1904] A Woman's Visit to a Peat Bog. 173 



men were eng^aged in conveying- the brick-like blocks of peat 

 that issued from a great iron machine in continuous procession, 

 to large iron tramcars, which were run on rails into the huge brick 

 drying chambers on either side of the driveway. Massive iron 

 doors, studded with iron bolts, shut in the tramcars with their 

 precious burden with a clashing sound, and then the heat was 

 turned on, fierce, terrific, the furnaces, when the doors were 

 opened for a second, belching out fire and smoke like Dante's 

 Inferno. 



To the scientific of the party the process of heating and 

 draughts was explained. Behind the furnaces were rows and 

 rows of peat blocks, drying in the sun and air to be used in the 

 furnaces. 



Then we were taken to the bog. A narrow trestlework, 

 supported a cable-like arrangement by which the peat was carried 

 in something like the conveyors in a flour mill, the lower ones 

 from the bog full of peat, the upper ones returning empty. 



Our three dauntless females followed their attentive guide on 

 this very narrow pathway, a tight-rope feat bravely carried out 

 despite the instructions of the fatherly one of the party, who held 

 his breath between times and occasionally ejaculated "Don't 

 talk," "Go slow," '' Watch your footsteps." Once we did look 

 around to see the deep-voiced one of the party taking a snap shot 

 of us on our perilous journey. 



At last the opening in the bog was reached, where the derricks 

 were placed, with knives descending and clasping the peat and 

 bringing it to the surface. Here it was shovelled aside to dry, by 

 a stalwart German in overalls, who might be a study for a painter 

 or sculptor, with his grace of action and magnificent proportions. 

 The cranks of the derricks were turned by the ladies of the party, 

 and only once they struck a snag and needed assistance. We 

 learned that as soon as the space is large enough steam dredges 

 will be set to work bringing up larger quantities of peat. 



It takes Nature fifty years, it is said, to make a foot of peat, 

 and, as the bog here has over thirty feet of peat, as was shown by 

 a slender iron rod driven down for our benefit, one can imagine 

 how almost inexhaustible is the supply. 



This "household fuel" is economical, clean and non-odorous. 



