The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-20

CHICAGO, March i, 1919.
Mineral Wealth I'o,cn of Ottapa-Iron awd Goa
MINES, &c., &c.
A few weeks ago noticed an article in the Chit
cago Journal relative to the mineral wealth of
Illinois, and particularly of the vast coal field of
the Illinois river.
Although coal has been known to exist there, its
Importance has been overlooked, in a great mea-
sure by our citizens, as only partial means have
been used to develope this NINE of wealth.
Business recently led ME to Ottawa, an enter
prising town OF some three thousand inhabitants,
on the Illinois canal at the confluence of the Fox
with the Illinois river, and on the northern verge
Of this great coal field Having little leisure at
the moment, avalled my self OF the opportunity to
make somewhat critical examination OF the coal
strata, IN whichIevery facility was rendered by Mr.
Delano, the gentlemanly proprietor Of the City
gst himself Whoever has passed from Chicago
to the MISSISSIPPI by the canal and Illinois river,
must have been struck with the peculiar geological
character of the country.
Every indication shows that a mighty river
once poured its flood through this channel, and
there is no reasonable doubt that this was once
the outlet, at least OF Lake Michigan, and rhaps
Of the whole chain of our inland seas.
In the dry bed OF this river coal Is found at Oua.
wa, sometimes within two or three feet OF the
surface OF the ground, as we'll as on the bluffs
above This strata Is only eighteen to twenty
inches Thick and although il burns freely in stoves
and grates Is mixed WITH sulphuret OF iron, which
not only burns out the grates, and leaves a great
residium In the shape OF cinders, but slakes and
crumbes, on exposure to the air. This coal Is
obtained BY stripping, or throwing of the earth
wedges. 1t was supposed that better quality
existed In this region, and examinations were
made on the south side OF the illinois river,
Al .,rL Lb..H Dad. Il
The country there is undulating, with mu-
raj preclpices and deep ravlnes, and the re-
suit OF the research was the discovery OF a ceal
mine, equal In quality to any bltuminous coal in
Delano 81 Ellsworth, Is situated about twenty rods
from the mouth OF irvine, Is nearly three feet
thick, and has a eupenncumbent structure Of slate
nearly an hundred feet over It. After running a
drift in an easterly direction about hundred feet,
they came to solid mass Of coal without seams or
dlslocatons, and so hard that II could be obtained
only by blasting. Prospects have been made in va
rous places, and coal found at every trial; and
there doubt but that this mine extends
Trough every loot Of one hundred acres of land,
easy of access, and only about mile from the ca
nal. II burns as freely as wood, and when the btu
men is exhausted, reese bes masses of wood coal
more nearly than any ever saw. Indeed, was
told that could be- used for boiling meat as freely
as charcoal, What the value OF this immense de-
post must be, can only be approxlmated by cal
cuaton
IHey get az least TWO tons OF coal for everV
square. yard. Reduce acre 10 yards, say "a, COO
multiplied BY 2, gives the enormous product Of
81 200 tons OF coal to the single acre
The expense OF getting out coal while running
the drift, as all miners know, Is nearly double to
what It Is when ready to chamber off, and COTS
here about one dollar per ton; and the whole cost
ct delivery on the canal bank Is now about dol
lar and halt; though when their DRIFT fully ran
probably can be put on TO the canal bank for one
dollar per ton. The expense of transportation to
Chicago, including tolls, Is one dollar per ton
which, at present prices in our city GO 5O) yields,
as you see, a large profit.
In estimating the value Of such property, there
is no sum which can be put down, and were 10
say one hundred thousand dollars, 1t would be
within the truth, for the coal is there.
Another interesting geological iea ture OF Ottawa
is its sulphur and salt springs. The former are
common m many places, and have been used sue
c.sstullv i'm various disorders The latter are about
hlu rods below Deano & Ellsworih's coal mine.
So strongly imt regnaied Is The earth with saline
PARTICLES that for halt mile In extent, little or
no vegetation grows. Salt equal TO any made In
SyIacnse, has been made here for experiment, and
a gentlemen of Ottawa has bored TO the deplh of
oGe huudr, and forty feet for salt water; but has