240 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



is one of the largest sources of consumption of raw coal, and 

 certainly the cause of a great amount of smoke in our metropolis. 

 The gas fireplace sometimes used does not meet with public favour, 

 owing to its uncheerful appearance, great consumption of gas, and, 

 most of all, from the smell which frequently results from its use. 

 It is said to produce a " dry " heat a term which, to my mind, 

 conveys no definite meaning, seeing that the heat produced by an 

 open fireplace is purely radiated heat, precluding the idea of mois- 

 ture ; but I have observed that in the usual gas-grates, consisting 

 of a number of gas jets spread over the grate, and covered in with 

 pumice or asbestos, the heavy gases resulting from the combustion 

 descend through the grate bars, and thus find their way into the 

 apartment. 



I have lately constructed in my own house gas-grates that are 

 certainly free from the defect just named, and which are at the 

 same time economical and cheerful in their appearance. The 

 arrangement consists in substituting for the fire-grate below a 

 solid plate, so as to exclude all communication with the atmosphere, 

 except through the front bars. A gas-pipe perforated above with 

 a certain number of small holes is connected to the ordinary gas 

 service. The grate is filled with ordinary gas-coke or anthracite, 

 banked up well towards the back. In this way a cheerful fire can 

 be kindled at any time by opening the gas-tap and putting a 

 lighted match to the grate. The gas flames, acting only in front 

 of the grate, soon cause the surface of the coke to glow, without 

 depriving the beholder of the cheerful appearance of the flame. 

 In the course of half-an-hour the surface of the heap of coke is 

 fairly red hot, throwing out fully as much heat as an ordinary fire, 

 while not a particle of flame or smoke reaches the chimney ; the 

 combustion of the gas prevents the rapid consumption of coke in 

 front, and the absence of air its consumption towards the back of 

 the fire. When fairly ignited the gas may be almost turned off 

 because the coke, once well heated, continues its glow by slow 

 combustion with the atmosphere. An ordinary grate may be 

 converted into a coke gas-grate as just described at a very trifling 

 cost, and will be found convenient and inexpensive in its use even 

 when' using illuminating gas at 3s. 6d. per thousand cubic feet. 

 Its economy may be materially increased by a sort of regenerative 

 arrangement, by which the heat gradually accumulating at the 



