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ilure.

THi:

COAL TRADE OF BRITISH AMERICA,

WITH

RESEARCHES

ox TBI

•I

•

CHARACTERS AND PRACTICAL VALUES

AxMERICAN AND FOREIGN COALS.

Hi* ll\§ liTMiR JR, J^OMrJVSOJ\\

CIVIL AND MININO ENGINEER AND CHEMIST, WASHINOTON, D, C.

WASHINGTON:

TAYLOR U MAIKY, FENSDVLVANIA AVEHt'I.

P ir I L A I) E L P H I A :

A. HART, BOVTHGABT CORNER UP FHIRTU AND CHESTNtTT STRICT.

1850.

Entered according to act of Congress, by Walter R. Johnsoii, in the Clerk's
Office of the District Court of the District of Columbia, 1850.

^U-ht-

•

T-.nKRs, I'RisTEB, H'aMngton,

■

■PHH!

CONTENTS.

he Clerk's
iO.

Pagt.

PRSFACe 5

Coal Mineti fnd Coal trade of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia 9

Section I. Situation of th<> Minin? districts 9

II. P«i<*itinn of cnM teum^ in rc«ii>>ct to water level 13

III. Tiiicknpsji and inclitmtion of hpds 13

IV. Situation wiJh fcopect to navijyaMe waters IS

V. Cos* of minins, tran!«ponin{». and loading coal , 16

VI. W.»{»f!s earned hy miners and othera, 19

Vn. Origin and stability of mining popuJation... 9l

VIII. Length of th«' s*"f»8on for shippins; coal , 31

IX. Prioe of Coal for home cnosiirnptiort and for export ....... 2i2

X. Wi'iijht of a chaldron at Picfo)» .md Sydney 23

XL Use to whirh the fine or "sbck" coal isappUed 2i»

XH. Frpiiihts to Hoston and other Anipricarj ports ., S3

XIII. DilTerence of fr«tj;ht at Dostan between Nova Scotia and Phila-

delphia, and its causes...,. 26

XIV. Number and class of vp-ssefe pnip}oy«»d in the Coal trad*-,,... 99

XV, Importation of Nova Scotia and oiJter coals into thtr United States 30

XVI, Faciliti»-9 fur increasing mining operations „.., 33

XVII, Nova Scotia coa!(» compared with Anthrncitf* 34

XVIII. Ahsolut*- and v.tri(iWff density of Pictoii coal 38

XIX. Control, Manaij 'men?, and Rent of Mines 40

XX. Appeal of the Minins; Asaociation to i\w Government 48

ApPK.vptx A. Letter froTn S. Cunard, Esq., to liord Viscount Falkland 44

AprF.yDjjf B, Return of the (jnantity of coal, rtiised, sold, and exported ^9

CoMPARtSOX OF BXPERI.MEVTS 0» AMF.niCAV AND FoRETaS CoAT.S !a9

Tabular view of the composition of Welsh furnace coals 60

Rkport of British Experiments 62

Table I. Showing; the specific and latent heat of water and steam 69

II. Showing the Economic Valtie.s of the coals...,. , , 73

III. Showiii? the mean composition of averag* samples of the coals... 76-7

IV. Sliowiii!» the caloriiic values of the coals , , 78-9

V. Showinir the nmonnt of various substances produced by the deslnic-

live distillation of certain coals , , 80-1

VI, Showing the actual duty and that which is theoretically possible, of

the coals , , 82-3

Remarks on the foregoing report. , 90

Manner of obtainins; the samples for trial ,.. 90

Evaporatins apparatus 9|

Economic weit;lit of coals ,. 92

Moisture in coals... .„.., , 94

Tafde of relations between fi.xed and vototite combustible matter 96

Cohesive power of coals , 98

Nitroi»en snd Ammonia in Coals 19

Expansion of water at high temperatures ; ,

Tables of expansion of water in iron

Estimation of water supplied to the boiler according to temperature.. ..

Heating power of Coals according to classes .. « .

Latent heat and heat of capacity of water. ,.... iiu

Use made of the h*'ntin!» power of coals {m

Coinposii iou anJ l.^ot-nl,s.,ihio:T power of the gases of chimney.!!."!!!!!"!!! ! lOS

*j.\ed Cnrhon as a m? aeure of bratwg power 106

Conipftrison of Ccrbon aud ifydrogen with practical heating pVwer.!!.*.'.!!!!!*. 108

Hwtmi; power m.aa.ued by ihe red.tction of litharge ... no

ret centag^ of Carbon as a liieasure of heating power !! in

I awe of Ameticm an-ilyses. proximate and ultimate, to show the Vaw'of

-r **"/"!!".",v«'P''wer according to percentage o( earhon 117

Table ot British coals in the order of their carbon constituent 120

Kantiy residiua of the coals joY

I'se ot wood in heating up the boiler and furnace.!!.'!!!!"!!! ! 12fi

'''Tr'aritr:.!*"'"'"" "■"' '^"■"' "^>^'«^'^ ,„

Errata .!.'."'! o

Synoptical taWe of Aule'ricnn coaia.!!!!!!!!*! },?

Class I. Anthrncifes, Nafornl Coke, Artifici«| Coke mi;Vn;;;V,!'!!V;.!!!!;!'""! 132

II. In-e-hmtxwg hnmmom of Maryl.-md and iVnn.ylvanin nj

Specific gravity, as an hVdtV of VurVty'Jn coaVs ! Hf

balfs of Ammonia in the dust of anthracite fiirnact-a !!!!! 1 Tr

Mechfimral structure and relative a<4«-H of coals t'lr

crs''.!!?!!.!" I*'*' "***'''* ''^ ^*'"''' ^^'''''' *'"' «>m;' Vvnn«;i*;a;,ia'amhV.;!

Analyses of American and foreij/n eoaJs,*! ". |e^

Analysis of the Natural Coke of Virginia ir*

Coal from the Valley of Hazle Creek, Pa..!!!!!! ,e^

Coals of Bradford county, Pa . ?J

Recem Wn<;.vr,oxs fiEumt T^^^ 161

I. Coal fields of North Carolina :;!J

Analy.es of D..,, river coals. North Caroji^a!!.','!!:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! us

II. Anthracite of Russia fj!^

m. Kenhawa Cannel coal ".!! , .«

IV. Cannel coal from Beaver. Pa !! tJS

y. Coals of Littk- Sandy river. Kenntcky!."!!!!!""'*; ,!'«

VIII. Arkansa.^ coal *'^

IX. Anthracite of IVn^bWk^^lii^Tsmuh Wal";: }i.?

XI ilS iS'?^^'^:;"^" "'"' ^"^«^-^ --'i^ MdZ::!!!!!!!!!!!!! IS
xij. Spring Hill, jv,,^., »;„,,)„ coal.*.!!!!'.!!!!!!*! I-?

VtJ- ^'''^* *>* J'i««lp "v^r, Cnpc Breton .";""" |:T

XIV. Coal of New Brunswick..,. ]i.i

-M-V ^'^^^''H'"'"*^'''' «:'"»J. Clover H.ii, va.!!.'!!!!'! }4r

t-oal trorn the «ame .ean, as above, and wiVhT,;'';* few'iy«"„V Vhe

LwKc an jppvcanoe pit «» vi uw

feummary of Analyses *'"

Practical Hints for ^^^^'c^^Ki^d;^;;;;;^^;^;;^-^^^ }2|

PREFACE.

A wide spread interest is involved in supplying mineral
coal to the markets of the world, and for the multiplied uses
of modern civilization.

While employed, as informer times, almost solely for do-
mestic consumption, its value was little understood, except
by those who inhabited countries exhausted of other fue!, or
subjicted to th,« severity of a ri;-.>rous climate. But since the
discovery of its great advanla-es in many metallurgic pro-
ee«se.s-since its vast urility for the production of steam be.
came known, and especially since tlie pracUcability of navi-
gating the of-.an l»y sttvan was discovered— Oo.u. has assumed
for all naiions. i,» all climatrs, an importance which, a century
ago, had not entered into the conceptions of men.

As an article of commerce it is not even in our own time
estunatrd as its real importance slu.uld seem to warrant.

Of f>jhcr bulky articles in wliich commerce is carried on
mauulacturin^r industry conunouly returns to us some part of
the identical subsfanre which it had received as a raw ma-
terial, somefhin^' visible and tangible of which our senses can
still lake co-nizance-sonR.thiH^r wUich arrests our attention
and ehaneu<.,.s notice or admiration, recalling our minds to
the orj^nnal condition of those materials by which our wants
are supplied or our senses gratified. Thus the garments we
wear constantly renu.ul us of the «ax, cotton, «ilk, wool
hemp, lur,dovv«. leather, &e., which may chance to enter into
their comp(»sition. The urnamcnts of our persons, our dwel-
lings, or our lurniture, recall the precious metals, the gemv
the paints, the dye stuffs, employed in the decorative arts'
1 he needle which embroiders, the lancet which punctures, the
hair sprmg which so delicately balances and regu!ates-no
less than the ploughshare which turns our soil, the anchor

ivhicli moors our battle ship, or the ehain, or the monster tube
whir a bear us safely, in mid air, over the chasm of Niagara,
or the strait of Menai — admonii^hes us, at every step, of the
obligations which vre owe to the metal of which they are all
composed. The cereal grains return from the manufacturer
in the form of flour, bread, starch, or fermented liquors, all
indicating the materials to which they owe their origin.

On the contrary, the material which furnif^hes motivr power,
is either wholly overlooked, or soon forgotten. The evanes-
cent movement of maohinery, which transports materials from
place to place, or transforms them from one sliape to another,
leaves nothing visible or tanj,'ihle on which our senses can
dwell. The corn, it is true, lias hiM-n ground, hut no trace of
the grinding power in seen in the bread, or tlie starch. Cotton
flax, and wool have l>ren syAin ; jron and ?i(»vl forgod ; copper,
zinc, gold, and silver nultcd ; drugs and tlye stud's pulverized;
but they show no external signs of the coal, or fire, or .sttam,
by the agency of which these tr:in.sformatt<«n.s have been ef-
fected. We see around us the fuhrics which were ordered
from Manchester a sliort month ago, and w<! lian«ll<^ the yellow
bars and dust which left San Francisco within the Inst forty
days ; but o( the miraculous power wlii< h lias wing<*d their
way hither, we see no traces on the surface, and are prone to
forget tlie useful labor of the black masses by which we are
so largely bene(itted. A piratical act lias hwn c<nnndttcd, or
a hostile invasion is attempted or intended, and the arm»)f our
national power is s^tretched forth to thwart the designs of
wicked men, but without the aitl of this dark, forbjddinj
mineral, the interposition of tliat arm would bo all too tardy-
its efforts altogether unavailing.

It is but a lew years since foreigners began to understand
that coal existed extensively in our country. The qmet man-
ner in which the development of a few detached coal fields
near the Atlantic border had been carried on, gave tha im-
pression, that if coal existed at al! in the United States, it
must be small in .luantily, and of doubtful qitality, and, there-

fore, the less said about it the better. Since, however, we
have beffun to make known by oiTicial and authoritative .Jocu-
ments the numerous varietioH and the high qualities of Aihpri-
can coals, the attention of capitalists has been turned in the
direction of our coal fields, and monry has flowed into the
country to be invested in lands and mining operations, and
in the rail roads and canals intended for conveying coal, or in
ocean steam sliips to be propelled by American coals, or in
manufactories to be actuated by the same material.

To make known our mineral districts and the value of their
products, is, therefore, one of the most effective means of sc-
curinj? rlio investment of whatever capital may be necessary
not only for their development, but also for the construction
of the public works wluch n^ciHtate their transportation.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal has remained many years
incomplete, and might probably have continued so much
longer, hati it not been clearly established that its extension
would brit)g it to a coal liehl, alfording fuel of the most valu-
able kind, and in the greatest abundance.

In respect to the comparison which we have instituted be-
tween the results of experiments on American and foreign
coals, it may be stated, that their purpose is to make the
American reader ar<iuainted with a more extensive series
than our own researches had been able to embrace of the
celebrated coals of England, .Scotland, Ireland, ami Wales.

It is creditable to our own Government that it took the in-
itiative in researches respecting so important a subject as the
value of coals. Should it continue the same to completion,
both the interest and the credit of the nation will doubtless be*
largely benefitted; but without such completion it must stand
in the attitude of one listlessly neglecting the advantages of
his own position.

One highly important question to be practically determined
by further experiments on American coals, espeeiallv >n those
of the West, is their relation in value to the several kinds of
wood for which, both in steamboats and on shore, they are

r f

likely to be extensively substituted. The necessity of this
branch of inquiry being carried on whe/the wood can be p.-o-
cured in all the conditions in which it is habitually used, would
indicate that the cxperhuents should be performed at the
WePt, whftrc both the woods and the coals, still awaiting trials,
are mostly found.

Following the discussion of the able and important Report
on British coals, will he found accounts of certain characters
and habitudes of coal in general, regarded as a mineral body.
The present volume cmbfaccf*, moreover, accounts of analy-
ses, mado by the writer, on American and foreign coals not
embraced iii his report to the Xavy D(>pnrfnietJt iti 1811, and
of certain coal firhls visited and explored, with a view to the
extent and character of their minerals. The most recent of
these explorations is that of the limited but exceedingly in-
teresfiHg and valuable coal ticld found in the centre of North
Carolina, aflbrding a curious illustration of the causes which
have operated to produce the various kinds of coal ranging
from highly bituminous through semi-bituminous, and an-
thracite, to perfect plumbago.

In regard to the information contained in these pages res-
petang the New Brunswick, Xova Scotia, and Cape Breton
eoal tiekis, the writer takes great pleasure in acknowle.lging
bis obligations to Richard Brown. Esq.. of Sydnev, to Henry
Poole, Esq.. of Alhion mines ; to J. W. Dawson. E.q., of Pie-
tou ; to Joseph Smith, Esq., of Atrdierst ; to Moses H. Perley
hsq., of St. Johns; and to Mcs.<.r.s. Archibald, Bracket and An-
drews. American Con.ub at Sydney, Pictou, and 8t. Johns
respectively for much valuable assistance. He would also
testify to the uniform courtesy and kindness with which
throughout his tour in the Provinces, he was treated by all'
wuh whom jt was bis good fortune to become acquaimed, or
from whom he had occasion to make inquiries.
Washington, December 20, 1849.

> f. .-.

COAL MINES AND COAL TRADE

NEW BRUNSWICK AND NOVA SCOTIA.

The following statements of facts and observations con-
tain the result of a perHonal examination of the several
mining districts of t!ie Northeastern British Provinces made
during; the summer of 181(5. Th« coals "f tlios*' provinces
having been tostc'd by the author, during his research on
Am»;rican coals, and the coal lit^lds from which they were
derivcil, having hevn to some extent mad<! known by the la-
bors of Messrs. Jackson and Alger, Dr. Gcsner, Richard Brown,
Esq., and 3Ir. Lyell, the writer felt much interi'st and curi-
osity in making a comparison between the advantages and
capabilities of tliose mines, and many which he had profes-
sionally examined in various parts of the United States.

These statements are believed to possess an interest for all
who are concerned in the ownership or management of mines
in the United States, and with this view are submitted to the
public, together with the rxcompanying documents, which
will, perhaps, in some degree, enable the American reader to
estimate the value of those treasures of mineral fuel which
yet lie unexplored in various parts of our extended territory.
The citations may show with what fostering care the authori-
ties of the provinces, as well as of the parent country, have
watched over the mining interests of Nova Scotia, and of the
enterprising Association by whose skill and pei-severance so
valuable a trade has been secured in the United States.

I. — Situation of the Mining Districts.

The principal mining districts where operations are at pre-
sent carried on, are those of Pictou and Sydney. The former
is situated in the northeastern part of the peninsula ol Nova
Scotia, one hundred and six miles by the road from ILiIilax,
and eighty miles by t*ie course of navigation, in a due west
direct iou from the northern entrance of the gut of Canso.
The latter is on the eastern part of the Island of Cape Bre-
3

ton, disiaut fVoiu l'i<.;!(ju, by the usual route of travel, about
one hundred and eighty miU's.

As to the extent of these two districts I may observe, that

ilif f>ntire .iren af the fie!d in which the coal-henrin,? strata of
Pictou occur, lias been estimated by Messrs. Brown and Smith
at twcnUj-eight squair nil/cs, but owinjr to numerous faults and
dislocations, the space actually available for riiining purposes
is far less than that. Indeed the oidy seam now worked, is,
by Mr. Brown's estimate, hnoicn to underlie not more than
three square miles.

The Sydney district is much more extensive. It reaches
from the north side of Cow Bay to the northerly division of
Mil e Bay, to the northern j)art of Boulardrie Island, a dis-
tance of thirty-live miles. An average of four or five miles
in width may be assi;;ncd to this district. But this includes
numerous bays and indentations of the coast.

From the authority just cited it appears that, after deduct-
ing the water surface, this coal field contains "owe hundnd
and ticenty square mihs of land containhi'j; ivorkafdc iriiis of
cof/Z." The most important mines in this district are situated
about nine miles distant, in a direction nearly due north from
the ancient town of Sydr?y.

About nine-and-a-half miles east-southeast from the above
mines, and near the enti-anee of Bridgeport basin, a*^ the head
of Lingan Bay, are the Bi-idgeport mines, not now in operr-'ion.

About three-and-three-fourths miles in a west-noriliwe.st
course from the Sydney min(s, are those of Little Bras d'Or,
situated on the channel of that name. At this locality, also,
operations are for the present suspended.

At the south end of this coal iwU\, nearly on a line witli the
above three collieries, and on the northern side of Cow Bay,
is an ancient min(> said to have been worked by the French
for the su])ply of Louisbm-g, while they licld possession of
this island some ninety or one hundred years ago.

Besides the above districts, there is a third near the north-
ernmost part of the peninsula ol" A'o\ a Scotia, a few miles
from the isthmus connecting it with New Brunswick. In this
district two small colUeries have been commenced — one on
the shore of the Cumberland IJasin, the casterh di\ision of
the west bi-anch of the Bay of Fi.ndy, at a place well known
as the "South .loggins," about ninety miles from St. 'ohn,
and about one hundred and fifty from Eastport, the border
town of the State of Maine: the otluM', s(ncnteen-and-a-half
miles inland, from the same ])oint at the .loggins, in a south-,
easterly direction, at a place called Sprin^^ Hill.

Thus Wo finfl in Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton, seven
points at \\ liicli the mining of coal for comm«;rcial purposes
has been more or less extensively prosecuted.

In the Province of New Brunswick arc several small coal
mining establishments, five or six of which are on the waters
t)r tributaries of Grand Lake, which opens into the St. John's
river by a navigable passage called the Jcmseg. Near the he:.- *
waters of the Oromuctoo river, another tributary of the St.
John's, falling into it from the southwest, ten miles below
Fredericton. is an opening from which coal has been taken to
supply blacksmiths in the neighborhood.

The mines on Grand Lake are, by the course of navigation,
from sixty to seventy miles above the city of St. John.
Coasting vessels of one hundred tons burden may approach
within a few hundred yards of the drifts by which they are
worked.

On New Castle river, Salmon river, and Coal Creek, are
openings where a few hundred chaldrons are annually mined.
St. John and Eastport are probably the most distant markets
to which this coal has hitherto ^bund its way.

The breadth of the coal formation in this part of New
Brr.nswick is by the course of the St. John's river, from the
mouth cf the Washadamoak to that of the Keswick, a few
miles above Frcderiekton, something more than fifty miles.
But neither in this nor in any other part of New Brunswick,
could I learn that workable seams of more than twenty or
thirty inches in tliickness have yet been opened. I saw none
over twenty-two inches thick, but was informed that on Salm-
on river a drift had been carried four hundred feet in a
bed of twenty-four or twenty-five inches. About eight miles
from one ofthe mines on Grand Lake, an exploration was
made some years ago, by boring to the depth of four hundred
and three feet, but nothing was discovered of more impor-
tance than the seam of twenty-two inches. This bed, where
if is worked on the borders of the lake, is nearly horizontal,
and its covering very light, not generally exceeding ten or fif-
teen feet in thickness.

Besides the above districts, in which active mining opera-
tions have been carried on, it may not be improper to refer to
other portions of both provinces which are known to contain
coal.

1. On Inhabitants river, a little to the east of the Gut of
Canso, in the Island of Cape Breton, extending some miles op
that river, and believed to continue southcastwardly to its
opening into Inhabitants Bay, is a narrow coal district, in

V-

which one or two openings, to supply coal for domestic use,
have been made by the owners of the soil. Accordinf? to my
estimate, the district, at the part traversed, has a breadth of
about three miles; aritl it may, in all probability, be from
seven to ten miles in length. This is inferred from informa-
tion received relative to points where coal has actually been
opened.

2. The northwest part of the Island of Cape Breton, extend-
ing from Port Hood, on Ht. George's Boy, along the coast north-
eastwardly to Mabou, and thence to Broad Cove and Chim-
ney Corner, contains a coal field, of which the limits inland,
are as yet undetermined, and in which the thickness and value
of the seams are yet to be ascertained. The coal is repre-
sented to crop out in the steep blull's of the sea coast, as in
other parts oi' this islan<l, and («• have been occasionally pro-
cured for use by the inhabitants.* The length of this district
is about forty miles,

3. Thin seams of coal are found within fourteen miles of
the town of Truro, on the road from Pictou to that place.
One bed of two-and-a-half feet thickness has been worked
by a resident on the ground, at a depth of thirty feet. The
coal was judged to be of inferior quality.

4. A seam, said to be five fe«>t in thickness, of impure coal
and slate intermixed, has been opened between the Ihbert
and Folly rivers, on the north side of Cobequid Bay, sixteen
or seventeen miles north-northwest from Tnn-o. The'pit being
filled with water at the time of my visit, the character of the
seam could be judged of only by information from the pro-
piietor, and the nature of the materials thrown out. They
concurred in proving that the seam, thus far pm-sucd, had nut
developed anything to warrant extensive operations.

5. In the county of Westmoreland, \ew Brimswich, a<!t«»ln-
ing Nova Scotia, is an irregular district of country eontainint;
coal ineasures, th<' limits of which have been describc<l wiili
some minuteness by Dr. Abraham Gesner, wljo math- a G<'o-
logical survey of that province. He has refprr<'d tv pf»ints
where coal has been discovered on Trout Creek, Pollef Kiver,
Coverdale River, and other tributaries of the Petit Cudiac. On
passing through t his district, from Amherst to St. .lohn, I was

• In relation to thin coal field, Richard Brown. Estj., in hisjrijier on ttif tUohgy
of Ciipe Breton, (Quarterly .Fouriial of Geolo^'y, No. 2, May, lf*-i'i.) r^-ruarks »h;it,
" On the weslerii shore of Ciipv Breton the millstone grit coniniences at thr nortli-
*rn end of the Gut of Cango, niid it unJerli-s the coal measures which extend in a
narrow Mt fronj Port Hood to Chimney Comer, near Marttarje. I tiavf tint visited
this part of the Island, hut am oreditily tnfunned that valuable seanwuf coal exist
at both extremities of this coal field."

unal)!c to learn that any openings of good workable coal have
yet been made.

As the researches, by boring, made by Moses 11. Pf rley,
Esq., on Sahnan River, in 1810, above referred to, are cited
at large by Dr. Grsncr, I made inquiries of that gentleman,
relative to the suoeessof any investigations since that period,
in discovering va!u.'il)Ie seams of coal, but was assured that,
toUie best of his knowledge, no bed containing more than
twenty or twenty-two inches of ^oo^/rw// is yet known to exist
in New Hrunswiek. Mr. IVrley, however, among other facts
Miji(!h be obligingly communicated, stated that a wealiuy
English capitalist had recently purchased some forty thou-
satid acres of land near Hathurst, on the Bay of Chaleurs,
with a view to mining operations in coat and other minerals.
Should any ijcds M'orlh working be found at that locality, they
could scarcely compete in the American markets with the
cools of Nova JScotia, unless a ship cnnal should afibrd a com-
mtiniciition lu'tween the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay
of Fundy.

II. — Position of Coal Seams in REsrEcr to Water Level.

1. The lowest part of the present workings at Pictou are
f<r>ur hundred and fifty-one feet, vertically, below the surface
of the ground, and four hundrtrd and tM'enty-seven feet below
tide water, distant about half a mile.

2. At Sydney, the greatest depth of working below the sur-
face is three btmdre*! and fifteen feet, and below tide level
two hundred and twenty-five feet, distant about one-third
of a mile.

3. At Bridgeport, I^ittle Hrns d' Or, and the South .Toggins,
the mines have thus far been drained by horizontal drifts.
At the last mentioned point, the coal is also carried out on
the same level, and put on board of vessels, laid up at high
tide, directly at the mouth of the drift.

4. At Spring Hill, the workings have hitherto been carried
only along the out-crop, and the water has been kept out by
hand pumps. But at this, as well as at the three preceding
localities, vertical pits, descending below water level, will
doubt less be resorted to in easjc of any considerable extension
of the works.

III. — Thickness ano Inclination of Bfins.

At Pictou, the great seam is twelve feet thick, with an
inclination to N. 41° E. of W. It is worked in long, parallel
level boards eighteen Icet wide, by means of four pits, along

the lino of the main " board gate," and from the bottom of
each pit runs a horse gate or road in opposite directions along
the level or strike of the bed. Each road takes the coal, not
only of its own excavation, but also that of the five boards
next above it, brought in by branch roads cut obliquely up-
ward through the walls of coal left between the boards.

At Sydney, the thickness of the bed is six feet, inclined in
an angle of about 1^, at the northern end, toward the X. (>'»*
£., and at the southern end, to the N. 80° E., showing a slight
curvature of the stratification. This bed is worked by driving
oblique headways from the main horse gate or level, rising
in an angle of about ir, and breaking off or turning out from
this with the rooms sixteen and a half feet wide, and leaving
pillars of the same breadth.

At Bridgeport, the thickness of seam is nine feet, divided
into three equal portions by two plies of slate, at first only a
few inches thick, but which on pursuing the bed to some
distance became much heavier, and slill further on had grown
to several feet, rendering it impossible longer to w^ork the
coal in a single level. The inclination is one in fourteen^ or
from 4 to 6% and the available breast or " riw;*' 1/JOO to 1,50()
feet.

At Little Bras d'Or, the thickness is four feet, and the incli-
nation in a northeasterly direction 7*. The coal is raised by
a horse gin.

At the South Joggins, the thickest bed is four feet. It dips
to the S. 28 W. in an angle of 23^.

At Spring Hill, the bed is said to be fifteen feet thick, but
only eleven feet are regarded as workable. The inclination
is to the N. 30 W. 3r.

IV.—SlTUATfON WITH HESrE«T TO NuiOABLE WaTKRS.

The Pictou mines are six miles by railroad from the load-
ing ground at the mouth of East river, which is three miles
by the course of the channel above the town of Pictou. This
railroad has an inclination towards the harbor of one fo<»t per
mile. It is laid with edge rails, and cost, together with three
locomotives, $280,000. Except at a passing place twi> miles
below the mines, the road is laid with but a single track.
The locomotives at present in use are able to make about five
trips each per day over the road, conveying about ninety tons
of coal in a train of thirty cars. Though really on navigable
w.iters, the loading ground is not reached with ease and
safety at all stages of tide and states of weather. For greater
security and dispatch, many avail themselves of the services

of a steam-tug owned by the Association, for which a rate
of towaf?e acconJinR to tonna'^e is demanded. This, as well
as pilotafjie, lij^ht inonry, consuliir fees, atul port charges, be-
comes a charge upon thl'//f /^'•/(/,and ultimately upon the loal.

The Sydney mines arc within three-eighths of a mile of the
sea shore, but* as the coast is there too much exposed, and the
water too shallow for large vessels, a railroad about three
miles in length* has been constructed to reach a suitable
ioadiTig ground, at a point .just within tlie mouth of Sydney
harbor, called the ** Bar," where vessels ride in safety at all
times during the shipping season.

The Ih-idgeport mines are almost directly on the sea shore,
at which is an old wharf formerly used by the colliers. But
a railroad one and three-fourth miles in length, mostly con-
structed on a natural embankment of sand, now connects
tliem with the loading ground at Bridgeport basin. Want of
time compelled me to forego a visit to these mines.

The Little liras d'Or mine is but a few hundred feet from
the channel of that name and about four miles above its
mouth. The loading ground has but a single shute, and is
adapted only to small vessels. But little coal has yet been
taken from this mine, and that eheifly for smiths' use.

Preparations are made, and an engine house is erected, for
sinking a new pit during the ensuing winter, on a seam of
coal four feet eight inches thick, which underlies the six feet
seam now worked at Sydney colliery, by a vertical distance
estimated by jNfr. Brown at three hundred and pJnety feet.
This pit is to be near the line of the level part of the railroad,
and but two miles from the loading ground. The coal will
probably be reached at a depth of h'ss than three hundred
feet. I'he seam is said to be free from slate and of a very
pure quality.

At the South .Toggi,«/s district, the pit proposed to be sunk
for working the four feet seam will, it is supposed, be one and

•TtiiBroa«f is a somewhat inU'rnipU-ii orhroken line.t'Htploying various kinds of
powor. The coal pul upon tin- ro;nl (rom the pit's mouth, first (It'scends an inctined
pJatK" four hundred or five hundred feel lont;, drawing up ballast cars, which in turn
drsi'etul and draw up the empty cars, h is then takt'ii up by stationary power,
over an incliiifd plane, twelve hundred feet in length, to the commencement of a
level c;ctioJi of rood one a- \ one-fourth mile in length, over which it is drawn by
horae power. It then nrrivea at the head of a descending plane one and a fourth
mile in length, with nn inclina;ion of thirty-six feet to the mile, over which the
cor« descend by gravity, accompanied by horses riding in appropriate care to take
back those which are empty. It UnaUy passcB over a self acting inclined plane, one
thou»tnd (tet iu length, with an inclination of one in thirtif or one hundred a.td
8eveniy>Bix fe>i per mile, drawing up the empty cars, and thus arrives at a wharf
on which are the loading t-hutes, (lixteen feet above high water level. Trnnaporta.
tioD cos!8 mote here than at I'tctou.

a half miles from thft loa<Iing ground near the mouth of the
river Hebert, about three miles al)ove IMinudie,

To bring the coa) of Spring Mill to tide-water, either on the
Macan basin or at the mouth of the Hobcrt, will require a
railroad of more tlian twelve, and in the latter case, probably
sixteen miles in length. Could a trade of forty or fifty thou-
sand chaldrons per annum be relied on, the Association would
doubtless feel warranted in at once incurring the expense of
this road.

From all the above statements it may be inferred that few
mining districts in any country present iacilities for reaching
navigable tide wateis, equal to those of Nova .Scotia and es-
pecially of Cape Breton,

The distance of Pictou and Sydney from Boston is nearly
the snme, or about six hundred and twrnty-tive milrs; that
from Minudif to Boston will not exceed four hundred and
fifty miles, which is rather less limn the distance from Boston
to Philadelphia.

V. — Cost of Mt.NiNo, TRA^feroRTI^c, and LnAniNc Coal.
At Pictou^ coal Is mined by the cu!)ic yard, the miner find-
ing his own lights and powder. To tlie end of July lasf, I
learned that the price paid per cubic yard, excavated in the
regular hoards, eighteen feet wide and twelve high, was
twenty-six and two-third cents; in headings only nine feet
high, thirty.one and two-third cents; in seven feet* gangway;?,
thirty-three and a half cents; and for passages or openings'of
still less heighth, thirty-six and two-third c(>nts. Far^the
greatest part of the coal is paid for at the first named rate.
From //ro cubic yards excavated is obtained, on an average,
one chaldron of coarse markefable coal, and on<^.fifth of a
chaldron of slack. Of the former the Pirfotf rhufdron weighs
1.575, ami of the latter 1.75 ton?. Consequently J. 9a tons of
the mixed coals cost fifty-three aud a third cents.

At the first of the above rales the U>n costs '^H.8 cents.
second " " 3;i.()

third « « 31.9

fourth " ♦• 3K.2

Considering the large quantity mined at the lowest rate, it is
probably very near the truth to reganl the whole as costing
thirty cents per ton. This charge covers the expense of put-
ting the co(d into skips, as well as the &Iate and stone, of
which one or two thin plies exist in the bed of coal.

To convey the skips to the pit's bottom, now about sixteen
hundred feet in each direction from the workings, one boy

at forty cftnts per dav, and one horse costing thirty-seven
and a half conts per day, may be suifirirnt for each two cut-
ter" Thoy send up the produce of four and a halt cubic
yards each per day, or 8.fi tons, showing an expense of nine
cents per ton for this part of the mine charges, which w
doubtless a hirgf allowance. Propping may cost two cents
per ton ; firemen of upcast pit, watchmen, and road cleaners,
two cents per ton ; salaries of overseer and two assistants or
"oversmen," engineers, and the requisite firemen at pits
moulh, thrrc and a half cents per ton ; tools, materials and
sundries eight cents ; salaries U> manager^!, haihfls, and clerks,
nine ccn'fs.' These items, whie'f. of course I offer only ns ap-
proximations to the cost from such data and observations as
I could ol)tain, will increase the cost from thirty cents on the
sldps, to sixtv4hrce and a half cents per ton of 2,310 lbs. at
the pit's mouth. The calculations arc predicated on a J>"«-
noss of about ninety thousand tons, or sixty thousand 1 ictou

chaldrons annually. , , ,/. u i

Screening and loading cost eight and a half cents per chal-
dron, or 5.4 cents per ton, each laborer screening and lillmg
eight chaldrons per day for sixty-eight cents wages.

Transportation and loading on ship board, independent ol
trimming in the hold, (Avhich is at the expense of the ship,)
cost about five cents per ton. In this service are employed
three locomotives, of which two only are running while the
third has its turn in the *' hospital." The numl)er of road cars
used is one hundred and fil'ty-scvcn, of which thirty constitute
a train. In a full dav's work in midsummer, each locomotive
makes five trips, or performs a service equal to hauling ninety
tons thirty miles, over a descent of one foot in a mile, and
taking hack the empty cars. These locomotives have six
driving wheels, with vertical cylinders; the fire, of bitumen-
ouscoal,at one end of the boiler, and the engine at the other.
Including an extra return flue, they cost eight thousand dollars
each. A small passenger car accompanies every tram, pay-
ing its own way from the fares collected by the conductor.

The above e'stimates, amounting, for current expense, to
seventy.iive cents per ton on board, do not include the repair
of roaJl, wear and tear of machinery, interest on capital, or
rent and royalty to the Government. If ten cents per ton be
added for repairs, it ought, in my judgment, to cover every
expense of that nature, whether to road, cars, locomotives,
or other machiner\'. The very slow rate of travel J;'ecures
the road and its furniture from much deterioration. The use
of flat wire ropes, at the winding pits, renders the cost of re-

If I

newal very light. With this addition the cost is eighty-five
cents per ton.

At Sydnry, the mining of coal is paid for at so niueh by
the tub, scut to the hank. The "tubs" are sheet hvn boxes
thirty-seven and a half inches lon^', thirty inches w ide, and
twenty-six and a half inches deep, and contain, Winn even
full, sixteen and a quarter cubic feet, and when livapfd, as
they usually come from the pit, are computed and ealKd at
the mines mne hushth, but they actually contain, when even
full, 10.3, and when heaped, fully eleven coal bushels.

In one end of the workings, the price paid is thirteen nnda
third cents, and in the other, owing to greater diUicuity in
working, fifteen cents per tub; conse{}uently, the average
cost of a tub IS fourteen and a sixth cents or 1.28 cents pep
bushel. Eight of these tubs make a ear load, or " New Cas-
tle chaldron," as taken by the Association. When tirst taken
from the mines, one ninth part of the whole is separated by
the screens in the state of slack, so that nine tubs must be
taken out to afiord one ear load, and will cost one dollar and
twenty-seven and a half cents for cutting and filling into tubs.
As the slack coal of this colliery is unsaleable, its cost be-
comes chargeable on that part of the coal which is actually
shipped. Three-fifths of all the coal niined daring the year
IS laid upon the bank, while shipping is suspended. On this
portion of coal the amount of slack is double of that taken
duectly from the pit; consequently ten and two-seventhstubs
must have come from the mine to afford a car load, atVer
some months of repose upon the banks. The cost of this
number of tubs is 81 15.5. Hence the average cost of min-
ing a car load through the year's operations is §1 38.3, and
that of one gross ton, forty-five and a half cents.

In this mme a single main road is made to answer fop all
the transportation to the pit's bottom, one winding enn-ine
takes out the whole of the coal, a much less number of^un-
der ground drivers and horses is required ; nearly thirty per
cent, of the matter cut, being in the state of slack, is thrown
mto the gobbmgs, instead of the whole being drawn up as at
lictou. l-or these reasons, I conceive that the remaining
mmc charges, besides cutting and filling into tubs, may be
at least eight cents per ton less than above calculated for
that place. This would bring it to the bank fop seventy-one
cents per ton. ^

Screening and loading into cars costs but half as much at
Sydney as at Pictou, but the transportation costs proportion-
ally more. The two are computed by Mp. Brown to cost

nine pence currency (fifteen cents) per clmldron, or say ten
cents per ton. Tliiw, witli an eiiual allowauee tor wear and
tear, !»rinj;s the expense on hounl, uuk-ptiulcut of interest and
royalty, t<» ninety-one cents per ton.

It is eviilent that many of tlu; charges ajjainst the ton of
coal, as at present mined,' will diminish with the extension of
business. Thus the salaries of rtsidtnt milna^'e^, viewi^rs,
oversmen, en;^'inccr.s, tin'mt-n, clerks, ajid various oilier per-
sons pcrmunentlv attaehed to the niiues, will remain very
nearly the same, as at pres4nt, even though tlic supposed
amount of business shoulil be d<MdiU'd.

From a report of a eommittee of the House of Assembly
of Nova Scotia, dated March '.M, 183i», it appears that the
working charges at the Albion Mines, (lUctou,) in September,
1H:JH, were as follows:

Pit charges
Sundries
Materials -
Salaries
Carriage -

£0 s8

d7j
10
4
8

dti?

$2 2b

S 11 u .£4

exclusive of duty, interest, or wear and tear.

The report does not slate explicitly on what amount of coal
the above ehar^es were computed*; but as the Association
are in the practice of reducing their returns to New Castle
chaldrons, I suppose these charges to refer to that measure,
which, being in tact 3.1a tons, will give the cost of the above
items on one ton, 71.4 cents. Unless operations were then
conducted on a vastly more expensive scale than at present,
I cannot suppose tliem to refer to the chaldron by which
coal is now aoW in Pictou. At sixty thousand chaldrons per
annum, there will be taken out every day during three hun-
dr*ul working days of tlie year, two hundred chaldrons,
which was, very m-arly, the ipiantity daily extracted both at
Pictou and at Sydney at the time of my visit. The cost of
mining near the hcall of Grand Lake, in New Brunswick, is
from seventy.iive to eighty cents per chaldron, or from lifty
to 4ifl} "three cents per ton.

VI. — Wages karsed by Miners and others.
At Pictou, I was informed by Henrj' Poole, Esq., the resi-
dent manager of the works, that miners cut four and a half
cubic yards per day, which, at twenty-six and two-thirds cents,
the lowest price per cubic yard, gave him 81 20.

vj";:.$| 20 rents per ilay.

A f.rfho..,hroe ,Io.Iucfions, the el.ar *»: i v can hv^n are

the Inttor m. increave „f mfn; I ^f'"'-""","' Kr,-.„t,..I to'

not snecify the dSXS. ' t» ' ''"''''^'r' '^ '^^''ivf^l Woes
i^Wand sold in i ^^"1^^^^^^ f^)' '^"' «s then- were

measure) it is- cv de >f7 -Nf ^/'J^jMrons of <-oa| (PicJou
this accmmt Mi h HO cents '?i' ";;i '";^'''»'« charg.alde on
been 8.4f. cents. ''"^'' ^" ^"'""" ^«'»« it would Lave

^^^'Z^^:aS,:^ and Sydney,

assistant ove.^pers- ^t'i/sn \; '* ^ "<^ "versnun" op

of £1,000 eurrencv or «4onn „"""'■ """"' ''''"•"■«' » ^nlarv
been »omewha7^k,c.,| Cn^" "L""""' ''»', """ "«« '"'»
as accompli*..,) a "l^l:!! ,,ST;^'"T •".,'''»« K™'!.™™
Iht'sc whom I h,i,I tl e nie ,^ » „f '' '» '!"• '" """ cipacily as

oli«ed less than il,o sumffive iamll "^ '""^'y '«'

cent

VII.— Obwis and stability -^p Mining population.
A Rrent part of the mim;r» in Nova 8c'ofia arc irom Srot-
land; mmv fium flic north of Kn^laiul, aiul a fVw from other
parts of Uritahi. Small numhrM of native Nova Scotians
are cnj;nj;«Ml ahout the mines, chieily as tillers ami other labor-
ers ahdvc );;roiJa<l. i ut

The arraiif^ements of t!ie Association for the comtortablc
aceommo(hiti(m of niiners, for tlieir supply of fuel, for the
niedjcnl atten<laiice of themselves am! fruuilies, ami lor the
Cflucation of their children, toj?ether with their prompt incmth-
ly payment of all dues in vifsh, liave pr(>h.'il)ly seemed as
much'slahility and permanency amonj? thin elass of iheir op.
ciatives as are to bo found amoni; that clas>« of persons m
atiy other miuinj,' tlistriei. I met wilh a few miners who had
woVkcd in our anthraeite rc«;ions, an«l in t>lher parts ot the
United Slali's, l)ut sueh instances appeared to be rare, and
mi^M-ation lV<»m tlie Provinces to the Slates more frequeit than
in the reverse direction.

Tlic Association, I understand, j^'ive little encouraj?ement to
return, to those who have onee left their works for lite I. futed
States, ntid decline to employ sueh, unless in urgent want of
hands. I was several times 'asked by labnrini? men, mmers,
and otliers-, if 1 thouj;ht workinj;- peojde could get a "chance
now "in th«^ States,"' me.anifig of cotirse ^^ood tra<ifit.

I ?nav add, that in the present state of our mi nuig interests,
I did nol feel warranted in answering such incpjiries m a way
to excite undue hopes, or to induce a desire of eliiuigc among
those who were already obtaining a eomfurtable livelihood.
The cflmt/tr of Nova. Scotia does not, probably, ditier so
wtdtly from that of their native country as of itsidf to urge
theSr.oiish miners to seek a more southern regum. A tew
emigrants are understood to arrive every year Ironi Gre^t
IJrilain, but 1 <lid not learn that much etiort was made by
the Ass«)ciation to inlroduecthem. A native muung popu-
latitm is gradually growing up on the spot, superseding, in a
degree, the neees'siiy for a foreign supply.

Vlli. — Lr.Ncrii of the Ska!*on iok !»inrriso Coal.

The 8hippin<r season at ]»ietou, ciunmences, sometime*., as

earlv as the first of Mav, but, in gemrral, the trade cannot be

said to lie established before the tiffeenlh of that month. On

the average of seasons, it terminates by the middle of Novem-

beP. . i «• •

This statement is made on the concurrent testimony ot navi-
gators, residents at Pictou, and merchants engaged in the
trade in Boston.

The letiijth of the season is consequently sir months. Later
than the uiicUfic of N«vrml)er, the occurrence of jsudden and
violent Hforrus, thf iMTvalriiee of iht*H, and ihe freezitg up of
thf Ufirfmr, oj)j»)»ji» mtImun oliMtarlcM to navi|j;ation. When
wintfT has fairly fft in, the fonnafioa "f ice on the Norfhum-
hrrland Straits, and its coniph'te jantminy up tn the (Jut of
Cans(), rrndcr tlix' i)ris>a«^<,-of sliips pljysically ijupos.sjhle. At
Sydney, th»» harhor oprns on thr hroad Atlantic, and i.s acces-
sihlo !)orh «'arlicr and later than thai of J'iotoii. From the
middle of April to the middle of I»«'cf,nih( r vessels inot/ enter
nnd depart ; hut vrrr/j numths will generally be found the
praetiriil shippiri'^' time.

In point «>r filot, the active s'cason at Sydney eomrnenees
miieh later than at Pietou. This is mainly mvini? to the more
jreneral aj)[)Iication of Sydney e(»Ml to floniestie purposes than
to that of maniifaotures* The season for its consumption he-
pins only witli the approach of winter, while the uses to which
Pictou coal is applied, namely, manufaeturiaj? and steam
navi'.rr»fion, extend more equally throii-rhout the year.

Should minins^ operations he carried on extensively near
the head of the Hay of Fundy, a seasf)n not probably ex-
ceeding,' six and a half months could he relied on forshi])pinp.
The Si onus of sjirin'/ and the i'o<r^ of autumn, with tla; enor-
nious tides of nil seasons, (rising' sixty or seventy f<'et near the
head of that Hay.) eonspire tc render early and late navij^a-
tion uncertain and hazanlous. Thedistanee, it is true, to the
ports of the t'nitfd Slates, v ould be much less than from
either of the otluT points, and in f.ivorable s*Msons might in-
volve fewer delays thfm from Pi clou or Sydney.

Insurance on vessels navii^'atinjr the Culf of St. Lawrence
is ell'eeted for the .v<//.vo/i, terminating generally with ihe lirst
of October.

JX. — pRicc OF Coal for IIomk Coxgsu.Mi'Tio.v, anu for ExroRT-
At Pictou, tlio larsrr rorrf is sold by the small quantity, or
hy sinfrle car^^o.^s. at n.T .tO per chaldron. When one thou-
sand or more clialdrons arc taken, a deduction of thirty cents
per chaldron is made at the end of the year.

The sfffcf,- or fine coal is delivered on board at 81 50 per
chaldron, with a deduction of three per cent for cash nav-
inent. ' ^

By the weij^hts above stat<Hl, of the chaldrons of coarse and
fine coal respeetively, the fbrnjcr costs $1 90.4, and the latter
83.1 cents per fan oh board.

At Sydney, the coarse coal alone is sent to market. It is
put on hoarti at S3 00 for the small qu-r.;ity, or single cargo,

and

h.tiA at «3 no where one thousand or \ore chaldrons are tflkctt
by a ^fingle cu.Hfomer during the season. As this coal weighs
l.M tons per chaldron, the tun costs by retail 82 37, and by
wholesale $a 10.

X. — WbHHIT or A rHALDRON AT PiCTOU ANO SyONBV.

The woi^'ht of a chaldron, Nova Scotia measure, has !)oen
derived from sevcriil independent sources, inelii(liii}< dill'erent
methods ot'detcmiination. Among tlicm are, 1st. Tiie nieas-
urement of the cars in which the coal is transported to the
h>ading ground, and the weighing of given hulks of the coal
in diilcrent states and sizes of lumps, from hot h mining dis-
tricts ; •,'(!. Weighing of the ear loads, hy the Ibruier ag«-nt of
the Pictou mines; '.i(\. A comparison hctweenthe weight and
number of chaldrons, delivered at the custom houses, and the
number of chaldrons put on board at the mines ; 4lh. A state-
ment by the general agent of the mining association, of the
relation in pri<!e between a rltaldrou and a ton.

1. In 18t:j, 1 fouiul by actual weighing, in a box containing
two cubic feet, that the averagf weight of a cubic foot in the
marketable state is ow'.ON pounds, ami by carefully measuring
the ears both at IMctou and .Sydney, that they hold, when
heaped to the height of live inches in the centre, 13n.<>t cubic
feet.* This gives the weight of one chaldron three thousand
five hundred and lifty-eight pounds.

2. In 18.'}i>, .Joseph Smith, Esq., found by the average of
twenty-four trials of the weight of a car load, tliat the chal-
dron weighed three t'\ousand four hundred any nincty-sevcn
pounds.

• The followinif ski'iches exhibit the form nnd diniensioiis of the cars on a
Bcale of one-quarter of nil inch to the foot, toecther with the amount of heapiiiii by
the average of a great munber of observations. They are called two chaldron

care.

Sections of car bodies ufed at Pictou nnd Sydney.

LoKOlTUPINAL. I'rANSVERSE.

