1891.] ^Jo [Lymau. 



The coal seems to be very free from sulphur. Tlie thin upper bench is 

 less firm than the main one. This bed is undoubtedly the one described 

 in the following extracts from a report on these tracts by the celebrated 

 Professor James Hall (1854), as quoted in the pamphlet of the St. George 

 Mining and Manufacturing Company, New York, 1865, page 7 : 



"This bed was first opened on the point of a low hill in the rear of Mr. 

 Vickar's house, as shown on the map. At this point it is three feet ten 

 inches thick. Although in a most exposed situation, and covered only by 

 a slight thickness of clay, the coal was quarried out in blocks of large 

 size, and breaking into smaller masses only by the application of consider- 

 able force. 



"The aspect of the coal is that of a laminated cannel coal with thin 

 seams of bituminous coal intervening, but altogether forming a small part 

 of the whole. On burning this coal side by side with the cannel coal 

 from the bed previously mentioned, there was a remarkable similarity in 

 the color and character of the flame, the amount of smoke and the ash. 

 The coal burns with much white, or yellowish-white flame, without de- 

 crepitation, and with a small quantity of smoke. It maintains its form, 

 showing no disposition to melt or run, and in the process of burning, 

 throws out numerous jets of white flame, in addition to the steady burn- 

 ing flame. When partially burned, it presents a fine porous coke, finally 

 burning away to a white or light-colored ash. without, in the cases tried, 

 any appreciable quantity of slag or other impurity. The flame and quan- 

 tity of smoke from a piece of cannel coal burned at the same time and by 

 the side of this coal were not perceptibly dift'erent. 



" From this linle experiment, twice repeated at the locality, I infer that 

 for all purposes for producing steam, or for a steady, dry-burning, blazing 

 coal, the coal from this bed will answer all the purposes of the real cannel 

 coal, and for these objects will be equally valuable. The only advantage 

 possessed by the cannel coal for domestic use is that of its freedom from 

 soiling in the process of handling. I am inclined, therefore, to regard 

 this bed of coal as of very great value, particularly upon the western riv- 

 ers, and for the steam boilers of all manufactories where the prevailing 

 coals are of the soft, bituminous character. 



"I may mention that such is the indestructibility of this coal from ordi- 

 nary atmospheric agencies, that large fragments may be picked up in the 

 beds of the streams half a mile from the coal in place, and the specimens 

 burned were of such samples which had lain exposed to the weather prob- 

 abl}' for centuries. I need scarcely mention that from this remarkable 

 indestructibility of the coal from the agency of the weather and from its 

 breaking out in large blocks, even on the exposed outcrops, it is remark- 

 ably adapted to bear transportation with little loss from breaking or 

 waste. 



"This combination of qualities, which I hesitate not to say is possessed 

 by no other coal in this region, except the cannel coal, renders it extremely 

 valuable to any parties who propose to mine and send coal to market." 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. 80C. XXXIII. 146. 2 L. PRINTED NOV. 22, 1894. 



