HUGHES : KURHURBi-Ei COAL FIELD. 5 



Oopurdaha Ghats to be those of the same seams contorted and reversed 

 in dip, and that one of them represented the bed of coal seen at Inman^s 

 shaft. 



The next locality to which Mr. Smithes attention was turned^ was 

 Kuldiha, and he says :— 



" The whole of this tract of land is free from faults or disturbances 

 of any kind. The inclination of the strata is very easy^ dipping* north- 

 west, and lies, in every respect, favorable for working"." He adds — " But 

 here, again, is a property possessing- within itself the elements in a high 

 degree of economic value, unproductive by the absence of a cheap com- 

 munication with a market for its produce.''^ 



He does not seem to have been aware of the occurrence of the 

 seams of coal in the Kumarsot nuddi, nor of those in the Durdurwa, 

 north of Kiildiha, nor of the thick seams in the south-east, at Buria- 

 dih, Chunjka, and Khundiha. 



Of the quality of the coal (referring to that of the Eamnuddi seam), 

 he writes — " The quality of this coal is diiferent to any I have seen iu 

 India. It is bituminous, will coke well by the ordinary mode, and is, 

 therefore, applicable for a greater variety of purposes. It likewise 

 ignites readily, leaving a comparatively small amount of ash of a light 

 fawn colour.^' 



The report concludes with the following expression of opinion as to 

 the importance of this field : — 



" Although this field cannot be, by a great deal, so extensive as that 

 of the Damoodah (Raneegunj), the superior quality of the coal, the 

 highly favorable condition in which it lies, with the important circum- 

 stance that the labour of 400 or 500 miners now resident] in the 

 neighbourhood may be commanded, constitute it wellj^deserving the 

 attention of mining speculators. All that is required is, to remove the only 



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