Canadian Forestry Journal, May, li)lS 



1081 



practiced to the utmost extent by all 

 classes of consumers. 



Mr. Macgrath's memorandum said 

 that Sir George Foster had been able 

 to announce that the attitude of the 

 United States fuel administration 

 was that Canada would receive pre- 

 cisely the same treatment as the var- 

 ious states of the union. The west- 

 ern states had been given to under- 

 stand that they must use the softer 

 coal of the west and that the avail- 

 able anthracite would have to be 

 conserved for the purpose of sup- 

 plying the eastern part of the union 

 and the provinces of Ontario and 

 Quebec. 



"Worse than Folly'' 



In the face of the unfounded public 

 confidence, in next winter's develop- 

 ments, there is Ionic effect in the re- 

 cent cidl lO aciion of Governor Bickett 

 of North Carolina. 



"It is worse than folly," said he, 

 "for the peo'ple of North Carolina to 

 depend on coal for fuel next winter. 

 He who chops a tree in this cause 

 serves his country no less than he who 

 digs a trench. This is my appeal to the 

 peop.ie of North Carolina." 



This alarm is echoed by practically 

 al'i the North Eastern States. Under 

 the leadership of the United Stales 

 Government the states have been or- 

 ganized for wood cutting purposes. 

 Readers of the Forestry Journal who 

 failed to read the article in the Feb- 

 ruary issue on "How Uncle Sam at- 

 tacked the Wood P'uel Problem," will 

 be repaid in going back to the graphic 

 story of Mr. Hawes. 



Have Canadians any right to think 

 that their super-conficlence in an un- 

 known factor is going to keep their 

 homes warm next winter when Uncle 

 Sam himself is making every effort tc 

 create an auxiliarv supply of wood 

 fuel? 



It is only reasonable to suppose that 

 if any persons are to freeze for lack of 

 coal, it will not be the people of 

 Massachusetts first and Canadians 

 second. 



Possibly the coal situation may 

 work out nicely for both countries. 

 But that is onlv an effervescent guess, 



and will remain so until next winter 

 actually arrives. Peat beds may 

 be developed but not in time for 1919. 

 Bricpielting of lignite mav be develop- 

 ed, but not for NEXT WINTER. 



The only sure thing about NI^^XT 

 winter is that it will bring many 

 months of bitter cold, and that Cen- 

 tral Canada cannot lay its hands on a 

 single ton of hard coal, within its own 

 boundaries. 



Peat and lignite coal may serve 

 Central Canada some day, but six 

 months passes quickly and six months 

 from to-da\' means another winter. 

 The Waste in Rural Paris 



For the large town and city, hard 

 coal will always be the staple fuel. 

 But for the small town, the village, 

 the cross roads and the farmstead, 

 cordwood is certainly the logical safe- 

 guard. The United States Fuel C:>n- 

 troller. while not issuing a specific 

 mandate on the subject, has hinted 

 plainly enough that those villages and 

 farm homes surrounded by abundant 

 hardwood supplies cannot expect coal 

 to be diverted for their use next win- 

 ter. The consequence is that bcal 

 clubs, war fuel companies, school boy 

 groups, etc.. have been organized 

 months ago to lay in a stock of cord- 

 wood and give it time to season. 



To what costly extremes the people 

 of Ontario may be forced six months 

 from now is known to only too 

 many citizens of Ottawa and other 

 cities who were obliged to pay $12 a 

 cord for abominable examples of "wood 

 fuel," consisting of green and rotted 

 pine, mixed with green poplar, Iron- 

 wood, pieces of fence rail, old ties, and 

 soft maple — a mixture almost imposs- 

 ible to burn without a previous im- 

 mersion in gasoline. Such wood at 

 such a price is at least equal to S'M) a 

 cord for good hard seasoned maple, 

 beech, elm, etc. However, another 

 failure of the coal supply, coupled 

 with a shortage of wood will bring 

 thousands of householders to just such 

 an experience. 



The people are willing to accept 

 advice. They are willing to act. 

 They are keen to avoid a repetition 

 of last winter's experience. All that 

 is needed is rousing leadership. 



