The coal-regions of America:

Front matter

THE

0OAL-KEGION8 OF AMERICA:

TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, AND DEVELOPMENT.

Preface

This work is strictly confined to one subject, and that is expressed in tlie title. It is intended to be a collection of the principal useful facts and discoyeries in regard to the Ooal- Kegions of the United States, their geographical situation, their topography, geology, and development, or their commercial and economical relations, properly classified for study or reference. Each of those States, within whose borders coal has been found, has at considerable expense caused geological surveys to be made of its own territory, conducted by some of our best geologists, who have spent years in examining and studying the coal-fields. These Government surveys are the basis of this work, and there can be no better authority on this subject. None of them are as complete as they should be, and some of them were very unwisely abandoned in an unfinished condition; yet, the numerous ponderous volumes of reports published, although not very attractive books to the general reader, contain a store of useful facts about coal, which should be condensed and digested in a convenient hand-book. The difficulties met with in collecting these materials have proved that there is a want of correct information accessible to the public, in a cheap and popular form, in regard to many of our coal-regions, particularly those producing bituminous coal. The older State Geological Eeports are expensive and rare ; all of iv PREFACE.

them are. out of print, and there are but few, if any, of even our best public libraries where complete sets of all that have been published can be found.

The results of these surveys are here extracted with great care and patience from a mass of matter on other subjects than coal, much of it of a technical character, or only of local interest, and arranged in a systematic and methodical manner. In order to produce an impartial and authentic history of the coal-regions of all the States, the descriptions of them given by their own authorities are generally reproduced, as nearly as the necessary condensation and change of form, would admit ; these official materials being to the history of the rocks what the dispatches of the general and the diplomatist are to the history of nations. Many additional facts are also given, the results of more recent observations of many other writers, or picked up in the course of sixteen years of active employment in a large coal-business, and in visiting many of the more important coal-regions. But a book of this kind, containing only the observations of any individual, however extensive his knowledge, would be of very little value. On the contrary, this is intended to be a sort of encyclopaedia of all that is known on the subject, that is permanently important and valuable, as ascertained by many competent persons in all parts of our country. "While our scientific men are absorbed in original investigations, others may do a good work by collecting and arranging in a new form for popular use the materials they furnish on special subjects like this. It is evident, however, that this book is more the work of a coal-merchant than of a professional geologist, and it has reference throughout to practical and useful results. By thus collating the accounts of all our great coal-fields in one view, we cannot but observe the regularity of the laws or system on which Nature has formed them, and we also get a comprehensive idea of the physical force of our country, accumulated for the use of

PEEFACE. V

man among the strata of tlie earth. This collection of coal statistics will serve, therefore, not only to gratify curiosity, bnt also to exhibit, it is hoped not in an exaggerated or too flattering a form, onr national wealth or resources in our supply of fuel.

Among the other more obvious reflections which will occur to those who may take an interest in the kind of information here given, will be the magnitude of our coal-fields, which in that respect are without a parallel in the world, containing in all 192,000 square miles, besides the lignites of the Far West ; the vast quantity, the great variety, and the wide distribution of our stores of coal ; their accessibility for mining purposes, in being so near the surface ;^ the facilities afforded for their cheap transportation to long distances; also the want of coal in other very extensive districts of our country, and the important questions connected with their supply. It will be noticed, too, that, while the exhaustion of the English coal-fields is being discussed, how little has really been done here in the way of mining our coal, and how powerless is all this fuel in the absence of population with intelligence, energy, industry, and the necessary capital, guided by science. Among the important advantages of our coal-fields are those of a climate where severe labor can be endured, where fuel is most in demand; and that of a Government strong enough to protect our rights, and wise enough to permit the best development of our own natural resources.

To American readers it is quite superfluous to refer also to that glowing picture of the future which we are all so much accustomed to draw for ourselves, or to speak of what we will do, and what we will make of all that is around us, with the aid of the latent power in reserve in our coal-fields. This work is confined to facts and contains but few reflections, but it furnishes abundant food for thought to the philosopher and the statesman. We seem to have before us a long period of

^ All the coal being within mineable depths.

vi PREFACE.

peace. The material prosperity of tlie country will hereafter engross the attention and efforts of our people, and constitute an important part of our history. The coal-regions of America are, therefore, a subject of national importance, and worthy of the attention of every well-informed person.

For the benefit of those who have but little knowledge of geology, some general information, applicable to all the coal-regions, is given in the Appendix on the origin and place among the rocks of coal-beds. This, as well as Chapter VI. on the characteristics of coal-seams, should properly be read by non-geological readers before the accounts of the coal-regions. A chapter on the conditions of success in the coal-trade, one on the combustion of coal, and one on the iron-ores of the coalmeasures, with the latest statistics of the coal mined in the United States, and in foreign countries, are also added at the close of the volume. Some of these statistics are later than those given in the text.

