PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



HELD AT PHILADELPHIA 

 FOR PROMOTING USEFUL KNOWLEDGE 



Vol. L October-December, 1911 No. 202 



THE FORMATION OF COAL BEDS. II.* 



By JOHX J. STEVEXSOX. 



Some Elementary Problems. 



(Read November j, 191 1.) » 



It is necessary, first of all, to consider some matters to which ref- 

 erence is made by every one who has endeavored to explain the 

 formation of coal beds. Too many seem to have been content with 

 acceptance of current statements respecting the apparently common- 

 place phenomena and too few have thought essential a careful study 

 of work done in recent years. The indefinite and often contradic- 

 tory assertions contained in discussions, published within the last 

 decade, compelled the writer to study the available literature and, 

 as far as possible, to make examination of the phenomena in place. 

 This study has led him to reject some of his cherished beliefs while 

 it has confirmed others. At the same time, it has increased his 

 respect for the problem, which he has undertaken to solve. The 

 topics to be considered in this portion of the work are : 



The efifect of floods upon a cover of vegetation. 



The phenomena of peat deposits. 



The buried forests. 



* Part I appeared in these Proceedings, Vol. L., pp. 1-116. • 



PROC. AMER. PHIL. SOC. , L. 202 H, PRINTED NOV. 15, I9II. 



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