then have the following statement. As 100: 600::81: 486. Four dollars and eighty-six cents being the comparative value of a cord of red-heart hickory, and the difference between the price of this wood and its comparative value thus ascertained, shows how much dearer or cheaper it is than the wood with which it has been compared. We will suppose the price of red-heart hickory to be 5.75 and that of chesnut white oak to be 5 dollars. Then 81:575::86:610, is the value of the latter, which being sold at 5 dollars, is cheaper by one dollar and ten cents, than the red-heart hickory. If we take the mean of the comparative numbers for the eleven different species of oaks, which is 69, and compare them at 5 dollars, with shell-bark hickory at 6 dollars, 100: 600::69:414, is the average value of these oaks, and at the prices specified, the hickory is the cheapest by near

tion. The woods differ less perhaps in equal weights than
has been generally supposed, and that difference will
be found to correspond very nearly with the different
quantities of carbon they contain; they are however of
very different value in equal quantities by measure, in
consequence of the great disparity in their weight. This
remark is also applicable to those coals which are sold
by measure and not by weight,from which circumstance,
it becomes necessary to caution those who would at-
tempt to ascertain the value of different articles of fuel
by merely comparing their different results of heat in
the table, without regard to their different weights.-
The results being comparisons between articles in equal
weight, cannot be compared with quantities by measure
alone; hence the necessity of determining the weights
of a given bulk of those articles sold in this manner,
which will be found in the table in their respective co-ly one dollar.
lumns, the manner of obtaining which will be hereafter
detailed. The object of my experiments being practi-
cal utility, rather than scientific research, to facilitate
the accomplishment of that desirable object, I have es-
timated the comparative values of the different articles.
These will be found in the last column of the table, and
are equally applicable not only to every market, but for
every change in the prices that can take place.

The standard taken is shell-bark hickory, that being of greater weight than a cord of any other wood in the table,and disengaging in its combustion an equal quantity of heat from any given weight.

The comparative numbers express the value of one cord of each of the woods, one ton of the anthracite coals, and one hundred bushels of the bituminous coals, charcoal and coak, and although no one market is supposed to furnish for fuel every kind of wood contained in the table, yet the principal part will probably be found, and in markets where the woods are much mixed, averages may easily be made adapted to those markets. The column of comparative values was found in the following

manner,

A mere examination of the comparative numbers, will show that a cord of white birch is 52 pr. ct. less in value than a cord of shell-bark hickory, and the difference per cent. may be calculated from the comparative numbers between any two articles sold at the same price.

We will now extend the comparison to some of the coals: and take for this purpose one cord of shell-bark hickory, at six dollars, and determine the comparative value of one ton of Lehigh Coal. As 100: 600:: 99: 594, which shows them to be of nearly the same value, supposing each article to be consumed under the same circumstances; but as this is not the case, and as this objection has been frequently stated to me by those who have confounded two distinct subjects, a momentary digression will be excused, to show the futility and irrelevancy of this objection. It is admitted that there may be greater disparity between the manner of consuming different kinds of fuel, than actually exists in their comparative value as usually sold; but this dif ference does not enhance or depress the value of the different articles, provided it is practicable to consume them in the same manner, which, with very few exceptions, may be done. The intrinsic value of the different different constructions of the apparatus used for their combustion, are distinct subjects of inquiry, and although both are necessary to be known, to effect any valuable improvement in the selection of the one and the construction of the other, yet it does not follow as a consequence, because the construction of a grate used for the combustion of Lehigh coal, is more economical than an open fire-place, that, therefore, one ton of the coal possesses greater intrinsic value than one cord of shell-bark hickory wood, as it would be equally relevant, to say, that the coal is intrinsically of less value, be: cause the wood may be consumed in a sheet iron stove, which is a much more economical apparatus than the grate.

The value of a given quantity of fuel is directly proportional to the time that a given weight of it maintain-kinds of fuel, and the loss or gain experienced by the ed the air of the room at a given temperature, and also to its weight. Hence assuming shell-bark hickory for a standard, since one pound of this wood maintained the air of the room at the given temperature 400 minutes, this being multiplied by 4469, the weight of a cord of this wood, we obtain 1787600 minutes as the time which the air of the room would have been maintained at the given temperature, by consuming one cord of this wood.

