100 



appears to have been but little felt, and the coal comes from the vein 

 in larger and more permanent masses. A further exploration of 

 those veins, in which the coal has been thus reduced, may bring to 

 light other portions of the vein, in which comparatively little of this 

 grinding and crushing action has occurred. For some purposes, 

 this broken condition of the coal would not impair its usefulness, but 

 for general sale it would affect its market value. 



According to an analysis of the Berkeley coal, executed by my 

 brother, Professor H. D. Rogers, it contains in the one hundred 

 grains only 4.94 grains of gray ash, all the remainder consisting of 

 volatile and combustible matter. This indicates a purity exceeding 

 that of the Pennsylvania anthracite in general, which at a mean 

 contains about six per cent, of ash. 



In the coal from the Catawba, I have found varying proportions of 

 bitumen in the specimens from different localities. An average of 

 these results indicates about 14 per cent, of volatile matter, chiefly 

 of a bituminous character. This coal burns with but little intume- 

 scence or swelling, is not much inclined to cake, has no tendency to 

 splinter when burning, and forms a large amount (upwards of 80 

 per cent.) of a very superior kind of coke. Allusion has already 

 been made to the probable value of this mineral, in connexion with 

 the iron manufacture of this part of the state; but further explora- 

 tions of these veins, together with careful chemical analyses of the 

 coal as well as iron ore, and actual trials of the former as to its 

 qualities in the furnace, are yet required, in order to determine with 

 certainty the usefulness of this coal in the raw or uncoked condition, 

 in reference to this branch of industry. In connexion with these 

 remarks, and more especially as suggesting an important hint to 

 those who may be endeavouring to bring these dry coals into use 

 in the way alluded to, it may here be added, that from the great 

 success attending the use of the hot air blast in France and Eng- 

 land, where, in some cases, coals in the raw state, of an analogous 

 character, are employed, the introduction of the same mode of ope- 

 ration here, holds out the promise of most profitable results ; and it 

 may be further suggested, that the great efficiency and economy of 

 the hot air, even according to the trials made in this country with 

 the ordinary materials used as fuel in our furnaces, ought at once 

 to excite the attention and awaken the enterprise of all who are con- 

 cerned in this highly important branch of our manufactures. 



