Coal Mines at Blosshurg. 115 
containing impressions of the wood of the carboniferous era. In 
the same hills are found iron ore of an excellent quality, fire clay 
and sand stone, affording facilities for various manufactures which 
time will gradually introduce to notice. On the hills are numer- 
ous boulders of sand stone, and conglomerate, containing pebbles 
of quartz. Upon opening a small boulder of the coal sand stone, 
I found a very beautiful impression of a leaf, belonging to one of 
the coal plants, together with a seed vessel of perfect form. The 
amount of coal which may be supplied from this basin, is perhaps 
beyond calculation, and of a quality which stands very high for 
many purposes. Professor Johnson, of Philadelphia, in his very 
elaborate report upon the value of different coals for generating 
steam, I think, places the Blossburg next to the Cumberland for 
that purpose, the former of which he places in the first rank. 
Upon ascending the hills, the country assumes a level appearance, 
and is well adapted to agriculture, affording many fine specimens 
for the botanist, and much that is interesting to the geologist. 
How many successive layers of coal there are in this basin, at 
present it is perhaps impossible to determine, it will perhaps be a 
long time before necessity compels the miner to delve deeper into 
the bosom of the mighty basin, whose relics bring us as familiar 
with its construction as though it were of yesterday; ferns as 
beautiful and delicate as now grow green upon its hills, are daily 
(lug out by the miner at his daily toil; the leaves and vessels, the 
bark, and seed of the mighty forests which may once have stood 
here, have left their impressions in many instances perfect and un- 
altered, affording us a useful and excellent opportunity of investi- 
gating the records of the past. Towards the head waters of the 
Tioga, are many beautiful and romantic situations; the falls of 
Montmorency, and Saynisck island, afford to the lovers of rural 
beauty much that is pleasing and attractive. 
To the mechanic of Western New York, the Blossburg coal has 
become a useful and indispensable article of fuel. He is now fur- 
nished with a constant and plentiful supply for his business, sub- 
ject to no contingencies, as when compelled to make use of char- 
coal at his forge. In the same district owing to injudicious crop- 
