The Washington herald., 1920-02-29

The producer must conserve his
production. and the domestic con-
sumer must realize that these
wastes do not concern him alone,
and consequently he has not the
right. merely because he pays for
the gas. to employ il in any man.
ner that pleases him. no matter
now wasteful. Natural gas is a
natural resource in which every
user of this country has an equity.
Those who waste the gas do so at
the expense of others who would
use it efficiently. Natural gas is
not replaced by nature. and in COM
parison with the life of the nation
the duration of the. supply will be
brief
The public has right, therefore,
to demand that this natural asset
be used to the greatest advantage
OF all and that no one be allowed
to waste it. Natural gas in each
city is community asset, and
every consumer has a right to de-
mand that wasteful use shall be
prohibited in the interest of the
public service. This is particularly
important during cold spells in the
winter, when the supply is insult
ficient and actual suffering may oc-
cur. Clearly it is not right that
any consumer suffer at sue times
because of the extravaganza and
waste of other consumers, even
though they are willing to pay for
the gas wasted. Nor can the citi-
zens justify demands for better
panies without making provision to
correct abuses in their own homes.
1t must be recognized that the pub
lie has been, and is today, just as
much a party to the crime of vast
ing this natural resource as are the
companies that market it.
The purpose of the conference
on natural gas conservation, called
by Secretary Lane. of January Is,
1920. and the appointment of this
committee. is to suggest some rem
edies of the wasteful methods as
outlined above.
The functions of the Bureau of
Mines. as authorized by Congress,
are to make inquiries and investi-
cations concerning the mining,
preparation. treatment and utiliZa
tion of petroleum and natural gas,
with a view to economic develop
nent and conserving resources
through tn preservation Of waste:
TO inquire into the economic COndI-
tions affecting the industry.
The Bureau of Mines will render
all assistance and cooperation pos
sible within its means, but it must
hold an impartial position in re-
gard to the public and the industry.
Tn formulating and discussing
plans for conserving our natural gas
resources, which this committee is
to take up, / am of the opinion that
we should limit our discussions to
general problems at the start. rather
than to consider specific cases.
am also of the opinion that conser-
walton through education will serve
our immediate needs in a more prof
liable MANNER, and believe there will
be no difficulty in securing the
hearty cooperation of everyone
connected with the industry. 1t very
often happens that in attempting to
solve problems and arriving at a
fair basis of adjustment failures to
accomplish material results have
been brought about because at the
beginning Of their endeavors one
party or the other assumes a too
critical attitude.
THE public has expressed it's de-
sire to procure actual demohstra-
tions in methods of utilization of
gas. and we should consider the
ways and means to accomplish this.
Limited engineering Investigations
are being carried on at the present
time by the Bureau of Mines in the
various gas fields, and the results
will be available to the public.
The resolution which this COM
mittee is to function is as follows:
81. The supply of natural gas is
limited in quantity and is not being
replaced by nature.
+. "2. There is no other fuel that
can replace natural gas which is as
cheap, as convenient and as eff
cient.
"3. The supply of natural gas Is
falling in many communities.
IL. In order that the supply OF
natural gas may be prolonged and
the service improved, this confer
ence recommends that the appropri-
ate agency in each State which uses
natural gas take measures to dis
cover what amount of natural gas
10 now being wasted by the con-
sumer. the various causes of such
waste. and adopt such measures as
may be available to reduce such
wastes and erect economics In or