48 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA. 
along the great boundary fault, on the west side of "Possum 
Valley, to the point of commencement on the South and 
North Alabama railroad at Helena. I have made a more 
thorough survey and examination of this basin than any 
other one in this coal field, using the Wye level, tne Abney 
level, the barometer, transit and chain, very liberally ; be- 
sides making an immense number of test pits with the pick 
and shovel. 
The wagon roads of this basin are the followiag: There 
is one at the north end of basin that passes over it for a 
short distance; this leaves the Ashville and Helena public 
road at William Roy’s house, crosses Cahaba River at the 
Hubbard Ford, thence on by Oxmoor to Birmingham. An- 
other road leaves the Helena and Ashville road opposite 
the colored Baptist church at Helena, goes on across the 
basin to the Cahaba Mines old slope, and to the McClendon 
and the Driscoll farms. Another road leaves the Helena 
and Lacey Ford road, and goes on to the Cahaba old slope. 
A trail or bridle path leaves the Malden Roy house and 
goes on to the Cahaba old slope at the L. and N. company’s 
bridges over Cahaba River. 
The South and North Division of the Louisville system 
crosses this basin northwest of Helena. 
The Gurnee and Blocton Branch of the Birmingham 
Mineral railroad also runs through a part of this basin and 
joins South and North near the Scott bridge, or bridge 71. 
The Eureka’s railroad to their coke ovens and mines, 
also runs through about three-fourths mile of this basin, 
joining the South and North railroad near the Scott Bridge 
at north “Y” of Birmingham Mineral, or Tacoa depot. 
That portion of this basin situated in sections fifteen and 
sixteen, is so disturbed by cross faults hitches and distor- 
tion of the measures, that it would be very difficult to make 
a profitable investment in mining in that area, though two- 
thirds of the basin (that part beyond the cross-fault north 
of the South and North railroad) are very regular and can 
be worked profitably. After leaving the South and North 
railroad going northeast, and advancing along the strike 
about a quarter of a mile, you will find the measures dis- 
turbed by.a cross fault. Passing this cross fault, and con- 
