The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-19

Probably no invention or discovery of the last
few centuries is likely to result so advantageously
to the world as the explorations which, in the last
fifty years, have developed the coal measures I'M
derlying the surface of the globe. 1t is impossible
to overstate the Importance of this mineral to the
present and future generations. Just when popu-
lation was increasing most rapidly and econo-
msts were anticipating with dismay the not dis
tant period when the forests would give place to
cultivated fields and gardens, it was found that
immense storehouses of fuel had been stored up
for ages for the use and comfort of the human
race. And just when science and ingenuity were
exerting themselves TO the utmost to invent and
perfect the innumerable mechanical contrivances
which have multiplied mans strength thousand
fold, the agent which was to supply their motive
power began to unfold its gigantic resources
Steam machinery would have been comparatively
valueless TO us hereafter unless a suficiencv of
coal had been provided, for wood cannot now be
obtained in Europe, and hundred years hence it
will be both scarce and dear on our Continent
The mines of England have, it is true, been long
known, but as they, until very recently, were ex-
peced to furnish the world its chief supplies for
all time to come, it was foreseen that they would
one day fail. DR.. auckland thought in 1880.
that at the then rate of consumption the coal beds
of that island would be worked out in 400 years.
though subsequent calculations allowed periods OF
1000 and even l, 700 years before they would be
exhausted. But, as coal is daily applied to some
new purpose, and the demand has increased with
enormous rapidity since these calculations were
made, it is not unreasonable TO presume that the
English collieries would be exhausted long be-
fore the last mentioned dates Be this
as it may however, it would have been a serious
impediment to commerce and manufactures if all
countries had been compelled to obtain an article
OF such prime necessity from distant point,
and to remain forever dependent for it upon one
nation. 1t requires, then, but little effort of the
imagination to realize the importance of the dis
coveres which have established the fact that coal
is to be found in every quarter of the earth and
IN lneXhauStbe quantities. OF the service it can
be made TO render us, it is almost needless to
speak. In the last number of the Eainbarqh Re
riew this subject is discussed at some length, and
we quote from ii the following extract contrasting
the relative powers of man, and the agent he sum-
mons to his assistance
Each acre of coal seam, four feet in thickness and
yielding yard net of pure coal, is equivalent about
1000 tons, and possesses therefore, mechan
cal strength in its fuel equal to the life 600 men
Each square mile of one such single coal bed contains
100000 tons of fuel, equivalent OG0 900 OF men la
boring through twenty years of their ripe strength As
sumng Tor cuation that 10 900 of TONS of the
annual produce of British coal mines applied to the
production of mechanical power then England annually
summons to her aid the equivalent of 100000 fresh
pledged to exert their fullest strength through twenty
years Reducing this TO year. we find that Epglands
actual annual expenditure power generated by coal
represented by that of 600 600 of aborer
An element in the above calculation is one of the most
Illuminating comparisons that be drawn between hu
man and mechanical power If estimate lifetime of
hard human work at twenty years. giving to each year
800 working days, then have for mans total dyna-
mic efforts 6000 days. In coal this is represented by
three TONS so that may stand at his own door
while an ordinary quantity OF Goals is being delivered,
and say to himself There, in that wagon lies the min
eral repre- sentative of my whole working es strength =
An idea may be formed of the value of the
English coal, by estimating the cost and the diff
culties which are encountered to procure the best
qualities. Some of the lateral excavations are of
inconceivabe extent, and in some instances hun
dreds of men are compelled to toll for years before
they gain the point at which the mining operations
proper, can begin. Thus we learn, that the
Sunderland where the celebrated shaft of Pembertons
Pit has been sunk 7l0 feet before the Hutton seam of
coal was reached depth which is eeby conceived by
mere inspection of figures but which be strkingy
represented by saying that this shaft depth the
Monument of London piled eight times upon ITSELF and
nearly equals St. Pauls piled upon itself five times. This
for long period regarded deepest perpendicu
lar shaft in the world but foreign mining shafts
now dispute with it the palm of depth and shaft near
Ashton 'under-Lyne approaches to it,"
But it must not be supposed that the coal beds
of England are usually reached by such laboriou
and expensive methods as were necessary to open
the ''HUTToN seam" They are generally &C
cessible, and their yield is, moreover so abundant
that we may well be surprised that men should
delve so deeply in the earth TO find those
which lie so far beneath the surface
If we astonished at the immensely of
the power which coal can generate and
the magnitude and ingenuity of the efforts
which men have put forth to procure it, we are
lost in greater wonderment when we try to COM
prehend The figures by which the mass of coal in
the world is weighed and measured. We will not
now pursue the interesting reflections which are
naturally suggested by this subject, but content
ourselves with single reference to the size of our
coal fields as contrasted with those of England
The latter used to be considered as of marvellous
extent, but they are simply insignificant when COM
pared with those in this country. The coal area
of Great Britain is computed to contain about 5, 400
square miles, while that of the UNITED STATES
measures 10000. The number of tons in Great
Britain is stated at about 100, 900, 900, 900, and
North America it is believed could furnish
4, 00O, 900, 100000 Who can number the bless
lngs to accrue to mankind from the development
of this mine of incalculabe wealth. or measure
the results which human labor is destined to ac-
complish by its aid?