160 REPORT OF THE 



This coal is said to burn very freely in stoves and grated, 

 an 1 to be free from "clinker." The "Nut Coal" and "screen- 

 ings" are excellent for making steam, and are used quite exten- 

 sively by blacksmiths. The gas-producing properties of the 

 coal are good According to a certificate of John Murray, Su- 

 perintendent of the Jackson City Gas Co., an extract, taken at 

 random from the Register of the works, proves this coal to pro- 

 duce, on an average, 3.83 cubic feet of gas per pound of coal ; 

 and as the records were kept while the retorts were in a leaky 

 condition, Mr. Loomis, one of the Directors of the Gas Company,, 

 certifies that the real production of gas was not less than 4.20 

 cubic feet per pound of coal. The gas is very rich — a fact of 

 as much importance as the quantity produced — having from 25 

 to 50 per cent, more illuminating power than that made from 

 "Willow Bank," and some other Ohio coals. The quantity of 

 lime necessary for purifying the gas, is about two bushels per 

 ton of coal. The yield of coke is said to be about forty bushels 

 per ton of coal, and is of a good quality. With proper ovens, 

 it can be coked to advantage. 



According to information from P. E. Dernill, Esq., Superin- 

 tendent of the Detroit Gas Light Co., 6850 lbs of coal "from 

 Jackson Co." produced 29,400 cubic feet of good illuminating 

 gas, showing a yield of 4.29 feet to the pound of coal. He 

 also obtained from the same quantity thirty bushels of coke,* 

 weighing twenty-nine lbs. to the bushel, the standard weight 

 being thirty- two lbs. to the bushel. This experiment was made 

 in 1857, at a time when the quality of the coal taken out would 

 be likely to yield a lighter coke than the coal at present 

 obtained. 



At Woodville, a shaft was sunk about 90 feet, and chambers 

 have been excavated in various directions from the bottom of 

 the shaft. A large quantity of coal has already>been taken 

 out. 



*I cannot avoid thinking Mr. Ik-mill nivalis to say thirty bushels per ton of coal used. llr. 

 Holcroft certifies that he gets forty bush* is per ton. It may be added that thirty to forty 

 bushels per ton of coal is the usual yield of coke from the English gas-producing coals (Clegg 

 on Coal Gas, p. 121, kc.) The amount of coke is inversely as the amount of gas. 



