condition in the fire; as it passes on its way to the stack, some of it
strikes the flue-sheet and sticks or passes through the flues, clogging
up the netting in the front end.

54. Q. How would you take care of a boiler with leaky tubes or fire-box,
and why?

A. Keep a bright, clean fire, especially up next to the flue-sheet, and
as even a pressure of steam as possible and not use the blower any
stronger than is absolutely necessary.

55. Q. Why is it very important that coal should be broken so that it
will not be larger than an ordinary sized apple before being put into
the fire-box?

A. In order to get rapid and complete combustion, coal should be broken
into small pieces; this aids combustion by exposing a larger surface to
the flame and can be fired more economically and better results are
obtained.

56. Q. Should rapid firing be practiced?

A. No; it should not be practiced for the same reason that heavy firing
is wrong. A few moments should intervene between each shovelful to allow
the fresh coal to get to burning and to maintain the high temperature in
the fire-box.

57. Q. When and why should you wet the coal on the tender?

A. Coal should be wet for the purpose of cleanliness to keep dust from