TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12937, 17 October 1907, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Welsh and English The Coal coal boom is largely due Boon to tho growing requirements of huge liners. The "Tribune" says that the rise in coal is the principal reason for the 10 per cent, surtax plaoed on passage rates by the lines trading to Australia and the East. The coal consumption of ' one of the lines concerned—the North German Lloyd—was 1,560,000 tons last year, equal to the total consumption of the whole of the British Navy in 1905, and three time* that of the French fleet. The new German liner, Kronprinzessin Cecilie, burns 700 tons a day. and the Lusitania 1000 tons. The coal burned on these fast vessels is usually tho best Welsh obtainable. "A statement that modern civilisation is based on coal appears prima facie extravagant," says the "Daily Chronicle," "but a closer examination will attest its truth. Railways, steamships, and machinery, the transport of food, the mining and extraction of metals, the manufacture of every necessity or luxury of life, the intercommunication of nations, is today completely dependent on coal. The petroleum production of the world is unable to supply 2 per cent, of its fuel requirements, and the combined weter-power plants of America and Europe represent but a minute fraction." In 1877 the world's annual coal consumption was under 300,000,000 tons. Between 1877 and 1887 it advanced to 430,000,000 tons. The next ten years saw it lise to 630,000,000, and this year it will exceed 1,000,000,000 tons. Notwithstanding this huge consumption, the demand is greater than the supply, and the world's work is pinched for coal. The "Chronicle" estimates that foreign countries will pay Great Britain £10,000,000 moro for coal this year than in 1906, and that British shipowners will earn £3,500,000 more than last year for carrying coal to foreign centres. On the other hand, there are some who deplore the draining away of England's best coal—a priceless possession in timo of war. By the operations of eliding scales or Conciliation Beards, the wages of miners rise with the price of coal, and the wages now paid are from 20 to 30 per cent more than they were two years ago. "When times are good, and wages high, the collier dearly loves his fortnight at Blackpool or other seaside resort. Tho popular London opinion of the collier —when house coal prices rise to an exorbitant figure—as a grimy spendthrift and a lover of bulldogs, is an entirely erroneous one."

It is excellent news that The the old Calliope is not to Calliope, pass into the hands of the ship-breakera. It is seventeen year* since she thrilled the world by her conquest of the hurricane at Apia, and incidentally gave Weetport coal the beet advertisement it ever received. There were lying crowded in Apia harbour in Maroh, 1889, seven wamhipa; the Calliope, the Adler, Olga and Eber (German), and the Trenton, Vandalia and "Nipsic (United States). There was every sign of an approaching hurricane, and those on the ehipa knew that the only cafe course wae to go out \o eea, but owing to the crisis ashore <no one would take the initiative. A gale sprang up in tha evening of the 15th, and by midnight a hurricane was blowing straight in at the narrow opening in. the reef. Day broke on. a acene of hopeless turmoil. The Eber had foundered on the reef with the lose of nearly all of her crew. The Trenton held her own in the entrance, and the rest were huddled helpleaely near the chore. The Nipsic wae thrown eehore on the sand, and the Adler was caet on the reef and had her back broken. The Calliope, steaming to help her anchors, lay with the Vandalia and Olga, near the reef. The only chance lay in a fight for the open sea, and Captain Kane resolved to take it. The order was given. % for every ounce of steam that could be raised, and with her bearings already dangerously hot, the Calliope commenced her struggle for safety. Great skill wae needed in avoiding the helpless vessels close by. Yard" by yard she fought her way, until it was Apparent that if she could be steered safely between the now unmanageable Trenton and the reef, all would be well. With auperb seamanship this wae accomplished, and the ship wae piloted out through the inferno of the entrance. As she struggled pact the Trenton, there was a thrilling incident. Tho Americans, led by their admiral, cheered the greatlydaring Britons. It took the Calliope over two hours to steam less than 80Uv. yards, and never during the day did her speed exceed one knot an hour. Mover has British ship-building received a severer test, for only a ship without a flaw could have conquered in that terrific combat with the elements. Of tho seven warships In the harbour, she alone escaped. May the volunteers who are to be trained on her catch the spirit of those who took her out on that day of destruction.