542 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



more valuable by reason of its structure than its chemical composi- 

 tion. Tlius (he product of a certain coal seam may contain fuel mat- 

 ter (lixed carbon and volatile matters) to the amount of 90 or 

 95 per cent, and coui])aratively vei-y pure but so soft and friable 

 that it crumbles or disintegrates very readily and its use is very 

 much reduced by waste through the grate bars under the boilers of 

 locomotives or stationary engine-s; and instead of complete combus- 

 tion and reduction to ashes, a very considerable per ecnt. is never 

 consumed, thus impairing its fuel elticiency when compared with other 

 coal which may show the same analysis, but being compact, hard, and 

 as some call it,— lumpy, will have a decided advantage over the 

 softer coal in the production of steam or even for domestic use. 



So, also, 1 have seen along certain railroads immense quantities 

 of coal half consumed and mixed with imperfect coke, the product 

 of the locomotive fires and dumped from the ash pan; so that people 

 living along the line find it convenient to use these ashes for 

 fuel in their households. 1 have stated these facts many times to 

 the superintendents of railroads, and also in my reports on coal 

 properties. 1 know instances where coal from a certain seam, no- 

 tably the A., and containing 85 to 88 per cent, of fuel, rendered 

 better service by actual test and use than certain other coal that 

 analyzed 92 or 93 per cent, of fuel matter ; the difference in efficiency 

 being due to the compact and solid structure of the inferior coal, 

 chemically, when compared with fragile, friable and crumbling struc- 

 ture of the other. 



Hence, do not conclude that the coal that shows a lower per cent, 

 of fuel matter is serviceably less valuable or efficient than coal con- 

 taining the higher per cent, of fuel matter, unless both are of similar 

 structure. It is the units of heat that are required and the actual 

 production of steam that will determine the value of the coal to the 

 consumer. Bear this in mind, and while having due regard for 

 analyses and chemical purity, also consider the structure, and 

 friability also, that the harder coal, upon the bituminous basis, having 

 an equal amount of fuel with the softer coal, will be found invariably 

 to be of more utility. 



It is a subject of much concern how we shall be able to supply the 

 increasing demand for iron ore, not only in this State, but else- 

 where. Much of the ore now used in Pennsylvauia is imported 

 from other slates — from Cuba and elsewhere on this continent and 

 C(msists largely of red hematite or steel ore, so called, from Michigan, 

 Wisconsin and along Lake Superior; the product of metallic iron, 

 being almost invariably 65 to 68 per cent, and in some exceptional in- 

 stance 70 per cent. In our State and elsewhere are some important 

 deposits of magnetic ore, magnetite and sometimes nearly or quite 

 as high in metal ; but often yielding as low as 35 to 40 per cent. 

 The red hematites having singular value by reason of their being 

 ' readily converted into steel without the basic process ; that is lining 

 the converter with an alkali preparation, — and hence producing the 

 steel at considerable less cost. With the exhaustion of steel ore, red 

 hematite and, in fact, the magnetic ores, we will have remaining 

 certain veins or deposits of brown hematite associated with our lime 

 stones, and, notably, the lower silurian rocks, with incidentally, the 



