American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-06-18
MUST CONSERVE FUEL.

Gooding issues the following state I
ment on the fuel situation:
The fuel budget for the season 1913
1919 has been completed by the Unit
ed States fuel administration. We
know the worst of a bad situation. A
detailed survey of the coal required
during the present coal year for war
purposes. to keep our industries run
ming. and for domestic consumers.
foots up about eighty million tons
more than was produced last year.
This is the figure on June l.
As our part in the great war in
creases. we are confronted, from
month TO month with unexpected addi-
lions to fromer estimates of fuel re-
q%uirements and to greater demands on
the man power OF the country. so that
those responsible for the conservation
OF fuel do not feel safe In assuming
that the increased demand will be only
eighty million tons, nor in assuming
that II will be possible 10 obtain from
increased production more than one
half OF the deficiency. Conservation
must provide for unexpected contin-
gencies affecting both figures OF pro-
duction and of consumption.
One has only to remember that the
production OF coal last season was
fifty million tons greater han ever be-
fore in the history OF the country and
TO reflect on the enormous added bur-
den the war has put on u transpor-
tatiOn system, al well as the man pow
err which Is necessary to produce and
distribute coal. TO understand that the
fuel supply for this year Is one Of the
most difficult and threatening pro
blems the war has presented.
II is estimated that the Industries
not employed on war work will require
something less than 100, 900 900 tons
OF coal. All consumers Of fuel. war
industries and otherwise. must parti-
cipate in the saving campaign but
non-war industries are especially in
teersted because whatever the def
cheney turns out to be. it will come out
of their quota. Hence, the general
prosperity of our industries and the
full employment of labor will depend
upon saving, by economies and pre-
vention of waste, between so, 900 900
and so, 0 0 900 tons of coal.
III DUllt VI lultlot tllOllo W II
crease the production Of coal, the
first five months of 1918 have produc-
ed only ten million tons in excess of
the same period of 1917. II this Is
considered In relation to the immense
physical task involved in producing
twelve million tons of coal per week.
II is easy to draw the conclusion, that
this increased demand of N hundred
million tons cannot. to any large ex-
tent be met by increased production.
And yet an actual deficit of half a
million tons would mean personal
p~rivation and an Industrial disaster
which no one a contemplate with
equanimity.
What is the answer? There is only
one; II is saving coal. II is the an
swer Europe has made in a similar
situatton-saving coal in every pos
sible way and by all Of the people. II
we were to avert the prfvations and
disaster attendant upon a shortage of
coal much greater than last year, the
most intensive measures of fuel econ
omy must be carried into every activi-
ty OF industrial and domestic life, and
the cooperation of every man and wo-
man in the country must be one hun
dred per cent.
The fuel administration has foreseen
the situation represented by these
figures. and through its conservation
division has organized fuel saving
campaigns reaching out into every
department of our national. life where
fuel is consumed.
Every American citizen will be ask
ed TO clean his furnace, keep ii in re,
pair and study economical firing. In
structions prepared by the highest
authority will be furnished by the fuel
administration.
II everyone joins in this movement
from the owner Of IN industrial plant
to the householder with his furnace
and cookstove. IL houses are not over.
heated. the furnace campers properly
adjusted and the ashes sifted, il viii
be possible to save from fifty ia seven
ty-ive million tons Of coal without
serious inconvenience 20 the Ameri
can people.
A saving Of sixty million ton o.
coal is the one possible avenue of es
cape from national disaster. Neces
stiles Of war must be supplied. Tn,
coal deficit must inevitably come gu
OF the necessary fuel for non-war in.
dustries. These industries employ
millions OF our population and furnish
the backbone OF our national wealth
Factories will shut down and men b,
out OF work in proportion to the Goa
deficit. Every ton OF coal saved will
keep fifty workmen from idleness anC
permit an additional creation of sew
eral hundred dollars worth of nation
al wealth
The fuel administration has frankly
} given to the public statistics OF al
, alarming fuel situation. IL desires u
? state just as frankly aud with all tn,
|, emphasis possible hat ii is in th'
} power Of the American people through
fuel economy to save the country frou
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