Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-10-08
rhe rennes.ee COAL gields.

The coal fields of Tennessee are
among the most extensive in the
Union, and the quality of coal is
unsurpassed. The area of these
fields of fine bituminOus coal Is esti-
mated at 300 square miles. The
quantity of the coal measures have
been put down as being equal to Il
block one hundred miles long, fifty
miles wide and eight feet thick.
Assuming that a ton of coal is
equal to one cubic yard, we have
within the boundaries Of the coal
fields of Tennessee 10, III 1862, 900
tons.
This coal field embraces within its
limits portions of the counties of
Claiborne, Campbell, Anderson,
Scott, Morgan, Fentress, Overton,
Roane, Rhea, Bledsoe, Hamilton,
Marion, Sequatchie, Putnam, White
Franklin, Van Buren,, Cumberland,
Warren and Coffee. 1t embraces
only small portions of the last two
mentioned. This is more than one
fifth of the counties of the State.
They all lie along and contiguous to
the Cumberland Mountains.
1t Is not our purpose in an article
as short as this must necessarily be,
to attempt a scientific discussion as
to the quality OF Tennessee coal, or
as to technical geological forma-
tiOnS. 1t has been Analysed fully,
and sufficient publicity has been
given to such analysis as to place
ii within the reach of all who wish
to make critical investigation.
1t has been practically tested, sufli-
cient to show that it has all the
qualities that combine to make
useful and valuable coal. 1t makes
good coke, it is Il good steam max
ing coal, makes a hot, durable fire
in the CRATE, and is comparatively
free from sulphur. There is no
question about the quality and
in quantity it would seem almost
ineXhaustible.
Only small portion of this vast
field, comparatively speaking, has
vet been developed. Before the
late war, this coal territory had no
facilities for transportation, except
a small portion of it adjacent to the
line of the Nashville IL Chattanooga
Railroad, and in small way along
a few rivers. Since the war the
Knoxville x Ohio Railroad has
penetrated the rich coal fields at
Coal Creek, 80 miles north of Knox
Vile. This road is now being eX-
tended to connect with the Louisville
q Nashville and the Kentucky Cen
trail Railroads, and will open up
new coal fields. The Cincinnati
Southern Railway has opened up
new fields along its line, which were
never before developed, because
there were no facilities for trans
portatiOn. A branch road is now
being built from Hunnieut, on the
Cincinnati Southern Railway, to
Winters Gap, which will result in
the development of some OF the
best coal property in the world.
Another line is in contemplation
from Emory Gap, on the Cincinnati
Southern Railway, to Knoxville,
which will, when completed, result
i'm the development of some very
fine coal property.
This coal field lies in the eastern
portion of the State, and there is
not a county i'm East Tennessee
that docs not contain more or less
iron ore, and in most of them it is
found in large quantities. In short
period of time the coal field will he
reached by lines of railway sufli-
cient to guarantee n never-failing
supply, and new markets will be
opened up, so that cOal-mining will
be not only Il very extensive but
also a very lucrative business |
hROrUille Chronicle.