. 2 
10 Gal Mines tit the vicinity of Richmordy Van 
was of excellent, quality, and particularly well adapted to the 
use of grates and other purposes requiring gas and flame. -The 
exceedingly faulty character of the field at both of these points 
led no doubt to the abandonment of these workings. 
These are the only workings that had been attempted on the 
south side of this great coal basin, until. two years since, when 
coal was accidentally discovered upon the lands of James H. Cox; 
next south of Hill’s old pits and three fourths of a mile distant: 
This coal was first discovered.on the side of a hill, where it had 
been uncovered by the washings of heavy rains; for the coal 
here along the whole line of outcrop reaches within a few feet of 
the surface, being only covered by a coating of soil, sand, and 
gravel. Since its discovery, an average of about twenty hands 
have been engaged in exploring and mining it, and from the ex- 
plorations already made, the belief is entertained that no part of 
the basin presents a more regular, uninterruptedy and undisturbed 
formation than this. The thickness of the seam varies from seven. 
to fifteen feet. The coal is of superior quality, and. peculiarly 
suited to grate purposes, steam engines, the blast furnace, gas 
works, &c. The accompanying certificate* from Dr. Andrews, 
shows its richness in volatile matter, andthe small quantity of 
ashes it contains. At present, the operations at these mines can- _ 
not be increased to any extent, in consequence of their distance — 
from market, and the want of proper facilities for transportation, — 
The present mode of transportation is to carry it in carts to the 
river, and thence by boats to Petersburg, at the cost in all of © 
* To Cartes Bere, Esq.—Sir: The specimen of bituminous coal from the 
Clover Hill coal mine, which you left with me for analysis, belongs to the pairs 
called slate coal. It ae specific gravity of 1.26 ; principal Srogipee slaty 5 i 
fracture uneven, brittle, slightly soils the fingers, and is co PekuMie 
varieties, one velvet black with a brilliant lustre thé foliated fracture, the other 
dark grayish black, lustre glimmering. It t ignites Ray ROR and burns with a 
lively yellow flame ; — Be ma are Very little in. coking. 
One hundred parts co 
ny ee ge nee 
Nobile matter 23. cite  Soeiecas Tug oc toe ORS a 
se, “e 
. from the Mids, oR, TRS Seg ee es 
Oxide of iron, foes ea : 
Te ia a ee alae ne i a Pe ke 
The caking quality which it has, will make it a useful fuel for the do 
those purp which require a hollow fire. For the man manufacture of 
sider it smperior: to the sasint coal of Newcastle, | 
gigk ie BO ae md ee 
af Ae phn hoe Ps 
Z. : 
with — iron as ssuphart 
ss 
‘ol coshet 4 
I ae ‘ 
Pld eee a al 
