65 



extent, the quantity of available coal in them, and the probable 

 duration of supply. Mr. Etheeidge confined his attention to 

 the Gloucestershire and Somersetshire coal-fields only. This 

 area was selected as being of local interest, and also as coming 

 within the scope of the labours of the Cotteswold- Club. Mr. 

 Etheridge's knowledge of the physical structure and history 

 of the area from Tortworth to the Mendip Hills, or that portion 

 known as the Coal-basin proper, enabled him to bring under 

 the notice of members of the Club many points of interest and 

 importance as brought out through the elaborate enquiry and 

 detailed work of the Royal Commission. Mr. Etheridge stated 

 that the national importance of the question had not been 

 generally or sufficiently known to the people of Great Britain, 

 and that the £30,000 spent in investigating and bringing to 

 light the hidden resources of the country was an item in the 

 State expenditure utterly insignificant when compared with 

 the results arrived at, placing, as it has done, reliable data as 

 to the counti'y's wealth and resources in the hands of the 

 legislature and the people. 



The Bristol or Somersetshire and Gloucestershire basin is one 

 of 13 districts whose details have been mastered in respect of 

 its coal-bearing and coal-yielding capabilities, both in reference 

 to past extraction and to future stores of fuel adapted to sustain 

 and further our position as a great and prosperous commercial 

 nation. 



The Coal Commission, through the labours of J. Prestwich, 

 Esq., F.R.S., have obtained detailed information relative to 65 

 seams of coal and 83 collieries (old and new) in this coal basin, 

 which occupies an area of 312 square miles, and about 163,000 

 acres, 31,000 of which containing coal are exposed and worked 

 at the surface, and 24,110 acres are covered by and worked 

 under newer strata than the coal-measures themselves, or strata 

 which overlie them. The remaining 99,000 are not yet worked 

 or touched. 



Mr. Etheridge described the relation of the two series of 

 coal deposits in the coal basin, which are divided by the 

 " Pennant " rock, a great series of Sandstones, 2000 feet thick, 

 f2 



