Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-09-17

The United States was, during the
coal period, low swampy level, not un-
like the lagoon district of Louisiana
There were also probably scores of such
swamps as the Dismal Swamp of Viz
ginia, which has an area of 6U0 square
miles, and a depth of 10 to 50 feet of
black mold or peat in a pasty state.
These swamps differed in size as well as
kinds of trees. reeds and ferns growing
IN them. Some marshes have slow
flowing water: others stagnant water.
Peat was accumulated by means of
microscopic plant (sphaenum palustre),
and centuries we're required to form a
deposit of 30 or 40 feet. The swamps
with flowing water would be mingled
with foreign material, while the stag
nant marshes would increase only in
pure carbon. When a vast area was
submerged, 100 fathoms of water above
it, the pulpy peat bed, 30 feet thick, was
reduced TO few feet Of coal. The clay
next to the coals absorbed enough cer-
bon to become fireclay. Pressure and
heat resolved the upper layer of clay
into slate and ssapst0ne. We. have thus
un Terrifying fire clay and everything slate
the precise order In which We find near
" all coal. Then the land is raised to
q higher level and becomes permanent
part of the continent The swamps in
which there were bay0us or flows of wa
ter would give impure and slaty coal.
The purest coal would be formed in the
still waters of lagoons. Thus was
formed, probably, the Briar Hill coal,
the block coal of Indiana, and the semi
block coal of Wilmington and Braid
wood. Coal contains the greatest store
~ mt ~ 1~o svnA
pass, and yields it in the largest quanti-
ties at the least cost, and besides, it is
most universally distributed through all
countries. 1t is, in short, the cheapest
source OF that wonderful power steam,
which is the basis of the worlds pro-
greeo. No ordinary c0mb1stible sub
stances have heating power equal to
it. The smelling point of iron is 3,479
deg. (Fahr.), far beyond the heating
power of wood. But coal has dominion
over iron and all its ores and forms,
with surplus heating power of nearly
1000 deg. Had the heat power of coal
been limited to 1000 deg. lower, or the
melting point of iron established 1000
deg. higher than it is, tho entire human
race would have remained savages or
barbarians until this day. The concen-
trati0n of heat power in coal can be in
some sense appreciated when it is stated
that the power developed in the COM
bustiOn of five tons of coal represents
the physical energies which man is
able to exert by working ten hours day
for fifty years.
The grain of coal. the drop of water,
and the atom Of iron are the triumvirs
that have ushered in what is to be a
grand millennium in human history. It
is scarcely fifty years since the dawn of
this era, yet in that time what revolu-
ton has been wrought. II it had been
proph0slod 0O00 years ago that a grain
of coal would some time evoke from q
drop Of water power that can be so
distributed and applied that it will do
all tho drudgory of the human race; SO
subtitle and powerful that it will spin
and weave, pillow, plant, harvest, and
carry the golden grain to market; dig
canals and cellars: build railroads and
forts; excavate mines and shafts; forge
anchors and spiderv webs of steel; in
short, form and fashion all material for
all uses, with what wonder would we
have regarded the fulfillment of this
prophecy. But all this was foret0ld in
the constitution Of coal and iron. These
are prophetic of the human period in the
earth's history-of the coming race of
man who should combine these proper
ties in most perfect action.
->~D~b-
Gentl0man on To Clavton Rroa for