New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-01

At it's touch, no proDleHh 100 -
failed TO yield its own solution
a limit is only an indication that
Won cannot 90 any further on a
straight line in that direction. But
there are still all other directions;
so you merely divaricate until you
find open going, and then proceed
in a new direction.
Labor, fuel and ore are the
sources Of Pittsburgh's industrial
greatness. One is accustomed 70
think Of her future as inexorably
founded by the supply Of those three
things, all of which hitherto have
been commanded in unlimited abun-
dance. What if limits should APP
pear? But have they not appeared!
The unlimited availability Of COM
mon labor is probably at an end.
Exhaustion of the fuel supply is in
sight. Labor and fuel-those two
essential things-are showing their
edges. The supply of one Is les
sened, the reserve of the other is
steadily diminishing quantity. But
Pittsburgh is unlimited. She is gov
erned by no pessimistic spirit Of con-
servation.
Hear the Pittsburgh Industrial
Development Commission:
"An active campaign has been
pursued for the purpose Of securing
proper appreciation Of the industrial,
educational and commercial position
Of the Pittsburgh District. That
campaign has taken various forms
and has been vigorously pursued,
nationally and internationally"
1t is the function of the Commits
sion to increase the consumption Of
fuel and the demand for labor IN
the Pittsburgh region; that both the
labor and fuel problems are thereby
effected. the one to be intensified and
the other to be brought nearer to
the necessity Of solution, is no con-
Germ of the Commission at all. 1t
maintains the largest industrial
news bureau in the world. 1t pro-
Guces literature which, in spite Of
its purpose, is so interesting that
schools adopt it into their reading
courses.
with the end of your fuel sup
ply coming into sight, | should think
your development commissioners
might wisely discriminate in favor Of
industrials that are relatively light
fuel consumers" said to a director
of industrial research work, one who
is helping to develop the economies
of chemistry in this country.
No. he answered; that is not
for them to think about"
How actively has the fuel problem
been attacked?' asked.
Hardly at ALL" he said. "At
Homestead the United States Steel
Corporation has spent great deal
of money on experiments in the
thermo-electric production of steel,
process which so far is confined TO
special grades in small quantities.
One large Pennsylvania coal COM
pany is accumulating reserve OF
knowledge which will enable it, when
the time arrives, to deal with the sit
uation intelligently. 1t knows al
ready just how its low grade fuel
may be burned at the mine and con-
verified there into electric power and
how the power will be distributed.
That is about all know Of
One interesting possibility, not
without its romantic implications. is
that the accident of the labor prob
lem taking suddenly a new form at
this time will hasten the solution OF
the fuel problem. 1t may oblige
Pittsburgh so much the sooner to
align herself on the side of white
power" in the great, silent economic
struggle taking place in the whole in
dustrial world between electricity
and coal. The ultimate triumph is
not in doubt. white power" will
win, because its sources are mex
haustible and the cost of producing it
tends to fall, whereas OF "black
power" the sources are rapidly be-
ing exhausted and the cost of produc-
ton tends to rise. But, naturally,
where "black power" has been SUI
preme it will bitterly contest the
ground. The change entails vast
amount of obsolescence in ma
chinery and means of transportation
and a great outlay of new capital.
Therefore, some very considerable in
centive would be required TO bring
about a wholesale rapid substitution
of white power" for coal fuel. 4
chronic labor famine might furnish
the incentive. The thermo-electrical
production Of steel would save an
enormous amount of labor not only in
the processes of steel making. but in