102 



The geographical study of carbon is thus mainly an economic 

 question and is probably the strongest link in the chain that binds 

 man and his productive resources to our earth. Coal is a 

 dominating factor, it practically controls all our terrestrial de- 

 velopments, and for this reason I feel compelled and justified in 

 treating carbon from the economic standpoint. If any justifica- 

 tion for this course is needed I suggest a view over our country 

 in the throes of a prolonged coal strike. The most sceptical will 

 be convinced of what amazing significance is derived from the 

 coal box. All industries and manufactures go by the board. Our 

 overseas commerce and communications are brought to a standstill 

 and railroads are significantly hopeless. Coal is literally the life 

 blood of our nation. 



Coal and iron are such near relatives both in their distribu- 

 tion in the earth's crust and in their interdependence in commerce 

 and manufactures that it is next to impossible entirely to separate 

 them in their results and achievements. The iron industry is 

 largely dependent upon that of coal. Iron was worked centuries 

 before the use of coal, but in olden times the chief centres of the 

 iron industries were in the forests or wealds. The Weald of Kent 

 and Sussex, the Forest of Dean, and the Forest of Arden were 

 the centres of the smelting and furnace work. Charcoal burning 

 for purposes of smelting was a common occupation in the forest 

 areas, and heaps of slag overgrown with grass and weeds now 

 mark the sites of ancient industries. Locally many such pictures 

 are to be found, while in not a few instances the old names still 

 linger which remind one of their past importance. 



The constant supply of wood for the purpose of smelting 

 and working of iron has resulted in many of our early forests 

 being literally wiped out and exterminated. With advancement 

 in scientific methods of treatment, lime became a necessity in 

 smelting since it was used as a flux and to produce " slag." 

 Thus the ideal conditions for manufacturing prosperity led the 

 iron industry into areas where these three minerals were in close 

 proximity. This brought about a rearrangement of the country's 

 population, and the great iron and coal centres became the hives 

 of the population. Many of our English centres are in the happy 

 possession of these three minerals within their borders. How was 

 it that the enormous deposits of ore in the Cleveland and Furness 

 districts were not worked until late, say later than Birmingham? 

 The answer will be apparent by noting that they lay away from 

 the coal, which consequently had to be carried to the district, as 

 it was cheaper to carry coal to iron than iron to coal. 



The far-reaching effects of coal on our industries cannot easily 

 be conceived and the various by-products, all supplying infinite 

 employment, demand instant recognition. 



For hundreds of years coal was considered of little import- 

 ance. The manufactures of those times were literally " manu- 

 factures." They were positively hand made. The introduction 

 of maehinerv revolutionised the centres of industry. The woods 



