Hale.] 460 [December. 



"The first 23 feet was through the clay, where the rock was 

 struck, 7 feet of which was black slate, followed by 6 inches of Bitu- 

 minous Coal. At a depth of 32 feet, 6 inches, a vein of fire brick 

 rock was struck, which was 13 feet in thickness, and which appeared 

 in the lower part of the vein to be mixed with Iron Ore. The next 

 5 feet, of black slate mixed in with coal, followed by 1 foot of white 

 flint rock, then 2 feet, 6 inches, of black slate, when a vein of Cannel 

 Coal was struck. This was at a depth of 53 feet. Next, 8 inches 

 of slate, which separated the Cannel Coal from a vein of bituminous 

 coal, 4 feet, 4 inches, in thickness. Then 14 feet of common 

 sandstone, and 2 feet mixed with slate and coal. Then a vein 60 

 feet in thickness of Porcelain Clay, of a very superior quality, re- 

 sembling white lead, ground in oil. The next 135 feet was through 

 common sandstone, changing in color from brown to black, and mixed 

 with quartz. Again the auger passed through a vein of 5 feet of 

 Porcelain Clay. The balance was through a vein of hard sandstone, 

 a portion of which was mixed with a yellow metal, which was be- 

 lieved to be copper. Unfortunately, the only specimen saved by 

 Mr. Wilson, was lost. Was it Iron Pyrites ? 



" At the depth of 548 feet, salt water was reached, but so mixed 

 with a dark fluid that it was believed to be useless. Was this dark 

 fluid Petroleum ? 



" The veins of coal may be the same as those at Oseola, or the one 

 at Philipsburg passed through at a depth of 199 feet." 



Mr. Peale took this occasion to exhibit to the Society some 

 fragments of ancient vessels of pottery of large size, and still 

 conserving the impressions of the osier wickerwork baskets, 

 by which they were ornamented. They were found at ancient 

 salt springs in Gallatin County, Illinois, and are made of 

 clay, in which remain visible fragments of fresh-water shells, 

 mixed in to strengthen the clay. 



Large quantities of comminuted shells and broken pottery remain 

 near the springs, with other evidences of ancient salt works, of which 

 there is now no knowledge, either recorded or traditionary. 



The style of the ornamentation is entirely distinct from that of the 

 Indian pottery of recent date, and the vessels much larger than any 

 made by that race. The inference drawn from these facts is, that 

 they are the reliquse of the Mound Builders, a race much more ad- 

 vanced in the arts than those which succeeded them.* 



* [These fresh-water shells are brought up in evidence by Mr. Winchell, in his 



