i873-] Railways and their Future Development. 153 



one-third of the above quantity, or twelve millions of tons — a 

 quantity nearly equal to the total export of coal from 

 British ports. 



It cannot be supposed that such a social revolution as the 

 re-construction of our house fire-grates involves will be im- 

 mediately accomplished ; but the foregoing statements will 

 be sufficient to show how much lies within our power, both 

 in the way of increasing the output of coal, with diminished 

 cost at the mines, and of economising the domestic supply 

 without the sacrifice of warmth within doors. To the co- 

 operation of the colliery proprietors on the one hand, and 

 of the public on the other, we must look for an increase of 

 supply and a reduction in the demand ; the former by the 

 extensive increase of machinery, where hand-labour is now 

 in use ; the latter by the introduction of grates constructed 

 with a view to economy. To manufacturers, who are 

 always alive to the principle that " A penny saved is a penny 

 gained," we may trust to avail themselves of every improve- 

 ment that offers itself in the direction of economy in fuel.* 

 And with regard to the miner, let us hope that the measures 

 which the Legislature have recently passed for securing to 

 the young a sound education may have the effect of ren- 

 dering the rising generation more industrious, more thrifty, 

 and more independent of influences from without in those 

 matters of which every man should be the sole judge for 

 himself. 



II. RAILWAYS AND THEIR FUTURE 

 DEVELOPMENT. 



By J. W. Grover, Memb. Inst. C.E., &c. 



tT seems a very hard dispensation, though it is an incon- 

 trovertible one, that those who have, perhaps, conferred 

 more benefit upon the country during the present cen- 

 tury than any of their contemporaries, should reap so 

 little of the reward themselves. The railway shareholder — 

 I mean the original man who honestly read the prospectus, 

 and believed in its statements, and who backed his belief 

 with his money — was too often a victim to his credulity and 

 enterprising spirit. 



* The statement of the Royal Commissioners on this head is satisfactory. 

 While admitting that coal is still wasted largely in consumption, they add that 

 for some time past, in our manufactures, there have been constant and perse- 

 vering efforts to economise coal by the application of improved appliances for 

 its consumption. Report, vol. i., p. 93. 



VOL. III. (N.S.) X 



