South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-12
Coal Mines on Fire.

There are msny instances Of vast masses
Of coal which have ignited and been burn.
ing for years. When once we'll iguited an d
all communication with the external air is
not entirely cut off (and some impercepti-
bic assures are quite sufficient 10 prevent
this), then the devouring element pursues
its course without interruption. IL partial.
ly burns tho coal aud calcines the sandstone
and adjacent schisis, changing their eolors
TO sort of red, and altering their compost
sion. At Brule, near Saint Eiiennc, there
is coal mine which has been on Ere from
iiH,e iunDemofial. Tie soii at the surface
is baked aud barren; hot vapors escape from
1t sul phur, alum, sal ammoniac, and vari-
Gus natural products are deposited on il; it
might be supposed to be portion of the ac-
cursed cities formerly consumed by the fires
of heaven and earth
Other burning coal mines are cited in
France for example, those of Declzevi.e,
in Aveyton, and Of CommeDtry, in the de-
partmont of Allier. The inhabitants have
even for long time kept up these fires for
the sake of working the alumiuous salts
which are given of from the coal aud arc
deposited OF the surface of the soil as
WnitlSL c1Il0rcScence.
la the carboniferous basins of the Saar-
bruck and Siiesia, there are likewise coal
mines which have been on fire for long
time. In Belgium, between Namur and
Charleroi, at a place called Falizolle, the
fire has been alight for many years The in
habltants formerly were in the habit of
working the coal on their own account
Now 1T frequently happened that two parties
came IN contact, causing endless disputes
and sometimes saDguinary fights A favo-
rite way OF keeping rivals or competitors ct
distance, was TO throw pieces of old leather
on burning brazier, causing an insupport-
able stencil. One day the fire extended al
so to the coal, since which time it has new
er ceased burning. The fire, which burns
under ground, is seen through assures in the
surface. Sulphur deposits itself round
these vents, and acid gases are evolved.
La England, especially in StaffOrdsbire, the
ignition of the coal has produced surprising
effects of alteration in the measures contain
ing coal. The sandstones have become
vitriiied, baked, and dilated by the fire,
the banks of plastic clay hardened and
changed Into porcelain.
formerly n coal mine on fire. The snow
melted in the gardens as soon as it touched
the ground. They gathered three crops u
year; even tropical plants were cultivated !;
and, as in the Isle of Calypso, an eternal
spring prevailed In another Staffordshire
colliery, the firing of which dates many
years baeG, and which is called by the in
habitants, Burning HILL it was noticed as
at Dudley, that the snow melted on reach.
ing the ground, and that the grass in the
meadows was always green. TIE people of
the country conceived the idea of establi
ing school of Horticulture on the spot
they imported colonial plants at heavy
expense, and cultivated them in this kind
o. open air conservatory. One fine day the
fire went out, tho soil gradually resumed
ITS usual temperature, the tropical plants
died, and the school Of horticulture was un =
der the necessity of transferring the gardens
elsewhere.
Near Mauch Chunk, Pa, is burning
coal mine, which has been on fire for many
years.