PART I. 



DOMESTIC FUEL. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In spite of ample supplies in the ground, coal inadequately meets 

 its obligations because of the competitive manner in which it is 

 mined, the unnecessary extent to which it is transported, and the 

 improper way in which it is used. The first has caused tremendous 

 waste, the results of which will be felt heavily in the near future; 

 the second has caused a coal shortage during the war and promises 

 a repetition at every coming period of sudden industrial expansion; 

 the third has imposed an excessive burden of cost upon the public. 

 To prevent waste, to circumvent shortage, and to lower cost, changes 

 in our system of coal economics are necessary. These changes must 

 be determined by coal itself — by the nature of its geographic distri- 

 bution, geologic occurrence, mining technology, and chemical com- 

 position. It is the purpose of this study to draw from the considera- 

 tions enumerated — from an analysis of the resource — an expression 

 of the directions which these changes should take. As the most 

 significant deficiencies are inherent in the utilization of coal, the sub- 

 ject will be approached from that point of view. 



THE PROBLEM OF SMOKELESS DOMESTIC FUEL. 



The United States in 1917 produced in round numbers 640 milhon 

 tons of coal. About one-seventh of this, or 90 million tons, was 

 anthracite, while the rest was bituminous coal of various grades. The 

 anthracite came from a small area of less than 500 square miles 

 in Pennsylvania; the bituminous supply, from 30 States, with 

 Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio contributing about 

 three-fourths of the total. Anthracite is hard coal, of uniformly high 

 heating value, and burns without smoke; it is relatively costly to 

 mine and prepare; it is regarded as the ideal fuel for the American 

 home. Bituminous coal is soft coal, of slightly lower thermal value 

 in the raw state as compared with anthracite,* and burns with the 

 production of black smoke; it is cheaper to mine and to prepare than 

 anthracite; it constitutes the dominant fuel dependency of American 



1 True in the average only; the highest-rank bituminous coal has a heating value greater than that of 

 anthracite. 



7 



79968°— 19— Bull. 102, vol. 1 2 



