Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-06-21
PEOPLE CALLED UPON
TO CONSERVE COAI.

Gooding. Idaho, June 1S.-The flu
Il budget for the season 19lS-191s
has been completed by the United
States Fuel Administration. We
know the worst OF a bad situation
A detailed survey Of the coal requtr-
ed during the present coal year for
war purposes, to keep our industries
running. and for domestic consum-
ers. foOts up about eighty million
tons more than was produced last
year. This is the igure on June /
AS oar part ia the great war in
creases. we are confronted from
month to month, with unexpected
additions to former estimates OF fuel
requirements and to greater demands
on the man-power of the country. so
that those responsible for the con-.
servation Of fuel do not feel safe in
will be only eighty million tons, nor
in assuming that it will be possible
to obtain from increased production
more than one-half of the deficiency.
Conservation must provide for un-
expected contingencies affecting both
| figures of production and of con-
sumption.
II is estimated that the industries
not employed on war work will re-
quire something less than 10000
600 tons of coal. All consumers OF
fuel, war industries and otherwise,
must participate in the saving cam
paign but non-war industries are es-
peciaIly interested because whatever
the deficiency 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 economic and
prevention of waste, between 50.-
600 900 and 6O.000,0 900 tons of coal.
In spite of intense efforts to in
crease the production of coal. the
first five months of 1918 have pro-
duced only ten million tons in excess
of the same period of 1917 If this
IS considered in relation TO the i'm
mense physical task involved in pro-
ducing twelve million tons of coal
per week, it is easy to draw the con-
clusion, that this increased demand
of one hundred million tons cannot.
to any large extent be met by increas-
ed production.
And yet an actual deficit of half a
million tons would mean personal
privation and an industrial disaster
which no one can contemplate with
| equanimity.
What is the answer? There il
only one; it is saving coal. It is the
answer Europe has made in similar
misunderstanding coal in every pos
sible way and by all of the people.
II we were to avert the privations
and disaster attendant upon a short
age OF coal much greater than last
year, the most intensive measures OF
fuel economy must be carried into ev-
cry activity of industrial and dOmes-
tic life, and the cooperation of ev-
cry man and woman in the country
must be one hundred per cent,
A saving OF sixty million tons OF
coal is the one possible avenue of es-
cape from national disaster Neces
stiles of war must be supplied. The
coal deficit must inevitably come out
of the necessary fuel for non-wal
industries. These industries employ
millions OF our population and fur
nish the backbone of our nationa
wealth. Factories will shut dowI
and men be out of WORK In proportion
TO the coal deficit. Every ton of Goa
saved will keep fifty workmen from
idleness and permit an additions
creation of several hundred dollar
worth of national wealth.
The Fuel Administration hal
frankly given to the public statistict
of an alarming fuel situation.
desires to state Just as frankly ant
with all the emphasis possible tina
it is in the power of the American
people through fuel economy to saw
the country from the effects of tn
fuel famine.