Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-28
From The New York Tribune.
THE KANAWHA COAL FIELDS.

Public attention has recently been called to the
immense mineral wealth which is being rapidly
developed in Western Virginia. The value Of the
Camel and BituIninous coal fields in tho ~ncighbor-
hood l. of the Kanawha and its principle tributary,
Coal River, is unreasonable.
Some idea may DO formed Of the prospective adj
dition to our national resources by advcrting to
the statistics Of the Pennsylvania Anthracite coal
fields. AS late us $50 their mineral value was
still undcvclopcd but since that time 100000 600
tuns of coal, Of tho value Of SlG0, 600, 900, have
been sent to ~tidc-waters. This statement was
made in 1851 and Il large amount may be added
to tho sum above stated for the year that has since
elapsed, and tho ratio is annually increasing. A
similar result has been seen as to the Bitumin-
Gus coal.
In 1915 about 3 100000 bushels were sent from
Pittsburg down the Ohio River. In 1862 upward
Of 100000 bushels were sent. The increasing
consumption Of Bituminous coal by stoamboatsson
the Ohio and Mississippi will soon call for AN
amount far exceeding the total amount shipped for
all purposes in the year last named. 1t is cstima-
ted that there are 700 steamboats, OH these rivers
of an aggregate OF about 100000 tuns Gus tom
House measurement, whose consumption of coal,
if wood fuel were entirely dispensed with, would
amount in n single season to 2l,UUO, 600 bushels.
Again, i'll the City of Cincinnati in tho year 1850,
the amount consumed was 100000 bushels in
1853, 100000 bushels; and d like increase has
been going on in Louisville, Cleveland, and other
places.
1t is obvious that the supply mast have been nm
equal to this advanced consumption but for tho
disco very OF hitherto hidden resources. But in
addition to the ordinary uses of coal for household
fuel and Tor tho generation Of steam, another has
been within u few years added, viz the manufac-
turc Of gas.
In Il valuable Report made by Joseph Gill, ESD,
State Engineer Of Virginia, to the Coal River and
kanawha Mining and Manufacturing Company,
| the SuDCrIOrItV of cJUUI coal inr thn rrnlurtinn nf
gas is clearly shown-thc primary Object being to
produce the greatest amount Of pure gas from Il
certain weight or measure of coal-thc secondary
one, of making coke, being in his view compare
lively of little Importance. "Tho great compare
tive percentage of pure volatilizod carbon cxpcnd-
cd i'll brilliant flame i'll combustion, and its rapid
ty Of ignition, serves to cntitle it to the most doci-
dcd preference lorthis purpose, especially when it
is considered that the coal in these establishments
is burnt rather to make gas than produce coke
And he quotes the opinion of Mr.. Purnell, an en-
inent English chemist, that camel coal would zen
erato Il more highly combustiblc gas, and give as
brilliant Il light, in smaller quantity, without the
production Of SO much heat as is developed by the
highly hydrogcnatcd gas derived from the common
kinds Of coal.
The Report above referred to is a production Of
more than ordinary inertia and furnishes many facts
and scientific calculations Of much interest.
In another report made by a Committo of the
Camel Coal Company of Coal River We find some
remarks on the value Of the Camel Coal for the
generation of steam as well as the production of
gas ."Tho absence of sulphur and rcsiduum which
in common Goals provo so destructive to CRATE bars
speak strongly in its favor, while the ready ignition
and proinso flame is q desideratum in steamboat
fuel. Its prominence, however, above all other
Goals consists in its indcstructibility and the prom
erty 1t possesses of remaining uninjured or min
paired by any length Of exposure 70 tho weather
Its freedom from the possibility Of spontaneous
combustion IN the hold Of vessels is another i'm
pOrtant feature. All of the principle cities in the
United States are now lighted with gas. In New
York coal alone is used to produce gas, and this
coal is now entirely imported in proportion of two
thirds Camel and one-third New Castle. In Phil
adelphla coal is chiefly used. and most Of the sun
ply is obtained from Virginia"
1t seems prOyidential that lust as the use IF ooe
is getting to be so general in this country that tic
species OF coal most seryiccablo for the production
Of pure gas should have been discovered TO sn
great an extent upon the tributaries of the Ohio
The most important Of these in respect to coal is
the halawha, which flows into the Ohio 2G4 miles
below PlttsburS and 1914 miles above Cincinnati
Coal River enters the Kanawha As miles above Tho
mouth OF the latter, up to which point 1.-THE June
ton Of Coal and Kanawha) it is nayicaLlSc Tho
same period that the Ohio is, viz: eight To fen
months of the year; and there is a daily line If
steamboats, between Charleston Ton the Kaaawbo
II miles above the mouth Of Coal Riyer) and Gin.
cinnati.
The coal strata are chiefly found above the iunc-
ton and entered across from river to river. cron-
ping out in prodigal profusion from the sides IF
the broken bills which line the small streams flow.
ing into those rivers. On one of these streams
(Briar Creek the formation of coal is in four nr
five successive strata, exhibited one above the other
as you go from tho base to the summit Of the hills,
each OF these strata being essentially distinctly
upper one being pure camel, and the others bitn.
mlnous OF various quality.
Coal River is at times difficult Of navigation hut
y an arrangement of locks and dams which are in
the process of being constructed, all tho di0icultios
will be obyiated, so that there will be an unobstruc-
ma, which Is Is miles above Briar Creek. and re-
miles above the junction Of Coal River with the
Kanawiia.
These statistics are Of general interest. We see
NJ occasion ivg Jealousy between rival companies