GREAT COAL FIND.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 44, 12 January 1912, Page 4

GREAT COAL FIND.

Over 2000 Square Miles.—Anthracite in British Columbia. .Jingo beds of anthracite coal have tieeii discovered in British Columbia, and according to estimates just made, this ui'wly-tVniiitl colonial coalfield is likely to play an important part in the Empire's defence. The news is particularly welcome in view of Sir William Ruiwiy's gloomy prophecy that the coal > supply of tho British fields will give out in 170 years if the rate of working increases as it is doing.

Details of tho discovery is contained in the following telegram from the Minister of Mines for British Columbia i(says Router), in reply to some questions addressed to him by the AgentGeneral of the colour:—

"Immense body of anthracite coal ex ists at the head waters of the Skoona. about 100 miles north of Hazclton. There are locations on it of eight years' standing. Serious development by three companies has been carried out thi; seas.'vi.

".fames McEvoy, formerly of the Geological Survey, and later of Crow's Nest, report.', that he has developed at 'east three workable seams of anthracite coal. The field is very important. it 3 extent not being known. Four hundred square miles have been staked out."

Pernor's Agency understands that a large party of mining engineers has spent the entire summer on the watersheds at the h.eid of the Skeena, Stikino, Naas Klappan, and Eagle rivers. As the- result of thoir labors it is stated that o;obd coal seams are knowri to underlie over 2100 square, miles of territory, v and that the estimated 'capacity,,.of the field, is 43,000,000 tons per square mile. COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES. This vast coalfield lies along the 57th parallel,, and is only 100 to 150 miles away from the seaboard. The commercial importance of the reported discoveries will be appreciated when it is pointed out that owing to the geographical position of the coal beds they will command the markets of Siberia, China, and Japan, as well as all the American trade from Patagonia to ; Alaska.

From a strategic point of vioy; the new discoveries are of great importance, as fleets in tho Pacific will be able to.obtain the necessary supplies of smokeless coal in war time, when it might be impossible to ship coal through the Suez or Panama Canals. A recent estimate of the world's coal area uuworked was as follows: — Sq. Miles. China 232,500 United States 200,000 Canada 65,000 India 35,000 N.S.W 24,000 European Russia ... 20,000 . United Kingdom 12,000 Spain 5,500 Japan 5,000 France 2,500 Austria 1,800 Germany 1,700 Belgium 500