The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-23
PLANS TO CONSERVE
 COAL IN THE FUTURE
By HOLLAND

That was somewhat startling state- ment which was made by Edward Lud- low, vice president of the Lehigh Coal of the American institute of mining engineers, day or two ago. These engi- neers were invited by their associates in this city to inspect the really mar vicious subway work which is now in progress in New York city so that they might see with their professional eyes what the engineering difficulties of sub way construction have been and now are and how they have been overcome.
 Mir. Ludlow said to these inning engl- neers, after the inspection of the sub ways was finished, that 1t might as we'll be admitted that the highest pro duction of anthracite coal has been reached, and it is doubtful if any more deposits of anthracite can be found in this country. Therefore, hereafter coal will be sufficiently extensive to make 1t necessary to advise the utmost con seryation of it. Mir. Ludlow is convinced that not again will the former prices for anthracite coal prevail
 This statement supplements and con
 
 by men of science who have for some years been occupied in studying the coal situation in the United States. They | have agreed substantially upon fixing | 60 years hence as the time when our anthracite deposits of coal will have ! been exhausted, certainly if the present rate of consumption continued. {, Conservation of coal may hereafter he secured in various ways. Already men tf>f x,<- xxf-, s.,x.. k-I tNlf l It is possible to save many thousands of tons year if coal be converted at the mines into electric energy. James | Fl. Ashley of Toledo has recently called attention to the fact that nearly 30 years ! ago William Stanley, man of science | of Pittsfield, Mass. discovered and de- veoped a system of long distances trans- | mission of electric energy. His patents ! were purchased by one of the great elec- tric companies of the United States and 1 were utilized in new and what has all l ready become remarkable constructive work. The plants of the Niagara com pany of the Southern Power company. | the Pacific companies and others were l rapidly constructed. The aggregate oi l electric energy measured by horse power I following this construction is 6,o00,UW and the electric energy is conveyed, ill
 some instances, for $50 miles with neg hgble loss and with 8 cost of less than one-fourth of steam produced energy.
 THE USE OF WATER POWER These results were secured chiefly l through the utilization of water power l which is already conserving large | amount. of coal. But if it is practicable l to convert coal at the mines into electro energy which can be transmitted with commercial success for nearly 400 miles 4. l. Al pcrtunity to prolong this natural but ex- haustible resource in the United States
 When there began some years age | earnest agitation for the enlarged uss of the water powers of the United States for industrial and transportation pur
 poses it was speedily discovered by these who agitated this policy that they were facing powerful and yet no
 readily recognized opposition. It Wal 1 ultimately traced, as was believed, u
 men of capital who own and operate coa | mines, for it was believed that thes'
 men were fearful lest nation-wid, adoption of water power would great, decrease the market for coal.
 1 A CHANGE HAS COME
 Now, according to MT. Ludlow. tn, coal operators are strongly advocatinl conservation of. coal. especially santhra, Cl,G, HdNlIlS DeCOIue dSSuIeQ tTdl tHc MI
 thracite deposits will become exhaustes by the middle of the present century oi
 little later. Therefore to aid conserva ton it is probable that the opposition
 of the coal operators will be lessened il
 in fact any real opposition existed tt
 the utilization of water power.
 WHAT OF OIL
 No man of science and none of tn' 1 great leaders in the oil industry Is able to do more than guess at the future aDi oil production not only in the Unitet States, but in the world. But there does seem to be an impression that if produc ton and marketing in this country con tinue at the preesnt rate there may b' an even chance that this great natura I resource will have been exhausted, somt
 of the experts say. within 20 years I Therefore. as is the case with anthra cite coal, it is highly important to con i serve our oil resources.
 Among the other evidences of his mas ! tery of. the oil industry from produc tion through distribution to marketins
 which Walter Clark Teagle has revealed since he became president of the Stand ard Oil company of New Jersey, is ! I general statement of his view respect