l§38.i Reports on the Coal and Mineral [Resources of India. 169 



Jones and Stark found a two feet bed of coal of good quality, but Mr, 

 Jones was of opinion that no smaller vein than four feet would pay, 

 and the descent he observes, was difficult. 



" In the Disyung river and its tributaries, Mr. Jones states fragments 

 of common coal are found, bui in less quantity than in the rivers about 

 Laour, so much so that fifteen persons were seven days in collecting 

 one raaund without finding the source from whence any of the pieces 

 were introduced. It is worthy of remark, that all these indications of 

 coal are quite independant of the Cherra bed, as no fragments were 

 found in the Pandua river, or in any of the streams which fall from the 

 mountain on which the Cherra coal is placed. 



" In a letter addressed to W. B. Bayley Esq. Secretary to Government 

 dated 24th April 1815, it is stated by Mr. Jones with reference to Silhet 

 Coal that Mr. Stark had found a vein seven feet six inches in thick- 

 ness, which dips one inch and a quarter to a foot, thus rendering it 

 easy to work, adding^ — " the water will discharge itself and the road 

 to it will be good-" Mr. Jones tried a basket of this coal sent to him 

 for the purpose, and found it of good quality, the locality however is 

 not mentioned. In a subsequent letter dated 15th May 1815, Mr. Stark 

 himself addressed Government direct on the subject. It would seem 

 from his statement that the discovery was made in the mountains between 

 Pannatick and Bansikora, and that 250 maunds taken from two distinct 

 veins had been sent to Calcutta with a proposal to supply the public 

 works to any extent with the same kind at 12 annas per maund. In a 

 more recent letter dated 10th January 1816,* Mr. Stark addresses W» 

 H. Trant, Esq. Secretary to Government, and explicitly points out tfoe 

 situation of the two beds of coal above referred to. One of these was 

 discovered by himself at Charagow in March 1814, and was examined 

 by Mr. Jones the following February, but was abandoned in conse- 

 quence of not having water carriage, it was alleged sufficiently nearj 

 Mr. Stark then renewed his inquiry, and found a bed of coal at Baras. 

 chara, which would seem to be the one described as seven feet six in, 

 ches in thickness. Mr. Stark stated that he was happy to find the 

 quality of this coal improved the deeper the excavations were carried, 

 although what had been taken from the surface had been tried and ap- 

 proved of in Calcutta, so that he was led to expect that this coal 



" • This letter is not in possession of the Coal Committee, but may be seen in th6 

 feports of the Select Committee of the House of Commons. It casts a complete light on 

 #hat is stated regarding the situatioa of the bedi from which Mr. Stark sent down the 

 first boat load of coal for trial." 



