472 MINING INDUSTET. 



highly of it, and their universal testimony was in its favor. The amount of 

 clinker it makes is small, and the calorific effect for locomotives of one ton of 

 coal was never stated as being less than equal to two cords of wood found in the 

 Rocky Mountains, for railroad use. When we take into account the difference 

 of bulk and ease of handling, the economical effect would be much greater. 



One cubic foot of this coal weighs about 90 pounds ; consequently the 

 upper seam would yield, after deducting one-fifth for slack, waste, &c., about 

 8,000 tons, of 2,000 pounds, to the acre. The third seam will yield, on this 

 same basis, 16,000 tons, or 24,000 tons in all. This deduction of one-fifth 

 is liberal, and in excess of what may be reasonably anticipated ; but, in ab- 

 sence of any experience longer than that of a few months, a large allowance 

 should be made in order to cover possible contingencies. 



The Vait Dyk Mine. — This mine is situated four miles east of Eock 

 Springs, close by the railroad, some thirty miles west of the Hall mine. The 

 seam dips into the hill at an angle of about 15°. There are three veins in 

 all upon this claim, only the lower one being worked, which is 3 feet 10 

 inches to 4 feet in thickness. This seam had an excellent roof of shale and 

 sandstone floor below, from which the coal cleaves freely. Above the vein 

 is a thick covering of rock, extending to the top of the hill. The coal from 

 this mine is considered, and is proved by analysis, to be the best hitherto 

 found along the line of the railroad. It is of a lustrous, brilliant, black color, 

 conchoidal fracture, and slacks less than any other coal that we examined; it 

 will consequently bear transportation well. The calorific power of this coal 

 is comparatively high, and its value for heating purposes would be repre- 

 sented by the number 113, the average value of all these coals being taken as 

 100. On this same basis Hall's upper seam would be represented by 95, 

 and the lower seam by 90. This mine is now producing 50 tons daily, which 

 is used on the engines of the Union Pacific railroad, and which is preferred 

 to all other coals on the line of the road. It can be opened in a short time 

 so as to furnish 150 tons daily, or more if desired. The chutes of this mine 

 are directly over the road, and the coal is loaded into the cars or tenders at 

 a cost, by contract, of $1 62, currency, which amount is increased by inci- 

 dentals to $1 75 per ton. The seam of coal now worked is very compact, 

 uniform in width, and remarkably clean, and free from any intermixture of 

 slate. The yield per acre of this seam will be 6,000 tons." 



