7 54 On the Anthracite Region, &c. of Pennsylvania. 
Arr. VIII.—Observations relative to some of the Mountain 
Districts of Pennsylvania, and the Mineral resources of 
that Siate, in its Anthracite, Bituminous Coal, Salt and 
Tron, with miscellaneous remarks ; by JAMES PIERCE. 
A a soci tS of the State of _Pennsylva- 
nia is occupied by mountains, generally uninviting to the 
settler, ent mostly seistesh in a state of nature. It is crossed 
by the Blue Ridge, Alleghany, numerous minor ridges, an 
extensive tracts of elevated table land, that spread over an 
‘average width: of 150 miles. Though undesirable for agri- 
culture, much of this mountain region contains, in its anthra- 
cite, bituminous coal, salt and iron, mineral pas that 
will st a source of inexhaustible wealth to the 
In no part of the world is anthracite, so salable in the 
arts and for economical purposes, found as abundantly as in 
Pennsylvania. Its cheap diffusion will be of incalculable ad- 
vantage to the Atlantic States, where the increased expense 
of fuel begins to be felt ; and its further enhancement would 
limit the population, and ribeéeielly interfere with the progress 
of manufactures. To Ria it will be a material aux- 
iliary : being sv m the interior of the earth, the 
surface can be more extanively cleared — cultivated, 7 
wherever our numerous calcareous valley intersected b 
canals or navigable streams, lime, so valuable asa mane, 
and in the arts, can be calcined at a low rate, by t 
anthracite. Experien¢e has demonstrated that for we manu- 
facture of iron this fael is peculiarly advantageous, as it em- 
braces little sulphur, or other injurious ingredients ; produces 
an intense, steady heat ; and, for most operations, it is equal, 
if not superior, to okie: Bari iron, anchors, chains, steam- 
boat machinery, and wrought iron of every description, has 
more tenacity and malleability, with less waste of metal, when 
fabricated by anthracite, than ‘by the aid of bituminous coal, or 
charcoal, with the important additional advantage of a dimi- 
nution of expense, at least fifty per cent. in labour and fuel ; 
and iron castings are stronger when the melting has been 
effected by the aid of anthracite. Possibly, i in mer quick pro- 
cess of heating and fusing, it communicates less carbon and 
oxygen. For breweries, distilleries, and the sistas of steam, 
anthracite coal is decidedly preferable to bituminous coal, or 
other fuel, the heat t being more steady and manageable, and 
