1866.] Our Coal Supply and our Prosperity. 477 
wise from the Pennsylvanian coal-fields to the West India Islands ; 
and in addition to this, it is not improbable, as we have shown, that 
our ocean steamers will take a considerable portion of their supplies 
from these same fields, instead of carrying out an excess for the 
homeward voyage to England. 
Looking to the East, we find that the East Indies alone took, in 
1864, 603,614 tons, Australia only 13,127, and instead of being 
importing countries, there is little doubt that the coal-fields, No. 15, 
India; No. 18, Borneo; and Nos. 19 and 20, Australia and New 
Zealand, will not alone yield them ample supplies, but will also 
serve to coal the ocean steamers trading and likely to trade between 
Europe and those far distant regions. 
We have analyzed the exports of 1864, which fell short of those 
of 1865 by about 1,700,000 tons, because the detailed exports of the 
latter year were unattainable, but our object has been to show in 
general terms that should the price of coal in England rise, and the 
numerous resources of distant countries become developed (indeed, 
without the first contingency), there will be a natural check upon 
our exports, and in time probably a set towards instead of from 
Great Britain. 
There now remains for consideration one other item, or series of 
items which we have grouped together as a section of our coal 
supply, vz. that “for all other purposes.” This embraces loco- 
motives, factories of all kinds, and the general purposes of trade. 
In some of these the consumption of coal is no doubt a material 
element; in none, however, is it a matter of such moment as to 
preclude the use of substitutes in case the price of coal should 
render that article unattainable. It is almost needless to refer 
further to petroleum; it is being successfully tried both for land 
and marine engines, and probably before the Royal Commission 
presents its Report, it will give evidences of being likely to effect 
a complete revolution in our heating processes. 
But-let the substance employed for driving our stationary and 
locomotive engines be what it may, it will be a matter for con- 
eratulation and not one for regret, if our manufacturing processes 
increase in a rapid ratio, and we shall be as weil able, with im- 
proving trade, to pay a higher price for our fuel, as the labouring 
man, out of increased wages, is enabled to pay advancing prices for 
his provisions. 
It has been impossible, in an article like the present, to enter 
with anything like detail into the consideration of this vast and 
complicated question ; but we have endeavoured to show, in oppo- 
sition to the views of those who are prematurely apprehensive of 
the exhaustion of our coal-supply :— 
1. That it is at present utterly impossible for any one to 
define the boundary, either vertical or horizontal, of our coal strata, 
and therefore no estimates that can at present be offered are fit 
2K 2 
