788 



ABSTRACTS OP PAPERS 



REGIONAL DEVOLATILIZATION OF COAL^'' 

 BY DAVID WHITE 



(Abstract) 



Regional progressive devolatilization, which marks the second (dynamo- 

 chemical) stage of coal formation, is due in most areas to deep-seated hori- 

 zontal thrust pressure long continued. Essentially it is regional metamor- 

 phism, coal being a most sensitive index. Effects of loading and faulting. 

 Comparison of effects of intrusives. 



MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF CERTAIN COALS IN RELATION TO TEE SAPROPELIC 



HYPOTHESIS 



BY E. C. JEFFBEY" 



(Abstract) 



Discussed the ingredient matter and relation of the same to formation of 

 cannels, kerosene shales, bogheads, etcetera. Evidence against algal hypothesis 

 as accounting for special characters. 



PRESENT AND FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS FIELDS IN THE NORTHERN 



APPALACHIANS 



BY F. G. CLAPP 



(Abstract) 



The waning natural gas supply in some fields brings up the question as to 

 the future of the natural gas business, and this paper is a summary of the 

 conditions in the eastern fields of the United States. While the writer admits 

 that the outlook is in some ways discouraging, he believes, nevertheless, judg- 

 ing from predominant indications, that new wells and new fields will continue 

 to be found and be productive for many years yet. During the year 1909 there 

 was improvement and increase in the business and in the total area of the 

 productive fields in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In that year the mains 

 of the principal producing companies were greatly extended. Cincinnati and 

 many smaller communities, which never before had natural gas, are now sup- 

 plied. This paper describes several new fields of interest in Pennsylvania, 

 West Virginia, and Ohio, and explains their relation to the geological struc- 

 ture. Most of the shallow sand fields, which were exhausted years ago, have 

 been recently replaced by adjacent or subjacent new fields in deeper sands. 

 In all cases so far examined by the writer these fields bear a constant relation 

 geologically to each other and to the structure. 



1'' Read by title, in the absence of the author, 

 1" Introduced by David White, 



