80 Richmond and Jerusalem. 



mical applicability of the coal at Jerusalem, it will be 

 found fully adequate to the propulsion of steam vessels 

 on long voyages, or to any other purpose for which the 

 best description of this mineral fuel is required. 



As to the quantity which may be obtained, sufficient 

 data have not been accumulated on which to found a safe 

 calculation : but enough has been ascertained of the 

 ramifications of the carboniferous system of the district, 

 and of the quality of the mineral which it yields, to 

 justify me in recommending that a still more exact and 

 systematic examination be made in the neighbourhood 

 of Jerusalem, and in the upper valley of the Coal River, 

 wheresoever the lower strata are exposed. 



The coal, wherever it has been touched there, appears to 

 be of excellent quality. Two seams at least of a workable 

 thickness have been discovered within 80 feet of the brown 

 sandstone formation ; and the irregularity of dip fre- 

 quently brings the lower beds near to the surface. Then 

 the distance from a place of shipment is not so great as to 

 render the inland transport of coal an insuperable, or even 

 a very serious obstacle. The distance from Jerusalem to the 

 harbour below Richmond would be 16 miles or upwards : 

 but were a tram-road once laid down, it would be of small 

 moment whether the space to be travelled over amounted 

 to 16 miles or only to 6 ; besides, it is to be borne in 

 mind that, whether such tramway be conducted to Rich- 

 mond or to the Uerwent, a great advantage would be 

 derived from having to send loaded trucks down hill, and 

 from having only to draw up empty ones. 



In conclusion I have to repeat, that my last examin- 

 ation of the country immediately about the vale of 

 Jerusalem, and downward into the valley of the Coal 

 River, has impressed me most favourably so far as the 

 amount and quality of coal existing thereabouts is con- 

 cerned ; and that it seems most desirable to have an 

 extensive series of deep perforations made, with boring 



