HOCKING VALLEY COAL FIELD. 927 
the entire deposit of thick coal. Lying mainly below drainage, the 
coal had escaped, for the most part, the accidents of modern erosion, 
and thus its acreage was greatly increased to the square mile, above the 
western districts. The analyses reported from the various openings 
seemed to show a coal of excellent character throughout; at least, they 
gave no hint that any considerable portions of the seam would need to 
' be rejected. “ Wants” in the coal had been revealed at several points, 
it is true, mainly in the central and southern parts of Monroe, and in 
some adjacent sections of Coal and Trimble townships, but no mis- 
giving had been aroused as to the steadiness of the seam at large. 
When the Ohio Central Railway Company secured access to the field, 
. the opening of the coal was carried forward in a very thorough manner, 
the plants for its several mines being by far the most elaborate and 
expensive that had thus far been introduced into the Hocking Valley 
field. 
The development of the Sunday Creek Valley has now been going 
forward at a rapid rate for 3 years, and it must be confessed that its 
results have, to a great degree, proved unsatisfactory and disappointing. 
The unfavorable facts are of such a character that they could not well 
have been brought to light, except through the agency of practical 
development. The failure to recognize them at an earlier date does 
not therefore discredit the sagacity of the geologists who explored the 
field and who committed themselves unreservedly to the strongest 
statements as to its resources, nor does it reflect upon the judgment of 
the capitalists, who felt sure, in planting their millions here, that they 
would reap speedy and certain and generous returns. 
Though a cloud has been thrown over the region by the failures 
alluded to, it is still true that the Sunday Creek Valley is one of the 
great coal fields of Ohio, and will continue to be so for scores of years 
to come. ‘The Ohio Central Coal Company, in particular, has control 
of a large acreage extending towards Shawnee, and sharing the 
character of that field, in addition to a noble body of coal included in 
Sections 7, 8, 9 and 16, of Monroe township, as well as other valuable 
territory. 
To understand the facts involved in the development of this field, 
it will be necessary to keep in mind the structure of the seam in the 
Upper Sunday Creek Valley, which is as follows: 