Ji.7/4

Contents, when heaped five inches, 136.64 cubic feet.

q In 1838 he weighed twenty car loads, from the average
of wh eh the weighl of a ehahh-on is three ihoasatul our
hL^red and sixty pounds. The ears weighed, held our ehal-

"^7 Cattain Brouard, of the l>ietou and lk)ston Pneket, tak-
in^ on boanl ninety ehaldrons in Pietou, dehvers one hundred
anVten in Wareham, and, as in the latler jdaee, the ehaUlnm
we Jhs two thousand nine hundred and lorty pounds, (as in
Sos'olt) Tn the l\.rmer, it must have weighed three thousand

n'risiC'^' Matilda's cargo, in Pieton, measured one
hnndrd and thirty-two chaldrons when put on hoard, and one
h n red a sixtj^one were delivered in Warcham, showuig
Seha'ckon, in Pietou, to have weighed three thousand six

^"f ^^l";lSuer^nard,Es,.st^ in his letl^c. to Lord
Faull and, hereto appended, that at the rate oi eighteen shil-
iin^ currency per AaUror,, tlu« cost of a ton ot Pictou coal
would lenne shillings and six i)(>nce sterling, or the weights
Z^ t^'o 3.00, which makes the chaldron weigh three
tlumsand four hundred and tifl y-six pounds.

T^^e above six independent determinations give an avernge
weight of ^/"'ce thousand pe hundred and Uccnty^cght pounds

^^l^Kl^^^Xin 184.. Mr. Joseph Hall, measurer in
the Bo ton Custom House, measured and weighed eight) eai-
aoes o Bictou coal, by which he ascertained that the aver-
aS weidit of a chaldron, in Boston, is two thous^nnl mnc
Z.^:hnd forty pounds; and that Thc^jvs T..nU. t, Ls^,
of Tnat citv who deals extensively in ^o^a hcotia coais,
tlZ Ti memorandum of which theloHowmg . a^opy.
" Pictou coal overruns m measure, on the aNeiagc, UMiiiy
per c^it. so that one hundred chaldrons at Pictou, w>l meas-
ure oil" United States measure, one hundred and twenty ehal-

'^'Sm these two statements ^--^|ii"g,;>;^;^,;;f'f:-;^.;;:;;\.^

the largest scale, we have the proportion WO-MHi) ''^^■;^^^
giving the weight of th,.]>ictou chaldron precisely ecpial to
the average of the six preceding calculations.

Inl813 and 1844, Mr. Hall measured, at Boston, one hun-
dr a^ul tbrty-thre. cargoes of Sydney ecKil, -nd the merin
r^s It of the vvhole gives the weight of a Boston chaldron of
tha coal two thousand eight hundird and sixty-two pound .
This gives the weight of the chaldron at Sydney t^^rc tlnn -
sand four hundred and thirty-lour pounds or 1.5J tons. iUi.

Smith found the slack coal at Pictou to weigh three thousand
nine hundred and thirty-five pounds per chaldron.

XI. — Use to which the Fcne or " Slack" Coal is applied.

The slack coal at Pictou is readily disposed of for black-
smiths' use at the price above stated, it hews; preferred to the
coarse coal for their purposes. A ply of superior purity falls,
in great part, into slack in mining, and this, doubtless, causes
it to be in request. Vessels of three hundred or four hun-
dred tons burden were receiving cargoes of it at the time I
left Pictou. As I have computed above, that the total cost
of mining and delivering on board is eighty-five cents, and
as the rate at which the slack is sold is eighty-three cents per
ton, it is evident that this part of the product of the mine
nearly pays its own cost, a great advantage, when compared
with many mining districts where it is either wholly wasted
or becomes a source of positive expense. Adding thirty per
cent, for duty, and one dollar fifty-seven cents per ton freight
to Boston, the importer there gets it at 83.1+24.9+1.57==S2 65
per ton delivered.

At Sydney owc-ninth part of all the coal \vhich goes direct-
ly from the pit to be prepared for the loading ground, is as
above mentioned, in the state of slack ; and also two-ninths
of that which is taken from the bank. In passing over screens
with three-quarter inch gratings, the slack is about equally
divided into nut co(/l for the domestic use of miners and others
about the works, and dust, which being received in a separate
car, is conveyed to the " duif heap,'" where it is allowed to
take fire spontaneously. This it does in the space of a few
months, and in the course of eight or ten years becomes
wholly consumed. The duff" heap or ridge of each year is
kept separate. Those of 18,38 and '.39 were pointed out to
me in a still smouldering condition; but the small amount of
ashes left from the heaps entirely extinct, indicated the small
quantity of earthy impurity {{ixe or five and a half per cent)
in the coal ; while the deep red color proved the presence of
no inconsiderable quantity of oxide of iron, resulting from
the decomposition of the sulphuret which had caused its
spontaneous ignition. Pirtou coal leaves from twelve to
ihirteen per cent, of earthy residue.

XII. — Freights to Boston and other American Ports.

The freight on a Boston chaldron, weighing as above, two
thousand nine hundred and forty pounds is stated by Mr.

^ I

Tremlett at 82 75 ; or on the pro»^ ton $2 09.5. During a
part of the present season, freights have been taken as low as
$2 50 per chaldron, or 1 90.4 per ton.

From S}/dnnf to Boston, the freights arc ver>' nearly the
same as from Pictou. The only instances particularly ascer-
tained were at the former rate, or $2 50 per chaldron of two
thousand eight hundred an'! sixty-two pounds, enual to $ 1 95.7

per ton. .

Prom Pictou to Promkncr freights have varied from wi 9l\
to ^3 00 per chaldron at the latter place, and as the chaldron
there in use is the London chaldron of twenty-five and a half
cwt. or two thousand eight hundred and six pounds, the freight
per gross ton is $2 30.G; showing that at $2 75 to Boston and
83 00 per chaldron to Providence, the ton costs 30.1 cents
more freight to the latter place than to the former.

From Pictou to New York also, freights iiave been about
S3 00 per chaldron ; but as the chaldron there weighs but
two thousand five hundred pounds, the gross ton costs 82 09,
or 59| cents more than to Boston, and 20.4 cents more than
to Providence.

XIII.— Difference of Fre«oiits at Bostov between Nova Sco-
tia AND PniLADEIPaiA, ANU ITS CAUSES.

From a careful examination of the bill uf ladinj^ book of a
respectable commercial house, largely engaged in the shiji-
ment of coal from Philadelphia to Boston and to Providence,
1 have ascertained that the average of freight paid for two
hundred and forty-five cargoes to Boston, during the seven
years from 1839 to 1845 inclusive, was at the rate of $1 74.8
pel gross ton ; and that on two hundred and eleven cargoes
sent to Providence, they paid $\ 45.3 per ton, showing the
difterence between those two places to be twenty-nine end a
half cents per ton ; which, as will be seen, is almost identical
with the dilFerence in the Pictou rates for the two places.

From another house extensively engaged in exporting coal
from this city, I learn that they paid, in 1844, $1 71 1, and in
1845, $1 79 per ton, freight to Boston, or !^1 75 1 as the mean
of the two years. In 184.5, they paid U 24 to New York.

During the present season, freights have been something
lower than the average of several preceding years, haying
varied from ^1 40 to $2 18 per ton. But as the close of the
season generally finds them considerably above the average
of the year, the final average may still approximate those

above given. Hence we may institute for the above three
ports, the following comparison, viz, per ton :

To Boston. To Providence. To New York.
Freight from Plcton is $2 00.5 $2 39.« 82 09
" from Pliiladelphia 1 75 1 45.3 1 34

Diflerences 34j 04.3 81 45

The first and most obvious reason for the clifTerence of
freight between Boston and Philadelphia, and Boston and
Pictou, is the greater distance of the two latter places. The
distances are nearly in the ratio of thirty-eight to twenty-
eight, or in miles as six hundred and twenty-five to four
hundred and eighty-seven.

The second cause is mainly but not altogether dependent
on the first. It is the greater length of time required to make
the round trip, in the one case, than in the other. Thus, from
Pictou to Boston and back, trips have been made by four ves-
sels, viz : the Grey Hound, the Pique, the Brothers, and the
Elizabeth, of which the average duration was thirty-nine
days.

From the records of one of our large eoal companies, I find
that twenty-four round trips, between Philadelphia and Boston,
occupied in all seven hundred and eight days, or twenty-nine
and a half days each trip. These were made by eleven differ-
ent vessels.

In the months of July, August, and September, of the pre-
sent year, twenty-five single passages were made by different
vessels from Piciou to Boston in three hundred and seventy-
one days, or, on an average, each prt.ssa^e took 14.7 days.

EigKt f'ays are probably a full average allowance of time
to come from Boston to Philadelphia during the same season
of the year.

By vessels exclusively engaged in the coal trade, the above
time of twenty-nine and a half days is more than an average
duration of a round trip from Philadelphia to Boston. Dur-
ing the favorable season, trips are often made in from twenty
to twenty-six days. Should steam propellers be employed as
colliers, the absolute, but I apprehend not the relative dura-
tion of trips, will be affected by their general adoption.

The third cause why freights are higher at Pictou than at
Philadelphia is the shorter season for shipping. While six
months, at Pictou, are all that can be safely counted on, from
eight to eight and a half months may be generally found
available at Philadelphia.

A fourth cause is, that while Pictou has but little trade ex-
cept in coal, Philadelphia has an extensive commerce in ofher
articles rendering vessels often very abundant. Thus, while
vessels habitually engaged in the West hidia trade are with-
drawn, during the hurricane season, from the tropical seas,
instead of remaining, as in former times, idle at our wharves,
they take coal freights to the North and return in time to re-
sume their usual routes as soon as the dangerous period is
past. Vessels which bring return freights, doubtless make
longer trips than if they came in ballast, and were confined
to the coal trade. But they can alibrd t (. take coal freights at
lower rates than would otherwise be obtained for them.

A fifth reason, but one which is connected with the duration
of the round trip, is the fact that, under existing arrangements^
considerable detention is liable to occur at Pictou during
the active season, owing to a want of facilities for despatch-
ing vessels, especially those of the larger class. Only seven
vessels, of all classes, can there be loading at the same time ;
and of that number, only two can be of the larger size. Five
of the berths have a depth of water sufficient only for the
smaller craft. At Sydney only three vessels can load at a

time, . , , T fr. 1

At Richmond, above this city, I am mformed by J. Tucker,

Esq., President of the Reading Railroad Company, that it is

possible for seventy-five vessels to be loaded at the same time,

though a much less number is generally found at the berths.

When twenty-five or thirty vessels are at Pictou together,
the detention, after they announce themselves "rf «</*/," and
before they are admitted to the berths, is sometimes eight or
ten days, while at Philadelphia it seldom exceeds half that
time. It is true that, as there are at Pictou but two kinds of
coaX,*" coarse'' and"*Z«cA," there is not the detention at the
shutes, which results from a vessel's waiting at the Richmond
wharves till a sufficient quantity of the particular kind of
coal which she has been ordered to take on board, can arrive
by railroad to the particular house to which she may have
been consigned. I may here add that, between the first and
the twelfth of August last, eight passages from Stfdjfcy to
Boston took an average of thirteen days, and that five pas-
sages from Pictou, in the same period, took exactly the same
number of days each.

From Pictou to Fall River, I may also state that, commenc-
ing with the first of June last, the bark E. Churchill ma<le
three round trips in one hundred and eleven days, or took
thirty-seven days per trip. Captain Jones, of the Bark Lu-

cretia, who has been three years in the coal trade between
Pictou and Proridfnce^ ^♦ated to me that he had been able to
make no more than four trips during the season of six months,
in which the navigation ntjmains practicable and safe. Five
and a half or six weeks may be sufficient time for a trip, but
a fi^fth trip cannot be ventured upon at so late a season as
would have arrived after completing the /our.

XIV. — ^Number and Class of Vessiskls emi'loyed in the Coal

TRAOP..

To the obliging attention of Luther Bracket, Esq., Ameri-
car Consul at Pictou, I am indebted for some interesting facts
relative to the American tonnage employed in the Pictou
trade, and to the increase in number and size of vessels dur-
ing the present season, (IStfi.) .

The first arrival of American vessels for coal, in 1816, was
on the twenty-first of May. From that time the arrivals
were as follows, viz :

In the motith of May, nine ; June, thirteen ; July, thirty-
nine ; August, fifty-seven ; to sixteenth of September, twen-
ty-three — Total in a hundred and nineteen days, one hun-
dred and forty one. Of this number, two were ships ; sixteen
harks; eighty-one brigs; forty-two schooners, one hundred
and forty one.

In the early part of August there arrived at Boston eleven
vessels, mostly British, laden with coal, bringing an aggre-
gate of seven hundred and ninety-seven chaldrons, or an
average of seventy-two chaldrons per cargo. Between July
twenty-seventh and August twelvtn, twenty-seven vessels of
the United States, received an aggregate of four thousand and
one chaldrons, Pictou measure, or one hundred and forty-eight
chaldrons each. Between August twelfth and twenty-ninth,
twenty-seven vessels received in all five thousand two hun-
dred and forty-six chaldrons, or one hundred and fifty-seven
chaldrons per cargo. Between August twenty-ninth and
September twelfth, twenty-three vessels took three thousand
seven hundred and eleven chaldrons, being one hundred and
sixty-one chaldrons per cargo. Not included in the preceding
number of vessels, there had arrived previous to September six-
teenth, one ship with a tonnage of three hundred and twenty-
one; six barks averaging three hundred and seventeen tons; and
four brigs of one hundred and seventy-four tons each. Sev-
eral of these had come directly from Europe, in ballast, where
they had been chartered, as was understood, by the Associa-

li:

tion, to carry coal to the United States, with a view of being
stored under the recent Warehousing act.

Hence it appears that, with the increased briskness of the
trade, observed since the act to repeal the existing tariff was
passed, the size of vessels employed in it has been progres-
sively and pretty rapidly increasing.

The number of cargoes of coal exported from Pictou in
American bottoms, for a number of years past, as furnished
by the authentic records of the American Consulate at that
place, has been as follows :

In 1839, 237 cargoes. In 1843, 71 cargoes..

1840, 107 " 1844, 53 "

1841, 190 " to September 1, 1845, 44* "

1842, 140 " and to August 25, 1840, 110 "

XV. — Importation of Nova Scotia and other Coals into the

United States.

With a view to present authentic information as to the ex-
tent and value of the coal trade of the Britisli Provinces with
this country, both absolutely, and as compared with the trade
in the same article from other parts of the world, the follow-
ing statements have, at my request, been obligingly furnished
by the Register of the Treasury.

It a})pears from the figures, that, in 1848, out of one hundred
and ninety-six thousand two hundred and lifty tons of coal
imported, one hiuidred and fifty-three thousand one hundred
and twenty.two tons, or seventy-eight per cent, came from the
British North American Provinces, at a cost of $312,295.

It also appears that, since 1843, the importations of coal, from
all quarters, have increased from forty-one thousand one hun-
dred and sixty-three to one hundred and ninety-six thousand
two hundred and fifty-one tons, or the increase is three hundred
and seventy-six per cent, over the former quantity ; while from
the British North American Provinces alone, the augmentation
has been from thirteen thousand one hundred and sighty-five
tons, in 1843, to one hundred ond fifty-three thousand one hun-
dredand twenty-two in 1848, or the increase is one thousand and
sixty-one, or say one thousand and sixty-one pr cent. The modi-
fication of the American tariff, in 1840, the releaseof the Mining
Association, as above stated, from all but a nominal rent for
Crown dues, the passage of our Warehousing act, which enables

• The records of the Inst part of this year were carried to Washington by tb e
late Consul, where he died, and that portion of the account is, therefore, wanting*
There is, no doubt, a great increase tit the trade this year, over the last.

the importers to store their coal and await favorable turns of
the market for bringing it forward, together with the favorable
action of the Britisli Government, in granting a favorable
charter of incorporation to the Association, and using its in-
fluence to settle all controversies between it and other claim-
ants to the Cape Breton Mines — all these acts concurrently
performed on the two sides of the Atlantic, have evidently
given a vitality and energy to the mining operations in Nova
Scotia, which, without such a combination of favoring cir-
cumstances, they could scarcely have expected to attain.

Statement, exhibiting the quantity and value of Coal imported
under the tariff of 1842 and 1840, together with the amount
of duty which accrued on the same, prepared under resolu-
tion of the House of Representatives^ of the lAth December,
1848.

Period of iaportation.

From 1st Oct. 1842, to30th June,'43
Year ending 30th June, 1844
Year ending 30th June, 1845
Year ending 30th June, 1846
From July 1, to 30th Nov. 1846
From Dec. 1, 1846, to June 30, 1847
Year ending 30th June, 1S48

Coal Impobtbd.

Tons.

41,163

87,073
85,774

156,853
65,272
82,749

196,251

Value.

116,312
236,963
223,919
378,597
157,636
213,349
461,140

Rate of duty.

Duties.

I 75 per ton $72,035 25
•• 152,377 75

" 150,108 00

«* 274,492 78

«« 114,220 00

l30 per cent.! 64,004 70
« 1 1 38,342 00

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XVI. — ^Facilities eor incrba(<ino Mining Ohebations.

It is prohnble that, by increasiniEr the force at prest^nt em-
ployed, the Victon mines might send out about Htty per cent,
more coal than is at present mined per day. I observed that
one of the four vindinj? pits was used only to convey persons
to and from the worlvs, though crapable of being employed in
the same manner as the other three. This pit is intended to
serve tlic upper tier of boanfs, which are as yet carried right
and left to a considerably h^ss distance than those in the deep-
er part of the mine. It was, doubtless, sound policy to work
the lower boards forward faster than the u])per, on account
of the greater facility which this arrangement gives forget-
ting rid of the fire damp, so abundant in that part of the
works, and because it holds in reserve a large body of coal
which can at any time be relied upon to meet an increased de-
mand. It also stands, in some degree, in the place of a stock
of coal upon the bank, to hold in check any unreasonable de-
mand on the part of laborers, as it might, if necessary, be let
out and mined by contract at very reasonable rates. Should
any accident occur to the pumps, or any unusual influx of
water take place, the temporary abandonment of the lowest
level would not, necessarily, suspend mining operations in the
upper hoard

iJesides fil'ing all the boards, it would be possible to work
with two turns of hands, and greatly to increase the quantity
of coal extracted ; but, as a permanent arrangement, this
would, doubtless, be objectionable, and would involve imme-
diately considerable permanent outlays for accommodations
to miners.

A proof tunnel has been driven nine hundred and thirty
feet across the Albion measures, cutting several underlying
seams, thinner than the one now worked. Some of these, from
three and a half to seven feet thick, may be found profitable
in working. I did not learn that any active operation on these
beds is at present contemplated. I suppose the present works
may, if urged, send forth ninety thousand chaldrons, or one
hundred and thirty-irvs thousand tons next year. Uailroad
and loading facilities must be considerably increased to get
this quantity on board in six months of the shipping season.

The Sydney mines, worked l:y the present pit, could proba-
bly furnish sixty or seventy thousand chaldrons, if in using
the winding pit, recourse be had to two cages on each rope
instead of one, for which I perceived provision was being
made at the time of my visit. The new pit at Sydney, just

commenced on the untlcrlyinff bed ahove-menticmrd, may
proh.ibly not send to m.irlict a Inr^c cju.'intity of c«a> during
the next season, hut will he ready to su})[)ly, perhaps, Jwenty
thousand chahlrons witliin two years I'rom this time. Tho
operations at Bridjy;eport, and at Litth^ IJras d'Or, ni»y he
resumed at any time when the prospcet of a sulFicient inar-
ket in t!ie United States shall seem to warrant t!»e cnhirgc*
ment of a supply from that quarter.

The examinations in progress on tlie Bay of Fundy will
probably lead durinj? the next year to (lie openin}; of mines
of capacity to furnish annually twenty thousand chaldrons of
coal.

The much larj»er expenditure which would be required to
ht'mf; the more important Spriniy: Hill scam into activity, will
doubtless induce the Association to proceed with due delii>era-
tion In that quarter, as all their hopes of a market depend
on retaining? and improvinj^ their present advantajijes and
facilities for competing with American coals in the markets
of the United States. Even the neighboring province of New
Brunswick, situated on the opposite side of the Bay, would
not become to any considerable extent a customer of the
Mining Association of Nova Scotia, both because that pro-
vince has mines of its own, and because its immense timber
trade brings annually to St. John a vast number of vesseU
from England in hdlhist. As this costs from twenty.fivc to
fifty cents per ton, besides the expense of taking in and dis-
charging, it will, as often as possible, be subst it uted by English
coal, provided the latter can be sold in St. John at a trilling
advance on the price and export duty at Liverpool. If a
certainty of obtaining immediately a market for (ii'ty thousand
chaldrons per annum were felt by the Association, I learned
that they would proceed at once with works on the Spring
Hill seam.

XVII. — Nova Scotia Coals compared \vitii Anthracite.

During my experiments at Washington in 1813, 1 made trial
of two samples of Pictou, one of Sydney coals, and eight of
Pennsylvania anthracites, Pictou coal was burned tor six
days, during which were consumed 6,116^ pounds, evaporat-
ing 40,212 pounds of water from initial temperature, which, be-
ing reduced to the standard temperature of 212°, gave 8.455
pounds of water evaporated by one pound of coal.

Of Sydney coal, I burned in two days 1,001^ pounds, evapor-
ating from initial temperature 11,323 pounds of water, which,

(

being reducrri in like manner to 312% gives 7.99 parls of wa-
ter evaporatrd liy one of coal.*

The burning of eijj;ht samptrsof anthrarite occupiwl thirty-
one dnys during which :U,r>lHj poimds w<*re consumed, and
STtt.O?^** pounds of water eva porn ted, yjiving, whvn roduoed
to standard temperature, an avera^rc of IKiirif* pounds ol water
to one of coal. Hence, makiny: anthracite the stjuidard, we
have the relative cllieienccs as follows:

Anthracite, -.----- 100
Pictou coal, ------- H8.4

Sydney " 83.4

I have seen a published statement to the eflect that a sugar
refiner had, in IH t.% made trials of Lehigli, Bearer Meadow,
and Lackawanna anthracite, obtaining a mean of 9.11) pounds
of water evaporated by one pound of anthracite ; and also of
Pictouand Sydney coals, obtaining only 1.47 pounds of steam
for one of those coals. I hesitate not to say that this latter
number is wholly unworthy of reliance. I have been informed
that the trial referred to was made with the bituminous coals
under a simple cylindrical boiler without return Hues, or any
means of economizing thr heat, while the anthracites were
burned under an improved boiler of the best construction. If
this was really the unfair mode of treating the two kinds of
fuel, it is easy to account for the difTcrcnce, but it will not be
easy to persuade any one who understands the subject, to rely
on the results thus obtained as any standards of comparison.f
No one, I presume, would pretend that less steam >yould be
obtp" led by Pictoucoal than by an equal weight ofpinc uood.
An.- yet by a very careful experiment, I ev.aporated 4.09
poumfs of water, from 212% by the consumption of one pound
of that material.

Assuming the correctness of the data above given, it will be
easy to institute comparisons of value, and to determine what
ought to be the price of the one when that of the other is
given. _

•From f'xaniining th« coal in all parts of the Sydney seam noic worked. I am
fully smisfieil thai the sample sent to Washington in 1843, of which specimens still
remain in my possession, was not taken from that bed. Its foliated structure, firm
texture, and Utile liability to fall into alack, ally it much more nearly to the splenl
and cannel coals. From satnples which I have seen and used from Bridgeport, I air,
disposed to think it came from that place, and not from the Sydney colliery.

tNoTE. Feb, <$, 1847. I have this day been again informed, by a gentleman of
Boston, that the experiments were in fiict made in the manner I have indicated, by
the sugar refiner in question. Yet these resulta have been paraded in the newppa-
pera of Philadelphia as data for computing the relative value of coala!

Thus at $3 per chaUiron in Pictou, the price of one grojiis
ton is -.-..... )5i jM).4

At :i() per cent, the rfiitif is 57

And at $'Z 75 per chaldron, the /rc/]if/i/ on one ton
will be - - - 2 09.5

^ 4 5(i.9

Or say $t Ti^ II,-nce 84 57 X ';jl.,=8ri 17 outjht to be the
contemporaneous price of a ton ol" anf hraeite. Hut as at Bos-
ton the Pietou coal is sold not by the j^ross ton, but by the
chaldron of '2,!) 10 pounds, while antliraeite is sold by the ton
ofiijOOO pounds, it is proper, in order to decide in cases which
have occurred and been referred to in the prices current of
the day, to compare together the relative values of these two
quantities. The comparison shows that at -SI 57 per ton,
Pietou coal is S<J 00 j)er chaldron; the p-oss ton of anthracite
$5 17; and the ton of ;>,000 pounds ought to command at the
same rate $i (51.G.

Should anthracite be put on board at Philadelphia at S3 00
per ^n OSS ion, and pay 81 75 per ton frei<>:ht, the ton of 2,000
pounds would cost in Boston 84 2t. The value of i>,000
pounds of Pietou coal would tfirn be roT'X'^l i.>4=83 75,
and a chaldron of 2,040 pounds would at th(; same rate cost
83 75X 1 3 1 ^=85 51 1. From this number, if we take 82 75,
the price of freight on the Boston chaldron, from Pietou. there
is left 82 70^ to cover the n>st and ditfi/. The latter being
supposed thirty per cent., the former will be 82 11, at which
rate the Pietou chaldron would cost 82 IIX 2aio=82 53.2 or
about forty-seven cents per chaldron less tlian the present
selling rates.

Again, as we have seen that at the present selling price in
Pietou, anthracite is worth 85 17 per gross ton in Boston, de-
ducting freight, 81 75, it is worth 83 42 on board, in Phila-
delphia.

An impression appears to have prevailed, that in our Eastern
cities, Nova Scotia coal has borne a price higher than its rela-
tive value would warrant. The above method of determina-
tion will prove whether the supposition be correct. Thus the
Boston Courier of September 21, 1840, gives the price of
Pietou coal per chaldron, new duty, - 85 75 a t» 00

Schuylkill, white ash, per ton, - - 5 75 a G 00

Schuylkill, red ash, " . . - g 00 a 25

Making the average for anthracite 86 00 per ton of 2.000 lbs.
Do. for Pietou 5 87| per chal.of 2,940 lbs.

As the 2.000 ponruls anthracite arc eciiml in hratitifr power
to 'X^,X'^,000=="J;J(>0 pounds of Pictoii coal, the prior of
2,000 poiuuls of anthracite oii^ht to have been to that of a
chaldron of I'ictou coal as 2,'J(50 to 2,9 K), or as 8 1 W to ^r* 87.J.
This proves ihut the Nova Scotia coal was sold much lower
than the anthracite, ihe latter being 81 IN above its relative
value.* Nova Scotia then nmhrsohl Philadelphia.

Again: The New York Shipping and Coinniercial List of
of September 10 (piotes Pictou and Sydney at SO 00 to 80 50
per chaldron, and anthracite 85 00 to 8(5 00 per 2,000 i)ounds.

The average superiority of anthracite over PIc/ou oiuJ Si/d-
nei/ coals is sucli that 2,000 pounds of the tbrmer (-([ual 2,32H of
the latter in mixiure; and as 2,r)00 make a chnldron at New
Yurh; therefore 2,500 : 2,32H : : 0.25 : 5.S2-=the relative value
of the ton of anthracite. As it was actually selling at from
"five to six dollars" the calculation shows that its relative
value was much nearer to the highest than to the lowest
quoted rate.

As Pictou coal has been sold this season at 83 00 per chal-
dron of 3,52S pounds, one ton costs 81 90.1. The pirxrnt duty
is 81 75 per ton. In December next it will be fifty-seven
cents per ton. The difiercnce is 81 18 per ton, and 81 55 per
Boston chaldron.f

I cannot omit here to call attention to the great misappre
hensions which must inevitably exist in the public mind in re-
gard to the true values of coals, so long as they continue to
be bought and sold by incdsnrc. This evil would still be felt
even were the bushel or the chaldron everywhere the snmc,^
inasmuch as coals vary so widely in the weight and value of
a given bulk, according to the sizes of lumps and to the spe-
cific gravity of the mineral. But the confusion becomes much
greater when the standard of measure itself varies from place
to place, and when even in the same place coal is bought and
mined by one measure, and sold by another, as in Nova Scotia ;
when, for example, we have the New Castle chaldron of 53 cwt.
or 5,030 pounds, the Nova Scotia chaldron, as above proved, of

»It \s posnhle that the Courier's (juotation referred to the price on board of the
Philadelphia ton of nnthracite, in which ease the calculalioii would be 100-88.4X
2.'-24()=2,r)34 and 2,'.) tO : 2,534 : : o.HTi : 5.()(i,whieh shows that even under that
supposition, the ruUng price of $G UO for anthracite, was ninety-four cents higher
than its relative economical value.

tA Boston Prices Current of November 4, quotes Pictou and Sydney coals ("du-
ty 81 75 per ton") at $7 a 8" 25. Anthracite, per "ton," 86 *J0. «"" 'o"" ''""a''*
per 2,«U0 pounds, 8<J ^^- 'I'his proves that the cargo price of anthracite was four-
teen cents per ton too low, and the retail i)nce 81 U3 too high, as compared with
the average price of 87 l2i per chaldron for Nova Scotia coal.

3,528 poiintls ; the so called " New Castle" chaldron of Nova Sco-
tia, double of the preceding, and forming one car-load of 7,05(5
pounds; the London chaldron by act of Parliament 2')h cut.
or 2,8()() pounds ; the iioston chaldron, (by custom-house"i)rac-
tice,) of twelve tubs containing eacli four even bushels, and
weighing as above shown 2,0 10 jjounds of Firfou, and 2,S(]2
pounds of Si/(fnei/ coal; the New York chaldron of 2,500
pounds; and finally the Providence and Philadelphia chal-
drons, containing twelve tubs of three hropnl bushels each,
and weighing, (as it happens,) of Pictou coal, almost exactly
the same as the statute London chaldron, or 2,805 pounds.

I see no probability that this confusion will cease until
manufacturers, navigators, domestic and other consumers, as
well as mine owners, transporters, and dealers in coal, shall
come to an understanding and determination to buy and sell
coal solely by weight.

As the ton of 2,000 pounds has been almost universally
adopted in the retail coal markets; as the State of Pennsylvania
has abandoned the ancient denominations of /o?w, hundred
iccights, ^-c, and charge- tolls on her public works solely by
the thousand pounds ; and, as when transported about a'city,
two thousand pounds form a more suitable load than the
gross ton, I can conceive no adequate reason why this weight
should not supersede both the old gross ton and the multitudi-
nous chaldrons above relerred to. It is apj)licable to ales
from the mines as well as to those from the coal-yard, and
to governmental as well as to individual purposes.

XVIIJ. ABSOLUTE AND VARIABLE DeNSITY OF PrCTOU CoAL.

As the organic matter in bituminous coal is, in general, a
less dense material than the inorganic or mineral substances,
such as silex, alumina, oxide of iron, lime, &c., which consti-
tute Its earthy portions, and which appear as its ashes after
combustion— the less amount of these latter materials there
are in a specimen of coal, from a given coal seam, the less may
we expect to find the relative weight or specific gravity of the
coal; and by converse reasoning, the greater is the\lensity
ot a specimen, the greater amount of impurity may we expect
to find in it. i j : i

This principle will, with some modifications, apply to the
coals of different coal districts, but is not to be implicitly re-
lied upon to indicate the amount of combustible matter in
coals from remote localities, since it is well known that in such
cases the composition of the organic part of the coal, as well as
the nature and amount of its wme/ a/ impurities, is liable to vary.

The mfiin coal senm at Pictou is nearly thirty-five foct in
thickness, but only about twelve feet near the upper part are
rejjarded as protltal)le for present workinf^. In order to ob-
tain a correct section, and to determine approximately the
values of the subordinate divisions, a cut was some time since
formed diametrically across the whole seam, the thickness of
each ply carefully noted, and the specific gravity of the ma-
terials ascertained both by i\Ir. Poole and the writer. The
plies are nuud)ercd from above downwards. The cut was
made about the middle of the mine, between the upper and
lower '* boards."

Section of the maim Coal Bajjd, Albion Mines.

i:i

If)

IG
17
18
19
20
X

Description of Material Cut.

Roof Coal

Full Co il, mined

Holing Stniie, i\o

Top Bciirh Coal, do....
Stone, not regular, do.
Hotlom Bench Coal, do.

14 feet Stone Parting...

15 t't'ct Coal

Iron Stone, not regular.

17 feet Coal

13at (slatey matter)

Coal

Ft. In

I 1 •'»

Pavement Rock,
lielow Floor

1 4

1 8

1 ()
6

- S

a o
o ^-«

Ft. In.
1 fi
3 ;")
;j 11
8 2
8 3

14
16 3
16 6

21 2
24 6

27 6

28 8

31 8

32 6
34
34 6

SrEciFic Gravitv.

By Mr.

Poole.

1.442
1.2S2
2.822
1.318
2.362
1..323
l.r>46
1.407
3.200
1.471
2.136
1.467
1.314
1.4KJ
1.547
1 .423
1.462
1.671
1.800
2.0!)0
2.231

By Mr.

Johnson.

440

300

:->m

308
371
334
465
418
288
1.487
2.175
1..524
1.307
1..564
1.610
1.432
1.602
1.825
1.854
2.105
2.194

Average.

1.441

1.2!)n

2.660

1.313 }.

2.366

1..328J

1.505

1.412

3.244

1.479

2.155

1.49.'i

.310
523
578
427
.'■)32
748
1.827
2 097
2.222

Experiments made by Mr. Poole, at six difi'erent parts of
the mine remote from each other, p;ave an average si)ccific
gravitv of the "Pall coal" (No. '2) of 1.271): the "top bench"
(No. i) 1.315; and the "bottom bench" (No. (5) 1334, the
general average of which is 1.3-Jl. But as the three plies of
coal are of different thicknesses, the true average sjjecific
gravity of the eleven feet of coal worked is 1..3-.>8. which cor-
responds to exactly eighty-three i)oiuuls per cubic foot, or
2,241 pounds (one gross ton) per cubic yard.

From nn inspection of the numbers in the table, it is cvi.
dent tlijit, with an unimportant exception, no other coal in
this tnick seam has so low a specific gravity as the three plies
above designated, and particularly that the massive body,
thirteen feet (our inches thick, from No. V* to No. 19 inclu-
sive, has but a single ply (No. 13) of one and a half foot thick,
which has so low a specific gravity as 1.31. The rest evi-
dently belong as properly to the class of bituminous shahs as
to that oi coals.

When broke up into lumps of the size usually given to the
lump coal in the market, experiment proves that Pictou coal
weighs 52.08 pounds per cubic foot, as above stated. If the
coal be broken up so fine that no piece shall weigh more than
one pound, the cubic foot will ueigh fiff y.five pounds, and the
gross touM^ould then require only 40.72 cubic feet of space
lor Its stowage on ship board. The anthracite of Beaver
Meadow, Pa broken to c^g .size, weighs fifty-seven and one-
fourth pounds per cubic foot, and the stowage space per ton
1.S then .11). 12 cubic feet.

As the Pictou chaldron is forty-eight bushels, each bushel
weighs seventy-three and a half pounds when reduced only to
the ordinary marketable condition of average coarse and tine

XIX.— Control, Mai*ageme\t, and Rent of Mines.
I have already referred to a mine of eoal, said to have been
worked by the French near Mire Bay, prior to their surrender
of the celebrated fortress of Louisburg in 1758. At Swivel
1 oint also, about one mile southeast of the present 8vdnev
mines IS seen m the base of the perpendicular clilT al^ hisrh
water levei a very ancient opening— the mouth of a horizontal
drift—on a five feet bed of coal, which overlies the six feet
seam now worked.

The cliff having been washed away to a considerable dis-
tance since the work was abandoned, the wooden props of
he ancient gangway stand in the open air and are washed
by the surf during the prevalence of easterly storms. More
and more of the props are exposed every year by the gradual
falling of the overhanging cliff. ^

As the coal formation is exposed to the open day all alonjr
the eastern part of this island, from the Mire Bay to the Great
Bras d Or entrance, a distance, following the sinuosities of the
coast, of nearly seventy-five miles, it was impossible for even
the earliest navigators, to remain ignorant of the existence of
coal on that coast. But mining operations conducted in drifts

from above tide level, could extend to limited distances only
before they reached the outcrop, because the land rises only
from eighty to two hundred feet above the sea. Hence the
trade never assumed any great importance until a more effi-
cient system, cue to extend below tide level, had been intro-
duced.

By Messrs. Smith & Brown's statement in Haliburton's His-
tory of Nova vScotia, it appears that prior to 1828 the Sydney
m*nes were worked by horse power, and yielded in a few of
the preceding years an average of about eight thousand five
hundred chaldrons annually. They now yield about forty
thousand chaldrons.

The mines of Pictou appear to have been first %vrought to
an important extent in the year 1818. On the first of January
of that vear two mines, one on the east and the other on the
west side of the East river of Pictou, were leased to Edward
Mortimer, Esq., for twenty-one years, for an annual retit of
£370 currency ($1,480,) and a royalty of three shillings (sixty
cents) per chaldron on every chaldron < ver one thousand four
hundred, raised and sold within the year.

On Mr. Mortimer's decease in 1819, the mines were leased
on the same terms to Messrs. Smith &c Liddell, by whom they
were managed till the 1st of January, 1828, when their lease
was surrendered to the British Government.

During their lease, it appears that the mines were worked
by Adam Carr, who is stated to have sold his coals at 13s. 6d.
($2 70) per chaldron. In 1822 and '23, however, he sold them
at the wharves in Pictou at 20s. 9d. ($5 15.) But Carr's
operations, agreeably to the statement of Richard Brown, Esq.,
before a committee of Assembly of the Province of Nova
Scotia in 1839, extended to no greater depth than fifty-four
feet. He exhausted the seams to water level before leaving
them.

The whole quantity of coal taken out before the surrender
of Smith & Liddell's lease, viz: from 1818 to 1827 inclusive,
was only 23,325 Winchester chaldrons, and the total amount
ol royalty paid was but £5148 15s. 9d., or $20,595 15.

During the existence of Smith & Liddell's lease, viz : on the
1 1th of July, 1826, a Royal Grant was made to the late Duke
of York, by which he became sole lessee, for sixty years, of all
mines and minerals in Nova Scotia, except of course those on
lands which had been previously granted by the Crown with-
out a reservation of royalty. These latter are believed to
comprise but a small portion of the territory of the province.

;il

The grant to the Duke required of him, his heirs or assiimsL
to pay a rent of one .shilling sterling per ton on all coalslhi
v.iihr^r^''P''r''r'iP"'^^^^ *«^^'^4h twenty.two Cd ed

3 six hrd^T^'1 ?"^ '^'^"^>^ P«""^^ '^'i-' two thou,
sand SIX hundred and twenty pounds. It also required him
to pay iour pence (eight and a third cents) for eT v ton ™f
iron ore or iron stone, and one twentieth part of the metal/
gold, silver, eopper, lead, and all other orei and metalT He
was required to prove that searches had been madewifW

nn JS ?'T^\ °^ *^^ '"^'* valuable minerals in the eran^s

lorK, to all the mines and minerals in Nn-r^ «a«^f '^"'*^^"»

possess."* " '"""""■mcatrng any information .hey may

Du'L 'n?v ^r^"^- '^■""''''' ''"''«« * Co., assignees of .he
.7 J L *"'''•, "^^ '"'» possession of the Pictol min^ „„5

As to the dues paid by the Association to the Government

urrfnTj ft anr;4n''titv°re ™l *T *"''''.' «^- *''- ^' "'•'■^
F^kia'^d, tdeVd°ate'':f'g:efX"2l I^oIT^T^ ^'J

tg.. ibe l«ie, u Unjlh, appendnl lo thi. rapoR.

New Castle chaldrons to be £3,000 sterling," (say 815,000)
and two shillings currency for the excess shipped beyond
that quantity.** '^'^ ^

It appears that down to 1838, the Association took out in
all 190,147 chaldrons, understood to be Winchester measure
and that the sales did not in any year amount to twenty thou-
sand New Castle chaldrons. At the rate stated by Mr. Mur-
ray to Sir P. Maitland, this would have amounted to $140 (503
and at that put down by Mr. Cunard, to $105,000 for the
eleven yeai-s m which the Association had been operating.

By official returns from the several mining districts, hereto
appended, it appears that there were mined and sold by the
Association in 1842, a total of 39,333 chaldrons. New Castle
measure, which at the rates stated by Mr. Cunard must have
paid m rent and royalty $22,733.

In consequence of Mr. Cunard's representations in the let-
ter above referred to, setting forth the difficulty of competing
in the American market with the coals of the United Stated
under the tariff of 1842, Lord Stanley, on the 18th of FeC
ruary, 1843, communicated to Lord Falkland the decision of
the Lords of the Treasury, which was to allow the Associa-
tion for that year only, to raise twenty thousand chaldrons
beyond the number stipulated in their lease, free of charge for
royalty, thus, m effect, giving them the right to raise forty
thousand chaldrons. New Castle measure, for £3,000 sterling.
It appears by the annexed certified returns, that they actually
raised 33,550 New Castle chaldrons in that year, which was a
decrease of 5,783 chaldrons on the preceding year's operations
Upon urgent representations made, Lord Stanley, on the
31st of January, 1844, again wrote to Lord Falkland, grant-
ing him he pnvileu^^e, if he thought proper to exercise it, of
aUowing the Association to raise fifty thousand chaldrons
i\ew Castle measure, for a limited period, "say from five to ten
years, on the payment of the stipulated rent of £3,000 ster-
ling. In answer, Lord Falkland assigned as reasons for with-
holding this privilege, that the decision would embarrass the
adjustment of the "civil list" question, (a matter which he
appears to have considered paramount to all other subjects)
and that the indulgence granted the preceding year had not
resulted m an increase of sales, but the contrary.

The ofer, however, on the part of the Government to grant
this large concession, proves the regard which it feels for the
interests of the Association, and the liberal aid it was willing
to bestow, in fostering its growing enterprise, and sustaining
its competition in the American market.

rr!!!f«r^'*"*l*J''^^.^^y'*"** *^^ ^•''««t interest which the
fimi ^n .7 '" ^^ "''•'"^*' productiveness of the roy«//y to
find an adequate commercial motive for affording this impor-
tant indirect protection to its colonists, and other subiects
As an additional . idence of this interest on the part J the
Government m t;.. .prosperity of the mining operations in
Nova fecotia I may mention that during the preset vear the
Association has for the first time become posLs^d of fcw!

w^htrhitt:;\%'r ^''"^^^"^^ *^ --^^« ^^« -^^^-

m chancery between the Crown and the assignS"the Duke
iL^rotfhT'"'r' which removes all embarrassment aris!
ing irom that quarter, are advantages on which the Associa-

rei tmod2^'r ""?l^. "r^^^^ ^"^^ satisfaction as on th;

fti^!r^^:^i^ Je^g-^-tK!

invesJed7nXvl°'i^ ^ r "" ^fPi^'^' «f ^250,000 ($1,250,000)
£20 P«Ph nn^T ft '''''^ ?^P^ *^'"«^«»- The shares are
4-20 each, and have lately received a dividend of eight or ten
per cent., understood to be the first which has ever bf en made

c'^ent.: or £l7p^r'shtf^^^ ^^^' ^" ^«"^- ^' ««^^«- P-

AslemWvIn '^8^0^ M ^' R '^^ committee of the Provincial
Assembly, in 1839, Mr. Brown states that the Association
formerly sold coal at 13s. 6d. ($2 70) per chaldron C«„^
«equent,y raised it to 15s. andken ti Tts. ($3 40);'a.^ ht
at the former price they sold it at a loss, w th a view to in-
troduce It into foreign markets. This effect having n^w been

fnZ:,'^fl^^^^^^ -Pital was long S„ce

rJHL\'^.r*''^'''^^^V^^P^^^»«««'"P"tedon the New
tastle chaldron, as stated to me by several of the i^pZ^VZ
the rate mentioned was eighteen pLceSrn^^'ffi stated
ment be correct, and if by the " New Castle cLdL- £

w"of "63 trS Th'^"'^^ f^'-^^«" of 5I tt but the ca?
kJ''''."J!I?^ foregoing statements, it appears that Pictou coal

55.2
18.4

14.2

- 11.9

0.6

Per Top

1. Under the first lease from 1818 to 1828, the rent

and royalty averaged 55.4 cts.

2. Under the grant originally made to the Duke of
York, at one shilling sterling for two thousand six
hundred and twenty pounds, the royalty per ton of
two thousand two hundred and forty pounds, was 21.3

3. Under the lease to the Association, from 1828 to
1838, inclusive, it amounted, by Mr. Canard's state-
ment, on the coal actually mined at Pictou (exclud-
ing that of Sydney) to « - - . .

4. On the total amount mined in 1842 - - -
6. On the quantity taken out in 1843, under the spe-
cial permission of the Lords of the Treasury

6. On the total quantity, (forty thousand New Castle
chaldrons,) which might have been taken out that
year, had a market offered, the ton would have
paid -•--.....

7. On fifty thousand chaldrons, proposed to be allow-
ed by Lord Stanley in 1844, for five or ten years,
at £3,000

8. On one car load at eighteen pence sterling, as
stated above II.

If, therefore, the statements made to me be correct and ap-
plicable to the company under its new charter, the rent paid
will be 2.4 cents more per ton, than would have been paid
had Lord Stanley's proposal of 1844 been carried into effect.
It is but 2.3 cents per ton less than was t jtually paid in 1813.
Had eighteen pence sterling (thirty-seven and a half cents)
per ton, been the rate, it would probably have nearly corres-
ponded with the " mine leave" obtained by those who own
anthracite mines in Pennsylvania. Until the present year,
the Association have had a distinct lease of the Cape Breton
mines, independent of their engagement with the Duke of
York's assignees, not admitting that the Duke's grant covered
that island. The settlement of the chancery suit, and the
admission of the assignees to a participation in the benefits
of all the mines, merging the royalties into one, and co-operat-
ing to extend the trade, will, no doubt, be found favorable to
the interests of the crown, as well as those of the Association.

From the best information I could obtain, I compute that
the whole quantity of coal that has been mined and sent to
market from Pictou since 1818, is eight hundred and seventy
thousand chaldrons, or one million three hundred and seventy
thousand tons. Knowing the cost of mining, the amount of

inus,at Picfou, are m vested iE 180 000 rsnnonnm «« ,.,u- u
interest at six per cent .•R'i i nnn^r,\T.! ^**'v\''""9 °** which,

'^ " " - CO

Making a total of . 71

• ^ • - - 25i

Then the cost and interest will be

As the ton, at wholesale, now costs
11 trom this we take

We have left as the nett profit .

SI 82|

1 00.4
1 57

33.4

Supposing the royalty to be thirty seven and a half^' ml
This would be reduced to - TT

brought' ftfpfc.o^riShts'rv'^^'"' '" ^^p'™'"' '"'«.

,1,?™ J manitest, one hundred and sixty chaldron.! anrf
charged, as registered at the Custom House «52fl • wM t-.

will be observoil ic St on „ "»'"'" nouse, SS^S j which It

equal to two hundred and twenty-two and a half Philadel!

ihi

7.9

phia chaldrons. It weighed six hundred and twcnty-two
thousand five hundred and thirty-three pounds, which div'ded
by three thousand five hundred and twenty-eight, the true
numher of pounds in a chaldron at Pictou, gives one hundred
and seventy-six as the true numher of such chaldrons in that
cargo, which multiplied by $3 gives 8528. This proves that
this " single cargo" was sold at the same price as if the pur-
chaser had taken one thousand chaldrons or more.

Again: A cargo of Pictou coal, recently imported into Pro-
vidence, llhode Island, is stated to have been invoiced at one
knndrcd and sixtt/'tno chaldrons, and charged at 8 180, which
is 83 per chaldron, (being, perhaps, part of a large order,) but
it actually weighed six hundred and nine thousand one hun-
dred and twenty pounds, and consequently must have been
one hundred and sevcnti/'tiro Pictou chaldrons. It measured
seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-six bushels, or two
hundred and sixteen Providence chaldrons. Here the sellers
in Pictou gave forty-eight bushels for a chaldron ; forty-five
bushels is their true chaldron. The true selling price was
$4.80x172=82 82| per chaldron, (81 79 per ton.) At three dol-
lars per chaldron, the cargo would have come to 8510. The
duties, on the first of December, 1840, on the invoice vrdtie of the
cargo will be 8145 80, while on the true value, if that be 83
per chaldron, it is 8154 80, which shows that this erroneous
manifest will cause a difference to the revenue of 89. If
there be no misstatement of the value, then it is clear that
the Association arc furnishing coa! to their customers in Pro-
vidence at 82 82^ per chaldron, or 81 79 per ton. This may
have been designed to place a Providence customer more
nearly on a level with those in Boston, where I have shown
freights cost thirty cents less per ton than at Providence. To
compare the Pictou coal with anthracite in Providence, at
the rate at which this cargo was sold, we have the following
statement :
Cost per ton in Pictou, - • - - SI 79

Duty, thirty per cent. - - - - 53,7

Freight, (at three dollars per chaldron^) - - 3 39.6

And the total cost of the ton is - - - 84 72.3

A ton of anthracite should, by what has already been seen,
cost at the same time and place 4 72.3X*ff.4=s=85 34 ; from
which deducting freight from Philadelphia to Providence
$1 45, and we have 83 89 as the price at which it must be
put on board at Philadelphia.

