162 EEPOKT OF THE 



tested by the Detroit Gas Light Company, in 1851; but as any 

 coal taken out at that time, necessarily came from the immedi- 

 ate outcrop of the seam, the result of the trial would throw no 

 light on the permanent qualities of tl e seam. 



It is obvious that Michigan has a very great interest in the 

 development of this resource. Her forests are rapidly receding 

 before the axe, and the demand for coal is yearly increasing. 

 The amount of coal introduced into Detroit from Cleveland and 

 Erie during the present year is stated to be about 26,000 tons ; 

 and this has not equaled the demand. The consumption, never- 

 theless, in consequence of the supply held over from last year, 

 has been 33J per cent, greater than for 1859. This amount, at 

 $5 per ton, gives $130,000 as our annual tribute to v the coal 

 mines of Ohio and Pennsylvania, through the Detroit market 

 alone. 



MATERIALS FOE PAINTS. 



Ochre beds are found in Jackson county, embraced in the 

 Woodville Sandstone. 



At several localities, ochreous deposites from springs have * 

 teen found existing in such quantity as to justify attempts at 

 establishing a business. The N. E. \ of Sec. 21, Sharon, Wash- 

 tenaw county, on the land of J. Townsend, is one productive 

 locality. The deposite covers about 16 square rods, and is 

 seven feet deep. Another deposite covers three acres. 



An extensive deposite of a black substance, supposed to be 

 oxyd of manganese, occurs on the same farm, at the depth of 

 two feet beneath a bed of peat. It is 14 inches thick, and 

 covers an area of two or three acres. Mr. L. D. Gale, of Grass 

 Lake, has used this paint quite extensively on carriages. 



Fenuginous and chocolate colored shales occur at numerous 

 localities in the coal measures, and might undoubtedly be made 

 to afford a good mineral paint. A paint of this kind has been 

 used for outside work at Lansing, and has stood well for two 

 years. 



