Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1945-01-12
COAL-AMERICA'S SERVANT
BY FRANK j. q. DUCK

civilizatiOn-and particularly that
OF the United States during the
past 100 years has been the ever
widening use of coal and its my
Rad OF byprOduCts. For. although
coal plays an incOnspicuOuS and Of
ten unknown role. without il ma
jority OF our population either
would slowly perish or revert 10
the comparatively primitive condi-
lions of the middle 18th century
Without coal. il would not have
been possible cheaply TO produce
the billions of tons of iron and
steel that speeded the development
of vast areas OF this country ana
rapidly built our giant industries.
Were II not for coal. the cost of
producing lup>her brick. cement.
practically all @the common metals
and countless other building and
construction products would be so
great that their use would be linn
tied TO a wealthy few
Without Goals cheap power. hun
dredS OF thousands of EVERYDAY
items-ranging from needles. pins
and nails. through wearing apparel.
foodstuffs. candy and cigarettes. to
automobiles, radios and refrigera-
tors either would be prOhibitively
expensive or turned out only in
limited quantities. Without the by
products from coal. We would have
few and very cOStly-drugS. medi-
clneS. dyes and over 200 600 other
products which not only have help
ed make Americans the healthiest
people in the world bur also the
most comfortable.
Coal supplies $50 of all mechan-
ical energy TO this country. powers
$3.50 OF its locomotives. generates
35cc of its electricity. is essential
in making 1906 OF its steel. heats
four OF every seven OF its homes.
and has 60.00000 customers
Coal is one of the chief reasons
why we have been able TO provide
our military fOrces-and large num-
berS OF those OF our Allies with
the finest offensive and defensive
weapons the world has ever seen.
part of the power for the war ma
chine. coal is the source OF the -four
most important basic war chem
icals phenOl. toluene. ammonia
and naphthalene. 1t is the base for
SO of all war plastics, while the
high explosives INT. pierre acid
and tetrOl are made from coal.
in u.h in I -
ton of coal 10 produce the steel for
2.000-pOund bomb. % tons for a
3-inch anti-aircraft gun. 30 tons for
u medium tank. and % 900 tons for
modern super
SOURCE OF COUNTLESS LUxURIEs
When it comes 10 the refinements
and Injuries of living factors
that help distinguish this country
from all others-cOal also plays an
Indispensable part. In fact, its con-
tributiOn to our modern existence
has so many ramiticatiOns that il
is practically impossible to name
them all. From the moment he
arises until he retires and even
while he sleeps coal and its by
products enter into the life of near
ly every American.
Let's follow Mr.. Average CitiZel
through a typical day, emitting III,
necessities and considering only hi
use OF some of the almost counties
Injuries that depend on or deriy,
from coal.
"A. c." as he's known to til,
neighbOrs. is awakened by an alarm
clock whose dial is painted will
coal pigments. Quite likely. it ha.
an unbreakable lucite crystal anC
plastic case, both from coal. The
heat already has been turned on by
thermostat which, more Otter
than not. is in plastic housing.
Sticking his feet i'll a pair of slip
pers. whose sOles and perhaps
uppers-probably are of coal-deriv
ed "artiticial' leather. A c.
snaps on the paste bedside radio
He showers behind q curtain mad,
Of fabric from or waterproOfed b,
coal, in bath room equipped Will
many plastic fixtures.
If A c." uses an electric razor
its case of plastic. Ii he lather
his face. the bristles and handle o
the brush may have come from
coal. as did the perfume of in
soap and that of his after-shave 10
ton and face powder
He brushes his teeth with coal
favored paste or powder on brus
having lucite handle AID nylO
bristles from cOan. and parts hi
hair with comb and brush of tn
same materials. while in the medi
cine cabinet he may note common
place items such as aspirin. gan
giles. laXatiVeS. etc, all coal deriI
ed
"A. c" now is ready to dress an
if he's one of the fortunate fe'
that still have them. he puts O
nylOn socks. His underwear an
shirt, fresh from the laundry, prof
ably were made clean with wasl
ing soda (likely from cOaD. Will
on his trousers are plastic suspel
derS or belt.
At breakfast, his morning new.
paper is printed with ink from Goa
He may eat from plastic tablewal
and top off his meal with a vitami
pill derived from coal. AS he d.
parts for his office he selects
cigarette from handy contain,
originating from coal. It's rainir
and he dons a coat made waite
proof through coal and oversize,
colOred black through the san
medium.
a member of the share-the-riC
club. "A. c. drives to work in
car with many plastic fittings. T