New-York tribune., 1918-01-19
England Had Fuel Troubles
But Never Was Compelled
To Shut Down Her Industries
Coal Fields Well Distributed and Railroad Hauls Short in
Tight Little Island Given Reason for Main
tenance of Trafflc-No Intense Cold

trollcd by the state. This had to be
nNed up because it was the only way to
Sausly the extreme trade union de-
mands of South Wales Ownership Of
'Ae ml"cs is still vested in the pri-
Ta,e companies. but profits arc care
luIsy watched. Not only is so per cent
ct excess war profit paid to the Treas
ury. but of the remaining 20 per cent
II Is proposed that 10 per cent shall be
, neid back as reserve for keeping up
the finances Of the less prospcrous
concerns.
In other words, where q miNc has
made good money during the war. 03
per cent OF its surplus over peace divj-
oends is taken away. Substantially.
TINS means that protitccring has been
cut right out
SO far as am aware. there has been
r0 suspension OF municipal services.
i'kc electricity or gas, at any rate no.
IL London.
but vast sums have been saved by
'ne military order against illuminated
SKY Signs, street lamps. shop lights and
so on We have had nothing in London
sor Years 10 compare with the bcauti-
lO' ana aesthetic nocturnal coruscations
wh'ch stlll on Saturday night shine
above Broadway. To these heights of
I@e zeppelin taught us that economy
ouS othc'wise we have plenty Of "rcd-
hot hairpiNs in glass bulbs"
Gas Is, however. a difficulty. It is
not cut Of But the pressure is low
AID the quality is disputablc. 7 am not
enough OF chemist to tell YOU what
has happened TO our gas. But rur,or
prcsen: Of certain by-products, and
apparently the byproducts arc pre-
cisety tina. ingredient in the Gas which
is best adapted to boiling kettles and
trying such bacon az We can purchase
at 90 cents & pound.
immense Quantities Sent to Allies
Perhaps l may add that immense
quantities OF our coal have gone to
France and Italy. Our ship owners
We're accused of making a big profit at
Italy IS expense. but the latest figures
seemed TO clear them of the charge.
Tonnage was paid for at "bluo book
rates" and if consumers in Italy we're
forced to meet cXorbitant prices the
money did not go into our pockets.
Scores of thousands Of our miners
have, of course. enlisted. The. arc in
valuable in the construction of trenches
and underground works. But. as class,
we hold them exempt from military ser
vice. aud they haze their own tribunals
of selection.
may add that landlords of tenement
dwellings, including those in large
blocks, are supposed to provide accom-
mediation for coal reserves to be at the
disposal of their tenants.
One OF my own last duties before
leaving England was to complete ar
engagements for coal supply on these
lines. which would help through a com
munity of aged people living in special
fats.
From all This YOU will gather that We
have suffered considerably over fuel,
but nothing like so seriously as Italy
and France: nor have we had the sharp
shortage which stopped elevators in
New York and put typists into cold
storage. No schools. so far as I have
heard. have had to be closed And, of
course. our water pipes have less op-
portunity for misbehaving than yours,
subject IS they arc to frost and ice.