Abstract
COAL, which has, ever since the growth of modern industrialism, proved the main source of artificial heat, power-, and light in civilised countries, is likely to continue to occupy that position for very many years to come. In some industries it constitutes the chief item of cost in production; in others it is second only to that of labour. Its importance, therefore, as a factor in the cost of living is very great indeed. That the price of coal, at any rate for a long time, will be maintained beyond a pre-war level cannot, I think, be controverted. The higher wage demands of labour incident to the advance in the standard of comfort claimed are not likely to be so abated as to bring wages down to a pre-war position; for the same reason the cost of the materials so largely used in mining-e.g. timber, steel, lubricants, and machinery-will remain at a high rate. The chief hope of securing a reduction in the cost of production must lie along the lines of research. Similarly, also, the reduction in the cost of our fuel bill must be sought in economy in use-that is to say, in an endeavour to use efficiently every calorie available in the fuel.
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REDMAYNE, R. Pulverised Coal as a Combustible. Nature 107, 812–814 (1921). https://doi.org/10.1038/107812a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/107812a0