23 
Looking at my section you will see that the distance of the 
Cannington Hill from the Mendip Chain at Bleadon Hill, is 
about 13 miles. The result therefore of proving the Cannington 
Limestone to be carboniferous is practically to extend the 
Bristol coal-field for that distance south of the Mendip Hills, 
and to make it next to certain that (to use the words of an 
eminent statesman) we are within “ measurable distance” of 
coal between Bleadon and Cannington, and I venture to think 
that a trial shaft or boring say at Highbridge, or anywhere 
east on the line of the river Brue (say near Glastonbury) from 
6 to 900 feet deep, would certainly develope a coal-field and 
ultimately cover that valley with hives of industry, and greatly 
aid in the material prosperity of that part of the country. 
The importance in a national point of view of every extension 
of our mineral area can hardly be over-estimated. We are 
exhausting our mineral resources in an almost ever expanding 
ratio. Our latest returns show that last year we raised nearly 
155,000,000 tons of coal or at the rate of nearly 3,000,000 tons 
per week. With a scarcity of fossil fuel would certainly begin 
our national decline, and therefore every extension of the area 
from which the future may draw supplies is important. 
I firmly believe that between Cannington Park and the 
Mendips there is a coal-field that ultimately will prove as 
valuable, and more extensive than the area that lies between 
Bristol and the Mendips. 
I fear the strata lying south and west of Cannington precludes 
the hope that we may expect to find coal further south. 
The carbonaceous deposits beyond appear to be represented 
by the older Culures of the Devonian, and the Lignite of 
comparatively modern times. But for the true carboniferous 
it seems vain to look below the point under discussion. 
But I believe that east of our present coal-fields and extending 
largely under the German Ocean will yet be found vast and 
valuable coal deposits that will no doubt tax the geological and 
engineering skill of future generations. 
But that will I hope be found not to baffle the science and 
enterprise of the future in their efforts to place those resources 
within reach. 
