96 
TEW: EXTENSION OF MINING OPERATIONS. 
On the 20th April, 1873, the Hon. Robert A.shburton Milnes 
turned the first sod of a new coal shaft on the Frystone Estate of 
Lord Houghton, which is now, I believe, the nearest pit to the 
port of Hull, and the German Ocean. The Frystone Coal Co. 
pierced the Barnsley Bed, some 180 yards from the surface on 
17th August, 1874. On the oth May, 1875, they struck the Haigh 
Moor bed at 269 yards, and expect shortly to reach, at a depth of 
451 yards, the Silkstone seam, at the same depth as the Wheldale 
Colliery, one mile off, and worked by the same Proprietors. 
It is a very rich gas coal. The analysis of it (at Wheldale) 
gives, — 
Cubic feet of gas obtained per ton ... ... ... 9,200 
Tar, Ammoniacal liquor, etc., per ton of coal (avoird) ... 4761bs. 
Carbonic Acid, Sulphuretted hydrogen ... ... 281bs. 
Coke, per ton of coals ... ... ... ... l.iSOlbs. 
The gas obtained has an illuminating power approximating to 17 
candles, so far as could be ascertained by experiment on^a small 
scale. 
The specific gravity of the gas as compared with air calculated 
at a barometric pressure of 30 inches, and a temperature of 60*^ 
Fahrenheit is 0.51. The gas contains 5.6 per cent, of defiant gas. 
It also contains the other usual constituents of coal gas upon which 
its lighting and heat-giving properties depend. The gas contains 
only traces of carbonic acid and no sulphuretted hydrogen. 
This coal from the Silkstone bed is comparatively free from 
pyrites. It does not soil the fingers, and in appearance and 
physical properties possesses the characters of cannel coal. Its 
specific gravity as compared with water is 1*2811. 
When carefully heated to bright redness, in a closed vessel, 
it gives 60.84 per cent, of coke, and after burning it leaves 3.02 
per cent, of ash. 
This new coal field consists of some 4,000 acres, and it is 
situated on the line of the North Eastern Railway on one side, and 
the river Aire in close proximity on the other side near Castleford, 
and about 2^ miles from Pontefract. 
