WASHINGTON COUNTY. 485 



On the farm of Mr. Payne are two well-marked seams of limestone, one 

 one hundred and forty-four feet above the coal, and the other fifty-six 

 feet higher. Each of these limestone deposits exerts a fine fertilizing 

 effect upon the hill-sides. The upper one appeared to have great enrich- 

 ing power, so that the soil, almost to the summits of the hills, is very 

 productive. Grasses, grains, and fruit grow luxuriantly. A geological 

 section seen on this farm is given in Map XL, No. 20. 



Crossing the ridge to the farm of Moses True, Esq., we find the coal 

 well developed. Here the coal has been mined, and small quantities 

 have formerly been taken to Marietta. The quality of Mr. True's coal, 

 as tested in the parlor grate, is excellent. It is a caking coal, and for 

 this reason needs more attention than coal of the dry, non-cementing 

 class. Many years ago I burned a load of it with great satisfaction. In 

 that part of the bank from which that coal came were layers of inter- 

 laminated cannel of excellent quality, which added to the value of the 

 coal for grate use. This seam is believed to continue in fine thickness 

 through all the high lands extending east into Liberty township. On 

 one of the branches of Pawpaw Creek, in the north-western corner of 

 Liberty, the coal is reported seven feet thick. All the farms which take 

 the high hills on both sides of the East Pork contain this coal. It has 

 been opened on nearly all the farms — on H. C. Hovey's, Ephraim Gould's, 

 Jas. Alden's, etc. In this region the aggregate quantity of coal is very 

 great. On Crooked Run, a branch of Duck Creek, north of Mr. True's, 

 the seam is seen, and at the proper place below it is the coal of the lime- 

 stone group, measuring thirty-two inches. This lower coal is also well 

 seen by the road side on the farm of Mr. Hovey. Every where this coal, 

 so far as it could be seen, appears to be of good quality. Through all 

 this region the heavy sandrock over the upper or main seam of coal 

 makes a conspicuous landmark. It often forms bold ledges, and on some 

 of the small streams the water pours over it in falls of great beauty. 

 Salem township perhaps exceeds any other in the county in its supply 

 of coal. The day is not far distant when this coal will be needed. To all 

 uses except the highest, which forbid much sulphur, the coal is well 

 adapted. For household use, for the generation of steam, and for rolling 

 mills, the coal will answer a good purpose, but not for the blast furnace 

 nor for gas-making. It is possible that at some points the coal will afford 

 good merchantable coke. I think some of the coal from the East Fork- 

 such, for example, as was formerly mined by Mr. Moses True — would 

 make a firm coke. How far the sulphur of the coal would pass off in 

 coking, and, consequently, how much would remain in the coke, can 

 only be determined by experiment. The coal is every where accessible, 



