Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-10
GAS FIRMS OFFER
| COAL INDUSTRY AID
ProceSsed Fuel Is Seen as
/ Method to Assist Mine
Operators.
BY ]. c. ROYLE.
sEnsclal Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK, October 10.-The gas
Industry fred a lifeline over the wreck
Of the soft coal industry today, but 1t
= kstill is uncertain whether the latter will
make II fast and win to shore. The
American Gas Association. in conven-
1ion at Atlantic City, has offered its
own aid and petitioned the aid of the
Federal authorities in developing gas
from coal by improved methods which
would yield immense returns to the coal
sproducers from the complete processing
Of fuel and the sale of valuable by
Sroducts.
There is no question as to the des-
perate situation of the soft coal in
dustry For over a year and a half
there has been a strike on in the in
dustrv with losses and suffering on
both sides. Production has been heavily
curtailed, but productive capacity still
remains high above any prospective
.conSumptive demand. Stocks OF coal
which year ago totaled more than
10. 100000 tons. have been reduced 40
per cent, but prices are still at a level
$50 low as to yield only minimum re-
sturns. Quotations are below those of
= year ago.
Merger Proposals.
Recent resumption Of former union
kY1i1es on 2 on-union basis has checked
arp with price trends. and the nOn-union
production alone without reserve stocks
Is about equal to present consumption.
Merger proposals have been only par
italy successful Output is around g.
$500 900 tons a week, with a normal all
Eear-round demand OF less than 9,000.-
1000. Even so. the entire output this
year will be less than SO per cent of
sfhe amount which might be produced
Alnder favorable conditions.
Fuel engineers are almost unanimous
an stating that the solution OF the prob
Aem lies in the processing of coal. and
Ut is here that the gas association has
f1ronised to aid.
The value of that aid can be judged
3oy the fact that in the last so years the
gas industry has changed from a 90
per cent lighting load to a 90 per cent
heating load and increased its sales 400
per cent In the last year 1854 600, 000,-
900 cubic feet of natural and manufac-
tured gas was used. yielding a revenue
IF 1919 100000. The amount of coal
gas manufactured was 81 900 900 900
aeet and about 100000 tons of coke
end about 9,500,000 tons of bituminous
boal was consumed.
Seeking Process.
The gas engineers are now looking
howard the production of gas, steam
and electrical current in a single plant
ON which coal could be completely pro-
'cessed and by-products utilized. The
gas industry also foresees the genera
ton of electricity by new mechanical
equipment which may make possible
the locating of future gas and electric
utility plants at the pit mouth, and is
counting on the use of large quantities
for house and theater heating and re-
frigeration.
If the soft coal industry does not
show enough signs of life to warrant
the helping hand extended to it, the
gas Industry is always in the position
to turn to anthracite, oil and natural
gas for its requirements. Little anthra-
cite has been used for this purpose in
recent years because of high costs, but
these, it is thought, may be possible of
reduction.
The amount of oil used has been fair
ay constant by the present low price
of crude as a stimulating factor. The
natural gas supply. of course. involves
pipe line transportation. but such
transportation facilities are being con-
Ftantly increased.
Added Danger.
An added danger has made its APP
pearance before the coal producers.
Heretofore heavy consumers of fuel have
been accustomed to contract for their
needs we'll in. advance Now many of
them avoid this practice. The reserve
supplies of coal have been so heavy
and the competition so strong and the
efficiency of the rail carriers so great
that consumers have found they could
order fuel in small lots frequently
and have it delivered when and as they
wanted 1t without congesting their own
bins and yards with reserve stocks.
This has thrown many of the old-time
coal producers into confusion.