RW> As a side note, when I was a lad just starting to drive, the city used
RW> coal to heat the jail, police station, city hall, fire stations and court
RW> house. The street department would collect the ashes and cinders and
RW> spread those on the streets during and after a snow. No melted snow, but
RW> traction provided by the coal ashes. That was a dirty deal until after
RW> the
RW> spring rains carried it away, but a whole lot easier on the cars and
RW> trucks of the day. And grass grew on the roadsides in spite of the extra
RW> dirt the ashes provided.

Don't know why we got away from using coal ashes.  The only exception would be
if we had freezing rain.  

I'm not 100% certain, but think really cold places like Alaska use sand and
things like that since salt won't work well at very low temps.

- Mark

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