The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-11-03
SUBSTITUTES FOR COAL AND OIL
Scientists Study Use of Water Power.
Waste Called Criminal.

The possibility OF comparatively
early exhaustion of our coal and oil sup
plies, and the vital necessity of develop
ing water power as a substitute for
non-replaceable resources, is receiving the
earnest consideration of business men
and scientists incidentally, a number of
methods for obtaining greater results
from the natural fuel resources not at
our command have come to light re-
, Gently Speaking on this subject, the
American Exchange National bank, in
its currency circular says
IF our scientists are to be credited
our fuel supplies, both OF coal and of
petroleum, are approaching practical ex-
haustion, and demand serious consdera-
tion as to conservation and the develop
ment of substitutes. Secretary Lane, who
long has been recognized as an authority
on the subject and strong advocate OF
conservation of food, particularly of oil,
is very pessimistic, as to the latter, pre-
dieting the exhaustion of our adequate
oil supply within generation. His pre-
diction is affirmed by l.. Mackay Edgar
the noted English OIL expert, who prophe-
sizes that within ten years the British
empire will be selling us 500000000 bar
rels of oil year. If Mr. Edgar is pessi
mistic about our oil supply, he is com
pensatingly optimistic about the expan-
sion of our industry IN general, for, If
we were to buy 100000, 900 barrels of oil
from Great Britain, it would be nearly
100000 barrels more year than w
now produce.
However there is no question about
the gravity of our problem. Secretary
Lane declares there ls at present no ade-
quate cheap substitute for gasoline and
other forms of refined oil, and urges
economy in its use and in its extraction
from the ground. We are charged with
waste of our oil supplies only paralleled
by our waste of timber Better methods
are now being used an the oil fields, but
it is said that the waste Is still great
enough to be described as criminal. lie
also advocates the development of more
efficient engines and Of carburetors suited
to the use of blended fuels, and the de
NAL Of supplies to oil burning foreign
ships whose governments discriminate
against American OIL burners.
Some of the scientists who have in
vestigated the problem go further and
recommend the use of coal and electric
water power as substitutes IN every field
in which they can be employed. Our coal
supplies, especially of hlgh-grade coal,
will not last forever, either, but they are
expected TO last much longer than our
oil. In their experiments the scientists
have found that it Is possible to mix
powdered coal with fuel oil on a basis OF
30 per cent coal and 60 per cent oil and
obtain results equal to an oil fuel. They
are also bringing into operation a cooking
process for high volatile bituminous coal
which il is claimed will produce about
twice our present consumption Of gasO-
line from the tonnage OF coal we use
each year. and in addition Will produce
innumeTable necessary by-products, such
as dyes and fertilizers, that will increase
the mine value of our coal many times.
The first battery of these cooking ovens,
which in addition TO other things Will
make practically the whole OF our high
volatile bituminOus coal supply available
L Of
Granite City, H. Japan Is also prepar-
ing to adopt the process on large scale.
1.-THE powdered coal mixture has so lar
not been commercially perfected, as the
coal sinks to the bottom of the contain
ers. However. the mixture can be trans
ported in pipe lines, and 1t has been sug-
gested that = solution can he arrived at
hy establishing central mixing stations
from which nearby plants can be sup
piled Other proposals for the cOnserva-
ton of coal and oil include the super
power plan for the electrifcation Of the
railroads and the utilization of the water
power Of the country. 1t Is claimed Tor
the railway electriicatIon plan that it
forms the cheapest Of only three solu-
tions of the problem of increased eff
cheney in transportation. The other two
are reductions Of grades and additions
The electric locomotive, it is said.
will draw twice as much a steam To-
comotive, and through the regenerative
breaking process can be made to return
from 25 to 80 per cent of the power 1t
uses Also. the great waste involved in
coal-generated electricity can be largely
reduced through the employment of wa
ter mower where practicable
"The Importance of conservation OF
our fuel supplies il currently emphasized
by conditions in Europe. where much Of
the delay in the resumption of industry
is due to lack Of coal. We have, also
lately experienced some Of the hardship'
that foHow the interruption of coal sup
plies and are therefor" !" frame OF
mind to give the question serious consid
Grafton. We should lose no time in max
ing the water mower of the country. avail
able for use. In view of the anticipated