St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-06-15
A CORD NOW"

The fuel administration is exerting itself to the limit in trying
tc awaken the people as to the necessity of preparing for the posi-
Bile rigors of next winter. We all remember-unless We have lost
our mental capabHites-the h~ardships manp suffered for the lack
Of fuel last winter and in some sections the suffering was more in
tense than in others. The fuel administration cannot guarantee that
last winters experience will not be duplicated again this coming
winter. In fact, it practically sounds a warning that conditions
may be as bad if not worse.
The production Of coal has not kept pace with present demands.
Millions Of tons will be required for government purposes and by
taking this amount out of the regular channels it means that much
less for home use. In other states not so fortunate as Louisiana IN
the matter of supply of wood the demands Of the people for coal will
naturally have to be complied with or there will be danger OF many
suffering from cold. But such contingency can hardly happen here
if people only realize what may be in store for them II they are I'M
prepared. The state has immense forests and so far as there being
4 scarcity of fuel we have a surplus. All that remains is for the
people to get busy this long summer before US and secure an ample
supply Of cord wood. There are thousands Of cord wood. There
are thousands Of cords going to waste in our forests and it is "a
grievous sin for people to freeze when so much fuel is going to waste
almost at our doors.
1t has been suggested in some quarters that executive officers
Of the states subdivisions put prisoners to work cutting wood this
summer for use next winter in the schools and public buildings. The
suggestion is a wise one and would be strictly in keeping with the
present slogan Of work or go to jail Professional loafers and
jail birds enjoy a life of idleness and are being fed at the public ex-
pense IA term in jail has no terrors for them. It is one long hoL
dap Of loafing and with plenty to eat. Make them earn their board
and keep cutting wood for court house, Jail and school
Labor is going TO be short this year. Hundreds and thousands
have joined the colors and countless others are connected with some
sort of public work connected with the war. It is going to be a diff
fisult thing for farmers to harvest their crops without additional
help and. that means there will be few laborers to go to the woods
and cut the fuel the country will require. Some means will have to
he devised to overcome this apparent difficulty and it is reasonable
10 believe that the government, acting through the various councils
Of defense, viii come to the assistance of the people and see that the
wood III cut and that the railroads transport it from stump to CON
sumner. +
Last winter was the severest one this country has ever expert
cneed. 1t came early and lasted long. 1t was a fair warning of
what we can look for and expect the coming winter. Weather
prophets claim that wet seasons and dry, cold winters and warm run
In d series and if their corn-fed philosophy be true we can reasona-
bly, expect another severe winter this year. The butterfly that fits
about during the summer starves and freezes when its more indus
frious neghbor, the ant, lives in clover when cold days hit the coun-
try. Are You a butterfly or you an ant?
aCUT Al CORD NOW