The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-28
PETERSBURG, December II, 1867.

i ETERSb bCSCHlbSi iS'O''
In our present depressed state it IS a
source of SOME comfort to know that our
own coal mines are nearly able to supply
all domestic demands for fuel. the day Is
not distant when the demand VIII DC iuiiy
met, and we shall be relieved from inc
excessive burden of making importationS
from other States. The anthracite coal
has. indeed. its uses, and may not be wholly
dispensed with at any time. 1t 1t Is con
ven;ent for stores and other rooms having
a free circulation Of air, but in parlors
and chambers in should never be intro
dnced. Except in close stoves, the atmos-
nhcre of such rooms soon becomes cor
rupted.
Perhaps in no former winter, up to this
date, has so much coal been sold in this
market; and Christmas found almost every
coal-yard entirely empty. AS an article
to take the place Of anthracite, we have a
semi-bituminouS variety, brought from
Powhatan, for tho first time during the
fall, which has been literally patronized,
and gives general satisfaction. 1t is admit
rable for cooking stoves, and is less objec-
tionable in CRATES than anthracite. 1t is
broughtround from Richmond in barges. 1t
is of hard and compact substance, and is dis
tinguished here by the name of "coke,' y
or" natural COKE" AS in the case of an
thracite. the bitumen, by some natural
process, must have been expelled during
the coal era. 1T burns with something Of
blue fame, and cmits a greater heatthan
our common coal. Should the deposit
prove to be extensive, it cannot fail to be-
come an article of commerce of great
value.
The Dover pit in Goochland has also
sent large supplies Of coal to this market
during the present season. This pit has
been worked as long perhaps as any other
of the great basin to which it belongs. 1t
is believed, however, never TO have been
under such good management as now
probably from the want Of capital, and
partly, perhaps, from less skilful working.
The product of this mine is of very fair
quality, though not so inhammable as that
of some others. Large quantities, how
ever, have been sold here the present sea-
son, and it has given general satisfaction.
But the best Of all the varieties of coal
brought to this marllrt comes from Glover
Hill, on the Appomattox; and that which
is raised from the Bright Hope pit in par
ticular is of the highest grade. 1t burns
almost as freely as camel coal, and no fuel
can make a more cheerful fire. The
dreadful disaster from explosion which
befel it in the early part Of this year very
much crippled the operations Of the COM
pany, and the supply has since been very
limited. This has allowed room for the
Goochland and Powhatan Golfers to come
in; but no rival can diSplace tie Glover
Hill coal as long as it can be afforded on
equal terms.
The great basin from which these and
many otherpits draw their supplies is Of con-
siderable extent, and is yet far from being
fully explored. Except on the James and
Appomattox rivers, no important discovery
has been made; but we can believe no
other than that, following the geological
range, the counties of Chesterfield and
Amelia, and perhaps many others, are
undcrlaid with the precious mineral. But
the difficulties attending the working Of all
these measures are of formidable charac-
ter. Perhaps no other coal field is en-
barrassed by so many faults and disloca-
tions. In this particular it is unique, and
not less so in another; for as the coal mea-
sures belong TO the carbonifcrous group
the presence Of limestone is implied. But
in this case the coal rests imme diately on
the granite, and the calcarious accompa.
niment is wholly wanting. S.