Middletown transcript., 1870-10-01
COAL MINES ON FIRE.

There are many instances of vast mass.
es of coal which have ignited, and have
been burning for years. When once ig
nited, and all communication with the ex.
ternal air is not entirely cut off (and some
imperceptible assures are quite sufficient
to prevent this, then the devouring ele-
ment pursues its course without interrup.
ton. 1t partially burns the coal and cal.
cines the sandstone and adjacent schists
changing their colors to sort of red, and
altering their composition. At Brule,
near Saint Etenne, there is coal mine
which has been on fire from time immem-
orial The soil at the surface is baked
and barren hot vapors escape from it
sulphur, alum, sal ammoniac and various
natural products are deposited on it. II
might be supposed to be portion of the
accursed cities formerly consumed by the
fires of Heaven and earth
Other burning coal mines are cited in
France for example, those of Deeazeville,
in Aveyron, and of Commentry, in che de-
partment of Allier. The inhabitants have
even for long time kept up these fires
for the sake of working the aluminous
salts which are given off from the coal
and deposited on the surface of the soil as
whitish effloresence.
In the carboniferous basins of the Saar-
kruck and Silesia, there are likewise coal
mines which have been on fire for long
time. In Belgium, between Mamur and
Charlerol, at place called Falizollc, the
fire has been alight for many years. The
inhabitants formerly were in the habit Of
working the coal on their own account.
Now it frequently happened that two
parties came in contact, causing endless
disputes and sometimes sanguinary fights
A favorite way of keeping rivals or COM
petitors at distance, was to throw pieces
of old leather on burning brazier, caus-
ing an insuportable stencil. One day the
fire extended also to the coal, since which
time it has never ceased burning. The
fire, which burns underground, is seen
through assures in the surface Sulphur
deposits itself round these vents, and acid
gases are evolved.
In England, especially in Staffordshirc,
the ignition of the coal has produced sur
prising effects of alteration in the measures
containing coal The sandstones have be-
como vitriied, baked and dilated by the
fire, the banks of plastic clay hardened
and changed into porcelain.
In the environs of Dudley there was
formerly coal mine on fire. The snow
melted in the gardens as soon as it touched
the ground. They gathered three crops a
year. Even tropical plants were cultiva-
ted; and, as in the isle of Calypso. an e.
ternal spring prevailed. In another Stat
fordshirs colliery, the firing of which dates
many years back, and which is called by
the inhabitants Burning hill" it was no.
ticed, as at Dudley, that the snow melted
on reaching the ground, and that the grass
in the meadows was always green.
The people of the country conceived the
idea of establishing school of horticulture
on the spot. They imported colonial
plants at heavy expense, and cultivated
them in this kind of open-air conservatory
One fine day the fire went out, the soil
gradually resumed its usual temperature,
the tropical plants died, and tho school of
horticulture was under the necessity Of
transferring the gardens elsewhere
Near Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, is a
burning coal mine, which has been on fire
for many years.-Scientitfc american.