The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-03

lScanual. NoJn1ng of the kind should be allowed to happen again. Corrupt practices will go for good and the country will breath all the freer when the measure referred to shall have been written on the statute books. IWas&eGulmess
 and Cost of Living I1DROF. RUDOLPH M. BINDER of IH New York university in a startling but Illuminating discussion of the high cost of living asks: "Why not call it the penalty of wasteful- ness?" He estimates that the waste in this country in single year totals $10, ,000, 100000. In tabulating the principal items he sets down prevent able diseases and accidents at $1, ,500,- O00,0OO; forest fires, $50,000,00 coal in power plants, $325, 5,000,000; floods, $238,0O0, ,oo0; insect pests, in crops $659, 100000, in animal life $267, ,OO0,O in human life $150, 0,0OO,- 900; waste by wolves and rats, $772,- O0O,0 governmental waste, $300,- I0O0,000; waste on railroads, $650,- O00,0O0; waste by fires, 25O,000, ,00o; waste in eggs, $4O,OO0,0OO; waste through sinefficiency, $7O2,ooo,oOO; waste by industrial diseases, $772,- 000,000, and so on.
 Natural gas,' says Professor Binder, lis recognized as the most perfect of all fuels, and yet we waste every year one billion cubic feet of this source of heat and energy. In West Virginia gas sold for as little as 8 cents a thousand cubic feet. Even at this ridiculously inadequate price the waste gas would represent an an- nual loss of $SO,0o0. Beyond doubt it's actual value would be several times higher"
 Professor Binder quotes from the bureau of mines, which announces that only from 15 to 75 per cent of the oil in a sand well is extracted by the ordinary methods of production. Millions of barrels of oil have been wasted by being allowed to flow into the streams. "No wonder," says Pro- lessor Binder, "the price of gasoline is never stable and is generally climb ing"
 It is stated that fully 80,000,00 tons of anthracite coal is being left behind in the mines each year. Since mining began in this country it is estimated that fully two billion tons of anthracite and three billion tons of bituminous coal have been left in the ground under conditions which make future recovery impossible" Another great waste is found in the lumber industry.
 With such striking facts and fig ures as Professor Binder presents the conservationists should start up new movement and push it more vigorously than ever. The govern ment can have few duties before it more pressing than the enactment of reasonable laws to conserve our great natural resources.
 
 New Mexicos democratic governor, who was sick in Los Angeles hospital. risked shortening his life by travelling to Santa Fe and taking the oath of office to prevent republican lieutenant gov- ernor from holding down the job. There's a democrat of the old school.
 * It begins to look as if President Wilson will have to send an explanatory note to Europe. However. something should be done to convince Germany, as well as the allies. that Uncle Sam is not trying to pull a chestnut out of the fire for Prussia.
 who did not have s5o,O0O year ago and are now worth from $5o.o0O.Ooo to sSo, ,oOo.- 900. No. doubt a great many people claim acquaintance with those men who simply couldn't see them year ago. A New York hotel has opened cigar cite shop exclusively for women. That robs the waiter of the perquisite he for merly got for buying miladys cigar cites.
 The allies have deputized France to be their principal note writer France may be depended on to write concisely and to the point.
 If Maxim Gorky keeps talking for pub