Discuss the evolution of home heating in the United States during the nineteenth century, transitioning from inefficient fireplaces burning wood to the widespread adoption of coal-burning stoves and later, steam heating systems. They examine how advancements in industrial technology, transportation networks, and entrepreneurial efforts made mineral fuel more accessible and affordable, particularly in urban areas facing firewood shortages. The text also highlights the associated challenges of this shift, including health concerns from air quality, labor struggles within the coal industry, and the unequal distribution of heating benefits among different social classes. Finally, it explores the limitations and eventual failure of district steam heating to become a common household heating method, contrasting it with the more successful adoption of coal and later, other networked energy sources.
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