THE GAS COALS OF OHIO. ae OW 
be supplied with the fine gas coals of the Youghiogheny region, at less 
cost per ton (river transportation) than the leaner Ohio coals can be 
delivered for. Again, Cleveland, the next largest city in population, 
and second only to Cincinnati in gas consumption, and making about 
one-fifth of the total production of the State, can be reached with 
Pennsylvania coal of superior quality with less cost than coal can be 
delivered from the principal coal fields of Ohio. Columbus, making 
about oné-tenth of the total production, has for a number of years used 
coal from the Hocking coal fields, almost exclusively—the inducement 
being a short haul from the Hocking Valley, while a long haul by rail 
is required to deliver the Youghiogheny coal to the Capital city. 
Coal is used for gas-making from several seams of the Ohio series, 
yet the Middle Kittanning seam, No. 6, probably furnishes three-fourths 
of all that is used in gas-works. 
The reports from a number of gas companies show that an average 
ot not to exceed 3.75 feet of gas to the pound is obtained from this 
coal, though some works do much better. The coke seems to be a favor- 
ite one for base-burning stoves, and some classes of smithing, but for the 
cupola and blast furnace purposes it is:quite inferior to the oven coke of 
the Connelsville region, or to the gas coke made from Pittsburgh or 
Youghiogheny coal. A cannel coal obtained in several localities from 
the number 3, 3a and 36 seams has been used to a limited extent, and 
may yet be developed into one of the principal gas making coals of 
the State. 
The seams are generally thin, and have not been much developed 
‘along lines of railroads, or if on railroads, then quite distant from the 
larger cities. —The Lower Kittanning coal, No. 5, has been used at several 
of the smaller towns for many years. This coal is reported to yield 47% 
feet of gas to the pound of coal, and the coke from it is superior to 
that made from the number 6 seam (except that it contains more 
sulphur), or from either of the other seams, excepting only number 8, or 
the Pittsburgh seam. 
Tt is doubtful if any coal in Ohio is entitled to the distinction of 
being classed as strictly a gas coal. There are probably twenty-five, 
and not to exceed thirty gas-works in the State that use Ohio coal ex- 
clusively, and a few others that use it in part as a mixture with Yough- 
logheny coal. Generally these works are small. 
Sufficient importance does not seem to be attached to the difference 
