Anthracite formation of Wilkesharre, &§c. 9 
done as with eight or ten of wood coal, and with a saving 
of time, we are warranted in the assertion, that the Lehigh 
Coal will soon supercede the use of charcoal altogether. 
A similar species of coal was introduced about five years 
ago, into Lancaster, Dauphin and York counties, where it 
is much approved of by the smiths, and is burnt by the 
farmers in stoves* of a peculiar construction, and the use of 
it is rapidly extending. Not less than sixty thousand bushels 
have been used in those counties during the last year. A 
powerful consideration with the farmer is, that by using 
this coal, there is no need of his retaining so large a propox- 
tion of his farm in woodland; all that is necessary is to 
keep a sufficiency for building and fencing: the quantity of 
his arable land may be increased without any additional 
purchase, and the superfluous wood can be sold to advan- 
tage. 
It is to be observed that the grates should be so con- 
structed as to free themselves from the ashes, which is done 
by having no place, if possible, for the ashes to lodge, and 
making the bars smaller below than on the surface where 
the coal rests, placing them about 7-8 of an inch apart, and 
giving the stove or grate a strong draught of air; the sides 
and back of the grate should be formed of good fire brick ; 
they should be perpendicular and not inclined. 
The introduction of this coal is a subject of general im- 
portance. Whoever casts a retrospective glance of a dozen 
years will remember the low price of wood, and the little 
estimation in which woodland was then held. If he com- 
pares it with its present advanced price, and observes how 
those tracts are subdivided and cut up now, he will be able 
to form some idea what the price of firewood will probably 
be a dozen or twenty years hence, if no other fuel is adopt- 
ed, or dependence placed on our forests alone for supplies. 
The following statements form only a part of those which 
have been received; it is deemed superfluous to present 
any more. | J.C, 
* These stoves may be had at the furnace of Reuben Trexler, Berks 
county, Pa, 
Vou. IV.....No. 1, 2. 
