236 



thousands of furnaces, in daily operation, for the purpose of making- 

 coke, for years, in the north of England, and I feel no hesitation in 

 saying that the coal known as "Michigan Coal," will make almost, or 

 altogether as good coke as any I have seen. Some portions of this coal 

 were given to me by R. R. Lansing, Esq., with a request that I would 

 make some experiments upon them, in order to test the quality of the 

 coke yielded. I did so, as well as the imperfect instruments with which 

 I had to work, woidd allow me, and the conclusion I have come to is 

 entirely favorable to the coal, as being good for the making of coke. 



Since making those experiments, I have seen a gas retort charged 

 with this coal three several times, and the coke yielded in these instan- 

 ces, was, throughout, of that uniform silvery appearance, which is an 

 invariable feature in o-ood coke. 



My impression therefore is, that this coal with proper ovens, would 

 make about as good coke as that now used in England, in firing loco- 

 motives and blast furnaces. Francis Smith. 



FOR DOMESTIC USE. 



Detroit, Feb. 17, 1854. 

 R. R. Lansing, Esq. — In answer to your note of this date, requesting 

 my opinion in regard to the quahty of the load of Michigan Coal I had 

 from you some weeks sinc«, it gives me great pleasure to reply, that I 

 have been burning it in an open grate, for the last four weeks, and I 

 have never, in the western country, burnt a coal which gave eo clear 

 and brilliant a flame, and of which the coke, (after the bitumen was 

 burned out,) made so permanent and hot a fire. It leaves but an in- 

 significant amount of ashes or earthy residuum, in comparison with any 

 coal I have ever burned in this region. The coal I had from you was 

 too much broken to exhibit its full value as a fuel for household use. 

 Very truly yours, Adrian R. Terry, M. D. 



The next inquiry is as to the 



DEMAND FOR MICHIGAN COAL. 



The consumption in the city of Detroit during 1853, of coal, of all 

 descriptions, for all uses, steamboats, mainifacturing purposes, gsia, fur- 

 naces, and domestic use, amounted to about 90 ,000 tons. 



• 



