Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-14

portunity to purchase coal enough
to cover their needs for a period of
over three months, at a reasonab BILE
figure.
Many other specific instances might
be mentioned but will not take the
time to go into further detail along
this line.
Fuel Economy
At this time, when fuel saving at
every point has become a matter of
national importance, it seems worth
while to call general attention to the
opportunity that exists for making a
great saving in the coal used for
house heating.
This country faces a shortage Of
coal. 1t Is the patriotic duty Of every
citizen to save coal in heating his
home. About 20,O0O0O0 homes in
this country are to be heated through
the winter. If everybody docs his
Bit" ton Of coal at each home can
be saved during the season. For the
entire country this saving would
amount to 20,000,00O tons of coal.
Let me suggest five simple ways OF
saving coal:
l. OF the Goals available in your
r'arket select the one that requires
the least attention ir burning.
2. Use an economical method of
burning your fuel
). Keep your house temperature
81 degrees to 65 F. instead of u de-
grees to IS degrees F.
4. Heat as few rooms as the COM
fort Of your family will permit.
5. Shorten the he ating season as
much as possible.
Coal is bought solely for the com
Lustible element it contains, and in
order that fuel may be burned eco
ironically in a housekeeping fur
mace. the fuel used should be OF suci.
4 kind that the fire requires little at
tenlion. In this connection. let me
suggest the use of the following fuels,
in the order named:
Anthracite coal in sizes from one
half inch to egg size; coal briquettes
two to three inches in diameter, and
screened Pocahontas coal over one
quarter inch and through three or
| four inch screen.
Every householder by endeavoring
to save coal in the ways suggested
can render his country valuable SER
vice, and he will mot be doing his full
duty toward his country unless he
renders such service as he can.
We have endeavored to bring be-
| fore the public the great necessity for
ficl economy and have tried to offer
| helpful suggestions by issuing bulle-
| tins through the press from time to
| time.
| We are dependent upon coal and
wood for fuel. Wood is a local pro-
duct and l have urged upon our peo-
pie the necessity of using as much
wood as they possibly can. Securing
| coal from the producer and then get
| ting it up here into Maine. in many
cases over transportation systems
crippled by strikes, requires consid-
cradle time.
The Wood Situation
When it became apparent that we
would be able to obtain only about
| GO per cent of anthracite for the conf
ing winter, l turned my attention to
| the wood suitation.
! to all lumber men requesting them to
save their mill waste for sale to the
| rublic. This met with n very favor
I able response. Inquiries We're con-
| SANITY coming into the office from
! farmers regarding a market for their
wood ana, on the other hand, we were
receiving many letters from dealers
! for information as to where wood
| could be obtained at a reasonable
| figure.
| In this connection, on August 30th
! all the wood offerings that had been
/ received We're listed alphabetically
| by towns and sent out to dealers,
| selectmcn of all towns, and to the
! leading industries Of the State, also
! to the chairman of the fuel commit
! tees in the various towns. We urged
! the selectmen to encourage their peo-
| pie to buy in community lots, and
suggested to the industries that they
| furnish their employees with wood at
| cost Many of the industries coop
Grated gladly in this respect and
! stated that the list of wood offer
| ings" had been of much assistance
tc them. AS fast as new offerings
We're received, they We're listed and
! published in the newspapers and on
! September 22nd new and more COM
| piete list was made and distributed
Some of the consumers felt that the
Rates charged by the railroads on
! fuel wood in Maine was excessive and
| conference was held on August
23rd in Augusta, at which We're pres
! ont Representatives from all the rail-
/ roads operating in Maine. and others
interested. AS result of this con
| ference all Of the roads, except the
Bangor &, Aroostook Railroad, made
| n substantial cut in their rates on
| fuel wood, with the understanding
! that no profiteering would be permit
| ted on the part Of the stumpage own
ers, retailers or others handling fuel
, wood and that the consumers of feul
wood be given the benefit of the re-
| duced freight rate.
| Regarding the prices charged for
wood, meetings were called in Ban
gor, Westbrook, Portland, Augusta
and Lewiston. These meetings were
attended by local dealers, the mayors
OF the respective cities and other rep
resentatRe citizens, and general
discussion was held relative to the
cost of wood and the selling price.
| These meetings were of much assist
ance to all.
The Coal Situation
1t is very interesting to know that
the coal fields of the United States
are very extensive, the total area ,f
the known fields exceeding 300 GO