The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16

Substitutes have been attempted IN
many cases II found In still another
large number for natural products OF
widespread. IL not Indispensable, SER
vice to mankind. Rubber. leather,
good and a hundred or more such ar
ticles can he mentioned which the in
genuity of man either has attempted
10 replace by something OF artificial
manufacture or has so replaced.
One of the few great articles that
nave come to be Indispensable in mod
ern civilization never has been imi-
tated and II Is not apparent that any
eer1ous attempt w has been made
20 find an artificial substitute for 1t.
II Is coal, and though the scientific
mind has been concerned with calcu-
lations innumersble az to the known
quantity of 1t in the earth. the rate
of production. or mining. and the aver
oge consumption In the arts and in
0ustries and so forth, to the end Of
showing how n the people of the
universe may expect the known supply
20 last, the result of those calculations.
moreover. being that economy in the
u<e Of coal IL essential II the work.
able supply is not to be exhausted In
the current century. yet no one hears
Of any one seeking in laboratory or
mature for n substitute of coal.
The prize awaiting the ~discoverer of
such an article either in nature or the
49, l. R. -.zas tAAn tha yxt.o
awaiting the d~iscoverer of a substitute
for rubber, for instance, a problem that
has agitated and is %agitating more
minds in all parts Of the world than
Ovtr bothered with trying to find the
Oeeret OF perpetual motion.
/ %substitute for Fire.
Even fire has been simulated. for
electricity Is made to-day to furnish
Che heat. power and illumination fol
which dependence was almost exclu-
eively on fire for centuries. WOOD
can he initiated with paper M iror
and steel can he used in its place fol
buildings and many other things. The
electricity hat enables man to dis
pense with fire in so many ways. how
ever, is not available without coal
though wood could be used as the fue
that is necessary. for the generation
OF the wonderful current, nor can the
aron and steel that may be used in thu
building OF houses. ships, furniture
and the like be produced without coal
Ind so a thousand and one circum
stances might be stated to indicate thu
tremendous importance Of coal. wnicf
plays such a great part in a!mos
every industry OF the world that TIT
country that Is without 1t is. forever a
disadvantage as a manufacturing
centre. For such countries h find
ing of a substitute for coal, an article
Of natural production or capable o
easy manufacturing. would be a thin,
Of vast interest, as might be imagined
On the other hand the presence o
coal in a country means q great in
dustrial advantage. England and Ger
many owe their great prominence II
manufacturing as much to deposits o
coal within their borders as almost I,
anything else. and the same fac ha
contributed in no little degree to tn
rise Of this country to the position |
occupies in the industrial world. Goa
alone could not have done this, blu
without the creates of all fuels
country's deposits Of iron and othe
mineral ores. its forest products an
agricultural and other raw material
that enter into manufacturing woul
be seriously handicapped for develop