New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-30

rate in the: winter months.
Seasonal Coal Rates.
On tile Recommendation of Chair
man Edgar L. Clark of the commits
sion and the other members also.
subcommittee of the senate commit
tee on interstate and foreign, com
merce, the chairman of which is Sen
ator Erelinghuysen of New jersey, re
ported fayOrably a bill establishin,
seasonal coal rates. This bill and tn,
report of the committee are now be
fore the whole committee and will b,
brought up for consideration wheI
congress re%conyenes.
Widespread opposition developed Il
the proposed legislation among Goa
operators, coal dealers and commercial
organizations. The opposing interest.
cannot see that the proposed legisla
ton would accomplish the desired re
sult-that of inducing the movement
and storage of coal in the summer
months so that a minimum If cOaI
would have To be transported in thu
winter months.
In the opinion of George Otis Smith
director of the United States Geolog
zeal Survey, to allow present condi'
tions in the coal industry to continue
will be to invite industrial paralysis.
"The seasonal fuctuatis'l In coal out
put comes from a seasonal f%iuctuatiOn
i'm demand" he says. THE consumer
must be hirched Oh to the problem OF
giving the mines more orders for the
spring and early months and of reliey-
ing both mines and railroads of their
extra heavy burden in the fall and
winter months. In Il normal year the
country owe this seasonal inequality
of demand calls for 80 per cent to &c
per cent more coal being mined In
November, the peak load month. than
In April, the usual month of greatest
slump In mine operation. Uneven de-
mand thus requires more mines and
more miners, both working "A IS per
cent year. and conditions OF unequal
seasonal demand are also bad for the
railroad, especially when combined
With crop movements and winter In
reference with traffic"
Figures compiled by the Geological
Survey disclose that the entire world
Is suffering from reduced production
OF coal and that the production OF
1919 dropped back to the level of
1910. The total output Of coal Of all
kinds in 1919, preliminary estimates
show, was 1,29O,O0O.0OO net tons.
Menace to Rural Life.
How to keep the women down on
the farm Is the subject Of special In
quiry that is being made by the depart
ment OF agriculture.
Already the survey Of the farm
home has been made In 80 states in
the North and West. and the deduc.
ton made from 1t by department spe-
clallsts is that waste Of woman power
Is n Of the greatest menaces to the
rural life of the nation.
Records covering more than 10000
farm homes. averaged by taking typi-
cal communities Of the county In
which the survey was made, have al
ready been tabulated by the depart
ment. Much Of the information was
gathered personally by home demon
%stration agents.
Admittedly, the survey thus far
shows only the dark side Of the farm
life of a woman. II does not consider
the many com%pensations that come
with the woman's daily round Of work
for the comfort OF the family, and any
one who has experienced the satisfac-
ton OF living In the open country
knows that the average farm woman
is more fortunately placed than her
city sister. the department
Rut what Is To he done?
Miss Florence +. Ward, In charge of
the extension work of the department
Of agriculture under whose direction |
the survey was made, answers the
question.
Benefits From C%onveniences.
"The interest Of the department Of
agriculture In the returns from these
as to labor. working equipment
and compensation Of the farm wom-
an" says Miss Ward. 'are ms practi- |
,al as its interest I'm farm. studies re-
labor. machinery and crop re-
Iurns for the same general reasons.
"The farm woman's working hours
night be shortened. II the principles
Df modern business were applied to
he farm home. Running water In
he home for the ~ out Of every
100 that must carry II into the
rouse would tighten the woman's la
,or and add to her comfort. Labor
be lessened II the farm house
we're as well equipped as the up-fo-
late barn. which the farmer looks
lpon as 50 much currency with which
buy efficiency.
The installation Of modern light
ne systems would release some Of the
In 20 per cent Of the homes
where kerosene lamps are stilI used.
nd the installation of heating sys-
ems would release some OF the time
f the 81 per cen who care for coal or
rood stoves.
"Forty-eight per cent OF the farms
showed by the survey 10 have
over for operating farm machinery.
only % per cent have this ad-
antage for the home. That Is a
fact when we consider that
frequently II is q simple matter to
ennect the engine used in the barn
18th household equipment.
The wishing machine is another la
or saver. and selling cream. instead
churhing It at home is another. In
hort. the same sort of intelligence and
fraction Of the money applied to
akiNR 6pld and M arm uork e~on von;oo