Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-09

idly increasing consumption is normal
land proportional to the countries dc
IvclopmCnt, and there is no reasonable
lsrOund for doubling its conainuancc
Except as We may find ways OF using
Jour coal more efficiently. If this in
cruising ratr of consumption does
continue the nation will have used the
largest part of its coal supply before
the end of the present century. In
tending the life of our Coala war
considering the possibilities OF extend
ing the life of our coal supplies so
as to meet the needs OF the future ms
as VOL as those of the present we
must therefore reckon with the con.
tinuance of these rapidly growing
needs of the country and our posi-
Utilities of success be along the follow
ing lines:
The coal left in the mines as pillars
to support thc roof. together with
hat left unde rground because of its
being inferior In quality. will range
from less than IN TO more than so
| per cent. of the total. these extreme
figures representing unusual condi'
lions. Add to these the loss arising
from the breaking up of higher beds
of coal owing To the previous removal
J Ol inc llWtI DtuS 3stlu INC ttN H'H III
| OF the previous strata. and we have n
total waste which will aggregate but
| little If any less than 30 Ter cent OF
| tho possible total available supply.
| 1t is believed that an Increasingly
large part of this waste will be found
lprcventablc.
Urgent Need of improvements.
"'rhc small percentage of the heat
lnits in coal that are actually con
verified into work or light, as stated
above Indicate the urgent need Of
improvement along these lines. The
Investigation now being conducted by
1.-The Technologic Branch of the United
States Geological Survey, indicate the
possibility of increasing these fuel Of.
ficicncics by two or three fold. and
sugges! still greater possibilities
which will soon be tested. Tho future
Il Is full of promise. but the solution of
these problems calls for extending FUR
thcr investigation. These investiga
tious should be conducted by the Fed
cral Government for the reason that
The problem is a national one and its
solution is OF importance to all the
people in all parts of the country.
"As to possible substitutes for coai
there will he In the near future II
larger use of running waters for power
land light development. There will al
So continue Il diminishing develop.
mcnt of heat and power through the
New England. Atlantic, ana some of
the middle Northern states. there will
| be some utilization of the peat beds
for similar purposes. Admitted future
use of Alcohol made from wood and
barn products. for heat and power pur-
lposcs. is probable. but not certain.
| Petroleum and natural gas will long
lcOntinuc as large local. but In Il meas
lurcs temporary contributors TO the
comforts and industries of the nation.
And II is occasionally suggested that
1.-The heat of the sun may be stored
from day to day in sufficient quaint
ity for continuous power development;
hut the suggestion has, rs get. too
indefinite n basis to permit of It's SER
ious consideration in the present con-
Injection. Indeed the sum of all these
possible substitutes in the nation s
supply Of heat and power and light,
can not now be expected TO seriously
lessen the rate of increase in the ma
tons enormous demand for fuel, and
I'VE must revert again with renewal
lcmphasis TO the necessity of lessen
| lllS tnt W'Lsle, ~tliu Nii'i S"oihS VI
feciencies in the utilization of our
lciol cupply.
These fuel resources should he con
served, berausc their supply is limited.
At the present their early cXhaus'
ition is certain. 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 prescn'
century.
| A Permanent Exhaustion.
| 'The exhaustion of mileral rcsourc-
es is a permanent exhaustion. Ono
years wheat crop. when consumed is
replaced by that of the succeeding
year. The forest resources of one
period, when exhausted. under favor
able conditions. may be replaced by
q succeeding forest 4 water supply
of one day or of one period. under IA
vorablc conditions may he continued
indefinitely by natures own process
cs; but when Il deposit of coal or oil,
or iron ore. or similar mineral sub
Isianccs, has been exhausted this cx-
Ihaustion is permanent.
"'rho mineral resources of the coun
try belong 10 the future, as well as
to the present generation of men
i They should be used. but not wasted
The creation of these deposits 70
luurcd thousands OF millions of years
lThoir present so-callcd owners. had nc
Ipart IN this creation Of resources, AMI
have no real rights TO them beyond
1 present urgent needs.
Let us not forget that these min
oral fuels, which we call our own
Ireprcsent in concentrated form. Il
storage battery of the suns heat and
! light, accumulated during countless
ages that passed before the human
race came into existence. Let moi
the men of the present generation
commit the objectionable sin OF vast
ing the necessary birthrieht of the
I pcncratinns vet unborn. Mis- Nation