;■

XX.— ArrEAL op the Misrisrc Association to the Govbrn-

MilNT.

I append to this report the letter of Mr. Cunard, to which
I have more than once referred, and also a copy of the return.
made by the several collieries at the end of 1843. These
documents, and the other correspondence which I have had
Ji^^'^r.'^l"' V*^' ""-^ interesting, as they convey, in an authen-
tic torm, information as to the effect of the tariff of 18 42. in
impedmg the introduction of Nova 8cotia coals into the uiit-
ed States; as they establish the fact that the markets of this
country are of vital importance to the mining interests of
that province; as they exhibit the persevering efforts made
by the enterprising Association which controls those inteiv.
ests .to obt^m and preserve a footing in our markets; as they
admit the hopelessness of inducing those who have mlapted
their furnaces to the use of anthracite to return to that of
bituminous coal j as they assert that at 83 60 per chaldron*
no proht had been left to the Association, and that a grea re-
duction must be made in the price of coal to enable it to sul
tain, under the tariff of 1842, a competition with the Amen-
can coals m the markets of the United States.

1 he correspondence which I have cited also, shows that this
strong appeal, made to the Home Government, was not with-
out its effect in procuring relief to the Association. Mr. Cu-

??!>,•*' l^'^'^''^ *^^^ ^""^ **^*t^«n years those clear-sighted
capitalists who are engaged in efforts to create and extend a
trade With the United States, were willing to forego all re^
turns upon their investment. It declares that the expense of

that he mines must be closed unless the Government would

es the confident expectation, in case this favor from the Crown
tTJlffn? • f inducing manufacturers in the United States
intrth^^'f "^ even extend, their use of Nova Scotia coals,
notwithstanding the duty imposed in 1842, and notwithstand-
ing the competition then existing between our two great
rival lines of transportation.!
Philadelphia, N ovember 14, 1840.

♦ £°!!!?r^''!' *^ ^H «i«!^"i<^"» «n «h« Pfeccaing page,
t Reading Rsiiroad and ScfauylkiU Navigation.

i T i anmHiim;B ft»^^

^v;jr.s3g^a-a5:ap-7;

APPENDIX.

10*0*0*0*0*0^^0^0^0*0*^0*0*0^0^^^^^^^0*0^

Letter from Samuel Cunnrd^ Esq.^ to Lord Viscount Falkland.

Halifax, N. S. 22<£ December, 1842.
My Lord : I have, as Agent of the General Mining Associ-
ation, to bring under your Lords' ip's uotice.the great decrease
which has taken place in the shipments of the coal made
from the mines of the province this year, compared with those
of last year ; and I beg to call your Lordship's particular at-
tention to the causes which have pro>.iced this decrease, and
to state my conviction of the positive certainty which at pre-
sent exists, that our trade with the United States will be en-
tirely destroyed, and the coals of this province excluded from
that market, unless we can, by a reduction of th cost of the
coals, counteract the heavy duties which we have to contend
against.

Your Lordship is aware that the Government of the United
States have lately imposed a duty of one dollar and seventy-
five cents per ton, or two dollars and twenty cents per chal-
dron upon all coal imported into the United States. This
duty alone, (imposed for the purpose of protecting the mines
of Pennsylvania and Virginia,) would have been almost pro-
hibitory ; but, in addition to this, the mines in Pennsylvania
have been able to effect a very great reduction in the cost of
their coals, by the competition of the Reading Railroad, by
which means they can afford to sell their coals, this year, at
one dollar and fifty cents per ton less than last year ; and they
have now completed a railroad from Cumberland to Baltimore,
which will tend to reduce the price of coal still further.

The duty upon coals imported into the United States this
year, until the month of July, when the new tariff came into
operation, was a little more than one dollar per chaldron, but
by the new tariff, the duty levied is very nearly twc dollars
and one quarter per Winchester chaldron.

Your Lordship will at once see the effect which the addi-
tional duty had upon the importation of Pictou coal into the
United States, when I inform you that twenty-one thousand
and seventy-six chaldrons were shipped from the Pictou mines

' i i

in the months of May, June, and July, and only ci^Mit thou-
sand four hundred and four chaldrons since that period.

Mr. E. Cunard has just returned from a visit to the prijici-
pal cities and manufacturing districts of the United States,
and has in every instance been informed l)y the manufactur-
ing companies, who have been the principal consumers of our
coal, that they will be forced in consequence of the enormous
duty which they have to pay on the importation of coal from
Nova Scotia, and the low price at which anthracite coal is
now offered to them, to make use of the latter instead of Pic-
tou coal, unless we can afford to sell the coal at a much less
price than we have hitherto done.

It is necessary before changing from the consumption of
bituminous coal to anthracite coal, to make an alteration in
the construction of the furnaces, and I cannot conceal from
your Lordship the hopelessness of inducing manufacturers to
return to the consumption of bituminous coal, after they have
once adapted their furnaces for the use of the anthracite.
The establishments at the mines have been reduced to the
lowest possible point consistent with any degree of effective-
ness, and the strictest economy prevails in every branch of
the service. The price of the coals put on board of the vessel
at the mines, free of all charge to the purchaser, is at present
eighteen shillings currency per chaldron, equivalent to about
nine shillings and six pence sterling per ton.

This price has left no profit to the Association for the large
capital embarked in the working of the mines, on Avhich no
interest or return has ever yet been paid ; but as it is quite
evident that a great reduction must still be made in the price
of the coal, to enable the Association to compete in the United
States' market with the American coal, protected by a heavy
duty, by the freight from Nova Scotia, and by the strong feel-
ing which exists to encourage the productions of their own
country in preference to those of Great Britain or her colo-
nies. I have given my best attention to the only means of
effecting this reduction, and am now preparing a reduced
scale of wages which I will endeavor to arrange with the
colliers, although your Lordship is well awr^re of the difficulty
which attends a measure of this nature.

After effecting a reduction of the colliers' wages, it only
remains for me to bring again under your Lordship's consid-
eration, the absolute necessity of assistance from the Govern-
ment by a modification of the royalty.

I need not call your Lordship's attention to the great benefits
which the province has derived from the vast expenditure

which f he General ^lininj? Association have incunvrl, or repeat
the nnany arguments which were made use of on (brmcr up-
plications to your Lordship, and to Lord John Russell and
Lord Stanle}'.

It is not at the present moment of any importance whether
the large expenditure incurred by the Association was inja-
mcious (as has been imputed) or not. Few undertakings of
similar magnitude, even in England, have been accomplished
within the estimated expense. The difficulties with which
the Association had to contend, and the expenses to which
they were subject in opening mines in a new country, with
the season for active operations limited to the short period of
six or seven months, are totally un cnown in England. Their
works are now, and have been for some time, carried on upon
the most economical scale ; and after having continued their
operations without the smallest return, for a period of sixteen
years, in the hope of obtaining an increased trade with the
United States, they now find themselves, after an enormous
outlay in the construction of railroads to increase the ficili-
ties of shipment, and with mines capable of supplying an al-
most unlimited quantity of coal, threatened with a total
destruction of their foreign trade, and with every prospect
of the consumption being narrowed to the trifling supply of
the province. I have, therefore, earnestly to entreat your
Lordship to take the subject into consideration ; and I beg to
request, that your Lordship will be pleased to report to the
Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the colonies,
the unfavorable position, and the still more discouraging pros-
pects which await the trade of the mines, with a request that
a very great modification may be made in the amount ''roy-
alty now paid. Without this aid the Association will be
compelled to close the Pictou mines, and to dismiss the colliers,
and others employed the.e, as the Sydney mines alone can
furnish twice the quantity which will be required by the
province for many years. The Association would resort to
this ultimate measure with great reluctance, as it would in-
voive the loss of all their expensive engines and machinery ;
but they will have no alternative left, if the Government re-
fuse to grant them the assistance prayed for. No one can be
better aware than your Lordship of the injury which would
result from such a step to the general trade and revenues of
the province.

The fixed annual rent of £3,000 sterling for the privilege of
raising twenty thousand New Castle chaldrons, equivalent to
a duty of three shillings sterling per New Castle chaldron, is a

■!■

much larger duty than the Association, under existing cir-
cumstances, can continue to pay. As they are, however,
aware, that this amount has been appropriated by the Gov-
ernment for specific purposes, and it may be inconvenient to
Government to reduce it, or interfere with its regular payment,
the Association would be willing to pay this amount annually,
but would pray that your Lordship would be pleased to re-
commend, that the number of chaldrons which may be dis-
posed of on the payment of this sum, be extended from twenty
thousand to fifty thousand chaldrons. Upon any excess
shipped beyond that quantity, the present royalty of two shil-
lings currency per New Castle chaldron be continued.

Should the Government be pleased to accede to this propo-
sition, the Association may be enabled to oflTer coals to the
manufacturers and consumers in the United States at such a
price as to induce them to continue their use, and I hope to
introduce them also into new markets abroad.

If, however, the Government decline complying with this
petition, all foreign trade will be totally destroyed, the Asso-
ciation confined to the trifling supply of the province, and the
revenue limited to the fixed rent of £3,000 sterling.

I enclose for your Lordship's information, a statement ex-
tracted from the returns in the Miner's Journal, showing the
immense increase which has taken place in the production
and consumption of anthracite coal. In the year 1820, there
were only three hundred and sixty-five tons of anthracite coal
sent to market in the United States. In the year 1840, the
consumption was estimated at one million of tons ; and in the
present year the quantity is estimated at nearly one million
and a quarter.

The shipments from Nova Scotia in the year 1841, to the
United States, were 51,090 Winchester chaldrons. This year,
the shipments will be about thirty-three thousand Winchester
chaldrons, a decrease of eighteen thousand chaldrons, and
since the operation of the new tariff the shipments have nearly
ceased.

I think your Lordship will do me the justice to believe that
I have not made this application without a pressing necessity.
From the knowledge which your Lordship possesses of the
subject, and the interest which you have always evinced in
the welfare of the province, \ '^ich is so intimatel}- connected
with the prosperity of the mines, I am induced to hope that
your Lordship will be pleased to recommend to Her Majesty's
Government, to grant the assistance prayed for. As we must
now either enter into new agreements w'l^^h the colliers, or

ii i

dismiss them, and also endeavor to make arrangements for
the supply of the manufacturers in the United States for the
next season, I take the liberty of begging that your Lordship
will be pleased to request an early reply to this communica-
tion.

I have the honor to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
„ ^ (Signed) S. CUNARD.

His Excellency the Right Honorable Viscount Falkland,
Lieutenant Governor, &c.

•
•

f.s

• ,4

COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTS

TO TEST THE

COMPOSITION AND EVAPORATIVE EFFICIENCY

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN COALS.

if:

i !

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN COALS.

Companson of the Results of Experiments to determine the

Evaporative power of American Coals, with those of

similar erpcrimfiits since instituted by the

British Admiralty on British Coals,

In reference to the necessity o( investigating the various
properties of coals, in order rightly to estimate their relative
values, the following brief statements from page vi., prelimi-
nary report on American coals, express the views of the wri-
ter, and may serve to convey an idea of the need which ex-
isted in 1843, (and which still exists over a large portion of
our coal formations,) for direct trials to establish the worth
ot their several minerals :

"The question of the value of coats for the purpose of gene-
ratmg steam is, of course, mainly dependent on their heating
power ; that is, on the weight of water which a given weight
of coal, burned under a given evaporating vessel, can con-
Vert into steam, while undergoing combustion. But this is
not the only circumstance requiring investigation, in order to
decide their value, even for the purpose of sea-going steamers.
The weight of a given bulk of each coal, in its merchant-
able condition ; the manner in which it burns, whether with
much or little flame ; the amount and character of its com-
bustible ingredients ; its facility or difficulty of ignition ; the
perfection of the combustion, or the proportion of the whole
amount consumed to that of the combustible matter placed up-
on the grate ; the concentration or difl'usibility of its heat ; the
proportion of humidity, and that of the sulphur which it may
contain, with the consequent liability, under certain circum-
stances, to undergo spontaneous combustion-— are all points
requiring attentive consideration. In addition to these, we
have the question of the manner in which each coal behaves
when coming to the temperature of ignition ; its tendency to
retain its original form, the nature and extent of change when
any occurs, whether by simply cracking and disintegrating
into angular fragments, or by enlarging the bulk, rounding
away and obliterating the angles, and vet not agglutinating
mass to mass; or, finally, by wholly changing its form and
consistence, swelling to a great degree, and cohering so as to
form a nearly continuous roof, and thus impeding the passage

"; 1

1 1

of air through the ignited coal. In some cases the question
of the amount of solid matter which accompanies the gaseous
products of combustion in the state of smoke, becoming soot
upon the flues of the nj^paratus in wliich the combustion is
conducted, is one of great practical importance. Of these
incidental questions, the amount and character of the incom-
bustible ingredients of different coals is a point eminently de-
serving of notice. It indicates the deduction which must, in
all cases, be made from the heating power of an equal weight
of the coal, considered as pure com!)U8tible matter ; it shows
the extent and kind of labor requisite in managing the fur-
nace ; it warns us what to expect in regard to the durability
of grate bars, and the adhesion of scoria; to those important
appendages of the furnace. All these subjects must neces-
sarily engage the attention of engineers and furnace mana-
gers, and no little portion of the good or bad character m coal
may be considered to depend on these circumstances. The
relation of the incombustible ingredients of coal to each other
is often such as to render the mixture fusible at the tempera-
ture of ordinary furnaces, or at least to be, in a certain pro-
portion, reduced to a pasty coherent mass upon the grate, im-
peding the passage of air, leaving another portion un vitrified,
and capable of passing through the interstices between the
bars. For ditferent coals this proportion is very diflerent,
even when the combustion is conducted as far as practicable
in the same manner, and with the same intensity of heat.

" In fact, there is scarcely an aspect in which this subject can
be viewed, which does not open points of inquiry and com-
parison of the greatest practical importance to the naval ser-
vice. It is not, however, solely with reference to their evapo-
rative power, or their use under steam boilers, that coals are
of importance to the navy of the United States, and of all
other maritime nations. The very introduction of steam ma-
chinery into the navy has largely augmented the amount of
workmanship in metals demanded for that branch of service ;
and the substitution of iron for wood in the vessels them-
selves, is destined vastly to increase the demand for such va-
rieties of fuel as are best adapted to the various metallurgic
arts. It was, therefore, evidently proper, in directing the in-
vestigation of the subject of the evaporative power of coals,
that the Department should require (as it did) the researches
to be extended to all their applications. By instituting in-
quiries intended primarily for its own use and benefit, the
Navy Department will have incidentally rendered an equal
service to many important branches of art in the country. By

inviting, ns nbove stated, the proprirtors of mines to furniish
their respective coals for trial, it afforded to the mining inter-
est an opportunity of ascertaining the relative value of their
own products, as compared with those of many other districts
and of foreign countries, and especially of having the pecu-
liar adaptedness of each to its specific object clearly desig-
nated."

In the preceding account of the coals and coal trade of
Nova Scotia, we have had occasion to refer to the results
of experiments obtained from those and other varieties of
American coals. Those experiments have enabled the writer
to compare the market prices at different times with the
true calorific values of the anthracites and the Vova Scotia
coals respectively. The two samples of English and one of
Scotch coals, also tried at Washington in 1843, afforded to a
limited extent the menus of comi)anson between some of the
varieties more generall^j' imported into this country and the
coals of similar constitution found in the United States— such
for example as those in the neighborhood of Richmond, Va.
\yc were,^ however, until very recently, without relia-
ble information respecting the economical values of many
British coals which are found extensively in commerce, and
much celebrated for their use in steam navigation. Of these
the Welsh coals stand conspicuous— and to them reference
had been made at pages 213-213 of the report on American
coals. A comparison is there presented between about 130
different specimens of coals from seventeen different locali-
ties in the great coal field of South Wales, exhibiting their
proportions of volatile matter, fixed carbon, and earthy matter,
or ash, together with the ratios of their fixed to their volatile
combustible materials. The class of free burning bituminous
coals of Pennsylvania and Maryland had, upon analysis,
yielded ratios ofjixed to volatile combustible matter, varying
from 3.t>5 to 5.97, and these coals had produced some of the
highest evaporative elfects found during the whole series of
trials of American coals.

Among the seventeen varieties of Welsh coals cited from
the work of Mr. Mushct, it was found that the ratios varied
from 2.50 to 13.95; several of those approaching the latter
number being, in fact, true anthracites. The inference was
natural, that the Welsh semi-bituminous coals would, when
fully and carefully tested, prove, like their American conge-
ners, to be of the highest order of evaporative efficiency. The
results of experience on the largest scale had, in fact, justified
this inference, for the principal place of shipment (Newport)

lU' ! ;

is known to be generally crowded with shipping, engaged in
transjrorting fhe Welsh i^oals to every part of tlie globe where
steam navigation demands their consumption.

The following table from page 213 of the report on Ameri-
can coals, exhibirs the characters of Welsh coals above re-
ferred to.

Tabular view of the proximate composition of Wtlsh furnace Coals*

Locality at which each coal is
mined or used.

(1.) Blaeavoniron works

(2.) Clydach, or Llanelly works..

(3.) Nantyglo.....

(4.) Ebbw vale

(5) Tredegar

(6.) Bute and Rhymney, Glamor-

gansliire

(7.) Plymouth and Duffryn, near

Merthyr Tidvil ,

Sir Howy

Bute

Dowlaia

Penn-y darran ,

Aberdare, Glamorganshire

Neath Abbey

(14.) Cyfartha and Ynnis

(15.) Hirwain, Glamorganshire.

(IG.) Crane's Yniscydwn

(17.) Yatal-y-Fera

(8.)

(9.)
(10.)

(11)
(12.)
(13.)

Average composition in

7
4
7
9

6
8
7
10
8
9
6
8
4
3
9

27.122
21.813
17.210
16.707
15.603

14.797

14.430

14.149

13.941

12.176

11.139

10.. 330

8.516

8.091

7.982

7.420

6.587

•3
it
H

1
>.

•s

69.597

3.281

75.598

2.589

79.803

2.687

79.847

3.446

80.056

4.341

82.037

3.166

82.411

3.159

80.845

5.006

81.937

4.122

85.. 321

2.503

86.111

2.750

85.990

3.680

87.470

4.014

89.7.')3

2.1i)6

89.081

2.937

89.002

3.. 578

91.913

1.500

0.56
.4G

4.64
4.78
5.13

5.54

5.71
5.71

5,88

7.01

7.73

8.33

10.27

11.09

11.17

12.00

13.96

General exterior and other eharaetera of the eo tla.

(1.) Fracture conchoidal ; of some of the varieties the structure is cubical, of
Others the texture is granular and friable.

(2.) Some of tht- specimens very bituminous in appearance, and all Buillciently
•o to produce in coking much intumescence and change of form.

(3 ) Structure in some cases lamellar, much intersected with planes, and resem-
bhng crystallization ; other varieties are reedy, and intersected by oblique cross
partings.

(4.) In some specimens the structure if cubical, granular, and the consistence
friable ; in others, the fracture is coarse, rough, and structure amorphous, showing
no definite directions of fracture.

(5.) Fractures oblique ; structure rhombic, compact, or granular, with sometime*
a tadiO'Striated surface ; occasionally rising into prisms.

■ - - •*•

0.56

S.46
4.64
4.78
5.13

5.54

5.71
5.71

5,88

7.01

7.73

8.33

10.27

11.09

11.17

12.00

l».i)G

(6.) Bright 8Mn!n<» pfinings obUque to the beil*. In some varieti«t. the ap-
pearance IS that of glance coal, "^
(7.) !?trucmre cither mixed of rvrdy and uranolar, or wholly granutar; very

OriglU and shiiung ; concentric circlea sometimes are apparent at the fractures.

(».J forms general yrhomboi<ia:; structure granular . minemlized charcoal In-
lertnixetl with reedy laminae ; croas partings more or less irregular.

(9.) Structure variable ; reedy and granular intermixed ; sometimes crystalloid.
•pecular, glance, or anihracitous.

(10.) Either bright, reedy, iij regular laminae, or intersected at rj"ht anglei by
partmgs producing brittlenesa ; color sometimes dull black, hffving no^proper cleav-
age ; at others, the aspect is that of beautiful glance, having minute shitUng lami-
nsB oblique to the surfaces of deposition.

(1 1.) Structure sometimes compact, minutely laminated. Some varieties have
a reediness oblique to the bed ; some arc graphitic in appearance, and others uarily
bituminous and partly anthracitous.

(12.) Several of these varieties are entirely anthrneitous in character, and un-
ccrgo no change of form in coking; others have the usual characteristic of dry bi-
tuminous coals. '

(13.) All these varieties are true anthracites ; structure slaty; color brilliant black.

(14.) Some of these arc decidedly nnthracitous, others contain bituminous ce-
ment between the plies, and others still are entirely bituminous. This is. indeed.
a transition coal. '

(15.) Regularly crystalized, granular, or shining, without regular cleavaces t
•urtaces sometimes plumbaginous.

(16.) Bright, shining, pitchy ; grows more brilliant by pulverizing.

v*') All these are true anthracites, with the ordinary characters pertaining to

It appears that when the report on American coals reachetl
hnglancl in June, 1845, a copy was sent l)y Hon. Joseph Hume,
M. 1 ., to the Lord.s of the Admiralty, with a sug<,'estion that
a similar examiuafion .sliouid be made of the coals of Eng-
land, Scotland, and Ireland.* Their Lordships promptly res-
ponded to this wish, and called on Sir Henry de la Beche and
pr. Lyon Playfeir to undertake the investigation. After a
labor of two years and six months employed in testing and
analyzing the coals, the following report was rendered in
January, 1848:

•The following is an extract from the letter of the Right Honorable Joseph Hume.
M. r., to the Right Honorable the Lords of the Admiralty :

•• The late Mr. A. P. Upham." [Upshur,] " of the United States, was strongly
impressed with the importance of determining the nature and qualities of the sev«.
tal coals of the United States, with a view to their use in the steam navy of that
country, and in 1842-43 directed a course of experiments to be made on the dif-
Jerent kinds of coal of the United States, for the purpose of ascertaining their eva-
porative powers. I have only this day received from the United States the report
©t that inquiry, and I have the satisfaction of sending a copy of that report to your
Lordships, that you may see the result of that inquiry. They have decided by di-
rect and practical tests the comparative usefulness of American and English coala,
as well as the relative value of the former in their numerous varieties; and I eub-
init to your Lordships that a similar inquiry should be instituted into the compara-
tive usefulness of the several kinds of English, Scotch, and Irish coals, with a view
ofaBcertammg the best for the naval •teameraof this country."— i?ri<. Sept ,p. 3.

•a.

TO THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT MORPETH.

MUSGUM OF PRArriCAL GeOI.OGY,

January 5, 1818.
My Lord :

We have the honor to transmit a First Report on (he ex-
periments which, under the sanction of the Karl of Lincoln,
your Lordship's predecessor, wc were recjuesfed hy the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty to superintend, r('sj)ecting
the value of different varieties of liritish coals, for the purpo-
ses of our naval service ; and, according to your Lordship's
instructions, we have forwarded a copy of this Report to the
Admiralty, as the expenses of the investigation were incurred
by that establishment.

The utility of such investigations having been fully recog-
nized, both as regards questions of the greatest importance
connected with our steam navy and as bcrvring on various
branches of our national industry, in which the right use of
our fossil fuel is so requisite, it is unnecessary to dwell on the
practical application of the inquiry.

We would, however, observe, that experiments necessary to
ascertain the true practical value of coal involve a very large
series of observations, extended over a considerable period,
and directed to special objects of inquiry. The qualities for
which particular kinds ol' fuel are pre-eminent b(!ing so va-
ried, it is impossible to deduce general results from a limited
series of observations. Even in tlie one economical applica-
tion of coals, their evaporative value, or their power of form-
ing steam, one variety of coal which may be admirably adapt-
ed from its quick action for raising steam in a short period,
may be far exceeded by another variety, inferior in this res-
pect, but capable of converting a much larger quantity of
water into steam, and therefore more valuable in the produc-
tion of force. A coal uniting these two qualities in a high
degree might still be useless for naval purposes, on account of
its mechanical structure. If the cohesion of its particles be
small, the effect of transport or the attrition of one coal against
another by the motion of a vessel might so far pulverize it
as materially to reduce its value. Even supposing the three
qualities united rapidity and duration of action with consider-
able resistance to breakage, there are many other properties

which should receive attention in the selection of a fuel with-
out the combination of which it might be valueless for our
steam navy.

There is an important diflerenec existing between varieties
of coals in the hulk or space occupietl by a certain weight.
For the purposes of stowufi^e room this cannot bo ascertained
by specific gravity alone, because the mechanical formation
of the fragments of coal may enable one of less density to
take up a smaller space than that occupied by another of a
higher gravity. This is far from an imaginary diflerence,
being sometimes as great as fiO per cent., and not unfrctjuently
40 per cent. The mere theoretical determination of the den-
sity of coals would, therefore, give results useless for practice.
The space occupied between two varieties of coals, often
equally good as regards their evaporative value, differs occa-
sionally 20 per cent., that is, where 80 tons of one coal could
be stowed, 100 tons of another of equal evaporative value
might be placed, by selecting it with attention to its mechani-
cal structure. These facts are mentioned merely to show that
a hasty generalization sliould not be made, and to account for
our drawing attention to these various points as a means of
preventing the selection of a fuel from any one quality. We
do not, in the present state of this inquiry, consider it proper
to offer any recommenda 'on -four own as to particular kinds
of fuel, leaving the experim.-,.: il facts to decide for themselves.
After preliminary experiments had proved that no practical
result could be attained by mere laboratory research, it was
determined to test each variety of coal on a scale of sufH-
cient magnitude to check the theoretical views by the practi-
cal results. As it was impossible for either of us to devote
our whole time to this inquiry, our services being required by
other official duties, we appointed assistants to superintend its
special parts, under our general direction. On the selection
of assistants we have reason to congratulate ourselves, their
duties having been conducted with great care and skill. To
Mr. Wilson, since appointed Principal of the Uoyal Agricul-
tural College of Cirencester, whose practical knowledge well
fitted him tor the task, the superintendence of the economical
part of the experiments was first confided. To him and Mr.
Phillips is due the erection of the boilers, and the experiments
to illustrate the practical evaporative power of the coals.
After Mr. Wilson had for some time proceeded with the inves-
tigation, he was joined by Mr. Kingsbury, who volunteered his
services to this department. The latter gentleman was for-
merly a distinguished student at the College for Civil Engi-

neers, Putney, and from his engineering skill has rendered an
especial service to this inijuiry.

On the translation of Mr. Wilson to Cirencester, llie prac-
tical su|)erinten(lence of the investigation was intrusted to
Mr. .T. Arthur Phillips, a pupil of the Ecoledes Mines of Paris.
The information obtained had pointed out improvements and
corrections in th<' processes used, to which Mr. Phillips ap-
plied himself with much skill and success.

The corrections and the results of his experiments will be
found in his appended Report. The excellent scientific edu-
cation of Mr. Phillips, and his practical resources, rendered
his services of great value.

The analyses of coals were intrusted to Mr. Wrightson (a
pupil of Liebig,) who had fitted himself by s[)ecial study for
an undertaking requiring so much delicacy of manipulation.
Mr. Galloway, an assistant at the Museum of Practical Ge-
ology, gave his occasional services in analyzing gases and
ashes from the furnaces, but he was not wholly retained for
this purpose.

Mr. How, a very careful experimentalist, and assistant at
the laboratory of the College for Civil Engineers, was appoint-*
ed analyst after the retirement of Messrs. Wrightson and
Galloway.

It is proper to mention, in terms of approbation, the servi-
ces of the intelligent working engineer, William Hutchinson,
whose assiduity soon enabled him to be of more important
service than was to have been expected from his position.

The results obtained by the assistants, with accounts of the
modes pursued, are appended, in order that the methods may
be examined, and that special attention may be devoted to any
particular department of the inquiry.

In the first section of the Appendix, a full description is
given of the processes adopted in conducting the practical part
of the experiments, as also plans and sections of the boiler,
furnace, and apparatus employed.

The second section contains details of the observations and
experiments made to ascertain the evaporative power of the
different varieties of coals.

The third section tlescribes the formulae used for calculating
the experiments, and for correcting and reducing them to one
standard.

The fourth section contains the chemical experiments, in-
cluding the ultimate and proximate analyses of the coals, and
the determination of their calorific values.

It is unnecessary to repeat here the mode in wliich the ex-
periments were instituted, as these are detailed in the ilrst sec-
tion of th(! Appendix, so that it will sulTioe to draw attention
to the points observed in reducing and calculating^ the results.
It will be obvious that there arc several circumstances which
must receive attention before the true evaporative value of a
fuel can be o])tained. Thus, the water in the tanks has a
varying temperature during 'he day, dependent on atmos-
pheric changes, and is always dill'erent from that in the boil-
er. The temperature of water in the boiler also varies with
the external temperature, and the circumstances under which
the experiments are made. The shape of a Cornish boiler
favors an inequality in the temperature of the water in its
various parts, the colder and denser water sinking to the l)ot-
tom, and having a tenoency to remain there, so that the tem-
perature of water at the surface is I'ar from being the mean
temperature of water in the boiler, the dilFcrence between the
surface and bottom water being, on an average, 70°. Other
circumstances naturally affect the evaporative powers of the
coal, as for example the fact that all the water exposed to the
action of the fire in the ])oiler is not converted into steam, and
that wood is used to light the fire. Another circumstance of
considerable importance, is the expansion or contraction of
the boiler from an increase or diminution of the temperature.
In the early stage of the experiments, those conducted by
Messrs. Wilson and Kingsl)ury, it was thought unnecessary to
make a correction for this variation in conditions ; but on as-
certaining experimentally that the difference was as much as
09.025 lbs. of water in the contents of the boiler, between the
temperature 150° and 212°, it became ' sir le to make an
allowance for it, even when the difierenc" 1 "* vveen the initial
and final temperature was not greater than 10°. Other cir-
cumstances of less importance, but influencing the results,
have been neglected, because the application of such correc-
tions would have only complicated the results, and would have
had little practical value when the errors of observation in
such approximative experiments remain so large. Among
these may be mentioned the quantity of gases evolved during
combustion, the elevation in temperature of the air entering
the fire place, the barometrical and hygrometric conditions of
the atmosphere, the radiation from the boiler (very small in
amount, owing to its brick covering.) the hygrometric state of
the fuel, or the heat necessary for obtrining mechanical
draught in the chimney. In most of these cases the necessary

observations have been made, to enable the corrections to be
applied, should it afterwards appear desirable.

In making the calculation for the evaporative value of a
fuel, the quantity consumed was divided into two portions,
the first being that necessary to raise the whole mass of water,
exposed to the fn-e, from the 7?icnn temperature to 212°, the se-
cond portion being that required to evaporate the water taken
from the tanks from a temperature of 212°. To enable this
to be done, the mean temperature of the whole mass of the
water is ascertained, that is, the temperature of the water in
the boiler at its initial temperature after being mixed with the
tank water at its average temperature. The average of the
latter was the mean of several observations taken during the
day, and is designated by t'.
Let w be weight of water drawn from tanks at temperature t'

, W „ in boiler ,, f

this being obtained from surface temperature corrected by ex-
periment ;

t, temperature after mixture.

Then t = '^/,; + " r

The correction for the wood was mnde from data procured
experimentally by Messrs. Wilson and Kingsbury, but it can
only be employed for the particular wood used, as in subse-
quent experiments the evaporative value was found very dif-
ferent from anothe -.^uality obtained. The co-eiricient of the
evaporative power of the wood may be deduced from experi-
ment, in which a certain weight of water was raised from a
known temperature to the boiling point, and then a certain
po.Mon of it evaporated. The following formulre have been
used by Mr. Kingsbury tor the calculation.

N is the total weight of wood used in raising (W-f-?/;) (the
weight of water in the boih^r, and of that let down from the
tanks during the experiment) from the mean temperature t to
212°; then it is necessary to find the weight N' necessary to
evaporate w from 212°.

Then ^- = e, the evaporating power.

Let m be the weight of wood required to raise W + iv from
t to 212°, the number 1000 being assumed as the latent heat
of steam.

n to evaporate W -f iv from 212°
N' „ w „

Then m + N' = n

Now

212 — t
But| =

n
m

W + ?^
w

'^' = n

W + w
Z(N — N') = (212 — Ow

= (212-0N'(^^)
NZ = N' I ^?ii" (212-0 + ^1

:C.

(212—0 {W + w)+lw

or, introducing the value of t as given by the first formula,
(l + 212 — t) 10+ (212 — t") W
N/

If </ be the quantity of wood used in lighting the fire, e q
will be the weight of water evaporated from 212° by the
wood, and must be deducted from the weight of water eva-
porated in calculating the work done by the coal.

The co-efficient of the evaporating power of the coals, or
the number of lbs. of water which one lb. of coal will evapo-
rate from 212°, may be calculated as follows :

Let P be the total quantity of coal consumed, then the work
done by P will be to Yhr-^e W 4- w? of water from t to 212°, and
to evaporate uj — e </ from 212°.

Let m be weight of coal required to raise W + 10 to 212° from t
p „ „ evaporate w — eq from 2 1 2°

n „ „ „ \V + ?o from 212°

— ^ = E, the evaporating power.

Then

Now V = m + p
2 12 — t

I
But^ = ^'^-

n
e q

W -f i«
/ fw —eq \ _ 21 2 —
V W + uj^-'P P— />

— t

(W + w) ( 212 — + {w — c q) I

==£

!?1
i'

was

Introducinsr
obtained

the values from which the mean temperature

(first formula.) we have eventually

(/ 4.212 — /) w+ (-212-- t") W — /

^ = E

in which W is the weight of water in the boiler;

"^ . . " . drawn from the tanks dur-

mj? the experiment ;

t the mean temperature of water in tanks;

t the corrected initial temperature of water in boiler.*

takenl^t S'^'t">f ^'''"'t'' '^' '^''*^"^ ^^^* ^^ '''^^'^ ^^« been
taken at 1000° the number generally used in this country;

frnL M^"* ^^^ calculations had been made on this subject
from the experiments by Messrs. Wilson and Kingsbury, and
^e results sent m to the Admiralty, Regnault's excellenl me-
moir on the latent heat of steam was published. It became
necessary, therefore, to use these new results in the future ex-
periment^. The^se, so far as they apply to the present inquiry.
are reduced m the following table : ^

nf*Ar^" '=°"'*'1.'°" T'* ^^ °''° '"'*'^« *«' the combustible matter in the reuidma
of combustion, euch as the soot and carbonaceous matter in tZThe, ,„Tfw!
wuh great accuracy, a series of observations r .d an^fy e woud have been feoS^
ed. the labor and expense of which would not have been warranted bv the amouS
of correction necessary. It was, therefore, considered sufficient to proceed 3.
ows-ahhough the result is nothing more than a very roug approximtTon ,o the
Trn/r '""f '" approximation it will be admit. .d that the evapSve value of
hat thi rXl?f" ;''' ""'^^ '^ "" '^"•"bustible to the incombustibirmatter and
that this ratio confers a similar evaporative value on the quantity of ashes cindenT

terortWtter if, iV^' combustion ; in other words, tha't if the^o^bus iwi S
feet would ha -e b-n 2 r " '^ ^^f"^ '" '^^ P^^J^'^'i"" «<" «team. a similar ef-
bumrd If LnO h.^.h ^? 'f a corresponding quantity of coal had been

♦iKi ,. u ^ ^^ , ^^^^^'' ^^ c°a' containing the same quantity of eombu«.

tible matter as the reaidua after its combustion in the furnace *^'"'""'*' **' "'"^'^

T u evaporating power.

Let then te , « weight of ashes after the experiment

M
M

♦"t =» M cinders

Wa = » Boot „ „

The weight of the cinders is taken ofter the clinliers arc separated.

J!j i be the percentage of combustible matter in the ttahes, cinders, and
y* I soot respectively ; '

Q the weight of coal containing the same weight of combustible matter :
r the per centage of combustible matter as found in the coal by analysis }'

Then r Q,

'•iW.+r, W,+r,

_ r, W, -fr, W.

tv.

+ «'s ««.<

c
e

o
<

S 4>

S 2

w St

e
b4

r r* I^f ."T 3 £ '-^ 5 ;5 ?^ j-5 f» 2 S *^ tr «•'"''*"'>*''» "»

2
.2?

\L P + J, o>

J. lUOJJ iOJB^Y

C5 O CO O ff( VS !?» 2^ 5V 35 « r-
C o — 1 CI c^ -r irt t- X ;:3 « irt t-

O S » S v5 S a S O 3 C O Ct

•T'NCJ-TOOI'-'O — "TIO

C CTJ ?! CJ 50 O t X ?» iO

pttB ^.se iiaa.wj
-Jq io ju-JO J,

O O O — — 1 C^J CO « -t ■•'5 lO W t- 00 C5 O ?ri rt T 'O 1^ QO d
— .^3-330303:^ — SSSwr^i-a^rXxa— ••-•CI

C>9S'=^OO3C>O;3SOSOC»0S0C>0SS9

'BM JO piinod

( (11 pJUIOUO.I
Wm JO Bdl|

'\u^ JO i*quinu

S 3 S J5 = '

I (?» ro lO '^ C5 »>• T 4^ ^ VS> ■-« « er) 52 t-. u^ -t '

n irs « as o cj -r ir: i-* s:^ — r^ -f -^o oj o CM •f 'o 1^ ff) — w «-■%

-H«J

■iijqu^iqBjiai
-duioiui<<qj|^ jjV

Sui|)Ua3lj.4p Ul
iaiBM JO "OlliJ

I Xq pauopuuq
•u )ti<<]] JO 8i»!}

apejdii
*U33 {Gun3Ja|){

•

e :

§ i

e
si

(N O I; « -t r«J 3: -X V2 -^ !?J S OD 1^ «r ffj o cc to •>»• ?» « X «s
•J c^ lo •<i aa o CN ■T i-'s t^ w5 — ■ CO -)" w oD o J! « ifl 1- CI — (?» -r

OO—iyji'i.'JOCO— 'J.lOO»TOS^— iVSrfioOlJ'-O:

sr o o » © w — jj CI 00 in w 00 s^ cj -r t- o c^ «■» *i '

> w »

l«

•

o 1

• •

» :

u? «

•4 :

• •

'>>puii!nuj3i.>i
-dutouii^qj, J{V

I <>'

It also became desirable to introduce new corrections, which
the progress of the inquiry showed to be needlul. Thus, Mr.
lliillip,ss carelul experiments determined the alteration in the
capacity of the boiler at different temperatures, and correc-
lonwasm future made for this difference. The alteration
m the capacity of the measuring tanks was also estimated,
whenever the temperature differed 2° from that at which they
were guaged. Another cause of error, ior which allowance
should be made, is any difference which may exist between
the initial and hna^ temperature at the beginning and close of
the experiment. This difference being known by observation,
the correction may be applied from the Table of Expansion
oi the Water m the Boiler, given in the Appendix. Introduc-
mg these new corrections into the experiments for ascertain-
mg the co-cfficient of the heating power of the wood, the fol-
lowing are the formulae used by jMr, Phillips :—
(VV 4. to — „/) (l^t)^ wV 4. (»/ — w) t"

iU ~~ = E.

In which W is the water let down from the tanks durinff
the experiment. ®

w = The weight of water (as found by the Table of Ex-
pansion) found in the boilers at commencement of experiment.

f ^^^^''''r^^^f'^'^l^r in boiler at close of experiment.

I = Co-clhcient of the latent heat of steam.

t == Quantity of heat necessary to raise the water in tanks
from Its mean temperature to that at which it is evaporated.

t = Quantity of heat necessary to raise the water in the
boiler from the initial to the final temperature.

t" = Quantity of heat necessary to raise the water at the
Sr '""^"''^ "" ^"^ ^^^ ^"""^ temperature of water in the

P == Weight of combustibles consumed during experiment.
£. == 1 he co-efticient of the heating powers of wood.

But when the initial is lower than the final temperature,
me lormula becomes—

(W4.W.

' FT

A 1 the terms retaining their original value except the last, in
which /" ,s replaced by V" (or the heat necessary to raise the
final temperature to that at which the water was expanded )
and must be regarded as having a negative value, while /
becomes positive. If now q h the weight of wood used in

lighting the fire, the formula) for estimating the evaporative
power of the coal will be

(W — R 7 4. w ~ w') / 4. (W + w — v') t ^ trt' 4. JH-' ~ ic) t" ■ ^,
And

=E'.

As the experiments arc strictly comparative, and under like
conditions, the want of tlic other corrections, to wliich we
have alluded above, will not])e felt in examining the results;
while their execution would have introduced a refinement into
the experiments which never could be obtained in practice,
and which, in fact, would be useless and unwarrantable,
while, as previously remarked, the errors of observation in all
such approximate experiments remain so large.

The only omitted correction which in appearance might be
supposed necessary for practical purposes, is that for the hy-
groscopic condition of the fuel. Had wood been employed,
this must have been done ; but the hygroscopic nature of coal
is very much less than that of wood. The latter contains i
of its own weight of hygroscopic water; and the heatneces-
saryfor the evaporation of this (quantity might be shown by
a simple calculation to be nearly equal to 22 per cent, of the
total heat obtained by the combustion of the wood. The hy-
groscopic water in coal is, however, very small, as will be
seen by the following determinations of some of the Welsh
specimens experimented upon : —

Graigola Coal -

Anthracite

Old Castle

Ward's Fiery Vein

Myndd Newydd

Pentrepoth

Pentrefelin

Hygroscopic water.
1.00 per cent,
2.44 «
0.74
1.27
0.07
0.78
0.70

«
M

Had we introduced corrections for these small quantities,
practice would have been misled; because the coals will
rarely reach a vessel in the dry slate that they did in the pre-
sent case, when they were packed in hogsheads and kept under
cover.

It was found unnecessary to correct for any inflammable
gases flying up the chimnc^y, because repeated analysis of the
chimney gases proved them not to contain any combustible

}

Table II. — Showing the

Names of Coats employed in the
Experiments.

Welsh

Coals.

I'Gniigola

Anthracite, Jones & Co

Old Castle Fiery Vein

Ward's Fiery Vein

Binea

Llangennech

Pentrepoth

Peiitrefelin

Duffryn...,

Mynydd Newydd

Three-quarter Rock Vein

Cwm Frood Rocit Vein

Cwin Nanty-gros

Reaolven

Pontypool ,

Bed was

j Ebbw Vale

I Porth-niawr

IColeshill

sp"o it a»

•• V n

Scotch
Coals.

'Dalkeith Jewel Seam

" Coronation Seam

Wallsend Elgin

Fordel Splint

.Grangemouth ,

English ( Broomhil!

Coaltf. I Lydney (Forest of Dean).

Slievardagh Irish Anthracite...

Patent

Coals.

Wylam'8 Patent Fuel.
Bells "

VVarlich's "

3r ^*"

.** c « •
2 £

(S 5 2£
§.2.2.-

935
9.46
8.94
9.40
9.94
8.86
8.72
6.36

10.14
9.52
8.84
8.70
8.49
9.53
7.47
9.79

10.21
7.53
8.0

7.08
7.71
8.46
7.56
7.40

7.3

8.52

9.65

8.92

8.53

10 36

Sow

.J' s »

Pounds.

60 166

58.25

50.916

57.433

57.08

56.93

57.72

66.166

53.22

56.33

56.388

55.277

56.0

58.66

55.7

50.5

53.3
53.0

49.8

51.66

54.6

55.0

54.25

S?>.5
d4.444

62.8

65.08

65.3

69.05

- «-^

■S S "

.Sf- s
ego

Founds.

81.10V
85.786

80.42

83.85

81.357

81.85

81.73

84.726

82.72

81.73

83.60

78.299

79.859

8^.354

82.35

82.6

78.81

86.722

80.483

79.672
78.611
78.611
78.611
60.48

77.988
80.046

99.57

68.629
71.124
72.248

constituent ; the only products ever found being carbonic acid,
sulphurous acid, oxygen, and nitrogen. The quantity of free
oxygen in the chimney varied from |^ to | of the oxygen, which
combined with the fuel; in otliir words, nearly twice the
quantity of air passes through iue fire than that which is
strictly necessary by theory.

3 a

-s

5 g

• «

>unds.

i.iov 1

5.7
(1 .1

iilconomic Values of the Coals.

e ~*

■a 5 2

1 Ion

cone-

in <~ i~

g o

U t> u

g J bo

pora-

berof

eva-

tt 1 g

e ;j C/

l"g3>

Iw (L. 1^

ys V

JS --•
•tl —

S " «

S « o
§..5 5

>< <u w .

> «i 3 n

O c •"
O. •-> B ..

c _^ S c

5 "« ~ '"

2 o I. »-

^■s.s s

|52
III

S S £ .^

> ^ a a

Q v. V

as -" *■

Mean.

,742

.34.8

37.23

49.3

9,66

581.20

441.48

.679

47.26

38.45

68.5

9.7

565.02

409.37

.()3:i

57,946

46.

43.99
39.

57.7
46.5

455.18

608.78

.i(l4 30

.G85

Voie"""

529.90

.Wi

42.5.1

39.24

51.2

10.3

587.92

486,95

M)5>

4.') 76

39. .'14

53,5

9.2

523.75

373,22

.705

40.17

38.80

46.5

8.98

518.32

381.50

.781

28.051

33,85

52.7

489.62

247.24

.(.'13

55.43

42,09

562

11.80

540.12

409.32

.t)!i9

45.09

39.76

53.7

10.59

53G.26

470. ()9

.674

48.26
41.648

39.72
40.52

52.7
72.5

498.46
480.90

486.86

.7(16

9.35"

379^80

.701

42.60

40.0(1

55.7

8.82

471.52

404.16

.713

40 .'JS

38.19

35.0

10.44

559.02

390.25

.676

47.845

40.216

57.5

8.04

416.07

250,40

.611

6.3.565

44.32

54.0

9,99

494.39

476.96

.676

45.98

42.26

45.0

10.(i4

544.19

460.22

.614

62.7

42,02

62.0

7.75

401.34

347.44

.658

51.85

4226

62.

8.34

424.0

406 41

.625

59.984

4.' 98

85.7

7 10

352.58

355.18

.657

52 17

43,36

88.2

7.86

398.29

370.08

.6!»4

4;j.78

41.02

64.

8.67

460.82

435.77

.699

42.92

40.72

63.

7.69

415,80

464,98

.674

48.35

40.13

69.7

7.91

401.45

380.40

.673

48.55

42.67

65.7

7.66

383.25

397.78

,68

47.02

41.14

55.0

8.98

463.86

487.19

.<»«

58.55

35.66

74.

10.49

618.58

473.18

.948

5.45

34.41

9.74

580.51

418.89

.918

8.91

34.30

8.65

557.0

549.11

.955

4.49

32 44

10 60

715.35

457.84

With regard to the selection of the coals for trial, we have
to refer to Mr. VVilson'.s letter inserted in the Appendix. This
letter gives the inlbrniatibn obtained in a tour made by Pro-
fe-ssor Wilson for the purpose of ascertaining the best coals
fitted for trial in the South Wales coal district, and the ports
from which they can < vcniently be shipped. This district
6

ill!

was selected because the varying character of the coals, I'rom

the hit

jlFeii

tummous
most likely to comhine the <iualitieN desired for naval purpo-
ses. It was intended, as heinj,' most convenient for (he in-
quiry, to have adhered strictly to districts. In the experiments
this has hitherto been done, except in special cases, at the re-
quest of the Admiralty.

The preceding Table (Table II., pajjes 70-71) contains an
abstract of the results, so far as re<,^nrds the evaporative value
of the fuel; the special characters of « ach of the coals beint'
described in the experiments detailed in the Appendix. "^

This Table relates only to the economical valueof the coals
exammed, and to the steam generated by a unit of the res-
pective coals, without however implying a unit of time;. The
detadswith reference to time, whicli Ibrms a most imj)orfanl
element m the value of the respective fuels, will be found in
feection II.

