The national Republican., 1861-03-12
From the State Gazette, Trenton, n. j.
WILL THE COAL MINES RUN OUT?

The Boonton Iron Works, in this State, con.
sumo annually more coal than the county town
Of Morris. Tho rolling mill in this city con.
sumes more than the city, with its 1900 in.
habitauts, and the Montour works more than
the whole city Of Baltimore. All the world, in
fact, is burning coal, and is therefore interested
in knowing whether there is likely to be enough.
Some years ago, in the early history Of Penn.
syvana coal mining, report gained currency
in Philadelphia that the workmen Of Mauch
Chunk had reached the bottom Of the mine.
They mistook the thickness Of the vein for its
extent. Panic seized on the Lehigh company's
stockholders, and the shares fell 20 per cent,
as well they might if the coal had actually run
out. But coal veins, throughout the world,
average only from ten to sixty feet in thick.
six feet. Yet England mines 10000, 900 tons
annually, and the best geologists estimate the
quantity that may yet be got out at 0000,.
100000 tons. The British coal fields cover ali
area Of 54O0 square miles but those of this
country cover 10000 square miles, in add.
tion to which, new fields of great extent are
being constantly discovered.
England feels no alarm at any prospect Of
her coal fields not holding out, and this country
ought to be equally confident of her inexhaust.
ible supply. he quantity mined in England
has generally doubled every twenty five years,
but in this country, from 1886 to lS49 it
doubled itself every five years, and it continues
to grow at a lar more rapid rate than it does in
England. The whole annual consumption of
the world is estimated at l00000,000 tons.
Now. we see that this vast quantity is con.
stantly increasing. If it remained stationary
ut that figure, the Pennsylvania coal fields
alone would honor the draft for 3,l64 years.
Double it, and the great Appalachian field
would meet the demand for 1887 years. Ex.
tend it to 400,000,000 tons annually and the
productive coal fields Of North America alone
would be able to supply the world for 10000
years.
l, is a wonderful feature in the great coal de.
posts, that Providence has located the most
abundant ones in the coolest countries where
fuel is most required. Even Spitzbergeu con.
tains her share. This does not prove, however
that coal does not exist abundantly in Central
America, or in Central Northern Asia. The
presumption is that future explorations will
uncover deposits in those countries equal to the
necessities of their inhabitants. But geology
has determined the great fact that the coal
mines of the United States will be certain to
hold out.
The first post Office was established 10 France
in l4G4 in England, in 1881 in Germany, in
l64l although one authority attributes the
authorship OF the modern postal system to the
Emperor Maximilan Of Germany, for the pur.
pose Of facilitating an espionage over his sub
jects through the medium Of their correspond.
ence, and also for the purpose Of enriching
himself by the profits Of the enterprise. The
first post in America was established in New
York in l7l9, under the Colonial Government
In 1889, the direction of the postal business Of
the country was conferred on Congress by the
terms Of the Constitution. At that time there
we're but rs post Offices in the Union in 1925 |
there were 5,G77. At the commencement of |
1859 there were 28573.
A CHAMPION CLAN EATER. - Among the |
" champions" little and great, springng up
daily, the last one we have heard of is an oys- |
ter,,opener in New York, who, after eating an
ordinary dinner, on wager Of five dollars only, |
accomplished the wonderful feat of eating four.
teen la'ge.sized bull-nosed clans in six minutes
a ana ten seconds-ten minutes being allowed
py me terms OF the wager The clans weighed,
aiter bei,ng opened, FIVE pounds aud half clean
meat The man was alive the next day, and
expressed himself as feeling " all right"
Boris rs. TYLER.-A petition was presented
in the House Of Delegates of virginia. last
Friday, asking that John Tyler James of Harri.
son county, may have the privilege Of changing
Il L.