Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-04
WORLDWIDE ENGLISH
Or. FIneaan Says II Was the Official
Language Of the Educational Con-
ferenoe-Weaith From the River
Beds Of Central Pennsylvania
By GEORGE NOy MCCAIN
mr.. THOMAS e. FINEGAN, Supe

nR. THOMAS e. FlNEGAN, Superln'
~ tendent of Public Instruction, has just
returned from Honolulu.
He was absent from his Office for nearly
six weeks attending the International Edu-
Cationsl Conference, at which fourteen nn-
tions, including China and Japan, were rep
resented
In diplomatic circles and high interna-
tional conferences French has been recog.
nized rs the official language.
1t was not so. however, in Honolulu on
this occasion English was used exclusively
in the deliberations, addresses and reports
To DIR. Finegan IL emphasized the fact
that English is the universal language Of
future international events.
1t is so today, practically, not only in
commerce, but in politics and diplomacy.
"IAPAN was represented by nine dele.
- gates" said Or. Finegan. "and every
one Of the nine spoke English fuently.
Not only that. but their instant grasp Of
every question. and in all its bearings, was
remarkable.
China had FIVE men in attendance. four
of whom spoke English perfectly.
Farther India was represented by
native. n polished gentleman whose English
was dawless
II learned great many things from my
intercourse with these men of different races.
particularly their viewpoint of International
problems as they affect the whole world"
said DR.. Finegnn.
widespread knowledge of foreign Ian
guages is unquestionably one of the needs
OF our modern system of education.
LIANE You noticed in little journeys into
IL the anthracite region and. indeed. in
districts outside but adjacent to it, how
BLACK are the waters Of the streams?
The shores of the creeks and rivers look
rs though all the SCOT and lampblack in the
world had been emptied into the waters and
then washed up on the banks.
The appearance Of the water and the
banks of the stream Is caused by the wash
ings Of coal breakers. culm banks and mines.
In Western Pennsylvania and through the
bituminous regions beyond the Aleghenies
the streams are yellow and their banks are
rusty col0red
This is caused by the drainage from
bituminous coal mines.
All that ] have described above is wasted
wealth Some of il can be and is being
reclaimed.
JAMES W. WOODWARD. Secretary of
- Internal Affairs. estimates that SS44 900
worth Of this waste product was reclaimed
last year.
1t was in the form Of 5j1 100 tons Of coal
taken from the rivers and streams that pass
through or near the hard coal fields
For half a dozen miles or so below Har-
risburg the Susquehanna River, particularly
along the northern shore. is dotted daily
with miniature stern wheel tugboatS
IheH are the crudest sort Of river craft.
They consist Of nothing but an engine on
Hcow with huge paddle wheel at the
stern which seems out of all proportion to
the size Of the boat
Extending into the water on each side
is on endless belt or chain carrying buckets
or dips by means of which the fine coal on
the river bed is scooped up and dumped into
fiat bottom scows
II is called river coal
THERE are eight counties in Pennsyl-
L vnnia in which the reclamation of river
coal is an established industry.
They are Berks. Columbia. Cumberland
Dauphin. l.uzerne. Northumberland. Perry
and SchuylkilI
The rivers from which the hidden wealth
is taken are the Su>quehnnna, Schuylkill
and Lehigh
Last year Dauphin County rivermen. with
their fleets Of scoops and scOws. took 1921
400 worth OF coul from rhe Susquehanna.
The smallest amount of treasure trove was
secured by Columbia County, which gath
cred in only $50 900 worth.
CECRETARY WOODWARD points out
~ several interesting features in connection
with this unique industry.
For instance. Northumberland County
which was second in the production. or re-
rlamation. of river coal. stood first in the
value Of the output.
Dauphin County ScoOped 80 900 more
tons of coal from thp SusQuehanna River
thnn her adjoining sister county. but re-
ceived 500, 900 less for it.
Northumberland County Is nearer the
source Of supply. and there is a grenter
amount of this coal swept into the river
than along the Dauphin County banks. II
is Of coarser quality also.
Lying in thicker beds along the bottom
of the river it is freer from sand and sedi
mcnt and commands a higher price
All of the river coal ranks with what is
known as steam sizes.
Its value is determined by its freedom
from sand and other non ."ombustible ma
teriGl. Manufacturing establishments use II
almost exclusively although there are GER
tain industries in which it is used for other
purposes than fuel.
II is a seasonal business. High water and
cold weather put an end to it.
HAROLD HUGHES has been frequent
l. l. visitor TO Philadel phia recently. This
is because his wife and children have been
spending the summer at the shore.
He will be remembered by chess lovers of
Philadelphia as the one time State cham
pion.
This was during his student days AT the
University. where he walked off with all the
chess hOnors and trophies in sight.
He also participated as one of the con-
testAuts in the Anglo. American cable chess
match during that period
There were three hruthPrS--Harold Ken
meth and Robert All Of them became asso-
ciated with their father NJ coal producers
and for the last eight years have been re-
siding in Altoona
The old home on West Pine street is still
rntainpl in the fnmilV.