Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-27
"CUT 4 CORD OF WOOD

From the ouisvillc Courier-J ournaD.
The Vermont Fuel Administrator offers
as a solution in part of the difficult fuel
problem the slogan "Cut n Cord of Wood"
The city man has no opportunity. speak,
ing generally, to lend a hand here. He
has access to axes, but not to wood. The
country man, as the Courier-Journal
has pointed out, has long been burning
coal as labor-saving device. Much of
the labor saved has not been utilized.
Whereas formerly the woodshed, or the
sky-domed wood pile, was a regular
feature of the environs of every small
farmhouse, and wood chopping one OF the
regular chores. the coalhouse Is the rule
to-day, and the farmer who could cut
or saw many cords Of wood during the
winter spends his spare time hugging a
stove at home or at the crossroads store
exchanging prophecy, philosophy and rem
iniscence with his similarly occupied
neighbors.
The Courier-Journal published recently
George Washington's formula for keep
ing warm all winter with one billet of
wood. He advised taking the billet up
into the attic and heaving 1t out the
window, running downstairs and getting
it and repeating the performance as
often as the need of heat demanded 1t.
Washington's plan Is good, save that
It entails shameful waste Of labor
and warns nobody but the man who runs
with the billet. AS a selfish indulgence
It is not satisfactory to the average in
dividual. and It is a wholly selfish manner
of creating warmth.
William Ewart Gladstone lived to be
nearly 30 years old and was n buster
man than the average farmer His biog-
raphers find 1t hard to cram into the
space allotted to them by publishers OF
biographical dictionaries brief mention
of the tasks he accomplished during his
long and arduous life. For relaxation,
for recreative exercise. and because he
delighted in the skilled labor of the AN
man. Mr.. Gladstone chopped wood. How
many cords of wood he chopped. and who
was warmed by 1t, his biographers neglect
to say. At any rate he found time In
which to chop many cords. He was not
the sort of man who hugs a hot stove
for relaxation when the weather Is bad
in winter and the unavoidable chores
are done.
II everyone who has access to the COM
modify should adopt the advice Of the
Vermont Fuel Administrator. valuable
conservation Of coal which is needed for
the prosecution of the war would re-
suit. If Premier of Great Britain finds
time to chop wood surely the average
.. country man could chop good many
cords of 1t during the winter by utilizing
the time he spends habitually at che
place Of foregathering nearest his farm.
The conservation of materials is urged
as patriotic duty There is AZ much
pressure of demand upon the supply OF
coal as upon the supply of any material
Coal must be used as fuel for the prose.
cution of many industries incident to the
prosecution of war. 1t must be used fol-
transportation. Wood can be used fol-
domestic heating in the country Per.
haps labor considered and valued at sc
much an hour, 1t can be used this winter
at a profit as compared with coal.
The Vermont Fuel Administrators slo
gan should become a national rural slo.
gan. Even one cord of wood chopped al
every country home where wood is avail.
able would help as measure of fuel con.
| servation. but 1t would be a contemplate
minimum 1t would mean giving less
than one days labor to the cause. Ter
days labor so devoted would he ter
times as much patriotism displayed, and
ten times as much coal expense saved.