2 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 



feet to some four or five feet in thickness.* A full and accurate 

 account of the field and the quality of the coals is anticipated 

 from the report of Professor Rogers, to be made to the next legisla- 

 ture of Virginia. It may be well perhaps to remark, that all the 

 explorations and workings in this coal-field, have been confined 

 chiefly to the outcrop or sides of the basin, and that there is no- 

 thing yet developed indicating with any degree of certainty how 

 thick or deep the coal will be found imbedded in the centre of the 

 field ; but it is believed that enough has been ascertained, to show 

 that so thick, varied, and valuable a deposit of bituminous coal, 

 in the same space, is not to be found any where else. 



The first mines discovered in this vicinity, were the old Black 

 Heath pits. Buck & Cnnliff"e's, Ross & Curry's, Wooldridge's, 

 Railey's, and the Green Hole, and on James river, in Chester- 

 field county, also, Trabue's and Sallee's pits. These have all 

 been discontinued or worked out ; they produced coal of excel- 

 lent quality for smithing purposes, particularly the Old Black Heath 

 mines. 



The mines now in operation are the Maidenhead pits, known 

 as the mines of the Black Heath Company of CoUiers, discovered 

 in 1821. There are at these mines several shafts, varying from 

 one hundred and fifty to seven hundred feet deep ,• during the 

 year before the last, Col. Heth, originally a large shareholder, 

 purchased these mines of this incorporated company, with all 

 their real estate and other property; he bought also Sallee's pits, 

 with a large adjoining tract — intending to combine all these va- 

 rious tracts so as to form a new company, and with that object 

 went out to England. While there, an explosion from inflam- 

 mable gas occurred in his mines, and destroyed fifty three out 

 of fifty sixf persons who were in the pits. He brought out 

 from England suitable men to reclaim his mines, which was 

 done, and with him came agents sent out to examine and report 

 as to the value of this property. He is now in England, clos- 

 ing a sale of the whole of this property, and the agents of the 



* It is probable that this coal-field extends through Virginia into North Carolina. 



t One of the persons who survived, was one of three descending the shaft in a 

 basket; they were thrown up in the basket to the full length of the rope running 

 over pulleys at the pit-head frame, that was forty feet above the surface; they 

 were thus thrown probably seventy feet high. The man saved, who remained in 

 the basket, had both thighs fractured. 



