Coal Mines tvorled In France. ^5 



either In regard to the quantity of coals extrafted^ or to their 

 value. Jn'that cafe I have only made known the diftriils 

 where the coals are found. 



To the means of circulation which exift, or thofe which 

 ought to be eftabliflied, I have paid particular attention. I 

 have indicated thefe means as far as poffible ; and under thi* 

 point of view in particular I hope my labour may be ufeful, 

 becaufe, by making known the means of circulation, the 

 public attention may be direfted to the tranfportation and 

 life of our combullible foflils, in places where it has hitherto 

 been fuppofed that they could not be employed with advan- 

 tage. With this view I have added to this work a chart, 

 where the means of circulation may be traced out, by corre- 

 Ijponding numbers placed in the margin, and by lines drawn 

 or dotte'd with red, which mark the exifting modes of cir- 

 culation, and thofe projefted, or which it may appear of ad- 

 vantage to eltablifh. 



The departments in which no foflil combuftlbles are dug 

 tip have neverthelefs been prefcnted in their order ; and I 

 have announced whence thefe fubilanccs may be extra£led, 

 and the means by which they may be tranfported. 



I have exhibited alio a general view of the various con- 

 fiderations in regard to public advantage and economy which 

 refult from the prefent fiate, as far as it is known, of our 

 refources of mineral fuel. 



Department of Am. 



This department exhibits no ftrata of coals worked at 

 prefent. At Surjoux, in the canton of Soyflel, on the banks 

 of the Rhine, afphaltes or mineral bitumen is found. It 

 is extracted from beds of coarfe granitic frceftone, ana- 

 logous to that which covers certain (Irata of coal, or 

 which is found in alternate ftrata with it. Several banks of 

 this bituminous freeftone are found all round the commune 

 of Surjoux. They have very little confidence, on account of 

 the abundance of liquid bituminous matter with which they 

 are mixed. 



C. Suretan, an inhabitant of SeyfTel, who has a grant of a 

 part of thofe diftrifts, extracts and prepares this mmeral bi- 

 tumen. The products extracted amount annually lo about 

 ten thoufand niyriugrammcs. This fubllance may be em- 

 ployed for daubing over cordage and wood, to defend them 

 from water and from the attack of worms. It is ufeful alio 

 for grcafing the axle-trees cf carriages, and diflerent parts of 

 machines, to facilitate their rolling. 



The means of circulation of thefe produrtions are the 

 Q Khonc 



