Lesley.] 494 {April 21, 
the general run of the Lower Coal Measure coals in the Bituminous 
Coal Basins of the Susquehanna West Branch and the Conemaugh. I 
saw no other beds here; but there must be others both below it and 
above it; for the beforementioned two-foot bed ought to be above it, as 
the above section (2) shows. 
I made a measured section of one of these hills, called Robert’s Butt 
(over 700 feet high, and capped with a fragment of the great conglom- 
erate sandrock which once covered all the country), as a specimen of the 
barriers which separate all these streams from one another, in the coal 
field, and to show how impracticable any railroad line must be which 
does not follow closely the great water-courses. 
The following section up the side of Robert’s Butt, half a mile north 
of Guest’s Station, was made with an aneroid barometer. It shows the 
Sheep Rock Conglomerate Sandstone to be about 700 feet above the 
(Newberry, Robinet, Grier, Jessee, Gc.) Six-Foot Coal Bed : 
woo -| Shale # 
The © foot Coal bed. 
was  Hevel of Niyhest mater in Guest liver, when tt banks Tom's C. back to Gues 
At one place where the bed has been dug a little into, it yields the best 
kind of bituminous coal, fat and caking, but friable, with no appearance 
of sulphur, and making no clinker. It is good blacksmith-coal, and no 
doubt will make good coke. <A piece of ill-made coke from what is, per- 
haps, the same bed, near Gladesville, shows that the best coke can be got 
from it. 
On Russe’s Creek this coal bed is also at water level and has been 
mined by Robert P. Dickenson in the bed of the creek, near his house, 
and in a run a quarter of.a mile further east, where a horizontal gang- 
way has been commenced. About 5 feet of the coal is visible ; the bottom 
is not reached, being in water. Roof: a shaley clay, without distinct 
plant impressions. Upper part of the bed bituminous, and somewhat 
bony. From the first 12 inches downwards, solid, and somewhat like can- 
nel. Coal in some parts slightly granular, reminding one of the sand- 
coal of Montgomery County. Bottom coal very good for blacksmithing ; 
makes a hollow fire; but cakes little and goes out before morning ; not 
much ashes ; ashes white; makes a yellow blaze; no sulphuret of iron 
visible; no fossil leaves. Streaks of Goal through the bed showing 
