Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1916 — Paper Pulp Balls for Fuel. [ARTICLE]

Paper Pulp Balls for Fuel.

An accumulation of old newspapers may be converted into an excellent fuel, for use in stove, fireplace of furnace. The papers should be piled into a tub or other water-hold-ing receptacle until it is about onethird full, and the tub then filled to the brim with water. Left thus for two or three days, the papers will become thoroughly soaked. If at first they show an inclination to float, a heavy stone laid on top will weight them down until the water completely covers them. When thoroughly soaked with water, the papers are taken from the water and squeezed into balls about the size of one’s two fists and thrown onto the ground in the sun to dry. The papers have become so soft and pulpy that a perfectly compact ball is easily formed. It will dry, if left in the sun long enough, until it is almost as hard as w T ood. These balls, if made in the summer, will constitute excellent fuel for winter use, and will burn in the fireplace with a glow like carbon briquettes. Aloreover, they will burn with compara live little ash, and they are clean to handle. Old papers become a real nuisance about the home, and are rather difficult to dispose of, even by burning on the trash heap. A summer’s accumulation can be, in the manner above described, converted into a considerable supply of fuel, and the labor is easy and can be done at odd times.—Scientific Ameri can.