The economical results obtained by evaporation in thel)est
applied practice are ascertained to'be only a small j)art of
the theoretical result following iVom the actual quantity of
heat capable of being generated. Si ill, as a comparative
statement, it is necessary to contrast the economical heat
given out by a coal with the theoretical quantily. Thecause
of the difference between the appli-J and theoretical (juanti-
ties IS, at least in a great degree, obvious, and does no! by I he
apparent ditlerence prove the fallacy of calculation. Before
the comparison can be made, it is necessary to have a know-
ledge of the composition of the respect ive' coals, of this we
subjoin a Table reduced from 8eel ion IV. (8ee pages 72-78.)
Chemists differ as to the mode of calculating the I heoret icj'il
heating values of coals, but, as an approximalive rule, with-
out insisting on its absolute accuracy, (heir caloritic valu«>s
are found to stand in relation to (he \juantity of oxygen re-
quired for their complet e combustion. This may be esriinat e<J
experimentally by heating the coal wifh an excess of litharge,
or it may be determined by calculation from the known
equivalents of the combustible ingredients of the coal. From
the quantily of lead reduced by the coal, the oxygen employed
in its combustion may be estimated, and the calorific values
stand m direct relation to this quantity. The amount of oxy-
gen necessary to consume tbe combustible constituents may
more accurately be determined by elementary analysis; anJi
thus calculated, the results are generally found to "be about
i greater than those indicated by experiment with the litharge.
The calculation from the elementary analysis depends upon

IJLL

the circumstance, that parts, or one equivalent, of carbon
requires 10 part«, or two ccjuivalents, of oxygen for combus-
tion, while 1 part of hydrogen re<juires ft parts of oxygen ; it
is only necessary, therrf(»re, to suhfract from the hydrogen a
quandty eonesponding to the oxygen contained in tlie coal
to enable the calculation to be made on these principles.

As the calorific values are only relative, it is useful to refer
them to the heating power of pure carbon, 1 part of which
recjuires ti.om parts of oxgen ibr combustion, and is capable,
according to Desp.efz, of heating 78.15 parts of water from
Its freezing to its boiling point. The calculation may be sim-
plified hy multiplying each part of lead obtained bv ii.iJfla,
whicli gives at once the weight of water capable o*f being
heated between these temperatures by a unit of the coal used
in reducing the litharge. On these principles the following
Tabic is eons' ructed.—(.SVr Table IV., pages 7(J-77.)

With regard to the practical applieation of fuel, such a
Table could not supersede experiment, as the economical
values of ihe coal depend also on adventitious circumstance.*
cotinected with their physical as well as their cliemieal con-
dition. This Table, while on the whole it agrees with and
confirms the practical results of experiments, still differs in a
marked degree in one or two instances: this difference arising
as much from the chemical as from the phvsical differences
of the coals. Thus, if by destructive distillation, which oc-
curs in furnaces before combustion, a large quantity of the
constituents of the coal are rendered gaseous, so much heat
is expended in this act that the heat developed by their after
combustion is frequently not greater than that abstracted
during their formation, in which ease a thermo-neutrality oc-
curs. To ascertain th«i proportion of fixed and volatile pro-
due's in the various coals, the very difficult and elaborate
process drscribed in Section IV., page 55, was adopted; but
the tediousness and chances of failure in this kind of analysis
have only induced us to include a limited number of coals
(those given in Table V.,) especially as for s'eam purposes it
was sufficient to determine the per centage of coke, as stated
in Table 11.

It has been for some time asserted, that the evaporative
value of a bituminous coal is expressed by the evaporative
value of its coke, the heat of combustion of its volatile pro-
ducts proving in practice little more than that necessary to
\-olatilise them. If this supposition were even near the truth,
the most useful practical results might follow from i*. By a
larger and better applied system of gas manufacture, the vola-
tile products of distillation might be made useful not only ft-r

nt"

T^nr-E III. — Showing the Mean Compo

Loealitf ot nnnc ti Coal

Wel«h
Cuala.

Forei
Coals,

Patent
Fueh

Scotch
Coala.

English
Coals.

'gn J

' 1

'Oraigola
Anthracite
Oltlcastle Fiery Vein
Ward's Fiery V«in

Binea Coa]

Llnngenneck

Pentrepoth

Ferrtrefeiin

Dull'ryn

Mynydd Newydd

Three- (],uarter Rock Vein

Cwm Frood Rock Vein

Cwm Nanty-gros

Reaolveii

PontyPool

Bedwas
Ebbw Vale

Porthinawr Rock Vein
LCoIeshili

'Dalkeith Jewel Seam..

Dalkeith Coronation Seam,

Walsend Elgin

FoTdel Splint.
.Grangemouth.

BroomhiU

Park End, Lydney

Slievardagh (Irish)

Formosa Island

Borneo (Labuan kind),
" 3 feet seam
" 11 feet seam

Wylam'a Patent Fuel

Bell's

Warlich

the purposes of illuminalion, hut also for domestic heat, and
the residual coke might be used with an equal economy in our
manufactures*; thus prevcnling the emission of that smoke,

•In this case it would be necessary not to carry on the process of distillation ^fiir
as at present, as the residual coke would be mor* combusliWe and !he gases p«?«r.

%mpo

aition of average samples of the Coals.

and
tiour

loke,

I so fur

pure?-

1*-

3.84

0.41

0.45

7.19

324

855

3.46

0.21

0.79

2.58

l..'>3

929

4.8!)

1.31

0.09

33i»

3 64

79.8

3.93

2.03

0.63

Included in
ash.

7.M

4.63

1.43

033

1.03

396

88.10

4.2U

1.07

0.29

3.43

6.54

83.69

450

0.18

3.24

3.36

82.5

3.73

Trace.

'o.Vs

4.55

609

85.0

4.C6

1.15

1.77

0.60

3.26

84.3

5.76

1.56

1.21

353

324

74.8

4t»3

1.07

2.83

5.04

10.96

62.5

fi.84

1.11

1.23

3.58

6.00

68.8

A.59

1.86

3.01

3.5H

5.60

65.6

4.75

1.38

5.07

Included in
ash.

9.41

83.9

1.35

2.39

4.38

5.59

64.8

6.01

1.44

3.50

1.50

C.94

71.7

5. IS

2.16

1.03

039

1.50

77.5

4.79

1.28

3.m

14.72

63.1

S.14

1.47

8.34

8.29

8.93

56.0

5.14

0.10

0.33

1551

4 37

49.8

520

Trace.

o.;j8

14.37

3.10

53.5

5.23

1.41

1.53

5.05

10.70

58.45

5i>0

1.13

1.46

8..13

4.00

52.03

5.Sd

1.35

1.43

8.58

3.53

56.6

6.17

1.84

2.85

4.37

3.07

59.2

S.C9

3.04

2.37

6.43

10.00

57.8

S.30

0.33

6.76

Included in
ash.

10.80

90.1

5.70

0.01
0.80

0.»8
0.67

0.49
1.45
1.14
1.17

10.95
20.75
24.23
19.19

3.96

7.74

14.32

3.23

474

5.03

5.41

5.69

1.68

1.95

6.63

4.84

65.8

5.22

0.71

042

4.96

71.8

556

Trace.

1.63

Included in
ash.

2.91

85.1

which, at present, is so destructive to the comfort of our large
citie.s. It is easy I'ronni analysis to examine whether the duty
performed by the coal is to be attributed to its fixed ingredi-
ents or coke, by estimating the work which the latter is capa-

■I ■

MtLn

IV. — Showing

the

Name of Coal.

Welsh

Conls.

'Grnigola

Anthrncite (Jonea and Aubrey).

Oldcnstle Fiery Vein

Ward's Fitry Vein !"..'.'."

Hinca Coal ".....!.!.

Llangenneck

IVntrepoth ,*

I'entrefelin '^^

Powel's DufTryn !.!!!!!!!!.

Mynydd Newydd ."...*.',"

Tliree-quarter Rock Vein .!!

Cwin Freed Rock Vein '.

Cwm Nanty-Groa

Resolven

Pontypool "

Hedwaa

El)l)w Vale .....'.'...".".*.'...'.'.",*.!,

rorthniawr Rock Vein....'!.....'."
Coleshill

Scotch

"Dalkeith .Tewel Seam

" Coronation Seam.

Coals. J Elgin Wnllsend

rordel Splint

.Giangemouth

Broomhill (English).,.
Slievardagh (Irish)

Patent ( Wylam's Patent Fuel.

Fuels. iS^"t-,. " •

( Warlich's "

~3 t)

n s

.i * —

•5 S •

a a ^

C9 -3 »-

a D 2

3t\08
33,48
31.49
3l.4(j
3l.()4
32.66
31.16
30.52
3().(J0

3().:u

26.152
28.30
yii.64
32.16
27.46
28.20
32.00
24.78
26.14

26.42
2456
29.06
29.00

28.48

,32

30.10

28.82
28.52
31.50

2 - o
g.S o

2.4i)
2.60
2.44
2.44
2.46
2..'-)3
2.:t9
237
2.33
2.35
2.06
2.19
2.28
2.50
2.13
2.19
2.48
1.92
2.03

2.05
1.96
2.25
2.25
2.20

1.96

2.33

2.23
2.21
2.44

blc of performing. This mny be done by sul)tractin<r the
amount oi ashes in tlie cool from its amount of coke (Table
m.) and e.stimating the remainder as carbon. Tliis carbon
muitip bed by Its heating power, 13208, and divided by 9(55.7
or the latent heat of steam, indicates the number of 'pound-s
ol water which the coke ])y itself could evaporate, without
nie aid ol the combuslible volatile ingredients of the coal.
Ihese results are placed in column 13. of Table VI., in juxta-
position with the actual work done bv the coal, and it will be

V.ahi, ,,("(' Values of 'he Coals.

Quantityof Ox
gen iheorel
cally required
by Carbon and
Hydrogen.

Quantityof Oxy-
gen required by
Carbon alone.

2.4!)

2.26

y.(iy

243

a. 71

2.34

a.(;5

2.34

iJ.72

2.36

a.5!>

2,28

a.G!)

2.36

y.5;j

2.28

2.71

2.35

2.fi7

2.2

2.34

2.(10

2.(12

2.1!»

2.47

9.(18

2.4!»

2.1)

a..-)-)

2.15

2.(;()

2.15

9.1^0

2.39

2 33

i.oa

2.28

1.96

2.24

1.98

2.32

2(15

2 38

2.02

247

2.12

2.4C

2!l3

2.G3

2.18

2 31

2.13

2r)2

2.13

2.7.-)

2.34

2.84

2.40

« - c -= s

Ji «a i — ^i:

93.4
97.5
91.5
91.5
92.2
94.9
89.6
89.2
87.7
88.5
77.2
82.5
85.5
93.7
80.2
82.1
93.0
72.0
7G.1

76.8
73.5

84.7

84.7
82.8

73.5

87.7

84.0
83.2
91.5

* '^ %! -« ..C li
3 u, (0 C"

CO (71 .S
S) CJ — 3

72.66
75.73
71.16
71.25
71.66
73.97
70.57
69.13
67 95
68.72
60.29
64.10
67.13
72.84
62.19
63.87
72.48
56.12
59.21

59.84
55.63
65.82
65.68
64.51

57.35

70.44

C5.27
64.59
71.35

^'i

■m

seen, that notwithstandinfr several striking: exceptions, which
might liav(; ])een expected, tliey on the whoU' show tliat the
work ca])ahle of beinji; peribrmed by the coke alone, is ac-
tually greater than that obtained by experiments with the
original coal.

The whole system of mnniifacturing coke is at present
very imperi'ect. Besides losing the volatile combustible
substances, which under new adjustments might be made of
much value, an immense (quantity of ammonia is lost b}- being

ill

Table Y. — Showing the Amount of Vnrimts Substances

Name.

Welsh
Coals.

' Grnigoln

Anthracite, from Jones, Aubrey & Co.

Old Castle Fiery Vein

Ward's Fiery Vein

Binea

Uangenneck

93.9

79.8

88,10
&.3.G9

None.
5.8G
1.80
2 08
1.22

thrown into the atmosphere. Ammonia and it.s sahs are daily
becon^ing more valuable to njrncultnre, and it is their com-
parative high price alone, which j)revent.-< their nniver.snl nse
to all kind.s of cereal cultivation. By a construction of" the
most simple kind, the coke ovens now in use might be made
to economise much of the nitrogen which invai-iably escapes
in the form of ammonia. As an inducement to this economy
\ve have appended to Table VI. two eolimms (H. and I.',)
showmg the quantity of ammonia (N 11.^,) and its corresiiond-
ing quantity of commercial sulphate (\ IT, O, S 0„) which
each 100 Ib.s. of the respective coals may be made toproduce.
*. aen It is remembered, that the price of sulphate of ammo-
nia Ls abou^ £\S per ton, or that 100 tons in coking is capa-
ble of producing, on an average, about tons of this salt, its
neglect is highly ^-eprehensible.

By the preceding data, the actual value of the coals will
be contrasted with that which is theoretically i)ossible. sup-
posing their combustion proceed(>d inider circumstances which
prevented any loss of heat. The actual duty obtained by a
pound of coal from the boiler enrploved may be easily 'ex-
pressed by the number of pounds raised to the height o) one
foot. This result may readily be olitained by the simple for-
mula — *

W ^ X 005.7 X 7H2 = X,
W repre.senting water, of which '/ pounds are evaporated bv
a pouaJ of coal. This formula is deduced from the fact that
V pounds of water multiplied by 905.7,^ or the co-ellicient jbr

•The co-efficient for the Intent heat of steam at 212° is g-^nerally taken at 1000*
but the above numler is from the recent exiieriments of Reanauk on this subiect*
«s giveu in Table '. ■' *

81
prodnc d by the destructive Distillation of certain Coals.

-6

a 1

g: o

St —

«•§

e
o

-trj c

Sulph
gen

Olefia
and
Carb

Other
infla

3.1

0.17

2.79

Traces.

0.2.3

7.01

9,87

020

0.06

3.93

3.39

0.35

0.44

0.12

0.27

9.77

3.01

0.24

1.80

0.21

3.58

0.08

1.68

0.09

0.31

4.08

4.07

0.08

3.21

0.02

0.43

7.28

the latent heat of steam at 212^, indicates the number of
pounds of water which would be raised 1° Fah.; and the
number 7H2 arises from experiment on the mechanical force
denoted by the elevation of a pound of water 1^ Fah.; that
force bein<? equal to 782 lbs., raised to the height of one foot,
according to the careful experiments of Mr. Joule, on the
friction of oil, water, and mercury.

The theoretical value of the coals, with reference to the
number of pounds of water which one pound of fuel will
convert into steam, is obtained by the formula —

/C X l.S208\ / H— A X ()2470 \ _
V 005.7 y ■*" \ 9(55.7 J ~^

in which C is the quantity of carbon, II the quantity of hy-
drogen in a unit ot' fuel, and h the quantity of hydrogen cor-
responding to the oxygen contained in the coal. These mul-
tiplied by their heating powers, according to the results of
Dulong, and divided by the latent heat of .steam, indicate the
number of pounds of water that can be converted into the
latter by a pound of coal. The numbers thus obtained can
be changed into the expression of mechanical force, by the
previous formula".

The results of these calculations are thrown into Table
VI.-_(5:re i)ages 80-81.)

The best Corni.sh engines are .stated to raise 1,000,000 lbs,
to the height of one foot, by every pound of coal consumed ;
so that only about | of the actual force generated becomes
available, or only ^y or tV of the force theoretically possible,
is api)lied in practice. The various experiments made on
boiler.s, wath regard to the evaporative power of coal, have
not given very uniform results. Smeaton, in 1772, with one

Tadle Yl—Shoidn^ the Actual Duty, and thut

Nome or Locality of coal.

Graigoln

Anthracite, (Jonef, Aubrey, & Co'}

Oldcastle Fiery Vein

Ward's Fiery Vein

Binea

Llangenneck

Pentrepotli

Pentrefeiin ***

Powell's DufTryn .'.."

Mynydd Newydd

Tliree-quarter Rock Vein

Cwm Frood Rock Vein

Cwm Nanty Gros ',.

Resolven

Pontypool ]'

Bed was

Ebbw Vale .*,

Porthmnwr Rock Vein "

Coleshill

Dalkeith Jewel Seam

Dalkeith Coronation

Wallsend Elgin ..\

Fordel Splint [[[',

Grangemouth

Broomhill

Park End, Lydney

Slievardagh (Irish)

ForBJosn Island

Borneo (Labuan kind) .',.'.

" 3 feet seam

" U «

Wylam's Patent Fuel ^,.,

Warlich's "

Bell's

Practical.

9.52

8,!»2

io.;i()

S.5J

o a

■ ^ o

11.500

1(1591)

10.873

10.841

11.134

y.831

7.081

8.fi28

8.2J3

10.234

8.144

8897

10.441

() G47

C.4(i8

«.23!)

6.924

6.5G0

C.5(iO

7.292

7.711

G.507

10.895

8.378

11.292

9.1G8

II- -

Theoreti-
cal.

ii.(i(;o

12 5fi3
12.04(1
12.072
12.181
11.741
12.189
11.749
12.12(5
11.4G3
10.325
11.300
10.707
10,899
11.088
11.075
12.335
10.263
10.1.45
10.242
10.570
10.454
10.933
10.970
11.225
10.101
10.995
10.752
8.864
7.461
9.652
11.186
12.368
12.074

h* m ti

t; Id —

O 2 4*
K .S 9

£ c ** *'"

Theoreti-
cal,

1.903

2.(J3(»

2.890

2.543

2.912

2.519

2.649

2.038

2.966

3.441

2.781

3.488

3.165

3.072

3.207

3.766

3. ,300

2 548

2.654

2.071

2.202

2.968

2^884

2.722

3.638

3.156

1.487

2.801

1.388

1.295

1.948

3.145

3..')96

3.343

pound of Newcasllo coal, evaporated 7.88 ll)s. of water fi-om
212^; Watt, in 1788, came to the conclu.sion that 1,G2 ll).><. of
water nii<>:ht be evaporated by the .^nme (jiiaiititvof coal ; and
later (m 1840,) Wicksteed found ihrit 1 lb. of M.Tthvr coal

which is thcoreticttlly possiblCfOf the Coals examined.

iTota! number of lbs. of
Water convertible into
Steam by 1 lb. of Coal.

Actua! force generated,
or the number of lbs.
which 1 lb. of the Coat
could raise to the
heiglit of I foot.

Force capable of being
generated, or number
of lbs. which could be
raised to the height of
1 foot by! lb. of Coal.

Amount of AinmonJa corres-
ponding to the .Nitrogen con-
tained in Coal.

t of Sulphate of Am-
correBponding to the
en contained in Coa).

Theoretical.

Colcutated front
heat obtained.

Theoretical.

i3.r)(].i

7.000.908

10.242.471

0.497

J 332

14.593

7.143.978

11.020.303

0.225

0.990

14.y3<5

6.751.285

11.279.329

1.590

6.175

14.(114

7.098.007

11.036.102

1.238

4.808

1. '5.093

7.500.4(;3

11.397.893

1.586

6.741

14.2(i(»

«;.0!)0871

10.768.829

1.299

5.044

14.b38

«.585.14«

11.205.322

0.218

0.848

13.787

4.802.928
7.<!04.295-

10.411.630
11.397.137

Trace.
1.76

15.093

6 835

14.904

7.189.288

11.255.103

J. 808

7.340

13.100

6.075.708

9.897.355

1.299

5.044

14.788

(5.570.043

11.1G7.563

1.347

S.232

13.932

6.358.593

10.521.13!

1.919

7.448

13.971

7.190 840

10.550,5^3

1.G7S

€.505

14.29'»

5.041.175

10.795.200

1.639

6.364

14.841

7.393. 18G

11.207.587

1.748

6.788

ir).fi:j5

7.710.301

11.025.198

2.022

10.182

12.811

5.080.485

9.074.577

1.554

6.033

12.799

6.041.419

9.005. 515

1.785

6.930

12.313

5.34G.G55

9.298.499

1.214

0.471

12.772

5.822.417

9.045.125

Trace.

13.422

6.388.800

10.135.99)

1.712

6.647

13817

5.709.141

10.434.286

1.372

5.327

il3.fi92

5.588.312

10.339.888

1.639

6.364

14.803

5.512.795

11.224.201

9 234

8.674

13.257

6.434.111

10.011.386

1.4T7

0.617

12.482

7.438.497

9.426.124

0.2'.:;

1.084

13.553

10.234.919

7.742.078

0.777

0.9 V 7

3 017

10.252

3.771

8.750

6.612.333

1.13ii

4.620

11.000

• * •*. .

8.7^0.057

0.813

3.158

.4.331

6.730.182

10.822.4! 7

2 040

7.920

15.904

7.823.037
6.44 1. 6G3

12.055.652
11.642.569

Trace.
0.983

15.417

3.818

could be mado to tnaporafe '>.40'l lb of water from 80=*,
which is ('(ina! to 10.710 lbs. from Sia^, In .s.' me experi-
menis madi; on the boiler of tlic Loam'^ • i;,nne, at thr United
Mipps in Cornwu'.l, each pound of coal vvcm found, by a trial

of six months, to evaporate U).19 lbs. of wafer from 212%
this being the reduction of the result given, viz., that 231,210
cubic feet of water at 102° were evaporated bv 700 tons of
coal. Statements have indeed been made that 14 lbs. of wa-
ter have been evaporated by 1 lb. of coal burn, d in Cornish
boilers ; but as this is the utmost quantity thporctically pos.
sible, it is dilRcult to conceive that it has been realized in
practice, even in the best-constructed steam-engines.

To ascertain how far our boiler was inferior to Cornish
boilers, as principally from its small size and less efficient
coatmg it was likely to prove, we requested Mr. Phillips to
make some experiments on one of the best engines in Corn-
wall, the results of which are given in the Appendix, Section
II. It was found by these experiments, thnt 11.42 lbs. of wa-
ter were evaporated by every pound of Welsh coal corres-
ponding in composition to that of xAIynydd Newydd; or, in other
words, that improved Cornish boilers on a large scale may be
assumed to have a superiority of nearlv 20 per cent, over that
used in these experiments. As the results stated in this Re-
port are only relative, the comparison is not aftected by this
dinerenee.

We have anxiously looked to the application of these ex-
periments to the dili'erent varieties of patent fuel, but we have
not been able to carry out our observations in this direction
to the extent we could have desired, from our inability to
procure patent fuels in sufficient numl)er, although our appH-
cations to the patentees have been immerous. Three varie-
ties have been already examined, viz., those manufactured
under the patents of Messrs. Wylam, Warlich, and Bell, and
the results are given in the Tables. The varieties of patent
fuel are generally made up in the shape of bricks, and are
therefore well adapted for stowage; so that, though the
specific gravity of patent fuels is lower than that of ordinary
coals, from their shape and mechanical structure, there are
very few coals which could be stowed in a smaller space per
ton. While we look to the diffi^rent varieties of paient fuel
as of the highest importance, and, from their facility of stow-
age, as being peculiarly adapted for naval purposes, and per-
haps even destined to supersede ordinary coal, at the .same
time, the greater part do not appear to be manuiactured with
a proper regard to the conditions required for war steamers.
It is usual to mix bituminous or tarry matter with bituminou.s
coal, and from this compound to make the fuel. An assimi-
lation to the best steam coals would indicate, hov/ever, the
very reverse process,, and point to the mixture of a more an-

thracitic coal with the bituminous cement. As the greater
part Is at present made, il is almost impi.ssihle to prevent the
emission of dense opa(|ue smoke, a circumstance extremely
inconvenient to ships of war, as hetrayinj;; their position at a
distance at times when it is desirable to conceal it. Hesides
this and other inconveniencies, the verv bituminous varieties
are not well suited to hot climates, and are as liable to spo»
taneous eombustion as certain kinds of coal. To avoid th. c
inconveniences, some kinds of palent fuels have been sl ' •
jectcd to a sort of eokinjr, and thus, in a great measure, oi,
tain the desired conditions. There is little doubt, however,
that notwithstanding the large number of patents in opera-
lion for the manufacture of fuel, its value for the purposes of
war steamers might be much enhanced by its preparation
being specially directed to this object. It will be seen, by re-
ference to Table II., that ihe three patent fu(>ls examined rank
among the highest results obtained. Should it be desirable to
cotitinue this in([uirj-, we conceive that it would be advanta-
geous to pay especial attention to this subject, by experiment-
ing upon proper mistures of dill'erent coals. Kven anthracite
may l)e introduced into such mixtures with advantage.

It is of much importance in an economical impiiry on coals,
to obtain exact information as to the ellects likely to be

{)roduccd U|)on them by stowage, and continued exposure to
jigh temperature, not only as rej2:ards their deterioration, but
also as to the emission of dangerous gases by their progres-
sive ehansjes.

The retention of coal in lion bunkei*s, if these are likely tr
he Intliuneed by moisture, and •■specially when by any acci-
dent wetted with sea Water, will cause a speedy corrosion of
the iron, with a rapidity proportionate to its more or lesseifi-
eient protei.'tion from corroilinj; inlluenees. This corrosion
weems due to the action of carbon or coal forming with he
iron a voltaic eoujde, and thus promotinjr oxidation. ThcJ c-
I'lon is similar to that of the tubercular concretions which ap-

fjear on the inside of iron water-pipes, when a piece of ear-
)on, nor chemically combined with the metal, and in contact
with saline waters, produces a speedy corrosion. Where the
*• make" of iron shows it to be liabU? to be thus corroded, a
mechanical protection is generally found sullicient. This is
Kometimes given by Koman cement, by a lining of wood, or
by .a dryiiig oil driven 'inUt the pores of the iron utuler great
pressure.

Ileecnt researches on tlie jrases evolved from coal, prove that
carbotilo aeitl and nitrogen are constantly mixed with the in-

flammable portion, shoAvinj? that the coal must Ktiil he uniting
with the oxygen ol" the atmo.sj)here, and entering into further
deeay.

Decay is merely a combustion proceeding without flame,
and is ahvaysi attended with the production of heat. The gas
evolved durinj; the progress of decay, in free air, consists prin-
cipally of carbonic acid, a gas very injurious to animal life.
It is well known thnt this chnnge in coal proceeds more
rapidly at an elevatr'd temperature, and therefore is liable to
take place in hot climates. Dryness is unfavorable to the
change, while moisture causes it to proceed with rapidity.

When sulj)hur or iron pyrites (a compound of sulphur and
iron) is present in considerable (p^autity in a coal still chang-
ing under the action of the atmosphere, a second powerful
heating cnuse is introduced, and both acting togetla^r, may
produce wliat is termed s/)oiif(/nf'oiis vonihustum, ']'he latter
cause is itself sufificient, if there be an unusual proportion of
sulphur or iron pyrites present.

The best method of ])revention, in all such cases, is to en-
BUre perfect dryness in the coals when they are stowed away,
and to select a variety of fuel not liable to the progressive de-
composition to which allusion has been made. This is, h(»w-
ever, ;i subject of so much import.'ince to the steam navy, that
it continues to receive our careful attention ; .and, beyond
these general recommendations, it would be premature to of-
fer any decided course for adoj)tion, from the present limited
series of observations.

Several varieties of coal were transmitted from Formosa
and from Borneo, tor analysis, the resnlis of which are con-
tained in the nceompnnying table. The quantity of each
kind was so small, that no experiments could be made on their
evaporative value. Wo extract from the preceding table the
following results : —

Nome.

I i

a
O

e
o

I c

4«

6fl

Formosa rsland 76.20. 5.70

Borneo, Labuan kind 64 ."52 ' 4.74

" Sfeeteeam 54.31 | 5.03

" 11 feet seam 70.33 5.41

, 0.64

1
0.49

0.80

1.45

0.98

1.14

0.«7

1.17

10.95
20.75
24.22
11>.1S)

396

7.74

14.32

3.23

^5-

1.94

las

137
1.31

It may he desinahle to sum up, in a few wonis, some of the
principal points alluded to in the previous parts of this Uepurt.

cTcs

1.94

1.28

137

1.31

It has been sho a that the true practical value of coals (or
steam purposes (Spends upon a coiubination of ipialitit'S which
could only h« clicite<l hv carefully and properly continued ex-
periments. Their qualities, so far as regards steam-ships of
war, mav be stated as follows :

1. The fuel should hum so that steam may he raised in a
short [)eriod, if this he desired : iti other words, it should
be able to produce a cjuick action.

8. It should possess high cvaj)orative power, that is, he ca-
pable of converting much water into steam, with a
small consumption of coal.

3. It should not be bituminous, lest so mUch smoke be

generated ns to betray the position of ships of war
when it is desirable that this should be concealed.

4. It should possess considerable cohesion of its particles,

so that it may not be broken into too small fragments
by the constant attrition which it may experience in
the vessel.

5. It should combine a considerable density with such me-

chanical structure that it may easily be stowed away
in small space ; a condition which, in coals of equal
evaporative values, often involves a dillerenceof more
than W per cent.
0. It should be free frtjm any considerable jjuantity of sul-
phur, and should not progressively <lecay, both of which
circumstances render it liable to spontaneous combus-
tion.

It never happens that all these conditions are united in one
coal. To take an instance, anthracite has very high evapo-
rative power, but not being trasily ignited, is not suited for
quick action; it has great cohesion in its particles, and is not
easily broken up by attrition, but it is not a caking coal, and
therefore would not cohere in the furnace when the ship rolled
in a gale of wind ; it emits no smoke, but from the intensity
of its ctMnbustion causes the iron of the bars and boilers to
oxidate or waste away rapidly. Thus, then, with some pre-
eminent advantages, it has disadvantages which, under ordi-
nary circumstances, preclude its use. The conditions above
alluded to may, however, often be united in fuels artificially
prepared from coals possessing these various qualities, some-
wh;tt in the manner of what are usually termed "patent
fuel!*," and we Have recommended that experiments should be
made with this object, especially directed to the wants of the
>»:eani navy. Whilst we look with this view to artificial fuel

as Iteing of special Importance, it was cpiitc liccessJiry to ob-
tain a knowledge of coals in diflVrcnt ilistricts, and, 'for this
purpose, AVales was first selected for cxaminnfion, as produc*
in^' coals of all kind.s, varying from bituminous to nniliraritc.

While the experiments devised toobtain luiormiition on the
various points alluded to have been conducted with all pr«»-
pcr precaution, in order that constant tymi/ntrative results
mi^dit be proeured, they have not been overburdened with
Kcientiilc corrections, which might have been necessary tool),
tain absolute truth, but would have introduced an alleciation
of aeeuraey where pructieal results only were required ; to
the latter, thorelbre, this Report has !)een prinei])ally conlined.
The K*>port has been so divid«'d as to bring the results log«"fher
without complicating them with the details of the properties
peculiar to each coal, information on whieh is of the highest
value. Hence, in Table IJ., the practical r»'sults of the expe-
riments are brought tog«'ther, while th<^ e«|ually praelieal in-
formation regarding each eoal, its h)eal po.-.itioti', the p«Mt from
whence it is shipped, its price, its peculiar charaef eristics in
burning, the greater or less ipiajitity of smoke and of ashes
which it produ<-es, the description of the coal, its geologieal
position, and other similar points of imporlanee in practice,
are detailed for eaeh eonl in Section II. of the Appendix.

'I he composition and speciiie gravities of the eoals. and the
quantity of coke whieh lliey produce, are given \n Table III.,
not only as a means Cor their future identilieation, hut also as
a standard of quality, with rel.-ition to whieh i)arti«'ular kinds
may be purchased. The amount of sulphur, as given in this
table, is of considerable importance in d«'te?mining the value
of the coal ff>r naval purjjoses, as a means of avoiding the
risk of spontaneous combusti<m.

The heating values of the eoal are given in Table IV., as
a simpler and more ready method of idtmtitieation, enabling
tbe purchaser to insure the sample of the coal of a certain
heating value.

Table V. shows how the inquiry might easily be extended
to other branches of national industry, especially to gas manu-
factures, but is only adduced as an example of its applica-
bility for such purposes.

Tahle VI. is principally for the purpose of showing that the
actual duty obtained hy the condnistion of coal in the best aj»-
plied practice is only a smnll part of that which the fuel is
capable of pr<idueing, and is brought forward as an induce-
ment to improvement in the construction of the furnaces and
boilers en)ployed for tbe production of steam. Attention in

.i^._-

nl?i-» drawn in fliis tnl)lc to tlic great loss vlucli ngrlculdirc
sndrrs l)y tlio waste ol' amuuMiia always producod in the
coldiii; of coal, .'tnd whicli miglit Ui ix prcat extent be ocono-
mi.H'd hy very .sinij)Iu ndjusinicufs to tlic ovens used in cok-
ing. TJic tM.ronoiny and c()nsc(jucnt. reduction of price in llio
annnoiiiacnl sails, by i)n'vcnfing this great loss in a material
so well fitted to aid incnvnsed produetiuu in land, would be a
jjrent boon to a<;rieul(ure. Nu^geslions Ijmvo also been
thrown out ris to the more ccononiieal application of fuel for
domestic and for mniuifaotin-ini,' purj)o.sc.s.

in cone.iudinf^ tliis First Report, wc cnnnot refrain from
drawinj^ attention to tlie kind manner in whiehwc have been
assisted by various public find private institutions and com-
panies, without whose aid the expenses of the inipiiry woidd
have been materially increasefl.

The College, for Civil Etigiueers, at Putney, afforded us,
gratuitously, ground upon whirdi to ereet tho'boilers, and a
house and yard for the stowage of the coals. The, laboratory
and workshops of the eollege were also plaecd at the dispo-
sal of the investigation, and have constantly be«>n used. The
I'rinoipal of the College, the jlt.'v. Mr. Cowie, on all oeca-
jsions, allbrdcd h\n valual)le aid in the pruseculion of the ex-
periments.

The owners of the collieries, from which the coals were ob-
tained, furnished them free of expense; and the Great Wes-
tern IJailway Company, with an enlightened liberality, car-
ried those sent to liristol on their railway to London without
charge. To JNIr. George Uennie, the eminent engineer, the
inquiry is especially indebted. This gentleman not only lent
a tubular boiler, gratuitously, to enable the experiments to
be repeated on this kind of boiler, but he alsoollered his pre-
mises for the prosecution of the exi)eriments, which oiler was
nccept(Ml, until the larger space at the College for Civil Engi-
neers was placed at the disposal of the investigation.

Such ready and liberal co-operation of the public shows
their appreciation of the important practical results which
may be expected from these experiments. Seeing the present
ellective state of the boilers and other apparatus erected at
Putney, consctiuently, that the expenditure on this account
has been incurred, and that any further charges for continu-
ing these investigations would chieily consist of payments of
salaries to the persons employed as assistants, we would sug-
gest for consideration, that these experiments may])e extend-
ed to the coals of other districts than those the coals from
which have been examined, and that the needful expenditure

!!:ii

may be sanctioned for one or two years more. Should this
be deemed advisable, we should anticipate that a most im-
portant body of information would be accuuiulafed, alike
in»|)Oitant to the naval .service and the public at Ihv^q.
We have the honor to be, &(\,

II. T. Dr La IkcHE,
LvoN Plavkair,

REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING REPORT.

By moans of tlie above report on British coals, and his own
trials on American coals.the writer has been enabled to insti-
tute a series of comparisons, not only between the several
classes, but in some cases directly between individual .samples
having a similar constitution an*d ai)par(>ntly the same physi-
cal characters. The extent and other circumstances of the re-
searches may also be compared. The number of .samples of
fuel tested at Washington in 184.'J, was Jorti/fice; and the
time devoted to the whole investigation, one y<'ar and eight
months ; the number tj-ied at London was thir)ij-om\ and the
time employed two year.s and six months. Of tlie American,
eight were anthracites, ten were free burning, semi-bituminous
coals of Pennsylvania and Maryland; ten highly bituminous
coals of eastern Virginia; six similar bituminous coals of
England, Scotland, and Nova Scotia; tuQwv^xwn bituminous
coals; one, "natural coke'* of Virginia; two, artificial cokes;
two^ mixtures of anthracite and bituminou.s coal, and one- nine
wood.

Of the British series, two were anthracites, ten* were free
burning coals of Wales, eight highly bituminous coals of
Wales, (resembling those of eastern Virginia,) /mo, English,
and jive, Scotch coals of high bituminousness ; three were
patent fuels, and one wa.s wood, species not stated.

MANNER OP OBTAINING THE SAMPI.KS FOR TRIAL,

The coals for the British experiments were generally se-
lected by one of the assistants visiting the several mining dis-
tricts, and detei-mining which coals should be allowed to
enter into the competition. The American Samples were
mostly sent by the proprietors of mines under a general invi-
tation from the Navy Department.

• The Welsh free burning coals are the Graigola, Old Castle fiery vein.
Ward's fiery vein, Binea,Llangenneck, Duffryn, Mynydd-Newvdd, Reeotven, Bed-
was, and Ebbw-Vale.

I » '■:■. -

EVAPORATING APPARATUS.

The evaporating vossols used in tlic Amnrican and in the
British rosearchos were diliVreut in construction. In the former
case, the vessel was a cylindrioal boiler thirty feet in h'ii<;lh,
(the furnace being beneath the boih-r,) tinre and a-half feet
in diameter, having two interior return flues, each one foot in
diameter, and side Ihies exterior to the boiler, by means of
Wliieh the gases went completely roinid tiic boiler, after re-
turnit^g through tliC interior iiues, making tlie entire lengtli of
circuit for the products of combustion from the centre of the
prat«j under the boiler to their entrance into the eiiimney, 121
feet. The grate surface was Kij square feet, and the area of
heat-absorbing surface, 377^ S(piar(j f(>et, so that the ratio of
grate-surface to absoibing surface was as 1 to 23|. The
chimney was 03 feet high, witli a cross section of 32 4 square
inches.

Tiie British Commissioners used a boiler of the Cornish form,
twelve feet long and four feet in external diamet(>r, having
an interior tlue two feet in diameter, within which the fire
was built. Tlic products of combustion, having traversed this
fl«i% returned in a divided current through side flues exterior
to the boiler, and linally in a united current passed under the
boiler to the chinniey, making a circuit of .30 feet in length.
The Injat-absorbing surface was 197.0 S(iuare fce^t ; the area
of grate, .'i sjpiare feet, and tlio ratio of grate surface to ab-
sorbing surface, 1 to 39i^. The chimney was SCt^ feet high,
and had a cross section of 182|- square inches. The amount
of coal burned during the whole series of 144 trials at Wash-
ington was 62^ tons; that consumed in the 82 trials at Lon-
don, \vas 14^ tons; the average W(;ight of coal burnt at one
trial, in the former case being 978 pounds, and in the lat-
ter 391^ pounds.

The boiler of the London experiments was liable to one
serious inconvenience as an experimental apparatus: it con-
tained constantly water of very diflerent temperatures; that
lying beneath the level of the interior flue being bv several de-
grees lower than that above it, and at its sides, ^he average
difference between the bottom and surface temperature was
no less than 70 degrees. The bottom water remains at rest,
and realizes, in part, the old familiar class-experiment of boil-
ing water in the upper part of a glass tube by applying a
lamp near the top, while a lump of ice is kept confined at the
bottom. This character of their boiler complicated the calcu-
lations, and at length led to the application of an apparatus

'flf I

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET {MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

MM ^^" ■■ll

^ li& 12.2

u EM

i.4

1.6

Photograpliic

Scmces
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4S03

•1?

^^■*\, ^>^ WiriS

^^:vQ

S*'^.*".^'^

i i

for pumping from the bottom a quantity of water, and sending
it in spray, through several tubes, into the upper part of the
boiler, and also of niiing up tlie boiler through these multiple
jets passing into its upper part.

ECONOMIC WEIGHT OF COALS.

In both the ^Vmerican and the British trials the econo-
mic weight of all the samples tested was determined by
measuring, not in bnsliels, hut in cubic feet; and the relation
of the economic weight to the hpiM-ilit- gravity of the coal, as
found in the mine, was ascerlnined for eacli sample. This
determination enabled the experimenters to calculate the cu-
bic space required for the stowage of a gross ton of eaeh kind
of coal. In the American experiments this was ascertained
for the coals as received, and in the ordinary markeiable
eondilion as to the size of the himps. The British Coumiis-
sioners on the contrary produced an artltieial economie value
by breaking e^erv kind of coal up, before weighing, into
fragments so small that no piece weiglied njore than one
pound. This treatment caused nearly every sample !» exhibit
a higher" economic weight ihaii it would have done bad it
been weighed in the marketable state — that state in which it
is usually put on board of steam vessels.

In the American report (p. 183) it is .stated with respect to
New York and Maryland Mining Company*s coal, that "the
variation in llie weight of two cubic feet' was, according to
size of lumps, from 95,75 to 118/25 poumls. It will <'f)njmon!y
be observed that the greater weights are given when a eoa-
siderable porticm of fine coal is mixed wilh the lumps. 8ueh
will, in general, be found to be the eliect of giving the average
sizes to coal, instead of measuring and weighing it «'nrive!v
ill lumps." Numerous remarks to the fenme general ellee't
ofcu r in the tables o( daily observations. A single Jai-ge Uunp
in tli(! charge-box, covered on eveiy side by line coal, was
usually fovmd to give the greatest weight to'a charge.

ILu ing determined the weight of a cubic foot of coal by di-
rect experiment and also tlic weight of water whieii a pound
of each coal would convert into steam at 1^1 ij°, the writer had
computed and given in the report t(» the Navy Department,
(Senate document, 38(5, 28fh Congress, 1st session,) the weight
of water which one cubic foot of each coal would convert
into steam from 2 12", and had made this the basis of his lifth
table of ranks. (Report, p. 5U4.)

!).'}

By breaking up thoir coals to tiie degree of fineness above-
mentioned, and thereby giving them an artificial economic
weig!it,the Britisii Commissioners have obtained in nearly every
case, greater qtiantities of steam per cubic foot of eoa!, than
were given by aiialagous coals in the American trials. Thus
the free burning coals of Waler;, wliieh are analaguus to those
of Marylaml and Penasylvania, liave an average specific
gravity of 1,31, while their American congeners have 1.357,
or the latter arc 3.V per cent, heavier, in the mine, than the for-
mer; yet the twelve American free-buriiing coals, weighed in
the marketable state, exhibited 52.81 pounds per cubic foot,
a»ul the ten Welsh tVec-bui'tiinL; coals, treated as above, 51.45
pounds. Additi^' to this latter wriji^lit Sh per cent, for the
greater .specitic gravity of tlie Afucrican coals, we have 50.35
pounds as tlic weight of one cubic foot of them, if prepared
by breakirj<; up in the way above described. Tiie above
Weijiht oi 51.15 poutuls of British coals, |y;ive an avenige of
513 poutuls of steam, and the .5:;i.Sl pounds of Ameritan coal
gave 51(J.35 pouiuls of sle;im. At this rate 50.35 ptJiuids of
the same coal ^ave 5 1 t.*i pouTuis «)f steam, showing the econo-
mic values, bulk for bulk, of the two coals in that state to be
in fact i<lctitical.

}!y eoniparini; about twenty diflcrent samples <)f American
with the same nmnbcr of I'ritish coals haviiig correspomlhig
specific ^rnvitks, it is rendered apparent that by the treat-
ment to which the coals were subjected !>y the liritish Com-
missiorjcrs, (that is, by breaking ihem up so small tha^ no
piece should wei?j:h more than a pomid.) any given spa .; is
made to receive, on an average, 10^% per cent, more weight,
than when the same coals are measui'e<l iti their marketaldc
state ;ind without this nrtilieial pr(>paration.

The following tabular view is <lerivcd from data furnished
in part !>Y the report on American coals, page 55)1, and in
pafJ by tljat on jb-itish eoais. \\\\)ir. \'i — those nuuihers only
repn'sentitig irelght pet' cubic J'oof.^ being selected from the
tai)le of each report, wldeh brlonj^cd fo coals, to the specille
gravitii'S of wlii<'h corresponding speeilie sivivitics e«>uld be
found in the other table. Tljey embrace, however, nearly the
whole range of the specific gravities of coal :

_nsi

III

AXBBICAN COAU.

BamsB CoAU.

Number of samples
compared to give
the average weight
per cubic foot.

Average weig't, per
cubic foot, i'i the
marketable ttate.

Noinber of sample*
compared to give
the average weight
per cubic foot.

1.25
1.27
1.28
1.30
1.31
1.33
:.34
1.39
1.59

3
1
4
1

3
4
1
3
1

48.81
47. G5
47. .13
53 47
50,39
4D.2I
45.10
51.51
55.32

3
3
1
3
4
4
3
1
1

54.56
51.55
56. <H)
55.62
55.66
52.0.1

53 .10
62.e0

General averages

43. y3

55.38

These general averages are in the ratio of 100 to 110.9, as
above mentioned.

If, therefore, ibc weight of steam which was produced by
a cubic foot of each American coal, he increased by lO/^ per
cent., the weight tlms increased will correspond to what
would have been the weight of steam per cubic foot of the
coal had it received this factitious economic weight.

Unless the practice of steams<hips could be made to con-
form to the experimental operations of the British Com-
missioners, (which however they do not recommend «r even
propose,) it is difficult to perceive the practical utility of
reducing the coals in their experiments to the sizes indica-
ted above. The results given, would, in fact, mislead prac-
tice and deceive the shipper as to the evaporative power of
the coal which his bunkers would contain, unless he should
in every instance take the precaution to contract for the de-
livery of his coal in the state of subdivision prescribed to
themselves by Messrs. De la Beche and Playfair.

MOISTURE IN COALS.

It may be remarked that, though the British Commis.sionprs
determined the quantity of moisture in the coals upon Mhich
they experimented, they made no account of their results in
any of their computations of heating power. This we re-
gard as objectionable, where the moisture amounts to so great

a quantity as that given in some of the analyses. Thus* of the
two Dalkeith Scotch coals, that which came from the "Jewel
seam," contained 0.30 pep cent, of moisture, and evaporated only
7.08 pounds of water iroui the boiler per pound of coal ; while
the coal from the "Coronation seam," gave but 5.88 per cent,
of moisture and evaporated 7.71 pounds of water from the
boiler. In both cases this hygrometrie water replaced so much
coal when weighed out to the fireman, and for </i«f reason was
to be deducted from the weight, in order to get the actual
weight of coal burned. Be.sides this, as so much water was
thrown upon tlie grate to be evaporated, instead of being put
into the boiler for that purpose, for fhis reason also, it must be
regarded as having been deducted from the useful effect of
the fuel. Consequently, the weight of coal must, in each
case, be reduced by the per ccntage of its moisture, and the
weight of water delivered to the boiler, must be increased
by a like per centrige of the weight of coal burned, to get the
relative valuess of the two fuels m like states of dryness. If
we deduct the weight of ash in each of these two coals from
100, we g»>t the amhustihle mattf't\ incUulhg moisture/J5.G3 and
9t>.n0 ; and computing the steam for one pound of this combus-
tible matter, we get 7.40 and 7,9.'>, of which the difference is
0.55 pound or 7,1 per cent, of the smaller number. If, again, we
deduct the p«'r centage of moisture in each coal, from that of
the combustible^ we obtain 80.27 and 91.02 as the true rela-
tive quantities of dry combustible, in each variety, and add-
ing to the weight of water evaporated from the boiler by each
poun<l of the moist combustible, the weight of water which it
evaporated from the body of the coal itself, we obtain 7.17 and
7.7(i as the respective amounts evaporated per pound of moist
coal; .and as these quantities were evaporated by .80 and .91
of a pound of ifri/ combustible 7nattcr,v/c obtain as the evapora-
tive efHciency of one pound of such combustible 8.37 and 8.53,
OP the diflerence is reduced to sixteen lOOths of a pound of water
to each pound of combustible, which is two per cent, only, of the
smaller number. This diftenmce may probably be accounted
for by the diflerence in the composition of the dry combustible
matter of the two varieties of coal. In the Jewel seam the
fixed carbon was to the volatile combustible as 1.11 to 1 ;
while in the Coronation seam it was as 1.24 to 1. This great-
er evaporative elliciency among l)ituminious coals, in propor-
tion as the ratio of their fixed to their volatile combustible
material, is higher, is a general truth, established as well by
the British as by the American experiments. It was fully
brought out in the report of the latter. (See next page.)

'!;•!

■:; 1

TABhE'^howing the relation of evaporative power to the ratio
AMERICAN EXPERIMENTS.

Nauei of Coal from Report on American
Coal*.

Scotch

Liverpool

Midlothian, (screened)

Tippecnnoe

Newcastle,,,,

Miillothiaij, (new shaft,}...!!

Cnnuel ton .„.,„,,,..„

Midlothian, (average)

Clover Hill

Chesterfield Company..,

Pittsburg

Creek Company..... ,

Pictou, (New Y(.rk)

Midlothian, (900 feet shaft)

Crouch & Snend........ ,

Pictou, (Canard's)

Sidney ' , ,,^^

Barr's Deep Run, (Va.) ,

Cambria County, (Va.).,

Quill's Uua ,,,^_

Karthnus

Gasby «& Smith's '.

Atkinson &. Templeman's...,

Blossbuig.

