852 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
We have now considered the area, structure, and developments of 
the Bedford cannel coal, the best deposit of its kind in Ohio, and one 
of the few developments of the Upper Mercer horizon, which assumes 
economic importance. Its thickness is seen from those places already 
described, to have considerable range; it runs from a mere streak to a 
maximum thickness of 9 feet at the Wilcox and Osbourne bank. In 
the banks now oper in those areas called mineable, the cannel shows 
well, but in that larger part which of course is not accessible till 
mined, the thickness is unknown. Judging from the workings and 
exposures already made, it will not hold up to an average of 5 feet of 
cannel coal over the areas marked. Around the edges of this area it 
runs down to an insignificant size, in a very short distance. Further 
work could be done to advantage in making careful analyses of the 
different layers or grades, and also from averaged samples of all the 
different banks now open. Until this is done, the district will rest 
under more or less of an unfair representation, as one analysis on the 
run of one mine is surely not justice to the district. Further work 
would prove the character of the whole area, and might be the means 
of discovering some coal worthy of special adaptations. 
One of the principal uses to which cannel coal is put, at present, 
is in enriching ordinary coal gas with those illuminants peculiar to the 
cannel. Its cleanliness and bright blaze make it also sought after for 
household use by those who can afford the luxury. In former years, it 
was extensively used as a source of the light oils which may be dis- 
tilled from it. This industry had begun to assume large proportions 
when the discovery of petroleum jut an end to it. 
The Brookville Coal (No. 4). 
In three townships in the western part of the county, this coal is 
developed to a small extent. They are Newcastle, Jefferson and Bed- 
ford. 
In Newcastle township, there are 4 coal banks in this seam; they 
are the westernmost coal banks in the county. The coal underlies the 
gray limestone directly ; this limestone is only a few feet beneath the 
hill tops on the western side of the township and about 2 miles beyond, 
runs out entirely. There is a remarkable shortening of the interval 
between the Lower Mercer and the Putnam Hill limestone at this 
point. The following section was obtained at the coal bank of 
Anthony Lavelle, close by Newcastle: | 
