BUK'KAT COUNTY. 177 



The s]u- itio -rarity of the cral is 1 247, giving 2,103 Ibs. to the cubic yard. Tliese results are 

 nearly identical with those obtained from a sample of English bituminous coal (Newcastle) recently 

 analyzed by us. The coke obtained from your coal is of a very superior quality, being firm and of 

 talk luster. 



The amount of fixed carbon is large. It has been repeatedly demonstrated by experiment that the 

 evaporative power of different coals is in proportion to the quantity of this constituent. Tour coal is 

 therefore of superior quality for the production of steam. We have used the coal for several days in 

 an open grate, and find it adapted for this use. It ignites readily and burns freely, cracking open as 

 it becomes heated. It burns to a comparatively small quantity of ash, without producing clinker. 

 To test thoroughly the effect of a high temperature on the coal, we burned a grate full of it. keeping 

 the blower on. until it was entirely consumed. In this case, even, the quantity of clinker or fused ash 



i;i.l. 



In all our experiments with the coaL burning it in an open grate and otherwise, it has not contami- 

 nated the atmosphere of the room with sulphurous r unpleasant gasses in the slightest degree. 

 ither do we observe in the coal layers or grains of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, such as are often 

 found in bituminous coals, and are the source of the sulphurous fumes. By this we do not mean to 

 say that your coal contains no sulphur. Sulphur is found in all coals without exception. But we find 

 mi reason to believe that it is present in yours in larger quantity than in other Western coals of estab- 

 lished reputation. 



Wt- have tried your coal in a blacksmith's forge, and have the testimony of practical men to its su- 

 perior quality for such use. For many purposes it possesses great advantages over more highly bitu- 

 minous coals. It does not melt and cement, so as to render a frequent stirring of the fire necessary 

 in order to keep np a draft. Neither does it swell objectionably on the fire. This property, and the 

 firmness of the coke yielded, adapt your coal especially to use in fonnderies and smelting furnaces, 

 for which purpose it may not improbably be used without coking. It is impossible, however, to give 

 a definite opinion as to this without experiments on a larger scale than we have found it possible to 

 make. 



From these descriptions it will at once be seen that the Sheffield 

 mines yield a very valuable coal. The analyses differ considerably as 

 made at Springfield and at Yale College ; that, however, may be owing 

 to the coal analyzed having been taken from different drifts or differ- 

 ent parts of the seam. The coal sent to the Eastern chemists was, no 

 doubt, the best that could be obtained from the mines. 



The next coal mine of interest is near the Chicago, Burlington and 

 Quincy Kailroad, south of and near the track, and about two and one- 

 half miles north-east of Buda, on section 25, in the township of Con- 

 cord. A small stream, and a small grove called Bilbenne grove, at 

 this place give variety to the prairie monotony. Coal has been detected 

 all around this little grove, and there can be no doubt but that there is 

 a productive coal patch of considerable extent to be worked out here. 

 This is but about tive miles from the Sheffield diggings, in a south-east 

 direction. A shaft is sunk in the bottom of the ravine, and a drift 

 driven into the hill on the principle of an inclined plane. Messrs. Bob- 

 in sou, Dinks & Co. are working these mines, operating a steam engine 

 to raise the coal from the shaft. The shaft is sixty feet deep ; the seam 

 of coal from four and a half to five feet thick, and said to resemble the 

 Sheffield seam in appearance and in the quality of the coal. Forty feet 

 above this heavy seam, and twenty feet below the .surface of the ground, 

 is another coal scam about two and a half. feet thick ; but the coal is of 



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