The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01

The largest centre OF coal in China is In the
regions marked l and . on the map in the
Shan ri Province. north OF tho HoanR-ho. and in
the district included In the great southern
bend Of that river. The black area marked !
is probably the most remarkable coal field in
the world. Here is a continuous field about
1880 square miles in area composed OF fuel
cropping out on the surface wherever erosion
has cut to a sufficient depth. 1t Is said to be
equal to the best Pennsylvania anthracite.
The coal strata are practically horizontal and
thracits vein varies In thickness from twenty
five to fifty feet. with an average Of forty feet.
in operation. and the coal has been used for
probably 1000 years.
rich IN bitumin0uS coal as the eastern half Is
in anthracite, Iron ores exist in great abun;
dance throughout the anthracite district, and
ried on important iron industries. there: At
present the Chinese make use only of those
crude native methods. These coal and iron
fields are among the mountains, the whole re-
Gion is very rugged and transportation is pos
sible at present only by means OF Jack. mules
and camels.. Though coal and iron can be very
cheaply produced 10y modern methods. a rail
easily accessible.
The second greatest coal region 81 is in the
southeast part Of the province of Human. I'm
like the Shansi. fields they are very conven-
iently situated for water carriage; being near
5 Y"n aayig RiysrI pa Ric 2, fms S'e estI m aatSs1 tho Of s sae
tent OF this field at q. 100 square miles. hut a
part OF 1t Is so deeply covered by sedimentary
deposits that II may never be made available.
This larger part Of this area Is anthracite, much
Of II excellent and some, poor. There Is. also
much bitulninous coal. buG very little, Of the
trict, but they are ~sparsely distributed and are
being worked by the Chinese at present at only
three points.
Another region OF vast riches in coal and
iron "A. 4. A. extends clear through the prov
inccs OF Szechuen and Kweichau.. The coal
here Is extensively mined by the Chinese, hut
information as to the exact places where they
carry on the industry Is as yet meaGrc. The
coal traffic In this region is enormous, Mrs.
Bishop wrote that she saw at several points
coal yards an acre in extent stacked to a height
Of. eight feet with coal in large blocks. From
70 underlle the whole OF northern and central
SZechuen.
Extensive coal and iron areas are also found
In the extreme western province OF lunnan.
the main deposits being found along the line
marked ,. Yunnan is also very rich In tin. sill
yer and lead.
The coal mines Of Pechili and the regions
northeast and northwest Of Pekin. marked g.
z and 4. are extremely promising. aud those In
the Kaifng district. not far from Tientsin, are
Interesting as tho first in CHINA worked under
European management and by modern meth
ODDS. and the first 10 be- connected with a port
by rail.
The coal fields OF Shantung are already very
productive. and Prof. Richthofcn believes they
arc destined to play Il great role in China. II is
impossible on n small map to show the many
lesser areas where coal has been found The
brown hematite. mixed with spHthic iron, ore.
is found, closely. associated with the coal de-
posts will be of the greatest Importance In the
future development OF China.