122 Mr Bald on the CoaUJield in the vkinity of Dalkeith. 



period when it will be exhausted is yet very remote, and not 

 easily calculated. In confirmation of which, I have to state, 

 that, from investigations lately made, as to the quantity of work- 

 able coal in the estate of Newbattle, near Dalkeith, the proper- 

 ty of the Marquis of Lothian, there is in it alone as much coal 

 as would serve the city of Edinburgh, at the rate of 350,000 

 tons yearly, for the long period of 500 years. This statement 

 I made from practical data and measurements, and it gives a 

 very wonderful view of the aggregate quantity of coal in the 

 Mid-Lothian basin. In this estimate many of the coals calcu- 

 lated are at a great depth, much greater than any coals have 

 yet been wrought. There is, however, no doubt that the abso- 

 lute necessity of having a supply of coals, the progressive im- 

 provement of the steam-engine, and of mining, will induce min- 

 ers to adventure much deeper than the state of the coal-mines 

 and present prices lead them to contemplate. There are yet no 

 coal-mines working in Scotland above eighty fathoms deep ; but 

 in the vicinity of Newcastle coals are now working at the depth 

 of 200 fathoms ; and the engineers now contemplate going much 

 deeper, and that is to be expected, according to the progressive 

 improvement in mining. 



Not thirty years ago, in working the Newcastle coals, from 

 a fourth to a third of the whole coal was lost in pillars ; where- 

 as at present in the best regulated mines, only about an eighth 

 part of the whole bed of coal is left underground. This shews, 

 in a strong point of view, how coal-fields may, within a certain 

 limited area, produce much more coals than formerly from the 

 same space, — simply by the improved system of conducting coal- 

 mines, and that under a cover of rock 200 fathoms in thickness. 



From this we may conclude, that the capital of Scotland is 

 not likely to be in want of fuel for a very long succession of 

 years; for, besides having the Lothian Coal-field, the Union 

 Canal connects it with the Western Coal-fields ; and the port of 

 Leith connects with it the Fife, Stirling, and Clackmannanshire 

 Collieries, and also those of the north of England. 



