Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-02
The Great Fuel Problem.

cue COdI. dliu Lie supply Va swat SOeAA -
not large Dealers, however, say that
this fact is very largely the result of
the present congested condition of the
great railroad lines. and the shortage
of cars, growing out of the movement
of the fall crops. and the unprecedented
activity in all departments of manu-
featuring industry. They are conf
dent. that, SO far as soft coal is con-
cerned, the conditions will be much
| better a month hence, as regards sup
ply. transportation, and price. than
they are at the present time. There is
| no doubt but what the bituminous coal
| mines are being worked to their ut
put is vastly larger at the present time
| than ever before in their history. To
| what extent this increased output of
soft coal will figure in the solution of
the fuel problem it is difficult to say;
but it is evident that it is destined to
be very important factor in it. Large
| contracts have been placed for coal
abroad, and the incoming of imported
cargoes Will tend to relieve the situa-
lion.
A new element has entered into the
problem in the increased consumption
of kerosene oil as a fuel. Several in
genius inventions have been perfected
for applying it to the ordinary cook
ing range-one of which the Loki
burner is described in another part OF
this issue. A Boston gentleman VINO
was in the Journal Office Wednesday
said that he had just equipped his
kitchen range with one of these burn
ers, and should use no other fuel in this
part of his house during the coming
winter; that he had carefully investi-
gated the matter and was entirely sat
isfied as to the practicability of this
invention. So great has been the de-
mand for these burners that the COM
pany is already several weeks behind
i'm it's orders The use of oil is. there
fore. another factor which will enter
to a greater or less degree into the So
luton Of the fuel problem.
The call for wood at the present, time
is very strong and general, and prices
are steadily climbing. Whether this
call will continue and the prevailing
high prices hold. depends upon num-
Der of contingencies. No man can
possibly foretell the progress of
events, and one mans Judgment re-
garding the developments of the future
is quite as apt to be correct as an
others. Undoubtedly there is a much
larger. amount of wood available at the
present time than there has been for a
number of years past. The. early
breaking up of the shedding last spring
left a very large quantity in the woods
Ia considerable part of which it will
be impossible to get to market until
the snow flies. Meanwhile the fuel
scare has led TO a mad rush for every
thing in sight, and it is possible that
when this wood is finally hauled condi-
tons may not be as favorable for its
sale as a the present time. Should deal
ers succeed in securing full supply OF
soft coal, or settlement of the big
strike be effected, it is altogether
wood will drop with dull thud. If
however. the strike should continue
and the existing shortage in the supply
of soft coal extend into the winter. then
wood may be expected to go even high
er than it is at the present time. 1t is
for every man who owns wood to de-
eide whether he will dispose of it at
present prices with a good profit, or
mold for possible higher prices. and
take the chances of the slump that
would lie almost certain to follow a
settlement of the big coal strike.
While ii is true that such a settlement
would find "A great shortage to be filled,
it is also true that the demand would
be very far from being as large as
| would be the case. had not SO many
people and public institutions all over
the country, anticipated a continuance
of the strike by laying in supply of
soft coal and wood or by having their
kitchen ranges fitted over for the use
of kerosene oil. In addition to the
| supply of wood left over from last WIN
| ter men have been at work all over the
country during the summer. wherever
| good wood lots exist, cutting against
| the demands of the coming winter. and
new crews are going into the woods for
this purpose every day.
The wood situation today. looks on
| the surface. a good deal like the ice
situation of few years ago. when
none was put up on the Hudson. and
| Maine was looked to to supply the
country. 1t promised to be bonanza
and thousands of men went into il not
only in Maine, but in New Hampshire,