Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-25


toms eight miles north of Petersburg, We
pass from the lowest to the topmost branch;
the others, or intermediate veins crop out
or disappear. From the top of the ridge fol-
five miles we descend, all the while being
in the same plateau, until striking vein No.
8, which is considered the most valuable
vein in the whole coal fields, since it en-
braces the largest amount of coal, is
most suited for general purposes and APP
proaches nearer the Pittsburgh than any OF
the other Goals in Kentucky. 1t runs from
a to feet. The main entry which is
being pushed rapidly, is 1000 feet, dipping
from the North to Is degrees East ofNorth
at the rate Of 81 to % to the hundred feet.
From this the reader may see how steep
was the grade of our passage in this mine,
whose narrow crooks with jutting coal,
narrowly escaping our heads as we quickly
sped by, led some to think we were on a
narrow guage railroad.
The thickness of a run means its mean
depth from top to bOttom;the actual or lateral
thickness Of No. 8 is unknown, certainly
1000 feet, the length already made with the
main working entry; it is probably, to judge
OF the browning hill, three miles long or
wide. This vein necessarily dips towards
the East, since at Green river and the coun-
try adjacent there, this coal is $50 TO 100
feet below the surface. From Darlington
the drainage goes to Tradewater.
THE OTHER SHAFT
being sunk 1000 feet from the present en-
trance will drain the whole property. TAX
ing as a theOretic basis the Aidrie shaft,
Green river, we see that the strata forma-
ton, as to depth is: fifty feet Of sandstone
and coal; seven inches Of band iron ore;
four feet Of coal rash and coal of vein No.
12-of which we will speak-six feet of
coal (McClaan vein); thence 70 feet of shale;
five feet Of splint coal, which is No. g..
From this it will be seen that the shaft now
being sunk will have to 60 down Y feet.
Actual demonstration shows, however, the
requisite depth will be at least 80 feet or
more. A suggestion by a noted geologist
would, it seems, incline to the fact that
these coincide with the Pennsylvania Goals;
in showing the connected section of
UPPER AND LOWER COAL MEASURES
OF western Kentucky, the same geologist is
OF the opinion that the upper coal meas
ures, above the "Anvil Rock" contain to a
certainty six or seven beds, all thin and
doubtless not of workable thickness, the
thickest being two feet six inches. In
the geological survey the seventy-seven
feet OF space between Goals Nos. Is and
IA are thought to represent the 'the great
limestone Of Pennsylvania" Its latitudi-
nal height is b tween so and 100 feet above
the "Great st. Petersburg" If this suppo-
sition be true, this latter is only represent
ed in Union county, KY, by thin coal.
GEOLOGICAL SKETCH OF NO. 8.
This vein has been traced through
the counties of Henderson, the great
er part Of Union and Hopkins into
Butler. A remarkable Feature of this
vein is that it preserves a thickness of
from 3stO feet. Between 80 and 100
feet above No. over the same territory
vein No. II usually accompanies No. 8,
gaining a thickness q. e., its depth) in
Hopkins and Muhlenburg counties of 6 to
"a feet. From this we may see what wealth
is that OF the st. Bernard coal company.
After coming out of No. we were escort
ed to
VEIN NO. II
half a mile beyond, when it crops out on
the hillside so that natural entries are driven
through, interseCtiug each other at equidis-
tant points. 1t is proper to state that nat
ural slate strata form roof, thereby saw
ing the expense Of arching. This slate is
hne and evenly smooth, there being but
little of the bituminous slate, which is a
soft Sectile species, impregnated with Bit
umen. Below the coal vein is CLAY, some
what argillaceous.
THE DIP
is about the same as No. 9, but being near
er the surface the extent of coal is less.
The walk IN this mine was most delightful,
and being Injured by our previous visit in
No. 8 we enjoyed this very much.
THE ENTRIES
are three miles Of lineal measure or tan
nellings. In other words we can 90 under
ground three miles without traversing the
same path. Throughout the coal vein is
even, there is but
ONE "FAULT:"
the vein of coal running South by South
east is crowded out and filed in with shale,
slate and quartz. Strange to say no flint is
to be found among the hills Gaping these
fields, and as to the exact cause ofthis fault,
and its characteristic elements, your cores
pondent will not speak. "rhe fault" is
about four feet thick. To the upper left
brow OF the hill is vein No. II, into which
an entry has been worked; the deposit is
too thin and uneven to justify its working;
it certainly is merged into No. IL some
where about the intersecting entries, mid
way the hill, possibly in a less distance. In
No. II, which is from g to and feet,the
upper portion of the strata A feet, and u.s.
ually amounting to five feet and over in
thickness is gas producing coal. 1t runs
from IS to 92s per cent: with the best quail
ity OF Pennsylvania gas coal, denominated
the
YOUGHIOGHENY,
the analysis Of which, as set forth in a reli-
able report is as follows:
moisture. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., LOO
Volatile cOmbustible matter. ....... $500
Carbon Gin the cake) ............... $40
Ashes (lilac grey. .....-........... $50
10000
1t will be seen that its total measure is
Total volatile matter. $500
Light spOngy coke. ................ $500
10000
AN ANALYSIS OF VEIN NO. II
shows it TO be as follows:
Moisture. ..................... 4O6
Volatile cOmbustible matters. ...... 37.44
Fixed carbon in the coke. .......... $3.50
Gray ashes. Observation-Disclosures. SIG
10000
This gives the total volatile matters
Observation-Disclosures. Also
Moderately light coke. $3.50
From this it will be seen that this coal
does not contain much oxygen and nitro
gen, large proportions of which in any coal
Injuries it for gas purposes, the hydrogen
is in such cases, where it amounts to an
equivalent percentage, is monOpolized in
the production Of water and ammonia by
union with the gases, to be found in this
formation. But where there is fusion of
hydrogen and oxygen the coal, as in vein
No. 8 and the excepted portions of No IL,
is rendered most excellent for other and
general purposes. Upon the whole l was
well pleased with the st. Bernard mines,
which are inexhaustible.
THE CAPACITY
of these mines already keep It's miners in
actual employment. The present amount
of coal mined is 5000 bushels per day. By
the first of next month this will be increasd
to 10000 bushels daily. Facilities are now
being secured so that by the first of Septem-
Der,
70 THOUSAND BUSHELS
of coal will be mined and shipped daily.
This increased production is to meet the
heavy orders already received for the win
ter trade. To ship this amount il will re-