We then have the following proportion. As the product in time corresponding to one cord of shell-bark hickory, (1787600) is to its assumed value (100) so is the product of the weight of a given quantity of any other article into the time that one pound of it would maintain the air of the room at the given temperature, to the value of the given quantity of this article.

Thus for a cord of white ash wood:

As 1787600: 100: :3450 × 400=138000000:77

For a ton of Lehigh coal, of 2240 pounds:

As 1787600: 100::2240 x 790 176960000:99

We will resume the subject by comparing one ton of Lehigh coal, at seven dollars, with one hundred bushels of Newcastle coal, at thirty-five dollars, which are the present prices in this market. As 99: 700:: 198: 1400, from which, it appears that fifty bushels of this coal are precisely equal in value to one ton of Lehigh coal, but as the Newcastle coal will cost seventeen dollars and

For 100 bushels of Cannel coal weighing 6525 pounds: fifty cents, and Lehigh coal costs only seven dollars, the

As 1787600: 100::6525 × 630-411075000:230

latter is the cheaper article of fuel by 150 per cent.

If the value of a chaldron or bushel of the bituminous coal is required, the manner of obtaining a solution of either question, is obvious.

A few examples will be sufficient to show the facility with which the comparisons may be made. For this purpose, we will assume the price of shell-bark hickory wood as at six dollars for a cord of 128 cubic feet, this being the average price in this market, and compare it with a cord of red-heart hickory. The comparative value of the former is 100, and of the latter 81. Weket, as his standard of comparison.

These coals, as brought to market, are probably of the same value in equal weights, although a slight variation was found in my results, from the specimens experimented upon.

It will be apparent, that although shell-bark hickory has been taken, for convenience, as the standard, to construct the column of comparative values, the economist should take the cheapest article of fuel in the mar

The experiments on the Lehigh, Schuylkill, Susque hanna, and Lackawaxen coals were repeated a number of times, in different quantities, but the results were found to be uniformly the same. Considerable difference was found in the results of pine charcoal, when

1829.

EXPERIMENTS ON FUF.L.

189

and

for

with

No. 9.

No. 9.

10

18

takeo promiscuously from different parcels as brought for absorbing heat is nearly as 4 to 1, when compared to market, in consequence of the imperfect manner in with air, and probably greater during its conversion inwhich the charring process bad been conducted, but as to vapour, which must be effected before it can escape, these coals are sold by measure, and not by weight, and the loss of heat must consequently be very great. as the bulk is not materially diminished in perfecting the process, the loss sustained from this circumstance Table exhibiting the results of experiments made to de. being in part compensated by the heat disengaged in termine the comparative loss of heat sustained by usexpelling the remaining inflammable matter, we may ing apparatus of different construction, for the comconsider this defect, in ordinary cases, as unimportant; bustion of fuel. the result, however, is given for perfect charcoal.

Time the room Weight of fuel reThe coak used to experiment upon was produced in

was maintained quired by each ap. the large way, and that which was most free from earthy,

at the same tem- paratus, to mainor other foreign matter, as well as most perfect in other

perature, in the lain tbe room at

of the same temper. respects, was selected. The heat resulting from its Description of apparatus used. combustion combustion is less than was anticipated, and shows that

equal weights of ature,

fuel, compared the same time the commonly received opinion that it contains as much carbonaceous matter as charcoal, in equal weights, is er

with apparatus compared roneous, and what is still more erroneous, is, the opin. ion that any given quantity of coak, by measure, will in No.1. Chimney fire-place, its combustion disengage as much heat as an equal quan

of ordinary construction tity of the coal from which it is produced. One bushel

for burning wood,

1000 of bituminous coal produces in retorts about one and a 2. Open Parlour Grate,of half bushels of coak, in consequence of swelling during

ordinary construction, the process, and yet its specific gravity is stated, in for burning anthracite some tables, as nearly equal to that of the coal.

coal,

555 The composition balls of Lehigh coal, charcoal and 3. Open Franklin Stove, fire clay, were made for the purpose of ascertaining

with one elbow joint,& whether a very economical fuel might not be formed of

5 feet of six inch pipe the culm or fine portions of the two former, by combin. placed vertically, the ing them with the latter article, as they possess very

fire-place being closed little value, the same practice having been adopted with

with a fire-board,

37

270 considerable advantage in various parts of Europe.

