12 PEOF. E. HULL, LL.D., F.K.S., ON OUR COAL RESERVES 



situation, but at tlie same time acknowledges tliat "it behoves 

 us to take stock of the position."* It may, hoAvever, be in- 

 ferred from articles which have recently appeared in several 

 mining journals and the public press that much anxiety is 

 felt with regard to the question of our coal resources ; and 

 there is a widely expressed desire that Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment should institute fresh inquiries into the problem of the 

 coal reserves of the British Isles. 



One of the most important questions for our consideration 

 in reference to our coal industry is that of the export of this 

 mineral to foreign countries. As long as coal is raised from 

 the mines and made use of at home, we are all agreed that 

 there should be no artificial limitations placed upon its ex- 

 ploitation, because it is being used for the general benefit 

 and prosperity of the country. But it by no means follows 

 that foreign countries should have equal facilities for its use 

 with ourselves ; or at least that they should not be made to 

 contribute something to those material resources of which 

 they are depriving us when they help to deplete our coal 

 reserves. To this question we shall return : meanwhile, let 

 US see to what extent Ave are exporting coal from British 

 ports. 



We find from the Board of Trade returns just issued, that 

 in the year 1898, the quantity of coal exported from the 

 United Kingdom amounted to 48,268,000 tons, AAdiich is nearly 

 one-fifth part of the total output. This includes of course 

 the quantities supplied to our colonies, dependencies, and 

 foreign depots or coaling stations as well as those sent to 

 foreig)! countries ; and Avhich are, therefore, to some extent 

 utilised by our Koyal Navy and merchant ships ; but coal for 

 the use of steamers engaged in the home or coasting trade 

 is excluded from these returns. The folloAving are the 

 quantities, amounting to a total of 37,007.000 tons, Avhich 

 Were exported to Continental ports from the United Kingdom 

 in the year 1898 :— 



France 11,718.000 tons. 



Belgium 2,7")8.0()(> ,, 



Germany r).8L>0,0()0 „ 



Austria-Hungary . . . . (;,004,000 „ 



Italy .. ■ .. .. 4,4;32,000 ., 



* Address delivered on June 14th last, befoic tlie ineinlicrs at the 

 rooms of the Geological Society. 



