Barbour County index., 1902-11-19


president of the United Mine Workers
of America.)
of anthracite.
Under existing conditions there
is no one to eXclaim: 'Woodman,
spare that tree!' The farmers and
owners of timber land in this vicinity
are going back to mother natures
original fuel, and are bringing cords
upon cords of wood to our market.
Not within the memory of our Oldest
inhabitants have there been seen so
many loads of wood coming to town
daily. One man with a little bit of
capital has rented generous acre
age of timber land, and is employing
about 100 men in chopping down the
trees and shaping them into cord
wood. They are all green at the
work, and do not make such rapid
progress as did the woodmen of our
youth, but they are making satisfac-
tory headway. By their efforts the
investor will make very good profit,
and hundreds of our people will have
fuel VINO might otherwise shiver and
suffer.
Because of the fuel famine the
merchants have increased the prices
OF number of things, particularly in
the way of prepared foods. The
boarding house keepers and the ho-
tel men have raised their rates; and
gentle almond-eyed John Chinaman
has increased the price of his work.
Ihe gas company and the electric
car lines here are unable to tax the
people, because the acts of congress
forbid them doing so. The managers
OF the electric railways say that the
increased cost of fuel eats up all of
their profits, but they are obliged to
keep the cars running, lest they for
felt their charters.
When the congress is in session
our city has greatly increased pop
ulation, business of all kinds booms.
the street cars are crowded as they
are in metropolitan cities, and plenty
of money is in local circulation. The
senator's and representatives draw
100000 per month in salaries, and
spend it here during the sessions of
congress, and that sum alone, added
to local circulation, explains some
what the cause of the temporary
booming every year.
How to keep the statesmen warm
is a problem which has been very
easy of solution. The mine owners
are far-seeing business men, and
they foresaw the annual coming of
the congress. Provision has been
made so that there shall be plenty of
coal for use in the capitol and the
congressional library. But there is
another problem which has not vet
been solved, and that is, how are the
great department buildings to be
kept warm?
Twenty thousand people work for
the government, and their Offices
must he kept in a comfortable con-
dition. The furnaces which are to
be kept going must warm all of the
office rccms of all of the buildings. or
else The cabinet ministers must
shiver. because there is community
of heat in all of the departments.
The entire buildings must be equal
ly heated. or equally chilly.
There has been no community of
effort IL this direction. The superin-
tendent of each building has been
looking out for his particular depart.
ment; consequently their supplies are
different. except that all agree that
they are far short of the amount of
fuel needed.
So. you see, this coal problem is
great one for the government of
the republic, and it is no wonder that
the president felt it to be lis duty
to make an effort to solve the prob
lem. SMITH d. FRI.