The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-10-22
NO. 80.

ccllent quality, four or live feet thick, as
determined in several examinations by
the careful measurements OF one OF my
principal ASSISTANTS, Captain LA. Dadc,
who further reports that the uidoubtcd
quality O.. this coal permits its general
use in llaclslnithing and in the district
ischool-houses. Notwithstanding the fact
that tire-wood is over-abundant from
the refuse timber Of new clearngs.
Capt. q. ". White. in charge Of the
second party. also reports upon the par
allel line. There are now open several
coal beds.ranging IN thickness from two
10 Fix itet. and of a quality the very best
for manufacturing and domestic pur-
poses"
(, In Dubois and Pike these veins be-
come thicker ~ our grades descend into
the coal basin. but first quality. judg-
ing from surface indications. IL less uni
form. surface indications are, however.
no certain guide. The coal measures OF
these and adjoining counties have never,
TO the best OF my information. been pro
perly explored. My own examinations
giye quite different results from suinc
previously reported.
Many samples from this extensive coal
! field. selected by yourself, from the
mine. were Of less specific gravity than
the best Pittsburgh. were unusually freq
from sulphur, and gave an excellent
welding heat under several trials. It
Twas pronounced by competent judges
TO be of superior qua lity, and was
Thought To rrOIr.ise valuable gas coal.
ItCpon 20 important subject as u coal
supply for the heavy manufacturing
Interests of the cities of the Ohio falls.
:. H. 1ai; I - IL
IAN opportunity for further and more
Thorough examinations with the aid Of
feYperts. Yet il would be injustice 10
1.-THE interests you represent 10 Withhold
1.-THE opinion that this large source of coal
Isupply, sixty miles nearer than by any
jother transportation heretofore discuss
, ed, is likely TO be OF great future use.ul-
meas 10 Louisville, New Albany and
/, ,,Jef!ersonyille. ,J
y Fifty iniles Of railroad transportation,
with proper arrangements for delivery
AZ the mines and transportation to .iaar-
,iket viii compete with six hundred
,,uiles of river navigation by tow boats.
The ILLINOIS Cor STRY:-The East
fern division, from Mount Carmel ~
: Mount Vernon, ps~ss.s so miles through
Wabash. Edwards, Wayne. and Je;.cr-
> der upon or include arios of tae great
!, Illinois prairie. They are exceedingly
-!productiye; and notwithstanding the
Imperfect access. the country improved
lso iapidly ~ TO require sn easy railroad
!, loutl.t OF some kind. They prefer III
last and West railIosd, but are impa-
,!tiert to turn their locai subscriptions 10
1.-THE first branch line or through line up
ion the certain completion OF which they
lean depend.
. From Mount Vernon TO st. LOUIS the
= Southeastern rsilrond las-s- through
1.-The residue of Jefferson and through
: Washington and 81. Cisir counties So
!, ,lrroductiyc and wealthy rs 10 Nerule
their own railroads tor local convent
lence, " witnout reference 10 through con-
!. .inection. They are in advance of sevc-
:, .ral OF the Indiana counties. Tie couI-
,ltry thus described compri.es l,rge
and valuable area, with 10 railroad iani-
oIi,ies for moving its trade eastward. di-
;. ,rec;ly to Louisville and New Albany.
In Indiana, bounded hy the Ohio and
Wabash rivers. the Ohio and Missi~sirp;
, railroad. and by line from Mitchell 10
. New Albany, there are. 5.ll2 square
miles. or i3.21e $40 acres. OF which the
:, larger part m,;st use and -uppo:t good
!, road running east aud west through its
ri best portions.
II Upon the Illinois division the local
area properly tributary 10 the proposed
route is even larger and the country bet
tier. q discussion of its products and
l. resources is premature in this paper
: with the data now at command. The
natural direction OF the trade. howcvcr.
!, il clearly indicated hv the fac! that
" , Princeton. near the Wabash. on the
!. Evansville railroad (and with ample
u railroad transportation North anu South)
J. gave the first township subscription nn-
y der the late law, and was promptly fol-
Y lowed ny Tatoka. Oakland. and Francis
y 60. in the same county. with the ayowcd
y purpose Of securing "a direct connection
y rf.witl New Albany and Louisville. The
u same feeling is found TO extend from
= Mount Carmel westward a. far az rclia-
7" able information has been obtained.
lc AS vour cali for this preliminary re-
" port specially cscepts the discussion of
I" tho more dstsni connections. an eAaini-
c'nation Of this important branch OF tho
: subject is accordingly deferred.
III Respectfully.
]. NJ. ST. ,Ton~. Chief Engineer
A. -
II w hat becomes of all the pins that
y: arc dropped upon the ground? They