The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-08-13
M GlaAhuqton
with Rep. John Henderson
Coal Future

All VI Us III OoulIlSdSlS1ll oIliC
know of the huge deposits of coal
which lie under our hills and
valleys. l recall that fully half of
the wage-earners I knew when
l was a boy in Guernsey county
earned their living in the coal
mines which flourished then.
With the passage OF years, more
and more Of the mines have
closed and the employment they
provided has vanished. Much of
the industry Of those days has
moved away because of the re-
moval of the coal that is most
economical to mine. Of even
greater Importance is the fact
that the coal which remains
and it is tremendous resource
is a resource for which there is
no ready market.
The tragic experience of
Southeastern Ohio has been dup
licated in thousands of COM
muities where coal mining was
once the basic economic liveli-
hood. 1t is recognition of this
problem which is prompting Con-
gress to enact legislation in
tended to stimulate and encour-
age the development Of uses for
coal SO that the dormant coal
reserves can add new products,
dollars, and jobs to our economy.
With widespread support, the
House passed legislation some
weeks ago to establish COM
mission to conduct or promote
and coordinate research for i'm
proved and economical ways of
producing coal as well as to find
new uses for the product. Special
stress would be laid on research
projects that would be beneficial
to the thousands of small coal
producers.
This is not a new idea. 1t has
been developing for at least six
years and it would not bring the
government into a new activity.
The Bureau of Mines Of the De-
partment of the Interior has
worked on similar program for
some years. Congressional action
provides a renewed emphasis in
an effort to assure greater pro-
gress than has been made over
the past several years. Great
results which would change the
complexion of life in our coal
mining regions are not likely to
occur overnight, but the Con-
gress has hope that the Commits
sion would help reverse the
gradual abandonment of one of
the nations most valuable min
eral resources.
Although the terms of the
Commission legislation is still to
be approved in final form and
some of it is subject to consider
able argument, a bill is expected
to be completed soon and sent
to the president.
Surplus Crops
The mountains Of surplus farm
commodities are also receiving
attention again in this session
of Congress. With a consistent
refusal to face the facts of agri-
cultural over-production, there
seems to be forlorn hope that
some magic wand can be found
to convert surplus food and
fiber into industrial products.
There is, to be sure, a huge and
promising field to be explored
here and there is a great deal
of more intense work that could
be done for the good of farmers
and the public at large in seeking
new uses.
The nations scientists have
performed many seeming-mi-
racles in this work in the past
and they should be encouraged
to do more. However, this is, at
best, a bird in the bush" and it
is unlikely the nations problem
of farm surpluses will disappear
from the landscape regardless of
what may happen to this legisla-
ton.
Coast Guard Academy
At New London, Connecticut
the United States Coast Guard
Academy trains young men to
become career commissioned Of
ficers in the Coast Guard. 1t is
this historic service which per
forms valuable duties of search
and rescue, enforcing marine
law, operating the international
Ice Patrol, manning ocean wea-
ther stations, maintaining over
$4,000 aids to navigation, and, ir
general, protecting life and prop.
erty at sea.
Students at the Coast Guaro
| Academy are selected on the
basis of a nationwide competi
tive examination each year. The
examination for applicants fol
selection in the 1860 class viii
take place on February % anc