968 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
Hocking; Valley seam, viz., the Orbiston mine, connected with Helen 
Furnace, and the Murray City mine. The seam lies not far above the 
level of the water between Murray City and Buchtel. At the former 
place it is partly below drainage. The Lower Freeport sandstone is in 
strong force through the entire valley, and lies heavy upon the coal in 
a great many exposures, reducing its upper benches and also affecting 
the quality of the coal below, to some extent. Still the evil effects of 
the sandstone do not prove as serious as they were thought to be before 
mining was begun here. . 
Murray City Mine. 
The Murray City mine was opened by Gosline and Barber in 
1883, but was soon after sold to the Columbus and Hocking Coal and 
Iron Company, by whom it is now held and worked. It is well 
equipped and well regulated in all respects, second to none in the 
valley as to convenience and economy in handling the coal. It was 
here that the Mitchell automatic tipple was introduced. The coal is 
reached by a short slope, cut in the solid sandstone. ‘The entries run 
very nearly on the ends of the coal. The hauling is done by an endless 
wire cable, which now extends 1,300 feet from the mouth. At the 
present time the mine is capable of producing 40 cars per day. 
A little water gathers at the foot of the slope, but the dip of 
the workings is such as to make the drainage thus far a simple prob- 
lem. Though wet at first, all parts of the mine are now furnishing 
dry and safe working places. The miners find it fully equal to any 
part of the field so far as ease in getting coal is concerned. They can 
easily maintain a daily output of 3 or 33 tons to the man. 
The coal mines large, but is a little inferior in strength to the coal 
of Straitsville and Shawnee, on account of its smaller proportion of top 
coal. It is, however, well esteemed for the lake trade. 
Only one clay vein has yet been struck in the entire workings of 
the mine, and the coal has never oeen cut below 6 feet by the sand- 
stone, so that, as far as proved, this body of coal takes rank with 
the best in steadiness and favorable conditions. 
The coal falls considerable below the Straitsville measure. The 
section is as follows: 
