HOCKING VALLEY. 681. 



The large preponderance of shales above the Great Vein are character- 

 istic of much of this territory, indicating the deposit of the overlying 

 material in deepened, quiet water, and rendering it quite improbable 

 that any of the coal has been cut out. 



On Jay Pollett's land, north-west quarter, Section 2, Ward township, 

 the Great Vein is nine feet thick ; the two lower benches twenty to 

 twenty-two inches each ; shale partings, one inch and from two to three 

 inches; in every respect like the Straitsville coal. The bottom of the 

 coal is about fifteen feet above thestream. 



On J. Twiner's land. Section 5, north half of south-east quarter the 

 coal is nine feet thick, and very similar to the last. 



On Alexander Marshall's land, south half of south-east quarter. Section 

 35, Salt Lick township, is a very fine exposure of the coal, the bottom 

 below drainage. It is reported to be thirteen feet thick. The upper 

 bench varies from six to six and one-half feet, with a shale parting below of 

 three to four inches. The lower bench or benches are only partly ex- 

 posed, and are reported to be over six feet thic c, substantiallj? in one 

 bench. The coal is of excellent quality, hard dry, being free from sul- 

 phur, and, in all respects, equal to the best exposures of this seam. The 

 upper part of the upper bench inclines toward a splint coal. 



A rude opening was formerly made, the water pumped out, and coal 

 mined for local use. It was claimed that twelve and one-half feet were 

 mined, and one foot of the top coal left for a roof. If this statement was 

 correct, it is the thickest coal in the field. There are many other 

 exposures of the coal along the valley of Snow Fork, but all of a sim- 

 ilar character to those given above. On the east side of the divide, 

 and in the valley of Sunday Creek, explorations have been made by 

 drilling, as follows : 



1st. In the south-east corner of fraction 26, Trimble township, near 

 the junction of Mud Fork with Strait Branch of Sunday Creek, the 

 Blonden well, in which the Great Vein was struck ninety-six and one- 

 half feet from the surface, and twelve feet two inches thick. 



2d. Near the center of the south-west quarter of Section 7, Trimble 

 township, the Chappolear well, in which the Great Vein was struck one 

 hundred and two feet ten inches from the surface, and eight feet four 

 inches thick. 



3d. Near the center of Section 25, Trimble township, the Roswell 

 well, in which the coal was struck one hundred and twenty feet six 

 inches from the surface, and seven feet thick. 



4th. Near the south-east corner of Section 19, Trimble township, the 

 Hughes well, in which the coal was struck ninety-four feet from the 

 surface, and ten feet thick. 



