The New York herald., 1871-09-05
Tho Goa, Field. Of .E.slaad.


It will be remembered by our readers that
Mr. Gladstone and Mr.. Mill startled the Brit
ish House Of Commons, and, indeed, the whole
empire, by urging the payment Of the national
debt while the country was able to pay it.
The coal fields were rapidly being exhausted.
A royal commission was about that time ap-
pointed to investigate and report. The report is
in the last degree discouraging to those who
hope for the continued prosperity of the Brit
ish Isles Making allowance for waste, it is
estimated that there are accessible, or may
be so, 90, 2O7, 900, 600 tons of coal-in other
words, that every householder in Britain has
potentially" 38, 900 tons In his cellar. These
figures concern solely the coal fields lying
above the permian old red sandstone and other
contiguous formations. Under the permian
formation, at depth of 1000 feet, it is esti-
mated that 56,273, ,OOO,O 900 tons might be
dug The total available for use does not
| exceed LAG, 4SO, 900, 600 tons. AT the present
rate of consumption and increase of consump-
| ton this would last only 10 years. Mr.. Price
! Williams makes the assumption that the maxi
mum consumption of coal per head has been
reached, and that as the consumption of coal
! for the future will follow a diminishing ratio
there will be coal enough to last for 800 Years.
The two extreme estimates are $50 years and
ITO years. It is not to be forgotten that
56, ,273, ,OOO, 600 of the whole LAG, 48O, 600, 600
lies at the depth Of 1000 feet; and it has yet
to be proved whether, in consequence
of the excessive heat ut this depth, the
coal could be dug. The deepest mine
in England to-day is that Of Rosebridge, near
Wigan, which is 2,376 feet from bank to
''sump." We have no means of knowing
whether the miner could live and work at
greater depth. 1t Is calculated that at depth
Of 3,24O feet, with present appliances for ven
tilation. the temperature would rise to ninety
eight degrees, or blood heat. To say the
least, work at such depth would not be
comfortable. All things considered the pros
pect is not bright for England. Coal has been
to her more precious than gold. Unless
science comes to the aid Of the British people
their glory four hundred years hence will have
departed, and our children of the tenth or
twelfth generation will be able TO speak with
out joking of sending Goals to Newcastle.
THE Rlor IN DUBLIN was continued on
Sunday night with desperate fury According
to our special despatch the tight assumed ter
rible proportions. The police were at
| different times completely overpowered
| by the crowd and had TO retire
into their barracks for safety. 1t
is fortunate that the military was
not called upon to interfere, for the slaughter
would have been fearful. What will be the
upshot of this riot? For the present 1t will
certainly not lead to the liberation of the
Fenian prisoners, for which it was avowedly
intended. If it will do nothing else, il may
arouse the British government to a sense of
danger.
THE DEMooRArIo STATE COMMITTEE meets
in Albany tomorrow. 1t WILL no doubt, be
very interesting sitting The wires will have
to be arranged for the next State Convention,
and some of the planks seasoned for the forth
coming platform. Whether that will or will
not be of the new departure" pattern is du-
bious matter. That departure cuts like two
edged sword. The subject of the republican
fight in the citadel of the democracy-New
York city-against Tammany may come in for
share Of the Committees deliberations. AS
a skirmish before the general action Of the
State Convention this meeting of the Central
| Committee tomorrow Is invested with more
| than us ual interest.
OUR ST. PETERSBURG CoREEspoNDENoE sets
= a. tha
of Minister Catscazy which have been pub
lished recently. Il appears that the relations
between Secretary Fish and Minister Catacazy
were unpleasant, and the former asked for the
Minister'S recall, but, in the absence of Prince
| Gortchakoff the acting Premier of Russia de-
clned to recall him. In the meantime Minister
Catacazy, in view of the unpleasant relations
here, asked TO be recalled; but his request is
not likely to be complied with, at least until
| the visit of Prince Alexis is over
| The WRsTouEsTRR GRAND JURY have re-
ported upon tho Sing Sing escape and find
nobody to blame therefor, although they state
that there are not guards enough for the large
number OF prisoners, and that TOO many pris-
| oners are allowed to loter unattended about
the wharves. The report suggests that some
| other location be found for the prison. II being
too near New York to be perfectly secure. n
| The STATEMENT OF LEWIS WOLFE, the
messboy of the steamer Lodons, as given in
another column, Is an exciting narrative of
suffering by shipwreck
AQUAT1CS.
| Tho Dutchess County Crew 10 Take Part In
the Saratoga Regatta.
POUaPKEEPsIE, sep. e. 1881.