1873 •] The Coal Famine, 151 



a reasonable time, and supply us with sufficient coal, it be- 

 hoves the employers to render themselves as independent as 

 possible of their services. This is only to be done by ex- 

 tensive introduction of mechanical contrivances for doing 

 what cannot otherwise be done by hand. Coal-proprietors 

 and managers have been probably too slow in making use of 

 such inventions, and. should not delay in turning to account 

 the present state of the labour market. There are many 

 coal-cutting machines invented, all of more or less use in 

 saving human labour ; one of these, worked by compressed 

 air, the patent of Messrs. Baird and Co., of Gartsherrie, is 

 stated to be capable of doing the work of forty men, and 

 requires only four men to manage. Supposing this to be so, 

 and as there are about 360,000 men engaged in coal-mining, 

 it is easy to see that, with the universal use of such machines, 

 9000, or say 10,000, men would be sufficient to turn out the 

 112 millions of tons, now sufficient for our wants. Of course, 

 from various circumstances, this could not actually be car- 

 ried out ; but the extensive introduction of such machines, 

 by throwing a large number of unemployed hands on the 

 labour market, would have the effect of bringing down wages 

 within reasonable limits, reducing the price of coal, and 

 making it abundant. 



The rise in the price of coal cannot, however, be alto- 

 gether attributed to the action of those engaged in actual 

 mining either as employers or workmen. While the price in 

 London is 50 shillings a ton, it is stated that at the pit's 

 mouth the price is only 20 shillings, while the railway charge 

 is only 6 or 8 shillings. After making all reasonable allow- 

 ances for cartage and profit by merchants, it ought not to be 

 much over 32 shillings to the consumer. If this be so, the 

 profit to the middle-men or merchants must be beyond all 

 reason, and the public must have recourse to self-protection. 

 This can be done by co-operation, which has worked so ad- 

 vantageously in other departments of produce. Let com- 

 panies of private individuals be formed who will enter into 

 agreement to deal directly with the coal-proprietor at the 

 pit's mouth, and supply themselves and the public at mode- 

 rate rates. The undertaking will be attended with no 

 greater difficulties than those already overcome by co- 

 operative societies. We are glad to see that proposals for 

 such co-operative societies for coal supply have actually been 

 made. 



It cannot, however, be said that the public has not in 

 some degree merited the pressure it now feels. The waste 

 of coal in manufacturing and household uses has been 



