Milford chronicle., 1947-06-06
THERE HAS BEEN some rather loos'

THERE HAS BEEN some rather. loose
talk to the effect that coal may become oDso-
lete as a source of industrial energy Such
opinions are based on the fact that other
sources of heat and power have made re-
markable strides in recent years, due In part,
at least, to the policy of powerful mine labor
unions to call strikes to enforce wage de-
mands, thus largely destroying the price ad-
vantage of coal over competitive fuels.
However, this country has great and
growing need for all it's fuels, and coal Will
continue to be one of the most important
A large part of the country depends on coal
to manufacture electric power. Coal is
basic ingredient in the production of steel.
The coal-burning locomotive still hauls most
of our trains, despite an increase in the num-
ber of diesels on the lines Remarkable pro-
gress has been made in developing coal
burner of greatly increased efficiency, econ
omy and cleanliness.
:. Of much greater Importance, coal is the
most abundant of our known energy re
, sources Our coal deposits are almost lnfl-
mite in extent, and the geologists say they are
sufficient to last thousands of years. Their
potential importance has been enormously
increased by recent discoveries OF means by
which gasoline may be made from coal. ana
experiments, whose ultimate success seems
powdered form.
1t is always a mistake to say that one
form of energy will turn out to be more I'M
portant than another. The safest assump-
ton is that every kind of energy we possess
coal, oil, water, and ultimately, atomic
power-will play vital roles in the world OF
tomorrow.
laii .....sr <NSO<SSS -....,. .r -tt yS4ftf
ENDEAVORS TO MAKE .across-the-
beard price cuts based on the idea OF the
Newburyport ten percent price reduction
plan, have considerable news value. They
show laudable desire by retailers to do
everything possible that might help solve the
price problem. They are not, however, a
permanent solution.
First of all, it is physically impossible
for store to cut prices ten percent on
many basic, low-profit items, without sub
jecting itself to net loss. Therefore, cuts
of substantial size are likely TO be restricted
to higher-proft merchandise whose influence
on the cost of living is relatively small
Secondly, it would be absurd to say that
all the items you see in your retail store are
overpriced Many of them are priced as
cheaply as they can be in the light of present
day manufacturing and retail costs. The
overpriced item is gradually disappearing as
a result of consumer resistance, the refusal
of retailers to stock goods for which there is
a poor market, and the inexorable processes
of competition.
A number of large retailers, including
chains and metropolitan department stores,
are now engaged in consultations with manu-
facturers on the related problems of price
and quality. Progress, it is reported, is be-
ing made The results achieved will be felt
throughout the entire retail industry in the
form Of the lowest possible price for good
merchandise. But the consumer must re-
member that the cost of production will
largely determine the price. When it falls
prices will drop accordingly
N<o~S
OF COURSE WE would all like to see
our veterans owning their own new homes
But it's impossible to find any reason why
men who have returned to their families
from the war should put in all the money that
has been stored up in the Service and at home
into the construction of houses.
That simply means that when these new
homes are ready to be occupied that the mort
cages on them will be so heavy that the new
home owners will spend most of their lives
trying to lift the debts.
There may be good intentions back of tn,
legislation that has placed the authority il
the hands of the Government to insure loan
on veterans homes.
But the whole scheme simply does no
make sense
5000
THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIOl
in Washington has been trying to promot
unification of the armed forces of the Gov
ernment.
If it turns out that the United State
really has won the war there can be no ma
terial benefits from cutting down the nun
Der of heads of the Army, Navy and All
Force. If members of the Presidents Cat
met are reduced in the name of 'unification
or for any other reason there will be hur
dreds of Brass Hats" to fill all gaps. Thor
sands of political pets in Washington shoul
be sent back home-it's mess,