76 THE COAL QUESTION. 



Union Railway, coal seams were actually found, so that 

 productive measures probably lie over a tract of eight miles long, 

 by five and a half broad. The area of this little probable field is 

 forty-five square miles, and the Commissioners put the probable 

 amount of coal in it as four hundred million tons. 



As the overlying rocks are known to be thin here, one almost 

 marvels that no one has explored this ground; but there is little 

 doubt that if coal were to rise permanently in price, many of 

 these new fields would be tested by explorers. 



The most important of these extensions of coal-fields is that 

 supposed to exist on the east of the Notts and Yorkshire fields : 

 it is not only by far the largest, but is perhaps one of the most 

 certain to be reckoned on. The Commisioners estimate the area 

 of new fields here at nine hundred square miles, and the probable 

 amount of coal in this theoretic extension is put at tiveiity -three 

 thousand million tons, an enormous quantity, almost one half the 

 whole amount which they count on from the new coal-fields. 

 The whole of this is estimated to lie at not more than four 

 thousand feet deep, and therefore no physical reasons would 

 prevent its being reached, while perhaps almost half of it would 

 be under two thousand feet deep. 



There is a large area round the South Stafi'ordshire fields which 

 probably contains coal measures under the newer rocks; the 

 probable depth to which these measures attain is carefully 

 considered, and the probable amount of tons to be found under 

 four thousand feet is given as follows : — 



Between South Stafi'ordshire and Wai'wickshire, (after the 

 necessary deduction of forty per cent.) three thousand 

 four hundred million tons. 

 Between South Stafibid and Shropshire, (after the 

 necessary deduction of forty per cent.) five thousand 

 eight hundred million tons. 

 Between South Stafi'ord, Coalbrookdale, Cheadle, and 

 Forth Staffordshire, (after the necessary deduction of 

 forty per cent.) four thousand five hundred and eighty 

 million tons. 



