478 Our Coal Supply and owr Prosperity. [ Oct., 
data for calculation; but that it is highly probable our resources 
are far in excess of the views of our most sanguine geologists. 
2. That, looking at the coal resources of other countries, our 
exports are not likely to prove a permanent drain upon our 
resources, and our ocean steamers will probably ere long obtain 
cheaper supplies for their homeward voyages than they at present 
draw from [nglish collieries. 
3. That any considerable increase in the cost of coal is likely 
to interfere materially in our iron trade, more especially the raw 
material;* and that it is not unlikely that we may uot only haye 
to submit to the loss of our export trade, but may even find it more 
economical to import various forms of iron, crude and manufactured, 
from foreign countries. 
4, That there is no element of certainty in the continued 
increase in our consumption of coal for heatmg and lghting 
purposes, especially the latter; and that it is probable that the use 
of gas (which now takes about one-eighth of our whole supply) will, 
in time, be superseded by better lighting agents, just as a has to 
a large extent superseded candles. 
5. That the most valuable staple manufactures of Great 
Britain absorb a comparatively insignificant portion of our whole 
coal resources, and it is to be hoped that any enhancement in the 
price of coal will be more than compensated by mereasing material 
prosperity, enabling the manufacturer without meconvenience to 
pay such an extra cost of fuel. At any rate it is clear that a very 
great absolute increase may and probably will take place in our 
general home production and foreign barter trade in valuable manu- 
factures, with hardly a perceptible effect upon our coal resources. 
But whilst we thus joi issue with the coal alarmists on 
these questions, we think it but due to them to admit that only 
good can result out of the inquiry which has sprung from the 
expression of their alarm. It is well, in the first place, that we 
should not depend too much upon one source of our mineral wealth 
for such a variety of purposes as we do at present. Before the 
outbreak of the American civil war, it would have appeared almost 
as absurd to cry out for new channels for obtaining a cotton supply, 
ag it now does to express a fear of coal exhaustion, but we never 
know, when we have “too many eggs in one basket,” what accident 
may overturn it. Again, it is not wise to trust too implicitly in 
any portion of our material wealth, because it has a tendency to 
make us apathetic; to cause us to “lie on our oars.” And the 
agitation of the “Coal Question” has reminded us of our National 
Debt; it should remind us how that debt was chiefly accumulated, 
* Within the last few months, however, one of our most experienced iron-— 
masters has produced an improved quality of iron, with a consumption of 
anthracite coal reduced one-half. See “Chronicle of Mining,” present Number. 
