Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-07-17

Our University Most Fortunately Lo.
Gated for Study Many People Have
Coal to Sell But None TO Burn-Next
Lecture ON Oil and Gas in Commence.
ment Hall.
DIR. G. Ii. White gave his second
lecture on the geology of West Vir-
giflia this morning at the University
The coal fields of the state was his
special subject for the second lee
| ture.
A history of the origin and forma-
tion of coal measures was first given
together with an insight into the
whole geological history of the state
from the earliest times, when this
section of country was probably the
upper end of the Gulf OF Mexico.
The heat and humidity of the period
of coal formation was referred to.
Only crickets and some low forms of
reptiles then inhabited the earth
and it rained even many times often
er and harder than it did last week.
The lecturer spoke Of the different
kinds and qualities OF coal from the
soft bituminous kind which is found
in the new river field to the hard
anthracite variety of eastern Penn
sylvania He told how the volatile
matter is driven out of soft coal by
folding Ct the surface in noun
famous sections. This process pro
duces sem-ibituminous coal; where
the folding is only moderate. Where
intense strain has been put upon the
seams, and great heat generated,
hard anthracite coal has been form
ed.
Peat is the first stage in tie forma-
tion of coal beds, and the extreme
formations at the other end OF the
series are graphite and the diamond
the latter being pure crystalized
carbon.
The same seam of coal known as
the Pittsburg seam here, and con
tanning 40 %i of volatile matter is
found in the Cumberland region
with only about Is q of volatile
material. This is caused by the
greater folding in the mountains
about Cumberland.
DIR. White spoke of the fortunate
location OF West Virginia University,
as place to study the great coal mea-
sure of the state. Within ten miles
of Morgantown, the whole series can
be studied from the lowest TO the
highest. Neither the University Of
Virginia, Cornell, Yale, Harvard, Chi
cago, Johns Hopkins, nor any Of the
United States is SO fortunately locat-
ed is this one for the study of the
greatest wealth producing mineral of
the country. Morgantown is right ia
the midst of the richest coal measures
in this country, and yet the city itself
is located on a barren belt along the
river bank, between the out crops of
the Pittsburg and the treeport Goals,
and away from the smoke and dirt OF
mines and coke ovens.
DR.. White dwelt upon the excell-
ence and worldwide reputation of the
New River and Pocohontas coal SER
les the lowest found In the state. The
high quality and great thickness of
the Pittsburg seam found so abundant
iy in this county, also received atten-
teLtion.
DR.. White said that many people in
this section Of the state, who had
plenty of coal for sale and none to
burn were incensed at him for not
putting coal under their land on his
coal map of the state. But he was
governed by diamond drill tests made
at Pine Grove ia Wetzel County by
Ex-senator Camden, showing that
the Pittsburg coal seam is only two
feet thick at that point. Two tests
were made about two miles apart.
DR.. White said that in France he
saw coal measures $50 feet thick.
where they remove all the surface earth
and stone before mining it.
The third and last lecture in this
series by one Of most eminent
biologists in the country will be given
in Commencement Hall at O'Clock
Saturday morning. The subject will
be oil and gas. DR.. Purinton insisted
upon having the lecture in Commence
ment Hall, where large audience
can assemble to hear it. All who can
possibly avail themselves of this OPP
portunity should hear the last lecture
Saturday paornino