Year: 1874




found the vein of coal which is never less
than four feet in thickness. This vein is
absolutely solid and pure-not separated
by slate or other material. The roof OF
the mine is solid slate and requires no
artificial support Now as to the coal. 1t
IS peculiar in several respects. When
ignited it burns with bright blaze, very
much like that of camel coal. The effect
of the heat is, as it were, to swell the
coal, which opens up in spongy ridges
and allows the fire to penetrate, when 1t
crumbles with ease and emits heat that
is indeed remarkable for its intensity.
This is owing to the great excess. OF car
bon and the entire absence of all foreign
elements, such as sulphur slate and
dross of all kinds To witne IS the burn
ing of CRATE full of coal, as was our
privilege under the hospitable roof of
Mr.. Austin, whose farm is situated in the
midst of this region; is to be convinced of
its superior qualities to any coal used in
this vicinity. 1t has a life brightness,
and intensity of heat that cannot be
found in other Goals The bottom of the
CRATE presents an appearance of heat as
intense and bright as the top, for the
ashes, which are Jew and light, sift them
selves through. and there being no imped-
inlento in the shape of dross the whole
crate OF coal, when in full combustion, is
mass of bright fire, until the fuel is
completely consumed. 1t does not cake
or melt together, as is the case of most
other Goals, but rather expands with the
heat, and permits the consumption of
every particle of coal.


The small amount of ashes as result
of the combustion of this coal is re-
markable feature of it. Another is, that
it does not produce SCOT. 1t is cleanly.
as we'll as economical in its heatglving
properties. For cooking purposes it is
superior to wood We were shown by
Mrs. Austin, the estimable lady of the
gentleman referred to, the beauties of
this coal for the uses OF the kitchen.
The lids OF the stove and the bottoms OF
kettles were perfectly free from SCOT, and
we were informed that meat could be
broiled upon fire from this coal without
contamination either from dirt or odor.
There being no sulphur or other foreign
substances in the coal, the olfactories are
not saluted by the usual mephitic vapors
so stifiingly unpleasant in live bed of
other kinds OF coal, or the ashes taken
| from them. Another testimony to the
heat-producing properties OF this coal Is
that given by those engineers of the Gin
cinnati and Marietta railroad who have
tested it in their locomotives. When a
high pressure steam can be generated
with some difficulty with other Goals, it
was found that greater amount could
be made with this coal o0ith. ..the doors of the
! fre-bor open. 1t was estimated that in
the production of heat, and consequent
generation of steam, two bushels of this
coal are probably equal to three bushels
Of the coal which the road has been
using.


We have said this much concerning
this extraordinary discovery of coal
through purely disinterested motives,
and as corollary to the newly revived
project of a railroad from Dayto through
this city and Washington c. H. to these
| identical regions The capitalists and
business men OF Dayton are now e 'iously
turning their attention to the advantages
offered by this route, and all along the
| line there is a new awakening on the
subject. These coal and iron fields are
tire very nearest to this part OF the State,
and it would seem that the superiority
and abundance Of this coal, as we'll as the
abundance of rich iron ore, with which
the county is filed, ought to be sufficient
to decide the question OF the road at
once.


A meeting was held in Dayton last Sat
urday evening and addressed by Hon. R.
g. Corwin on the subject, and considera
BILE enthusiasm evolved. Another meet
ing was to have been held at Dayton last
evening. at which prominent men from
the iron and coal regions, and other
| points along the route of the proposed
road were expected to have been present
among them, Col. Yeoman and Judge
McClain, OF Washington c. H.. Messrs
McClintock, Wells, Cobb, Chapman, and
others who are largely Interested in the
iron smelling and coal mining in thai
part of the State. We hope to be able tc
| give in our next issue information to the
effect that road through this city anc
Washington c. II. is fixed fact.