31 



tracing llie out crop of the coal bed some miles further to the 

 southwestvvard and across Deep River from Murchinson's to 

 Forsliee and Street's Plantations. 



I had also the satisfaction of descending into the shaft sunk in 

 the plain of Egypt, wliere two years since I directed borings to 

 be made, by which the occurrence of coal beneath that plantation 

 was discovered, and its extent under the table lands demon- 

 strated. 



This shaft, sunk under the immediate direction of Mr. Wm. 

 McLean, is admirably constructed, is 8 feet by 15 square, and 

 penetrates to the depth of 4G2 feet, where it traverses the coals. 

 At the bottom of this shaft I measured the following section : 



Coal .... 



Black band iron ore 



Coal .... 



Fire clay 



Coal .... 



Fire clay and shale at bottom. 

 The strata and coal beds dip from 16 to 20° S. 10'' W. The 

 aggregate thickness of the coal that can be taken out together in 

 the ciiambers, is 5 feet 11 inches in thickness. These coals are 

 quite free from sulphur, and are highly esteemed by the superin- 

 tendent of the Brooklyn, N. Y., Gas Works, as good gas-making 

 coals. 



They are also particularly valuable in the forges, since they 

 make a perfectly hollow fire by coking readily. They also will 

 serve for steam-engine and other fuel. 



On chemical examination, this coal was found to yield per 

 cent — 



Fixed carbon . . . . . .63.6 



Illuminating gas ..... 34.8 



Red-brown ashes . . . . .1.6 



100.0 

 When converted into coke, it was found to produce 65^^^ per 



cent, of good solid coke. 



The black band iron ore is too sulphurous to admit of its being 



converted into good iron, it retaining 0.89 per cent, of sulphur 



even after thorough roasting. 



