The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-05-24
PRUDDEN URGES PEOPLE
lay IN COAL SUPPLY NOW
Farmers VIII be Doing a Patriotic
Service to Set Aside Hard Coal
Burner and Use Wood.

Lansing.-The state fuel administra-
tor while urging people in cities to
buy coal now in order that another
fuel famine such as was experienced
last winter will not be repeated, calls
upon farmers and others located
where wood is easily accessible to lay
In store of that kind of fuel for sew
eral reasons.
1t will relieve the fuel situation In
those places throughout the state
where wood Is not obtainable at any
price and will give the railroads an
opportunity of transporting what coal
there Is obtainable to the larger indus
trial centers where huge munition fac
tories are working night and day shifts
getting out munitions of war.
In most rural districts there is
certain quantity Of wood that can be
easily obtained and at a slight expense
especially to the farmer who has the
ing the spring when farming opera
tons are at q standstill can well be
used in gathering in next winters
wood supply or when that task is COM
pleted cutting supply that neighbor-
Ing towns may be furnished with fuel
next winter in the event coal is not OBJ
tainable, which may be the case.
Attention is called to the shortage of
anthracite coal this year. The gov
eminent is using great quantities on
Its boats, thus cutting down the ma
tural surplus that accrues during times
of peace. This coal is needed badly
by the government, being smokeless
and furnishing heat for steam
power boats used in transport
ing soldiers across the Allan
tic. Every farmer will be per-
forming patriotic service by putting
aside the hard coal burner the coming
winter and burning instead, wood that
can be secured from forests and wood
lots.
The wood lot proposition In Michi-
gan as outlined by experts calls for a
cutting out and thinning process each
year that the wood lots may become
more thrifty. Much dead and down
timber is found in these lots, of which
a number may be found on almost
every farm and the trees many times
are left to rot for want of someone to
cut them up into wood. In reality
proper care of wood lots will prove
real conservation Of the timber Of that
state.
Fuel users in cities are already find
ing themselves in the position of not
being able to procure anthracite coal
and even when they do secure any q
blank must be signed and sworn to,
showing that they require a certain
amount for next minter's use. Even
then the coal dealer in any community
Is required not to furnish more than
two-thirds Of the customers normal
requirement and there Is already
serious question whether fuel users in
the cities will be able to sec2re their
usual amount of anthracite coal
Soft coal is being placed in cellars
this spring where such coal was never
before used and the supply of this var
iety of coal is already becoming scarce
as far as some kinds are concerned.
Old rail fences that abound in many
sections Of the state make good wood
for fuel when cut up and the average
farmer finds certain time during per-
iods between farming operations to cut
these fences into wood as is being
done already in many sections Of the
state. Those living near state lands
may easily obtain supply of wood by
getting in touch with the Public Do
main Commission at Lansing, which
state commission will be only too glad
to authorize the cutting out of dead
and down timber for fuel.