The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-12-10

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strike of bituminous coal miners, the
country and the world at large was
to be confronted with the startling an
nouncement that the total coal re-
sources Of America had been exhaust
ed.
The United States, possessing more
than one-half of the total coal depos-
its of the earth, and mining more coal
than any other nation, is also the
heaviest coal consumer. Every year
there is mined three-quarters of a ton
Of coal in the world for every man,
woman and child on tie face of the
globe. But the United States burns
four and q half tons for each inhabi-
tant. England burns three and half
tons per capita each year, while
France consumes but ION and half
for each inhabitant. Although Ayderi-
ca has one out Of every fifteen of the
earth's people within its borders and
mines two out Of every for tons Of
coal produced, nearly all of our pro-
duction is consumed In our Wn homes
and Industries.
Only one-sixth of our coal con-
sumption is for heat production. An
other one-sixth goes into the making
of coke and gas. The other two
thirds goes into the production of
power with which our manifold indus
tries are kept going. During the last
twenty years tie reputation Of the
United States has increased AZ per
cent, yet in this same period of time
our consumption " coal has increas-
ed 172 per cent. New industries, the
employment of more mechanical
means for doing the worlds work and
constant world demand for more and
more Of Americas gotc have swelled
the coal consumption to an enormous
figure. Early this year II was esti-
mated that the Total coal needs Of
the nation for the year 1919 amount
ed to 5000 COCO tons, of which but
$4,000, 900 tons were held In reserve.
If our population shall continue to
increase during the next twenty years
as it has in the last two decades and
industrial expansion shall call for coal
on the Same scale that it has since
the boginning of the new century, II u
likely that our total consumption by
the year 1940, when our boys Of today
will have become the new captains of
industry, shall have reached the as
tounding figure of 100000, 100000
tons,
Another thing to be considered is
the quantity of coal being exported
to other countries. The total exports
are increasing by leaps and bounds.
Back in 1900 our coal exports were a
negligible quantity, but by 1913 they
had jumped to 20,00O,000 tons. BY
last year they had climbed to 10000
600 tons. This year the demands are
greater than ever be1 ore. China needs
more than 100000 tons; France H.
100000; Belgium, 100000, and
the Netherlands, 100000. Although
Canada ranks next to the United
States in unmined coal resources she
is clamoring for hundreds of thous-
ands Of tons of American coal. Italy,
Denmark, Switzerland, South Ameri-
ca, the British Isles, Scandinavia,
Greece, Portugal and the North Afri-
can countries have their hands--or
their empty bunkers--outstretched to-
ward Uncle Sam.
Experts predict tina, before long
The United States will be exporting
from 5O.0O0,Q0O to 10000, 900 tons
every year
But where do we go from here?"
How long viii Americas coal supply
last? Experts tell US the end of anth-
racite is in sight. Three billion tons
of hard coal already have been taken
out Of the mines Of America, SO tket
the thinner. deeper and poorer seams
now are being approached.
Sooner or later the problem Of find
ing other energy sources must be
solved. Already there are manifold
signs that farseeing men are fully
cognizant Of this situation and plann-
ing now for the future. More oil isl
being burned today than ever before.
and, oddly, too, as the world has start
ed to look for coal substitutes, so it
has discovered wonderful new oil re-
sources. Since the LIST of January,
1919, in New England alone, fuel oil
from eMxico has replaced nearly g.
100000 tons of coal.
The railroads are one OF the great
est co6l-consuming agencies. Out of
every 100 tons of coal mined it takes
3 tons Of coal to run the transporta-
ton agencies that put that coal On the
market In 1914 our railroads hauled