THE COAL QUESTION 671 of the bulk of our able-bodied working classes, and the pauperiza- tion of those who remain. It must be clear, with our present and future obligations, if not relieved, that such a result, assuming a continuous check to our industries, is inevitable. It is difficult, and probably unnecessary for the arg?_?ment, to set forth very deeply the extent and importance of the Capital employed, and the commerce which has been set afloat by means of the cheap fuel associated with our other natural and artificial advantages. A few leading figures, in round numbers, may be quoted :-- We raise annually ' 200,000,000 tons of minerals, including :-- 181,000,000 tons of coal; 14,000,000 tons of iron-stone and iron ore; 2,200,000 tons of oil shale; and 2,150,000 tons of salt. We manufacture annually: 8,322,000 tons of pig-iron. We export annually :-- 4,000,000 tons of steel and iron. We build annually: 1,000,000 tons of shipping. Our total imports for 1889 were valued at . ,, exports ,, ,, . Our National Debt amounts to . . . . . Our capital expended in Railways amounts to. Our capital expended in Canals and Navigation, not including those owned by railway com- panies, is estimated at . . . . . . . Our capital in Tramways do. do. . . The value of our capital in Water- and Gas- works is probably about . . . . . . And capital expended in Docks is approximately ?427,637,00? 314,705,00(? 689,944,0? 876,595,000 24,285,00(? 13,700,0? 200,000,000 40,000,000 Besides the above, Mr. Giffen in his Growth of Wealth, pub- lished in 1889, estimates, in 1885, the capital value of the houses, lands, mines, quarries, iron works, other public companies, farmers' profits, &c., in Great Britain, but exclusive of the valu?
