1867.] Mining. 269 



From Tavistock and Askburton Districts . . . 691 Men. 



„ Liskeard 100 „ 



„ St. Austell and St. Blazey 275 „ 



„ Eedruth and St. Agnes 300 „ 



„ Camborne 150 „ 



„ Hayle 550 „ 



„ St. Ives and Lelant 150 „ 



„ St. Just . . " 600 „ 



„ Helston and Wendron . . ■ . . . 100 „ 



„ Marazion and Tremayne 450 „ 



3,366 Men. 



It must be remembered that these are able-bodied men, the 

 youngest and most active of the mining population. About a 

 thousand of these have found employment in the collieries of Wales 

 and Scotland, and on the lines of railway which are now in progress — 

 especially around the Metropolis. From the largest copper-mining 

 district of Cornwall we hear of three mines, paying about 1,0007. 

 per week in agency and labour, which are continuing to do this at 

 an actual loss of 15,000Z. a year. Should these mines succumb 

 beneath the pressure of the times, the withdrawal of the 52,0007. 

 now distributed as wages, would spread ruin on every hand. 



Lead-mining is not affected to the same degree as tin and copper, 

 although the condition of the metal market is influencing even 

 the Lead-mines. 



Coal-mining is, and has for some time, been very brisk ; while, 

 on the other hand, the iron trade cannot recover its position. 



The returns of our mineral produce for the year 1866 are not 

 yet complete. They are, however, sufficiently advanced to enable 

 us to state that the production of Tin will have been unusually 

 large, although nearly every ton of tin ore will have been sold at a 

 loss ; of Copper ore, from British mines, there will have been a 

 falling off; but the importations of Foreign Copper will have been 

 large. Lead and the other metalliferous minerals will remain 

 much as they were in 1865. Nearly, if not quite, one hundred 

 millions of tons of Coals will have been produced in the United 

 Kingdom. 



In the process of coal-mining, this quarter will be marked by the 

 terrible accidents, by explosion — at the Oaks Colliery in the Barnsley 

 district, and at the Talk-o'-the-Hill, near Hanley, in Staffordshire, 

 by which nearly four hundred lives have been sacrificed. These 

 casualties have naturally directed attention strongly to the system 

 of colliery inspection. We do not learn whether it is the intention 

 of the Government to propose any measures calculated to secure 

 greater attention in the particulars of ventilation and lighting. 



In the midst of the extreme depression which prevails in our 

 metal mines, two members of the House of Commons talk of new 

 legislation— one bringing in a bill to rate metal mines to the poor; 



