COALFIELDS AND COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Coal mining is generally looked upon as distinct to metal 

 mining, for although there may be many features in common, 

 yet they vary greatly in degree, and there are certain points 

 that require special knowledge, which favours treating coal 

 and metal mining as two different classes. Metals mostly 

 occur in deposits that incline to be vertical, while coal has 

 a tendency to be horizontal. Coal is comparatively low in 

 value, while metals are comparatively higji, consequently the 

 former must be worked on a large scale, and cheaply. This 

 may cause one to pass by certain narrow seams as unprofitable, 

 and .to w r aste large quantities of coal in thicker seams rather 

 than go to the expense of outside supports. To get away large 

 quantities of material, sufficient transport appliances, both 

 underground and on the surface, must be supplied. Large 

 areas of ground must be secured to make it worth while to go 

 to the expense of an adequate outlay on development and plant. 

 Ventilation demands special consideration, especially in 

 gaseous mines. The coal trade is influenced by a different set 

 of conditions to the metal market, and this has had its effect 

 on customs of coal mining. The coal miner objects to the 

 "dog watch," as he terms the night shift, but the metal miner, 

 though he likes it no better, takes his turn at the night shift 

 as a matter of course. The collier wins his coal at a tonnage 

 rate, while the nietal miner, as a rule, works his ore on wages. 

 In many cases, the metal miner has more regular employment 

 than the coal miner, w T ho is often dependent on shipping 

 orders. 



Coal is a most important substance in the welfare of a 

 country, as on it depends so many industries; consequently, 

 other things being equal, that country which has the best coal 

 supply has an immense advantage over her neighbours. Even 

 a poor coal is better than none at all, so those countries that 

 A 



