2 HUGHES: KURHURBAlli COAL FIELD. 



when desirous of making a true valuation of its resources, in giving suffi- 

 cient weight to the drawbacks of its limited area^ the character of its 

 seams, and its geological structure.* 



* The following report on the Kurhurbaii coal field has been drawn up hj Mr. Hughes, 

 but the information contained has resulted from the labours of several officers of the 

 Geological Survey. I cursorily visited the field so long since as 1852. Ko maps whatever 

 then existed of that country. Attached to Dr. McClelland's report, there was a map of 

 a part of the coal field prepared by Mr. Haddon, an excellent surveyor attached to 

 Dr. McClelland's party in 1848-49. Indeed, in many respects this map is superior to any since 

 produced. As soon as it was possible to procure copies of the Survey map of that portion 

 of Hazaribagh, I deputed Mr. W. L. Willson to examine this coal field^in detail. At that 

 time (1859), the East Indian Eailway Company were carrying on vigorously tlie working of 

 the field, and under the very intelligent and zealous guidance of Mr. Cockburn, their Resident 

 Engineer, much was done to elucidate the structure and area of the coal-bearing rocks. 

 Borings were very systematically carried on while the raising of the coal continued. 

 Unfortunately, however, the topographical map furnished to us was so entirely deficient and 

 erroneous that it was impossible to make use of it, and I was unwillingly compelled to remove 

 Mr. Willson, as it was only waste of time to attempt recording our observations on such a 

 document. After the ground had been resurveyed, Mr. Willson returned and completed the 

 examination of the field. 



Meanwhile, however, the workings of the East Indian Railway had entirely ceased, 

 and no further information was to be obtained by actual examination of the coal workings. 

 In fact, nothing whatever was at that time being done in the field. The map having again 

 been improved, and working having been in part resumed, Mr. Hughes was requested to go 

 over the field again, and add to the geological map any information which could be gleaned 

 from recent workings, and to correct anything which might appear needful, or which might 

 be better seen now than in previous years. This was done during last season, and his report, 

 in which the information obtained in former years and by others is embodied as far as 

 appeared necessary, is now published. 



The only workings, at present in actual operation, are those of the Bengal Coal Company, 

 who have been very vigorously raibing coal for some time past, in anticipation of the demand 

 for the railway on the opening of the " Chord Line," and have further been wisely proving 

 the extension of the beds of coal within their property, and with much success. Nothing 

 has yet been done towards re-opening the works which had been carried on by the East Indian 

 Railway, so that there has, unfortunately, been very little opportunity of obtaining information 

 such as can only be obtained from actual workings as to the nature and continuity of the coal 

 beds. The report is, therefore, unavoidably less full and satisfactory on these points than 

 it was hoped we should have been able to render it. 



T. Oldham. 

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