Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-05
Anthracite Not Necessary.
CNew York Mail ana Expressly

(NeW Ork MAIL anu tLAplS SSJ
The variety OF coal known as anthra-
cite, upon which this part of the country
has come to depend 50 much for fuel. is
confined to restricted region in the State
of Pennsylvania, and less than 10000
men Of the vast labor force of the coun-
try have been engaged in getting it out.
Experts have declared that with the &C
celebrating pace at which we have been
going the supply would be exhausted IN
about thirty years. Does that mean that
we should then have fuel famine and
be compelled to shut up shop. sit down
and slowly freeze and starve?
While we have accustomed ourselves to
consider anthracite, Of which the rest OF
the world has little, as necessary Of
life, we have been prodigal in its use.
Those who proated by mining 1t have
turned it out in quantity to meet the de-
mand, regardless of the ultimate limit OF
supply. It has become cheap and has
displaced wood even in rural districts
half covered with trees. and in eastern
cities soft coal has been regarded with
contempt for most uses. But after all,
are we so dependent upon anthracite that
we cannot live through a winter without
It?
Perhaps we may get lesson in econ
on1y In the use OF fuel, Of which we have
been wasteful beyond the understanding
of European people. We have overheated
our houses, thrown away much coal half
consumed, allowed furnaces to devour far
more than was necessary for the produc
ton Of needed heat for engines, and in
every way shown extravaganza in using
a material with which we were SO plen-
ti,ully endowed. We may have season
of correction for this fault, but are we
to be reduced to restitution thereby?
There is still a vast amount OF wood
scattered over the face of the couatry,
much of which goes to decay or is wan
tonly destroyed every year. With an adj
vance In the price Of coal larger sup
ply OF wood can be easily forthcoming,
and villages and small towns especially
can return to it's use. Even in cities it
may be much more largely used, il some
regard is paid to economy. And than
there is bituninous COAL which is no such
monopoly as ant1racite. It is scattered
through wide areas in various parts OF
the country in supply that is practically
inexhaustible. Several times as many
men are engaged in mining and trans
duction Of anthracite. It requires no spe-
cial skill and no certificates of quail
flcation to mine it. The use Of soft coal
is extending rapidly and will continue to
do so until those who control the anthra-
cite industry conclude not to kill It. More
over, various kinds of coal are produced
in other countries and can be imported
under duty Of 81 cents ton.
It is not a quick or easy process to
adjust ourselves to new conditions, and
there will be suffering. hardship. and
loss, If we are compelled to get through
even one winter without anthracite or
are put upon very short allowance
but in country like the United State,
there can be no such thing as an actual
fuel famine. The idea is preposterous
If capital and labor will keep up their
fight over anthracite and put an embargo
upon their product the rest of the people
will have to turn their attention to get
ting fuel elsewhere and learning to use
it with scientific economy.