Washington telegraph., 1854-05-03
The Largest Coal field in the World.

We made known some time ago, that The larg-
est gypsum field in the world, lay on the Fort
Smith route to the Pacific, and now we make
known to the world, that the largest coal field in
the universe, lies along, on the same route-from
Arkansas, by the way of Albuquerque to the Pa
ci6c. 1t will be recoected, that this is the route
surveyed by 1t. WHIPPLE, and so favorably re-
ported upon by him. The information given be-
low, is from DR.. G. G. SHuMARD, the weIl-known
Geologist OF Capt. Marcy. when exploring the
sources of Red River. The information contained
IN this letter is of the utmost importance to the
people of the United States, ant should have
powerful bearing upon the location of the great
Pacific Railway. Read the letter:
Sc sAe4 @ Fort Smith Herald
A FoRT SMITH, April 20. 1854.
Mr.. Wheeler: | must cheerfully comply with
your request, to furnish for publication. short
description of the great south western Coal field
Having within the last few years travelled over
large portion of surface, and observed somewhat
minutely the character and geological position of
the associated rocky strata, besides collecting
numerous statistics relative to the quality and
economical value of the various coal seams now
worked in the State of Arkansas, and adjacent
Indian Territory, feel myself fully warranted in
the belief that this is not only of the most imp
tant, but really the largest coal field hitherto dis
covered in the United States. 81 I'D
Beginning a few miles west of Little Rock
eastern limit, it is very easily traced by means of
numerous out-crops to Fort Smith. Fort Gibson.
and Fort Belknap-a distance OF over FIVE hundred
miles From these points. it extends in a west
erly direction, as far as the Rocky Mountains
near the base of which. and even beyond their
summit level coal has been discovered in great
abundance Although unable myself to discover
any specimens of this mineral west of Fort Ar
buckle, Nevertheless ventured, more than year
ago, to express publicly the opinion that the Ar
kansas coal felo would ultimately pc found to ex-
tend to the Rocky Mountains. This opinion.
based altogether upon the Theological character
of the rocky strata of the region over which we
travelled has happily been confirmed by the ex-l
plorations of 1t. Whippie, who has not only dis
covered coal near the Rocky Mountains but at
several intermediate points; so that we may now
safely assume an east and west diameter OF over
eight hundred miles, and north and south diam
eter from the north branch of the Platte river, to
the Rio Qrande-) of one thousand miles. giving to
this vast field extent of surface than three
times larger than that of all the coal fields hther-
discovered. in the United States.
The thickness of the seams, as well as the char
acter of the coal itself, have found to vary. That
obtained in the neghborhood OF Fort Smith. and
at various localities in the Choctaw, Chickasaw.
and Cherokee nations, is more or less btuminous.
possesses rough uneven fracture and burns with
bright white flame, leaving but little residue
and TO cinder. In the direction of Little Rock it
assumes more the character of camel coal. and III
some localities, as have been informed, even
that of anthracite. Wherever obtained it has
been found to be well adapted for manufacturing
purposes, while its comparative freedom from
sulphur and other impurities. must when brought
to market always give it the preference over any
coal obtained west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Should the contemplated Railroad TO the Pacific
extend by way of Fort Smith. the value of this
immense coal field can hardly be too highly esti-
mated. Here we have an inexhaustable supply
of the very best of fuel, capable of giving employ
ment to millions of onr fellow beings, and which,
if properly developed, could not otherwise than
tend to the speedy settlement Of the vast and fer
tile region of the far west.
GEO. G. SHUMARD.