World Coal Resources

THE subject which has been allotted to me is so vast and far-reaching that it is impossible to deal adequately with it in the time available. A complete survey would occupy the spare time of any one man for many years, whereas the time available to me is measured in weeks In the circumstances, I have been fortunate in securing the aid of several willing collaborators, and shall endeavor to re present such information as presently exists in published form, examine the situation critically in the light of present-day conditions, and arrive at certain conclusions' which I shall venture to put forward for your consideration No one who has lived through the past 25 or 30 years, and who has witnessed the amazing achievements of recent scientific research, would venture to deny the possibility that new sources of energy-may yet become available, or to prophesy to what extent these may be harnessed to the service of mankind So far as we can see, however, coal, as a source not only of power and heat but also of that wonderful range of derivatives that form the raw materials of so many industrial processes, must continue to play a vital role in our economic life It is the chief mineral fuel, exceeding all other mineral resources in value, production and demand In value coal overshadows the industrial metals, while of the sources of energy-coal, oil, gas and water power-the first named is the most important Thus, for example, in the United States, coal as a fuel (that is, as a source of heat and power) is still predominant, the figures of percentage of