THE LOWER COAL MEASURES. 221 
Coal of this thickness cannot be mined from the Steubenville seam 
under present conditions. 
The next opening to the coal] is in the shaft located at the village 
of Brilliant, formerly La Grange, 3 miles below Mingo Junction. The 
coal has here regained its full volume. It is 5 feet thick throughout 
most of the mine, and of the usual quality. | 
At Wellsburg, on the West Virginia side, a shaft has recently 
been sunk, and the coal agrees exactly in character with the seam at 
Brilliant. 
The last shaft that reaches the coal is located at Rush Run, 5 miles 
below Brilliant, and 11 miles below Steubenville. Inasmuch as this is 
the furthest proved extension of the seam in this direction, a more 
detailed account will be given of this mine, to serve as a guide for 
future exploration and development. 
The depth of the shaft is 265 feet. The dip of the coal is reported 
as east and northeast. 
The coa! was found 7 feet thick at the bottom of the shaft, but 
only 5 feet were taken, one foot being left for roof, and one for bottom, 
the portions left being in both places inferior in quality. 
“Trouble” was experienced in driving the entries to the north- 
ward. Clay veins were met, and also “wants” in the coal. At one 
point the seam fell to 2 ft. 4 in. for 20 yards, but it recovered itself 
beyond. At another the coal suffered from a clay vein for 300 yards. 
The thickness at the extreme point to which the workings were carried 
was 4 ft. 6in., but under the westward entries only 4 feet was held. 
The band of poor coal covering the seam at the shaft disappears 
altogether in some directions, and the normal slate makes the roof. In 
other parts of the mine the roof was what is termed by the miners post, 
a hard and white sandy clay, connected apparently with the irregulari- 
ties of the seam already referred to. 
Two parallel entries were advanced under the river for 150 yards. 
The coal was strengthening in this direction, the bottom coal measuring 
2 ft. 6 in., and the breast coal 4 ft. 6 in., the whole seam showing an 
excellent appearance. 
The coal yields coke of the usual Steubenville standard. In all 
respects, quality of coal, parting, floor and roof, it holds well to the 
characteristics of the seam, as shown at Steubenville. 
The mines of the Steubenville district, like many other shaft mines, 
