COAL-FIELDS OF TENNESSEE* 323 
often intermixed with nodules of flint, and contain- 
ing imbedded detached masses of lead ore. Salt 
water is found on all the head branches of the Ken- 
tucky River, but is most abundant on the south fork. 
Coal is sometimes seen on the borders at the lime- 
stone rocks, resting on slate, and covered with a 
calcareous roof. On Green River, coal is found to 
within 50 miles of its mouth. Salt Water is also 
obtained at a depth of 80 feet, with an abundance 
of carburetted hydrogen and petroleum. About a 
mile from the Cumberland River, in Adair county, 
in boring for salt waterj a bed of coal 45 feet thick 
was struck 30 feet below the surface, and at 150 
feet beneath the coal a vein of salt water was reach- 
ed, into which the auger dropped, and immense 
quantities of gas were discharged for a number of 
days. Indeed, coal and salt water may be said to 
abound from the heads of the Cumberland River to 
the heads of the Licking, occupying the whole of 
the northern and eastern borders of the State of 
Kentucky. West of this line iron ore is abundant* 
COAL-FIELDS OF TENNESSEE. 
In Tennessee, according to Dr. Troost, the coal 
measures are confined exclusively to the group of 
the Cumberland Mountains and subordinate ridges* 
Commencing at the south, it first appears in Mount 
Sano, east of Huntsville, Alabama, where it crops 
out in several places. Following this subordinate 
ridge till we come to the main Cumberland Mount- 
ain, we find the coal cropping out in numerous 
places, as near Battle Creek, 10 miles from Jasper, 
Marion county. The coal is deposited in horizon- 
tal layers of great extent, and probably may be 
found everywhere in the mountains by boring. Near 
the northern limit of the state, the breadth of the 
coal formation seems to be the greatest ; it com- 
prises here part of Overton, the whole of Fentress, 
Campbell, and part of Claiborne counties. Besides 
