The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-01
United States Loses More
Than 1t Produces-Bu-
reau of Mines Issues
Statement.

During the last year, in producing
half billion tons of coal we wasted OF
left underground. In such condition thai
it probably will not be recovered in the
future. a quarter of a billion tons OF
coal; We turned loose into the atmos.
phere a quantity of natural gas larger
than the total output of artificial gas
during the same period in all the towns
and cities Of the United states; we also
wasted or lost in the mining, prepare
ton. and treatment of other important
metalliferous and nonmetalliferous min
erals from 10 to 50 per cent Of the years
production Of such minerals"
The above is the startling manner in
which DR.. Joseph A. Holmes, Director
of the United States Bureau Of Mines,
describes some of the losses in the yearly
production Of 5000, 10000 worth of min
erals in the United States.
The words OF the director are a gen
eral summing up of a statement just IS
sued by the bureau in which an inven-
tory Of the various mineral wastes are
given and In which the bureau shows
how millions and millions of dollars may
be saved to the people of this country
through the right sort of conservation
Of its resources.
Many Idle Deposits.
The general statement.N written by
Charles l.. Parsons, chief mineral chem
list Of the bureau, contains the charge
that many valuable mineral deposits are
lying idle, while the products are being
imported from other countries. Mr.. Par
sons further declares that Though waste
full use of certain of the minerals. the
ultimate exhaustion and dissipation of
some of the important useful minerals Of
to-day from the standpoint Of the race
and in the light OF present knowledge, Is
in sight. He urges that many deposits or
ores of such low grade that they cannot
be mined to-day. should be left In position
so that they can be mined in the future.
as many ores, formerly of too low grade
to work with profit. are now sources OF
wealth. The wastes of the past are daily
being converted into the dividends Of the
present, he declares.
In referring to the waste in the mining
and use of coal, Mr.. Parsons says, The
wastes OF carbon in our modern economy
are almost incomprehensible. In mining
coal in this country, probably one-third
of the bituminous coal and one-half OF
the anthracite are left in the mine. Fully
IONS Oh
left behind in the mine each year. and II
is estimated that since mining began in
this country fully 100000 tons Of an
thracite and 5000, OO0.0 tons of bitumin-
GUS coal have been left in the ground un-
der conditions which make future recov-
cry highly improbable.
CuIm Being Used.
After coal is mined, the losses by no
means cease, although some of the culm
that formerly went to waste by millions
Of tons is now being used. Probably not
over II per cent OF the ercrgy In coal
Is being effectively utilized. The re-
of the energy is lost through the
Of the steam boiler, the steam
engine and the electric dynamo.
1T is estimated that the boiler scale
N locomotive alone in this country mean
a loss of over 100000 tons of coal an
nually. 1t has been shown that one-six-
tenth of an inch of scale means a loss
of g per cent in boiler efficiency. The
scientific control of the combustion OF
coal under boilers is constantly increas-
ng. but the losses OF carbon that is still
pouring from our chimneys, defacing
Monuments. buildings, and landscape are
without valid reason
Mr. Parsons says that the losses in
making OF coke by the old-fashioned pro-
sess wasted s4o,O0oOoo in the United
States last year. He calls this an en-
tirely needless and seemingly ruthless |
oss. He declares that these coke ovens, |
without taking into account the value of |
he by-products that were possible vast |
d more than one million horsepower in |