Starr. But yet, the mines will
be exhausted, no doubt, and more rapidly than the statistics make out!"
"That will happen, Harry; and in my opinion England is very
wrong in exchanging her fuel for the gold of other nations!
I know well," added the engineer, "that neither hydraulics nor
electricity has yet shown all they can do, and that some day
these two forces will be more completely
utilized. But no matter! Coal is of a very practical use,
and lends itself easily to the various wants of industry.
Unfortunately man cannot produce it at will. Though our external
forests grow incessantly under the influence of heat and water,
our subterranean forests will not be reproduced, and if they were,
the globe would never be in the state necessary to make
them into coal."
James Starr and his guide, whilst talking, had continued their walk
at a rapid pace. An hour after leaving Callander they reached
the Dochart pit.
The most indifferent person would have been touched at the appearance
this deserted spot presented. It was like the skeleton of something
that had formerly lived. A few wretched trees bordered a plain
where the ground was hidden under the black dust of the mineral fuel,
but no cinders nor even fragments of coal were to be seen.
All had been carried away and consumed long ago.
They walked into the shed which covered the opening of the Yarrow shaft,
whence ladders still gave access to the lower galleries of the pit.
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