more rapidly than other fuels.
Coal Gas is almost a pure hydrocarbon, and is prepared by distilling any coal rich in hydrogen. Under the subject of coke the coals most used were mentioned. Of all the gases used this is the most perfect in its results.