Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-21
EXHAUSTION OF MINERAL RE.
SOURCES.
Papers Published by United States
Geographical Survey.

The report of the National Conser-
walton Commission of 1908, showing
the reckless manner in which our
natural resources are being wasted,
finds an echo in a bulletin (No. 394)
just issued by the United States Geo
logical Survey, in which are reprinted
the papers OH mineral resources con-
tributed by members of that Survey
to the conservation report. The
data on which these papers are based
were not obtained especially for the
occasion. but We're taken from the
files of the Survey, where they had
been accommodating for years. Taken
together they present state of af.
fairs that may we'll awaken reflee-
ton.
Coal is considered first, and it is
shown that waste in mining loses
forever about one-half as much as is
marketed. This half is either left in
the ground in thin beds or in the
shape of pillars to support the roof
Coal has been extensively mined in
the United States for not much more
than half Il century, but the consump-
ton is increasing SO enormously that
III this increase should continue all
the easily accessible coal would be
exhausted by the year 2O40 and all
coal by the riddle of the twenty-first
century u will, of course, not con-
time at such rate, for the increas-
ing scarcity will raise prices and
check consumption. Water power, too
Will undoubtedly largely take its
place.
Petroleum and Natural Gas.
With regard to petroleum the stu
alton is good deal more serious.
Petroleum has been used for less thai
fifty years, and it is estimated that
the supply will last only about TWEEN
ty-five or thirty years longer. If
production is curtailed and waste
stopped it may last till the end of
the century. The most important eff
fects of its disappearance will be in
the lack of lubricants and in the
loss of illuminants. Animal and veg
etable oils will not begin to supply
its place. This being the case, the
reckless exploitation of oil fields and
the consumption of oil for fuel should
be checked.
In natural gas the waste is enor-
nous; 1,OOO,OOO,OOO cubic feet are es-
tmated to be wasted into the air
every twenty-four hours. The gas sup
ply will last about twenty-five years
about as long as it has already been
utilized.
Iron.
Iron is very abundant in nature.
but usually is found in ores so poor
that 1t can not be extracted at any
reasonable cost. The best ores are
being rapidly worked and it is esti-
mated that within thirty years they
Will have been exhausted and that ii
Will be necessary to resort to ores
that can not now be worked at a
profit. This of course means higher
prices unless new and much cheaper
processes shall have been invented.
Gold, Silver, etc.
Gold, silver and zinc are all SC
abundant that the supply is likely
to last for centuries. Copper is also
abundant, but is largely in low-grade
ores which cannot now be profitably
worked. At increased prices, how
ever, the supply will probably be
abundant. For lead, however, The
outlook is much less favorable. Its
production in the United States is
,istill increasing slightly. but is de
creasing elsewhere in the world, ant
this despite marked increase il
prices. Probably the worlds outpu
has already reached maximum ant
will henceforth decline.
The phosphates, it is estimated
will be exhausted in about twenty
five years. and the farmer will thel
have to look elsewhere for fertilizers
Fresh supplies of all these mater
ials may, of course, be found, blu
Except for gold) it seems unlikel
that they will be great enough or val
liable enough to materially affect tn
estimates.
| Bulletin 1894 can be had. free O