COAL. 59 



I observed no good seams near Rani Hat, but a closer search might 

 discover such. Their absence, indeed, would be another point against 

 the coal, as showing that the seams near Selim Hill are not continuous 

 for two miles to the eastward. If found, the coal could be taken down 

 the easy gradient of the diluvial Rani valley, and thence across the 

 Terai to Sukna, a distance altogether of about six miles. 



To bring the coal away from the neighbourhood of the Mahanaddi, 

 it would be necessary to construct a road or tramway down the gorge 

 of that river — about three miles measured along the bed of the stream, 

 the distance from the debouchure to Sukna being three more. But 

 this of course would not be undertaken until after mines had been 

 opened near Selim Hill, and unless they turned out well. 



The coal, as extracted from the mine, being in powder, or, at best, in 



c . . , hl lumps which crumble into powder on the applica- 



fuel> tion of the least violence, it manifestly cannot be 



used in its natural state.* It must be artificially compacted before it 



can be utilized as fuel for locomotive purposes. 



Two ways of doing this present themselves — namely, coking and 

 conversion into patent fuel. The Government of Bengal has directed one 

 hundred mans to be sent to Calcutta for trial by both methods, but this 

 has not yet arrived. Meantime, I may give the results of some experi- 

 ments on a small scale which have been made. 



* A small quantity of coal from the Tindharia 11-feet seam was raised by Mr. Partridge, 

 the owner of the Tindharia estate, before the drift was opened, and an endeavour made to 

 use it, in its natural state, for working the steam-engine which drives the tea-rolling 

 machines. I am indebted to Mr. Montfort for an opportunity of witnessing an experiment 

 of this kind. The furnace was being stoked with wood, and the engine working at 25fts. 

 pressure, when the coal was added in fragile lumps and powder, a good deal of which fell at 

 once between the fire-bars into the ash-pit. The coal caked slightly, so as to admit, after a 

 short time, of being gently stirred and broken up, but being mostly in powder when 

 shovelled in, the fire was too much choked to allow sufficient draft, and the pressure soon 

 sank from 25 to 15tbs. 



( -59 ) 



