New Britain herald., 1918-12-10
MUST CONTINUE To
Save HARD COAL
Fuel Director Again Issues Warn
Ing to All Households

Hartford Dec 10-Ctharles G.. Bill,
head of the conservation department
of the State Fuel administration, is
sued a settlement today calling atteh-
ton to the fact that rigid conservation
of hard coal will be necessary on the
part Of ALL domestic consumers during
the coming winter in Connecticut IN
spite of the signing Of the armlStlce,
and making an urgent appeal to the
public not to allow valuable lessons
of the war to be lost, even If cond1-
tons should become normal next year.
He quoted recent statements by
Thomas w. Russell, United States fuel
administrator for Connecticut, to
show that the danger of a shortage
in domestic coal is not past, and en-
phasized the point that every pound
of coal saved by a householder means
more money in his own pocket.
Mr.. Bill said that the present salts
factory supply of btuminous or soft
coal, used almost entirely in this state
for manufacturing purposes was due
in no small measure to conservation
Manufacturers Save Much
Careful attention to the question
by the manufacturers of this state"
he said, has already resulted in what
will amount to an actual saving of
more than 800, 900 tons of bituninous
coal per year in this state alone. This
represents a saving of more than
100000 to the manufacturers in
Connecticut, and it is gratifying to OBJ
serve that this has been accom- plshed
without the slightest curtatln1ent of
output or operation, but simply by
the elimination Of waste.
I'm view Of the shortage Of anthra-
cite coal proportionate saving can
as readily be made by similar precau-
tons on the part of householders We
have repeatedly urged, and we cannot
urge too strongly, the use of double
windows weather strips, and other
simple devices, which will add to the
comfort of the home and will unoues-
tionab1y save a worth while percent
age of the coal originally used
Now that the war is over, the
tendency is to relax in anv meas
ures associated directly with the war
program and to return to the stand
ards in vogue before the war We
must not forget that one Of the les
sons this war has taught us is that
we, as people, have overestimated
the quantities of coal, food, ETC..
fare. This lesson hould not be lost
Strict Economy Necessary.
ITO feel that since the arnistice
has been signed any expenditure the
household has made along the above
lines. might have been avoided is
based upon wrong reasoning, be-
cause if nothing is considered but the
actual return on the investment
!, 4ri,
pie will save its cost in the coal bill
perhaps in one season, certainly in
two or three. and will then continue
to pay dividends on the investment
year after year.
Furthermore. the householder has
a certain obligation to the interests of
the general public in this matter He
cannot consider himself alone The
constantly increasing business of this
country is bound to be a larger and
larger burden upon our transporta-
ton systems, and to take care of this
increase we shall need not ony extra
locomotives and freight cars but ex-
ira Sidings, extra tracks and extra
labor. Even in peace times it would
be almost criminal to add TO the bur-
den upon our transportation facili-
ties by the carriage of a single ton of
coal that could be saved by the elm
ination of waste.
The HousehoIders' Duty.
"When'you save a. ton of coal you
save the cost to yourself, but you
also save the coal necessary to burn
in the locomotive that transports your
coal to your community and you save
the cost of surplus labor and rolling
stock.
First of all, 1t Is the duty OF every
consumer of fuel. particularly of hard
coal, to take every possible measure,
including repairs and the proper
handling of his furnace and stoves
during the winter which is now upon
us. Beyond that, it is the duty of
householders to give this matter very
careful attention through all the
years to come. We are pleading with
them to do something for their own
pecuniary welfare as we'll as for the
general welfare of the country. AS a,
people, it is our duty to preserve the
good that the war has taught"
Mr.. Bill added that any consumer
in doubt as to what measures should
be taken to conserve fuel could OBJ
tain complete information from his
office direct or through the local