Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 9 



the mines to see that all is right, before the miners are put to work ; 

 or to be used to free the mines in case they are overcharged 

 with gas. 



The interior of the mines contains iron railroads of a very sim- 

 ple construction. Iron bars, two inches by half an inch, are in- 

 serted edge up into cross pieces of timber, four by two inches, laid 

 at the bottom of the drifts. The iron is admitted into the limber 

 about an inch deep; no wedging is necessary, and the road can be 

 curved at pleasure. Mules are used on these roads below, and 

 thrive and look better there than those above ground. 



Impressions of fishes and vegetable remains, such as ferns, 

 bark, and knobs of wood, are often found in the slate lying over 

 coal in this neighborhood. They were particularly numerous at 

 the Union pits, and mines of the Creek Company, which seem 

 to be a distinct formation of coal from the main formation, and 

 many suppose it a deposit at an after date. As no sinking is now 

 going on at either of these mines, I am unable to procure and for- 

 ward you any samples, as the old ones have been disposed of. I 

 will be upon the watch, and secure for you hereafter any speci- 

 mens that may be obtained, and worthy of your attention. 



The coal basin extends across Chesterfield county to the south 

 to the Appomattox, or perhaps a little beyond the river into Ame- 

 lia county. No coal, however, has been found of sufficient thick- 

 ness to justify working, nearer the river than Rowlett's old pits, 

 distant one mile to the north. Between these pits and Hill's old 

 pits, distant five miles still farther to the north, is supposed to be 

 the only part of this section of the basin that will be found valu- 

 able from the abundance of its mineral treasure. The coal meas- 

 ures may be traced on the north from these limits to the James 

 river pits, and south a little beyond the Appomattox, but no ex- 

 ploration has yet discovered coal beyond the limits mentioned, in 

 sufficient quantities to be wrought to profit. 



Rowlett's pits mentioned above, were some twenty years 

 since leased by a compatiy of gentlemen in Petersburg, wrought 

 for a few years and abandoned ; subsequently an incorporated 

 company purchased them, but after a trial of two years gave up 

 further search for coal, having been unsuccessful, though the land 

 is still owned by them. About twenty years ago Hill's pits were 

 first put in operation. These were worked for five or six years, 

 and likewise abandoned. The coal at both of these workings 

 Vol. xLiii, No. 1.— April-June. 1342. 2 



