24 matured /HMracles* 



sively used in the manufacture of what is com- 

 monly called coal gas. England produces a 

 large amount of cannel coal, as well as another 

 variety of bituminous coal, which latter, 

 however, does not burn with such a black 

 smoke as the coal found in the Ohio valley and 

 the Western States of America. East of the 

 Alleghany Mountains there is a region of an- 

 thracite coal that is very extensively worked 

 and finds great favor in all parts of the coun- 

 try as fuel for domestic heating, especially on 

 account of its great cleanliness. 



All of the coal beds have a common origin, 

 and the difference in the quality of coal found 

 in different parts of the country is due to 

 many circumstances, some of which have never 

 been explained. There is indisputable proof, 

 however, that all coal beds are of vegetable 

 origin. Geologists tell us that these coal beds 

 were formed during an age before the earth 

 had cooled down to the temperature that it 

 has at the present time an age when vegeta- 

 tion was forced by the internal heat of the 

 earth instead of having to receive all its 

 warmth from the sun's rays as we do now. 

 Some of our readers are familiar with what is 

 commonly termed a hotbed. A hotbed is 

 made by putting soil on top of substances that 

 will ferment and create heat underneath the 

 soil. This heat from beneath will force vege- 

 tation and cause a much larger growth than 



