Show THE FUTURE OF OF COAL The world chases after gold silver has its friends a year ear ago copper was better than gold but after all this world leans more upon coal than any other mineral of it Mr rr Henry S. S Fleming of the Bituminous Bituminous Coal Trade association sa says R The growth of the tho coal industry represents the growth of the civilizing influence of industrial progress progress progress ress which is in itself the actual foundation of our civilization Coal is the base upon which all manufacturing manufacturing manu manu- ind industries rest Stop the production of or coal and the business of the world stops It is the most important of the mineral products of tho the earth and differs from all others in th that t it can be used for only one purpose purpose the the production of or energy By a method of calculation covering the worlds world's output of soft coal for twenty-four twenty years the rate of if present and future consumption is ascertained for or scores decades and half-decades half of years to date On the basis of this series of rates the tendency tendency ten ten- dency of the movement for the next fifty years rears is projected projected projected pro pro- subject of course to unforeseen changes It Itis Itis Its is s found that the average rate of increase for each five years from 1871 to 1905 has bas been per cent more than the preceding five fie years In the first year five-year period the increase was 1594 per cent and andin ill in the last 2666 per cent over the preceding one During the past ten years the increase has been per cent over the preceding decade This brings the calculation down to 1905 in which year the tIle worlds world's total of coal consumed was tons The forecast of the worlds world's soft coal requirement is made for a period extending from 1901 to 1950 inclusive The conclusion is reached that a 11 decreasing rate of oi increase will in all probability govern consumption For Jor the five years ears of 1906 10 a rate of 2238 per cent increase is calculated For the intermediate period of 25 1921 to 30 1926 a rate of 1605 per cent and for fOl the final period ending with 1950 a still lower rate at 1103 per cent increase is found Of course in the next fifty years ears the power of althe all al the rivers and larger streams will bo he picked up anc and put in harness it is possible that flint sto-r sto storage ge batteries will be improved so so that the locomotive will ivill be done awa away with and the worlds world's railways will all bo be electrified elec elec- trifled and great manufactures will depend upon electric po power er the ships on the sea may all be run with oil but all the time coal will be the dependence for power unless new motors are in in- in vented We Ve look to see compressed air more depended de dc- de- de pen ed upon for power than electricity now is bu buthe but the great dependence after all will be coal until i ishall it shall shah be exhausted What then 1 Think of a world going into eclipse because it its fuel supply is all exhausted |