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is the work of greatest value ; consequently, no machine that 
does not do that work, can become of general application, 
at any rate, I think, in the Yorkshire Coal Field. There- 
fore, although there have been many inventions of merit 
introduced, still the machines of the West Ardsley Coal Com- 
pany are the only practical illustrations existing of what has 
been done up to the present time, and I venture to express 
an opinion that the inventors and owners of the pick-ma- 
chine, judging by the measure of success already obtained, 
seem destined in the end to solve the problem of how to get 
Coal without the immense amount of manual labour and waste 
of time at present required. A description of these machines, 
and the results obtained, would afford ample material for a 
most interesting paper ; on this occasion, I have not time to 
make more than a passing reference to them. I hope some 
friend will take this subject up, and deal with it in that 
comprehensive manner that its importance entitles it to. 
These machines, in time, as the practical application of 
them becomes better understood, will surely, however slowly, 
ripen to perfection, and no system of getting Coal is so 
peculiarly favourable — nay, I may venture to add absolutely 
necessary — to the economical adoption of machinery, as that 
of "Longwall," by reason of the long-continuous face of 
Coal open, to which there will always be a direct highway 
from the pit bottom, for the easy conveyance of compressed 
air, or any other motive power employed. The use of ma- 
chinery will rather tend to increase the amount of ventilation 
than otherwise. 
I now come to the net results obtained by the extension 
of this system of Coal Mining by Longwall on End, which I 
believe to consist of the following : — 
1st. Economy in its results to the proprietor, from the 
increased market value of the product attained, and the 
soonest return for his invested capital. 
