New-York tribune., 1908-05-19
ETER COAL. WHATi

| Dr Steinmetz the distinguished electrical en-
| pineer ia to be commended for emphasizing the
! wisdom Of seeking sources OF neat ana power
| to take the place Of coal 1t 1s quite posslpie'
| nevertheless that he has exaggerated the near
| ness Of the time when such substitutes will be-
| come absolutely necessary. In the current num-
| Der of Mines and Minerals this extremely i'm
portant subject is discussed by DR.. E. W. Par
ker who has for years made careful study OF
| the countrys coal deposits for the United States
Geological Survey and the federal Census Blu
reau DR.. Parker puts the quantity OF anthra-
cite now available at about 44IOOOOO0O tons.
IL the annual output should continue TO be what
It is at present (65, 100000 tons), there would
hardly be enough to last for more than sew
enty years. DR.. Parker is convinced, however,
that consumption has already reached its max
imum, and that it will steadily diminish from
this time onward. That the American deposits
of hard coal are sufficient to meet the demands
made upon them for from 100 to 200 years DR..
Parker regards as conservative estimate. 1t
has been generally conceded hitherto by geo-
ogists that there is a better outlook in respect
to soft coal than hard coal. Hence the fear that
the former may give out during the lifetime Of
some of DR.. Steinmetz's auditors seems to need
explanation.
DR.. Parker's calculations concerning the sup
ply of anthracite based several well
of mining has already been sensibly reduced.
and may be diminished still further Sizes of
coal once considered too small for service are
now being burned. and those vast piles of culm
which have stood for years beside the mines,
monuments TO past recklesSness, may eventually
be turned to account. 1t might have been added,
too. that the development Of power by the gas
engine effects a saving Of at least 80 per cent
in coal consumption, as compared with the most
,,t;o both thD
hallstion of the country-s coal deposits be i'm
minent remote. 1t is q practical certainty
sooner or later Common sense, therefore die
tates both the further development of the pol
icy of conservation urgently recommended by
President Roosevelt and a search for agencies
which will serve the same purpose as coal. Nor
can the hunt begin a day too soOn The trans
tion from reliance on one to reliance on the
other should be gradual not abrupt.
Sooner later it is extremely probable that
the tides will be harnessed for industrial SER
vice. In the realization of ErcssOn's dream of
utilizing solar heat there have been delays and
difficulties, but it would be foolish to assume
that the scheme is impractiCabe. However
just the most promising resource seems to
be the one on the value of which DR.. SteinmetZ
lays great stress, the undeveloped or partially
developed power Of small streams. which may
be devoted to the running of mills, the opera
ton Of railroads and the illumination and warm
ing of towns
In undertakings Of this sort electricity is al
ready doing work of inestmable worth. 1t
makes possible the performance of mechanical
tasks hundred miles from the point at which
the requisite energy is generated. 1t permits
the distribution of power inside factory with
far less loss than attends the Of pulleys,
shafting and belts. With equal facility 1t fur
nshes light. heat and the means of driving ma
chinery of every imaginable kind. Dr. Steinmetz
is not in error when he says that whatever else
may be spared by future generations they cannot
get along without the electrical engineer