The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-04-07
Tno Coal Mine. of Evansville.

we are napPy III oeiug ooi0 w o""""
this morning the entire success of one OF the
most magnificent experiments, ever attempt
ed by single individual in this country
The search for coal, by Mr.. Kersteman' on
the bank of the Ohio below the city, result |
ed on Thursday in the opening OF one OF the
finest working veins of coal, of superior
quality, to be found on the Lower ONO
No one has doubted the existence of coal in
this vicinity, and that the locality of Evansville,
and for miles in extent around it,.rested upon
beds of coal; but at the same time grave
doubts have been entertained whether the
bold adventure of Mr.. Kersteman would not
prove an abortive speculation and he the VIC
tim of an illusory scheme. Mr.. K. has had
alternately the good wishes. the sympathy,
and latterly the pity of our ctizens--and we
are not aware that he has received any other
aid from any one in the enterprise which he
has just brought, by his indefatigable indus
try, to so happy result. About one year
ago Mr.. K, stranger in Evansville, COM
menced his experiment Of boring for coal,
about one mile northwest of the cify--and
after pursuing his project for over three
months he succe eded in probing the earth at
that point about 275 feet and passing three
different layers of coal, at the respective dis
tances of 20, ITO and 270 feet from the. sur.
face. The veins of coal indicated by the
boring, were respectively Is, 30 and so inch
es in thickness. Upon the strength OF
these indications Mr.. X. commenced the stu.
pendous work of sinking shaft u feet by
Is, out of which he has lifted more than
10000 feet of solid rock, over 5000 feet Of
earth, and an unlimited amount of water
We visited the shaft by invitation on Thurs
day, and descended to the lower vein. We
made a critical examination OF it's thickness
the quality of coal, and derived such other
information as we could from the miners
themselves, relative to the practcablity
of mining advantageousy from such a ve;n.-
From our inquiries and observations we were
enabled to deduce the following conclusions
which we have no doubt will be realized by
the future progress of the work.
LIST. That the Bodiam mines contain "a
good and workable vein of coal as any
mines on the Lower Ohio.
2nd. That the quality Of coal is at least
equal, and believed by those who have tested
hby burning, to be superior to the produc-
tons of any mines yet worked below the
Falls of the Ohio. or elsewhere in the So
called Illinois Coal Basin.
Sd. The location of the mines is such
that coal can be delivered in boats upon the
river at a less expense than at any Other
point, and with far more extended advan
tages both for home sale and shipment.
Of this project, which has hitherto beer
at least problematical to all except Mr.. Kers
teman, we can now speak with confidence
The developments of the last few day.
amount to nothing less than actual demon
stration. The skepticism of our own citi
zens, and the sneers of editorial cotempora
ries of rival towns, may now hide themselve
behind the realization of more highly salts
factory and substantial results, than tn
most sanguine interested parties have here
tofWe boosted or fancied.
The advantages to accrue directly to Ev
ansville, from the opening Of this new an
hitherto hidden source of wealth, are at tn
the present momsn incalcu liable, and onl
to be realized in the future prosperity of on
city; in the enhancement of its trade an
Al n
tensive manufacturing interest, for which
the prospective supply of coal at low rate
will furnish ample and unlimited facilities.
We cannot commend teo highly the indie
fatigable enterprise of Mr.. Kersteman j
this great undertaking, which by all but hin
self has been viewed as a vague experiment
about which hung a sufficiency of doubt I
make magnificent failnre the more prob'
BILE result. Mr.. K. has at no time been di.
heartened by the opinions of skeptics, nc
by the more insurmountable difficulties
has had to encounter. He has gone ener
getically forward, without soliciting the a,
sistance or even the good wishes of any on
and the entire enterprise as it stands, eithe
with profit or loss, with good fortune or ba
fortune, is peculiarly his own. We lear
that the MINER will make demonstration
our streets to-day, and will offer quaint,
of the coal for sale, which according to m
ners' custom, belongs exclusively to then
selves. An opportunity will be offered f,
our citizens to display their liberalty by e.
tending appropriate civilities to this hone
and hard working class of our fellow CT,
zens. We hope that some suitable testim,
NAL Of the appreciation of Mr.. Kersteman
efforts will hereafter be offered by the Gil