SYMPOSIUM ON CONSERVATION 57 



important loss conies from tlie fact that transportation for oil 

 cannot always be provided promptly, and so the output is used 

 for purposes which are extravagant. Thus, great quantities of 

 oil which contain valuable distillation products are used under 

 steam boilers and for oiling roads. 



In view of the fact that oil is much more efficiently used in 

 internal combustion engines, it should not be used for raising 

 steam ; and in view of our dependence on petroleum for lubricants 

 and for isolated lighting, the continued misuse is deplorable. 



MEANS OF CONSERVATION. 



Ways in which our petroleum supply can be conserved have 

 already been suggested. It is considered important to withdraw 

 from entry those government lands which are probably underlain 

 by oil, and thus to prevent over-production. The present exporta- 

 tion of 20 per cent of our oil annually should probably be reduced 

 gradually. The recommendation is also made that research 

 should be stimulated so as to provide more satisfactory combus- 

 tion engines, and also to provide substitutes, such as cheap 

 alcohol. There is some promise of successfully converting low- 

 grade oils into better grades by means of chemical processes. 

 Thus, and by similar intensive effort of producers, refiners, and 

 the consuming public, it may be that v»e shall succeed in reducing 

 ordinary losses, greatly extending the period of production and 

 reserving petroleum for those purposes for which it seems to 

 be indispensable. 



COXSERA'ATIOX OF OUR COAL RESOURCES. 

 Our Interest in the Problem. 



The whole w^orld is vitally interested in conservation of coal 

 resources. The total production for the year 1910 was approxi- 

 mately 15/3 billion tons. Of this enormous amount the United 

 States produced 500 million tons, or practically 39 per cent. The 

 importance of Illinois mining is indicated by our production of 

 approximately 10 per cent of the total for the country. Since 

 America leads the world in production and apparently possesses 

 the largest reserves, and since coal is mined here at a much lower 