Eashy's " Coal-in-Storc ,"..'.!!

liycornini); Creek ..,„

Dauphin and Susiiuehanna.,,
Neft'9

New York and Maryland Mining Company's.

Natural coke of Virginia. ..,.,... ,

Lyken's Valley. , !,!!

Lehigh ....,.,.. ,

Lackawanna......

Beaver Meadow, slope No. 5.

Forest Improvement .,..,, ,

Peach Mountain

Beaver Meadow, elope No. 3 !...,

between fixed and volatile combustible ingredients in Coals,

BRITISH EXPERIMENTS.

Name* of Coal from Report of the Britiah
Commisaionera.

Ratio of fixed
to volatile
combustible.

Dalktith Coronation

1.14
1.20
1.21
121
124
1.37
1.4t
1.43
1.4d
1.73
1.78
L79
1.85
9.08
2.39
2.43
2.91
359
473
512
5.52

5.89
G.02
fi.l2
630
7.«5
ir>.95
19.60

7.71

Coleshill

8.00

Fordel Splint ,

7.56

Lvdiipv. ("forest of Deaiil

8.52

Dalkeith Jewel Senm........

7.08

Porthiuawr iJock Win.,.

7.53

Three'ciuarler Uock Vein

6.64

Grani'diiouth.- .—....

7,40

WalLsenil El<'in ,

8.46

Pontypdol., ,

7.47

BrootiiliiU ...,...,,

8.75

Cwm Nanty Utos ,

8.42

Wylam's rateiit Fuel

893

Cwin l''r«o<i Jlock V'in ,

8.70

Bedwaa ....a............ .•....•.

9.79

Bell's Patent Fuel ,

8.53

Mynydd NewydJ

9.52

Ebbw Vale

lft.31

Pentrepoth ,

8.72

Resolveii ....•••....,,•.....

953

Petitrefelin ................................s..

•6.36

Dufl'ryn..,..

10.14

Warlich's Patent Fuel

10.36

Oldcastle Fiery Vein

8.94

9..35

Llanifeniieck......

8.86

Binea .•....■• •....••..•

9.94

Slievarda^h. ,,,,.,, ,.,,,, .,,.., •.....•■...•••..••>

9.65

Welsh Anthracite

9.46

• In respect to tlie sample called PentrefelirJ coal, the report SJates, lli.it " ow-
ing to the extreme smalhiess of the coal, there was great difficulty both in light-
ing the fin; and in getting the Steam up: the same cause no doubt affected the
trials throughout, as the work done was very small in comparison with that of
other coals. As the fire burnt up, a distinct hissinsj noise was heard, and on open-
in<]' the fire door, large (piantities of ignited particles, presenting a bright scintil-
lating appearance, were carried over the fire bridge, and passed ''ito the hues. Oil
etokiiig ilie fire, a considerable quantity of unburiit coal ^liI)ped through the bars,
which on being again thrown up, increased the difficulty of getting a good fire—
the quantity of cinders and ashes left was consequently very large."

The total waste matter, owing to the cause above stated, ivas 27.4 per cent.
Analysis proved that nearly one half of it was still combustible, but it appears to
have been so enveloped in the earthy constituents as to be incapable of any pro-
fitable combustion tinder the steam boiler. Deducting the ivaete and tnoisture
from the weight of coal consumed, and allowing for the effect of the matter really
butut, a pound of Pentrefelliu eombustibU ptoduccd 6.^4, puuaJa of steam. Thia

, t

ij'

'II

The two series of experiments, Amcricnrt ar\(\ BritfsTi, are
represented in the two preceding- ])ii^-.3r^, sidf. by side, sLowing
m one column the ratio of the lix. i lo the volatile combusti-
blr mntf,.r i), each coal, and in tin • oilmrthe quantity of steam
v/]uc]\ 1 [MIL of coal produced, it will not fail to be re-
inarkrd, iliat adecided general increase of evaporative power
tak« s place with the increasing ratio of fixed combustible up
to about 5 or n to 1. After passing this limit, and approach-
ing the anthracite class, the quantity of carbon which is vola-
tilized in coking, as compared with the whole quantity of vo-
latile matter, is diminished, as shown by the British series of
per centages of carbon compared with the amount of fixed
carbon in each coal.

The following results, selected from the foregoing table,
exhibit the ratios of fixed to volatile combustible matter iki
four samples varying considerably from each other, and the
evaporating power of the combustible matter of each kind of
coal, excluding the mohture mid ashes. The first is from the
American, and the second from the British report :

AmERJC** £xrER!MEKTS.

Coals.

2.
3.

Scotch coal

New Castle coal,.,., ,,.„.

Virginia Midlothian, new shaft

CumberJand, Atkinson & Templeman

Ratio of fixed to
volatile matter.

Evapofalive power

of the eotnhufti*

bit tnatter.

Scotch, Dalkeith Jewel seam...
Broomhill, not far from Newcastle.
Cwin Frood, rock vein

Ebbw Vale, (Welch,)

COHESIVE POWER OF COALS.

The British Commissioners have given an interesting series
of experiments (column G, table II., p. 7.3) on the relative co-
hesive powers of the sever.al coals, or their power to bear hand-
ling, transportation, and rolling upon each other. Having
broken them up as already mentioned to such a size that no
lump weighed over one pound, they sifted them upon a seive of
one inch meshes, took one hundred pounds of what was left on

brings it much nearer to » conformity with others of its class. The defect of
foiling into small fragments anj passing through the grate was oLacrred in certsio
American coab. (See report on Aaierican coali, p. 3<>7.)

the seive, plnt^rrl them in a barrel, much like an old fasHioneil
barrel churn, wiili flanges projecting from its periphery In-
wards towards the centre, and giving this cylinder fifty turns,
took oat its contents and again sifted and weighed what was
left on the seivc. The per centage by weight retained, was
taken as representing tiic cohesive power of the coals.

NITROGEN AND AMMONIA IN COALS.

Having, after the manner of Will & Varentrap, ascertained

the quantity of nitrogen in the coals, the British Commis-
sioners empk>yed the results in computing the quantity of
ammonia and of sulphate of ammonia which might be ob-
tained during the destructive distillation of each kind of coal.

The highest proportion of sulphate of ammonia which was
obtained from the coals trieil, was 10.18 pounds, from 100
pounds of coal.

This subject commends itself to gas manufacturers and
agriculturists, rather than to engineers and furnace men.

The large amount of ammoniaeal liquors obtained in the
manufacture of illuminating gas, is, in this country, allowed
to run chiefly to waste; whereas, by ..Jopting the sulphuric
acid purifier, very large quantities of the sulphate of ammo-
nia, a salt in high request among enlightened farmers, would
be obtained. (See Knapp's Cliem. Technology, American
edition, vol. 1, p. 476.)

EXPANSION OF WATEB AT HIGH TEMPERATURES.

The temperature compared with the observed bulk and
weight of water in a boiler, has been re-examined by Messrs.
De la Beche and Playfair ; and, as far as they go, their re-
sults confirm essentially those in the American report. Tliese
analagous results are found at page 13 of the American report,
and page 53 of the British report. The British Commissioners
extended their experiments from 70° to 21^", while the Ameri-
can reached from iii)° to 230°. The American boiler held,
when filled to its normal level with water at f)(>° temperature,
12,795 pounds } and when heated to 230°, without losing any
steam, 403 pounds had to be withdrawn to bring the level
once more down to the normal point.

**The observations made on the gradual rise of temperature,
and the corresponding weights of water which it had taken
to fill the boiler, as nmch as the expansion by heat now did,
gave the tbllowing table :

From
€C0 to II4J, vl« 4S0.5, inoieaie equlv't to bulk of 69 lb*. at 580,or 1.42 Ibi. to 1©

114^ to 149

34 .5,

<•

"935

<•

149 to 180

«l

" 3.13

180 toSB7

« 3.18

807 to 233

" 5.S8

S23 to 930

(«

"10.14

"This great increars in the rale of expansion of water above
the boiling point, being nearly 7 J times as great in the range
of the last l"" as in the first .stage of 10% may probably pos-
sess some intf rest lieyond tliat which attaches to it as a means
of correcting certain observations tuU<'n <hn-ing tliis research."
It will be remarked, that tliis r:ipid augmentation of liie rate
of dilation of water in iron, h not preventi'd by tlie eon-
ycision, at tlje same time, of a considerable quantity of water
into steam of a high donsity.

The British Commission rrs operating with a smaller boiler
obtained of course smaller numbers of poimds of water to
represcjit the expansion of the wuh-r. Tlu; ibllowitig is their ta-
ble, to which we have added a tifth column showing the aver-
age rate of expansion for one degree, between the suceessivo
temperatures nuti\.i;d in the first column.

Table shomng the expansion of watrr in the boihr at diferent

temperatures.

70"
80
90
100

ISO
139
140
ISO
160
170
180
1»0
200
f209
$04

910
813

♦' i je

l.<J0tJO

0.f)l)9G

0.9993

0.9987

0.9983

0.9979

0.99:4

0.9971

0.9967

0.9954

0.9940

0.9923

9901

0.9873

0.98fi9

0.9859

0.9849

0.9839

0.9S39

0.a819

* -£ —

C - «

** ^ »c a

Jit Q i, ^

47.10.000
47x^8. 1»)8
4720.216
472;).9.-)0
4721.900
4719.097
4717.795
4715.28.1
4714.012
4708.242
4701.«20
409.3.579
4fi8.'J.|73
4072.767
4608.0.17
4063.307
46.58.577
4653.847
4649.117
4644.387

P. 9>

.&§

1 «

JJ S

Ci " " *

0.000

1.899

3784

€.050

e.o-io

10.903
12.20.">
14717
15.988
Sl.75d
S8..'J8<I
36.421
46.827
57.233
61.963
66.693
71.493
76.153
eo.683
65,613

■p\

M
W

1
1
1
1
1

The second column, as "wcU as the one which wo have
added, renders it evident that all the numbers in the third
column wtTC not ohtaini'd by actual observation. The se-
cond and third, and the last six or seven numbers, are evi-
dently the results of interpolation. The law of expansion
nnderjjocs no jiucli change per salttim as would be im-
plied in the supposition, that from 180° to 200=' it .should be
constantly 1.010, und, all at once, more than doubling it-
self, should from 200" to 21 'i*, continue to be exactly 2.305
lbs. to one dcsrce of increase in temperature. As the Ameri-
can boiler had about three tiniex the ciprieity of tl»c llritish,
and as tlic water in tlie I'ornier was heated uniformly through-
out by building tlie fire underneath, while the latter, in con-
scfiue'ucc of buildin<; the tire in the interior, had a part of its
■water constantly eooler thrtn the rest, so we ought to expect
that the amount of expansion for one degree should be dif-
ferent in the two boilers. The I'ritish expenments confirm,
as Car as they go, those previ<)usly made here, in proving the
rapid increase in the rate of expansion of water in iron. It
WUA more important to the liritistt than to the American ex-
perhneuters to know accuratelv the contents of their boiler
at every tenip<?rafure, iuasmtieh as the former employed a
part of'their coal aUnig with a small quantity of wood for
heating up their boiler an<l its contents. This expansion of
water in iron it is highly important, also, for the steam engi-
neer to be acfjuainted with.

From the following table a comparison maybe made be-
tween the amount of expansion of water in iron, as deter-
mined by the iJriti-sb Commissioners, and that aj^eertained at
AVashingfon a« given on the preceding page. It appears that
the rate of expansion, expressc<l in pounds, to V of tempera-
ture, was six times as great at UKil" as at Otf[% being 1.3 at
the former, and but .2 at the latter temperature.

in
fit /

Ttnpentarei ob>
■enred.

At 660
1141

103

Contento of the boiler in

|MHM»da far diflprent

tcmperatorei.

4730.756
4790.871
4714.139
4693.579
4660.943

diff. 48i«
" 344«
« 810

« 97»

Differ'e in weight

at th« gaccritive

tenpcnturetf.

DiflerenN In
weight for 1®
Fabrenfacit.

».865
16.639
90.560
39.637

.903

.469

.663

1.908

I8T1MATI0N OP THE WATER PUPPLIED TO THE BOILER, ACCORDINO

TO ITS TEMPERATURE.

The expansion of water in the supply tank was examined

m our experiments, between 58 and JJO degrees; by the Brit-
ifiii Commissioners^ between 40 and 80 degrees.

Table of eo-eflicicnts, from the American Report, for correct-
ing the weight of water delivered from the tank to the
boiler at different temperatures.

Temperature.

68«

65
70
76
80
•6
90

Ratio of bHubI to apparent
weight of water.

1.0000
0.9965
0.9977
0.9969
0.9963
0.9957
0.9953

Small as is the correction required by the cause now under
consideration, it hhf, not been dtt^ned expedient to omit the
estimation of its efficiency in modifying the results."

The American water tank was made of wood, the British
of plate iron, and, of course, a different co-efiicient of expan-
sion would be found applicable.

The following are the results of the British experiments to
detcrmme the expansion and contraction of water in the iron
tanks, taking 70° as the normal temperature.

i '\i

loa

Tempcraiare

Actual weight of tn

Tempera tore

Actnal weight of aa

Fthrcnheit.

anitjr of water.

Fahrenheit.

anity of water.

40O

1.001464

6S*

1.000/ 19

1.001451

1.000534

1.001439

1.0()0.')56

1.001436

1.000178

1.001414

l.OOOOOO

1.001401

.999763

1.001S94

.099597

1.001196

.999290

1.0UIU94

.999US4

1.00U993

.996818

1.000S90

HEATING POWER OF COALS, ACCORDING TO THEIR CLASSES.

The average heating powers computed fVom their experi-
ments by the British Commissioners, agree very closely indeed
with the averages for corresponding classes of coals given at
Washington. Thus, by the

T«n anlhrscitea gave steam to one of coal .............................9.S8

Eleven Pennsylvania and Maryland free •burning coala. 9.68

One Newcastle coal............ ..........8.65

Ten Virginia bituminous coats 8.48

Four Liverpool and Nova Scotia..... ............8.18

Three Scotch and Wcstero .7.49

And the mean of sis sferages. ........8.68

Bsmsa Exmmunr,

Two anthracites gwt steam to one of coal 3.C$

Ten Welch free*burning coals 9.58

One BrooinhilL ,.,,, .8 .75

Eight Welch bituminoua .8.00

One Forest of Dean .8.59

Five Scotch .7.64

Mean of dz averages. M........6.69

The pine wood used at Washington gave 4.60 ; the wood
of inferior quality used at London, gave 3.10, as its evaporaf-
tive power.

ill

104
PATENT FUEL FOR STEAM SHIPS.

nij2:lily intrrestino: to steam navi<;ation are tlie trials which
the liritisliCommissioiKM-s made of several patent fuels, prov-
ing that some of those fuels eontain a mueh j2:real(r evapova-
tive power under o giren bulk than any of ihe coals, in their
ordinary merchantable state. This may he illustrated by a
comparison between Wariiek's patent fuel— of which

_ , . ,. Lbs. of steoni per 1 lb. of fuel.
One cubic foot gnve 715.3')

Wnursfieryvein coal, which gave W)h! 78 (a maximum

among cuts.

Dalkeith jewi-l sea ':, 35^.r>d (a iiiinimum ^

Thus it ap^icars Wariiek's patent fuel is 17.4 j)er cent, su-
perior m evaporative power, per cubic loot, to the best, and
10.'3 per cent, superior to iho lenst efficient of iho coals, in
their natural state. (See column I, p. 73.)

LATENT IJEAT AM) HEAT OF CAr.\CITV OP W \Tf:R.

The calorific co-efficients of M. Reo-nault were adopted
by the British Commissioners for computing: the ialent heat
of the vapor of water, and the tendency of these co-efficients
IS to l)rin<>- out a higher calculated calorific efficiency than
that which would b(^ given bv llie high;>r co-elli ient direclly
determined by our own researches. This latter co-efficient
gave 1030° for the latent heat of the vapor of water.

To illustrate the effect of adopting the co-efficient of M,
Regnault, for computing the calorific elliciency of the coals,
we may present an example afibrded bv the above average
evaporative power of American coals, viz:--8.(;o lbs. of steam
from water at 212°. It' the water be supposed to Jiave been
delivered to the boiler at 00°, then the weight of water at
that temperature would be 7..51 lbs. to 1 pound of coal.

Taking the latent heat of the vapour of water, when gener-
ated at 212°, to be 1030°, the sensible heat imparted to the
water before it is evaporated, is 212°— 00° ==152°; and the
wdiole quantity of heat, taken up in healing and evaporatino:
IS 152+1030=1182°. Hence, the evaporative power from
water, at 212° is,

By using Regnault's co-efficient, these numbers vary as fol-

lows: ^r.^lH'5'.'7

7.54X =8.72

m).').7

hence the difTerence by the two methods, is. .0(5 Ibs.-^o.on per

cent., or say seven-tenths of one per cent., of the smaller num-

iU ^i

105

ber. This diflercnce will bo slightly enhanced by using also
Regnault's numbers for the quantity of heat in water at dif-
ferent temperatures. These numbers show, that in healing
water from (50^ to 212% there is ex])ende(l a (iuantity of hca^t
equal to ir)2°.8n, and the calculation would give

7-S4X-^-._y-=8.73 lbs. of steam from 212°, or about eiglit-

tenths of one per cent, above wliat is given by the American
calculations. This dilferencc practice will seldom or never
appreciate.

USE MADE OF THE HEATING POWHR OP COALS.

The British Conmiissi oners employed a part of llie coal
burned in giving temperature to the boiler, its contents, and
I he !)riek work of its setting, and a part in generating steam,
insiciid of h(Mling up the boiler and furnace with wood, (as
in the American experiments,) and tlicu using the wliole
heating pov/er of the coal solely to generate steam. They
tims complicated considerably the calculations.* In considering
the effect of that part of 1 lie fuel which is usnd in heatin.^ up
the water in the boiler, they have not included that expended
on ihe boili-r itself, which, from its considerable weight and
higli speciiic heat, might reasonably require a computation.
As the experiments on American coals were commenced
M-ilh llie iiuiiace. l)oil("r, and contents, all at normal tempera-
ture, such an nllowmce was not required.

COMPOSITION AND IIEAT-ABSORRINO POWER OF THE GASES OF THE

CHIMNEY.

Though the British Commissioners have made experiments
on the gases of the chimney, they have not used them to as-
certain how much of the whole heating power was expended
on those gases. They came to a conclusion in regard to the
oxygen remaining unconsumed in the gases, identical with that
previously reached bythf (\merican researches, viz: that in or-
dinary steam-boiler furnaces of good construction, the oxygen
which has not b(M'n consumed, is from one-fourth to one-half
of the whole (juantity originally in th(^ air.f

From the columns under " ratio to total bulk of dry gases,
of carbonic acid and oxygen, in table 191," it is fouiid that
the average per centage of those two materials rmd their
sum, for the several classes of coals, was as follows, viz :

• See their formula, pages 6G-68.
^ See American report, page 582.

is?

ill

! I if

IOC

{I.) Of the ontlirncite cinss, by 22 analyse*, the carbonic ndd was 9.443. oxv*

gen J2. 094— sum 51 .537. '

(2 ) Mnryland free-burning, by 10 analyses, the carbonic acid was 10.819. «ixy
geii 10.;>d4— sumSl.lU.'J.

(.1.) IViinsylv;inia freeburniug,by 9 nnalyses.ihe carbonic acid wa« 9.951. oxv-
gen l(>.r>72-suin20..W3. '

(4.) Vireinin bituminous, by 16 analyses, the carbonic acid tta» 9.564. oxynen
11.598— sum 20. 8G2.

(5.) Foreign bituminous, by II analyse*, the carbonic acid was 10.927. o.-cytren
9.88fi— sum 20.81.3.

(G.) Cnnnclton bituminous, by 2 analyses, the carbonic acid was 13.207. oxvffen
5.5j0-sum 18.717. ^

(7.) Pine wood, by 2 analyses, the carbonic acid was 9.214, oxygen 10.210 —

smn 19.427,

In several of these cases, the sum of the oxygen and car-
bonic acid in almo.st identical with the proportion in which
oxygen is found in the atmosphere. Thus— \'o.s. 2. .'i. 4, and
5, give a mean of 10.315 of carbonic acid, l()..'»in of oxygen.
An excess may probably be referred, in some instances, to
the existence of carbonic acid in the coal, in the state of car-
bonates ; and a deficiency to the production of much water
of combustion, as in cases of the highly bituminous coals and
of pine wood.

FIXED CARBON A9 A MEAf»URt: OF ilEATIKC. POWER.

Keference is made in the report on American coals to an
opinion which had gained .some currency, to the efiect, that
the heating power of coals is always proportionate to th«
quantity of fixed carbon which they severally contain; that
is, to the nmount of coke obtained by destructive <listillation,
dimini.-ihed by the amount of ashes left after complete incine-
ration. Tliis point is also referred to by the British commis-
sioners at page 13 of their report.

The commissioners then proceeded to examine the question
by calculating the heating power of the carbon of the coke,
theoretically, and comparing the results with (he evaporative
efl^cts. Instead of this, we prefer to arrange the coals ac-
cording the per centage of fixed carbon, and set opposite to
each, the weight of steam generated by one pound of the
coal, as in the subjoired table :

107

Table eihlh'tin^ thr clo.ss-ifictftfon of the Bntlsh cauls in the
onhr of then- per rftitc^e of fired C(/rhon dvtenniued hfj
coliiiii^ and iucuwrafion, (tad a comparison of this ivifh their
evd/iorativc potrcrs, dtwiiitl from the data furnished in the
tablts at jiif^is 11 and i\i of the British report*

Name of Coul.

A a

Average
Carbon.

>
1 ^

O V

&•*

7.08
8.00
8.46
8.52

7 . 56

7.53
7.7J

8.84

•2 1

•la.

Ji s

1. Dalkeith Jewel Scam

8. Coleshill

3. Wallstiid Kl'»in

45.43
47.08
47.75
47.80

47,01
49.58
57.12
63.61
74.60
79.16
64.99

8.01
7.91
8.01
8.98
9.65
9.99
9.84

♦. Parliend, Lydney

S.44

6. Forde! Sphrit

48.03
18.38
50 . 40
51.54

6. Fortliiiiaur Ilock Vein

7. Dalkeitlj Coronation.

8. Thrce-tjuartcr Rock Vein. , .

5.73

9, Gtangomouth

10. Broomhill

1 1. Pontypool

13. Cwiu Nauty Gros

53.08
56.13
59.28
60.00

— —

60 96
62.80
61,76
66.74

7.40
8.75
7.47

8.42

6.60

1.1. Wylam's- Patent Fuel

14. Cwin t'rood Kock Vein. , . .

15. Bcdwas

8.92
8.70
9.79
8.53

16. Bell's Patent Fuel

7.38

17. Mynydd ^lewyddi

71.56
71.69
76.00
76.16

77.15

79.14
79.30
81 .04

9.52

9.53

10.21

8.94

8.K6
8.72

y.85

10.14

18. Kesolven ••...

19. Ebbw Vale

30. Old Castle Fiery Vein

Si. litaiigenucck. t«...

8.68

22. Peutrepotlj

23. Slicvcrdaeh, (anthracite,)

24. DuUVvn . ,

8.95

as. Warlich's Patent Fuel

26. Crai.oU

82.19
82.26
84.14
91.38

10.60
9.35
9.94
9.46

27, Binea

38. Welsh .\nthracite.

9.84

An inspection of thr .nhove table will render it abundantly
evident, tijut tliough the, amount of tixed carbon in coal may
s« rve a.s a general index, it can by no mean.s be regarded us
the measure of the heatiu^; power of coals.

it
■

'■i '

108

Ih the first place, the right-humi cohimn shows that the
ste.'un.-eneratln- power of corils havhii,' A7 per cent, of fixed
carbon, is no greater than that of coal* possessiiii; only 47
per cent. " •'

It also shows that t!ie four coals which had 7ti«, per cent.

of carbon had a hi-ber heatins^ power than the four M'hirh
contained 70^^ per cent. In the next place, the proportion
ot the fi.vod eart)on varies in tlie several sets of four samples
from t7.01 to St.OO, or the latter is 80 per cent, more thati
the lornicr proportion of fixed earl)on; wliile the stenm pro-
duced by them respectively, varied only from S.OI to 9.HI the
latter beinj? but 2-i.H per cent, more than the former. This
want of all true [)roporlion between the fired carbon and the
heatfn<r power will of necessity preclude the use of the one
as a nmts'ure of the other.

In the pros:rcss of the researches on American coals it was
repeatedly proved that the quantity of carbon which remains
hxed after the coal has been subjeef(>d to a re(t heat, varies
for the same specimen of coal accordin<? to the greater or less
rapidity with which the heat is applied.

COMPARWOX OF CARBON AND HVI>Ror;r,N WITH TUB PRACTICAL HEAT-

ist; row i;r.

The following table shows that while of the seven sets of

calculated , .aeiencies,the averages (column .3) increase from
12.51)1 to 15.55ft, or by 2^ per cent, of the former number
the experimental averages iirst diminish from 8.(Hf to 8 18
and then increase to f).S8 the ditference between the tirst and
the last of these numbers being It per cent, of the first. It
will also be observed that this principle of classifieafion
bnngs together at the very head of the list, the Scotch coal
ot (tie IJalkeilh Jewel Seam and the Slieverdaeh (Irish) an-
thracite—two species of fuel which are, in all their characters
as well as in their evaporative powers, the very antipodes of
each other. A principle of computation which classes to-
gether materials so utterly unlike, can have no foundation in
nature, and should have no place in science. The very hi'di-
est of the theoretical cmciencies (l.'>.JM! t) is mx% per cent
greater than the lowest, {\i 313) ; and the verv highest prac-
tical efhciency by experiment (lt).<5()) is 1!>.7 per cent, greater
than the lowest, 7.08. It is therefore evident that the practi-
cal heatmj? powers of these coals did not correspond even to
the order of the calculated results, when classed by fours or
fives together, and that consequent I v no direct relatmn can be
found between the powers of the practical series and those

109

of the thporetictU on<% fount^ed on the con^hination of the cal-
culated carbon, with tliat of the hydrogen, elUcien<*y.

Arrftn^rmertt nrcordini! to the rrder of nnmhcrs ohfrihird hjf
inulliphfh}g the vefuiht of carbon in each coal, htj 1JV-*()H, and
the wcitrht t>f hi/(iro<r€n hij iVl HO, and dimding the strm of
thr proditcts hij iXi,").?, {the hitent heat of steam htj J\(<inaidt)
the nnmhera hcina^ derived from column Vt^and compared with
those in column 4, ijifi^f" 72 and 73.)

The experimental effi-
ckncie*.

Number.* from column;
E, theoretical effi-;
ciency from carbon
and hydrogen. i

Average calculated

efficiency.

Actual efficiency by
experiments fromco-
Iumn A.

k i
1 1

"£ !

Hydrogen in excew;
beyond the €quiv.i-!
lent of the oxygen.

Average of hydrogen
in excess.

Dalkeith .tewel rioatn

Slieverdach Anthracite..

Dalkeith Corouatiuti

CoWshill.....

12.313
12.482
12.772

I2.71)!>

12.591
13.149
13.751

; 14.314

14.708

14.886

.' 15.550

7.08 !
9.85 i
7.71

8.00

3.20
3.30
3.41
4.11

8. 66

3.S5

Poffhmawr Rock Vein.,.
Three-quarter Rock Vf-in
park Knd, Lyduey „..,...
Wallsend Kh'in.......

12.8!1

iJ.Kjt;
i;),2.-)7

13.422

7..'»3

8.84 j
8.52 1

e.4«

4.34
4.30

4.88
4.5!)

1 8.34

y.35 i

7.40

7..'>r.

8.42 '

4.53

flfaiffota... .

13.5(i3
13.(li»2
13.817

i:i.tt32

2.i>4
4.21
4.4«

4.!)0

4.75

3.!>a

5.11

4.86

Graiigemoutb,...

Kordel Splint....,,

Cwm Nanty Oroa

4.13

Resolven

Llangeiineck

I'ontypool

13.;>71

14.2(i(>
14.2!t5
14.331

W.86
7.47

Wylani'8 Patent Fuel

8,<>2

8.69
9.09
9.23

9.88

4.65

WelsH Anthracite.

Ward's Fiery Vein.. .....

Cwm Frooil Rock Vein..
Penttt'iiotti ..................

14.593
J4.<il4

14.7H^^
14.838

14.841

14.8(13
14.!)04

I4.y3fi

1 !>.4(i

9.4(1

1 8.70

! 8.72

3.14
3.93
5.39
4.1U

4.14

BedwtXS.*. •«•••••••••«•

9.71

1 8.75
1 9..VJ
! 8.94

5.82
5.79
5. art
4.47

Drooiuliil)

Mvnvdd Newvdd

Olilcastic Fiery Vein

5.36

Powel'a Dufijvn

15.0!»2
15 09;i
15.417
15.<)35

15,%4

1 10.14

1 9.94

8.5:1

10.21

lU. GO

4..'>!>
4.51
5.17
5.1U
5.56

Bineii . ,..>.. . ...•••....

Bell's Patent Fttel

Ebbw Vitle

Wariiub's Patent Fuel

4,97

110

IlEVTIKU I'O^VER MKASUHED BY THE BEDUCTIOX OF MTHAUC.B.

The nicthoc! of nprfhior, npplirc! to {foformhif hpatin«T
powers, on the sup])osilion tliat the latter arc proportionate to
the (luantity of oxygen required for the consumption of the
coal, was employed t)olh in the Ameriean and British re-
searches. The results of the former are found in the freneral
synoptical table of American coals hereafter given, The fol-
lowing ' '

sioners.

'■c tlie numbers obtained by the British Commis-

Names of coals in the order of rcdiiciive
powers.

•a o

1, Dalkeith Coronation Seam.... .„.,| 24. 5G

3. Portiiinawr Rock Vein , 24.78

3. Brooniiiill ., ,.,.,.' 2.'). ,32

4. Coiesiiill ..,., , i 26.14

5, Dalkeith Jewel Seam

6. Three-quarter Rock Vein.

7, Pontypool,.

8. Uedwas... .,...,.,.

9. Cwm Frood Rock Vein.

10. Granffpinouth ,.

11. Bell'a Patent Fuel...

12. Wylam's Patent Fuel....

13. Forde! Splint

14. Wailsend Elgin...

15. Cwnj Nanty Gros.

16. Duffryn ,

2(;.42

2(;.(;2

27.40
28.20

28.,')(>

28.48
28. 5>

28.82

21). 00
2!».0G
2i» . fi4
30.00

17. Slievcrdach Anthracite...,,

IS. Mynydd Newydd

19. Pentrepoth

2<«. Old Castle Fiery Vein

'•••••••■••«*»•••«

81. Ward's Fiery Vein

23. Warlich'8 Patent Fuel

23, BinenCoal

24. fcbUw Vale '*'

.30.10
30.34

31. k;

31.42

31,4G
3J,,'-.0
31, €4
32,00

9!i. Graigota

26. Resolven

27. I.iangenreck

28. Sitev«rdach Anibraciie.,

32.08
Hi. Hi

.12. (jr.

.33.48

2i.20

37.17

28.53

29.42

,iii

31.76

33.53

"- r"

! — ! i.

5 = °

5 "~ '--

fc- k. ^

o i> -

Z ^ ~

^ a, «j

i *<

o
a.'

r, CI

7.71

7.,'-.3
8,75

8.00

7.08
8.84
7.47

a. 71^

8.70
7.40
8.53
8.92

7.. 'it!

8.40

H..35

10.14

9.85
9.52
8.72

8.94

9.40 I
10. Of) j

9.94 ;

10.21

T.fli

8.33

8.38

8.63

9.26

10.04

9.35
9..-K1

8.8fi
9.85

9.39

if.

Ill

7,9&

The last of the above average pi'opoitions of lead is 20
per cent, greater than the first, while the corresponding avc-
rages of steam generated, show a dilference of 17^ per cent.;
or excluding tlie hist set of four samples, 31.7« is 20 per ei^nt.
more than -^'i.'iO, and 10.01 is 25.3 per cent, more than 7.99 ;
so that the method of Berthier up to this point proves to he a
much nearer approximalion to a true measure of economical
value than either of the preceding methods.

On pages 58 1-5;S5 of the report on American coals will be
found a similar comparison between the evaporative and the
reductive powers of Anieriean coals.

PER CENTA<;i: OF C.\Rr.ON% AS A MEASURE OF HEATING POWER.

At page 517 of the Report on American coals, after a discus-
sion of ultimate analyses of New Castle Coal, and showing
the intimate relation which those analyses had with the ques-
tion of heating power, the following remark was added:

"The discussion of the measure of heating power, con-
tained in the present description, may serve to showthebear-
ing upon each other of the several modes of testing coals.
It is to be regretted that an opportunity has not yet occurred
of subjecting all the samples of coal to the same species of
analyses on the organic method, and with mixtures from frag-
meats of many s})eeimens, in order that tha average ultimate,
as well as proximate constituents of each may become known.
The earnest desire repeatedly expressed by the Department
to be in possession of the results of these experiments, and
the want of further ni)propriations to prosecute this impor-
tant research to its proper termination, has hitherto precluded
the possibility of accomplishing this purpose in the manner
originally designed.**

On the nth of February, 1RJ.5, the writer made to the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelpliia a communi-
cation relative to the ditlercnt methods of testing the heat«
ing power of fuel, the following account of which will be
found in the proceedings of that institution. Vol. 11, page 202.
It will be hereafter seen bow completely the British experi-
ments confinn the deduction made from the six trials then
compared ;

"Some of the methods which have been hitherto employed
by chcmist.s and others, to ascertain the relative heating
powers of fuel, are —

IMI

flf!

,0"

113

" 1. The heating of water, without convertiiir. it into va-
pour, as practised first hy Rum ford, and morc^r ece Uy hJ
o u.r exponmcnters, particularly f>/ D.spn^t. aud d2„I
Tlie French chemists ass.uue as the unit of calorific power I
gram ol water heated 1= eentiorade. {V,H Fahr.)'' T e rami.

IS teimed its colorific efftcicnci/.

J'rA' '^(''^'"^^^'■"A'- «/'«>•'?. asin the calorimeter of Lavoisier

.?' ^l^^ f ''^'.•■'> '•' *^«''c the measure of elFeet.
.i. I he hm',ng of wr, or maintaining a etu-tain difference
between an mterior room in which comhustioa is conducted
oT/w^urnr"'' ^-ll^-«'^Vthe open air. Tlie ;;^^
of tnne such ditrerencc ,s maintained by a -iven wei<'ht of

sup,,os,l,o„ < ,at Ihe lalt.ris propo.lionule ., ,1,„ vvoi™t „^'

" ^; p% reducfion of the nhrntc or the chlorate of potash to

ally adchng the combustible, till complete saturation has taken

" 0, The practice of the Cornish en.^nncers, of measuring t!ic

boiler .^^ '^''' ''""' ^"°' ^"-^^' ^^■^*'''" '>""»^*J «»^J«r a

boiler drivmj,' a pumpmg engine,

"7. 7%e (listillation of coals to ascertain the weiirht of fired
carbon Mtlu^, cmtain, suggested by the experiments^/.M^
F>fe, of Edinburgh; the weight of tiiut ciastituent beiuS
supposed to measure the heating power. ^

hp'nf:? ^^^f""^' ^^nalt/sisf which assumes that the quantity of
hca developed by an organic combustible, depc^ids on the
hea ing power of the carbon which it contains, added to thai
wifl if. Tf ^^■'''•«^^'^ ^'^'^^'^ ^vJ^-^^ i« rerjuircJ to combine
^ ed w^?'^''" '"forming water. This method has been ap.
plied b> Messrs. Pf^terson and Schoedler to wood, and by
Hichardson,Ilegnault, and others, to coaK ^

9. i/^e r/»,Tc-< or practical trial bt/ eraporation, as practised

hf G e'^t' R *;^^.^^^ V^i^'^^^^-^ Fyfe/Scha'uf hauM and^M^ by.
m Great Bn am; hy Messrs. S. L. Dana, A. A, Haves J A

fThrre^nTr^ nwe reeeufly by the wri'ter i„ thircountrv;
(The results of the tnab la^t referred to are contained in tl'w

113

Report to the Xavy Dcpnrtincnt on American coals recently

publisliwl hy Congress.)

** 1(K The rndting of von rither In a rpvirTipratory or a
cnpola I'lirtiJU'e, the weight of iiK'fal fused by one part of
CoinhuslihUi being the standitrd of cotuparison.

'Ml. The pcrformaitce of smltJi's vork of n unifo-in rharocter,
such as the nianufactiirlng of eliains by means of the several
varieties of fuel. The nuni))er of links of chain formed by
a given weight of each coal, is here the measure of useful
ctt'ect.

"The of»jcct of the present commnnication is mainly io ex-
hibit the relation between the results obtained by the eighth,
and those by the ninth method of trial above mentioned. ^

"The existence, in bitiuninous coals, of variable proportions
of nearly pure charcoal, is referred to as furnishing evidence
of a want of homogeneousness in this class of l)odies. A
diversity of results may consequently be expected when ulti-
mate analysis is resorted to for the purpose of establishing a
theory of tran?^ mutations, or of demonstrating what changes
have occurred in bringing vegetalde sul)stanccs into the state
of bituminous coal. Those who assume ivoodij fibre as the sole
hasis from which it has been <lerived, do not pretend to prove
that the other proximate constituents of vegetables, the resi-
nous matter, for example, and the oily components of seeds,
have been wholly removed. Hence analyses of coal applied
to this purpose may not always lead to unobjectionable in-
ferences. But as means of determining the calorific power of
combustible bodies, they may, especially when performed on
average samples, or multiple specimens, nllbrd information
hoth ititcresting to science and valuable to the arts.

**The relation between the calorific Xiower calculated from
analysis, and the practical heating power decided by evapo-
rating water, is determined for six ditlercnt varieties of bitu-
minous coals, varying considerably in their composition.

"In applying calculations to the ultimate analysis of coals
as well as to the products of combustion, the atomic weight
of carbon is assumed to he six, of oxygen eight, and of nitro-
gen fourteen times that of hydrogen, in accordance with the
recent determinations of Dun»as. In calculating evaporative
powers, the latent heat of im is taken at 1030°.

*'In .ascertaining the relative efliciencies and values of com-
bustible bodies, with a view to economical applications, it is
ncessary to take them either as found in nature, or as sup-
plied to commerce, including, of course, whatever impurities
they may chance to contain. But in order to deduce general

ill V

114

rplatjons brtwo«'n bodies «l;fr,'rently coiiMfituted. in rrjxard par-
ticularly to their comhustihU; roust iliii'uff*, the ronipnrison

nuisr be nui(U- !»[>erde(hicliri;; the wjistc mu\ ineojolHisfihle
matter fmiiul in the onulc slutt; c.f t\w fuel. This j»rineij>lc is
ap])Iie(! holh to the ullinutte anaJvse.s and to the evjiiionitive
cx])erinierils; niidheiieciii the lulfowinj; tahle h(Hh fftt^ vofrw
lutt'd rraporotirr. poivn' of the citihon const ifnrnt, (rohiuui ITi,)
and the tofal ciytport/fifr fficicnrifhij r.rpcriincHt, (eohiiun IS,)
are referred to, uud culcul.-ifecl lor, one purl by wei;-!*! of cw/i-
hiisfihfe mafter.

•* Ti)e relation between the frcf and the tolotHc comluD^ti-
ble matters of coals, is iiahle to eonsiderable variation, ac-
cordiuj? to the rate ofdistillatiou to ^vhich they are sul))eete<|.
The more slowly this process iseorulucfed, the higher (within
certain liinils) will be tho proportion of i'lwd curhon.* The
estimation of heating powers. Ilierefore, from the ipianti-
ty of lixcd carbon whieh coals contain, if not wholly crrone-
oJis in principle, must be liable to considerable unceriainty in
practice, "^

"Many bisfhiy !»ituminoMM coa?s contain more tijan 5 per
cent, of materials converted into amm(»niaeal litpior bvsimjde
distillation without contact of air. This U proved' on the
largest scale in the manufacture of illnnilnaf ing pas. That
proportion, therefore, is not only unavailable for beatin'^' pur-
poses, but it also al)stracts from the really combustible mate-
rials of the fuel, all the beat, t^ensiblc atid latent, wliich the
vaporized ammoniacal prmlucts receive during combustion.

"The proper water of comhusfion, namely, that derived from
the hydrogen in cxrrsit, an«l oxygen of the atniosj)herc, must
111 every mstance where heat is applied to cvajiorate water
above the boiling point, as in all oniinary steam boMcrs, be
likewise incapable of giving up its latent/ as well us much of
Its sensible heat.

"The average specific gravicy of the six varieties of bitumi-
nous coals assayed is l.ai— that of water at «(P being unity.
Admitting the hydrogen in its solid state lo have a density of
only 1.25, it must, in passing into ihe stxitc. first of gaseous
hydrogen, and then into that of watery vapour, (still having
the same bulk as the hydrogen,) undergo an enlargement to
21 17 times its original bulk. This volume is further increased
accordmg to the usual law of gaseous expansion, by whatever
heat above boiling point is left in the vapour, when it passes
away from the surface to be healed. In o well constructed

•See Proceedinga of the Acad, of Nat. Sciences, Vol. 2, pages 9-10.

s -

I.J,.:i:«:,;.7rtflSSS!r.

115

evaporative npparntus pmhicjn;? ^tram of pounds pr« stirc,
in which the rirnuit trnvers.d hv the ^JiNts .ill rr passing; the
Brutf%:m<I Wfore r<;.'uh»nj; tho diimiHy, \vi»s I'Jl l.ct tho t«in-
i>cratur«ortl.c ^^ast-s %vus gmerally iil.out 100' i.l.ovc the
Lnlitisf point ; and the watrry vapour, hcin« of coursr sur-
chrtr-f.l wilhheiit, possoss,-,! -JirJl timrslhr hidU ^vl^u;h it Imd
in thi- M)Iid st.'it*' and ut ♦".() dc-rt'cs of tcinpi'mTim:.

"lU-lhc rxpt'nnu'nl.sot'lnilon^-,(Con)ptrs Itciidiis, torn. 7, )
one "VMU of pun- carhon d»'v«'loiH's, in l.iirniri<r, heat ««noug)»
to rJIiso t!u« trniporalttrr of 7170 ;;vams .)f WiitiT, T crnti.
crndf. OP l*Ji)0<i «rarns T Fahrrn!irit. This !atti«r ntmiheris,
thcr4'r«rr, used us a .-iM-nicient, »)y which to niultii)ly th(> niim-
Wrs in th«> I'Jlh coUiinn ofthr toHovviiij,' tiihlc- to obTam those
of tl»e 1 "»t!j. Hv the san»e atitliority, 1 Kfam of ^'^/.vfo//* hy.
aro;;tn gives heat hvifficient to rui.sc C„V»'^^ grams ot water I

"Th«' avt'ra5?e excess of hi/(ho;::cn for tlic six varieties of coal
bv evaporation, as deduerd from eohnnns VA and Mot tlio^
tah!«\ is UVM\ per cent, whicli, calcula«>d after th«- manner ot
the lunropean ciieinists, onj^ht to possess an evaporat i ve power
of '*.SIU Tliis would raise t)ie avt-ra^c of the ir.lh roUimn
from HK700 to 13."»1 1, as t!»e catetihited evaporative power of
the unit of eomhustiide matter, j^howinir tl»e ealeulated to be
26.3 per cent. hii;Uvf than the experimental etlect.

•See also Peolct, Trait6 de la Chaleur, Tom. I, p. 50.

116

Table exhibiting the anahjscn of nfverol vnrictiesqf Bituminous

with the cufcuitttftl Olid the nprrimrntal

1 I

Detignaiion of the

coal*.

Prokioiate Aiiulynii.

Uttimnte

aniilysis.

Cotnjiosition of th«» raw
100 {inrtii.

COD I in

h
•3 .:

Groin* of

9
3

•••

•

1'.;

" : s

.1! -S

•

I
u

Summit Portngr i
rnilroaJ, Cam* [-
bria Co., P». )

1.3G17

0.700

t.500

18.195

64.245

15.360

3.535

7.2620.62

1
3.93;

Midlotliinn '• new )
cbatt," Virginia. ^

1.3000

0.9M

2.282

2!).27l

(12.050

5.48ni,!)6fl

2.23

New Cttstle, KnglM.

l.2:.6T

lAGl

28.312

63.377

1.650 2.415

6.4619.56 3.21

Clover Ilill.Virginia.

1.2887

1.277

0.5M

28.-10!)

n5.425

4.375 2.2fi8'6.05'l7.<5R'2.58'
1 1 . t 1

Scotch.

I.275i»

J.3C:.

35.5ft(i

(-.0.342

•2.707

1.6U6

7.64,2-" ('0:< 75

Cnseyvilte, Ksn- ^

tucky.nnd Cnn* v
neltoii, Iiidiiins. }

1.3920

1.150

nO.GC!)

14.49:*

23.687

1.450

4 21

8.96

I
192

Averages,

'"* * ■*'

Osage River, Miv. ,

;;J000

1.670

0.462

U.34e

51.16<i

5.340

1.237 6.04

1995

3.69

Pure bitumen. I.U5S

.000

72..J3e

24. 7&!)

2.7G1 0.312 8.16 22.60
1 t 1

Remarks.-~T1ip evaporative trials were performed tiy burning atiout two tons of
each tiind of coal, under a boiler capable of evaporating 15 cubic feci of water per
hour.

If appeirs that, on an overage, these coats expended in evaporating water from
the boiler 85.35, and on the products of their coiiibustiou 14.65 per ceat. of their

Coal, both into their proximate and their ultimate constitmr't,
determination of their emporativc powers. -

Bjr calculAtioA 109 part* of
the romhuMUkti matter
are found to be constiiu
ted of

91.955

93.630

84.157
83 393
8u>.I>52

7C.335

8l.(?55
77.679

5.876

5.739

5026
4.958

c«

M
O

2.178

0.641

10.218
11.649
11.441

6.G63 17.002

I It;

i- £ n

Si s ■*

•* a H
I," -

V
e e
- u

6.168 1 11.977

i
8.023 I 14.298

•a

"si
—
"3

Practical evapurntlve power.

Ponnild of water
from 212'^ to one of
combustible matter.

11.522

11.731

10.545
10.445
10.393

9.565

10.7U0

10.256

9.464

10.2.'»8
10.191

9.178

8.568
8,868

7.734

9.133

a o

it t.

*-!

1 =

D «
J= 3

2 o o
t a- <«.

s.-§ »

o £ m

p>» a. u

>1 3

e V

4< ■
O

1.319

1.269

1.720
1.949
1.338

1.823

B
S
V

a <M

11.550

11.460

10.898
10..W
10.206

9.557

■5 a

: S

u e

>. ^

-•I

u 3

a a

2 *j

—.028
+ .271

— 353

—.082
+ .187

+.008

1.5685 10.701

whn!e hpntin? powtn. Both th^ sv7n and the vtimher of ilifll'rences between the
practicnl and cnlciilatrd evaporative powers, nfleeted by the positive .sigii, are seen
in tiie last coiumii to be the same as those atlecled by the negative 8i[;n.
No evap3rative trials of Osage coal, or of bitumen, have been made.

118

" The data furnished l)y the preceding table aflbrd the
means of ascertaining the ])roj)or1ion of its carbon voLatilizcd
in the distiUalion of the combustible matter in each kind of
coal.

"The calcalations prove that of its whole caibon constitu-
ent, the per centage volatilized, was as follows :

Cambria county coiil 1(),7(>7

Midlothian, new shaft ... - 20. 15)5

Newcastle l^VJUV

Clover Hill Hi-^l^

Scotch Cannel 21.100

Caseyville, Ky., Cannel - - - - 22.152

A'ld ihat the average was - - - 20.H8,'{
" Tht) Urntitt/ of results obtained in the averages of the
15th and IHlh columns should seem to dcmonslnite that the
heating power of bituminous coals is proportionate to the
carbon which they severally contain."