4. Cast Iron ten-pl. Stove, The fire produced by these balls was found to be very

with one elbow joint, & clean and beautiful in its appearance; its superior clean

five feet of four inch liness is in consequence of the ashes being retained by pipe,placed horizontalthe clay, and the balls were found to retain their original ly, entering the fireshape, after they were deprived of the combustible ma. board,

45

222 terials. The beauty of the fire is enhanced by the shape 5. Sheet iron cylinder and equality in the size of the balls, which, during the

stove, the interior surcombustion, present uniform luminous faces. No diffi- face coat'd with claylute culty was found in igniting or perfectly consuming the

with one elbow joint, & combustible materials of the balls, and the loss in heat,

5 ft of 2 inch pipe, plawhen compared with the combustion of the same quan- ced horizontally, entertity of each article, in their usual states of aggregation,

ing the fire-board,

67

149 was found to be only three per cent.

6. Sheet iron cylinder From a pile of swamp white oak of medium size, stove, as before descriwhich had been cut the preceding winter, and weather

bed, with 13 feet of 2 seasoned during the interval, (:his being the state in

inch pipe,inwhich there which the largest portion of wood is sold,) a half cord,

were 3 elbow joints, or sixty four cubic feet, was accurately measured, and

the whole placed as folits weight was found to be 1928 avordupois pounds.

lows:3} ft horizontally, Frora experiments made to ascertain the weight of

5 ft vertically, for an asmoisture absorbed by different woods, which had pre

cending current, & 5 ft. viously been made perfectly dry, and afterwards expos. vertically, for a descended in a room in which no fire was made during a period

ing current, entering

the fire-board, of twelve months, the average absorption by weight, for

78

128 this period, was found to be 10 per cent. in forty six dif- 7. Sheet iron cylinderStv. ferent woods, and 8 per cent. in the driest state of the

as before describ'd with atmosphere, and an unexpected coincidence was found 13) ft. of 2 inch pipe,in to exist in the weight absorbed by forty-six pieces of

which there were 3 elcharcoal made from the same kinds of wood, and simi

bow joints,placed asfollarly exposed, the latter being also 8 per cent.

lows:9 inchesvertically, The quantity of moisture absorbed by the woods in

and 123 feet horizontaldividually, was not found to diminish with their increase ly, entering the fire

board,

82

122 in density; whilst it was found that the green woods, in drying, uniformly lost less in weight in proportion to 8. Sheet iron cylinder their great density. Hickory wood taken green, and Stove, as before descri

bed, with nine elbow made absolutely dry, experienced a diminution in its weight of 371 per cent., white oak,41 per cent, and soft joints, measuring 131 maple, 48 per cent.; a cord of the latter will therefore feet of two inch pipe,

95 entering the fire-board,

105 weigh nearly twice as much when green as when dry.

If we assume the mean quantity of moisture in the 9. Sheet iron cylinder woods, when green, as 42 per cent., the great disadvan- Stove, as before descritage of attempting to burn wood in this state must be bed, with forty-two feet obvious, as in every 100 pounds of this compound of

of two inch pipe, as uwood and water, 42 pounds of aqueous matter must be

sed in the course of ex

100 periments on fuel,

100 expelled from the wood, and as the capacity of water

a

dry Wood in one cord.

Avoirdapois pounds of

Wood, by weight.
from 100 parts of dry

Product of Charcoal

Hickory as the standard.
pared with Shell-bark
luities of each article, com-
Value of specified quan.

IM

20

CORD.

77 70 63 48 51 56 52 55 75 58 67 57 100 95 81 72 57 65 66 60 54

2

56

3450 3115 3236 3115 2369 2534 2525 2333 2668 3643 2592 3142 2834 4469 4241 3705 3505 2691 3218 2963 2878 2668 2704 3955 3821 3464 3339 3339 3254 3254 3102 3030 2919 2449 3178 2463 2137 1904 1868 2516 1774 2762 3964 2391 3044 3361

25.74 25 19.62 19.40 19 20.79 24.72 25.29 21.70 21 24.85 22.16 19.69 26.22 25.22 22.90 21.40 22.77 19 24.02 21.43 20.64 21.59 22.76 21.62 21.50 23.17 22.22 23.80 22.43 22.37 20.86 21.60 22.95 23.44 23.75 24.88 26.76 24.35 21.81 25 22.58 22.62 23.60 22.56 23.30

86 81 74 73 71 71 69 66 61 60 52 69 54 48 43

42

52

1829.]

