978 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
the Nelsonville coal, but not reaching quite the degree of excellence 
that is found in some portions of the valley. 
The Steenrod Mine in Section 17, directly opposite the old Long- 
streth mine, carries in its best portions fully 6 feet of coal, the benches 
measuring 20, 24 and 26 inches, respectively, from the bottom up, 
but the quality of the output would be slightly improved if 2 to 4 
inches were rejected from the bottom of the upper bench, this 
being the place of the soft coal so often referred to. A streak of 
bone coal is often found next to the roof. The rider seam is found 
in but a small portion of the worked area. Where shown, it is 
not more than 6 inches thick, and it lies about 2 feet above the > 
upper bench of the main coal. The roof of the mine is best when 
the rider seam is present. When absent, the roof appears very 
threatening and dangerous, by reason of the “slips” that characterize 
it, but the masses of shale that are disposed to fall generally come 
with the coal, and therefore give the miners but little uneasiness. 
In other words, the roof, even in its poorest phases, is much better 
than it seems. 
The coal is stained for 125 yards from the outcrop, the seam yielding 
here peacock coal, but this mark is rather an advantage than a disad- 
vantage in market. | 
On the southern side of this mine also, there is a notable reduction 
of the coal over quite an area. ‘The entire top bench is lost for 40 or 
50 yards of entry, and, in rare distances, the second slate is cut away, 
leaving the middle bench to be trenched upon. The extensive erosion - 
to which the great seam has been subjected in the Hocking Valley, in 
comparatively few instances cuts below the second slate. This part 
of the seam appears to have acquired full strength and hardness early. 
The coal of this mine comes out in large blocks, and has a good 
name in the markets which it reaches. 
Two mines that lie north-west of Nelsonville and on the west bank 
of the river have been omitted from their natural order in this review, 
viz., Lick Run and; Laurel Hill. They are both established in the 
northern outcrop of the great seam, and thus lie high in the hills. They 
are located in Sections 33 and 85, York township, respectively. The 
coal is not at its highest mark in this area, and some unusual disad- 
vantages have attended the working of the first-named of these mines, 
but with proper facilities for handling the coal, better results are to be 
