The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-12-06
Shortage of Coal at
Wyoming and
Utah Mines
URGED TO BURN WOOD
Towns Far From Timber to
Be Given Preference
in Coal
CCORDING TO a letter 6

~ dressed to the people of Idaho
~ by F. R. Gooding, federal fuel
administrator for the state,
the coal supply from the mines of
wyoming and Utah, upon which the
people of Idaho depend, may be reduc-
ed to a point that will make it neces-
sary to stop all shipments of coal to
sections of the state where there is an
available supply of timber in order to
provide fuel for those places far re-
moved from the forests. While Mr.,
Gooding is still hopeful that this ser
ious situation may yet be relieved, he
has felt it his duty to warn the peo-
Fple of the possible shortage in' order
that they may take immediate steps
to protect themselves in the event that
! the worst comes to pass. He urges the
people of communities in the timbered
sections of the state to fill their wood
sheds as a measure of precaution and
to burn wood in order to conserve the
coal supply In this district which is
heavily timbered it would be easy for
| the people to substitute wood for coal
to a great extent, and in the matter OF
expense it would probably be as cheap
or possibly cheaper. Following is an
extract from the fuel administrator on
the possible coal shortage:
Serious Shortage Feared.
AS fuel administrator for Idaho, il
becomes my duty to advise the people
of this state of the critical conditions
that confront them in their presen
fuel supply. Since my appointment al
fuel administrator for Idaho, / hav'
been trying hard to master the situa
ton so as to be able to advise the peo
pie intelligently of the true conditions
During the summer months as
member of the state council Of de
-fense, | gave this matter considerabl
attention, so | was able to take up tn
work on my appointment as fedora
fuel administrator for Idaho VIII
some knowledge of the conditions.
1t has been my hope that / would b.
able to improve existing conditions 81
that the people would have at least
reasonable supply of fuel for the win
ter.
The conditions that now alarm m
are those over which l have no con
troll, and are serious to the people o
{ this state.
| find that in November, 1916, ldah
received 50,SOG tons from the Utah an
Wyoming mines, while for the mrs
three weeks of November, 1917, W
only received 9400 tons. / made
careful estimate of the coal for tn
fourth week of November, and do no
believe it will be possible for Idaho I
, receive more than 12,500 tons, giVln
this state only 25 per cent of the Goa
, for November of this year as compaf
, ed with the tonnage received FOR NO
vember, 1916.
California in Market.
Lately | have spent much OF m
, time in Salt Lake City, trying to i'm
prove these conditions. l am advise
: that owing to the fact that Californi
5 no longer receives coal from Australia
/. that some of the locomotives on tn
3 Southern Pacific, which formerl
r burned oil, are now forced to bur
! coal. and that the great state OF Call
: fornia has become largely dependar
! upon the Utah and Wyoming held
Where year ago California only re
: cejyed Is per cent Of it's fuel suppl
3 from the Utah and Wyoming mine
today they are drawing IS per cent
n ,their fuel from these mines.
+ Then again I find that the railroad
e are forced to draw heavily on all II
e coal fields of both Utah and Wyomin
y Burn Wood.
a feel it Is my duty to advise u
n people of this state of these Facts
e that they may prepare themselves 4
e the most serious coal shortage ldaf
has ever known. / have not given |
hope that the present conditions W
be improved, and am exerting eve
: effort to that end. The time has con
e when I must say to the people of ld
r. no especially those living in commul
d tiles where wood is available, ke'
4. your roads open to the timber, al
= commence at once to supply yourse
Is with fuel for the winter; to the farr
If ers. you must gather up every ava
n, able piece of wood upon the farm;
j. you have any dead trees. cut the
W down and put them into fuel. If 1t
T. possible for you to get any kind
fuel, sage brush or anything ell
lie make pile of wood for yourself.
Unless the present conditions il