SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 23 



apparently of palms. The vegetable matter had completely 

 disappeared, leaving only an impression, which, although 

 very distinct, was not sufficiently well characterised to 

 allow of a determination of its nature. This sandstone is 

 of a grayish colour, middling-sized grain, and appears to 

 be very micacious in some parts, while in others it consists 

 of quartz nearly pure. The impressions are not very 

 large, seldom more than ten or twelve inches long, and lay 

 parallel to the stratification of the rock. At the hill over 

 which the national road passes, in the immediate vici- 

 nity of Wheeling, the sandstone is about fifty or sixty feet 

 in height, divided into layers of variable thickness : over 

 this is a stratum of coal eight feet thick. In this coal, as 

 well as in the accompanying slate, there are many remains 

 of vegetables converted into pure charcoal, and entirely 

 free from bitumen. These though numerous, are too im- 

 perfect to allow of determining the species to which they 

 belong. This bed, as well as the other parallel ones, when 

 not too much intermixed with pyrites, is worked by galle- 

 ries running into the hill. The works are very carelessly 

 carried on and the waste of coal is great. The propping 

 is very rough and unsafe, frequent accidents occur from 

 this circumstance. The ventilation is not understood, and 

 many works have been abandoned from the foulness of the 

 air, no attempt being made to correct it. No inconvenience 

 has as yet been experienced from inflammable gases; but the 

 carbonic acid and the gaseous oxide of carbon are very 

 abundant. 



This bed of coal is separated from a superior one by a 

 bed of slate-clay of about three feet in thickness, which 

 from its unsoundness is always worked at the same time 

 as the upper and lower beds of coal ; although the upper 

 coal be but six or eight inches thick and of a very inferior 



