E.. Hitchcock on the Coal of Bristol Co., and R. Island. 331 
northeasterly across the coal field. But this point needs further 
ee a and I have not given such a view of the matter on 
ap. But I thought it best to indicate the region where I 
ae seen the old red sandstone, as I presume to call it, most 
fully developed. 
Now, setting aside these border rocks, and looking only at those 
in connection with the coal, I think we cannot hesitate to identify 
them with those of other coal fields ; though, perhaps in Massa- 
chusetts and Rhode Island rather more metamorphosed than is 
common. 
IIL. The number, position, strike, dip, and general character, 
of the beds of coal, already discovered in the district under con- 
sideration, render it probable that it is all one coal field, or essen- 
tially one. 
_ Under this head Iam led to describe briefly all the coal beds 
in this deposit known to me, most of which have neh one 
to a greater or less extent. I have visited them all, wit 
two exceptions of no oe and ers into all the 
mines na are accessi 
s of coal in Mansfield. —These have been opened in 
two parts of the town. One is near the centre where a shaft was 
sunk by the Mansfield Coal Company, some fifteen years ago, 
sixty-four feet ; but only a little coal was found. 
About the same time, the Mansfied Mining Company sunk a 
shaft eighty-four feet near the Hardon farm, two miles southwest 
the centre. A drift was then carried across the strata, and it 
is said that seven beds, of various thickness, up to ten feet, were 
found. Dip of these beds, 53° N. W. Strike, S. W. and N. 
seventy feet, and ten feet in diameter: from which, according to 
the statements of Thomas 8. Ridgway, Esq., the engineer, they 
have carried a south tunnel six hundred and sixty feet, and other 
tunnels and gangways to about the same amount. Not less than 
thirteen beds of coal have been crossed, but none of them thick. 
They are very irregular, sometimes swelling out to six or eight 
feet in thickness, and then — up toa fewinches. The dip 
Varies from 30° to 70° N. W., and the strike is nearly N.E. and 
was sunk man ears ago, about one woes and eighty feet, 
Mostly in ate Naa caer slate, and several beds found. The 
