JUNE 12, 1902] 
NATURE 
163 
be the first recorded on a Scottish loch, with the possible ex- 
ception of a considerable rise and fall of the water of Loch Tay 
in 1784, which has been considered an example of this 
phenomenon. 
2 Mire 
Mim. 
2m 7Min. Mun Min. 20 Mer. 25M 20M 33M. 40M 
The accompanying curve represents the variations in level 
observed on Loch Trieg, the ordinates representing periods of 
one minute and the abscissce changes of ;/; inch in the level. 
THE MINING STATISTICS OF THE WORLD. 
OWING to the lack of uniformity and the want of complete- 
ness in the official statistics published in the countries 
where mining and quarrying are carried on, the compilation of 
the mineral statistics of the world is a task of extreme difficulty. 
The work is, however, carried out every year with conspicuous 
success by Prof. C. Le Neve Foster, F.R.S., in the Home 
Office general report on mines and quarries. The fourth part 
of this report, which has recently been issued, deals with the 
colonial and foreign statistics for 1900, and constitutes a work 
of reference of permanent value. It is impossible to imagine a 
more concise, a better arranged, or a more inexpensive collec- 
tion of comparative mineral statistics. Last year’s report was 
noticed at length in Nature (April 4, 1901, p. 551), and as 
the general arrangement has been closely followed in the new 
issue, the nature of the work may best be called to mind by 
citing a few of the more important figures that furnish a com- 
parison as regards labour, output and safety in various parts of 
the world. 
The following figures are given for the world’s mineral pro- 
duction in 1900 :— 
British United United 
The World. Empire. Kingdom. | States. 
= | — s 
Coal, metric tons ... | 767,636,204 | 247,938,725 | 228,794,919 | 244,901,839 
Iron, metric tons «| 40,427,435 | 4,987,941 | 4,741,835 | 14,014,475 
Copper, metric tons.. | 5345735 41,456 777 275,008 
Lead, metric tons ... 787,841 | 731203 245755 245.757 
Tin, metric tons, 80,643 | 51,624 | 45336 = 
Zinc, metric tons ... 4465373 13.417 | 9,211 112,419 
Petroleum, metric 
OMS... ss. ... +. | 18,553,950 2415344 = 724855579 
Salt, metric tons... | 12,572,076 3,131,029 1,891,217 2,650,075 
Fine gold,  kilo-| | 
grammes we oe 393,106 | 188,491 415 119,913 
Fine silver,  kilo- | 
grammes... 5,874,284 582,932 5,936 1,862,829 
The figures given show that although Great Britain has had 
for a second time to give to the United States the first place in 
the production of coal, the British Empire as a whole is still 
the largest producer of solid mineral fuel, yielding nearly one- 
third of the world’s output. The gold output of the British 
Empire is also the largest, and will probably increase. The 
United States, however, comes first in the production of the 
ores of copper, iron and lead. The German Empire, with 
153,350 tons, is the largest zinc producer, and Russia, with 
9,827,822 tons, is the largest producer of petroleum. Thanks 
to Tasmania and the Federated Malay States, the British 
Empire possesses the most productive deposits of tin ore. 
addr 
interesting results. In 1900 the number of persons employed 
in the mines and quarries of the various countries was as 
follows :—The world 4,475,355. the British Empire 2,883,200, 
the United Kingdom 908,412, the United States 506,830 ,(re- 
turns incomplete), Germany 733,683, France 309,815, Belgium 
171,467, Austria-Hungary 226,330, Russia 286,983, Italy 
102,728, and Japan 119,667. 
As regards the safety of its miners, Great Britain takes a high 
place. The number of fatal accidents in collieries per 1000 
persons employed was as follows in the year under review :— 
Great Britain 1°29, Germany 2°19, Austria 1°08, France 1°42, 
Belgium 1°05, and United States 3°29 Inthe United States 
the death rate, both in bituminous coal mines and in anthracite 
mines, is considerably higher than in the United Kingdom. 
The rapid extension ot machine mining in the United States is 
very remarkable. In 1891, it is stated, only 6°7 per cent. of 
the output of bituminous coal was obtained by the aid of coal- 
cutting machinery ; in 1900 the proportion had risen to 25 per 
cent. 
The abundant and accurate references to current literature 
given in footnotes forma very valuable feature of the report. 
Hundreds of books, pamphlets and newspapers in various 
languages have been consulted, and much interesting informa- 
tion derived from them is recorded. : 
In one or two cases, statements are quoted that are, perhaps, 
open to criticism. For example, the statement that Dr. Carl 
Peters gives many excellent reasons for supposing that 
Macombe’s country, south of the Zambesi, in Portuguese 
East Africa, is the Ophir of Scripture hardly gives a correct 
impression of the prolonged controversy as to the site of Ophir. 
Moreover, so competent an authority as Prof. A. H. Keane 
has recently decided in favour of the south of Arabia. Ophir, 
he shows, was not the place at which the gold, to which it gave 
its name, was found ; it was the emporium to which the pro- 
ducts of the east and south were brought and from which they 
were distributed. Another statement which is not strictly 
accurate is that the yield of the oil wells of the United 
States almost equals that of all the rest of the world put 
together. In view of the fact that the Russian output is given 
as 2,342,243 metric tons more than that of the United States, 
this statement is somewhat misleading, 
It is interesting to note the effect of the war in South Africa 
on the mineral production. In the Transvaal the output of 
gold was small; and in Natal until March 1900 all the 
collieries were in the possession of the invaders, the output 
of coal being consequently comparatively small. In the Orange 
River Colony mining was carried on under very great difficulties 
and upon a very reduced scale. In Cape Colony the siege of 
Kimberley and the war generally interfered greatly with mining. 
In Rhodesia, however, the output of gold showed a steady 
increase, and the future prospects of the industry have been 
much brightened by the discovery of rich deposits of coal. In 
the Wankie coalfield alone, which lies 190 miles north-west of 
Buluwayo, the workable seams are considered capable of yield- 
ing 1500 million tons of coal. 
It is impossible within the limits of this notice to refer to all 
the points of interest suggested by the report; but enough has 
been said to show to how wide a circle of readers this invaluable 
work of reference appeals. B. H. B. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
Oxrorp.—An examination for one geographical scholarship 
of the value of 60/. will be held on October 14. Candidates, 
who must have taken honours in one of the final schools of the 
University, should send in their names to the Reader in 
geography not later than October 1. The scholar elected will 
be required to attend the full course of instruction at the school 
of geography during the academic year 1902-1903, and to enter 
for the University diploma in geography in June, 1903. 
CAMBRIDGE.—The Mathematical Tripos list, Part i., was 
published on June 10. The senior wrangler this year is Mr. 
E. Cunningham, St. John’s College. Mr. F. Slator, also of 
St. John’s, is the second wrangler. 
The Rede lecture was delivered in the Serate House on June 10 
by Prof. Osborne Reynolds, F.R.S., the subject being “‘On an 
The comparison of the figures relating to labour giyes some | Inversion of Ideas as to the Structure of the Universe.” 
NO. 1702, VOL. 66 | 