LAW CASE.

191

VS.

LAW CASE.

to rent in arrear anterior to the assignment; the quesRights of a Landlord under a voluntary Assignment. tion here presented, being a claim for priority of payCatharine Morris,

ment out of the proceeds of chattels which passed under Common Pleas,

the asssignment and which were then on the demised John Parker and

premises. Chas. Shaw, AssignM. 22, No. 25.

Th second ground on which the plaintiff supposes ees of Haines & Pim.

this action supportable, arises from the provisions of the Case Stated.

act of the 25th of March 1825. The first section of that It is agreed that Messrs. Haines & Pim rented a house act declares that if any tenant for life or years of any of the plaintiff in south Second street, at the rate of $240 messuage, &c. upon the demise whereof any rents are, per annum, payable quarterly. That they entered into or shall be reserved, shall, before such rent becomes possession the 25th June 1827 paid the first quarter's due, fraudulently convey away and carry off, or from rent & continued two montsh and —days in the second such demised premises, his goods or chatiles, with intent quarter. That on the 17th day of November. A. D. to defraud the landlord of his remedy by distress, it shall 1827, the said Haines and Pim made an assignment in be lawful for such landlord to consider his rent apportrust for the benefit of creditors as per assignment, and tioned up to the time of such conveying away and carrythe defendant let the goods remain in the premises 11 ing off, and for him within thirty days next ensuing, to days after the assignment, when the defendants paid the seize the same and proceed to dispose thereof, for the plaintiff $7 64 and gave her the key; and a new tenant rent so apportioned as is directed by existing laws. entered, and then the goods were sold and removed by The construction of this act and the class of removalsthe purchasers. The plaintiff applied to Esqr. Ren- to which it applied, was settled by this court, so far at shaw to prevent the removal under the late law, but be all events as to regulate our decisions under it, in the fore actually instituting any proceedings for that pur case of Purfel vs. Sands, decided at March term, 1827. pose she went to the defendants, before the sale of the We there held “that it is not every removal, rent being goods, who agreed to pay if the goods were liable un- in arrear or unpaid, that will authorize a landlord under der the act of Assembly, or if they were liable as assign- this act or that to which it is a supplement, to follow and ees, under the circumstances, for the rent due at the distrain his tenant's goods ofl'the premises. To justify time of the sale and removal. The question submitted such a procedure, the removal must be fraudulent. The to the Court is, whether the assignees in trust for the be- nature of fraud and the innumerable shapes it assumes nefit of the creditors of the tenant who took possession render it impracticable to point out precisely what will of the goods of the tenant on the premises, after the amount to a fraudulent removal: but there is no difficulty commencement of the quarter; and after some days, and in saying, that an open and notorious removal in the daybefore the expiration of the quarter, sold them are, un- time, although no notice was given to the landlord, is not der the facts stated, liable for the rent from the com- fraudulent within the meaning of these acts." Grace mencement of the quarter to the time of sale and reme- vs. Shively 12. Serg. & Rawle, 281-Hooper vs. Crow. val.

ley 1d. 218. We do not say now, nor did we say then, By the Court: King, President, (after stating the that a removal in the day time cannot be fraudulent; becase) the defendants are supposed to be liable to the cause circumstances may exist in such a removal as would demands of the plaintiff, either under the general prin- clearly indicate it to be fraudulent. But we say in this ciples of law arising from the circumstances of the case, case, as we did in Purfel vs. Sunds, that there were no or by virtue of the provisions of the 1st section of the circumstances disclosed in the case which would justify "supplement" to the laws regulating distresses for rent, / a distress under the act of March 1825. Any such atpassed the 25th day of March, 1825–Pamphlet Laws, tempt by the plaintiff would have been wholly illegal 114.

