Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-09


inferior in quality, will range from less
than 10 to more than so per cent of the
total, these extreme figures represent
| ing unusual conditions. Add to these
| the loss arising from the breaking up
| of higher beds of coal owing to the
| previous removal of the lower beds and
| the caving in of the everything strata,
and we have total waste which Will
aggregate but little if any less than so
per cent of the possible total available
supply. 1t is believed that an increas-
| ingly large part of this waste will be
found preventable.
"The small percentage of the heat units
in coal that are actually converted into
work or light, as stated above, indicate
the urgent need of Improvement along
these lines. The investigation now being
conducted by the technologic branch Of
the United States geological survey in
dicates the possibility of increasing these
fuel efficiencies by two or three-fold, and
suggest still greater possibilities which
will soon be tested. The future is full
of promise, but the solution of these
problems calls for extending further in
vestigation. These Investigations should
be conducted by the federal government
for the reason that the problem is a
national one and its solution is of i'm
portance to all the people in all parts
of the country.
Coal Losing Supremacy
"As to possible substitutes for coal.
there will be in the near future larger
use of running waters for power and
Light development. There will also con-
tinue a diminishing development of heat
the New England, Atlantic and some of
xrrtlI t.<a
some utilization of the peat beds for
similar purposes A limited future use
of alcohol made from wood and barn
products, for heat and power purposes,
Is probable, but not certain. Petroleum
and natural gas will long continue as
large local, but in a measure temporary,
contributors to the comforts and indus
tries of the nation. And 1t Is occasionally
suggested that the heat of the sun may
be stored from day to day in sufficient
quantity for continuous power develop
ment, but the suggestion has as yet too
Indefinite basis to permit of its serious
consideration in the present connection.
Indeed, the sum of all these possible sub
stitutes in the nations supply of heat and
power and light can not now be expected
to seriously lessen the rate of increase
in the nations enormous demand for fuel,
and we must revert again with renewed
emphasis to the necessity of lessening the
waste and increasing efficiencies in the
utilization of our coal supply.
Supply Limited
'These fuel resources should be con-
served because their supply is limited. AT
the present their early exhaustion is cer-
tain. If this rate of increase continues
the better part of the fuel supply of the
country will have been consumed by the
end Of the present century.
"The exhaustion of mineral resources is
permanent exhaustion. ~ One years
wheat crop, when consumed. is replaced
by that of the succeeding year. The
forest resources of one period, when ex-
hausted under favorable conditions, may
be replaced by succeeding forest A
water supply of one day or of one period,
under favorable conditions. may be con-
tinued indefinitely by natures own pro-
cesses, but when deposit of coal, or oil,
or iron ore, or similar mineral substances,
has been exhausted this exhaustion is
permanent.
"Tae mineral resources of the country
belong to the future, as well as to the
present generations of men. They should
be used, but not Wasted. The creation of
these deposits required thousands or mil
lions of years. Their present so-called
owners had no part In this creation of re-
sources and have no real rights to them
beyond present urgent needs.
Look to Future
"Let us not forget that these mineral
fuels, which we call our own, represent in
concentrated form a storage battery of
the suns heat and light. accumulated
during countless ages that passed before
the human race came into existence. Let
not the men of the present generation
commit the objectionable sin OF wasting
the necessary birthrigns of the genera
tions yet unborn. This nation must have
a great future as well as a great present.
"The fuel supply Of the country will be
sufficient for both present and future
needs If we stop their waste and practice