The Hritish experimenter.s continued their analyses of the
coals till every sample had been submitted to both proximate
and ultimate determination. In the American exi)eriments
time was not allowed before the report was dem;uuled, for
extending the ultimate analyses to more than one-eighth part
of the samples. From such trials as were made, the deduc-
tion which a])pearcd to be authorized by a careful compari-
son between the constituents of the coals and their evapora-
tive efficiency, was, that the latter depended upon the total
amount of carbon in the coal If the hydrogen had been, as
most European chemists had contended, the more edicient
element, weight for weight, then all highly ])ilunnnous coals
ought to have presented a greater heating power than those
of lower bitinuinousness. Holh the British and American ex-
periments concur in ])i-oving the reverse of this to be the fact.
Indeed, the observed deficiency in heating power of the highly
bituminous class where, for example, the ratio of fixed to
volatile eomhusiible is nearly one of e(puility, or, as 1 to 1 ;
and the increasing evaporative power as we approach the
free burning bituminous and the anthracite class, might na-
turally conduct us to this conclusion.*

*To verify completely this principle, a full series of ultimatr analyses was re-
quired, anJ ihronirli the tardiness of the American, we have now to thank the
British Government for supplying the data necessary for at leant a partial verifica-
tion of this important principle. The writer can take to himself no share ot the
blame for thus allowing; foreigners to anticipate us in an important investigation. —
He has, since the Report on American coals was rendered, repeatedly brought to

To show the value of llie researches hy the method of ulti-
mate analysis, and the important hearing which the results
now ohtailied on the other side of the water h:ive upon the
practical cojiipulation of heating powers, as founded on the
proportions of carhon, the lollowing table is presented:

the attention of the Navy IX'partment, the necessity, both for practical and gene-
ral usefulness, of a conlinuanee of those researches. In that Report itself, the very
points vvhicli die British e.\[)erinieniers have evidently labored with the greatest
care, were signali/ed as tiie parts which for want of time and of appropriations,
were, aniong the American researches, left in an unfinished condition ; and it waa
expressly stated that they were so left on account of the pressing urgency of the
Department to be in possession of the practical results of the investigation. To ag-
gravate the disappointment, and seemingly in disregard of the desire which had been
expressed in many quarters for the continuation of the American experiments, the
authorities having contiol of the Washington Navy Yard, allowed the valuable
apparatus, constructed with so much care and expense, to be dismantled and vir-
tually destroyed, the boiler cut up and applied toother puipoaes, the appendages
Bcattered and rendered useless, and even the collections of numerous specimens of
coal, preserved from all the samples for future analysis, distribution and compari-
son, to be turned into the common stock of fuel, and burned up by the workmen!

It is within the knosvledge of the writer that numbers of applications have been
ma'Je to the (Government from different parts of the country, desiring ihal his ex-
periments on coal should be continued. Before tlii« can be done, it will be neces-
sary to reconstruct the apparatus thus allowed to be destroyed. Some part of
the means which would have been necessary for the prosecution of the researches
must now be employed in reproducing the apparatus. By an estimate of the En-
gineer of the Navy Yard, this will cost about .n,'{,(I(10. But no pecuniary appro-
priations can ever restore the valuable collection of specimens thus allowed to be
hopelessly destroyed.

120

TcfhJe exhihiting the coals arranged in the order of the per
hij the (tmihjsis of average specimens, and the evaporative
the data being found in the respective tables at page 1 1 and

! ,

1 m

■ill I

Name of Coal.

Per centnge of Average per

Carbon by
analysis.

cent, of Car-
bon.

«.
7.
9.

9.
10.
11.
12.

IS.

14.
If;.

k;.

17.

18.
19.
2U.
21.

23.

21.
25.

20.
27.

28.
21).

Park Eiid.Lydney (l'orebtofPean)i
Coleshill , '

Dalkeiili Jewel Seam...
Portlunawr Rork Vein.

t r •■•# • *

Three-quarter Rock Vein.,

Wail.senil Elgin

Dalkciili Coronation Serm.
Cwni lNianty-gro8......

Resolven , ,

f'onlet Splint ,

Grangemouth

Wylanj's Patent FueJ.

Slieverdach Anthracite.

Bedwas „.., ,,

Poniypool ..,..„.,♦»,...„.

Brooinliill

Cwm Frood Rock Vcirj.

Mynydd Newydd...,.,.,

Graigola ,..,,

Llnngenneck ,

Old Castle Fiery V*'iH.

Wnrd's Fiery Vein.
BellV Patent Fuel.,

Dufliyu

Binea ,

Pcntrepoth ,„.,

Kbbw V;ile. .....,.,

\V'arlicl)'.s Patent Fut'l.
Aiilliriicitc, (Wf l.«li}....

7:J.52

74.r)5
74,70

75.15

7<i..')3
"6.!M
78. 3G

79. .'W

7!>..'J8
79.85
79.91

HO.U.'l
60. (il
80.70
«i.70
82.25

84.71

f4.i^7
!!<5.46
b7,G8

87,87
fe7.88

bH.2(;

{^8.72
M.78
1)0,03

yi,4t

74.15

?6,63

79.67

81.06

85.68

88.19

PO.M

Steam ttt 1 of

Coal by e.t-

periment.

8.53
8,00
7.08
7.53

8.84
8,'Ui
7.7t

e.42

9..'..*J

7.5fi
7,40

8.92

t>.b5
9.71
7.47
8.75
8.7U

9.r)2
9.:j5

8.86
8.94

1».40

8..'')3

10.14

!>.y4

(<.72
10.21

J0.<10

y.4(j

tcntagc of cnrhon which thcrj severally contain^ as determined
potvcr given by the same coal irhcn tested under the steam boiler,
12, of the Report of the British Commissioners,

Steam to 1 of

Average

Hydrogen in

Avera£»e

of coal after

Average

Steam by

fteam

excess m

eX' ess of Hy-

<le(iuctiiig

after deduct-

calculation.

power.

each coal.

drogen.

cinder.

ini» cinder.

4.88

8.98

4. It

8.34

3.20

7.10

4.3 J

7.75

7 78

4.13

8.04

8.24

4.,'i()

8.C7

4.5!)

7.8fi

3.4t

8.83

4.yo

8 35

4.30

8.45

6.51

4.7;>

10.44

4.4i>

7.<ill

4.2t

7.91

4.8G

9.74

8»C*#

4.57

8.94

8.85

3.30

10.40

S.biJ

y.99

6.11

8.04

5.-I»

9.18

r..:w

935

8.69

4.^8

9.41

9.01

5.36

10,5<>

2.!)4

9.fi«

3.1)0

8.2U

4.47

9.17

4.17

981

9.52

3.93

10. GO

5.17

e.(;5

4.59

10.73

4.51

)0.30

9.50

4.55

10.06

9.80

4.10

8.98

5.10

lO.W

5.5S

lO.GO

3.J4

9.70

9 7'»

4.17

9.98

1000

From the above table we may, without deducting for the
residual cinder, derive the relation of the steam-generating
power of the coals to the amount of their carbon constituent.
Thus the—

^fi.

III

122

SteatR, I»y Strom bjr Diff'-renc*' of
Cnrbon. exp^rinifnt, catcniaiion exj»'i&.calcu'n.

Ist cloM four coaU 74 15 per cent., 7.«i^ pounds, »s 03 pounJs, •— .'J.'i
ad " fiiuf " "«i*i3 " 8:i.> " «'»7 " -(-y<*

3d " /fl«r " ?l».«7 " H»;.i " 8t;0 " +.»5

4th " /Ire " 81(16 « 8H9 " 875 " +14

6th " four " f'»>ii* " 9 17 •• l»r>5 " —M
fith " four " t*«»3 " iliM " U:*! " —01

7«h " futir " w»9i» " y.:5 " y.75 " +.(M»

Thp 4 positiv*- (liiffrences ainotint to H--27

Tfae3 negative " " —•"*■*

Total average difllrcnce — -U^

The accordance between these results is rcmarUahIc, wljcn
we consider that no nocount is taUen in flio calculations
of the Hritish experimenters of the moisture iii the corjl; ami
Avhcn it is recoUectctl that two coals of the .series aj-e true
anthracites, the hurnin;? of which ahvay.s involves the exi^'ll-
diture of more of its heatin«^ power on the products of com-
bustion than is demanded by citlicr tlje frcehurriinj; or the
highly bituminous coals,

Tliough the table presents some deviations amo!i<;f the in-
dividual coals from the law, tlutt an increase of the carbon
constituent of coa! is attended by a proiwrtional increase
in its evaporative ctiiciency» yet by grouping a lew together,
the deviations essentially neutralize each others ctlccts, and
the hnv which the writer had demonstrated willi respect to
a few coals of high bituminousness, can now be extcji<lcd to
all classes of bituminous coals and to anthracites.

One consideration may serve, in part, to explain any dis-
crepancies among the individual sam])l('S of coa! wiui.di may
present themselves in com])aring the members of the !?'eries.
now midcr review. Besides carbon, considered as a solid
fuel, the sulphur in coal, by combining with oxygen to
form sulphurous acid, gives out, a notable quantity of heat,
sunicient in some cases to cause spontaneous combustion.
The proportion of sul]»hur to oxygen in that compound
is 1(5 to 1(5, (SOg,) and tlie vapor of sul|)ln)rous rieid beiufj
very heavy, (only i of the volume of hydrogen.) this mate-
riafdoes not, like hydrogen, (see Report on Auieriean <'oals,
page 5!>(),) consume, in assuming the gaseous form, all the heat
given out in burning into sulphurous acid.

It may further be remarked, that thediscrepanciesobserva-
ble among the averages arc (|iu!e within the errors of obser-
vation ; and though it might be expected, that in associating
them into groups, the etleet would i)e to neutrali/e tliese errors,
yet it is possible, that in regard to a whole group, the frrors
niav all be in one direction.

128

Thh devclopemcnt finally sets asulc the old calculations
about the r«'l:iTivc heating powers of the carbon and of the
hy(Ii'ojj:on in coats. Hy \\u^ prituiiple of that calculation, any
coal hu\ ini^ a high ilogrec of hituniinoti.sness, ought, in con-
Setjucrico of the largo projjortion of hydrogen in its bitumen,
to possf'sjj a much higtior heating power than any coal of
lower hituminousness. An inspection of the table wiUxhow
the reverse rf this to be true. Tlie higher the bituminousiics!«,
or in Older vvords, the greater the proportion of volatile mat-
ter a coal contains, the less is its available heating power.
The fact has been pointe<l >ut in former publications of the
writer, that when solid hydrogcm (that being its state ineoa!)
is converted by the ellcct of heat into gas(>ous hydrogen, It
requires I'or this change a large amount of heat, as experi-
menlijlly proved in the manufacture of illuminating gas.
The hydrogen thus brouglit to (he gaseous state, assumes the
same bulk at a given teM»i)erature, say ailiJ^*, as it will retain
at the same temper.-iture when converted into the vapor of
water under atmos})heric pressure ; and, conseciuentJy, unless
we can suppose the capacity for heat of gaseous liydrogen,
bulk for l>ulk, ^o be greater than (hat of the vapor of water.
We can conceive no reason why it should give out more heat
in combining with oxygen, than it had taken up in being con-
vened inio gas. The iiril ish Commissioners rel'er to this view
of (lie subject,* but do not clearly express an opinion of its
validity.

For'unately, their silence is of the less importance, as
their own experimetits furnish abundant proofs of the cor-
rectness of the principle. In order more clearly to exhibit
the independence of hydro^fn efficierict/ in computing heating
powers from analysis, we liave placed in the above table the
per centage of hydrogen found in each sample of coals From
this eolumu the averages are deduced, and a glance will show
that .so far as any law or relation is perceptible, the coals of

• At piige 19 of the Hritish Report, tile $)rinciple that gaseous Jevel )petnenl is a
cause of c'ooliiitr, !)inl that tt»e heal expended on roiivertiiig a material info gas,
may be just eijual to wiiat it will ufteivvaids j,'ive out in burning, is recogniied in
the foliowiiif^ tcriiis:

"If, hy (Jcstiuctive di9til!ation,whicf» orcorsiii ftirnaces before coiiibuBtion, n farge
quantity of the constituents of the coal are rendered gaseous, so much heat is rs-
pended in this act that the heat developed hy their alter combustion i» frequejuly
not greater ihaij that abstiactei durin<,' their formation, in which case a ihcriijo-
Ceutrality occuts."

Thisshouhi have rendered the coniiiussioners cautiotts in admitting the hydrocen
constituent into so large, or, ind.vd, into any participation in the h«ating fiower.
They say, that "lor steam purposes, it waa siiffictent to de termint; the percentage of
coke, as stated »ii table 11." S?te above p. 75.

f
I

I? I

124

hi«?!iest hcntin? powers nrc t!iosp which hav« the lowf^st per*
centnpc of hydrogen. Thus the four eorils which have a heat-
ini;? power of 7.78, have excess of hydrogen, 4.1 »; the four hav-
ing a heating power of 0.17, have of hydrogen in excess, i.l7.
It will also he noted that an inlermediatc ch-iss of coals having
a heating power of 8.()5 has a higher per cent age of hydrogen
than either of tlje ahove, viz, 4.57. This is as we might ex-
pect to find it, if the hydrogen he truly without edicieney in
tlic practical use of coal. Indeed, the hydrogen appears Ironi
the practical tests thus far adduced, no more to merit conside-
cration as an element of evaporative etrieiency in a coal, than
an equal weight of silica, alumina, oxide of iron, or other inert
substance found in its eartliy residium or ash,

E.^RTHY RESIDUES OF THE COALS.

In computing t!ie quantity of coml)ustihle matter in the
coal burned, it is safer to adopt the result of analysis by the
furnace than of that by the crucible. In several instances,
both in the American and British researches, it appears that
wide discrepancies existed between the per centages of abso-
lutely incombustible matter, as proved by these two methods
of analysis. Thus the British Commissioners found by their
laboratory analyses, and by the weighing and analyzing of
the residues from the furnace, the following proportions of
waste or absolutely incombustible matter. ^

Name of Coal.

*• •• •♦••••ta*» I

putlVyn .

Oldciifitle fiery Vein...

Ward's Fiery V«jh

Bin^a

Llaf)ceiinefk

MyiiydU Newydd

Tlnee-qusrier Ruck Vein..
Pentrefi'iin...

Park Ki»il

PeJitrf{)oth

Cwm t'rood Rock Vein,..

Welch Authrac.te....

Cwiu Naniy-gros

Wylam's Patent Fuel

• * • ••••••••■•>*'

~7.
.*)

«;

10
I 6
UO

!3
G

t>4

2(i
M
,04

.!»«;

.54

.•2i

.<k;

.OR

.3(i

*' At

:i.78

•2M
<i.2.')
4.77
1.2i\
G.13
4.4fi
14.22
3.20
7,44
5.b2
(5,10
4.2.'»
a. 43

I .it

Nome of Coal.

c
5^^

(Iraiigeinouth ■ 3.

Brooiiiliiil >j 3.

Rrsolven ' 9.

Foi ty Pool j .'">.

Hedwns ...' (J.

Forih Mawr ,14.

Wnrhcli's Patent Fuel...; 2.

Ebbw Vale ..| I .

Fordel Splint I 4.

Coleshill ' 8

Klievardngh Anthracite,., 10

Wnllsend Elgin 10

Dalkeith Coronation 3

^i2

(17
41
.'■)2

Dalkeith Jewel Seam.
Bell's PatetU Fuel

.91
.50
.00
.i)2
.SO
.70
.10
.37

£ s
•2 S

3.37
lAl'J
l.HO
«.!)!
3.22
«,75
4.17
2.51
I.Ofi
4.88
1.74
2.31
3.99
3.10
4.73

tJ«

'« -

t V

_ «

•

s s

kl »*

^ 3

t.>~

- »

•« J3

R -^

S<-

^ n

— a»

•- 3

^-«

-ia

3.37

l.(it)

l.HO

"jSi

«.!)!

!»l

3.22

C.TS

4.17

;■)()

2.51

I.Ofi

[)2

4.88

1.74

2.31

3.99

3.10

l)G

4.73

135

From this table it appears that the avcrapre quantity of
earthy mutter foiuul iu tlii^sc coal.s by tlic atuilysls of tlu; la-
boratory was 5.7(J per cent., am! that the average adbnlcd by
the rc'sitlucsof tlie furnace was 4.<>v> per cent., or one-lifth less
than !)y tlie operations of the laboratory. A small (luantity
of <iust no doubt escapes at the top of the chimney ; but it is
not credible that so large a part as this should be lost in. that
way, especially as the length of horizontal flue was so great.
It \vill l)e observed, that the (jaantity of ash given by analy-
ses in theThree-fiuarter Uoclv Vein.Bedwas, Torthmawr, and
Coleshill, was more than twice as great as that given by the
furnace; in Park End, Lydney,it was three limes; in Fordel
8plint, it was nearly four times; in Walsend Elgin, four-and-
a-half times; in Resolven, live times; and in Slievardagh
Anthrrjcite, .six times as great. I3ut it will not fail also to be
noted, that in one or two cases the reverse variation took
place, 1 lie furnace yielding a much larger residue than the
crucible ; and that of the whole series of coals thirteen gave
higher residues when burned on the large scale of practice,
and seventeen when incinerated over a lamp. The danger
of leaving some part of the carbon nnconsumed in this Inttcr
case, and the necessity, even in the muUle, of peculiar precau-
tions against such a result, are known to all who are familiar
with the analysis of coal.'^.

h\ the American experiments twenty-six samples gave
higher per centage of earthy matter by the operations of the
furnace than by those of tiie crucible, and only nine .samples
gave a contrary preponderance.

Tlie average by the furnace is 17.27 per cent, greater than
that i'ound in the laboratory. The AiiuM-ican coals apj)eart<>
be either naturally more lughly charged with earthy matter,
or to have been so mined as to contain lp\'ger proportions of
slaty matter than the IJrilish. In the American Report will
be found several cases in which the coal supplied to eommerce
proved much more impure than tliat obtained from the same
mines, when sent by the proprietor-s expressly fur ihc purpose
of being tested.

As nearly all the samples of British coals were mined ex-
pressly for the purpose of the " Admiralty coals investigation,"
it is fair to presume that at least the full share of attention
was given to free them from slate and other impurities.

The following table exhibits the results of the American
experiments on the quantity of earthy nmttcr:

' 126

i ! i

1 i

■

«•

Name of Coal.

a; 8

6 "

c ,

6 s

B<»avrt M*a^ow,s!ope3.., I».8(;r>, 7,1152

Beaver !\I«,'fnIow, slope 5..J tJ.Kift; 5,149

For('«t Iii)prov*-ment 3. ().")()' •I.'IM

Pench Mountain * fi..'>.'>:i fi,lt2r>

Lackavvnuusi j 4.t'tCt!i ♦>.4n

LyluMi's Valley ' 5J>'M) !^^»iVJ

Natural Cnke ' CeWU-b:}*!

NVw Vork and Maryland I

Minint; Companies 18.()i34 12.40*'

NelpK Cumberland coal..,; ii.iilii H>.34;i
Easby's " i-oal in store"...; .I.ti.-^H e.<)H3|

Name of Coal.

e .

e o

Ctiff'ft Deep Run jlO.OOO 10.475

Crouch &. Snoad j H.T:2(» 14.u'80

Midlotliian. 1)00 fl. shaft KJ.fSCO 10.467

Creek Company's i ;'».;«:>!> H..'»?a

Clov«T Hill j .'..:«:JJ 10.1.1-2

Clu'sterfield liliniiiy Co.. A.-l'.'."* H. <).'<•!

IMidlotl'.ii'iT.overagf 4.. 'iST 14.737

Tippncnnw • H.Mia ♦l.,174

.Midlothian, new shaft,.. 7. 514 I».440

Midlothian siTt?enetl j ^;.li^."^ i>.(ia5

rictou, (N. y. samj)lc.V 2..-»l,', l-t.-lHS

Atkinson ifc TemplenianV .'5.4 !(> 7.,1*J4'I Sidiipy, C B 'l'}.)HO fi.d'K'i

Easby (fc Smith's t S.^i,');) S.aoll Pirtoii, (Cmiard'a »>W.) 10.747 \-J.:>m

Dauphin &L Susquehanna.ni.OK'U.dtMi Liverpool 1 'JI.U.'IO 4.<i:J2

Biossbur^ ' y..*12:5 l(>.7:.'i[ Newcastle ' l.>.^■(l<l

Lycoming Creeh ;10.:i;i(l l.'l.fHil" Scotch 'in..'i!>7

Karthaus ' ft.HH.'* 7.00(1 i Fittshurp ! .'1.71.'".

Cambria Coamy .12.200, 3.150;; CanneU»«n { ii.Kll

."♦..IMS
(♦..1^8
7.074
4.974

Ayprage..........,„„.....„ T^Tfiri 9.HJ4

Thf general avera<>e pei* oentafjeof earlhy matter in tltirty-
five American .and thirty British samples *as dediictul rrom
operations in the two mod".s-, may bo .Mated hs f'oIUm-.s:
35 American in laboratory, 7.7<», in steam h(»ilcr furnace 0.10
30 British " 5.*(J, ** ** 4.03

Differences 2.00 4.38

This establislies the fact that the Bntish sample.s v ere
frceer from earthy matter than thtt American. In both ihe
Briti.sh and American rep<)rts .vcveral analyses of ashes are
given, and will be fouutl at p. CJtiof the ibrnier, and oUUuf the
latter document.

USE OF WOOD IN lir..\TINC UP THE nOtI.EB AND Pl'RNAC'K.

In the American experiments, wood was ^^mployinl to kin-
dle the fire and to raise the temperature. «f the brick work of
the .setting of the boiler nnd its contents to that temperature
at which the operations were to he carried on. After at-
taining this temperatm-e the wood was withdrawn and its
place supplied with coal, .so much clinrcoal only being let) on
the grate as was barely suincicnt to ignite tht mineral coal.

I fi

..•};>9

127

In thft British <»xperim«nt^ wood wns employed <>»\1y to
kin«Uo the (ire, :uul then it l»cciim« nc<'«'ss:iry to (Ii\ idr the
coal burned into two portions, oim of whicli was considered
as employed solely in raising; temperature, and tlic other in
both trvaporutiu^' and raising temper at are. This mode of
rxperimenlins; complieates, to 'UHue degree, tlie ealcidntioTi
of evaporative ellieiency, a» aheady noted. One ehinent in
every d:ty*s eahnihslioa will !)e t!je*he;itin<; up of the lurnaec,
and 'the 'material of the boiler; at»d sin<'c the weight of
iron in a !>t)iter is very eonsideralde, and as every nine
pounds of iron reipiire as much heat to raise their tem-
perature as one pound oi' waler, the total ealeulatcd effi-
ciency of the fuel eiiimot fail to hv in some degree atlecledhy
the omission lo tal.e aceount of tlie weight and sijeeillo heat
of the h()ih>r, esj)ecially when mueh dilference of tenjperature
existed between its initial and its linal temperature.

We may in this connexion again refer to tltc per ccntagcs
of moisture in many of the santples of British eoal, as deter-
mined by analysis, hi the American experiments, this ele-
ment wa*s ascertained, not only by analysis, but also by lieat-
iiig Jo iil-^i^ for several days, in a 'drying api)aratus heated by
steam, twenty-eight or thirty pounds of the coal as it was
found on the days of trial in the furnace. The loss of
weight by this treatment was the element principary relied
upon in the calculations of the eliicicney of the t'utihu tiblc
VuilUr,

Including the two Dalkeith coals, which yielded as above
stated, {>..*}() and 5.S8 per cent, of moisture, wc have the fol-
lowing pretty high per ccntagcs of moisture to ollset agJiinst
the small number on page 10, (British Report,) given by the
eommissioners, and ot» which they base the remark that the
hygroscopic moisture in coal is very small.

Ol4t Castif Fiory Vein 7 40

W.jrd's I'itry Vein .'« 08

Llangt'iiiitciv..... ....o -t'ti

IttfSolvfn , l..);»

Portlim!\wr Uock Vein l."0

C«.l<'fliill •»»«

Dalkeith Jewel t) «'!

Dallieith Coronation.... .....^ .'» S9

\Vall?eiul Kl^rin *J.l»

Fordel Splint H.40

Graiigetnouth fi-12

Krooiiihill » •''!

Lyiiney 2 "^

SlieverUacli Anthracite 4.'J3

In the above coals, it would be exceedingly intcn sting to
have a computation of the cflect of the combustible matter
when freed from moisture. Thei-e is water thrown upon the
grate more than suflieient to mask the cflect of the small quant i-
ty of wood used in kindling, and also some of the diflerences
between the iuiliul and tinal temperature of water in the
boiler.

198

'tl

erSt'lAL COMPARMOX or RT:SI'I.T« op AMRRtC.tV ASn BRITIfll EXPE-
RIMENT* OX COAL5» OP 8»MIJ,Att CONSTITLTJUX.

The 0>I!owinjj fahlo gives a syno])ticul viirw of ihc compo-
tiition.cvnporatinp: power, behavior in the iurnacc, ."iiid rciluc-
tivc cdicit'Ucy of twelve samjiicK of coal, arranged in aix pairs,

TahJe of results of American and Itritijth

r .

%•

•

-§

•

e
8

•

.M tl

«•

o
U
**«

Name of Coal.

■it

'S
in u

•2- =

c s

3 I.

■s s.

3
2

S.2.'

. 4;

i, i

•*
«.*

rt o

n '■^

s b ' *• •-

= c^

aj .

^ V

1 «,

IJ _

rs ftj

B
s

'Si

'0
3.01

2"
"5
73

4 Scotch ,.,,

{ Dalkeith Jewfl....

94.95

51.0!)

.5;)8 43.8 1

H5.(i5

38.84

0.3(1

48.81

l.:i77

tOAii vj.m

.W5 4t9.'-

-.9.98

9.3(.

40.84 0.3?.15.43

i Newcastle, Eii";...

I sr.T

78.54 50.79

.047 44.08

51. M

2.01

35f.l) 0.23 5f;.n9

( Brotmihill, "

i.25

77.y9 53.5U

.(J73 4:J.(i7

Jd.55

9.31

31.49 U.85^5G.13

I Midlothian new

•] shnft

( Cwm FrooJ Uocii

I na:*

fsi2 8l'.J7.9() .'■>S14r.7(l

7:}.8r^

o.r,7

3.1 49 2.L>8'5(;.40

i.ijj.'.

7d i9 55.:2S ."iW 4U.5-,'

U.W

l.l;!

3U.0t I.i2:Jj(i;JfcO

C Atkinson & Tcni-
■ ptemnn, Md.,,.
( tbbw Vale

1 '•

in in

fi'i.QO 52 0-,> .GI4 5:inn

55 1-J

0.45

15 53 '7fi.«19

I.:-'::)

7a.6i 53.30

.ii7<i JrJ.aii

15.9^

i:.\\

•JI.J(i

1.0J>j7ii.Ott

< Lyken's Valley. Ta

1 ns.-)

8fi 82 48.r.()

.5.'')9 4fi.l.1

78.79

o.n

<T.79

0.91 Wei

«J

I Llangenueck

1.375

65.78 58.25

.(J793d.45

47.9(1

:>.H7

4.iJ3|0.79 9l3a

I Denver Meadow,

^ slope .'»,ra

( Slievarilagli, Irish.

1 f).*!

9(1.9.1 5(7.19 .:>:!» no P»'73.f> 1

(t.P!)

rj.fiit n.f)n9or».'>

LiDO

99.57

tiS.t^O

.G3035.(j(:
1 1

58.551

4.93

5.47

ii.;(i

7y.30

I ;

ERR.^TA.

The writer mentions the followitjfj errors in the British Re-
port, not ?)y any means in a captiou.s .spirit, or with any virw
to cast discredit on thi.s highly valuable document, but mere-
ly io enable those into whose hands the ori<i:inaI may cojue,
CO read it, after applying the corrections}. He docs not permit

129

the first. S!\mplc in Pficli pair being tnltcn from tlie Amorlcfin,
and tlie sci;on(l from tli»; Hrilish sericfi. As thn Scotch and
Nt;wcastlo samples of the American scries were piirt^hascd
in New Yorli^ nothing' isof course certainly knownof the par-
ticular rnino or scam from which thoy were severally taken.

trhh of Cmh of compnraf>fr. (jnalities.

49,8(t

conn
59. ^u

9.10!)
92.90 1

a
w

■9

bi)

« o
J3 a.

2 &ij

3
0*

!>.31 l.'J57 10. n
4.37 1. 112 10.30

5.10 l.fiO
3.07 1.78

(J.OO

•J.os*

■a ■

3
O

»3

•0

8.03

y.u

(.(pO

« 9 i 3r)3.8 7 72
7.08 352.58 7.42

8.f.i;i43!t.r)!» 9.13
8.75 459.37 8.9G

o.
v

M
cs

a
o

o
u
to
ca

C
a
w

10.19

4.(55'

5.03
2.05

o
u

« I

•3
C

o
u

U •

-3 3
? ■■5

-^ a

a o

a ■:i

> -3
V (9

a 60

8.75 418.01

8.70; 4^0 9(1

9.75
9.07

7.13 4.94 ; 7.33 10.70
1.50 3. 5'J ■ 3.07 10.21

n.25' 12.34
1.52! 2i. 00

' 35. 3 f

C.J)2

8.05,

9.40
y.4(!

50 . n.(

544.19; 10.53

459.50
505.02

10.79

9.83

R.OT 9.B8 550.11 m.W

50.0(; 10.801 14.08 y.22 9.851018.58 U. 09
I i I 1 ) I

5.08; 3.M
2.40, 0.33

10 20 4.21
4.11, 1.7^

7.9.';' 2 12
3.00:0.40

12.24 4.40
a.77 0.00

558
,571

.553
,137

.421
,433

.2i;
.133

375

.000

5.0

10.09

8.05

17.08
18.33

r).12

y 20

18.00
lU.OO

27.03 895.4.1
20.42 355.18

25.32 327.53

20.79 844.38
28.30! .327.00

30 00 981.24
3 1.98! .393.33

3t. 1.5 805.81
33.48, 359.00

6.74 0..W .092 01 25 31.8.5' 091.40
2.00' 0.90 ..322 59.00130.101473.18
I i I 1 I

himself to doubt that his own report may, with all the care
which was bestowed upon it, be found to contain some errors :

Of Ward's fiery vein, it Is said (p. 5!), British Ileport,) that
"5.*.2 p:ramtnesh)st of moisture, O.K).'}^ 1.38 per cent." Now if
M'e are not greatly in error in our calculations

^^f ^* =0. 1 m^ 1 3.8 per cent.

■Itt

130

Also, of Old Ciistlr fiery vein, it is snid (pnjjo T)"^) that
2. i:n t lost at 2Vi' 0.18 ; i\\u\ at piigc 10, this coal is put down

as liavinj? lost 0.71 per cent. Now ^^ =0.074, or 7.1 p. ct.

At pnge 10, Ihc formula
(W — Ev + w — ir') I + Wf + ;/;/' + (/«' -- w) t" '

K', sljouUi

read ^^^-"~" -^ ''' t "' — "')' + ^^' ' + "^^' + ('"' ~J'') '" '_ F*

One pound of I^roomliill eoal is, in l.-ddes on jjngos II and 15,
rejjresenled to have evaporated 1M lbs. of Mater from 'Jlii",
and the snme nundjcr is foinid in llie snuuiiary, p:ipe '.V.) —
-while on page .'{^ in flic delniled stalemenl of tlu; resulls of
trials of that eoal, the weights of water evnporaled [X'r pound
of eoal from 'Jit)^, on the rcspeetivc days, are 8.,')'), O.O-J and
8.7, making the true averages 8.7."). In table, page II, the
cfTect ol' ihc error just noicd, is extended lo the lOlh and
11th columns, where the evaporation, after allowing for the
nneonsumed fuel in the residue, is made 7.()(; instead of 0.18.

This error was (list detected by observing a want of con-
formity bt'tween the composition of the coiil and its evaj)ora-
tive power.

Old Castle Fiery Vein is, in the tahles, n^presenlcd as hav-
ing produced of steam to one of coal, from 2112", M.jil ; where-
as in the table, page 127, of daily experiments, we have 8.05,
8.0-2, and 0.72, of which the mean is 0.00.

In the table, page 20, the average irci<^Iit of .soot per day in
the flues, after burning about 'U)0 lbs. of coal jicr day, is put
down at 7.') lbs. This is presumed to be an error of the press
for 0.75 lbs.

In the detail of the trial of Ebbw Yale coal, (l^rilish Re-
port, p. Ui.) the weight of soot ])ut down in the table, is 7 lbs.
for ench days burning. This is doubtless another error i'rom
omission of the decimal point. It should stand 0.7 lb., instead
of 7 lbs.

In computing the column I (per cent age of residue of the
coals) in the summary, on ])agc IM), of their rcj)ort, the com-
missioners have divided the sum of the ashes, cinder, and
soot, i/tinus the weight of clinker, by the weight of coal burned.
In the other summary, at pnge 18, which is, in fact, a ])art of
the same tai)le, they have taken the same sum, (but sometimes
omitting the soot,) pins the w^eight of the clinker lor a divi-
dend. The first of these methods of calculation a])pears to
be in accordance with the foot note, at page 52. But the sc-

131

coml will }?lvfi trtio rosiills, if wo suppose (Imf under flir hoad
ofciiulcr iiillK! second piirt (pa^e IN) llicy li:ivc incliidf<l oidy
tliiit i)art ol' fho <'ind{M- which is left after dediietini? the elinUer,
viz. the roJic. We are not expressly informed which of these
modes of calculation oii;,'ht to he applied. This and somo
oilier discrepances appear to have arisen from the change of
assistants durini; the in\ est i^alioJi.

In compntini? the per cenfai;e of rosldue in the coal of
Lydnev. lN)nfyi);)ol. and rorlhiniwr, the wtM-hl of soot is
omitted from the ealcidation, whih^ it is incliid(«(l jienerally
in caleiilalinj,' the waste matter of the other coals, and a con-
jectural (plant it V of soot appears to have heen added, in the
case of r.ell's patent fuel, and Warlich'.^ prvtent, fuel, \yhcre
the detailed tahles of ()[)ei'ations do not ;L;ive any. Trivial as
these differences in calculation miudit at first seem, they as-
sume a considerahle importance in vie'v of the use which
must ])e inade of them, \\\w\\ we wish to calculate the hoat-
\\\% power of the combust ihle matter in the coals, divested of
their respective useless or prejudicial constituents.

At pag-e n, under August "id, 1st day, opposite to M'eight
of coals consumed, we have \'\ lbs. — an obvious error, but
what the true nundjcr of pounds is, we have no means of de-
termining — we suppose it to be VM).

In the table, on page 18, British report, column IT, oppo-
site Ebbw N'ahs has 7.10, which ought to be lO.C) I ; and the
same column opposite to Dalkeith Coronation Seam, has 78.G;
an evident misprint for 7,H(').

At page 17, against W(!ight of clinker in cinder, we have
8 lbs., instead of .8 lbs., wliich latter is proved to be the true
number ])y the per contagcs in column I, page 48, against
Dalkeith .Tewcl and Coronation Seams.

SYNOPTICAL TAIILU OF AMERICAN COALS.

We will terminate this comparison between American and
British experiments, by placing before the reader the general
synoptical table of the American results preceded by the
classification of the coals according to those general charac-
ters which are found to distinguish them.

132

CLASS I.

ANTHRACITES NATURAL COKE ARTIFICIAL COKE MIXTURES.

?'i

SAMPLES.

No. 1. Beaver Aleadow, slope No. 3.

2. Beaver Meadow, slope No, 5.

3. Forest improvement.

4. Peach Mountain.

5. Lehigh,

6. Lackawanna.

7. Lyken's valley.

8. Beaver Meadow, (navy yard.)

9. Natural coke, (Virginia.)

10. Coke of Midlothian (Virginia) coal.

11. Coke of Neff''s Camberland coal.

12. Mixture i Midlothian and } Beaver Meadow.

13. Mixture } Cumberland and } Beaver Meadow.

General duiracters.

The anthracites have specific gravities varying from 1.30
to 1.61 ; retain their form when exposed to a heat of ignition,
and undergo no i)ropcr intumescence while parting with the
small portion of volatile matter which they contain ; or, if
changed at all, are only disintegrated into angular fragments.
Their flame is generally short, of a blue color, and conse-
quently of little illuminating power. They are ignited with
difficulty ; give an intense concentrated heat ; but generally
become extinct while yet a considerable quantity remains
unburnt on the grate.

CLASS n.

FREE-BURNING BITUMINOUS COALS OF MARVLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.

SAMPLES.

Maryland Coals.

No. 1. New York and Maryland Mining Company.

2. Nell's.

3. Easby's " coal in store."

4. Atkinson and Templeman's.

5. Easby and Smith's.

2. Cumberland, (navy yard.)

rURES.

3m 1.30
ignition,
A'itli llie
11 ; or, if
igments.
I consc-
fetl with
enerally
remains

VLVANIA.

133

Peimstjlvanift. Coals.

7. Dauphin and Susciuehanna.

8. Blossburg.

!). Lycoming creek.

10. Quin's Run.

11. KarthauH.

12. Cambria county.

General characters.

In specific gravity, coals of the free-burning class fall a
liitle below the anthracites, ranging from l.t>8 to l.U. Iheir
mean weight per cubic foot is, however, only two-thirds ot a
pound less than that of the first class. As they contain but
a small portion of matter to be vaporized, they soon come to
the temperature of full ignition. The considerable increase
of volume which they take in coking, favors the subsequent
rapid and effective combustion of their fixed carbon. In some
cases, especially when brought very gradually to ignition,
their masses of coke scarcely cohere, and the original torms
of their lumps are in a measure preserved.

CLASS III.

BITCMINOUS CAK-rNfi COALS FROM THE EASTERN COAL FIELD OF VIR-
GINIA IN TUB NEKJHBORIIOOD OP RICHMOND.

SAMPLES.

No. 1. Barr's Deep Run.

2. Crouch & Snead's.

3. Midlothian 5)00 feet shaft, (average.)

4. Creek Company's.
:,. Clover Hill.

(). Chesterfield Mining Company's.

7. Midlothian average.

8. Tippecanoe.

9. Midlothian " new shaft."

10. Midlothian screened.

11. Midlothian, (navy yard, Washington.)

General Characters.

The ran'-'e of specific gravities in this class is nearly the
same as in^that of the free-burning coals ; but the averaire is
rather less. The average weight per cubic foot is also less

i}\

■ ':' ' 4i

lii

134

by about 3.5 ponnds, These coals burn witb a long flnmc and
much smoke— si viuf? ^ri intumesoent, coherent coke, preserv-
ing nothing of the oiiginul form of (he coal.

CLA.SS iV,

FOREKJN BrTlMrNnfJl COALS, ASH TltOiJE OF SIMILAR CONSTITUTION
WEST OF THE AM*K<:HA?iY MDl'XTAiNP.

SAMPLES.

Foreign Cuith.
No. 1, Pictoii, (purchased in New York.)

2, Sidney.

3, Picfou, (Canard's.)

4, Liverpool.

,5. Newcastle. '

6. Scotch.

Couh from west of the Alh^hany Mountains.

7. Pinsl)urg.

8. Canaehon, (la.)

General charactns.

In mnnv respects, this class of coals bears a. strong analogy
to the pi-t^'ccding. The ratio of the tixed to the volatile com-
bustible matter, is, however, something less. The exterior
presents often a resinous lustre. The surfaces of deposition
are easilv developed by fracture. Great facility of ignition,
and a high degree of activity in the combustion of their vola-
tile consM^iluents, are also general peoperties of this class.
Their high proportion of volatile combustible matter renders
these coals, when nearly free from sulphur, eminently suita-
ble ibr the production of illuminating gas; and the tendency
of their cokes, with few exceptions, to intumesence strongly,
renders them, in common wiih the precedinjr class, highly
serviceable in forming large hollow^ tires for smithing purposes.

[See Tahle opposite.]

The following remarks from p. 598, Report on American
coals, are still applicable to the subject :

As every sample of coal has been allowed a fair oppor-
tunity to exhibit its own distinctive charactes\ it M'ouid be
useless to attempt to subslilute for the results of practical
experimenis, on such a scale as is here presented, any mere

Oenei

Designation of coat.

....Pa.
....Pa.
....Pa.

>
a

c
'J.

Beaver Meadow, slope No. 3.
Beaver Meadow, elope No- 5.
Forest Improvement............

peach Mountain Pa.

Lehigh Pa

Lackawanna..,.. .- ......•« ^a.

Lyken's Valley , Pa-
Beaver Meadow, (navy yard).,. Pa.

Natural coke of Virginia...,.,,.. Va.

Coke of Midlothian coal Va.

Coke of Neff's (Cumberland) coal...Va.
Miiture, one-fifth Midlothian and four-

fifths Beaver Meadow... .,

Mixture, one-fifth Cumberland and four-
fifths Beaver Meadow

New York and Maryland Mining Com-

pnny's > ..Md.

Neff's Cumberland ^'i^-

Ea9by's"Coal in-Store" Md.

Atkinson & Templeman'a .....Md.

Easbyfc Smith'" Md.

Cumberland, (navy yard) Md.

Dauphin and Susc]uehanna...... Pa.

Blossburg P"-

Lycoming Creek........... ......Pa.

Quin's Run ••.•• Pa-

Karthaus •.- Pa-
Cambria County......... Pa.

Barr-s Deep Run Va.

Crouch & Snead'3.... Va.

Midlothian, (900 feet shaft.) \a.

Creek Company's coal ,„,... Va.

Clover Hill V»-

Chesterfield Mining Company 8 va.

Midlothian, (average)...... Va

Tippecanoe < Va.

Midlothian, ("new shaft") Va.

Midlothian, (screened) Va.

Midlothian, (navy yard) ..Va.

Pictou, (from New York) ., .N. b.

Sidney ^. S.

Pictou, (Cunard's) N. b.

Liverpool ^ng.

Newcastle...,. • •••> ^"S-

Scotch " Scotland.

Pittsburg ""t j"

Cannelton ...Ind,

Dry pine wood.-.

«««*•«#•*«««•*•* ••

General synoptical table of th^ character and efficiency of the American Coals.

Bignation of coal.

idow, slope No. 3 Va.

itlow, elope No. 5 Pa-

rovement..,.,... • *•

lUuin •••••••• "''•

,a P«.

Hey .....Pa.

idow, (navy yard). ...... ..Pa-
te of Virginia...,.,..! Va.

idlotliinn coal Va.

fff's (Cumberland) coal...Va.
me-fifth Midlothian and (our-

3ver Meadow

ne-fifth Cumberland and four-
aver Meadow

, and Maryland Mining Com-

, ,,.,,,. .......■♦•.-i'l"

nberland Md

Doalin-Store" Md.

& Tenipleman'8 .....Md.

linith'" Md.

id, (navy yard) ......,.Md.

ind Susquehanna...... Pa.

Creek. ...•..••" ........Pa.

Pa
in. .......<••• ...,..»...». .1 "•

County Pa,

ep Run .........<•. ..»«•...••• 'a.

, Snead'3 .......Va

n, (nOO feet shaft.) Va

mpany'scoal ..,...Va

ill v»

•Id Mining Company's. .....V^a.

m, (average)...... „....,... .V a

oe •■ ..-Va

in, ("new shaft")... Va,

in, (screened) Va

m, (navy yard) ....Va,

VomNew York) -N. S,

N.S

:unard's) N.S,

I... ...... ...»•»**•.«'•*••• ^"^'

le........... «•••»••••"••"■ ■.•t'"6'

Scotland,

f....... .....••••••.• •♦...**•■•**•

in.............»...»«««.«»»*""'"*'^

wood. .......,...••.. ••.••••«•'

54.9.'}
56.11)
53. 6f)
53.79
55.. 32
48.(^9
48. 5(
55.08
4G.G4
3 2.70
31.. 57

0.54G
0.580
0.581
O.-Wp
0..557
0.550
0.559

6.564

40.78

39.86

41.75

41.64

40.50

45.82

40.13

40.65

48.03

68.. "iO.

70.95

^ Cj

.a 6

2.38; 88.94

2.66, 91.47

3.07 90.75

2.96 89.02

5.28 89.15

3.91 87.74

6.881 83.84

■i2.'44!"75.*06

Ji ! a

:2 2 -

3 S

54.29......... 41.26

89.44

83.28

81.69

82.09

83.26

88.40

90.19

82.73

86.74

83.92

30.22

87.84

86.41

90.71

87.. ''.0

82.48

80.36

80.57

80.90

84.14

82.82

80.21

86.86

82.35

83.66

82.83

78.89

78.54

94.95

78.37

79.54

54. ."il

53.70

54.29

.'i3.47

52.92

51.16

53.29

.'J0..54

53.05

55.38

50.34

.')2..')4

53.46

.53.17

53.59

50.52

46.50

45.49

45.. 55

54.04

45.10

47.90

45.72

54.47

53.. 55

47.44

49.25

47. 8S

50.82

51.09

46.81

47.65

21.01

41.09

0.600

0.6.52

0.655

0.645

0.614

0.603

0.560

0.641

0.63b

0.605!

0.655'

0.608!

0.615|

0.5911

0.577

0.564'

0..566|

0.565

0.568

0.536

0..581

0.570

0.627

0.6.50

0.567

0.595

0.607

0.647

0..5.38

0.598

0.599

41.71
41.26
41.90;
42.33i

43.78

42.04!

44.321

42.22

40.45

44.50

42.631

41.901

42.13|

41.80;

44.34

48.17!

I 49.25,
49.18,
41 .45
49.67

I 46.76'
48.991
41.13
41.83
47.22
45.48,
46.78^
44.08,
43.84
47.85

47.01:

106.62

12.31;

]2.67|

14.98|

15.53

15.52

14.87

13.82

14.78

13.84

17.97

19.53

20 52

19.78

24.38

27.28

32.471

32.21|

32.63!

29.86

34.-54

35.77

34.70

29.12

27.8.'t

23.81

25.97|

39.96,

35.83:

39.19

36,76

33.99

73.50
74.53
76.26
76.69
74.29
70.85

7.11

5.15

4.41

0.13

5.. 56

6.. 35

9.25

8.10

11.83

16.55

13.34

8.88

8.18

12.40
10.34
8.08
7.33
9.30
14.98
74. 24; 11. 49
73.11:10.77
71. 53' 13. 96
72.79; 8.41
:;}.77! 7.00
69.37 9.15
67.9610.47
59.98 14.28
61.0810.47
60.30 8.57
56.83 10.13
58.79; 8.63
53.01 14.74
54.62 9.37
56.40; 9.44
.54.06 9.66
56.11 14.14
56.98 13.. TJ
67.57 5.49
60.7412.51
54.90 4.62
57.00 5.40
I 48.81 9.34
.54.93 7.07
58.44 4.97
' 0.307

37 3l|
25,36
29.75
30.09
16.87
23.13
12.34

""6!2:

3944.5
4250.5
3810.0
7371.9
38.38.2
4112.5
2471.0
1897.3
4209.0
1037.0
994.2

2050.0

2074.0

2127.

4318.4

1158.0

2318.2

4474.5

Sf?*

6,69

6.27

6.52

6,69;

6 95

6.45

6,92

4 631

8.1'"^

9 t)l

8.43

3.87

2.421

3.32

3 54'

3.27

2.67|

2.63|

5.08i

1.74

2.00

1.17

6.28
7.86
6.04
7.33
8.02

12.57
10.66
12.89
14.04
11.63
11.92
12.891
9.42
12.56
16.50
14.91

9.21

8.76| 9.80
8.92; 10 06
8,9610.11
7.73i 8.93

1.33

1.68
1.75
0.99
1.52

1.57
1.95
2.11
2,84
2.59
1.51
1.60
1.26
2.01
1.72

25.57.0
4295.0
3073.2
1883.2
3643.8
3488.5
5072.7
3834.7
3417.5
3769 6
3775.1
38'; 6.0
450G.4
4904 7
2918.5
41.32.0
1463 5
4153,9
1601.1
1962.5
3786.0
4023.0
3860.0
208.4
2465.5
2360.5

12.79
14.80
12.73
15.70
14.97

15.67

12.13

13,90

12,48

12.4

13. '2

11.65

14,51

14.88

8.35]
14,47
10.08
10. C2
13.46

10.11

8,65
8.19
8.88
9,47

5.83 3.21 10.06 7.69 8.86 481.1 8.88 4.91 9 5
7.97 2-25 12.81 7.97 9.18 498 5 8.18 3.09 16.0

.505.5

556.1

440 8

545.7

494.0

477.7

4.59.6

500.0]

395.3

282 6

284.0

1 1 .96

6.74

6.97

7.22

8.93

12.21

8.10

18-.46

16.54

13.34

9.78

9.44'

10.02

10.70

8.69 9.96

"9^.34
9.72
8.91
1027
9.09
9.24
9.02
8.34
7..50! 8. .58

524.8 12.71
512.7 10 96
535.61 8.38

566.2 7.96
511.1 9.69

14..53

472.8: 16.36
5 15.9' 11. 20

493.3 16.9'"'

1.01
0.60
0.81
3.03

1 08;
1,24
4.41
1.40
5.31
10,51
3.55

1124
612
40.2
26.6
36.1
57.2
18.0

107,1
00.9
.53.2
43.7

.32 41
33 29
33 39
33,49
28.92
33 53
32.60

32.49

517.0
477.4
486.9

8.94
7.89
9.75

7,84
8.3l|
9,84,
8.59;
8,03
10.74'|
I

li.09|
15.87

0.94
1.18
0.85
0,86
0,84
0.96

oisb

12.79
13.85
16.47
13,43
13,75
14.32
10,56
15.05
13.86

7.841

8,41

7.99

8.48

7.48

866

6,9

8,20

7.34

4.69

478.7;11.07
445 0;i4..34
403.7,10.70
.391.8 8.64
347.4' 10.60
410 9| 9.07
448.5,14.83
350.21 9.72
418,610.26

408.7110.27

4.50.6' l.il.sV
378,9' 6.01
417.912.00
,3754; 5.04
439.6! 5.68
353.8
384.1
348.8
98.6

10.462
10.592
10.807
10.871

9.626
10.764
10.788

9,881
10 389
10.343

10.381

9.725
9.997

525

30.33

.30.72

.32,69

30.06

.33.01

27.98

31.18

32,54

32.89

30.90

33,31

31.46

28.01

25.77

26.99

30..52 !

