82 HUGHES : SOUTHERN COAL-FIELDS OP KEWAH g6nDWANA BASIN. 



from Giridih collieries in Bengal. The coal steams well, has very little 

 clinker, but a large amount of ash ; it throws very few sparks, and 

 make? little smoke. It should not be forgotten that the above report is 

 based upon a small consignment which we have received from the col- 

 liery and was no doubt specially selected. I am, however, of opinion 

 that if coal such as has been sent to us can be guaranteed, we could have 

 nothing to complain of." 



In these extracts we have the opinions of practical authorities, and 

 although there is no gainsaying an assay, it is pleasant, when advocating 

 the claim of any given object, to find engineers and chemists in accord 

 with each other. And I think it reasonable to conclude that even in the 

 outcrop coal at present being worked in the Umaria field, we have a high- 

 class fuel. 



In No. 2 shaft much better coal has been reached, the amount of 

 Excellent coal in No. 2 fixed carbon that it contains showing a marked 

 slialt advance on that of the very best of the samples 



from the outcrop woi'kings. I again give the analysis : — 



EXCLUSIVE OF WATRR. 









Volatile matter. 



Fixed carbon. 



Ash. 



o. 2 shaft 



• • 





2517 



6S71 



812 



None of this coal has been tried for locomotive purposes, but it 

 should equal anything turned out either by the Karharbari or Kaniganj 

 fields. 



In view of attempts to utilise the magnificent resources of the Jabal- 

 Coal in reference to P^ r district for the prod uction of iron, the small 

 manufacture of iron. amount of ash is a most promising feature, for 

 one of the greatest drawbacks in connection with the endeavours to make 

 pig-iron in the Wardha valley at Warora was the large quantity of 

 impurity in the form of ash that the fuel contained. It was quite 5U to 

 60 per cent, in excess of that in the Umaria pit coal. 

 ( 218 ) 



