Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-06


Both of these are imperfectly formed coal.
Their great bulk and the presence of water
is the principal obstacle to their utiliza-
ton. The Ignite of Dakota contains
about 80 per cent. water; peat,in its natur-
al state, from so to so per cent. Undoubt-
eddy these substances will in time be ex-
tensively used In this country, as they are
in Europe. This subject is of great local
where famine prices for fuel prevail.
The United States is one of the richest
countries in the world, both in the guam
the deposits differ very greatly. Anthra-
cite, from its density and cleanliness in
use, is considered the most valuable. The
bitumlnous or soft varieties differ greatly
among themselves. Different seams in
the same formation are widely distinct in
quality, and in the same seam oftentimes
the various layers show great contrast.
Coal mining in this country is yet very
rude. In the old country the seam is often
sorted so as to separate the better from the
poorer qualities of COAL Here everything
is taken down and shipped between the
upper and lower wall, without discrimina-
ton. This practice is greatly damaging
The market is supplied with
an inferior article and the use of the
cheaper Goals, except for steam purposes,
of coal supply in the great deposits south
of US are thus to a great extent ignored.
The state of Illinois contains Goals of ex-
cellent quality in the greatest abundance.
These are easily reached by numerous lines
md and
its tributaries. If properly mined and
brought here at reasonable rates, a most
desirable and healthful fuel might be
cheaply furnished for all purposes. The
coal deposits of Iowa, though of consider
able extent, seem to be of inferior quality,
owing to an excess of sulphur and earthly
impurities.
The period of the coal formation
ing upon the physical development
of our planet. Previous to the coal no
land life above the reptile existed. The
low, swampy condition of the surface, and
the impure air, and the absence of a vege-
tation, suited to the demands Of a higher
animal life, precluded the possibilities of
its existence. 1t was the Office of that gil
gantic and all-embracing vegetation to
abode of higher beings. 1t not only per-
formed this Office but gathering these poi
sonous gases within its embrace it bore
them safely beneath the seas and surren-
dered them to the chemical forces to be
held captive and converted into coal
Thus by one process higher physical con-
ditions were provided and store OF min
eral fuel for the wants of
a being whose very exist
ence was yet concealed in
the counseIs of the creative mind. In the
upper layers of the coal some small NAM
malta have been found, dimly limiting the
approach of that higher race for whom
these elaborate preparations were being
made. Some of these were found in Hi
nois by DR.. Worthen, state geologist, and
we're figured in the reports We have just
received of the geology of that state.
These fossil forms are not only intensely
interesting to the naturalist, but they are
of great practical use in the search for
coal. They constitute unerring guides to
identify the coal-bearing rocks. Expe-
rience has taught US that it is only in this
formation that profitable researches can
be made. Fossils enable Us Enthusiastically
to identify the formation it is. True
the geologlst cannot always point to the
precise spot where the coal may be found.
without minute researches; but geology
Enthusiastically indicates the areas within
which researches may be made with reason
able prospect of success. All the other
features in the rocks are unreliable. The
black bituminous slate that uniformly at
tends the coal exists in other forms.
Black states that are combustible are found
in the old Silurian rocks and are very miss
leading. 1 have seen old miners, hundreds
of times, dig among these old Silurian
shales, all over the country from New Eng
land to the Rocky mountains, expecting to
find coal. When 1 tried to dissuade them
they pointed to the black
slate, boosted of their experience
as coal miners and obstinately persisted
in wasting their time and money, misled
by the accidental fact of finding the black
slate. Geology is full or these illustrations
of the necessity of distinguishing the &C
cidental from the essential, which is the
| cause of so much wasteful expenditure and
trouble, not only among the rocks, but
| everywhere in life.