COAL SEAMS OF HOLMES COUNTY. 833 
The coal is strongly cementing, forms clinkers, and is not strong 
physically, yet makes a valuable domestic fuel. The large local dip and 
occasional sandstone horsebacks from above have given trouble in this 
region. | 
The upper vein was mined for a short time by G. Hott. It was 30 
inches thick. The hills in this region rise from 100 to 130 feet above 
the gray limestone, and quite a large area south and east of Berlin 
should carry these coals. 
In Mechanie and eastern Killbuck townships there is a productive 
area of Middle Kittanning coal, where it averages 33 feet thick, and is 
mined by John Purdy, Esq., Levi K. Uhl, Wm. Galion and Cary and 
Urmson, the latter parties owning the Shepler or Holmes County Com- 
pany property. At J. Purdy’s the coal is 3 to 33 feet thick, with a 
cannel layer 2 to 6 inches thick a little above the middle. It is bright 
and black when freshly mined, but the pyrite is apt to oxidize upon 
exposure to a white bloom of copperas. There is some mineral charcoal 
near the top. Below is an analysis : 
Middle Kittanning Coal, J. Purdy, Mechanic Township (Lord). 
IMIG ISLUNCMMEenemen tm ancte eet men eaten: han mub ses Cac wiecssnncdetéiesermedeech. wesbeevesosdeowes 4.10 
Wolatilerconnoustilolesmattermerccccsecemecssconscccs ene ceacesceccecclcoseeccesesesees 42.47 
ISOC): GNESI) eagadecocosodsdodd secgco CCBOGAIAE Geen npIt BNCCRE DR OREC Concer anEE mcr rae m Ane 42.24 
ANS ccerdiiotuioceks clone SHERBANEE ESCBEAT L PE TERE REE EIT on ere 11.19 
BL ball Weems mets tee oe coi te incicalste nets Gee wine Gus nbieltosials esraseweE Way goles eb ebeuiies oc{dees 100.00 
S.urllifo kavuinsersren eee eet omraeneee ee tenets ok, lain tae vawds amee ao acuit ous Suwbaesaeesoueorondes 5.08 
The percentage of ash is here large. Probably it can be mined so 
that these figures will be reduced. 
At Levi Uhl’s the face of the coal shows 4 feet of thickness, in 
three benches, several inches of cannel coming in at 3 feet trom the 
bottom, and a slate parting one foot from the bottom. 
On the Cary and Urmson property the coal is 40 to 48 inches 
thick, averaging 42. Its structure is shown in Fig. XIV, though it varies 
in different parts of the mine. The upper bench, above the cannel, is 
partly an open-burning block coal, and partly tenderer, with some mineral 
charcoal. From the analysis given below, the upper bench appears to 
differ but little from the average of the seam, excepting in the percentage 
of sulphur. 
See G., 
