Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-07
LETTERS,
O.v THE RESOURCES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND CON
MERGE OF P7RGINId.

LETTERS,
ONTRE RESOURCES, IMPROVEMENTS AND COM.
MERGE OF pIRGINId.
No. XXI.
The Richmond Coal Ficid-Ns pecniiariles-fts
Coke, &c.
We may have to 20 outside the bounds OF proprie.
ity in thus devong our time end space TO the pecu.
lartes of this coal deposit but its features are go
veryineres.ing and still little understood generally,
thai passing notice would not do justice to the sub
iect nor convey adequate idea Of its proportions
ar form.
In order to be comprehahded by all our readers
We will nse colmon comparisons aud avoid as far a.
possible geological techncaties; but weshal reserve
Tor a subsequent letter the geological origin and
formation of coal, and s natural disposition in re.
viewing the manner and meana Of obtaining it.
The Richmond coal Geld ia surrounded by gra.
mite edge, on which the coal "crops" ont and on
which it les, while in the centre it takes pependi-
cusr shaft one thousand fact deep to reach the came
granite door or foundation of the coal measures; in
other words, its edges come up to the surface, while
its centre lies thousand feet below. With these fscs
before us, we have the plainest evidence that this
coal field was once vast aud deep valley since
unbroken aud unmoved, as when that great valley,
filed to lis brm with tepd water, laid beneath the
burning sun, one unrufled lake, with the uIursnt
vegetation Of long gone ages bending ovsr it in tro.
pical splendor But we anticipate.
Though we we cannot see the valley now as it ORR
ginally existed, We easily conceive how 1t must
have appeared before the carboniferous era.
Many lakes and vaes even now present its coun-
terpart, and those who have seen the Poor Valley,
between the Big and the Little Clineh mountains in
South Westeru Virginia or one Of the same char.
acter, readily imagine similar scene (e1ceptng
the difference In material and vegelaton) on scale
equally grand. Standing in the centre OF this an
cent coal valley, near tidewater, we can imagine hRh
and rugged mountains either side, while around
and all through the wide extending vale, granite peaks
and lodges arse almost, and, n some cases equally as
high as lis g-nnte sides. Thus we see this great am'
phiheatre filled with intermediate bills and wales,
making that variety OF unduation, which character.
ICES the entire formation. Or We stand on the edge
of this great basin and it filled with water,
with peaks of granite pushing their bare heads above
ts surfsce or rising up almost in sight; and eknow
from this that its bottom must be unduating and r
precipitstes In it, must form layers and become
stra6ed in conformity with the surface on which the
sediment ress-so it ia with coal, its Opposition must
he uniform with the foundation on which it rests
whether it results from superficial sediment or inter
nal growth.
The supporting measures Of the Richmond coal
field bsiug granite-a singular feature in coal torma
tion-we may naturally expect the seams to lie more
irregular than they do in other deposits, where the
coal bearing measures sand stone, Limestone or
conglomerstes, which, being composed of sedimenta
ry strata, are more uniform in character than we
could possibly expect from rocks Of igneous origin
We cannot say therefore, that this feature OF the
tds water formations, is favorable to the miner: on
the contrary. il is quite the rsverse unless aided by
practical and geological kn0isdee, az We can readi
ly imagine, and results prove; since an ine1per'
enced person would be liable 10 sink his shaft on
p.sk or Saddle or "troube' of granite, in ba.
sin or synolina axis Of ooa and, indeed he would be
more likely to select the wrong place than the right
one since there would be Dins chances against him
TO one for him. unless he combines some geological
Information with his practical knowledge Most OF
the early operations in this field, however evince a
deplorable want of anything like scientific informa-
ton, or even the practical knowledge requisite to
every professional miner; and, even now we do not
recolIect single shaft in this field, which might not
have been more advsntageou-ly located. had the pro
,er investigation been made in the selection. This
abatement may not obtain credit generally, but We
think il can be satisfactorily demonstrated, ques
toned. We respectfully submit it, however, merely
remsrking in evidence, that all sratilsd formations
like open books, reveal TO the intelligent miner, or
the geoogist, their aka, their dips" and their
"s,rkes, or their "bssins," ther, saddles" "trou
bIes, "up,hrows" ..downthrows." or other features
however locally known or named.
Another feature in the early mining operations
here, we wish to notice, since it demonstrates the
necessity of engineering and geological Information
TO make coal mining profitable in the Richmond
coal field especially. Unlike nearly all other coal 6edi
in This counryits coal lies almost entirely below water
level, consequently, mining in small way without
the requisite knowledge or means, was and must be
not only Improbable but dangerous Where Goa
can be obtained in the bills above the water line. tht
case s different. since the miner can suspend his ope
rstions at pleasure, when circumstances require
il; but here his mine must be worked or abandoned
| unless the accumulating water be drawn up afte
each suspension which is both costly and trouble
some In many caees the old coal miners of this regoI
preferred sinking new shafts, in their small way
rather than reclaim and drain the old ones; but more
frequently, for want CT the proper knowledge q
much as the want of means, shafts or mines hav'
| been nudiciousy located. that their repetition
have been matters Of necessity. Thus-we think WI
| speak within bounds-6ve shafts or openings hsV'
/ hsen made where one would have been much NOR