Chilly 7956 A. D.

If the present rate of U. S. coal consumption of 586,000,000 metric tons a year is maintained the coal resources of the United States will last this country another 6,033 years. (A metric ton weighs 2,204,662 pounds.)

According to statistics presented by the Coal Trade Journal, Govern-ment estimates give the United States 3,535,303,000,000 metric tons of lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, semi-bituminous, anthracite and semi-anthracite to draw on.

These figures do not include the recently discovered vast Alaskan coal fields (which can supply the Pacific States for 1,000 years), the imperfectly explored coal fields in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and the Rocky Mountains generally, or the deep lying coal deposits which at present there is no profitable means of mining. Neither does the estimated consumption consider the saving of coal which may be effected by more efficient mining and consumption. It is calculated that a saving of 600,000,000 tons a year is possible. Moreover, the United States is now supplying 50% of the world's coal. Newly discovered mines in Siberia, Japan, China, India, Australia and New Zealand, may soon reduce the necessity for so large an output.