Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-16
Interesting Facts About Coal.

fro[ y. u W llSOn mas CnlS TO Say ABOUT Coal.
The United States was, during the
coal period, a low swampy level not
unlike the lagoon district of Louisi-
ana. There we've probably also scores
Of such swamps as Dismal swamp of
Virginia, which has an area of 600
square miles, and a depth of 10 to 80
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 stag
nant water. Peat was accumulated
by means of q microscopic plant
(sphagnum palustre), and centuries
were required to form a deposit of 30
to 40 feet. The swamps with fow-
ing water would be mingled
with foreign material, while the
stagnant marshes would increase only
IN pure carbon. When a vast area
was submerged, 100 fathoms of water
above it, the pulpy peat bed, 80 feet
thick, was reduced to a few feet of
coal. The clay next to the coal alb
sorbed enough carbon to become fire
clay. Pressure and heat resolved the
upper layer of clay into slate and
soapstoae. We have thus underlying
fre-clay and everything slate-the pre-
else order in which we find nearly all
coal. Then the land is raised to a
higher level and becomes a perma-
nent part of the continent. The
swamps in which there were bayous
or flows of water 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 se1ai-block
coal Of Wilmington and Braidwood
Coal contains the greatest store or
amount of heat ia the smallest space,
and yields it in the largest quantities
at the least cost, and besides, it is most
universally distributed through all
the countries. It is, in snort, the
cheapest source of that wonderful
power, steam, which is the basis of
the worlds progress No ordinary
combustible substances have a heat
ing power equal to it. The melting
point of iron is 3,479 degrees Fahr.),
far beyond the heat power of wood.
But coal has dominion over iron and
all it's ores and forms. with surplus
heat power Of nearly 1000 degrees
Had the heat power of coal
been limited LOCO degrees lower,
or the melting point of iron
established 1000 degrees higher
than 1t is, the entire human race would
have remained savages or barbarians
uatil this day. The concentration of
heat power IN coal can be in some
sense appreciated when it is stated
that the power developed in the CONS
bustion of five tons of represents the
physical energies which a man is able
to exert by working ten hours a day
for fifty years.
The grain of coal, the drop of wa
ter, and the atom of iron are the tri-
unvirs that have ushered in what is
to be grand millennium in human
history. It is scarcely fifty years since !
the dawn Of this era, yet ia that time
what revolution has been wrought. |
If it had been prophesied 5000 years
ago that a grain Of coal would some |
time evoke from drop of water q |
power that can be SO distributed and |
applied that it will do all the drudgery
of the human race, so subtle and pow |
erful that it will spin and weave, |
plow, plant, harvest, and carry the
golden grain to market; dig canals |
and cellars; build railroads and forts |
excavate mines and shafts; forge an
chors and spider webs of steel; in |
short, form and fashion all material /
for all uses, with what wonder would /
we have regarded the fulfllment of |
this prophecy. But all this was fore
told in the constitution of coal and |
IRON. These are prophetic of the hui
man period in the earth's history-of
5he coming race Of man, who should
combine these properties in most per-
fect action.
During the recent attack by the
L l. y