108 HUGHES : WARDHA VALLEY COAL-FIELD. 



cent, of ash — an amount of useless matter that could not fail to retard 

 combustion. 



Trials elsewhere with it, in the Central Provinces and at the colliery, 

 appear to have given better results, and Mr. Ness reports that samples 

 on being submitted to the blast of a smith's bellows stood to the last 

 particle, giving out excessive heat and leaving no clinker. 



As the bricks operated upon at the Mint and by Mr. Ness were pre- 

 cisely alike, it is apparent that further experiments must be made 

 before any final opinion is delivered. 



The late Mr. Fryar, when in charge of the colliery, endeavoured to 

 utilise the slack in the form of brick fuel, but he was not successful in 

 his attempt, his verdict bearing out the result obtained in the Mint. 



The question of the suitability of the Warora, Pisgaon and Ghugus 

 coal for railway purposes has been practically demonstrated, and they 

 have been found to answer quite as well as the Narbada coal. 



Regarding fitness for employment in blast furnaces, Mr. Ness is now 

 engaged in testing the Warora coal, in a small experimental furnace, 

 with Lohara and other iron ores, and limestone from Kandara or Karam- 

 gohan. I have not heard what the result of his trials has been; but I 

 am afraid that the amount of dead weight in the coal will seriously 

 affect its effectiveness. 



Collieries. — There are now only two pits open in the "Wardha field, 

 and those are at Warora ; the experimental ones of Ghugus and of 

 Pisgaon having been abandoned, the latter in August 1875. 



The history of the sinking of the Warora and Pisgaon shafts is one 

 of recurring mishaps and constant delays, from the unexpected excess of 

 water that had to be contended against. The machinery at first indented 

 for proved inadequate to keep the water under, and it was not until 

 much more powerful engines and larger boilers were set up, and larger 

 pumps put down, that the sinking was successfully carried out. 

 ( 108 ) 



