COAL MINES OF

ai<5

it may be estimated that one million five hun-dred thousand chaldrons of coals are annuallyled away from the mines of this district.

A duty of one penny per chaldron upon thisquantity, to be paid by the owners or lessees ofthe mine, and by the act imposed in duemoieties or proportions upon each, or whollyupon the proprietor if working his own mine',would produce annually 6,250 1.

Out of this might be apportioned the salaryof the superintendent or inspector and com-missioners. Another part to establish a per-manent fund for the liquidation of any extra-ordinary expenses or premiums to persons de-vising improvements for preserving the securityof a mine, provided the necessity'and proprietyof the means to be adopted be first commu.nicated to the superintendent, and verified bycertificates from a sufficient number of personspractically acquainted with the subject; whoshould lay them before the commissioners;but that nothing relating to the repairs of themachinery, or common and usual working ofthe mine, should be included in this claim.

That examinations should be made of ex-isting wastes ; and if, upon proper investiga-tion, a sufficiency of coal, alumine, or otherproduct, could be depended upon to defray the