158 REPORT OF THE 



5. Such seam will be found, generally, thinner than at points 

 nearer the center of the basin. 



6. The coal will be found much changed and deteriorated by 

 the action of the elements. The quality will be found to be 

 improved at increased distances from the surface. 



7. The structure of our measures is such that it is useless to 

 dig or bore anywhere to a greater depth than thirty feet below 

 any seam of coal two feet thick. All the rest, if any, will be 

 embraced within that distance. 



8. It should be remembered that there are black shales below 

 the coal as well as above. 



9. It should also be remembered that the overlying (Wood- 

 ^ille) sandstone is not easily distinguished from the underlying 



(Parma) sandstone, while these two sandstones are essentially 

 distinct — sometimes 123 feet apart, and sometimes, on the bor- 

 ders of the coal basin, only 15 feet apart, 



10. At any point favorably situated in other respects, lying 

 a few miles within the circuit which has been traced out, pro- 

 ductive coal seams may be confidently sought for. 



11. The great practical difficulty in working them will be 

 found in their situation below the general level of the sur- 

 rounding surface, so that the shafts and drifts will contain 

 water. By using good judgment, however, locations can be 

 selected sufficiently high to obviate a,ny serious annoyances 

 from this source. 



12. Care must be exercised against being misled by the 

 black bituminous shales of the northern part of the peninsula. 

 They burn freely, and closely resemble the coal shales; but 

 they lie five hundred feet below any seam of coal. 



The qualities of our coals have not yet been scientifically 

 tested. It should be done. The following, the only chemical 

 analysis in my possession, is said to have been procured in 

 New York, by Mr. Hayden, of Jackson, upon a specimen of can- 

 nel coal, from the shaft of the Jackson City Co. : 



