34 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



From this table it will be seen that a marked difference exists 

 between the coals of Kansas and those to the west of us. Sulphur 

 diminishes to so small an amount westward, that the coals can be 

 used in the raw state for metallurgy. The amount of v^olatile matter 

 increases, but this is chiefly hydrogen with little or no illuminating 

 power. The fixed carbon and the ash diminish. 



Of those that I have analyzed, and others that I have seen, none 

 are, I think, equal for general use, to our Cherokee coal. 



One given in the table, Marshall's vein, differs in a marked de- 

 gree, from all others. Its output is on South Boulder creek, at the 

 base of the mountains near Denver, embracing a series of eleven 

 beds that vary from five to thirteen feet in thickness. In appear- 

 ance like anthracite, having a bright lustre, homogeneity of struc- 

 ture, leaving no stain when handled, containing but a slight amount 

 of volatile matter, one is tempted, at first sight, to pronounce it 

 anthracite, but an occasional thin lamina of pulverulent, carbona- 

 ceou.s matter shows that its place is among the lignites. Not the 

 least item of interest is the small per cent, of sulphur in its compo- 

 sition, an amount that will not interfere with its use in the raw state 

 for the working of metals. For all purposes, except the production 

 of gas, this coal is the best of which I have any knowledge in the 

 west. 



The coal from Bijou creek is chiefly cannel coal, but does not 

 contain the amount of bituminous matter usually found in this vari- 

 ety, which, elsewhere, is the most valuable of all for the production 

 of illuminating gas. 



