CHAPTER VIII 



THE COUNTRY ROUND LYELL THE 

 COAL-FIELD 



THE town of Lyell is built on both sides of the river, 

 which is spanned by two fine bridges. The eastern 

 portion is residential and contains the Government build- 

 ings, while the western is devoted to manufactures. 



The coal which was used in the various factories was 

 obtained from Coal Hill, an isolated eminence to the 

 north-west of the town. 



The supplies from this source were, however, almost 

 exhausted, and as it was the only known source of coal 

 in the country the authorities were much exercised as 

 to the fate of the industries when the fast-diminishing 

 reserves should be worked out. 



Under these circumstances we made it our first duty 

 to visit Coal Hill and its neighbourhood, in order to 

 ascertain whether the seams could be traced elsewhere, 

 and also if others might not be discovered. 



The hill stands upon an almost level plain above 

 which it rises some 400 feet. It consists for the 

 most part of gray shale, but is capped by a brownish- 

 yellow sandstone with rusty-looking specks in it. This 

 is a hard rock, seems to be durable when exposed to the 

 weather, and has been used as a building stone in Lyell, 



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