Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-23
animals. all of which may be rem

nspIenenslDle In less degree is the
waste arising from nonuse. Since the
utilization of any one resource Is nee
essarfly progressive and dependent on
social and industrial conditions and
the concurrent development Of other
resources, nonuse Is sometimes UNI
avoidable. 1t becomes reprehensible
when 1t affects the common welfare
and entails future injury Then it
should be rectified in the general in
terest
For the prevention Of waste the most
effective means will be found in tho
increase and diffusion of knowledge,
from which is sure to result in aroused
public sentiment demanding proven
ton. The people have the matter in
their own hands. They may prevent
or limit the destruction of resources
and restrain misuse through the enact
ment and enforcement of appropriate
state and federal laws.
Minerals.
The mineral production of the
United States for 1907 exceeded
00,00000O, and contributed 65 per
cent of the total freight traffic Of the
country The waste in the extraction
and treatment Of mineral products
during the same year was equivalent
to more than $3O0,0OO000.
The production for 1907 included
1856, 100000 tons of bituminous and 85,-
100000 tons Of anthracite coal, 1885,
100000 barrels of petroleum, 45,O00,.
600 tons of high grade and 100000
tons Of low grade iron ore, $500, 900
tons of phosphate rock, and s69, 900 900
pounds of copper. The values of other
mineral products during the same
year included clay products, $162,0O0,-
600; stone, $71,000,000; cement $780,
100000; natural gas, $5O,0O0,O00; gold,
$90,00G,000; silver, S37,0O0,OOO; lead,
$39,000,000 and zinc, $26,00O,OO0.
The available and easily accessible
supplies of coal in the United States
aggregate approximately 100000
100000 tons. At the present increas-
Ing rate Of production this supply Will
be SO depleted as to approach exhaus-
ton before the middle Of the next
century.
The known supply Of high grade iron
ores in the United States approximates
3,840,000,000 tons, which at the pres
ent increasing rate of consumption
can not be expected to last beyond
the middle of the present century. In
addition to this, there are assumed
to be 100000 tons Of lower grade
iron ores which are not available for
use under existing conditions.
The supply Of stone clay cement,
lime, sand and salt is ample, while the
stock of the precious metals and Of
copper, lead, zinc, sulphur, asphalt,
graphite, quicksilver, mica, and the
but is clearly exhaustive within one
to three centuries unless unexpected
deposits be found.
The known supply of petroleum IS
estimated at 15,O00,O0O,O0O to 100000
100000 barrels, distributed through six
separate fields, having an aggregate
area Of $500 square miles. The pro-
duction is rapidly increasing, while
the wastes ard the loss through mis-
use are enormous. The supply can
not be expected to last beyond the
middle Of the present century.
The known natural gas fields aggre-
gate an area Of 5000 square miles, dis
tributed through twenty-five states. or
the total yield from these fields dur
ing 1907, 400 100000 900 cubic feet, val
ued at $62,000,000, were utilized, while
an equal quantity was allowed to es-
cape into the air The daily waste OF
natural gas--the most perfect known
fuel-is over 1,00O,000,00v cubic feet,
or enough to supply every city in the
United States Of over 100000 popula-
ton.
The consumption of nearly all our
mineral products is increasing far
more rapidly than our population. In
many cases the waste Is Increasing
more rapidly than the number of our
people. In 1776 but few dozen
pounds of iron were in use by the av-
erage family now our annual con-
sumption is over 1900 pounds per cap
ita. In 1872 no coal was used; now
the consumption is over tons and
the waste nearly 3 tons per capita.
While the production of coal is in
creasing enormously, the waste and
loss In mining are diminishing At
the beginning of our mineral develop
ment the coal abandoned in the mine
was two or three times the amount
taken out and used. Now the mine
waste averages little more than half
the amount saved. The chief waste
Is in imperfect combustion In furnaces
and fire boxes. Steam engines utilize
on the average about per cent Of
the thermal energy of the coal. In
ternal combustion engines utilize less
than 20 per cent, and in electric light
ing far less than ] per cent of the
thermal energy is rendered available.
With increasing industries new min
eral resources become available from
time to time. Some lignites and other
low-grade Goals are readily gasified and
through the development of internal
combustion engines, check the con-
sumption of high grade Goals. Peat
is becoming important; it is estimated
that 14,000,000000 tons are available
in the United States. It's value is en-
HANGED because of distribution through
states generally remote from the fields
of COAL oil and natural gas.
The building operations of the coun-
try now aggregate about 81, 900, 100000
per year. The direct and Indirect
losses from fire in the United States
during 1907 Appropriated $3.50, 900,
or one-half the cost of construction.
Of this loss four-fifths or an average
of e1 000 0O0 ner dav co,l1d ho pravapt