28.53

27.38

29.03

29.17

2680

21). 74

27 23

28.18

29.15

26.69

27,88

27.55

27,00

28,89

26.53

11,208
10.604
10.935
11.624
11.034

iV.ni

10,9.56
10.724
11.275

9.887
10.239
10.142
9.740
9 611
9,211
8.588
9.896
9.741
8..583
9.751
9,970

'9.716
8.497
9.648
8.255
9,178
7.719
8942
7.7.34
4.707

I 11

135

t>]

rmm/rms «r ronjcctiUTs drrlvt-d from c. bsfrvMt.on. made at
n UK Avilh no standards oninic, wd^ht, <»r n.ao-.nUule ; or
e von ru.v //.orr^/r./ c-o../..s;o..v drawn iVo.n tests, how.vor

'kiimiiv'nppiied, uuM-oiy to .in.ic hand ^i;;"-;;;;;;;^: J^ -

ben inV a ni in all these iv.scairhes to avoid matteis txtia-

ncous o the experiments themselves and to then- legitnnale

Xp nation. It has not, been deemed expedient to swell

h 5 p o t by the intrudtietiou of matters not wulun my own

C0<;'ni/ance

rhc mn.ic.roiw rcrtificatcs and ,l,.,-IaratK>ns %vbjcti, < illier
i„ \t Con., or vcpor,.. or o,ho. .>"l'li«)-i-:'.:±»' l"" ^j^

Le to time been put forth in re-ard to certain coalN may in

so in^lanres ),e entitled to consideral ion, as evidences of

he • H perior wortli; i.i olhers.of a eommendablo mdnstry

and ene ..-v on the part of the proprietors, a-enfs, directors ot

e mp n c^mid o:hevs intereste<l in their development and use.

e ^commendations have not in every instance l)een en.

relyiustiiied,it is perhaps to be taken as a new ev.de ce

n in this, as in manv other important matters, those merits

'v c have not becn'the most loiully procdaimed may, upon

due examination, be found amon^^ the most estimable and the

"ifwmtuhil to be remarked, that the justly eeleWted
forel-n bituminous coals of Newcastle, Liverpool, hco lam ,
Pictmi, and Sidney-coals which constitute the preseii^ eU-
anceo • the ""reat lines of Atlantic steamers— are fully e(iuallecl
^r n:;le'^nTassc<l in stren.:h by the -^lo^ous ccnds o^
eastern Vir-inia; that llievar.> decidedly surpassed bv a I he
f^ee-b rni .^ coals of Maryland and Vcmnsylvania; and that
an equallv decided advanlao-e in steam-cnera1.ng power is
eniovc.1 bV the nnthra.-ires over the ibrei-n coals tried whether
we consider them under equal wei-hts or equal bulks.

Kxperiment appears to <l<Mnonst rate that, lor the purpoes
of r..Lw evaporation, and for the production ol illuminating
..as the coal of Indiana, thou-h neither very heavy nor veiy
duralile, is inferior to none of the highly bituminous class to
which it belongs ; since in heating power, and '>' t^J'^m Irom
impurity, it surpasses the splint and cannel tH)al of bcotand.
Appri ..1 of the strong desire felt by the Department to be
in possession of the results of these inquiries, I have spare
no elfort to bring them to anearly conclusion, though sat islicd
i\rA in doing so the researches cannot be considered complete.
One of tire important points which it would be desu-able
further to investigate, is the proportion oi sulphur f vhich it
will be seen by the several synoptical tables, was onl> tested

136

i ■{

•Ic specimens, for a part of the series. This is ft labor
hi ell, lor reasons ah'cady assignee?,, i.' uuavoulubiy

on sins
of time, \v
left incomplete

Another point of pvaetical importanee is the imposition ol

the. earthy matter, or

ishes, of eaeh coal. On the investi^a

It is

nmd

lioii ol llus, 11 was not lound praeticahle even to enter,
of no incoiisiderabhi interest, in rehation to the metaUurgic
arts to which coal is applieable. In lieu of any researches on
this snhiect upon the samples of coal here reported, 1 be'i leave
to add 'a series of analyses of this nature, which 1 made
some years since. They are chiefly the ashes of anthracites.
One happens, however, to have come Irom the same mines
which furnished one of the samples of bituminous coai ex-
amined in this report. _ . • r t '

I cannot by any means regard the mvcslrgotwnoj Amtrican
coals as an exhausted subject. i c?* .

A '^lance at anv good geological map of the United fctates,
in which the coaf lields are laid down, will show how exceed-
inHv limited is the whole amount of space covered by tlie
several detached coal troughs from which the samples here
presented were derived, compared with the immense extent ol
that formation which covers western X'cnnsylvama and Vir-
ginia, eastern Ohio, the eastern part of Kentucky, a part of
middle Tennessee, and an undelined portion of Alabama ; ami
much more when compared with the vast tracts of coal coun-
try in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and a considerable

portion of Michigan. . ■ *r ♦

The surprising extension of steam-navigation on the west-
ern rivers and the northwestern lakes, as well as on the gulf
of Mexico and the adjacent seas, the increase of population,
and the consequent clearing of woodlands, all point signifi-
cantly to a necessity which must be felt, at no distant day, to
have recourse to mineral fuel for supplying this rapidly in-
creasing demand.

To understand the relative strength and usefulness ot the
coals from the several parts of the three great western coal
re'Hons, requires that they be examined with no less care
than has been applied to the limited spaces from which were
derived the materials operated on during these experiments.
It may be added, that the products of many coal districts cast
of the Allegany mountains are yet unexamined.

If in any case knowledge is pouer, it is pre-eminently so
wh(>n it relates to a subject which constitutes the greatest
element of power in the physical world, and in the present
age of marvellous developments.

5 n. labor
voulubly

isition of
ivestiy;a-
cr. It is
itallurgic
irchcs on
;)eK leave
1 1 made
thracites.
ue niinea
( coai ex-

Anitrican

E(l States,
kV exceed-
•d by the
iples here
} extent of
and Vir«
a part of
ima ; and
;oal coun«
tisiderable

I the west-
1 the ^ulf
(opulalion,
int signiti-
int day, to
rapidly in-

less of the
;stern coal
i less care
I'hich were
:])eriments.
istricts tast

ninentlv tso
he greatest
the present

]\IISCELLAX£OUS HESEAIICIIES

ON THE

CONSTITUTION, niOPERTIES AND RELATIVE VALUES

COALS.

In the proceedings of the National Institution, at Washing,
ton, ('^d Bulletin, p. 1G5,) for February, lH4'v% the following
paper was published ;

♦* (ht the Pracliatl Dctrnnin/rfion of the Healing Power of
Fi«I, hi/ Wfdtcr R. Johnson" — "In the progress of improve-
ments in arts, navigation, and the application of heat to do-
mestic purposes, questions of great interest present themselves
for experimental determination.

"The new era in our naval history which is about to com-
mence with the introduction of war steamers, is a very suita-
ble period to inquire into the relative values of those varieties
of fuel which may be found available for the purposes of
steam navigation.

" In various parts of the United States are found combusti-
bles adapted to this purpose ; but as yet their relative values,
either as compared with each other or with the foreign mine-
ral fu(d so much used at present, have been but partially de-
termined.

" In a work recently published relating to the use of an-
thracite in the manufacture of iron, I have given several ta-
bles of experiments conducted by different individuals, ex-
hibiting the result of trials on a few varieties of anthracite
and ])ituminous coals. The same work also contains a synop-
sis of what has been done in Europe towards determining
this important question of the relative values of coals for the
production of steam.

"It is proposed in this commimication to present to the Na-
tional Institution some few general results, to which the de-
10

ii V T

■

139

to ler\<1.

>vit\i the same Vinds of tuel. ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ,1ct.'rmm.

Mt,mayiu)t\)e.am.sstostat^ ^.^^ ^,^^^ purpose of

^rr^^'^Kr^uJe^d i^-por by the combust., of a

the quantity of oxygen ^'^^ "'^^^ «^^^^^^^ Assuining that, the
order to eOeet their eompleteconibivt^^^^^^^^.^.^^^^^^^^, ,He

quantity of heat ^'lonle^^ --y\\\^^ ealculation of relaiu^
quantity of oxygen ^^"'""^^^,\\,e ^ that the hctit-

heating powers was ^'^^ e po' ;^ determined, and that the
ing power of pure ^^J^'^'^* J i;^^;!'^;,^,! be proportionrvte to the
powJer of other ^ombus bles ^^ou Ul 1^^ J^^^^ ^^^

Lveral quantities of ^^^"^^^^.^ove recently those of
"Tlie experirnents «' ^^^^"'f^ftVgive the heating power of
Desprefz, have been re bed upon to „ ^^^^ ^^ ^^,^^^^^

b:??;f3^SK^ivSCru.j:.und.at^

perature of 212.° p.„^^,dson and those of negnanU on

^ "TheexpermicntsofUchaia ^ ,^„a Shoedler

coals, and the anah-se of J«^ ? \>^,.,,, ,,y this theoretical

have all had m v,eW ^^\^,;^.7.\|,^ several ^
means of the heatmg powe «^ J'\^ ^J\^ -^ y,,,^ failed to give
"^^:^genioi.s as tl^j^-^l^;:;: ;:^ ^^ !^v dueed when a pr^vcti-
results which could be, ^^^\"f\7\;J'^,ae of the information

tVc Uind of cvapora ,ng ^ ^^ ' '*■' Xcis of combusticn, the
the nature anJ coml.l.on of '''« P™'"„f „,„ „■„ ,vl,i»l> aip-
tlmv<^'r.lmc of ^vatcr useil anO^ ^ ^ o^ attentively con-

P."r "r Chr— ic:"u; rue, U^df al.o ..escve,
sidereti. a no "> o "^

i ■p

139

)t.'tined

tprmin-
])ose of

on of a

jonslitvi-
mpnling
\;\\m\ i«
that, the
e to the
r<'l alive
the heat-
that the
tc to tbe
irb.

y tho'^e of
'power of
cr evnpo-
rcoal, oh-
takinj^ the
it thctcm-

r'njnanU on
I 'shoedler,
theoretical
isriblc?5.
iled to give
"U a practi-
iiilbrination
; of the cal-

of the fuel,
X of the iire,

bll^i1io^, ^^i«

M-hich stip-

ntively con-

ilso deserves

\ to, ore ilc-
^. L. Dana's

}•

(

experiments. Each
days* wovliing.

result is generally the average of several

Kind of D«iitor employ fd..

Kint)« of Coal used*

I'ounils Steam to
of Ciiul I of Coal
huriit'il fiom
pcrh'r! 212°.

I. Pli)tn«MimUinil, vo^
frcl ill U-ii^th, 30^
inch, in tVnmu'tpr. j

8. Cyl^(1rt^ll. 20 fwt
loiitr, 45 inchos in
iiiiiiiH'K'r*

Sydney, N. S., civirse hiturniuouscoal

r"hil;iiltlpliiu pi'ti antliriH'ite

t'hiKui. i)P!», mean of U) days running

Sydney, coarse

J Aiillniicite dust, ^ Sydney slack. .
:f Anthracite dust, :! Sydney slack. .
Ucst Peach Moiuitain anthracite. . . .

I'eacii Mountain anthracite

Heaver Meadow anthracite. ........

t.'oarise Lackawanna anthracite

201^

7.18

180

8.00

100

•J. 48

3. A«etof 3<'ytindriear
boilers, 3ti It. lorn;, '
3(i in. diameter.

Coarse anthrncite.
Coarse anthracit**.

6.04
7.40

7 ."il
8.00

8 43
8.89
9.17

10,60
11.5'i

4. Four Cylindrical, set
ontlieplancf.Vlr.A.
A Hayes, each boil
ff "41) leet long and
Ui inched ((> (liitine<
ten

S"dnpy, ttcreenrd from dust. ,.,,..

iSydiiey slack alone

Philiidei|)hia pea anthracite

* Anthracite dust, \ Sydney slack.
Larkawanna antliracite, nut size. . .
■; Anthracite dust, i Sydney slack.
Lackawanna anthracite, egg size. . ,
^ Anthracite dust, h Sydney slack.
,' Antliracite dust, i Sydney slack.. .
■j Anthracite dust, j Sydney slack. . .
ij Philad. pea anthr'te, i Sydney slack.
Lackawanna anthracite, egg size

250

5. Tuhular, :i6 ft. long.")

33 in. diaiiicler, VZ\ Coarse I-ackawanna anthracite .

tuhes,:iiu. diainet'r. 3

85,8, n.96

6. Curnish, usual fop.-"^ i

struction, 3f) feet j j,y Jney, coarse

long, tilt. exterior, 3 }■ L^^.j-.j^anna anthracite, coarsB....,
ft. Iti ill. in intenor J
diameter. J

233i

7. Improved <"ornish,'^ ;

havii;g3iiiter'rhoil- L ....

er tildes each 19 in. | Coarse anthracite, kind uncertain. . .
in diametrr inserted V ■} Pea aiilhra( ite, i bituminous slack,
in the interior Hue, ^ Lackawanna anthracite, usual size...

end ofthe lower —
cut aw.iy to give , |
room for grate ^

Ucavci iMeadov*' anthracite..

15.5.4

57.3
13(i {>
145
i22

6.32
7.75

9 51

1 2 08
12.98
13.41

Uurned with fan btasU

5.83

8, tit

9.06

9.(50

9.77»

10.24*

10,28

12..'b2

11.3G*

11.37*

10,8G«

11,55

liilili

I ■ !

'The following res

.ultshavc been obtainca by Mr. ^Stevens*
in New Jersey, ru a, Loc.n.otive boiler oi* the ccinn.on lorm .

Schuvlkill anthracite. 051 r.7.. P^'^^tar''^ ^'' ""''
Wood 1.71, l"^'^'^^ ponntls burned per hour.

"Mr Thomas Wiekstec.l has puidished a ^'j* ^f/^^j^fj^^

;:iable^'ith the preceding and Ibllowmg set.:

Dlvthe Maine Northumberland bituminous coal. 7.44.

Derbyshire bituminous conl, 7.()1.

Lnr-e New-Castle coal, ayernsc H.^i.

Derbyshire J„ small New-C^asl Ic |. W.bO.

Welsli i, N(;\v-Cas;je i, K8«

Gas coke ^, small Ne%Y-Castlc i 8.9i.

Gas coke i»U)ne, 8.<.)'2.

Avern«,^e Welsh, H,<.)8.

Average small New-Castle, 9.01.

Best small New-Castle, O.^^.

Anthracite, 10.17,

Best Welsh coal, 10.71.
"In the work on Anthracite Iron, above ^^^^jf ';'";:*» ^^^^^^^

different forms of boilers.

1. hi n Locnmotit'C B<nkr.
itnminous coal, by N. Wood^s experiments, 5.12.
oke, by Tambour's trial, 7.12.

% In Wagon Boitrrs.

Newcastle bituminous coal, by Watt^. trials OJVJ.
Bitrntnons coal, variety uncertain, eight «et« oi experi-

Bi;u^ouf;al,rarke'sexperimcnt.A>rsixmonrUM0.^8.

3. In Cornish lWihr&.

Welsh coal, trial by Ilenwood ll.oa.

Welsh coal, experiments cited by Henwood, 11.79.

4. In a Murine Boihr on hoard the Sumn^r African.
Heaton bituniinous coal, 8,15.

Bit

Col

141

^t evens
i l\>rm :

?r hour.

results
I, which
ml coiu-

7.44.

1, vviU be

aporativc
crience in

12.

of expcri-
itUs, 10.'48.

11.78.
frican.

5. In four CyUmh'icnl Hoikrx on llnjm^s ptnn.
Anthracite J, bituminous dust ]•, ll.H.'J.

6. In a pjoin IVgh Vnsxure Buikr.

Scotch hituminons cofil, by Vy^i\ 7.71.
AnlUviicite, Uiud uuccrluiw, 10.10.

7. In rimjrr's lioihrfor «.«//»g Anthracite.

Anthracite, by Sch:\iifl>;iufrs trials, 12.40.
AulUvacile, by rarku'suiul Miiubey's trials, 13.23.

Bi'ECirx GHAvny, .\s as indux of purity in coai.?.

1. The folhnvhig analyses of nuthmcitcs found ontlic head
Wiitors of UoavrrlCn^ck, Ivuzcrne r-onnty, Pa.» nro rontninrd
in a report i)iiblished bv the writer \n the .Toiinuil of the
Frauklin In.stilute, Vol. 21, p. 28!^ for November, IH.'Jt), :

1st.
2d.
3d.
4th

l..*)l)»)
1.01.3

Vol. mat. Fixe<! carbon.

ti.t2 IJ2..'l(>

4.ai 91.00

7..'il «7.1S

9.60 «.5.3.37

89.1. V3

Aslu>8.

1.28
4.t)0
5.01
5.0(53

3.838

Mean l.OUO

From th«» nhovc tabh\it will bf^. perceived that the (luantity
of ashes increases as thn speeilic gravity increases, and that
the quantitv ol' lixed carbon diminishes as the specific gravity
inereases. 'This mi^lit possit)ly not be foiuid to hold good iu
all coal-fields, though I am inclined to think tliat in the same
coal-field the relalions of dificrent plies will be found to con-
firm the same general law. , , . ^,r , j •

2. The so caUed Cumberland coal bastn of Maryland is not
Ihnlted to that Si ate, but extends in a northeaslwardly direc-
tion into the County of Somerset, iu iVunsylvania, and south-
wcstwardly into the State of Virginia. The writer had oc-
casion some time since to examine, professioT.ally,the geologi-
cal structure, and to analyze the coals of a portion of this coal
field near the borders of rennsylvania.

The coal field api)cars to be gradually rising from about the
vieiuity of Frostbuvg to a point about five miles northeast of
that at which the ci>al trough crosses the &tate line.

iiil

i e

|-:

* I-

1 : N

142

l!;:,--;;n::;!;^;:£';^;--— ^

Nnmc of Coul.

k- a

« — I SJ L. —

E I o -- il .2

Si— o c £

Id
O

•a

llcyiiuinV iifW opiMiir-;.
\VflUT'8 4ft'et Vein

Iloyninn's Old Opening.
IIoynian'sG feet lied....

Iloyninn's 8 feet Bed.

Schaeffer's New Opening

D.Korns' Old Opening ! ^ '^^

1.32
1.32

1.34

i..3r.

1.3G
1.37

Uhl'sT feet Bed

Meeting-house Vein.

Weller & Hardin'

1.39

1.48

1.4!)

2.0
1.4

1.2
1.3

1.1

1.3

1.4

1.7
1.2

18.2 74.7.")
18..'', ! O'J.HJ

2U.G 1 r,9.90
18.5 ' G8.53

17.2 • 71.50

17.5
18.7

70.70
G8.4G

George's Creek, Md

Eckert's Mine, Maryland Mining^- 1_1_.-^

16.8 G8.44
17.5 G8.5G

1.4 1G.2 CG.3G

Inclu'd will
volat'e mat
Do.

1G.03 j 70.75
■l5.G2 1 G8.5G

Average results

Average of G samples in Amer. Kept

that ^vi.l.in the sn,i,c o . '^,„^,^'^.i\„ !„<lcx of a greater
end of tl'c coal ti'ougli, ^vc lia\c—

143

ii])Joctc(l
llifir 1)0-

71.7')
(iU.lO

r,9.90
I G8.53

71.50

70.70

G8.4G

G8.44

G8.5G

GC.3G

.O;} 70.75
M i 68. 5G

.Gl

LIU

CO. 71

he in'inciple,
c gravity iu
of a greater
1 tlic liglitcr
k'li numbers
^euusylvauia

havloiir under

tlu! nature of their a;

,he e(I\M.t of heat, their im)ximateconstifuon^^^^
hes and the ratio ot then- lixed enitmn.

1 i) .

^'52

•^ m

^ > s

.2-1

S "3 ®

K ^ "

4.O.".

1.1G2

11.00

:..7:i5

8.10

:i.:j'j:j

11. GG

a. 705

Cl.iiracters of Conl, Coke, nnd Asl.es.

10.20

4.157

10., '■)0

4.010

11.44

:i.GGl

12. OG

4.07.'}

12.7!)

.T.OIS

1G.04

4.0!)G

\.lu.8 l,ri"l.t, l.nfr, or fuv.M. clor..! ; rrmurknbly lii^l.t..
C.l . . f cou .!.•.■,. l.l..ck; .fucu.n- colu.unar ; .to., trncture

inlliant ; horizontal pnnin.H dull; n^lu-s l.lnck.sU gray;

coke n.ore tlm.i dont.le the ariount ot he co .K
T.x.urc oiHM> ; color ,|.t I'lack. with nuUsc.nt s >o : , ustt^

alt.rnat'-ly .hi.unu' »n.l dull; siructure ihoinboidal ; nil-

„ies 75- and l.^Oo ; ashes reddish i^vry, dense.
Strl.cture rlio-ul.oidal ; surfaces ot .lepo^.tum dead 1.1a. k ,

eSesot- lien 8.unin« jet black ; coke mo.lerately dense.

ilde the bulk of coal ; ashes reddish grey, .noderately

Cotrni'arly jet black, shining; structure rhond.oidal, foli-
u ted grai.t occasionally conu.rte.i, .nam cleats mchned to
slrfuces of d.posil.on 3U^ and 15U- a«hes light colored.

^.S^^hhlhlgt^Sued with ochre ; ashes chocolate brown,

8.?™ cubical ; color de.-p black . swells but little in cok-
ing X.len.e, dark ,n.y, without lustre ; ashes between

fiiwn and II.'hU ...lor, .lense. ,. , , u„ik„ . „,,Up

C.al discoU.red with ..chre ; ashes purplish red, bulky , coke

more than double the bulk ot coal. • • i „

S, uc ue cohnnnar ; color deep black ; pUes vary.n-^ in s-

tre ; eke .louble the bulk of coal, iron gray, reddi.h ; ashes

re.l.lish "rev. dense.
St . lu ec^lmniar; c.lor dull black ..r iridescent ; le.xture
friable ; coke two-lhirds more bulky than coal ; ashes llesh

red. dense.
Coke bulky ; ashes reddish grey.

Coke like the preceding ; ashes lighter color

Mean specific gravity of the
two speciinciLs.
1.32
1.35
1.305
1.385
1.485

Mean per centage of earthly mat-
ter in the two specimens.
7.52
9..')8
10.35
11.75
14.41

I"-

lii

144

And again comparing ilie last two specimens, (both from
Maryland,) we have —

1.34
1.44

13.22

18.25

George's Creek,
Eckcrt's Mine,

3. Besides the foregoing proofs of the ^^^'^V!'^^^
made of the density of coals to determine, approxim.itelj, their
Te^tlve reedom from earthy matter, the following extract from
[£e Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science, \ ol. II.,
p. 8, February 13, 1844, may be adduced :

"Prof Tohnson communicated some observations jn /ela-
tion to the properties and habitudes of dillerent varieties of

''''"^i He gave the results of some recent analyses of coal,
whi hltrofgly conlirm the position which he ^-^^^^^^^
advanced, vTz. : that in coals from the same coal ^I'^^'ic and

^^t^thit part of the mineral -^^-^ --^ Vf f .;! ^.^ f ^f
ble may be considered as «i"»l^»-b',t^o"stitu ed, tl e /./^^^//^ ot

dilferent specimens may be regarded as the index to their

" " F:^™n^amples of coal iVom dillerent mining districts
were taken, at random, specimens for analysis.

From the first sample. specir..en j a had a sp. gr. 1 4f and gave of ashes, IS.nO
specimen ^ i.^--* ^^ ^ ^_

" second do.

third do.
fourth do.
fifth do.
sixth do.
seventh do

1322
1.3U5

1.304
1.30'J

1.339
1.2:25

1.315
1.335

1..347
1.329

1.511

1.289

5.G.-)3
5.239

4.081
0.519

9.109

7.398

10.(190
11.071

13.7G8
11.072

21.2,">0
G.ObO

«2. lie also called attention to the fact that rom the.. ime
hand specimen, may often be obtained widely ^^^^^^'^^^^^^
bv analysis. A small specimen was shown, in which weie
d sola xd most decided Vliiibrences of structure, lustre, eolor
character of powder, amount of volatile matter, -mo urn, ad
character of inpurities. This was a specimen o coal f oin
the Cumberland coal field of Maryland-in which a polio
was columnar and crystalline in form-ot a ^^^;:;n^ J^^ W^J ^
color, shining and friable, giving a brown powdei, and wlicn

145

1 from

nay be
>', their
3t from
^ol. II.,

II rcla-
Dties of

)f coal,
viously
ict, and
mbiisti-
nsitij of
o their

listricts

ics, 18.!)n
18.318

5.053
5.239

4.081
(i.5lt)
9.109

7.398

10. 1190
ll.UTl

13.7G8
' 11.072

« 21.250

" {j.obo

the same
[it results
ell were
re, color,
ount. and
oal from
a portion
jet black
md when

coked, yielding a highly intumescent porous mass, and leaving,
'vhen'complet'ely incinerated, only 1.7.>4 per cent, of md.sh
yellow or fawn coloured ashes, exceedingly light, and liable
to be carried away by the slightest motion ot air. 1 he same
part yielded 18.28 per cent, of volatile matter, and conse-
quently left 79.m'.0 pe'r cent, of fixed carbon. The other part, of
the specimen was amorphous in structure tmigh in consist-
enee (lull, and almost destitute of lustre, yielding, when com-
Xe! pulverized, an almost black powder. It gives, ^^d.en
incinerated 11.73(5 per cent, of ashes, ot a greenish white
CO 'veiy dense, and cohering slightly when strongly heated
Its volatile matter is 1.5.07C. percent., and consequentl" Mie
fixed carbon 00.288. The coke swells more or less accoiclmg
to the rapidity of the application of heat. The ratios of hxed
to volatile combustible are 1.37 and 4.40.

"3 lie adverted to the designations red and white a^h
coals', and exhibited proofs that mere analysis, on a minute
scale is liable to mislead us in regard to the true charac.erof
the earthy residua of the coals in question. He exhibited a
sample of ashes and of clinker, from Lackawanna anthracite
obtained from the combustion of two ton< of that coal; and
also a specimen of ashes from the ana ysis of a hand speci-
men- -the former being dark brownish red, and the latter
almost nerfectly white. ^ ^ , . p

"4 lie pres-ented evidences of the effect of the rate of
heating on the amount and character of the coke produced
from a -iven weight of coal of the same kind, showing that
v.hen a'brisl: and intense action of heat suddenly applied is
made the means of coking the coal, a considerably grea er
amount of volatile matter is expelled than when a slow .ip-
plication of heat gradually drives off the matter volatilizable
by that principle alone."

SALTS OF AMMONIA IN THE DUST OF ANTHRACITE FURNACES.

(F, om the proceedinis of the Academy of Xalural Sciences, vol. 3. p. 191, for

March IG, 1847.)

*' Professor Johnson communicated some observations and
exDcrimonts on th-^ dus., of anthracite furnace flues. Having
several years since ascert^-Jned the i)resence of large quanti-
ties of salt s of ammonia, both sulphates and chlorides in
llu'es and sfove pipes where anthracite is consumed, he had
rcceiilly diivcted attention to this as a source from xvhieh a
moderate supply of these salts for the uses ot horticulture
may readily be obtained. It was therefore deemed worthy ot

I
i ^

•

i j

si^

146

a trial to ascertain iu ^vlu1t propovtion the .salts solul.lc in

g ve a saline residuum ou complete ^vaporatum 1 he h<iUid
was of rt dark browu color, and on nimlys;. ^^^^ ^^^ \ .
Sulphate of lime - . - " " " .^'l
Sulphate of Arimoma- - • " •J^;^-*
Chlor-lraraleof Ammoma - - - »;» •^*
Compound tarry matter • • • j*J__

ral steps of analysis, may be taken at i per ceut.

MKClf ASSCAL HTRCCTUra: AND RELATIVE AUKS OV COALS.

The question of the identify and contemp.)vnne««sness of
thJ?^<^great divisions of the coal measures "f^^^^J JS
hTsiomelimes occupied the attention ot geologists. A muu . r
5::;Hr is oeensioLly agitated in Europ^m^^^^^
Anthracite and Bituminous coal fields oi that tpiarter oi mc

"^ Amon- the arguments in favor of the contempornneous
depoTS of the coal in the two regions, those uh.ch are
S from the sin.ilarity of the accon.pa.n.t.g n';;-"^;; 'f
mpmhers of the coal series in the tAVO regions, tmd the re.em-
S:^::; idenHty of the ibssil oij^anic r~ ;.^oinr>a„y^
the coal iu both cases, are rot the least \n eight), li"- I'rt-
lence of large bodies of carbonate of iron mlerpos<>«l .'ui';> S
the CO a bed^ in both coal districts, is an analogous cnyuin-

orcoalwere produced under circumstances at least strongly

'^aI::!;!;:? ^:!:ur;;ll-^ n.vorable to the supposed similarity
of c m S which accompanied the deposition ol anthr a-

cite and biSminous coal, is the resemblance m mechameal
s rue ore of he two kind's. Tliis may, at the first cnur.eiation
s2m"^^what startling; especially since the terms h^ny.
K and tough, are generally applied to th^ ^^^^^^^^ ^
soft and friable, or tender, to the other. It »^»^«^<^*^;;'*\V^
Jrue, That strong mechanical resemblances exist; ami the

I
fi

:olu1)lc in
ordinary
rpose, one
)oi't ions of
r«'d, or to
Vhe li<iuM

I grains
»

J grains', =
D ihc suve-

0AL8.
>er ii )

Ronsnt'ss of
nusylvani;!,
A i^injUur
cncc to the
lirler of the

nipornnt'ous
wbiclj are
tiioaMircs or
\ the rcscm-
L'oinpaTiyuig
. The |)rc-
-oscd among
ou!^ cirouin-
olh varlfties
ast sli-ongly

;cl ^imUarity
;)nof anthra-

ine<;huni<'al
enunciation,
terms heavy,
le, nnJ Hsht,

ncverihi'it'ss

ist; ami the

■i,

147

i„ „n<Io,hins ^'f .- -; ' ;l» : .' r.r'i: : mine .1.0 .rue
n,.,l w.-tl u..( .Tslooil, llMt " " ,^: "" ,„,„„ so ikr disturbed

kinds oi coal. commonly a fracture or

namos ot cleats or ._tnH , «cems to deter-

«« :.,o'» Tho <1 rection m \vhich inese run, ^•-t"^.^ •"

'a„.l ar.env.r,Is ea,T.vin« "l-^ -orU.n, l^-^^' ^ ^fj^tain
In most bituminous coaN, t I l -u-c dio^cnto call sur-

148

III ^

seldom talce place alonj? the snrfac«» of doposition ; but on
ignitiiij? the specimen, we may generally obtain partings in
those Natural seams. ,

The regular slines also, in anthraeite, arc sometimes so lar
obliterated as to be onlv developed by strong heat or pjirtial
combustion. They are'then ^h<)^v» by the thin, \yhitc shming
lamina- of earthy matter, hicli mark two opposite sides ot a
lump of half burnt coal. ^

The absolute direction of the cleat is very various. At t ic
Laurel Hill mines, in Ilazle creek valley, it is believca to be
about north 80° East. .

In some beds of coa! which 1 discovered and examined on
the West Branch of thte Susquehanna, it is due cast and west

bv compass. ^ *. r«

'In the Middleton mine coal, in the northerly part of Lng-
land, it is from N. 20^ W. to N. S^MV.

The seeond,or " short cleat." in opposition to the ** long cleat,
which extends for great distrmccs, is the cross parting already
spoken of, and not unfrequentlv runs perpendicularly to the
directions of both the ** cleavage of the laminfc and to the
long cleat." • This is seen in both bituminous coals and an-
thracites, , , /. • T *'

Another circumstance to which I would refer, as indicative
of the similarity of origin and correspondence in character,
between bituminous coals and anthracites, is the correspond-
ence of the two, in respect to the composition of the ashes of
the two kinds. Silica, alumina, oxide of iron, with small
amounts of lime, magnesia, and occasionally ot oxide ot
manganese, are the ingredients of the ashes ol both kuu s
of coal. The proportions varv, not only in the dillorent kinds
of coal, but also in the several plies of the same !)ed, both in
the bituminous and anthracite districts. In the anthracite,
the diversity of composition is marked by the color oi the
diiferent streaks after partial incineration. ^

Another resemblance between the two kinds is, that m the
anthracite beds, spaces partially vacant are found to contain
masses, with a pully aspect on the exterior, so strongly re-
Fembling coke, that it might bo diflicult at the tirst glance to
distino-Liish a fragment of it from a piece of artilicial coke.
Natural coke is also found in connection with beds of bitu-
minous coal, especially where the latter arc in close proximity
with primitive strata— as in the mines of Virginia.

When coal contains a large proportion of earthy matter,
and is deposited in thin lamiua',it will,in the state ot anthra-
cite, be found to part with great ditiiculty in the ducction ol

il! !

149

the surfaces of deposition. It will then be seen to givo frac-
turc.:<level«j>in- a multitude of smrdl concUo.cla sar aces.
TI is is !)y lUe mit.ers termed boi.y coal; and that it wel dej
serve, its name may he evinee.i by its actually being so haid
as sometimes t<» strike lire with steeh

Coal occasionally assumes the uppeamnce of ^eU d. ii ed
rhombic prisms and octae<lra, occasionally with s riated sur-
IS. In which cases, tlioa^h the cleiivages be dUlunilt and
obscure, they are nevertheless practicable.

Anrsr •,>t~.Prc,lessorJ<)hns,)u exhibited several specimens
oicr^sUdhhl anthracite and bituminous coal, and Htate(W^)me
of the circumstances which seem to determine the a^^umptlon
bv this mi.»eral,of certain ti^mres contrary to the assertion of
many mlneralo-ists that it has no dclinile orm.

The forms whi.-h anthracite occasionally presents arep
1. (noUU which causes it, in breakin- especially when the
tract, ire \akes place iVom lono; exposure to the a inosphe. e,^
fall into spheroidal masses with salient portions « ' > >^'1>^^.
mindin- us of truncated an-les m ordinary crystals. Ihs
«;^n e has often been observed in one of the beds o an lira-
rile found on Beaver creek; and a large specimen turn.hed
bv Mr Jacob Thomas, of Beaver Meadovv, was exh. nted
sliowin- the truncated borders along the lines ot s.jpara ion
i a ery remarkable manner, and also <Usplaying beaut lul
ridesc'ent colors. It was remarked that coal a lecling this
form is frequently found to leave a considerable portion of
Z^. of iroi among its earthy residue ; but^ ^^J^
of the latter was not usually a large per cen age ol the coal
'» The next delinite form mentioned as allected by coal, is
a rmtlnUd structure, well characterized in sevcra spectinens
^Z e M bed, from the bottom of the tbrmat ion at l^ar-
gm" r)a,uphin .M,un:v, l»a. This structure was ikewise llus.
^ ted a sample of Welsh bituminous coal. The rad.a ions
L; era V proceed from two points at no great distance Irom
each « her and forming two sections of conical surlace, unite
Sce.^ in distances iVoin their poinis of departxire into a^i^
g e cvlindrical se<i ion near the termination o the ra> s. 1 he
cxtcM-i of these radii is of a silky lustre, striated, and some-
times nterrupted by the interposition of fragments o> organic
te^Un"i^r state of Ibssil charcoal. V.M-y hirge stems are
occ- sionam- foun.l wih radiated, crystalloidanthracie adher-

Tng to t^^ '>l>F-i'« ^^-^^ ^'^^'"'^ "^^^^" ''''"^ ^"" •' ^"
*hp two sides very nearlv the same. ,

3. The hombic hexaedron was exhibited iu a well .narked
spedmen of anthracite adherin- to its acco.npanymg ^Ute.

!ll!|^ 11

III HI'

I I

150
Fexv mineral forms are better ilcCmoA than this mnss of an-

tain! vtds'nL' iVom t!.c presence ol' orgauic boches, tcuamg to

inclillereut directions on tlu^ ad.iuinm- Mde^^^.l^ *^y'' '7. '»

luch'fouwh™! been «,pi.osoa to "'"V"''"*'''""'"""' "Sa-
lable o'i„ of coal, and stat«l that i.. H.c 'ory samples
!u er"^aminationwe,■cseen ll,e .mist incontnn-e.-ul.le . v •
J Lo- he source from which nol ouly bituminous coal, but
amh a als" la b'n dc,-ivc.l. In one and the saute s,^-
etaenrf the latter, wefe «ecn tuinetal f >;;;•«-;-';■, t'
and true anthracite, ind,cat,t,K '«,"''','' h;V« two had
.,f -,11 as the Diocess of lorinal ion, by whnh llie ast t"" i^'»
probably bee,', derived Iron, the interu>e.ha,c state ol btlu-

"'t;rccr,'ti„g for ,he supposed i-l--''»;'>; »[ ^^'f^^d^
Bti-uetures being formed out of oigaiuc matter, he "b«"^<»

^cC^nl decomposition of the latter, and he cstal) -
mentor new orders oV uliinity bel^veen the or.guial cons ilu-
!,fnm" The carbon as well as the other materials «f
ve jSwas tn^ process reduced, at least in part to the
Situ o? ulti^te Llecules, instead oH-j^ -^l^--
chanicallv divided into small particles. It would "? ^« «j^^
t:^:^e of obeying any law *>^ -cement wh.l^ev^^^
mvn 'illinities or those of the earthy conj^tiliicntj, \Ui»cn aau
^merc ; no the composition of the vegetables irom wlncl t
had been derived, mi-ht tend to impress. Ihat it ih tie
Jarthvolstuents which determine the forms assumed bj
^^l seems pmbablc from the fact that the more earthy resi-
duum 0^ a jxirticular kind any coal contu ns the mor« prone
doesit appear to be to assume a crystalloid structure.

151

lo in lliis connexion, to those cu1)ie,

'. _» .-, ..riiir.^ oi'tnn occur in both

liiently

structures which often occur i
nous coal, nnd which not unlVec

llv nflor partial incinera'ion, tlic
llie cartliy ini^riulients

Referrnrc \v:is mac
rhomhie find coUnnnar
anthracite and hitumi
exhibit lo the eye, especu

^^tnl: 'or analyses or ,J. a^^ ;; -^. ^n^;^^^
'''";"''|.;?n ;;; v' . ; a o;„:;,.l,ona.es, um^ss whe.e the

!^f,^ "ron covcrin" the h.tcrsliecs of .>ut,-r«p coal, and lonn-
oiten seen «"'."'"';''.„„, „.,,i,,ii proeeed IVom enal seams,
Z oo'a in ■;;, ' n n, ;;: n-laning ,'he fonn in„„.esse.d hy , c

interstices or those oi the un(Uii\m„ i

crystallized sulphate or carbonate o hmcj, ^^.^^

m aecoumui .. nnalo-ious variety ui rej>ard

?ro,hn Lne ' • t « "<-.ol' Hn-, for e.a.nple. which

as ilw^ru,:.' vn I'o mine,aU,gis,s,.akes on a great uu.nber ol

^'t;;;::;,lt'™o"-" Professor Johnson n.ade soine remarfe on
the "an ',"1" of Anlhraeitc lVo„> llhodo Island, .h,s even.ng

'■'■nnrille Ibmmt'iol."^. whieh they oecnr, reposes on a coarse
eon hi'::!:: which r,.s,s inn,..dia,e,v.m«r^

blen.hM-ocks,.r,,hepri,n,nvese™.s^^^^h^

igneous roc1<s "PP^'^"' '°. ; ;,;,J', "' he ,„.esen oharacierof

vcsti'-cs of vohililc matter, deeoniposed the ^"'l" " " ' °'^
r„d changed the color o^;,- ^ - ^ -"-li, ' ^ 'TnTest
ca^t .ta g'::; e2.'::.t^WitcScd. .lud th« traces of them

■•IP"

; : jj. - rj t -x-ab^ --^ ,

til

only appear at the surfaces of deposition. In other hf»d««, the
impressions nr« more perfect, and their genera and spfcies
are more readily mad*.' out.

An idea has hocn formerly cnrrenf, that the coal formation
of Hhode Island and Massachusetts is of more aucirnt date
than those of Pennsylvania; hut the identity of fossil re-
mains!, seems to determine tho jj:eological period of hoth
to be the .same. And in this resj)(>ct we have analo<;ics
snfliciently numerous in our own country, to iuduce us to
believe that all the coal formations arc essentially contempo-
raneous, and that whether they rest on granite, as in Uhode
Island, Massachusetts, and Virginia, on the older members of
the secondary, as in the anthracite fu'lds of Pennsylvania, or
on the mountain or the "clilF" limestone of the Western States,
the coal series has every where been the product of a period
in the history of our planet which was highly prolific in vege-
table life, of which the remains were deposited on whatever
member of proceeding formations was exposed in a condition
to receive them.

The anthracite of Khode Island appears to have been sub-
jected not only to a high temperature, but also to intense
pressure, and to have !)eeu much comminuted by the friclion
of one member of the formation sliding over another in the
nptilling which the strata have evidently undergone. The
coal in ail such cases being more tender and friable than the
sandstones, slates and limeslones, becomes the unguent in the
joints of the stratification, and the results of its j)o\ver to fa-
cililate the motions of the strata as they are partially folded
up, is, 1st, a pulverulent portion in contact with either the top
or the bottom rock of the bed ; 2d, a high polish imparted to
some of the sliding surfaces of the nmre durable coal ; Hi], an
irregularity in the thickness of the coal beds, the indentations
of the upper and lower rocks being not untVequcntly found
opposite to each other, forming thick places in the coal seam,
and containing much of the broken material which has been
displaced from the parts where the prominences of the rocks
come nearly in contact, and almost shut up the seam.

He adverted to the fact that for reasons stated by the
geologists of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, viz. the great
amount of drift or diluvial matter with which all parts
of this coa! Ibrmation have been covered over, the limits of
the coal trough have not hitherto been traced with mucli pre-
cision.

Within the city of Providence, the strike of the beds
is a little to the cast of south, and the dip to the north

11 i

153

of cast. The mining operations are in j^cnera! very troub It-
some ami exprnsive, on account of being canit'il on below
water level, and Jhroiigli a thick stratum of loose earth and
gravel. Very little of the coal hitherto obtained has been of
merchantable quality.

ON TilC RELATION nETVVCRN Tliti COAI. OF SOtJTil WALES AND SOMG
I'BNNSVLVANIA ANTHaAClTBS.

{From the Pfoctfdinga of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Vol, 1, p. 40.)

Havin*? received some time since a numlier of samples of
the coals used by Mr, Crane at the Ynisccdwyn iron works
in South Wales, some pains have been taken to trace the re«
lation of that mineral to some of the many varieties of an-
thracite found in Pennsylvania. It was the first step in this
inquiry to mark the relation by external characters. These
in the Welsh coal are, 1st. A structure often lamellated, and
tending to separate on the surfaces of deposition, owing to the
quantity of carbonaceous clod which occupies the dull seams
between the bright plies of coal.

2d. The a!)undance and width of the reeds constituting the
charcoal deposits.

3d, The shining and polished surfaces occasionally present-
ing themselves to view at some of the natural partings. *

4th, The purplish tints of metallic oxide often observable
on the surfaces of fracture,

Tjth. The general color is deep black, and either dull or
shining according as the ply which is examintsd belongs to the
coal proper, or to the carbonaceous clod partings of the seams.

The next circumstance worthy of attention in tracing the
relation of coals, is their specific gravity ; and this in the
Welsh anthracite is from l.JJ.'JG to 1.37;? — not greater than
that of many bituminous coals.

The next point of comparison is the quantity of volatile
matter, and this by the mean of two trials is 9.18 per cent. ;
that on the anthracite containing most clod is 10,7, and that
of the more compact variety is 7.(5() per cent,

Mr. Mushet makes it from <).(>() to 7,70 in the coals of the
same locality. Mr. Frazer analyzed a sample of the same
coal, and found 7.G0 of volatile matter, 8G.0 of carbon, and
5.8 of ashes.

The quantity of earthy matter in the Ynisccdwyn anthra-
cite, according to the mean of 3 analyses of Mr. Mushet, is
3.578 per cent. Adopting this for the proportion in the sam-
11

I !

■

iii

pic whkli yielded 10.7 per cent, of volatik mnUcr, we have
this solid cui!)on— 85.72'4 per cent, and in the other KS.'yfiJ.

Ainoufi IVnnsylvania anthracite's that which approache*»
most lu'.'irly to the Vnisccdwyij coal, is that of Lyken*»
Valley, situated in the northwestern fori* of the southern
anthracite field. This coal has nil the exterior cliaraeters
ot the Welsh aiithraeite ; containing in many samples a
large portion of carhonaceous clod, with well marked ve-
getahle impressions; and in color, structure, and varieties
of surface, the two coals might readily he taken the one for
the otiier. Of nine samples analyzed, the lowest specific grav-
ity was found to be 1.374, the highest 1.41G, and the mean
1.390. The average amount of volatile matter was found
to be N.O(57, the highest being U.Soi per cent.; the moan pro-
portion of earthy matter and metallic oxides is 4.40 ; and that
of the fixed carbon 87.472 per cent.

From these data ars derived the following comparisons.

Sp. Gr. Vol. mnl. Cnrbor.. Ashea-

Ynisoedwyn, lighter varietv, l.33(i 10.7 85.922 3.r>78

Do. heavier, ' 1.372 7.66 88.702 3578

0.18 87.242

8.007 87.472

3.579

4.4GO

Mean of two, . r* 1 .354

Ly ten's Valley. . 1.390

In distilling the Welsh anthracite, the first portion of gas
v/hich comes over, burns with a pale blue llame, like that of
carbonic oxide, which is succeeded at a certain point of tem-
perature by a sudden outburst of carburetted hydrogen, burn-
ing with a' bright fiame and smoke, a «iuantity of bituminous
matter being at the same time evolved, sutlicient in one in-
stance to close up the narrow beak of the retort employed in
the distillation. The coke is perfectly anthracitous, and the
angles of the fragments entirely sharp and well defined.

The gaseous matter of the Lyken'-i Valley anthracite also
burns with a brilliant flame, but no violent explosive devel-
opment of it was remarked.

AN.%LY«tE8 OF AMESICAN AND FOREIGN rJOALS.

On the Slhof March, 1842, the writer communicated to the
Academy of Natural Sciences the results of a .series of expe-
riments on American and foreign coals, exhibiting the residue
of each on which he had experimented, with u view of ascer-
taining the relative proportions* of volatile matter, earthy

lAft

matter* and fixed cnrhon. Th« experiments were performed
on all in a similar mrtnner, viz. by expasinjj the coal to a red
heat, raised as rapidly as possible. As the moisture, however,
is in «uch casen brouj^hr, in eontact with earbon at a hij!;h
temperatitre, it may, by decomposition, canse 8ome of the
carbon to he carried off, :ind thus raise the estimate of the
volatile matter above what it would be, if more slowly eon-
duetcd. Incineration was conducted in a muiUc, at a high
and lonj; continued temperature.

The following arc the results of the analysts of some of these
coals :

Vol. mstur. Aohes,

Newcastle coal, per cent. - iit>.0 «. 4 1

»Sy<lncy, - - - - 43..'i 1.50

Liverpool, ... 37.9 o.7'4

Statlbrdshirc, - . - 47,5 I.8G

Welsh, anthracite, • • 4,4 4.10

Pictou, .... 30.7 8.00

Uichmond, - - - - 1,5.1 24.74

Do, (another sample,) 17.3 17.08

Rhode Isliind, anthracite - 13.1 11.2(1

Kallstowu, (Heaver river,) Pa., 35.8 6.43

Beaver Meiidow,(spheroid coal,) t).0 5.G0

Shamokin, anthracite, - J).l 5.84

Wilkesbarre, do. - - 8.9 1 !.(>(»

Beaver Meadow, (Piatt tract,) 7.» COO

Fixeii fo »ol.

