DOMESTIC FUEL. 21 



and technological sides of the problem of bettering the service 

 obtained from coal. The steps taken by the United States are well 

 known.^ 



In view of the advances in the utilization of low-grade coals 

 abroad, we are led to inquire as to the potentiaUties of similar coals 

 in the United States, which have heretofore not been called into 

 service because of the prevalence of more desirable grades. Low- 

 rank coals are very abundant in this country as shown by the United 

 States Geological Survey, whose results may be summarized and 

 expressed in round numbers on a per capita basis, as follows: 



Coal rese)-ves of the United States calculated to a per capita basis."' 



Mined 

 to date. 



Anthracite 



Bituminous coal 



Lignitic coals b 



a The calculations are made by the writers from data presented by Marius R. Campbell, The Coal Fields 

 of the United States: General Introduction, Prof. Paper 100-A, U. S. Geological Survey, 1917. The 

 figures are given in round numbers based on a population of 100,000,000. 



6 Includes subbituminous coal, which is between lignite and bituminous coal in quality. 



c Practically untouched. 



The deficiency of anthracite and the magnitude of lignitic coals 

 are at once apparent. It has already been shown how the undue 

 dependency on the small and waning anthracite reserve may be 

 reUeved by a suitable by-product utihzation of bituminous coal. 

 The fm-ther application of the same principle would likewise lend 

 significance to our lignitic coals, tending to raise their value from 

 little or nothing to a point justifying their adoption in the place of 

 higher-rank coals in those regions, at least, in which lignites alone 

 occur.^ And in this connection, it should be noted that lignitic 

 coals occur chiefly in the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, 

 Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, in sections largely free 

 from other coal resources. (See fig. L) 



Considerable experimental work in this country has already been 

 directed toward making lignites effective sources of heat and power. 

 Because of their high moisture content and tendency to "slack," 



1 The Federal Trade Commission under date of June 19, 1917, recommended to the United States Senate: 



" First. That the production and distribution of coal and coke be conducted through a pool in the hands 

 of a Government agency; that the producers of various grades of fuel be paid their full cost of production 

 plus a uniform profit per ton (with due allowance for quality of product and efficiency of service). 



"Second. That the transportation agencies of the United States, both rail and water, be similarly pooled 

 and operated on Government account, under the direction of the President, and that all such means of 

 transportation be operated as a unit, the owning corporations being paid a just and fair compensation 

 which would cover normal net profit, upkeep, and betterments." (S. Doc. No. 50, 65th Cong., 1st sess., 

 Washington, 1917, pp. 20-21.) 



» The subbituminous coals are now used to some extent, but inadequately. 



79968°— 19— Bull. 102, vol. 1 3 



