24 . 



•of coking. It is said that successful experiments have 

 lately been made in coking lignites, and if this be so, the 

 value of those of Texas will be greatly enhanced. The fol- 

 lowing, in relation to the subject, is from a late number of 

 Ware's Journal of ''Mines, Metals and Arts,'" of St. 

 Jjouis : 



COKIIfG LIGNITES. 



Mr. W. J. Lynd, of Denver, after successfully experi- 

 menting, has devised a method of treatment by which he 

 makes a serviceable coke, which is said to be very well 

 :adapted to furnace and other uses. It is even claimed that 

 this fossil coal coke is comparable with Connellsville coke, 

 which we could hardly expect, from the larger quantitj' of 

 ashes in the lignite coal. Mr. Lynd has secured two pat- 

 -ents. We give the follou-ing extracts from the description, 

 wherein he says : 



"That it may be more clearly known what are the coals 

 understood by certain fossil coals, I specifically designate 

 .as such the coals found in the territories of Colorado, 

 '\Y3-0ming, Utah, and New Mexico, and all similar coals 

 wherever found in the United States. Some of these coals 

 ^ne at present mined near Canon City, in Fremont county, 

 rat or near Trinidad, and elsewhere in Colorado territory , 

 :at Hock Springs and elsewhere in Wyoming territory ; at 

 l^vanston and elsewhere in Utah territory ; at Coos Bay 

 and elsewhere in Oregon territory ; at Bellingham Bay and 

 elsewhere in Washington territory ; at Monte Diablo and 

 -elsewhere in California. These fossil beds are reported by 

 jgeologists to be of the eocene formation. In the geological 

 .survey of Ohio, vol. 1, page 83, is the following statement: 

 -^ It should also be mentioned that in North America the 

 ■cretaceous was a great coal making period, as rocks of this 

 .a,ge in the far west contain, at various points, important 

 beds of lignite, some of which are from thirty to fifty feet 

 in thickness. The coals of Tancouver"s Island, Belling- 

 ham Bay, Monte Diablo, those of New Mexico and Ari- 

 :zona, as well as some of the most valuable beds in Utah, 

 ■Colorado and Wyoming, are of cretaceous age. These, 

 with some tertiary lignites, comprises all the so-called coals 

 •of the far west.' In Professor Hay den's report of 187", 

 Tjage 186, is the report of the Omaha Gas Company : 'Resi- 

 •due, after coking in retort, twelve bushels of earth}- breeze 

 an small cubes, which, when-put in the furnace fires, smoth^ 



