310 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



yet it would be impossible to carry on such labours as 

 are required in coal-mining, at a higher temperature 

 than blood heat, without great suffering and the loss of 

 many lives. 



Accordingly, although before the commissioners began 

 their labours, the total quantity of available coal in 

 Great Britain was reckoned at 200,000 millions of 

 tons, it is now generally admitted that, so far as 

 known coal-fields are concerned, the quantity probably 

 available must be reckoned at something less than 

 150,000 millions of tons. The commissioners them- 

 selves found that in 1871 we had 'an aggregate of 

 146,480 millions of tons, which may be reasonably 

 expected to be available for use.' 



It will be observed that this quantity is about a 

 forty-eighth part of the quantity probably available 

 throughout the whole world ; so that Great Britain 

 possesses for her area a singularly large supply of the 

 mineral. 



Yet the consumption of coals in this country is so 

 enormous that, though we are thus exceptionally 

 well supplied, statisticians have already begun to look 

 with anxiety upon the rapid exhaustion of our stores. 



The questions at issue are exceedingly simple. Let 

 it be granted that our total available supply amounts 

 to 1 50,000 millions of tons. Then at our present rate 

 of consumption, amounting nearly to 120,000,000 tons 



clogs, which are, of course, charred on the surface/ Chantrey himself 

 and five or six friends stayed for two minutes in the furnace, bringing 

 out a thermometer which stood at 320. 



