DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE COALFIELDS. 
49 
As Dr. Saise points out, one of the most interesting facts 
brought out by this table of analyses is the notable increase in 
the percentage of moisture as we pass from the lower to the higher 
series. This takes place side by side with an equally marked de- 
crease in the percentage of fixed carbon. 
An elaborate series of analyses and calorific values of " liengal " 
coals was published by Major F. C. Hughes^ in 1910. The fol- 
lowing is a summary of the results for the Raniganj field : — 
Moisture. 
Volatile 
l''iXod 
Ash. 
Calohifk; VkhVK 
STATKD IN CALDIilKS. 
matter. 
carbon. 
Calcul- 
ated. 
By ex- 
periment. 
Raniganj or Upper .Measures 
ii'l samples). 
4-76 
32-16 
53-42 
0-66 
6,835 
6,767 
Barakar or Lower Measures (3 
samples). 
1-65 
24-76 
64-05 
9-54 
7,571 
7,348 
The earliest attempt at coal-mining in the Raniganj field appears 
to have been made in 1812, but little profitable work appears 
to have been done until 1843, when by the amalgamation nf 
two of the leading firms in the field, the Bengal Coal Company 
was formed. This company has continued to mine coal since that 
date, and for the past 60 years has been the largest colliery 
proprietor in the field. In 1854, the East Indian Railway reached 
the field, and considerable expansion in the coal trade naturally 
resulted. In 1860, the produce of the 42 collieries being worked 
in the Raniganj field was 281,994 tons of coal, whilst in 1910 the 
output was 4,212,606 tons and the number of collieries had 
increased to 206. 
Jharia. — That the existence of coal in this locality has been 
long known is shown from the fact that in 1777 a proposition was 
made to Government by Messrs. Farquhar and Motte ^ to be 
allowed to cast shot and shell in the field. 
The Jharia coalfieM is the most important of the recently devel- 
oped coalfields in India. It is situated 16 miles west of the Raniganj 
1 Tram., Min. Geol. Inst, of India, V, pt. 2, pp. 114180 (1910). 
« Jour., As. Soc. Beng., XI, 822 (18-12). 
