518 Reviews — Report of the Coal Commission. 



mestic purposes, as well as the quantity exported, and how far, and 

 to what extent, such consumption and export may be expected to 

 increase ; and, lastly, to trace out whether there is reason to believe 

 that coal is wasted by bad working, or by carelessness or neglect of 

 proper appliances for its economical consumption. 



The Commission consisted of the Duke of Argyll ; Sir R. I. 

 Murchison, Bart ; H. H. Vivian, Esq., M.P. ; Sir W. G. Armstrong ; 

 Professor A. C. Eamsay ; J. T. Woodhouse, Esq. ; E. Hunt, Esq. ; J. 

 Prestwich, Esq. ; J. Dickinson, Esq. ; J. Greddes, Esq. ; J. Hartley, 

 Esq. ; T. E. Forster, Esq. ; G. T. Clark, Esq. ; Dr. J. Percy ; G. Elliot, 

 Esq. ; and J. F. Campbell, Esq. (Secretary). 



At the first meeting it was found expedient to divide the inquiry, 

 and to appoint committees to investigate separate subjects ; thus, five 

 committees were chosen, and the results of their investigations are 

 given in the general report with which the present volume com- 

 mences, and they are also (with the exception of that by Committee E) 

 printed in full in the same. To Committee A, it was given to inquire 

 into the possible depth of working coal. Increase of temperature 

 was the only cause they had to consider, as limiting the depths at 

 which it may be practicable to work coal, and they are of opinion 

 that a depth of at least four thousand feet might be reached. Com- 

 mittee B report on the waste in combustion; and they conclude 

 that as great efforts have been made in our manufactures to econo- 

 mize coal, it may be assumed that the progress of economy in using 

 coal is not likely to operate in future with greater effect in keeping 

 down the increase of consumption than it has hitherto done. As 

 regards the consumption of coal for domestic purposes, its future 

 increase may be expected to coincide with the increase of the popula- 

 tion. Tlie waste in working coal was investigated by Committee C, 

 who report that coal is wasted by bad working and carelessness to a 

 very considerable degree in proportion to the amount which is 

 actually used, in some cases the loss being forty per cent. Com- 

 mittee D report on coal under the Permian and newer strata. The 

 determination of the extent of these tracts of coal was assigned — in 

 England, to Professor Ramsay and Mr. Prestwich ; in Scotland, to 

 Professor Geikie ; and in Ireland to the late Professor Jukes, and 

 afterwards to Professor Hull. They give estimates .of the quantities 

 of the coal under the newer formations, and which may be looked 

 for at a depth of less than 4000 feet. They also investigated the 

 probability of the existence of coal in the South of England. Upon 

 a general review of the whole subject, Mr. Prestwich adopts with 

 slight variations the views of Mr. Godwin- Austen, and is led to the 

 conclusion that there is the highest probability of a large area of 

 productive Coal-measures existing under the Secondary rocks of the 

 South of England. He shows from statistics furnished by Mr. Bristow 

 that the thickness of these overlying rocks is not likely to exceed 

 1000 to 1200 feet, and he considers that there is reason to infer that 

 the underground Coal-basins may have a length of 150 miles, with a 

 breadth of two to eight miles, — limits within which are confined the 

 rich and valuable Coal-measures of Belgium. 



