biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-05

THE COAL IN SUTHERLAND SHIRE.

At the annual meeting of the South Midland Insti-
tute of Entrineere on Monday afternoon, in Waiver.
hampton, Mr. Edward Jones, the President, showed
samples of ccal and shale that had been found in
'Wangs which he wee conducting for the Duke
of Sutherland at Brom, in Sntherlandshire. The
sinking, are described as in altogether virgin ground,
six miler away from the glacial deposits worked
at intervals since the time of Queen Elizabeth,
Before Mr. Jones recommended the sinking the Duke
had been dissuaded from commencing operations at that
place by most of the people whom he had (*malted.
Now, however, after sinking 80 yards, 31t. 80]. of loco-
motive coal and 71t. of oil Aisle has been come upon,
besides other seams of coal and fire-clay extending
throughout the remaininz 10 yarde at present sunk
through. The shale in believed by Mr. Walter Ness,
the newly appointei Government mining engineer for
Central India, to be of a specific gravity of 900, and
to contain from 35 to 40 gallons el heavy oil to the ton.
This oil the Duke will mix with the peat on his estate
and will have both compressed and dried as patent
fuel, which it is hoped may be sold at a comparatively
low figure. The site is 350 miles from any known coal-
field, and, with one slight exception, there is nothing
like it in all Europe, for it belongs to the comparatively
modern oolitic formation, and all the sinking' are in
the ooli,ic. Patch."' are to be seen In Australia and
New Zealand and Japan, and an inferior patch of
perhaps 10 acres has been found in Yorkshil e,
which is the exception mentioned. Mr. Jones, an-
nounced that the Duke was bent upon fully developing
the property, and that the inhabitants of three or four
Scotch counties would now obtain fuel near at hand,
while there would also be shipments of it to Norway.
Mr. Ness said that all previous notions about the fuel
deposits at Brom being lignite mutt be abandoned.
The specimens were of a valuable coal, and he was
greatly astonished that they should be in the oolitic
formation. The discovery was highly important now
that by the rapid exhaustion of the carboniferous drat^
they were looking to the oolitic formation for 'applies
of fuel.
The Institute resolved upon visiting Brom, though
It ie 600 miles off, to inspect the fuel is ritu. On be-
half of the Duke of Sutherland a cordial invitition
was given by Mr. Jones.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-05

EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.

Txrcrnoo, June 20.
A terrible earthquake hae occurred at Filed°,
north of Piave, and near Coneslimo. The Church
fell in, and 38 people were killed. In four villages
near Vittorio 14 persons were killed and many in-
jured. Belluno was also damaged.
The shock was felt here, but no serious conse-
quences mimed.
Visics,:hine 29
. . . .

- ---
A very severe shock of earthquake was felt here at
five o'clock this morning. Some plaster work fell from
the Cathedral, and caused a panic among the Inhabi-
tants of the neighbourhood.
Rumours are current of accidents having occurred In
the provinces.
Viiionk Jane 29
Two shocks of earthquake occurred at See o'clock
this morning; the second, which wee strong lasted 22
seconds.
Several houses have been slightly damaged.
One person ham been wounded.