24© -A general View of the 



Department of Haute-Loire. 



Very abundant coal mines are worked in the cantons of 

 BraflTac-Sainte-FIorine, FreugereF, Vergonglieon, and Lemp- 

 des, the produfik of which is confiderable. That of Grof- 

 inenil, fitiiated in the lall-mentioned commune, which had 

 been perforated by a number of fmall pits in fuch a manner 

 that the flrata of coal was inundated, is now in the hands of 

 a company, who are clearing it of water, and making pre- 

 parations for working it to a greater depth. 



There is realbn to think, that this mine alone, when in a 

 produtSlive Hate, cill furnifh as much as all the other mints 

 of the c(nmtry do at prefent. The annual produft, however, 

 of the Ir.tter is from fifteen to eighteen hundred thoufand 

 myringrammes. Thefe coals are of an excellent quality. 

 The means of their conveyance are the navigation of the 

 Allier and the Loire, the canal of Briare and of the Seine; 

 which gives for their circulation an extent of more than 140 

 leagues. A large quantity of thefe coals is confumed at 

 Paris. The mean price of them at the pits is from 15 to 20 

 cents; and w^hen delivered at Paris from 30 to 40 cents per 

 niyriagranmie. 



Department of La Loire. 



The foulh-eaft part of this department (24) contains a 

 great number of coal mines, worked in an extent of more 

 than ten miles in length and five or fix miles in breadth. 

 The principal communes in which thefe mines are fituated 

 are thole of Rives-de-Gier, Saint-Chamond, Saint-Etienne, 

 ;Le Chambon, Firnini, Roche-Moliere, Sec. 

 • In coniequence of the number and richnefs of the ftrata 

 found in thefe cantons, an immenfe quantity of this fuel has 

 been extracted for feveral centuries paft; but in order to ob- 

 tain it fooner, and with more eafe, a great many pits have 

 been funk, by means of which the coals neareft the furface 

 were dug out. . The whole roii.ntry is perforated with thefe 

 apertures. This irregular method rendered the working of 

 the inferior flrata nnich more laborious and cxpenfive. 



The prefeni. produdl of the different mines in this depart- 

 ment are (lilted at thirty millions of myriagrammes annually; 

 and this, in all probability, is below the truth. If the mines 

 were better worked, it is certain that the quantity might be 

 quadrupled. 



The quality and price of thefe coals is exceedingly various. 

 Thofe of the 'fir A quality coft at the mine from 10 to 13 cents 



per 



