MERCER COUNTY, 3 11 



and 2, it will not probably be found north of section 35, township 12. All 

 the stratified rocks that have been observed north of this in this township, ap- 

 pear to belong to the underlying Kinderhook group. Hence it seems probable 

 that along some portions of the southern border of Mercer county, the Coal 

 Measures rest upon the Kinderhook group. As the latter is here composed of 

 shales much resembling those of the Coal Measures, it will be very difficult, if 

 not impossible, for the miner, who knows nothing about geology, to tell when 

 he has reached the horizon, below which coal cannot be found, and he may dig 

 or bore into the Lower Carboniferous beds without the slightest prospect of 

 reward for his labor. 



A much larger amount of coal might be taken out in this county, were the 

 demand sufficient to warrant it, none of the mines being worked to their full 

 capacity at the present time. The railroad now being constructed intersects 

 the county from east to west, and runs within three miles of nearly all the 

 mines along Edwards river, while some of them are much nearer, and those 

 along Pope creek, sections 31 and 32, township 14, range 2, are less than four 

 miles from it. It is probable that at almost any place between Windsor and 

 Monroe, a shaft might be sunk, near the railroad, and reach a workable seam 

 of coal at a depth not exceeding one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet. 

 This road once in operation, new mines will be opened, and sections that are 

 now unable to obtain coal at reasonable rates will be supplied, while those who 

 have coal lands near the road will find their value much increased. 



Pi/rite. This is a sulphuret of iron, and the so-called "sulphur" of the 

 miners. It is more or less mixed with the coal of all the seams, and is the 

 great bane of all our western coals. It occurs in various forms, sometimes in 

 crystals, and thin vertical layers disseminated throughout the coal, and again 

 in horizontal bands. In the latter case, it is readily separated from the coal 

 in the mines, but in the former this cannot be done. If much of it be present 

 the coal is valueless for blacksmithirig purposes, as it renders the iron brittle. 

 If the coal is to be used in the manufacture of iron, the sulphur of the pyrite 

 may be removed by coking. This mineral is of no value, save for the manu- 

 facture of copperas (sulphate of iron) and sulphuric acid. 



Timber, Soil vnd Agriculture. The soil of the prairie is a dark colored or 

 black loam, containing much humus, and everywhere productive, when prop- 

 erly drained and cultivated. Corn and other cereals are the principal crops. 

 The soil of those portions which skirt the water courses is usually much lighter 

 colored, and of less depth than that of the prairie. Though much less pro- 

 ductive, it is better adapted to some crops, particularly fruits. Nearly all these 

 lands were originally timbered, but large portions of them have been cleared, 

 either to obtain fuel or for cultivation. The most abundant kinds of timber 

 found here, and along the slopes of the hills are, white, bur, black, red and 



