Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-01
Railg Nirsiaiaa.
Our Coal Fields.

LyNCHBuaa, Nov. 18th. 1888.
Editors Of Firginiaa--l have hastily put To-
gehcr u few remarks in relation to our newly de-
vcloycd coal fields. which may perhaps be inter
esting to your readers. since Il 10 matter 10
which they are directly concerned. There Rrc
'one errors would like to correct, some erroneous
impressions To explain, and fsw new facts to re-
veal will commence with
THE NEw RIVER COAL FIELD,
the conl from which il generally known as the
Montgomery or Mountain Coal. This coal region
| have examined thoroughly aud carefully. aud, ]
may add. without egotism, was the pioneer in its
practical developmant, since my miners produced
the first coal that roaid burn, which came to mar
ke,. us you are aware. late last winter. But
will not tire you with personalities.
The New River Coal Field, as far a. yet under
tod. extends from the North East Of BIacksburg.
"a point South-West Of Wytheyillc. II consists
rr'nripnlly Of long marrow range. with OCCASION
al Local formations lying East of tho Mountain 0r
r,,ncipnl range. One Of those local formations or
ba ,ins Of coal. occur in Price's Mountain, near
Chr.tnnslurs. from which the coal now coming
TO this city is mncd. This basin il from 3 to 10
miles hing. and about mile wide. containing sew
ernl senms of coal, Of which only ono ia yet
worked. This ono ranges from q to fcet in
thickness. and contains from to feet of good
coal. II hna been enormously stated on several
occasions. thnt this coal was semi bitumlnous,
which il not the fact since there is but little btu
rnut even tho term Of semi-anthracite. - an
anthracite coal, aud though differing in appearance
from the anthracite Of tho North il in essentially
the same in character. With the exception that
il is not ~ dense. nor in oil eases Us highly car
hnizcd. 1t is also tingcd with u beautiful can
mel lnslre aud rartnkcs 10 limited extent OF the
cunnr variety of Goals. and to this fact is attri-
hutrd it's perfect combustion aud free ignition,
while the larger amount Of carbon il contains gives
it durable character. aud thus. on the score of
economy makes II more valuable, aud therefore
preferable. to the Northern anthracitcs Tho New
k.vrr Coal Field, however. ,s not generally an an
th,nci,c formation. ln fact tho greater portion of
the field il composed Of II truc .emi-iituininous.or
properly spcnkng semicannei conl. The whole
Brush Mountain range, which lie- some miles
West uf Prices Mountain, is.of this character,
and mn, therefore account for tho misnomer Which
has been applied to these coals generally. But
little of the Brush Mountain Coals come To mar
kct SINCE it lies too far from tho rairoad, and can
only lao reached by branch track. 1t will DO
found .ainahic in few years for the smelling OF
ron in connection with the anthracite Of the same
field. Those Goals ought to drive out tho North
nnthracitcs, 1t is n reproaoh to this city, that
the Northern coals arc brought over GOO miles to
n market which has better coal within % miles.
We may remark in conclusion. tlat there arc some
irregular tiles uf formation in this field which re-
purcs the experience Of practical miners to over
come aud avoid, hence the former failures there.
TnE PIEDMONT coal FIELD.
This coal field has recently been developed un-
dor my instructions, in connection with John A.
Daily. Esq, Of Farmvillc. We have named II the
Piedmont Coai Field. because il lies in the Pied
mont ~ ion Of the State, and TO distinguish It
from the Cumberland Conl Field in Maryland.
This field. ms far as developed lies IN Cumberland
aud Prince Edward counties. and in all probable
ity, extends st,ll further South. Tie great body
II coal, however. appears To lie between the South
side ltailroad and Willis mountain. and is many
miles in extent. From its position aud connoc-
ton it i. truly n magnificent and valuable deposit,
and though inferior in quantity to the Richmond
'ou Field is yet equal if not superior in quality.
II Is hae BIiuniinous coal not so gaseous IN the
Clover Hill, but mnre durable. because it contains
more carbon. 1t cokes well, aud therefore will
make II superior fuel for smelling purposes, and
!lr h.acksmiths and foundry uses. For CRATES, 1t
ran have superior and for all culinary uses
vii! hc found equnl to any coal brought to this
market
n slope or tunnel sunk on the vein se9m, $50
feet deep. The seam or strata now operated ON,
is three feet in thickness, and increasing rs tho
miners descend towards the depths Of the basin.
It il II seam Of purc coal, and FREQ from nil impu-
rites. Below this the three foot reain. about
20 feet, ~ another body of coa from to feet in
thickness. which the miners will cut with trans
sere tunnel. In addition 10 those two seams,
there some D or others oil various sizes, con-
st,uting body of COAL ranging from Is to 20 fost
in thickness.
Tue Piedmont Coal has been extensively used
in farmviIle since September last, and has inva-
riably given satisfaction, and Is now used in pref
erence to the Clover Hill coal Some Of it has
also been sent to this market. where il meets with
much favor.
We regard tho development Of this coal as
matter of great peruniary interest to your city,
since it lies within fifty miles, and that over the
even and low grades Of the Southside Railroad.
1t can be mined, as sufficient quantities
are demanded as cheap as any other coal below
water level. and therefore. will eventually be de-
liverei here A. cheap coal is now delivered in
Philadelphia from the Northern mines. which lie
50 miles further of from that city. than our coal
field does from this. II is admitted that the prus-
perity of cities depends, great measure to-day.
on the price Of and facility to obtain coal for the
generation Of steam and manufacturing purposes
generally. The price nf coal in Lynchburg has
always been extravagsntly high. and frequently
even at that unattnnable. The development,
however, of those fields on each side Of you--both
anthracite and bituminous-wllg give you achoice,
and create healthy competition which will not
only result to your benefit, but the general bus
mess Of this portion Of the State.
s. H. DEBOW,
Mining Engineer. Geologist, dc.