WASHINGTON COUNTY. 485 
On the farm of Mr. Payne are two well-marked seams of limestone, one 
one hundred and forty-four feet above the coal, and the other fifty-six 
feet higher. Hach of these limestone deposits exerts a fine fertilizing 
effect upon the hill-sides. The upper one appeared to have great enrich- 
ing power, so that the soil, almost to the summits of the hills, is very 
productive. Grasses, grains, and fruit grow luxuriantly. A geological 
section seen on this farm is given in Map X1., No. 20. 
Crossing the ridge to the farm of Moses True, Hsq., we find the coal 
well developed. Here the coal has been mined, and small quantities 
have formerly been taken to Marietta. The quality of Mr. True’s coal, 
as tested in the parlor grate, is excellent. It is a caking coal, and for 
this reason needs more attention than coal of the dry, non-cementing . 
class. Many years ago I burned a load of it with great satisfaction. In 
that part of the bank from which that coal came were layers of inter- 
laminated cannel of excellent quality, which added to the value of the 
coal for grate use. This seam is believed to continue in fine thickness 
through all the high lands extending east into Liberty township. On 
one of the branches of Pawpaw Creek, in the north-western corner of 
Liberty, the coal is reported seven feet thick. All the farms which take 
the high hills on both sides of the Hast Fork contain this coal. It has 
been opened on nearly ail the farms—on H.C. Hovey’s, Ephraim Gould’s, 
Jas. Alden’s, etc. In this region the aggregate quantity of coal is very 
great. On Crooked Run, a branch of Duck Creek, north of Mr. True’s, 
the seam is seen, and at the proper place below it.is the coal of the lime- 
stone group, measuring thirty-two inches. This lower coal is also well 
seen by the road side on the farm of Mr. Hovey. Every where this coal, 
so far as it could be seen, appears to be of good quality. Through all 
this region the heavy sandrock over the upper or main seam of coal 
makes a conspicuous landmark. It often forms bold ledges, and on some 
of the small streams the water pours over it in falls of great beauty. 
Salem township perhaps exceeds any other in the county in its supply 
of coal. The day is not far distant when this coal will be needed. To all 
uses except the highest, which forbid: much sulphur, the coal is well 
adapted. For household use, for the generation of steam, and fer rolling 
mills, the coal will answer a good purpose, but not for the blast furnace 
nor for gas-making. It is possible that at some points the coal will afford 
good merchantable coke. I think some of the coal from the Kast Fork-- 
‘such, for example, as was formerly mined by Mr. Moses True — would 
make a firm coke. How far the sulphur of the coal would pass off in 
coking, and, consequently, how much would remain in the coke, can 
only be determined by experiment. The coal is every where accessible, 
