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   
      
   --- WWIVToss v.1.50    
    * Origin:  http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (1:261/1304.0)