Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-04-26
Stlisttllantous.
Will the Coal Fields Hold Out.

Will the Coal Fields Hold Out.
When we look at the enormous amount
of coal annually consumed, especially
when we observe the ratio in which that
consumption has increased within the last
third of a century, and reflect on the GER
tainty that at every stadium of human
progress, in population, arts and general
culture, that increase must go on at an
excelerating ratio, that the question inev
itably presents itself-wW tile coal fields
hold outS
The produce of the American fields du-
ring the year 1859, has been computed at
100000 tons.
The produce of Great Britain during
the samo year was 6S,OOO,00O.
The entire produce of the coal fields of
the world is estimated for the same time
at 100,000,000.
These figures are startling enough, but
when we recollect the lapidity with which
they have been reached from comparative
ly small amounts, the vista they disclose
is incomparably more so.
The British coal trade has heretofore
doubled itself in about twcnty-four years.
This, however, is slow rate of advance
compared with that which has been made
in our own trade We take the produce
of the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania,
as it is exhibited in the tables of Profes-
sor Rodgers, as an example. In 3S years,
from 1920 to 1859, it advanced at the
rate of 1S4 900 tons per annum, and from
1889 to lS40. the produce doubled itself
in each five years, while it has again dou-
bled itself in eight years.
We have seen that the American coal
trade began in 1920 with $50 tons, and
had reached in 1859, 100000
And then with the increase of health
and the consequent of wants, with the
constantly multiplying applications and
uses of coal in the arts, with the opening
of new mines of various metals, all of
which must be worked by the abundant
consumption of coal with the rapid ex
haustion of what remains of the forests;
with the progressive exploration and cul-
tivation of non-coal producing countries,
and the growing demand for closer con-
nection and more frequent intercourse be-
tween remote nations, it is difficult to
predict or conceive the extent which the
use of mineral fuel may reach in the next
twenty five years.
Gradually but rapidly coal has for the
last generation been establishing itself as
the universal meteor of the social machan
ism. 1t warns and lights our houses,
cooks our food, spins, weaves, dyes and
washes our clothes, Eliminates our streets,
bears our letters and ourselves swiftly over
land and sea, makes our paper, prints our
books and journals-and in word what
does it not do for us? What movement,
in the vast and complicated machineries
of modern society, is not dependent on
coal?--Should this motive force be now,
or at any future time, withdrawn, what
would be the effect on the world? Loco
motion and tho transmission of letters
would instantly return to the rates of 30
years ago. Our ocean and river steamers
would speedily be rottng at our wharves,
and our railroad cars stand motionless
and useless on their tracks, for all the ac-
cessible forests would soon disappear un-
der the immense demand. New Orleans
would again be fortnight from New
York, England a month from America,
and California be almost lost sight Of
Here and there the dim light of an oilfed
lamp would twinkle through the streets
as of old, instead of the brilliant and
abundant light of gas. Books and news
papers would Immediately rise to cost
entirely beyond the reach of the million.
Even that primary element of home COM
fort, and in fact, of all cultivated and
pleasursble existence-warmth-w would
be wholly unattainable by the great mass
ofmankind, and ere long beyond the reach
of all.
AS for the extensive system of enligh-
tened and benevolent effort by which the
Scriptures and all the blessings of Chris
tian civilization are in the process of rap
id diffusion among distant and barbarous
nations, what would become of that, if the
facilities of communication and of the rap
i'd and cheap multiplication of books which
are wholly dependant on coalfed steam,
were withdrawn? Every interest of soci-
ETY. and of humanity would undergo a
disastrous revolution. The lack of coal
would operate like a paralysis on all hu-
man energy.
That one hundred millions of tons have
been taken annually out of the mines;
with the certainty, Judging from the past,
that the amount will be doubled and
trebled, and still go on to increase, as
time and the world advance, is start
ling fact to contemplate. Will the mines
stand the immense drain? VIII the coal
fields hold out2
Science started this inquiry about the
beginning of this century, and gave an
unpropitious and alarming answer to it
Eminent geologers, however, gave some
comfort to mankind, by gradually post
poning the period of exhaustion. Mr..
Bailey predicted the supply Of the Dur