104 



(e) The importation of natural ores of all kinds avoids 

 re-shipment to the smelting centres as these are 

 situated in the coalfields in the vicinity of excellent 

 harbours. 



It is thus that coal materially favours an increase in our 

 manufacturing productiveness and at the same time facilitates and 

 adds to our material raw imports. 



It is thus that the three great coal producing countries of 

 the world, Great Britain, United States and Germany are also the 

 chief producers of iron and have the largest manufacturing and 

 transport industries in the world. The principal coal producing 

 areas of England : 



I. — The Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottingham coalfield 



(annual output 60 million tons). It supplies the woollen manu- 

 factures of the West Riding, the iron works of Sheffield and the 

 textiles of Nottingham. The surplus is sent to London or shipped 

 from Goole. 



II. — The Northumberland and Durham coalfield (annual out- 

 put 52 million tons). The coal is largely used in the iron districts 

 of the counties. The surplus is exported. The region is bisected 

 by the Tyne, to which belong the seaports which first carried on 

 a great trade in coal, and is in immediate proximity to Sunderland 

 and various minor ports, whilst its southern end is near the iron 

 deposits of Cleveland in North Riding. 



III. — The South Wales coalfield (annual output 44^ million 

 tons). Coal from this area is in demand all over the world. Some 

 is used in the district for smelting iron and copper ores. Anthra- 

 cite is shipped to all the great naval centres. Much is used in 

 locomotive work on various lines. 



IV. — The South Lancashire coalfield (annual output 29 million 

 tons). It exports very little coal. Nearly all of it is used in the 

 local cotton industry, engineering, and chemical works. 



V. — The North Staffordshire coalfield (annual output 13 

 million tons). Nearly all the output is used in supplying power to 

 the factories of the pottery district. 



VI. — Other Coalfields (annual output 6 million tons). 



(a) North Wales supplies salt and chemical works of 

 Cheshire. 



(b) South Staffordshire supplies fuel for the " Black 

 country." Large quantities are sent to London by 

 rail. It is badly situated for foreign and export 

 trade, but admirably placed for home consumption. 



(c) Cumberland supplies smelting works at Furness, and 



the surplus is sent to Belfast for linen and distillery 

 factories. 



