46 The Coal Commiussioner’s Report. (January, 
absolute increase of the consumption of coal between 1855 
and 1859 averaged 0°035 ton per head per annum; that the 
next six years, 1859 to 1865, averaged 0°145 ton per head 
per annum; while the last four years, 1865 to 1869, only 
averaged o'0463 ton per head per annum. From this it 
would appear that the annual increase has passed through 
a point of maximum increase, and that it is now dimi- 
nishing. 
Basing their calculation, however, upon an arithmetical 
instead of a geometrical increase in the rate of consumption, 
and simply adding a constant quantity equal to the average 
annual increase of the last fourteen years, taken at 3,000,000 
tons, the Commissioners arrive at the following result, 
namely, that at the end of a hundred years the consumption 
would be 415,000,000 tons per annum, and that the now 
estimated quantity of coal available for use would represent 
a consumption of 276 years. Taking, however, another 
view of the case, and supposing that from this time the 
population of the whole country, and the consumption of 
coal per head of that population, will remain constant, or 
merely oscillate without advancing, our available coal would 
represent a consumption of upwards of 1273 years, at the 
rate of 115,000,000 per annum. 
These two calculations, as tothe probable duration of our 
coal resources, given by the Coal Commission in their 
Report, may probably be taken to represent two extreme 
cases, between which the actual truth may probably be 
found. Whilst, then, we may confidently anticipate the 
continued existence of coal for some 300 years at least, it 
by no means follows that its price will remain as at present. 
With increased depth of workings, and an increased diffi- 
culty in raising coal, its price must necessarily rise; and 
although, therefore, there is no fear that coal will become 
actually scarce in our time, the same effect will, in a great 
measure, be secured by its increase in price. The prevention 
of this evil can, apparently, only be effected by still greater 
economy in combustion, and the enforcement of a law that 
no coal, either large or small, shall ever be left in a working 
beyond what it may be impossible to gain. 
