The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-06
WASTE OF OUR FUEL SUPPLY
roo wren COAL BURNED, SAYS 4
GOvERNMENT EXPERT.

~ the Present Rate the Greater Part VIII
Bc Gone az the Find Of the Century. tie
Decisres-Yet There's Coal ApIenty
Not Wasted-Other Mineral Res ources.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-That the pres,1t
waste Of the nations natural resources
must stop il we are to continue to prosper
IL the warning given by j. A. Holmes. chief
OF the t~echnologio branch OF the United
States Geological Survey. who has just re-
turned to Washington after a three months
inspection trip through the West. MIR.
Holmes declares that in mining nearly
one-half Of the total coal supply is being
left under ground; that water. the most
valuable OF all mineral resources as a source
Of power, Is being wasted TO the extent of
millions of horsepower and that forest
fires have burned more lumber than has
been used in the building Of homes or in
the Industries.
"One OF the great national problems is
the conserving Of the fuel resources" says
Mr.. Holmes. AT tho present rate Of in
crease in consumption the better part Of
tho fuel supply Of the country will be gone
by the end of the present century unless
the proper steps are taken. The future
a~scendancy Of American industries will
depend largely on our manufacturers being
able to secure cheap fuel.
The world recognizes Americans az the
most wasteful OF peoples in the utilization
Of their resources. We have destroyed
our game for it's hides and horns: our forests
for their tanbark or n pittance Of the lumber
they would yield. Through the destruction
Of the forests about the sources OF important
streams and the improper cultivation OF
sloping lands the fertile soils ara washed
away from the fields and deposited in the
streams and harbors, from which their
continued removal will cost an enormous
sum. We arc thus gradually but surely
destroying the value OF our great water
resources for power. for irrigation and for
navigation purposes.
-Other mineral resources are being wasted
on as large a scale as water. but their waste
IL even more serious a matter. for the rea-
son that the supplies are not reproduced
az in the case OF water. but when once ex-
iausted are exhausted permanently. No
better illustration Of his fact can be found
than is seen in the deserted mining camps.
deserted after the mines have become ex-
hausted.
Waste in the utilization of fuels In a
problem that in an especial manner con-
germs the general public. But notwith-
standing their vast importance IL is In the
mining and utilization OF these fuel re-
sources that We practise the greatest waste.
Persons now living can recall when the
great gas wells were seemingly i~nexhausti-
bic in Ohio. Indiana. West Virginia and
Pennsylvania. In many OF these fields
this gas supply was wasted In a m
we'll nigh criminal. and the exhaustion
has been so complete that there is no ground
for believing that other supplies Of gas will
he discovered In many Of these special
regions.
Petroleum in the past has In like man.
Ter been wasted. both In enormou over-
lows and the burning OF material. In the
early lays OF petroleum there was also an
enormous waste through the failure to save
the gasolene and other by products. which
now have great value.
Goal 10 now tho worlds great fuel. In
the mining operations at the present time
nearly ope-half Of our total GOAL supply Ia
ists ya6es RQS9AsM ~ m<4<nnk