Coal Mines tvorled In Trance, ^^ 



of the coal^ feem to promife. The product of thefe mines 

 is confumed in the neighbouring glafs-houfes, and the coals 

 are tranfported bv VMter down the AlHer, oix the Loire, the 

 canal of Briarc, and the Seine. 



A plan has been long in agitation to employ the fmall 

 river of Quenne to facilitate the tranfportation of thefe coals 

 as far as the Allier. If this projett he fufccplihle of execu- 

 tion, there can be no doubt that this mode of comnuinica- 

 tion with the river AHier will l)e of great importance; for 

 the expenfe of land-carriage as far as Moulins already dou- 

 bles the price of the coal. It varies in thefe mines from fix 

 to ten per cent, the mvria^ramaie : it has already rifea 

 at Moulins from twelve to twenty per cent.; and when de- 

 livered at Paris from twenty-four to forty per cent. 



This department exhibits alfo, in the commune of Com- 

 mentry, confiderable ftrata of coal of excellent quality, and 

 might be worked with advantage, if aconfumptionbe created 

 for them : this at prefent is abfolutely wanting, and for this 

 reafon thefe mines are very little worked. The er>gTiice,rs of 

 mines who have vifited this country have pointed out fcveral 

 new ftrata not before obferved. 



The mines of Plaveret and de Bouije furniflied in the veaf 

 3, a hundred thoufand myriagrammes, which is far below the 

 quantity that might eafily be exlradled. The price at the mine 

 is about four cents per myriagramme. 



If the Cher were rendered navigable from MontluQon to 

 Vierzon, where it is fo at prefent, the mines in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Commentry would foon give rife to enterprifes 

 which would enliven that country. Ii is probable th;U they 

 would have a very happy influence on the aftivity of the nu- 

 Tnerous forges fituatcd on the borders of the Cher, and at a 

 fmall diftance from it, by the application of a fuel fo ftrong 

 as coal to apart of the operations of thefe forges. 



There are indications of coal in feveral parts of this coun- 

 try which deferve to be examined, if there were caficr means 

 of difpofing of them, or if confuaiption could be found for 

 then) on the fpot. Such are tiio indications found by C. 

 Rambourg, near the forefl: of Tronyai.s, in the canton of 

 Meaulne ; and tliofe in the commune of Vallon, in the fame 

 canton, dilcovered by Thiebault of Allier. 



Department of the Lower Alps. 



Some coal mines (3) are worked in the neighbourhood of 

 Mnnof(jue and Forcalquicr. Thev are worked very irregn- 

 Jarlv. The produfts are not well known. The quality of 

 ih^ coals i? very iudiffercni. 'I'hcy are fold for about 20 



ccpts 



