12 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 
‘The bearing of this part of the field is fifteen degrees to the 
west of south, and inclines to the west as you proceed to the 
south, until near the river it is thirty degrees. The same isthe | 
case on the western outcrop. This induces the belief that the 
basin is here rounding off, and that at no great distance to the 
. south of the river, the coal formation entirely disappears. This — 
belief is confirmed by explorations made on that side of the river. | 
- Several mines were worked formerly on James River, on the 
western outcrop of the coal-field, in Powhatan County, which are 
now unwrought, principally beeause the eoal both in quality and | 
quantity is not equal to the coal-of Chesterfield, and will not bear 
working in a depressed state of the trade.* } 
In Goochland County, on the western outcrop, coal of sod 
quality was formerly worked, and known as the Dover pits, 
owned by Anderson & Moody, and conveyed to the Dover Coal 
Mining Company. These mines are not now worked, the com- 
pany having failed. Since the failure of the Dover Company; , | 
the mines have reverted to the former owners; and on the east 
side of the outcrop, on the Goochland and Pduciies side of James 
_ River, are several mines, some of them now in operation, and some _ : 
not. The largest operators in that neighborhood, are the Messrs. 
Crouches & Sinead; the owners of extensive mites in in good \ 
ing condition, employing about one bundred th ed hands, 
Near these mines, on James river, are can ‘ite Tucka 
Coal Company. The old mines are out of work, but a shaft is 
sinking, employing from fifteen to twenty hands,&e. 
Near these are Woodward’s and Cottrel’s Mines, both now pa 7 
wrought. Northeast of Crouches & Sneed’s mines, lie the Edge 
Hill pits,now worked but not extensively, by Richardson, proba= 
bly spt yine some thirty hands, and producing about eighty — 
thousand bushels. On the north part of Crouches & Sneed’s 
property, Townes & Powell are engaged in hoisting coal, but not 
working more than some twenty hands, producing the present 
year about one hundred thousand bushels. There may be some > 
other mines in this vicinity not remembered. There is a railroad : 
connecting these mines with the James River canal, down which — 
the coal pene to Richmond. The taal on Be north side of 
: 
* These mines svatehinitead b eee 3 ; ae ae ee ee 
a *~ a oP <s 7 bit 2 
