The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-06-03
COAL In OUACHlTA.

| Tire following extracts from the New Or
leans Picayune relative to an almost mex
haustible bed of coal recently discovered in
Ouachiia, will DO read with great interest by
all consumers of coal in Louisiana. The re-
ports do not all appear to be exaggerated
but it anything underdrawn.
From pamphlet which has been laid on
orr. table, by Henry Cotton Morris, Esq, as
well as from facts within our own knowledge
we.are assured that recent discoveries OF Goa!
on the Upper Ouachita, by Mr.. Morris and
others, will prove an invaluable blessing to
New Orleans and all portions of the Lower
Mississippi. In extent, the Ouachita coal
embraces hundreds OF square miles, with an
average thickness of vein Of from five to seven
feet. The coal is ofthe "brown" or ''lignite'
variety, and similar to the celebrated Torbl-
an Hill coal of Scotland, which, being too
valuable for fuel, has for several years past
been exclusively used in the manufacture ct
gas and illuminating and lubrcatlng oils.
EOn the English and French railroads the OIL
made from this coal is now used in preference
10 the best descriptions of sperm oil.
| The benefits that will result to New Or
leans alone from this discovery, can scarcely
be estimated. We will no longer be depeu-
dent on Pittsburg for a supply of this indis-
pensable article Of fuel, and another benefit
equally as great will be our freedom from
the rapaclty of coal merchants. From press
ent appearances, this coal bed seerns mex
haustibIe. 1
Nearly hundred barrels of the Ouachita
coal have already been brought to this city,
and submitted to every description of expert
ment. 1t has heated the furnaces at the
rosin oil works near the New Basin; It has
generated steam for two days in Hebrads
clothing factory on Canal street; it has beenl
tried in store stoves and in family CRATES i
has by one experiment been converted int
OIL, and by another into gas, and in ever
form that it has been used, it has given te
most unbounded satisfaction. Indeed 20
doubt exists that for domestic, steamboat 81
gar boiling, or factory use, it is greatly spe-
rlor to Pittsburg coal, as it burns freelysith .
but little smoke, and leaves behind nfher
clInkels or cinders, and no residuam eve
small per centage Of fine ashes of a!olden
hue.
furthermore, We are assured that bc mex
haustlble supply of this coal, the fcility of
mining district, advantage of naviation to
the very mouths Of the streams fortfleast six
months Of the year will make hiOuachita {
coal the cheapest-as it is ALREADY pronoun- Y
ced, Me test-that was ever intrAaced into L
the New Orleans market. /
WIDOWS WEEDs.-A friend Tells us, that t
some dozen or fifteen years agoEhen he had $
the melancholy duty" to stad behind the T
counter in country shop, daling out the
'5es. selected stock west of tls Aleghenies,'
he WIS once brought very SUDDENLY to state
Of Vulnerable wonderment. 4 youthful and '
pretty woman, robed in "eep black" ap-
proadled him and asked to Ipk at his 'Gleam |
Of Comfort"
CA what, MADAME" saidhe, puzzled, con- !
founded and confused, at what seemed to a
him amost singular requd.
''Geam of Comfort, yang man; haven,
you any, or don't you kuow what it is q re-
piled the lady. =
Eyes, madam most lilly we have it; what
Is IL lhc-ls II dry COOS or groceries,:
DRY goods or groceies ~ echoed the lady,
looking at our friend in way that made him ,
fee. decidedly uncomfortable. "Sir, it is
mourning calico of he second grade, for
widows of three weks. 1t is well known,
sir, with us in the dty. I'm astonished at
your ignorance"
The frightened young man could only a
stammcr out-"thg hadn't any of that par n
tcaltr kind of cato" a
FE.svpSsl6l + Now Orleans on