Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-26
The Coal Min es of Evansville.

We are happy in being able to announce this
morning the entire success of one of the most
magnificent experiments, ever attempted by
4 single individual in this country. The search
for coal, by Mr.. Kersteman, on the bank of the
the Ohio below the city, resulted on Thurs
day in the opening of one of the finest working
veins of coal, of a superior quality, to be found
on the Lower Ohio. No one has doubted the
existence of coal in this vicinity, and that the
locality of Evansville had for miles in extent
around it, rested upon beds of coal but at
the same time grave doubts have been enter
tanned whether the bold adventure of Mr.
Kersteman would not prove an abortive spec
ulation, and he the victim of an illusory
scheme. Mr. X. has had alternately the
good wishes, the sympathy, and latterly the
pity of our citizens-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 industry, to so happy, a
result.
About one year ago Mr.. h, stranger in
Evansville, commenced his experiment of
bearing for coal, about one mile northwest Of
the city-and after persuing his project for
over three months he succeeded in probing
the earth at that point about 275 feet and pass
tive distances Of 40, 10 and 270 feet from
the surface. The veins of coal indicated BY
the bearing, were respectively Is, 80 and so
inches in thickness. Upon the strength of
these indications Mr.. X, commenced the stu
pendous work ofsnking shaft Z 3 feet by 10,
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
Al. 1T L
scended to the lower vein. We made critical
examination offs thickness the quality of coal
and derived such other information as we
conld from the miners themselves, relative to
the practicability Of mining advantageously
from such a vein:-From our inquiries and
observations we were enabled to deduce the
following conclusions which We have no doubt
viii be realized by the future progress of the
work.
LIST. That the Bodiam mines contain as
good and workable a vein Of coal as any
mines on the Lower Ohio.
"a. That the quality of coal is at least
equal and believed by those who have test
ed it by burning, to be superior TO the produc-
tons of any mines yet worked below the
Falls Of the Ohio, elsewhere in the social
ed Illinois Coal Basin.
Sd. The location Of the mines is such, that
coal can be delivered in boats upon the river
at less expense than at any other point and
with far more extended advantages both for
home sale and shipment.
OF this project, which has hitherto been at
least problematcal to all except Mr.. Kerste-
man, we can now speak with confidence
The developments of the last few days
amount to nothing less than actual demonsta-
ton. The skepticism of our own citizens,
and the sneers of editorial cotemporaries of
rival towns may now hide themselves behind
the realization of more highly satisfactory
and substantial results, than the most sangu-
inc interested parties have heretofore boosted
or fancied.-Dem Clarion