The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-30

and Ignite varieties was estimated for the
| year ls12 at two hundred and ffty-hve
millions Of tons OF which England was
credited with about onc-half, or in exact
figures one hundred and twenty-five mil
lions. The United states ranked second
in the list, having extracted over forty
one millions, Of which the single state of
| Pennsylvania furnished about thirty, an
amount exceeding the united quotas of
| France. Austria, aud Russia. and consti-
| tutiua almost an eighth OF the whole pro-
duction Of the globe.
Sull more significant are the figures
| which exhibit the comparative rates of
progression i'm the development of differ
| ent coal fields. During the last half CEN
| fury the yield of Pennsylvania has success
sively doubled with each decade, while
England production, although expanding
with curious regularity, requires period
OF fifteen years to show an equivalent gain.
1t is probable that the rate of production
in Pennsylvania will be rather accelerated
than diminished. since possible falling of
in the delivery of anthracite mines Whose
area is lmitcd) must be more than COM
pensatcd from those exhaustless bitumin-
Gus deposits which lie west of the Allie
ghnnips. on the other hand, II appears
from the report Of the Parliamentary Com
mission that while the English coal fields
are in no immediate danger of depletion, a
sensible increase in the expense of mining
may be expected at an early day In this
case, therefore we are justified in drawing
an inference from statistics; and a simple
calculation demonstrates that Pennsylva-
mia should outstrip England in the produce
ton oe this mineral within sixty years from
the present time. In other words, the men
are already born who may see state,
which now clamors for protection, con-
trolling with paramount authority the
most essential adjunct OF human industry,
and SO far qualified TO undersei competi-
tors in every free market TIL oughout the
world.
Among the decisive factors of modern
civilization. iron ranks next 10 coal. Ey an
odd coincidence, a parallel instituted be-
tween PENNSYLVANIA and England i'll re-
spect to the reduction OF iron ores con
ducts TO identical results The total prod
uct of iron and steel in the year 1872
was computed Mt fourteen millions Of
tons. nearly half Of which was fur
nishcd by Great Britain. The United
states followed with quota of
2 soOo)o Of which Pennsy wanna con-
tnbuicl ouc-half, or tenth of all the iron
sme'tcd on the globe. IT is however, the
| different rates of progression in the re-
! spcctivc Yields of the two countries 10
| which W would direct attention. the pro-
| ductiou Of Pennsylvania mines beng OBJ
served to double once IN ten years. and that
! OF England IN fifteen. Just now the Amer
ic ID. iron interest shares the universal de-
preston Of business, but such disturb
ances have occurred before without i'm
pairing the general correctness Of the rate
assigned to It's development. From the
data before Us we ar, led to conclude that
within rather more than half a century
that Is, prior to A. u. la}5-thc world-com-
pellng iron lever of British industry may
be transferred To PENNSYLVANIA.
After the mineral which supplies the ma
terial Of machinery. and that other which
generates its motive power, cheap light
will certainly be elias od among the effect /.
i've promoters Of social progress. In the
comhnltion Of chcapncss with cleanliness
and light-eyolying power no illuminate
ing agent rivals petroleum. Tine ton mil
lions of barrels which We're furnished in
1873 by Pennsylvania, constituted the bulk
Of the worlds product. OF tins quantity
two-thirds were FOR export, and the foreign
demand Tor the new staple is reported TO
be steadily growing. This branch Of COM
MERGE. however, is in its infancy; but,
whatever proportions it may bee destined
toa.sum, pennsy yama VIII probably con-
tinue to nonopoiizn it.
II Wi4l Dee Oh, rived that these con,id, ra-
tioi- of the promise when seems inherent
in the !, sources OF a neighboring state do
not necessarily forecast the pr,pmincnce
OF her clliel city. The commercial inter
ests q the city Of New York are not
bounded by those Of her own state, and
some important mineral districts of Penn
sylvania are rather tributary to her than
TO Ihlladoluha. But the facts we have
cited may be- deemed to show that the pO-
sition Of weigh, and authority among the
members Of the American Union which
the State Of New York has held for half Il
century, will at last probably belong tC
Peuusy ivauia. Unless, however, the puri.
hoaton OF her political character and tho
piulcss chasti~cment Of scoundrclsm IL
office shall be oXactcd by her expanding
s,lf-r,sp,ot, her pr,pond rance of ma
tcral strength will be only IA source Of
danger, an acoceratiun Of moral decay.
Moody ACninst kCmblCiSm.