Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-22
BE CAREFUL OF THE COAL
England's Supply Will be Exhausted In
1890 and Our Anthracite by 21OO.

From the St. Louis Globe Democrat
The Royal Statistical society Of Great Britain
has been collecting figures and measurements
with view to ascertaining exactly how long it
will be before the English coal fields are
worked out. The question is not by any means
new one, but the report recently issued by
the society tabulates new and past estimates in
very instructive manner. The first calcutta
ton quoted is that Of Sir William Armstrong,
who in 1861 stated that all the coal within 1000
feet OF the surface would be exhausted in about
2l2 years. Prof. Jevons, an excellent author
lty. came forward few years later with a pre-
dlction nearly twice as gloomy; that is to say.
he thought the last box of coal would be raised
within ITO years. This forecast received
with both anger and derision. Prof. Marshall
spent several years ON the study, and in 1878
corroborated Jevons and opposed Sir William
in nearly every particular. The latest contribu-
tor to tine controversy is Price Williams, who
Is also largely conhrmatory OF the two last
named.
Thus we have three able authorities, writing
at different periods and arguing from quite
different standpoints, agreeing that the coal
supply of England is not likely to last beyond
the year 1890. The importance of these pre-
dlctlons can scarcely be overrated for without
constant coal output Great Britain would be
commercial wreck. 1t needed not the argu-
ments used by the scientists named as sequel
to their calculations to make it clear that II
they are correct in their surmise the year 1890
will witness, or at least herald, the downfall OF
Great Britain a great nation. No nation
without a supply of coal, either in its own soil
or close at hand, can ever attain to or retain
commercial eminence, and this is particularly
true of a country which is very thickly popu-
lated. and whose manufactures find employ
ment for a majority of its inhabitants. Another
reason for the serious prospect for England in
this matter is the singular poverty of the coun-
try in such substitutes for coal as lumber, nat
ural gas petroleum and other heat-producing
products.
OF course, in a country of such extent and
with such resources as the United States, the
coal problem is far less pressing, though even
here, as Price Williams points out, the supply
is quite limited. On this side of the Atlantic
the question has been inquired into in the in
terests of different localities, and it has been
conceded that the anthracite coal supply of
Pennsylvania has only about twice the life
ahead of it that is predicted for the English
mines. This, too, is suppOsing the consump-
ton and demand will not increase as rapidly as
there Is every indication of their doing. Hence
1t will be seen that the question as to what
must be the fuel of the future is not one that
can be altogether laid on one side. The
trlumphs Of science of recent years have al
most destroyed the force of the word ''impos-
sible," and it may be that some inventor will
eventually solve the problem of how to store
and utilize the heat from the suns rays. This
seems really to be the only source Of heat
which is inexhaustible.