Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-03

~ Y. r. Fox, CB2L1,cisT.
Tnr~ae A-arEf:

Tx = Irs4s 81 &Es4af4f2- 10 TIE Atati $50
urs3u the vast deposits 81 caal uDstt.r-
living Vsrigus sections 81 Larso:.
County. TIE massive beds 81 il
existing beneath the surface would
sRefn Almost fabulous. We eonid
hardly c---dit IT. extent, Eaiil thor
o1gh surveys and positive proof have
satisfied u Of the fact, however
strange Il Nay appear. Truth ~
stranger than hction." In every d.
retios frorn Knoxville that We may
bend oar way. We find heavy coal
lard. where banks have been opened,
s.1ne Of which are Bow in operation,
aHd at other points where moi worked,
the coal cropping out where we dig
into il from foo. to FIVE feet in
thickness. THESE thing are 50 plain
that TIE way f4riBg man though a
fool need rot err thereia.
Our time has been engaged for
some time past in the eastern portion
OF this County. This section will
take UP several reports before we
finish, portion OF which We viii
give now: From Section 10 on the
east we strike Section IL. tndcrIy-
ing the northwest quarter Of the
northwest quarter Of Section ii, -,
~, belonging to Jesse j. Fast, exist
heavy deposits Of coal. Here Mr..
Fast has run in three entries on
heavy bodies Of coal, the coal being
from four 10 six feet i'm thickness at
all the different points. This coal
has, however, been worked on the
outskirts, as entries have never been
run under the heavy body OF the
high land a. yet. This coal Is the
"a vein or bed, counting from the
top down; il an excellent quality,
icing highly cheinicaIized, hard and
compact; will make strong gas, and
splendid shipping coal. The high
land Of this 40 acres is all underlaid
with very heavy deposits Of coal.
The 81 vein also exists below the I'd.
This land is somewhat peculiar.
Where the I'd vein Of coal has been
proven, its Outcrop can be traced all
along down the little branch, or run
fge shall call it Fast's Creek On
each side Of il, where we shoveled
il out in several places, it seems
10 have thin stratum Of calcareous
ssndrock called by miners bastard
Iimerock) above it. This rock we
trace down the branch to a point
where it IL all Of - feet lower than
where the same bed Of coal has been
worked. Therefore we find de-
preston of this land TO the southeast,
falling or pitching the strata all Of ID
feet within distance Of 30 rods. At
first sight of this coal one would nat
urally suppose that it was different
vein, or bed, from the one which has
been worked; but upon careful in
spection we find 1t to be the same
identical vein. An entry could
he run in at this latter point to
good advantage, where large quanti-
ties Of this coal could be worked.
Mr.. Fast has some excellent points
on this branch, for running I'm entries,
where the whole body Of the Cd bed
Of coal could be worked, which I'M
derlies the 10 acres, drainage being
superb, by making an open cut for
few feet. The 3D. vein, or bed,
would have to be proven by shaft.
The roofing over this coal is good,
md will still be better as the body of
the high land is penetrated, it being
rock and black soapstone slate. On
the east part of this 40 acres there is
q fine quality Of atmospheric sand
stone cropping out, boing some or 10
feet In thickness. This rock can be
easily quarried, after which, by cord
ing up and leaving to season for n
few months, it will make an excel.
lent quality of building rock, stand
ing the test Of the severest weather.
Below this rock the I'd and 3d beds
of coal exist. However, a stratum Of
hydraulic rock would be passed
through, which lies above the coal.
These = beds OF coal will pay heavy
to work. We also find cropping out
here, below the sandrock, II seam Of
copperas some inches thick. This
can be made very useful. This land
is half mile south of the A. *. &
ID. II. Il. Here is q natural grade
for switch from the II. II track
through ravlne to the coal land, SO
that the coal could be shipped to
good advantage.
The editor will allow me to digrcss
a little, and indulge in the remark,
in this connection, that Mr.. Fast is