U MARIA COAL-FIELD. 



25 



It would be needless multiplication of details to allude here to each 

 lore-hole section, but for the purpose of reference they are given in the 

 chapter of appendices. The dates of their commencement and completion 

 and the depth at which water was tapped have been added as items of 

 interest; and diagrams, for which I am indebted to Mr. E. J. Jones, are 

 attached. 



The deepest hole in which thick coal was recorded was No. 7 a , 

 Deepest bore-hole, due north of Umaria, but on the right bank of the 

 No. 7M84fect. Umrar. Two seams respectively 13 acd 11 feet 



separated by 25 feet of carbonaceous sandstone were passed through 

 at 184 feet from the surface. It is possible that these measurements 

 may not be quite exact, for the readings of coal and shale may be so 

 influenced by the desire to tell a promising tale, that the latter is 

 often unduly elevated to the dignity of the former; but I think it 

 would be inconsistent to accept one journal as correct, and doubt the 

 accuracy of another. Boring records are generally trustworthy enough to 

 establish the broad fact of the occurrence of coal, though considerable 

 caution is necessary when accurate discrimination of coal and shale is 

 demanded. 



The boring No. 9 a , which was really a test of No. 7 a , and put down in 

 November 1883, was most carefully supervised and a lower seam was 

 met, so that we may fairly accept as proved that there are two. 



Considering all the facts that were established during the first stage 

 of our practical explorations, I think it must be confessed that the labours 

 of the Geological Survey were eminently satisfactory ; coal was proved to 

 exist iD abundance, that it lay within easy access from the surface, 

 that it thickened to the deep, and that the gradient, as shown by 

 the horizon at which the seam was struck at various points, was low and 

 advantageous for working. 



Every circumstance was promising, and from the exceptionally 

 commanding geographical position of the field; it required small advo- 

 cacy to show that a splendid reserve of fuel had been unearthed in the 

 Rewah State. 



In order, however, to set at rest any apprehensions that prudence or 



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