100 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



of mine, which I have not had an opportunity yet of carrying 

 practically into effect, to place these gas producers at the bottom 

 of coal-pits. A gas shaft would have to be provided to conduct 

 the gas to the surface, the lifting of coal would be saved, and the 

 gas in its ascent would accumulate such an amount of forward 

 pressure that it might be conducted for a distance of several 

 miles to the works or places of consumption. This plan, so far 

 from being dangerous, would insure a very perfect ventilation of 

 the mine, and would enable us to utilise those waste deposits of 

 small coal (amounting on the average to 20 per cent.) which are 

 now left unutilised within the pit. 



Heating Gas Supply. Another plan of the future which has 

 occupied my attention is the supply of towns with heating gas for 

 domestic and manufacturing purposes. In the year 1863 a 

 company was formed, with the concurrence of the Corporation 

 of Birmingham, to provide such a supply in that town at the rate 

 of Qd. per 1000 cubic feet ; but the bill necessary for that purpose 

 was thrown out in Committee of the House of Lords because 

 their Lordships thought that if this was as good a plan as it was 

 represented to be, the existing gas companies would be sure to 

 carry it into effect. I need hardly say that the existing companies 

 have not carried it into effect, having been constituted for another 

 object, and that the realisation of the plan itself has been in- 

 definitely postponed. . It has, however, lately been taken up and 

 partly carried into effect at Berlin. 



COAL QUESTION. 



Having now passed in review the principal applications of fuel, 

 with a view chiefly to draw the distinction between our actual 

 consumption and the consumption that would result if our most 

 improved practice were made general ; and having, moreover, 

 endeavoured to prove to you what are the ultimate limits of con- 

 sumption which are absolutely fixed by theory, but which we shall 

 never be able to realise completely, I will now apply my reasoning 

 to the coal question of the day. 



In looking into the " Report of the Select Committee appointed 

 to Inquire into the Causes of the present Dearness of Coal," we 

 find that in 1872 no less than 123,000,000 tons of coal were got 



