F 
2 bi Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 
feet to some four or five feet in thickness.* A full and accurate 
account of the field and the quality of the coals is anticipated 
from the report of Professor Rogers, to be made to the next legisla- 
ture of Virginia. It may be well perhaps to remark, that all the 
explorations and workings in this coal-field, have been confined 
chiefly to the outcrop or sides of the basin, and that there is no- 
thing yet developed indicating with any degree of certainty how 
thick or deep the coal will be found imbedded in the centre of the 
field; but it is believed that enough has been ascertained, to show 
that so thick, varied, and valuable a deposit of bituminous coal, 
in the same space, is not to be found any where else. 
The first mines discovered in this vicinity, were the old Black 
Heath pits, Buck & Cunliffe’s, Ross & Curry’s, Wooldridge’s, 
Railey’s, and the Green Hole, and on James river, in Chester- 
field county, also, T'rabue’s and Sallee’s pits. These have all 
been discontinued or worked out; they produced. coal of excel- 
lent quality for smithing purposes, particularly the Old Black Heath 
mines. 
The mines now in operation are the Maidenhead pits, known 
as the mines of the Black Heath Company of Colliers, discovered 
in 1821. ‘There are at these mines several shafts, varying from 
one hundred and fifty to seven hundred feet deep; during the 
year before the last, Col. Heth, originally a large shareholder, 
purchased these mines of this incorporated company, with all 
their real estate and other property ; he bought also Sallee’s pits, 
with a large adjoining tract—intending to combine all these va- 
rious tracts so as‘to form a new company, and with that object 
Went out to England. While there, an explosion from inflam- 
mable gas occurred in his mines, and destroyed fifty.three out 
of fifty sixt persons who were in the ‘pits... He“ brought out 
from England suitable men to reclaim: his mines, which was 
done, and with him came agents sent out to examine and report 
as to the value of this property, He is now in England, clos- 
ing a sale of the whole of this property, and the agents of the 
a ee ee | 
* It is probable that this coal-field extends through Virginia into North Carolina. 
ns who survived, was one of three descending the shaft in a 
_ + One of the h : 
basket; they were thrown up in the basket to the full length 
over pulleys at the pit-head frame, that was forty feet above the 
were thus thrown 
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