HISTORY OF THE FIELD. 21 
Since 1862, operations have been suspended, but now that the 
project of the Sone canal has been sanctioned, a demand for coal may 
arise to bring into activity a branch of industry which so materially 
affects the welfare of a people. 
A road has lately been constructed to facilitate the carriage of coal 
from Rajhéra and Pandáa. It runs in a north-westerly direction, skirt- 
ing the hills which border the Koel. It diverges from the Koel near 
Muhammadganj, and passing by Haidarnagar and Japlá touches the Sone 
near Büdwá. 
The following returns of the coal raised between the years 1859 and 
1862 are copied from the “ Coal resources and production of India" :— 
1859 at "MS Au .. 28,648 Maunds. 
HOD to Nh 0 .. 90,900 2 
gei kee: 2 rm BOT 
1862 A. $us Un "sos dB D » 
The Talchir series can furnish the builder with excellent fine grained 
۱ sandstones, presenting every desirable shade of 
Building stones. eet 
color. Of the Barákar sandstones there is little 
to be said in their favor, as they are generally too friable to be useful. 
Tron ores—occur abundantly beyond the limits of the field. 
Kunkur.—This is so plentiful in many places that it completely 
obscures the rocks under it. There is scarcely any part of the field 
where it may not be found. 
History or THB FrBLD. 
The credit of the discovery of this field is due to Mr. A. Prinsep, 
but the first reliable account of researches is from the pen of Captain 
Franklin, dated 24th April 1829. 
The field was more fully explored by Captain Sage in January 1830, 
and his seetions* correspond very closely to those published in the 
present memoir. 
* Gleanings in Science, Vol. II, p. 219. 
( 345 ) 
