Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-26

II Is probable that the United States
mines are the richest of all. There are
also many in Asia, Africa and Australia
The more our globe becom es known the
more mines are discovered. We will
not be in need of coal for at least hun
dreds of years 10 come. England alone
produces 100, 600, 600 tons every year, and
over the whole world il is estimated 400
0O0 600 tons are yearly produced. Natur-
ally this coal output must grow every year
in proportion with the constantly increas-
ing industries. Even if electricity takes
the place OF steam, it will still be neces-
sary to use coal We are so much in
need of it that the world might be called
IAN animal OF coal" and therefore il is
necessary to take good care of it. Coal
is used not only as fuel. but also as
crude substance of which science makes
great use. With the transformation TO
which it has been submitted in the lab
oratory, il is possible TO paint with il,
perfume with it, purify, heat, light with
it, and even beautify diamond with it.
1t is as useful as iron or even more So
1t is fortunate that this aforementioned
metal will never be exhausted. as really
the world is composed of il. The world
might be considered vast mass of iron.
as other metals. and even water and
stone stand far behind il in the compo-
sition of our sphere. But If we are sure
of a continuous supply for our consump-
tion of iron, we are not so of coal Far
from ii. People VINO are competent to
speak and who look into the future for
hundreds of years, always allude TO this
coal famine. But" say the opposing
party and in the United States there
are many people who like to contradict
for the mere sake of argument and who
take pleasure in contradicting-''w why
should there be coal around the North
Pole" ''Why?" answered those who
took the part Of President Bar
bicane, because, very probably
at the geological formation Of
the world the sun was such
that the difference of temperature
around the equator and the poles was
not appreciable. Then immense forests
covered this unknown Polar region a
long time before mankind appeared,
and when our planet was submitted TO
the incessant action of heat and
humidity. This theory the journals,
magazines and reviews published in
thousand different articles, either in
joking or serious way. And these large
forests. which disappeared with the
gigantic changes of the earth before it
had taken its present form, must
certainly have changed and transformed
under the lapse of time and the action
Of internal heat and water into coal
mines. Therefore nothing seemed
more admissible than this theory, and
that the North Pole would open a large
field to those who we're able to mine il
These are facts. undeniable facts.
Even people who only calculated on
simple probabilities could not deny
them. And these facts led many people
70 have great faith in them.
1t was on this subject that Major
Donellan and his secretary were talk
ing together one day in the most OBJ
scure corner of the Two Friends" inn.
Well" said Dean Toodrink. there is
possibility that this Barbicane (who
/ hope may be hanged some day. is
right"
land | will almost admit that it is GER
tain. There will be fortunes made in
exploring this region around the Pole.
If North America possesses so many
coal mines and, according to the papers,
new ones are discovered quite frequent
ly, it is not at all improbable that there
are many yet to be discovered. ] may
add that Prof Nordenskiol has found
many kinds of different stones which
contain great variety of fossil plants
in his researches in the Arctic region.
Higher up?" asked Dean Toodrink.
Higher up, or rather further up, in
northerly direction, answered the
Major, the presence of coal IS practical
ly established, and it seems as if you
would on.y have to bend down to pick