Telegram-herald., 1890-03-10
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
IN WHICH THE POSSIBILITY THAT COAL hrrss
SURROUND THE SoHTH POLKI Is CONSIDERED.
Are there coal mines at the North
Pole? This was the first question sug-
gested 20 intelligent people Some asked,
why should there be coal mines at the
North Pole? Others with equal propri-
ETY. asked. Why should there not be? 1t
is well known that coal mines are
spread all over the world There are
many in different parts OF Europe.
America also possesses great many, and
ii is probable that the United States
mines are the richest of all. There are
also many in Asia, Africa and Australia.
The moro our globe becomes known the
more mines are discovered We win
not be in need of cool for at least hun
dreds of years To come. England alone
produces 100, 600, 900 tons every year, and
over the whole world it is estimated 400, :
0o0, 600 tons are yearly produced. Natur-
ally this coal output must grow every year
in proportion with the econstantly increas-
ing industries. Even II 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 it is
necessary 10 take good care Of IL. Coal
Is used not only as a fuel, but also as a
crude substance Of which science makes
which il has been submitted in the lab
oratory. it is possible to paint with IL,
perfume with ii, 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 a 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 continuous supply for our consump-
tion Of iron, we are not so Of coal Far
from it. People who are competent to
speak and who look into the future for
hundreds of years, always sllude 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- why
should there be coal around the North
Pole" "Why?n 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 a
thousand different articles. either in a
Joking or serious way. And these large
forests, which disappeared with the
gigantic changes OF .he 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
;--~- Tt,al-oFs--o rctbinc- ra~rac5
more admissible than this theory. saa
that the North Pole would open is,ys
field 70 those who were abba 10 mine /.
These are facts, undeniable fszIA
Even people who only calculated on
simple probabilities could not deny
them. And those facts led many people
TO have great faith in them.
L. was on this subject that Major
no,oTra, ~ bfa fo1l,
ing together one day in the most OBJ
scure corner OF the Two Friends" inn.
We'll. said Dean Toodrink. there is
possibility that this Bsrbicane (who
hope may be hanged some day. Is
right"
1T Is probable," said Major Donelian.
'snd Nill almost admit that IL is GER
tain. There will be fortunes made in
exploring this region around the Pole.
II North America possesses 50 many
coal mines and. according to the papers,
new ones are discovered quite frequent
IL, it is not at al improbable that there
are many vet % ba discovered | may
add that Prof Nordenskiol has found
masT kinds of different stones which
contain a great variety of fossil plants
in his resessches in the Arctic region. e"
Higher up2" asked Dean ToOdrink
Higher up, or rather further up, In =
northeriy direction answered the
MAJOR, tho presence Of coal is practical
ly established. and it seems - II you
would on.y have 70 bend down 20 pick
~.