12 PROCEEDINGS: COTTESWOLD CLUB I90I 
In writing this address the thought has been forced 
upon me—what would have been the commercial position 
of the last century had there been no Coal Period? 
Take, for instance, the steam engine ; we owe much to 
it; but what would the steam engine have been without 
coal? Consider, too, the many various ways in which coal 
is essential to industry, and how very much we are 
dependent upon it, not only in manufacture, but for our 
ships, both in the Merchant Service and the Navy. 
This being so let me ask—How will this country be off 
for coal during the twentieth century? This isa question - 
that has occurred to a few people and some anxiety is 
felt. Generally speaking, however, the public do not 
trouble about it. 
Two features of the coal question are striking. These 
are :— 
(1). The number of seams of coal which are inferior, and 
are not capable of being worked except at a prohibitive cost. 
(2). The rate at which the best seams are being worked 
out. 
I think it is no exaggeration to say that for a consider- 
able period during the last century English coal was 
chiefly used for steam-ship purposes, and this mostly the 
Welsh smokeless steam coal, the like of which has not, 
so far, been discovered in any other part of the world. 
The extent of our present exportation of coal was not 
contemplated by the Royal Coal Commission in 1871. On 
page 13 of their report a table is given which includes 
statistics on the exportation of coal. This shows that 
there was a gradual increase from 4,976,902 tons in 1855 
to 10,233,135 tons in 1867. Commenting on these sta- 
tistics the Commissioners make the following astounding 
statement :— 
“As regards the future exportation of coal, although a 
very large increase has taken place within the period 
