154 BULLETIN 102, VOL. 1, UlSTITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



the central generating stations using coal. This would come about 

 naturally, however, for a central power station established under 

 present conditions would find it profitable to consider by-product 

 practice. As the inability to dispose advantageously of the surplus 

 gas, in the case of coke manufacture, has been the chief retarding 

 influence disfavoring the introduction of the by-product coke oven, 

 the gasification of coal, with attendant recovery of ammonia, benzol, 

 and tar, and the employment of gas engines or gas turbines, would 

 probably represent the line of action to be followed by private enter- 

 prise in entering upon the field as here outlined. 



In brief, the attachment of the power problem to the transporta- 

 tion issue, where it belongs, will lead to the provision of a common- 

 carrier system of electric transmission lines national in scope, and 

 this in turn will involve the balanced and economical development 

 of the coal and water-power resources of the coimtry. The relief 

 to transportation that such a development would bring would be 

 great and far-reaching. In addition to this direct saving, there 

 would accrue the gain in the values now lost, in the upgrowth of 

 electrochemistry with its tremendous possibilities; and, by no means 

 least, a diffusion of industrial opportunity such as would make for 

 a more healthy industrial life and a unity ,of economic interest 

 which would contribute notably to the welfare of the Nation.^ 



PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC FUEL. 



Even with a complete readjustment of the power supply, it will 

 still be necessary to transport a considerable amount of coal for 

 small industrial users out of touch with the transmission lines and 

 for domestic use. Leaving aside the first of these as representing a 

 utilization so scattering as to be outside a practical plan for improve- 

 ment, there remains a domestic-fuel consumption that runs something 

 over a hundred million tons a year. This item presents a distinct 

 problem. Thus far anthracite, which is smokeless, has been the fuel 

 dependency of the American home. But anthracite comes only from 

 a small area in Pennsylvania. Bituminous coal has already been 

 forced to take its place in the more distant States, and the growing 

 price of anthracite, which is mounting along with the gradual deple- 

 tion of deposits limited in size, is fast forcing this high-grade coal 



lAt the annual meeting of the Association of the Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom, held ia 

 London on April 9 and 10, 1018, the following resolution was adopted in regard to the development of power 

 in England: 



" That this association recogniztng the urgent necessity to increase the productivity of our industries 

 after the war, as the chief means to meet the burden of the war debt of the Nation and to maintain high 

 wages for the workers, urges His Majesty's Government — 



" (a) To recognize that the public supply of electrical energy for power, light, traction, heat, electro- 

 chemical and other purposes as a key industry in so much that all other industries are becoming increasingly 

 dependent upon it. 



" (6) To hasten the amendment of the legislation which has hitherto hampered its efficient development. 



" (c) To insure the supply at the earliest possible date of an ample and cheap supply of electricity for all 

 purposes. 



" (d) To conserve our coal resources, the chief natural wealth of the country, by compelling the exercise of 

 the maximum possible economy in its use for industrial, domestic, and all other purposes." 



