564 PALEONTOL0GICAL KEPORT OF GEOLOGICAL SUBVET. 



COAL NO. 11. 



This is the highest coal that we had an opportunity to examine 

 in the series. It is characterised by the remains of fishes, not yet de- 

 termined, and a small orbicula, of which we found no specimen suffi- 

 ciently perfect for description. 



As a full history of the coals, from the bottom to the top of the 

 series, may be found in your report, and that of Mr. Lesquereux, it 

 has been deemed unnecessary to repeat it her©. There will also be 

 seen, by a reference to the above reports, a demonstration of the fact, 

 that the most persistent veins throughout the basin are Nos. 1 B., 9, 

 and 11 — they having been found at every locality where there is suf- 

 ficient thickness of the measures to contain them. 



For a better understanding of the fossil shells found associated with 

 these coals, I herewith submit the annexed descriptions, and accompa- 

 nying plates, Nos. VIII, IX. and X. For the beautiful and accurate 

 representation of the fossil shells on these plates, we are indebted to 

 Mr. John Chappellsmith. 



The importance of the facts established by the survey of the coal- 

 fields of Kentucky, cannot be over estimated. It has developed the 

 various seams, and given characters by which the most important may 

 at all times be known, and having established the identity of one, in 

 any part of the basin, the relative position of the others may easily be 

 known, by reference to the section in the first chapter of your report 

 in this volume. 



Next to agriculture, coal is the most important element of a coun- 

 try's prosperity and wealth. Its importance is just beginning to be 

 felt in the west, and will increase with the constantly diminishing for- 

 est. As a fuel, it is the most convenient and economical, and no 

 country can successfully compete in manufacturing without a cheap 

 supply. It is the rich and well wrought coal-fields of England that 

 enables her to maintain a supremacy in manufacturing, over the world ; 

 deprived of the coal, her importance as a nation would soon be lost. 



In the British Islands not less than fifteen million tons of coal are 

 annually raised, affording employment, in the mining operations, to 

 more than one hundred and fifty thousand people. More than one 

 third of this amount is derived from the Newcastle basin, embracing 

 a superficial area of seven hundred and fifty square miles; whereas, 

 in western Kentucky the coal-field contains more than three thousand 