Carboa. combua'c.

70.5ti
55.00
til. .38
50.04
DI.50
61.30
60.16
6,5.02

7;,.- ;

57.70
8.5..50
85.06
70.74
86.10

2.13
1.26
1.62
1.06
20.80
1.99
3.98
3.79
ft.77
1.61
9.50
0.34
8.96
10.9

ANALYSIS OF THE NATURAL COKB OF VIRGINIA.

From the Procexdingt nf the Academy Natural Saeifty, tot. 1, p. 223.

Prof. Johnson mentioned that he had made trials to deter-
mine the volatile and earthy ingredients of the so-called na-
tural coke from Virginia, of which samples were exhibited at
a preceding meeting of the Academy. This substance pre-
sents in its exterior appearance a strong contrast with all
known varieties of either anthracite or bituminous coal. It
is wholly wanting in lustre. It has lost, if it ever possessed,
all continuous .slines or cleats, and even the surfaces of depo-
sition appear to be in a great degree obliterated. Its texture
is porous. It is in very many, if not all, specimens, .strongly
charged with iron pyrites, which, by exposure to the air,
elHorescing into sulphate of iron, gives the appearance of
friability to the material, and by this means distinguish it
clearly horn anthracite.

i
1

1
)

;

Two samples of this conibuslil)le were tried for the jjiirpose
of useerljiiiiiiip: the amount of earthy matter, volatile matter,
and fixed carbon. The lirst gave of

Volatile matter,
Carbon, -
Earthy matter,

Per cent.
il.Ui

77.80
1().{)8

100.

The second, which iippearcd lo be rather more highly^
charged with pyrites than the other, gave, by the mean of
four separate incinerations, of

Volatile matter.
Earl lily matter,
Fixed Carbon,

Per cent.
lt.H-2

8'^>.75

100.

The distillation of this substance l)y the Ip.imediate applica-
tion of a red heat, produces a gas which burns with a steady
clear (lame, of a yellowish white color, accompanied by a little
smoke, which, however, nearly or (luile disiippears when the
access of air is free and abundant.

The distiUation produces no enlargement of volume or
adhesion of th(> particles of earbonaceous matter, as in cer-
tain semi-bifuminous or "transition" eoais, such as that Ibund
on Stony GrecU, in I)au])hin county, Pennsylvania.

In regard to the applicability of'the term "natural coke" to
this sul)sfance, it was remark(>d, that, understanding lliis term
as indicating a change of texture from that of the bituminous
coal of the same district, a partial discharge of the volatile
ingredients of the same coal, and as a necessary consequence,^
a relative augmentation of the earthy material as well as of
the fixed carbon, there is no impropriety in its use, but, on the
contrary, a peculiar propriety, inasmuch as neither of the
other terms in general use to designate mineral fuel is appli-
cable to this variety. lie referred to the geological report of
the State of Virginia, in which an analysis of this substance
is given, exhibiting its composition as follows, viz:

Volatile matter,
Fixed Carbon,
Ashes. -

9.98

8f»..S0

U.72

157

COAT, FROM TIIR VAI.I.RY OV ItA/.ET- ('RF,nK, i'A.

The foUowiiij; unrilyscs from the VjiUey of Ila/.lo Civrk,
were published in \\iv. .loiinial of ihc FniiiUliii Institute, Vol.
yi, ])i\iH' Hi, I'oi- Aiij^aist, 1h:}«> :

i\o. I is compact in struct lire, j^ivinj* eonchoi(hil fractures
in all (lirciclions, !ip|)ar('ntly indilicrcnt to the surfaces of dc-
posiiioM, which are manifested only hy alternatinj; lines or
seams ol" hlueish hlacU and jei hlacU, which mark the succes-
sive layers. This appearance f^ives the idea that these sur-
faces have been in a fjreat measure obliterated, while the
whole mnss was, from some cause, in a somi-tluid state. The
specilic <;ravity of this spe(;lme!i is 1. ;")<,)!.

When heated to a temperature suilicient tt jxpel the water
which it contains, without dec(.vmposin<^ it.

The specimen No. 1 lost - ... -

When the dried coal is ij,Miited to redness for some

time in a close vessel, it yields carbonic oxide and

earburctted hydrogen, with a small portion of

sulphur, .-.-----

The remaining (ixed carbon is - - - -

''Silica,
Alumina,
P(!roxide of iron, -
Earthy matter 4.83 per ct. viz. <^ Lime, -

Magnesia, -
Protoxide of mtin-
[^ ganese, -

Per cent.
1.U15

5.008

88.187

i>.58n

1.772

.270

.1.S8

.052

.009

100.

From the latter numliers it will be perceived that of the
fixed ingredients or ashes of this coal, 100 parts will be com-
posed of

Silica, - - 53.603

Alumina, - - 36.087
Perox. of iron, - 5.500
Lime, - - - 2.8.57
Magnesia, - - 1.076
Prot. manganese, 0.186

The ashes of this coal are of a yellowish white or very light
buff color, and very bulky. Exclusive of moisture, the fixed
is to the volatile combustible matter as 17.4 to 1.

Specimen No. 2 has a specific gravity of 1.5 < 4. The color
and other external characters of this coal are similar to those

fII I

:!,!

1..

\ '^''^

ill

158

of No. 1, but it was remarked that the surfaces of deposition
are even more completely oblitei'ated than in that specimen ;
and that in the direction of those surfaces, no even faces could
be procured in fracturing? the coal ; while in planes at right
angles to those surfaces, it h;is a "grain" or "sl'ne" represented
b) exceedingly thin plat es of white earthy matter, along which
fractures frequently occur.

By heating to a temperature of 370° Fahrenheit
this coal loses ---»-.-
By heating to whiteness in a close vessel, it gives
ofcarhonic oxide and a littlecarburetted hydrogen
The ( arbon not capable of being volatized by sim-
ple heat, is -------

Its earthy impurities, including oxides, amount to
8.73 per ct. viz: Silica,

Alumina,
Peroxide of iron, -
Lime, - - -
Magnesia, -
Loss, - - -

Per cent.

2.196

3.1(55

85.009

3.938

3.230

1.135

.120

.015

100.000

The proportions of the several ingredients of the ashes of
this coal are somewhat dilferent Irom Lose of No. 1.

Thus the Silica is

4.5.105

per cent.

Alumina,

37.000

Peroxide of iron.

13.000

L\w, -

1.380

Magnesia,

2.130

Loss,

1.085

100.000
The fixed to volatile combustible, 27.1 to 1.

The ashes are nearly white, or A\'ith a very slight tinge only
of red, and are distinguished from those of No. 1 by a. far
greater dcnsi'i/, being under a given bulk al)out two and a
half times as heavy as the latter. A larger portion of oxide
of iron and of manganese will be observed in the second than
in the first analysis.

Specimen No. 3 was taken from the same bed as No. 2, and
was found to have a specific gravity" of 1.55. The color of
this cnal is a deep and nearly uniform black — shining. Frac-
tUi. u-regular, splintery.

eposition
lecimen ;
zes could
at right
)resented
iig which

Per cent.

2.196

3.165

85.909

3.938
3.230
1.135

.120

.015

00.000

ashes of

per cent.

inge onl}^
l)y a far
Ao and a
of oxide
Olid than

^o.

and
color of
. Frac-

Per cent.

2.250

4.625

90.705

1.071

.965

.135

.141

.073

•

The water in this coal was found to be
Loss by heating for some time to whiteness, gas
burning with bluish white light - - -

Carbon not volatile at white heat, * * "
Earthy ingredients 2.242 per ct. composed of

Silica,

Alumina, - - . -

Peroxide of iron, ...

Lime,

Magnesia, - . - -

Oxide of manganese, trace,

99.965
Fixed to volatile combustilde, as 19.61 to 1.
It appears therefore that this is considerably richer in car-
bon than eilher of the other specimens, and that its earthy
residuum is but little more than one fourth as great as that
of No. 2.

Th. proportion of the several ingredients of the ashes, it
will be observed, is Silica, , . - - 43 68

Alumina, . - - - 39.34
Peroxide of iron, - - 8.22
Lime, .... 5.76
Magnesia, . . - 3.00

100.00
This specimen has, therefore, both in the amount of its fixed
carbon and in the small proportion of its earthy residuum, a
considerable advantage over either of the ^ .eceding. Its
specific gravity is also the lowest of the three. The density
of its ashes is "intermediate between that of 1 and 2, being ex-
actly three-fourths as great as the latter, so that the density
of the residiuim of No. 1 is represented by - 8
That of No. 2 by - - - 15

That of No. 3 by ... 20

By an average of the three analyses above given, it will be
seeii that the proportion of water in this coal, is 2.120 per cent.
The other volatile ingredients are - - 4.286
The earthy matter, oxides, &c. - - - 5.263 ^'
Carbon, ■-.----- 88.331

100.
and the mean ratio of fixed to volatile combustible, 20.60 to I.
Hence the coiiibnstil)lc matter, including the gaseous and
solid materials amounts to 92.552 per cent.

I 1

I i

160

In concIu$»ion, I may observe, that while these analyses do-
monstrate the high density and compactness of this coal, rifting
it for the purposes of steam navi^'ation, for which these qual-
ities, combined with great Iteating power, are of primary im-
portance, they also show that, for the various nr(s, and for
domestic consumption, its properties are calculated to sustain
the high character of the central coal-tielii of Pennsylvania,
for the concentrated and durable heat which it furnishes, and
the absence of those ingredients which might inturl'ere with
its useful application.

COALS OF BRADFOiin COlNTV, PA.

The coal-field of Carbon Creek, Bradford County, Pa., ten
miles from Towanda, was examined by the author of these
pages, in 1839, and the following analyses given :

LoCAtlTV.

•2 IS

.S CI 1 1=

> ."• ' * ,
E ,'^* ^ ti

^ l« s;^

i. '1 " § ■-

I 5l! 1.3 45
1.45 1.9 1 0.2
1.4(i 1.2 5 7
1.38 2.5' 3

1.38 1.0 3 5
1.35 1.3 i ti.5

1.39 O.G 2.8
1.4U 2.1

a
»

92
9 3
12.2
15.(1
14.7
115
15.4
JG.8

Earthy motfer.

1
7 a

1
s

Fall Creek

f!2.{i
7(1.0
(i3.!)
(18. 1
fi5.5
74.9

m.i

68.5

22.4
1 *T r. 1

4 Jfi

4
5
6

Fall Creek

Miller's opening, middk' ply, old <tri(t...

Miller's opening', v-pper ply, old drill

Do. «lo. do. do

Mason's bed, middle ply ,..

17.0 ,3.34
11.5 .J. 32
15.3 3.48
5.73 3.88
13 1 3.85
12.53:3.63
1

Mason's bed, lower ply

In all the above analyses except the last, the weight of con-
densible vapours, produced by heating to rednei^s, is deter-
mined .separately ivoin that hygronictric moi.sture which is
expelled a little above the boiling point.

It may be observed that the ratio of fixed to volatile com-
bustible matter in this coal is on an average a.71. This,
as seen at p. 9G, places the Towatida coal in range with
those of Cambria County and Queen's Run, (Clinton County,)
Pa.; and the evaporative power may therefore be sujiposed to
range between 9.21 and 10.27. la the British series, (j). 97,)
it might possibly take rank ^ith Ebbw A'ale coal, which
would make the evaporative ; wer 10.21. But this could
hardly be expected, since the e'a.thy matter of the Towanda
coal is 13.77 per cent., while thai of Ebbw Vale coal is no
more than 1.5 per cent, (vide ante, p. 77.)

B.«i

RECENT INVESTIGATIOXS

RELATIVK TO

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN COALS.

t4 16

4.02
3:J4
.-1.32
3.48

I.---COAL FIELD OP NORTH CAROLINA.

That coal exists in the interior of North Carolina has been
known to a limited number of persons for some years. But
of the nature, extent, and exaet position of this coal, its geo-
logieal relations, or the roeks with which it is associated, little
has hitherto heen made known. In October, 1819, the writer
being on a tour through the middle and western parts of North
Carolina, took oceasion to pay a visit to the coal field in ques-
tion, and, in company with his obliging friend. Prof, K.
i\Iitche1, of the University of North Carolina, spent two or
three, days in traversing the northern and western out crop of
the basin. This basin lies partly in the county of Chatham,
and partly in that of Moore, and is traversed longitudinally
by the channel of Deep lliver, a branch of the Cape Fear
River. This coal Held consequently lies almost exactly in
the centre of the State, and its norll^eastern extremity is about
seventy-five miles by the course of the stream above the town
of Fayeiteville, to which, it is known, steamboat navigation
reaches from the city of Wilmington, The Cape Fear and
Deep Rivers are about to be rendered navigable by means of
slack water pools and locks, for which the surveys have al-
ready extended to the upper part of the coal field, and con-
tracts have been entercnl into for the execution of the work.

The first point at which the coal measures were observed,
was near the farm of Mr. Ferrish, situat(>d at the month of
Ge()rg(.''s Creek, a tributary of Deep River. This is in the
southern part of the county of Chatham, and, according to
information, is not far from the northeastern extremity of the
basin. A thin seam of coal is said to have been (.bserved on
the souflun-n side of the river, about two miles southeastward
from Ferrish's house. The rock which appears to constitute

il'

{

.1 i'

162

onf! of the lowest, if not the ver}' lowest, membcir of tlie coal
series, is a reddish hrown snndstone, sometimes employed in
the eountry for !)tnldinj;^ purposes, at other times for m.ikiiig
grindstones. A similar rock was noticed on the Kji!eif:h r«:;ul
about thirteen milts from Chnpcl Mill, and iit other pl.K-cs,
where it is, from point to point, interrupted hy <lil<es of a dark
colored trap. At the edjtje of the eoal basin, this red san<lstonc
seems to repose on the ui)turned edges of the older slates be-
loniLjinf^ to the jiold rej^ion, but of this faet 1 had no opportu-
nity of seeing positive evidence.

The sandstone in the ereek at the rear of Ferrish's liouse,
dips southward in a low angle not exceeding t^. Tlie nu're
edge of the seam, three feet three inches thick, has been laid
bare in three or four places on the plantation; but nowhere is
it pursued far enough to deterniine the actual thickness, when
found under a sufficient covering of rock, to justify mining
operations. The coal is covered with a stratum of slate, and
over that is another bed of red satidstone. The slate is seen
hi considerable thickness on the margin of the river, a few
hundred yards south of Mr. Ferrish's house. It appears to !)e
destitute of vegetable impressions, but filled with minute bi-
valve shells, and interspersed with many coprolites of fishes
or reptilia. In some of the lamina; of the slate arc thin plates
of carbonate of lime.

The coal found at Ferrislils has the character of ouf-crop
coal, but among the less friable portions are some specimens
which may with tolerable correctness represent the genera!
quality of the seam.

The next point examined was at ITorton's Mills, four miles
higher up the river. The openings on the seam are here made
along the course of a small tributary, a few hundred yards from
the river, on its northern bank. The dip is towards the S, 13
W. and the inclination of rocks at the mill-race is not more
than ten or twelve degrees, but on the underlying rocks in thfs
rear of the coal, it increases to about thirty degrees. Th(^ coal
is here used by blacksmiths. The thickness of the seam is
stated to be fiom four to five feet.

Four miles still higher up the river, a short distance above
Evans' Mills, and barely within the borders of I^Ioore county,
the rocks were noticed dipping iS. 43 E.

Two and a half miles further southwestward, are the coal
openings on Wilcox's land, the dip is to S. 45 E., and the angle
thirteen degrees. From being highly bituminous at Ferrish's
and semi-bituminous at Morton's, the coal at Wilcox's is
wholly anthiacitic. The tiiickness of the beds appears not to

111!

168

have bpcn ascert.ained, as only tlic eds^c has been explored for
a few rods ah«ig the course of a rivulet about half a mile
from the river.

The coal measures continue two or three niih.'s further, to
the pliintation of Dr. Chalmers, (the Alston ])lace, noted for
one of Faiininj^'s attacks during the Uevolution,) near which
the materials of the coal appear to have passed even beyond
the anthracitic state, and to have been converted into plum-
bago. This material is used by the inhabitants for paint,
crayons, pencils, and other purposes for which the same sub-
stance has been elsewhere employed.

It is currently reported that eoal has been found on one of
the branches of Drowning Creek, which is the prinei])al head
of the Little Pedee. If so, it must be several miles to the
soutli or sout hv.''\st of the point last designated, and very near
the borders of the gold formation of Moore County. It is a
fact worthy of notice, that the older slates containing veins
of auriferous ijuartz, the gneiss rocks which border them, the
coal measures which overlie the latter, and the diluvial sands
overlapping all, come into immediate contiguity within the lim*
its of Mooi-e County. In the rear of Fcrrish's house is a high
outlying mound of the quartzose pebbles which, though now
reposing on the rocks of the coal formation, appear to have
been derived from the older slate veins a short distance to the
northwest. We were assured also that particles of jrold had
been found among the sands in the very stream, and at the
spot where INIr. Ferrish had found the seam of coal above re-
ferred to. Cases of the superposition of the drift-sand upon
the red sandstones, apparently those of the coal series, maybe
observed in travelling? 8. S. W. from Carthage, towards the
Fayetteville and Yadkin road, where though the general level
of the road is on the sandy beds, yet the denudations caused
by the streams have in numerous instances revealed the nearly
horizontal older sandstone beds of t he coal series. The coming
in contact of the drift beds and the slates and gneissoid
rocks may be noticed on the Fayetteville road, about 5 miles
above Chisholm's, towards Troy. The beds of reddish clay,
sand, and pebbles, art; here seen distinctly interstratitied and re-
posing on the older rocks. From this point westward, the peb-
bles increase in size, and at length become boulders, the quartz
being in some cases cemented into a conglomerate by clay and
oxide of iron. In one locality, about 8 miles from Troy, the
auriferous slates and quartz are seen on edge, overlaid by
the beds which has'c evidently been derived from the materials
of the older series against which ihey rest. These observa-

iliil^

li"

164

tions may hereafter be found of some value as indieatiiif:if the
possihlr Vxfensiou of the «'oal measures heneatli the sandy
plains \v}irn> no trace of thv'w rocks is now visible, and they
at least signify, that but for the extensive (!(>nu(lation caused
by the Deep River and its tributaries, wr niiuht still be igno-
rant of the exist ence of coal in the parts to which we have
already referred.

An attentive comparison of tlie following analyses, will
prove that we liave here .-idded another to those eases of coal
fields which contain in ditlerent parts coals of widely dill'er-
ing constitution. We had previously the South Welsh coal
field, the Lehigh, Schuylkill, and Suscjuehanna coal trough,
(the most southern of the Pennsylvania anthracite districts,)
the Belgium eoal field, and llie coal field of Eastern Vir-
ginia, which yields at the northeastern part the Natural coke,
(a species of anthracite,) and Barr's Deep Run semi-bitumi-
nous coal, together with the Mi(Uothian and Clover Hill coals
of high bituminousness. Besides going through all the gra-
dations of coal, the North Carolina field evidently runs at both
extremities into plumbago, associated with, and apparently
produced by the igneous rocks which have been injected into
the coal series altering and tilting the strata, and in many ca-
ses disintegrating the sandstones and other materials. A few
miles from Raleigh, towards the Northeastern part »)f the coal
district, is found (he extensive bed of graphite which has al-
ready attracted considerable attention. This is underlaid by
a sandstone very closely resembling that found beneath the
coal at Deep River, but giving signs of having been subjected
to intense her»t for a long period, developing certain meta-
morphic characters, such as the partial coalescing of the in-
tegrant particles, as if by incipient fusion.

In 18'^4, in a report to the Legislature of North Carolina on
the geology of that State, Professor Dennison Olmstead des-
cribes the formation containing the plumbago, referring to the
4th volume of Silliman*s Journal for a more full account.

Of the coal formation, Prof. O. remarks, *'it is fifty years
since the coal was first <liscovered. For some years past the
mine has been neglected. The principal excavation is one
mile from Deep River. It dips to the southeast in an angle
of twenty* live degree.^ — the thickness of the bed wheu cMtircly
exposed is about one foot. The coal is highly bituiiiinous,
burns readily with a bright flame, and is of much the same
quality as the Richmond coal. With regard to extent, i have
no certain information. On the road from Salem to Fayctte-
ville by the way of Tyson*s mills, on Deep river, the traveller

crosses a number of rUl<?es of that sholly kintl of black slate
which is the accompaniment of t.li<* coal,. '(nd may be considered
a symptom of it wherever it occurs. This, however, passes
unAer a soft red rock called by jjjeolojijists slaty clay, which
extends sf)Uthwards oward ^ Mooyc Court-house, and nothing
is seen of the slaty rock south of the river.'*

By comparini,' this de liplion with the fore;,'oing account
of tiic North Ciirolina coal Held, it will be observed that sub-
seriuent examination have much extended our knowledge of
this intcrestint; coal formation. Not, only the slati^ hut the
coal has now been discovered <outhof the river, and not only
these, but the soft red rock overlying' the slate is seen several
miles on the road from the river towards Moore Court-house,
anil even several miles further to the south or southwest.
On the old road towards Troy, the red sandstone appears
wherever the denuding ae urn of the streams has removed the
diluvial white sands which, as already noted, overspread in
part the very edges of the coal lormation. A notice of this
sandstone rendered highly probahle the account given at
Moore Court-house, of the reeent finding of coal on Drowning
Creek. The edges of the Richmond coal lields are in a simi-
lar manner partly covered by the drift, and all those of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, as noticed on a preceding page.

The shells and coprolites found overlying the coal in North
Carolina very forcibly recalled the appearnn-e of similar ma-
terials in the slates overlying the principal seam at Sydney,
Cape Breton, and at the South .loggin's shore on the Bay
of Fundy. As to the contemporaneousness of the bitumi-
nous, semi-bituminous, and anthracite beds of North Caro-
lina, there can no longer be a doubt ; nnd that the plumbagi-
nous mass at the northeastern prolongation of the coal forma-
tion, as well as the gri»i)hitous slate at the southwestern part,
has had a similar origin, appears equally certain.

ANALYSES Or DEEP UIVEU COALS, N<1RTll CAROLINA.

1. Ferrish^x highly hituminom coal.

The mean specific gravity of two specimens from this lo-
cality was 4. .'J 13.

It contained— Volatile matter, 3-2.H2 per cent.
Fixed carbon, 03.78
Earthy matter, 3.10

100.00

166

! II

Hence the fixed is to the volatile comhustlhic matter as 1.04
to I. The ashes are very h'ght. and of a yellowish color tinged
with red, or approaching a i^almon color.

2. Horton*8 Sfmi-bituminous coal,

Spcctfie gravity hy the mean of two specimens 1.311.
It contains of Volatile matter* 23.<»3 per cent.

Fixetl carbon, 72.57 "

Earthy matter, 3.80 *•

100.00

Fixed to volatile combustible matter, as 3.07 to 1. The
ashes arc heavier and of a darker eolor than the preceding^.
It wilt l)e observed that this sample shows 28 per cent, less
bituminous matter than Ferrish's, and contains 1 1.17 percent,
more earthy matter.

3. Wikox*s anthracite.

The mean specific gravity of two specimens was foutid to
be 1.540.

The Volatile matter, r».04 per cent.
Fixed carbon, 83.70 "
Earthy matter, O.fiO ♦•

100.00

The fixed to the volatile combustible is, consequently, as
12.61 to 1. The ashes are heavier than those of eilherof the
other specimens. The per centageof ash is exactly double of
that of Ilorton'.s coal. Its color is a reddish gray. It wilt form
a portion of clinker when subjected to intense ignition ; but in
this respect it is believed to be on a par with the average
of Pennsylvania anthracites.

4. Plumbaginous slate near Dr, Chaf>ncr\ on Deep River, six
miles southwest vf HortoiCs,

On immersing this substance in water, it imbibed the liquid
with much rapidity, giving out bubbles of air, and throwing
off scales of the slate with great activity. It was conse-
quently impracticable to get the specific gravity by this means.
The porousness thus indicated may perhaps be received as an
evidence of the expulsion from it by heat of what was once
a part of its constituents.

The

\Vhc!n subjected to a red heat without acccs.«i of air,

it loses -------- 11.18

When incinerated it loses of fixed carbon, • - 10.35

And leaves of reddish grey ash, - - - - 78.49

100.00
Tlie ash when finely puUeri zed gives a beautiful flesh color,
whieh ini;;ht probably be advantageously employed as a pig-
ment, as the raw material itself is employed for a black paint.

6. Plumbago uf Mr. R. Smith\s wj/nr, six miles from Ruhigh,

This plumbago has a specific gravity of 2.05'^,
Exposed to red heat without access of air, it loses - 0.40
After long incineration leaves of a whitish ash - 74.29
Consequently the llxed carbon is only - - - 1(5.25
The asli has a silky lustre, and preserves the form of the
original scales of graphite. The term plumbaginous talc,
might perhaps with propriety be applied to this substance.

II.— ANTHRACITE OP RUSSIA.

At a meeting of the National Institute, Washington, March
1849, the writer exhibited a specimen of anthracite from the
town of Gruschof ka, in the country of the Don Cossacks,
Southern European Russia, and instituted a comparison be-
tween it and the anthracite of our own and other countries.
He observed that it was usual for anthracite to break with
as much facility across the surfaces of deposition as in di-
rections parallef to those surfaces ; and that when surfaces
of deposition were exposed by fracture, they exhibited less
brilliancy than the surfaces of fracture in other directions.
The reverse of this was true of the Russian specimen exhibited,
and the lustre of its surfaces of deposition was owing to the
presence of innumerable very minute organic remains re-
sembling scales. In this particular, it resembles several bitu-
minous coals previously examined, and especially that found
near Greenupsburg, in Kentucky, save that in the latter the
scales are without lustre.

The specific gravity of the Russian anthracite is 1.66, in
which property it is surpassed by few of the anthracites of
Pennsylvania.

It gives by analysis, Volatile matter, - 7.17 per cent.

Fixed Carbon. - 91.23 «

Earthy matter, • 1.60 "

100.

lit

168

Consequently the fixed is to the volatile combustible mat*
ter» as I'^.T'i to !.

A coal with thesf^i properties must possess gr<*at hi^atingr
power; and will rank with some of tlie best varieties of
Pennsylvania anthracite.

III. — KCNIi.WVA CANNF.L COAL.

Coal below the Falls of the Kcnhawa^ Virginitu

This eoal is exceedingly compaet in texture, breaks with
clear conchoidal fractures, has a jet black colour, and will
receive a beautiful polish. It is so clean as not to soil while
muslin on being rubbed, and bears handling and transporta-
tion without liability to disintegrate; its specific gravity is
1.27; healed rapidly to a bright red heat without access of
air, it loses 45.53 per cent, of volatile matter, giving otf a gas
burning with brilliant tlame and leaving a coke of no greater
bulk than the coal which had been used, but the original form
of fragments is wholly lost ; when coked slowly it loses <mly
41.*2'2 per cent, of volatile matter, but the form of the pieces
is still as completely obliterated as before, .^fter complete
incineration it leaves of greyish white rather dense ash ICI.13
per cent. At a medium rate of coking, therefore, the compo-
sition will be —

Volatile matter 4.T37 per cent.

Fixed Carbon 4C..'iO "

Earthy matter 10.13 **

100,
Ratio of fixed to volatile combustible, as 1.07 to 1.

This coal will produce its he.iting elTects with ipreat rapi-
dity, and will probably be found free from clinker.

A specimen of coal from the Elk river, a tributary of the
Kenhawa, gave by slow and rapid coking respectively 41.11
and 43.75 per cent, of volatile matter.

It may here be stated that a great amount of heat is evi-
dently rendered latent, when carburetted hydrogen gas is
produced either from coal, rosin, oil, or other material. The
quantify of fuel re([uired to heat gas retorts, while converting
the volatile part of the coal into gas, is, to a certain extent,
a measure of the heat of elasticity of such gas.

The rapid absorption of heat while gas is evolved, is proved
by the blackness maintained by any coal as long as gas
continues to be produced.

The Kenhawa Cannel coal illustrates this effect in a man-
ner BiiUiciently remarkable, the coal remaining black while
gix'inisj; otf the most brilliant tlame of gas. An analogous il-
lustration of the effect mentioned, is given where liquid car-
bonic acid, generated under great pressure, (as in the experi-
ments of Thillorier,) is suddenly relieved from pressure and
escaping into the atmosphere, becomes in part converted into
gas absorbing so large an amount of heat as to translbrm
another part of the liquid acid into a solid with an enormous
reduction of temperature, (70 or 80 degrees below zero.)

IV.— CANNBL COAL PROM BEAVER, PA.

This coal presents only in part the massiveness and the
smooth conehoidal fractures of other cannel coals. It displays
in part the surfaces of deposition belonging to ordinary bitumi-
nous coalsj and has, diffused throughout, minute «ilky vegeta-
ble impressions. Its specific gravity is 1.313.

It contains of Volatile matter - - - . 38.25
Fixed Carbon - • • -51.46
Earthy matter - . - - 10.29

Hence the fixed is to the volatile combustible matter, as
1.34 to 1. The ashes of this coal are nearly white.

V. — C0A1.8 OF Lim.E BANDV RIVER, KENTUCKY.

1. Ctmh from near Caroline furmtce, Greenup county.
This coal presents the following characters:

Its texture is close ; structure foliated ; surfaces of deposi-
tion dull, with mineral charcoal, or having a pitchy lustre ;
fracture even } and the main partings nearly at right angles
to the surfaces of deposition. It has a specific gravity of
1.304. Subjected, by very slow degrees, to a bright red heat,
it gives a copious development of gases, and loses—

Of Volatile matter- ... - 38.00 per cent.
Its Fixed Carbon is .... 55.61 "
Earthy matter 6.39 "

100.

The fixed to volatile combustible is 1.46 to i. The ashes
are moderately dense, and of a reddish gray colour.

■lll"llil

I I

lUiii

•^l

170

2. Another specimen of coal from this locality gave specif c

grarilij, \:2'^'l.

Two trials of Vol.-Hilo matter gave a mean of 17.1 per cent.
Fixed Carbon - - - - 4H,8 ^^
Earthy matter - - - ^-^'^

100.
Conseciuently the fixed was to the voUitile combustible as

1.03 to 1.

3. Coal from Kcntuchj furnace, six miles south of Greenups-

burg.
This coal has the followinj,^ external ehnrncters : Its slruc-
tureis foliated or slaty. Its surfaces of deposition exhibit
very abundant ve<retable impressions, and consequently but a
dull lustre. Its specilic gravity is 1.310.

It gave of Vohitile matter by slow coking - - .{f^.uo

Fixed Ci.rbon •'><;-^;;

Earthy matter - - - - " •^•*''^

100.
The ratio of fixed to volatile eombustible, as 1.49 to 1. •
The earthy matter is of a deej) brown colour, and much
inclined to vi'triilcation in clinkering.

VI.— COM, OF MOUNT CAUDON, ON BIG MUDDY RIVEP, JACKPON (OUNTV,

luuiNois, {V.\ miles hi/ the route of a proposed railroad to tlic
Mississippi river.)

This coal has the following exterior character. Its struc-
ture is lamellar; its surfaces of deposition are stongly mnrked
with mineralized charcoal; some of its crop Irneluies have
their laminae ol" iron pyrites completely eoatmg the foal.—
The coal bears handling well, ami is but little liable to iall
into slack. It has a specilic gravity of 1.29. It gave upon

analysis of — .r. c^- *

Volatile matter by rapid distillation - - 40.8;, per cent.

Fixed Carbon, two trials
Earthy matter

55 ^'

59
3.5G

100.00

Consequently the fixed is to the volatile combustible matter
as 1.30 to 1, which brings it into the class of the Indiaiuiaiul
Kentucky coals already in extensive use on the Ohio and INlis-

sissippi. The prcsniipc of thv. sulplmrct nlrcady nol iood ^j^lvcs
rise to flic rormalion of n i'<'u ush, sonic porlioii of which will
at iiilcMso iy:iiitioii I'usc into a dark coloured (diiiUcr.

Professor IJ. Sillini;ni,Jr., has given an analysis of this coal
with the followinj; rcsidts:
Specilic irriivitv ...---

Volatile malter - - • - 30.97
Fixed c:;ul)on - - '- - r)7,fJ0
Jiiyrht white ash - • - - J. 50

\.n52

100.
This analysis makes the ratio of llxed volatile eomhustible,
!.")•> to 1.

iMr. Dnvid ATii«het, of Colesford, l^iii^Hnnd, has also given
an analvsis as follows :

••Flame, ^:e," (volatile matter) - - 'MVM

"(Carbon" .'il.fi.'i

" \Vhit(> clayey ash," - - - - 5.r,()

100.

It is prohablc llint in both the two preceding- aiinlysos the
cokins was performed less rapidly than that by which was
obtained 40.85 per cent of volatile malter.

VII. COAI, OF TUrMl!i;i,L COI.NTV, OHIO.

Analysis ol" the coal from Brier Hill, in Trumbull county,
gave the tbllowing characters and composition;
'^ The structure is foliated, the fracture even, oblicpic to the
surfaces of deposition, the lustre brilliant to jiitchy ; of vege-
table impressions it contains many, but they are not well^ de-
veloped on account of the uneven" fracture along the surfaces
of deposition. Its specific gravity is IM'2. When coked very
moderatelv at first, it yave scarcely any enlargement of the
original biilk of coal, though the Ibrm of the fragments was
totally lost. It gave a copious evolution of gas, and afforded

Of Volatile matter, - - - 38.18 per cent.

Of Fixed carbon, - - - - fxS. 11
Earthy matter - - - 3. 1(5

101).

Hence the fixed is to the volatile combustible as l.r)3 to 1.
The ashes are light, silicious, and of a pale fawn color. Ex-
periments on a large scale can alone ])rove how far the slight
proportion of waste in this specimen is capable of being veri-
fied by experience in the practical way.

172

VIII. ARKANSAS COAL.

This coal is found at the mouth of Petit Jean River, a tribu-
tary of the Arkansa-, emptying into the latter river in latitude
about 35° north and 15° 50' west longitude from Washington.

This coal has a columnar structure, deep black color, bright
lustre ; texture somewhat loose ; surfaces of deposition marked
in part by sulphate of iron. Its speciiic gravity is 1.541.

In coking, it varies according as the heat is more or less
rapidly appMed. If slowly heated it scarcely changes the
forms of its fragments, and only exhibits slight cracks on
some of its faces. When rapidly coked, it bursts open in va-
rious directions, and the fragments in some cases fall apart,
while in others they remain slightly attached to each other.
The gas given off ia coking, burns with a short yellowish flame,
which continues but for a short time. The interior of the
crucible becomes covered with plumbago during the rapid
coking of this coal. The effect of a red heat is to decompose
the sulphate of iron, giving rise to sulphurous acid and perox-
ide of iron ; the latter remaining in the coke, giving it a red-
dish tinge, while the former is volatilized.

When slowly coked this coal gives of

Volatile matter,
When rapidly coked, " "

12.08 percent.
15.79 "

And the mean of these two is, 1.3.93
Fixed Carbon,
Earthy matter, -

70.35
9.72

u
<(

100.
Ratio of fixed to volatile combustible = 5.48 : 1. This
should seem to place the Arkansas coal about on a level with
Dauphin and Susquehanna, or NeiT's Cumberland coal of the
American Series, (p. 90,) or with the Dulfryn coal of the
British Series, (p. 97,) and if so, its evaporative power would
be somewhere between 9.34 and 10.14.

IX. ANTHRACITF OV F-MRROKESniRE, SOUTH WALES.

This anthracite strongly resembles that of Beaver Meadows,
Pennsylvania. Its color is deep black ; its fracture is even or
splintery. It manifests little or n< tendency to part along the
surfaces of deposition more than in any other direction.

It specific gravity is l.iOO.

173

It contains of Volatile matter, -
Fixed Carbon,
Earthy matter, -

7.7G per cent.
90.85 "
1.39

100.

Consequently the fixed is to the volatile combustible mat-
ter as 11.7 to 1.

The ashes are dirty yellow, intermingled wilh white. It
was remarked that the coal seemed to cover itself with ashes,
(slight as is the quantity of the latter,) and to require a long
time to effect a complete combustion in the mullle. A strong
draught or suitable blast would no doubt remedy this defect.

X. ANTHRACITE FROM TOWN HILL, ALLEGHANY COUNTV, MD.

This specimen has the appearance of having been subjected
to intense pressure, and thereby rendered flaky and tender, a
result often observed in Pennsylvania, where either the coals
or the accompanying shales have been contorted, broken, and
compressed while sliding over each other.

It has a specific gravity of 1.702, which is sufilcient with-
out its loose shelly texture, its steel grey color, its streaked
and shining surface, to indicate that it is rather anthracitous
shale than pure anthracite.

By analysis, it gave Volatile matter, - 0.42 per cent.

Fixed Carbon, - - 02.87
L.irthy matter, - 30.71 " ""

Hence the fixed is to the volatile combustible matter as
9.79 to 1. As the hygrometric moisture is not here separately
determined, it is of course embraced among the volatile com-
bustible.

The earthy matter is shaly, preserving the forms of the
fragments of coal before incineration. This anthracite might
possibly answer for some purposes where the large amount
of residue would not constitute an objection — but for most of
the uses of anthracite, this would wholly preclude its adop-
tion.

XI. — HAY OF FUNDY COAL.

Coal from the King's seam, South Joggins'* shore, Bay of
Fundy, Cumberland county, Nova .Scotia. This coal is com-
pact ; lustre dull or pitchy; structure columnar; fracture
even and perpendicular to the surfaces of deposition. Specific

• See page 10.

-I f; I "1

174

gravity 1.3S7. Coked vcvy .slowly it umlergops but little en-
largement of bulk, and the forms of the fragments are nearly
preserved. It gives by proximate analysis,

Volalile matter.

Fixed carbon,

Earthy matter,

H'i.'A per cent

r>7.C)(j "

lOrt.

Consequently the ratio of fixed to volatile combustible is
1.02 to 1. The ashes are of a very dark brown, almost black,
color, partly fused into clinker adhering to the platinum cap-
sule.

XII. — Sl'niN(} nil.L, NOVA SCuTIA, COAL.

The locality of this coal is ref(n-red to at pages H>, 11, and
10 of this work. In exterior characters the coal is Jbliatcd,
and its surfaces of deposition highly charged with minfrali/-ed
charcoal. The partings or main cleats arc oblique to those
surlaces aad exhihit a shining lustre. The coal appears to
bear handling well without disintegration. Its specillc gravity
by the mean of two trials is 1.351.

It gives of Volatile matter,
Fixed carbon,
Earthy matter,

31.30 per cent.
01.14
7.5(5 •*

100.
Consequently the rola'ion of the fixed to the volalile com-
bustible matter is l.i)0 to 1. The ashes are mixed of purpli.sh
and yellowish white portions, light and slightly coher.'ut.

xni. — t'OAL OP i.rriLK rivbr, cai'K r.uKTo.v.

This coal, of which specimens have been forwarded within
a few monlhs from .T. ^Y, Dawson, Escj., of Pietoii, is charac-
ierizeu by a foliated structure, compact texture, resim.us lustre,
and dead black color; some of its surlaces jire, however,
shining, as if from the effect of rubbing under heavy pressure.
Its speoitic gravitv is 1.3.j8. In coking it gives a copious dis-
charge of gas which burns with great brillianey, indicating a
good" port ion of bicarburetted hydrogen. Uy a pretty rapid
coking it ullbrds of Volatile matter, - - 3100 per cent.
And leave.'3 Fixed carhon, - - 5!. 12
Earthy matter, - - 10.50

100.

175

Conscfiucntlv the fixed is to the volatile combustible matter
as 1.27 to i. The ashes are o{ a chocolate color, heavy, but
not easily vitrilied.

XIV. — COAL OP Nl-AV |1R«.NS\VJCK,

This coal is iVom the mines near the head of Grand Lake»
reierrcd to al pnue 1 1 of t his \voi-k. Its struci uvc is lamellar ;
its surfaces of deposit ion are dull black, with minute fossil
impressions copiously interspersed.

Tlie specimen havni<;- been kept for more than <hrec years,
hadbciiuntoexliibit etiloresccnt suiphateof iron and ammonia.
Itsspecilic gravity is \A-2l. Coked with moderate rapidity
it yielded Volatile matter, - - - .'{I.S? per cent.
Fixed carbon, - - • .W.O'. «

Earthy matter, ... VH)S
Consequently the fixed is to the volatile combustible mat.
tcr as 1.15 to i. The ashes are of a deej) red color.

XV. — nKnrruMiNt/r.n coai,. ei.ovEtt nu.i., va.

At the Tippecanoe pits, Clover Hill, in the southern part of
the Vir^Muia coal licld, is a dike of trap running i\w cast and
west, on «'ach side of which helow the surface of the grotmd
is found a stratum of fuller's earth. Where this trap dike
cuts the coal seam it has converted the coal in imuKMliale con-
fij-iiilvwilhthefulh'r'si-arlh.parlial'vintocoke, posst'<si!igthe

followmg characlcrs :

lis color is a dead black, searc<'ly any surface showing more
than a faint gliuun.-iing lustre. It* might readily be mistaken
for a very diMise art'.iivial coke, but it preserves, in some de-
gree, the columnar strueture of the coal, lis sjjeeiiie gravity is
l.(U~about fl' same as thai of many anthracites. Subjected
to a bright red heal, it retains the form of its fragments en-
tirely unehair^ed, but loses —

Volatile matter . 1 l.KM i-er cent.

And when incinerat^'d, give^ Fixed Carbon .

Leavi ig,

Earthly matter

7(J.M)

H.2h

100.

Hence the llxed is to the volatile combustible as ^1.18 to 1,
which would pla< e this nuiterial on a p.-.r. in point of consti-^
tulion and probable .»vaporaii\e ])ower with the coals of
Cumberland, Md., J.nd o^ South Widcs. Tlie ashes are nearly
of a pure white colour.

XVI.-

'COM. FROM THE SAME PEAM AS ABOVE, AND WITHIN A FEW FEET
OP THE COKE AT Tiri'ECANOE PIT.

To ascertain the relation of the coal to the coke in this
mine, the following analysis was made. The coal has the
following character:

Its lustre is shining or resinous; its cross fructures are very
brilliant, and but little mineral charcoal is seen on its surfaces
of deposition. Its colour is jet black.
Its Specific gravity is 1.31.

Volatile matter- » « -
Fixed Carbon - . - .
Earthy matter . . - -

- 33.65 per cent.

- 61.51 "

- 4,84 •*

100.

Consequently the fixed is to the volatile combustible as
1.82 to 1. The ashes are of a reddish brown colour, and are
slightly inclined to pass into clinker.

177

FEET

Summary op Analysis.

this
i the

very
'aces

cent.

e as
i are

[

The following table exhibits a synoptical view of the pre-
ceding recent analyses arranged in the order of the ratios of
fixed to volatile combustible matter, the latter including, of
course, the hygronometer moisture of each sample. The
volatile matter of the two plumbaginous specimens is doubt-
less nearly all water, but probably some portion of it is com-
bined with the earthy matter or oxides in the state of hydrates.

2^ »- S- K 3

• 3 2T j^ ?!
JO 3* I? 3 <'

• ;:• '^ >

CD
<* !

S-S 2. q
§ §« 1^

3 OpSO
02:= ?3

_ O c . B

SO; Or-

s g o

3 " o

3- ""3.

c 5. E.

— 33
O a. a.

?::*?«
h:h 3

a c ~
: o 3

• ?r o

^ *< -^^

p r 3 c B»

E §" ? i' •

2^ £•§ g-

^^^ ^'^■
? s r w 5

S *< B O ■

T
3
3-
B

3
ft

» :

;?i

3 s

ft '
*< :

« en

xa i: — .^ W hlJ-^iOC*^— 0J3D

•J

Specific Gravity.

M M ^s u M u w to CO 00 10 4^ w w .- ^

Volatile matter.

fo "-I X) "oD w or tf "» "^» tn 10 S5 i» 00 155 o CI 4^ pt». 10 O^

Fixed Carbon.

I en w .-t -J to <x y

' S ;0 — hO TD O Q-i

- j: t:> -s <u a it> <s ut Ki v> <t^ '-'

-, *► tC i Ci to tP -T- Ci l» tC XI w

Earthy matter.

Ratio of Fixed to Volatile
Matter.

00 ^ = 5t
B S "

3* — B

8 g '^

"H. 3^

pa 72 < nj o ?3 a

ft z; t » f» 1^ (»
a-

EL.'

.•■<5 ^

^ B

2.*.

§.»

3 2 m •

Ot2!0

as ^ ff^

?7 "-I rt

o"^ I-

-. .M B

« < «

• ? s.

CO •

2 <

178

PEACTICAL HINTS FOR THE SEI-FXTION OF COALS FOR DOMESTIC ASD

OTHER Ul^ES,

From a late article in ihr- Erlinltnrgh Hcvirw/it apprnrs to
be a now idea in Great Britain th.-it anthracite \s |nei'ernh}e
for all <Iom("stic purposej* to any other luel whatever. This
idea the reviewer has. it appears, ol>tainc(l from the clahorate
and valuable work of II. C. Taylor, Esq., on thn*'.Statisliei<of
Coal." It is by no means new in this eountry.ns the praeticc
of all the Athmtic cities, and the multitudes of inventions dfi-
signed to facilitate the application of anthracite to domestic
puvi-oses, fully attest. But not every variety of anthracite is
equally adapted to all domestic purposes.

1. For open grates, where a lively fire with considerable
flame is thought desirable, and where the moderates intensity
of heat will not endanger the conversion of a great portion of
the ashes into rlinfar, the re<f ash coals mny be employed to
advantage. A study of the Report on American coals will
show that the more rapid and intense is the fire, during the
combustion of any given coal, the greater will be the propor-
tion of clinker it makes.

2. In furnaces for healing houses, and in general f<ir close
stoves having any considerable capacity, and liable to produce
a very high white heat, the white or grey ash anthracites are
preferable. , » .

3. In the e vrller use of anthracites both red and white ash,
an error was very generally committed in attempting to use
them in too large lumps. As this fuel burns almost solely by
the contact of air with the surface of the incandescent coal,
it is essential to the uitainment of its maximum effect that
large vacant spaces shot Id not be left between the lumps.^ As
bituminous coal gives oU' large quantities of gas which fdl up
such open spaces, the evil is less liable to occur with that fuel.

In selecting coal for gas works, those varieties arc to be
chosen which possess large proportions of volatile matter nnd
as little as possibk- of sulphur. The rich cannel coals are
generally preferred for this purpose.

For smiths' work, coals are generally preferred which, m
being heated to redness, agglutinate their lumps firmly to-
gether. Wh<'n a hollow fire is not required, however, the
coals of loM- bituminousness, nnd which have but little ten-
dency to inturaescence or cohesion of lumps, may be employed ;
and the higher heating power of such coals will always give
them a preference where economy of fuel is an important
considerat ion. Coals pos>fessing a large port ion of iron pyrites

v: j

; ■■

(hisulphurpt of iron) must bo nvouled in smiths' work. The
decomposition of the hisulphiiict iu the coal sets free one
atom of the sulphur, which attacks and consumes the iron,
remlerinj: it. brittle, ruul preventing sound wtddiny;.

For forminj; bricks, a j)ortion of anthracite dust has fre-
qiientlv been employed to advantajre.

For*burnin«r lime, anthracite is employed in the state of
small nut or pea coal. The white ash coal should be selected
for this purpos*', if we would avoid discoloration from an in-
termixture of oxide of iron with the Wmf..

For Nteamships, coals of hi<i;h hcatin«; power under a fiiven
bulk, of -rreat purity, that is free from earthy matter, of little
tendency to clinker,' and entirely free from the danger of tak-
ing lire by spontaneous cond)ustion, ought in all cases to be
chosen. Anthracites are least liable to this evil, but many of
the cannel eords and free burning bituminous coals are also
ne.nrlv exempt from danger on this account. When a coal,
after'an exposure of some time to the atmosphere, begins to
exhibit elUorescent, white or greenish white salts of iron on
the exterior, and to fall rapidly Into small fragments, it is to
be suspected.

Housekeepers and others should endeavor to acquu-e some
familiarity with the aspect of coal, in order to distinguish
lumps of state, from true coal. All the slate they buy, is not
merely a fraud upon their linances, but a tax upon time, in
putting in and taking out so much waste materials from grates
and furnaces. The formation of clinkers, which destroy the
linings <»f stoves, brings a new source of annoyance and of
useless expense.