The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1918-06-28
Fuel Economy

191S-l9l9 has been completed Dy
the United States Fuel Administra-
tion. We know the worst of bad
situation. A detailed survey of the
coal required during the present
coal year for war purposes, to keep
our industries running and for
domestic consumers. foots up about
eighty million tons more than was
produced last year. This is the
figure on June l.
AS our part in 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 conservation of fuel do not
feel safe in assuming that the in
creased demand 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. Con-
servation must provide for un-
expected contingencies affecting
both figures of production and of
consumption.
One has only to remember that
the production of coal last season
was fifty million tons greater than
ever before in the history of the
country and to reflect on the enor-
NOUS added burden the war has put
on our transportation system, as
we'll as the man power which is
necessary to produce and distribute
coal. to understand that the fuel
supply for this year is one of the
most difficult and threatening prob
lens the war has presented.
1t is estimated that the industries
not employed on war work will re-
quire something less than 100000
600 tons of coal. All consumers of
fuel, war industries and otherwise,
must participate in the saving cam
paign but non-war industries are
especially interested because what
ever the deficiency turns out to be,
it will come out of their quota
Hence, the general prosperity Of
our industries ani the full employ
ment of labor will depend upon
saving, by economies and prevention
of waste, between 50,G00,O00 and
60,OOO,000 tons of coal.
In spite of intense efforts to in
crease the production of coal, the
first five months of 1913 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
conclusion that this increased de.
mand of one hundred million tons
cannot, to any large extent be met
by increased production.
And yet an actual deficit of halt
million tons would mean person
al Aprivation and an industrial dis
aster which no one can contemplate
with equanimity.
What is the answer? There il
only one; it is saving coal. 1t il
the answer Europe has made in ;
similar saving coal il
every possible way and by all th'
people. If we are to avert tn
privations and disaster attendan
upon shortage of coal much great
er than last year, the most intensiv
measures of fuel economy must b
carried into every activity of in
dustrial and domestic life, and tn
cooperation of every man AM
woman in the country must be on
hundred per cent.
The Fuel Administration ha
forseen the situation represented b
these figures, and through its Con
servation Division has organize
fuel saving campaigns reaching ou
into every department of our nat
ional life where fuel is consumed
Every American citizen will b