New-York tribune., 1918-07-11
Miners to Conserve
About 80, 100000 Tons
Public and Private Econo-
mics Should Cut Consump-
ton 35,OO0,O0O More
By Theodore NJ. knappen

enough ne StbcuiItS AtNS mere lS7l |
enough coal. Producing can't give
enough Hence saving-conservat
looms large IN the fue administration
plan Of attack or the coal problem. It's
unpopular and so the fuel administra-
ton is not prime favorite. The min
ers hate 70 save by delivering clean
coal and the consumers hate to save
by watching their furnaces. Aside from
the twenty or thirty million tons of
coal that the miners can find by ship
ping coal instead of rock and dirt, the
other thirty or forty million tons that
must be saved to avoid winter of dis
content must come from;
First eliminating luxurious uses of
coal products, heat, power and light.
Second, eliminating or reducing the
waste of coal n all its necessary uses.
Third curtaiment Of industries that
can oe dispensed with in whole or part
for time
Under the FIRST head comes all the
dispensable indoor lighting and heat
ing and unnecessary outdoor lighting,
such as decorative street illumination,
Illuminated advertising, etc, and the
use OF street lights during other than
the hours OF actual darkness. This sort
Of saving IS obvious and impressive,
but It cannot yield more than 250000
70 100000 tons in the whole country,
But that much may mean the difference
between comfort and employment on
the one hand and suffering and unem-
ployment for thousands on the other
hand
Public Economies
the second sort Of saving includes
economies by domestic consumers of
coal by the railroads, by the public
utilities bv th- wac Industries and
all the other industries that must op-
crate to maintain national strength
and efficiency, as well as those that, if
worse comes to worst can be dispensed
win IN whole or IN part for 8 time
Ihis country uses about 100 900 900
tons OF coal annually in keeping warm
ana IN cooking its food and for other
household purposes. 1t can save TO-
uoVVV ms tons and still be com
Portable and efficient.
The ncn-war industries, whether dis
pensaole or indispensable use about
lyO'V0O.Oo0 tons of coal a year. Short
OF curtaiiment of output, they ought
10 De able to get along with 10000 600
tons.
The railways use about l75,0OO 600
tons They ought to save lot of
coai. but with them saving transporta-
uon is more important. and it is slow
WORK TO teach green fremen to save
coal and tiremen are scarce and hard
10 get PROBABLY the railways will not
save much.
The war industries are supposed to
ss'e e Jus as much as the others but
ttncy viii be harder to control. for
lhey can always claim that thev can
not permit small savings of fuel to
interfere with production. Resides,
'hey know they VIII get coal in any
event Nevertheless, it is being
strongly intimated that war industries
.ha' do not cooperate in fuel saving
heed not come around for any future
contracts. The cost plus war indus
,fies are the ones that give the most
trouble. There is no financial gain TO
mem IN saving coal. 1t is nuisance
without COMPENSATION.
Saving of 25,0OO,00O Tons
However it has been ca iculated bv
s ele 'uei administration that industries
Vi ail sorts, including the railways.
ought to be as efficient as ever and
consume Is coo 600 tons less than
orainarsly 1t has been found that the
"as,e oi coal IN many plants is az
% muSn as one third. Factories that are
l'oueis oi management and economy in
''SC'F1NlAg else are great fuel MASTERS.
IN, Oue reason for this is that fuel often
aep'eseL1s only l per cent OF the total
ovsss - oi operation. Under a fuel en-
ttancel. ing organization that is now
oelhg carried out. II is intendec, to in
sPect every one of the 250 600 steam
pants IN the United States. CLASSIFY
according to its fuel efficiency and
hl"s''uct hremen and managers as to
ao toM TO avoid waste. Then i the rlant
SSoes nor show better results, it will
"sNe otr ITS coal supply adjusted to it's
.,''clency. If plant, say. wastes ten
sons month that could be saved bv
r,opef r methods, and without the intro
oucuoA OF special appliances, it viii
tes W. 1an tons a month less until it
.o,ld Aslde rom this form of saving much
~" o"' USED Ii industry md commerce
;solo ;", oe saved by doing away with
so'' s,V'asod power plants, where central
r.a. rYu'ces OF power are available. The
il"ahQ'aeturing plant, Office building.
hotel, etc that gets its lieht and
rover from rs own generators viii
r,.lss SUhlSnme less coal if 1t draws on a
fuollc utility company.
interchange of Facilities
Ihen, again, the public companies
eS eSn save by cooperating and by inter
;e,.t@nsiNg 'her facilities. ara in many
til""VeS Waterpower companies can
.1he over part Of the 1oad of a fnel-
I;;ns company. consideration is even
es0.Ng gwen to the adVisabili.y of
- ,tS@ggering' working hours. to avoid
M tae waste necessitated in central plants
~ meeting peak loads for short
,''ne ne each day when by the use of but
NC. nlue more fuel they could carry the
"INimum ioac for much longer periods.
s;ing iLeaVing the railroads out Of con-
s,oefation. moe!; industrial plants and do
ssVc users ought to save IS 600 600
s WINS OF coal wear If the mines save
i;"1lner !, 80 600 600 tho problem, taking
/, oy and large. viii be solved There
sa,,l g. however. little hope that they will
- Ahywhere near so much. So ul-
20 restriction IN many lines seems
sisoa,h isa,h and II has been cons dered ad-
indoie to begin curtailment of some
Iy res even now AS the months 90
Ia ahd the fuel administration is able
srSS a clearer view of the situation
ose mat view should confirm the pres
ditiogg,.OI g,OIomy outlook there will be ad-
nnunal curtailments and in the end.
sesDasssDiy, absolute closing of some
N TSPS Of Industrial plants
avaSs S9Fe iNei is TO save Industry and
discomfort and even misery.