and unauthorised. From the manner in which the case is stated, it would The defendant's promise to pay this rent, being conseem that the plaintiff' is under the impression that she ditional and dependent either on their liability as assignis entitled to a preference over the general creditors of ees, from having received the proceeds of goods on the Haines & Pim, out of the proceeds of the goods on the premises when the assignment was made, no rent being premises at the time of the assignment to the defendants. in the arrear or on the liability of the goods under all In this however, in my judgment, she is mistaken. The circumstances to be distrained upon; under the provispreference of a landlord under such circumstances arises ions of the act of March 1825; and the court being of o. from his right to distrain the goods assigned: and where pinion with them on both points, the judgment must be that right does not exist, as it clearly did not in this case, in their favor. Of course our decision does not interfere the rent not being due and in arrear, or where if the right with the right of the plaintiff's to a prorato part of the to distrain does exist, he omits to exercise it, but suffers funds in the hands of the defendants with the other crea bona fide sale and removal by the assignees;,he stands ditors of the same grade, or her claim for payment in the same position with respect to the proceeds of the by the defendants for the use of her house for eleven sale as any other creditors. This is the rule even in days, which she has actually received; it being made on bankruptcy, which being a statutary execution, the pre- the general questions submitted in the case. Judgment ference of the landlord at least for a year's rent, might for the defendants.-U. S. Gazetle. from analogy bave with some plausibility been established. Ex parto Plummer 1. Atkyns 103-Braydyll and Coal.- Many of our newly opened veins are assuming Bell 1. Bro. 427, 1. Cook's Bankrupt Law, 173, Sec- appearances similar to those which characterize Mauch tion 8th, 5th edition. The assignee under a voluntary chunk. They are of various sizes from twenty to thirty assignment stands in the same position with respect to a feet in thickness, and generally present a less inclinalandlord as any other bona fide purchaser. He is, or ra- tion than smaller ones. They are mostly contiguous to ther bis goods are liable for rent in arrear while they Mine Hill and the Broad Mountain. One has been remain on the premises; but|when no rent is in arrear, or opened by Messrs. Pott and Bannan in the latter range, if the goods are bona fide sold and removed from the in which, after descending about twenty-eight feet they demised premises, the landlord has no specific lien for encountered a small vein, and digging through that his rent on such goods or preferred claim on the avails came again to a variegated coal, of the finest quality. of them in the hands of the assignees, for distribution Up Mill Creek, (on the portion denominated the 'Lee according to the trusts of the assignment.

tract,') another has been opened by Mr. Eyer, to the It is to be kept in view that no question is raised in this depth of twenty-eight feet, and the bottom slate has not case, how far assignees under a general assignment who yet been reached. The same vein is again opened by entered into and took possession of a term for years, Messrs. Woodside and Beck on the same tract. It apwhich passed under the assignment, would be subject | pears to decrease in size as it advances West, and it has

192

been traced to the Flowery Field tract of Ridgway, Cumming, &c. and opened by Wallace, Burr and Co. to the extent of twelve feet. The coal throughout is of a beautiful texture, of a jet color, with a lustre strongly vitreous. Its ignition is easily accomplished, and it

however, she survived the bloody deed to be a mother to a large and respectable offspring, and a blessing to society, to which she has left the bright example of a life of virtue and good works, inseparable from that faith "which works by love and overcomes the world."

ing, and flour is scarce.

PITTSBURG, Sept. 9.

Veins burns without cinder to a clear white ashes. have likewise been opened in the Schuylkill Valley which are supposed to be the same as those already The Weather.-It has, for a long time, been very dry, mentioned. On the Broad Mountain also, a vein has been opened to the depth of thirty feet, by Messrs. hot, and dusty. The streams are dried up, the fields are parched, the grass is burnt and the people are nearEldridge, Shoemaker and Lippincott, which has pro-ly choked up; and, as a consequence, there is no grind There is also little milk, and duced some specimens of uncommon fine coal. From all these appearances, we are more firmly inclined to what has ever been our opinion, that the Le-less churning, and our market is poorly, very poorly, high coal at Mauch Chunk is not en masse, but in reality supplied with butter. Notwithstanding this, we did a vein of extraordinary dimensions, or probably the very well while green corn lasted; but that too has dried up, and people has become rather husky. For nearly eastern termination of all the principal veins in the anthracite range, from whence they radiate to the length five weeks we have been without rain, and during the of eighty miles. The intersection of the coal strata is hottest month, including the dog-days, we have scarcely had a sprinkle.-On Sunday last we had barely enough the same in all, and we think it a reasonable conjecture to lay the dust; and what is most disheartening, we to presume, that after the discovery of these veins, we have now a most gloomy prospect of continued fair can with equal facilities, double the quantity of our exweather. ports.-Miners' Journal.

