VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF STEAM. 401 



workshops of the trades. It rows, it pumps, it excavates, it 

 carries, it draws, it lifts, it hammers, it spins, it weaves,, it 

 prints."* 



* As there is no reproduction of Coal in this country, since no natural 

 causes are now in operation to form other beds of it; whilst, owing to the 

 regular increase of our population, and the new purposes to which the 

 steam engine is continually applied, its consumption is advancing at a rapid 

 accelerating rate ; it is of most portentous interest to a nation, that has so 

 krge a portion of its inhabitants dependant for existence on machinery, kept 

 in action only by the use of Coal, to economize this precious fuel. 1 can- 

 not, therefore, conclude this interesting subject without making some 

 remarks upon a practice which can only be viewed in the light of a national 

 calamity, demanding the attention of the legislature. 



We have, during many years witnessed the disgraceful and almost incre- 

 dible fact, that more than a million chaldrons per annum, being nearly one- 

 tliird part of the best coals produced by the mines near Newcastle, have 

 been condemned to wanton waste, on a fiery heap perpetually blazing near 

 the mouth of almost every coal-pit in that district. 



This destruction originated mainly in certain legislative enactments, pro- 

 viding that Coal in London should be sold, and the duty upon it bo rated, 

 by measure, and not by weight. The smaller coal is broken, the greater the 

 space it fills ; it became, therefore, the interest of every dealer in Coal, to 

 buy it of as large a size, and to sell it of as small a si^e as he was able. 

 This compelled the Proprietors of the Coal-mines to send the large Coal only 

 to market, and to consign the small coal to destruction. 



In the year 1830, the attention of Parliament was called to these evils; 

 and pursuant to the Report of a Committee, the duty on Coal was repealed, 

 and Coal directed to be sold by weight instead of measure. The effect of 

 this change has been, that a considerable quantity of Coal is now shipped 

 for the London Market, in the state in which it comes from the pit; that afler 

 landing the cargo, the small coal is separated by screening from the rest,^ 

 and answers as fuel for various ordinary purposes, as well as much of the 

 Coal which was sold in London before the alteration of the law. 



The destruction of Coals on the fiery heaps near Newcastle, although 

 diminished, still goes on, however, to a frightful extent, that ought not to be 

 permitted ; since the inevitable consequence of this practice, if allowed to 

 continue, must be, in no long space of time, to consume all the beds nearest 

 to the surface, and rfeadiest of access to the coast; and thus enhance the 

 price of Coal in those parts of England which depend upon the Coal-field of 

 Newcastle for their supply; and finally to exhaust this Coal-field, at a period, 

 aearer by at least one-third, than that to wiiich it would last,, if wisely ecgK- 



34* 