The first number of "The Journal of Health" has just made its appearance in this city. The work is to be "conducted by an association of physicians," the object of which is stated in the following extract from the prospectus:

To the Citizens of Pennsylvania.

YOU were fully informed, by several Circular Letters distributed throughout the State about a year since, that "The Pennsyla. Society for the Promotion of Public

Schools" had caused to be instructed a number of com"Deeply impressed with a belief, that mankind might petent individuals in the knowledge of the Lancasterian be saved a large amount of suffering and and disease, by System, in order to supply the means of education at a suitable knowledge of the natural laws to which the moderate rates, where the population was dense enough human frame is subjected, they propose laying down to establish schools on that plan. It is highly gratifyplain precepts, in easy style and familiar language, foring to the Society that its efforts and purposes have been the regulation of all the physical agents necessary to health, and to point out under what circumstances of excess or misapplication they become injurious and fatal."

The Richmond Compiler contains a notice of an Excavator, or Self-Loading Cart, invented by Mr. W. Beach, of Philadelphia. It is described as loading itself in its progress by means of one of the wheels, which is hollow, taking up forty square feet of earth in one minute.

This is carried to any distance as in a common cart; and the load deposited or unloaded in less than half a minute, without trouble, by opening the bottom of the

cart.

The inventor states that one of his carts is now at work on the rail-road, within a mile and a half of the Schuylkill river, near Philadelphia; that it is worked by a man and a boy, and three horses, and removes and embanks in a day twice as much earth as is removed by three common carts and twenty men, who are working at the same place. Thus doing (says Mr. B.) the same work at about one-sixth of the cost it would be in the ordinary mode. The Excavator can be made for nearly the same price as a common three horse cart, and quite as easily kept in order. It seems to be entitled to the notice of enterprising contractors.

Balt. American, Sept. 1.

Died,-At her late residence in Chillisquaque township, on Thursday last, Mrs. Margaret Durham, widow of the late James Durham, aged 74 years. The deceased was among the first settlers of this section of Pennsylvania, and partook largely in the toils and dan-, gers of the Revolution. When the thinly scattered population fled before the Savages, for refuge in the lower Counties, she was overtaken, not far distant from this place, the Tomahawk was thrust into her head, her scalp taken and she left apparently dead.-Happily,

appreciated, and that in several remote parts of the Commonwealth education is now imparted through the instrumentality of the instructors sent from this city. Encouraged by these gradual and certain proofs of the usefulness of its labours, the Society is induced to address itself again to your notice, with an offer of its service to furnish well qualified teachers at reasonable salaries, according to the number and situation of the inhabitants who may desire schools.

It were scarcely needful to add a sentence on the im portance of sowing knowledge broad-cast over the land, or to remind an observing people that virtue and intelligence are the ornament and security of our free institutions, On behalf of the society.

ROBERTS VAUX, President.

A. H. RICHARDS, Secretary. Philadelphia, 9 Mo. (September) 7, 1829. Communications are to be addressed to George M. Stroud, Esq. Corresponding Secretary, Philadelphia, stating the number of inhabitants, where the school is to be established, the expenses of living, &c.

The Harrisburg Chronicle of the 14th instant, says— "The canal is in navigable order from Middletown to Clark's ferry. Three boats loaded with lumber for the bridge at Clark's ferry, passed up this morning, and 3 boats were at High Spire, on their way to this place, loaded with merchandise."

At the Labyrinth Garden of Mr. Smith, there is an apple tree, full of fruit, and has a fine show of blossoms. Philada. Sept. 15.

They have a cabbage in Lancaster weighing 25 lbs.

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM E GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street, Philadelphia; where, and st the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, seceral door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where Other subscribsdae_La_in adranet. there is an agent.