Prof. J. S. Newberry has furnished the best portions of the chapter on Ohio, particularly the section of the coal-strata, in advance of his final report, and has added kind words of encouragement during the progress of this work. Profs. Cox, of Indiana, Worthen, of Illinois, and White, of Iowa, have all furnished useful statistics and information not contained in their published reports of the geology of those States. The recent geological surveys in those four great coal-producing States render this a suitable time for a publication like this. Dr. J. W. Foster has, with the concurrence of Messrs. Griggs & Co., the publishers of his " Mississippi Valley, its Physical Geography," etc., allowed the use of his "Geological Sketch of the United States," given on page 2. Acknowledgments are also due to numerous railroad officials and other gentlemen who have responded to inquiries for information as to the geology and coal-trade of various parts of the country.

If any of the scientific gentlemen, whose work has conrREFACE. yii

tribnted to this piece of mosaic, feel aggrieved by any want of due credit, or any erroneous statements, tbey will please attribute it to tlie difficulties of such a task as this, performed amid the cares of business, and not to any wrong intention. Corrections of any errors found in the work, which, in such a mass of facts and statistics on a subject of this character, and in a country so little developed as ours, must unavoidably occur, and further information as to any of the coal-regions, are respectfully solicited.

All coal, both anthracite and bituminous, carried to tide-water, is sold by gross tons (2,240 lbs.). West of tide-water, net tons (2,000 lbs.) are customary. The United States census reports are in gross tons for all parts of the country. The statistics in this work conform to the above.

J. M.

TowANDA, Pa., Marchy 1873.

PEEFACE TO THIS EDITION.

The present edition embodies numerous corrections suggested by several of the State geologists and others ; also a supplement containing information collected since the publication of the previous edition, including the statistics of coal mined

durinsc the last year.

Table Of Contents

Introduction. — ^The Importance of Coal Page 1

I. A Preliminaet General Survey. — ^The States which contain no Coal, 3 ; the Four Great Carboniferous Coal-Fields, 3, 4 ; the Productive Coal-districts, 5 ; the Lignite Regions, 6.

ANTHRACITE.

Appendix

Origin of Coal and the Method of its Formation.— Of Vegetable Origin, 597 ; Kind of Vegetation, 598 ; Peat-bogs, 599, 600 ; how so much was accumulated, 600, 601 ; Lesquereux's Description, 601, 602 ; how the Vegetable Matter was transformed, 602 ; Formation of Slates and Sandstones, 603 ; Origin of the Various Kinds of Coal, 603, 604 ; Repetition of the Seams of Coal, 605 ;

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV

Thickness of Coal-beds and their Fragmentary Character, 605 ; Direction of the Ocean-Currents, 605, 606 ; the Conglomerates of Pennsylvania and Illinois, 606.

II. The Rocks among which Coal is found. — The Coal-bearing Rocks, 607 ; Plates

of the Series of Geological Formations, 608, 609 ; the Use of Fossils, 618 ; in the Discovery of Coal, 611; no Coal before the Carboniferous Age, 611 ; the Black Slate of the Hamilton Group, 612 ; Origin of Petroleum, 612, 613 ; Specks of Coal in the Chemung Rocks, 613; Dawn and Progress of Vegetation, 613 ; in the Devonian Rocks, 614; in the Carboniferous, 614; in the Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary, 615; Prof. Hall's Account, 616; Lignite Coal in New Jersey, 61*7 ; Black Slate in Canada, 617 ; other Foolish Searches for Coal in England and elsewhere, 618.

III. The Conditions of Success in the Coal-Trade.— Nine Conditions required, 619; Good Quality of Coal, 619, 620; Sufficient Quantity, 620; Cheapness of Mining, 620 ; Regularity of Production, 621 ; Cheap Transportation, 621 ; Sufficient Transportation, 621, 622 ; a Good Market, 622 ; Sufficient Capital, 624 ; Good Management, 624, 626 ; Public Benefits of Coal-mining, 625.

IV. The Combustion op Coal. — The Waste in Burning Coal, 626 ; Burning Coal a Chemical Experiment, 627; General Description, 628; Detailed Description, 629, 630 ; Heating Power of Coal, 630 ; Carbonic Oxide, 630, 631 ; Necessity of Sufficient Air, 631; Sufficient Combustion-chamber, 632 ; Glowing Coals, Hot Air, consuming Smoke, 633; Invisible, Unconsumed Gases, 633 ; Smoke or no Smoke not a Test, 634 ; Loss in the Theoretical Heating Value of Coal, 635 ; Sieman's Furnace described, 635 ; Crampton's Method of burning Pulverized Coal, 636, 637 ; Quantity of Coal used in making Iron, 637 ; Necessity of Scientific Knowledge, 638.

V. The Iron-Ores op the Coal-Regions. — ^Iron-ore only found in certain Geologi-

cal Formations, 639 ; the Primary Ores, 640 ; the Brown Hematites, 640 ; the Clinton or Fossil Ore, 640, 641 ; the Carbonate Iron-ore below the Coal Conglomerate, 641 ; the Ore in the Coal-measures, 641-646 ; the Buhrstone above Coal B, 642 ; the Johnstown Ore, 643 ; Lesley's Description of the Characteristics and Value of the Iron-Ores of the Coal-measures, 643-646.

VI. Statistics op Coal mined. — Coal mined in England, 647; Sketches of the Coal-fields of Great Britain, 649-651; Map of the Coal-basins of Ireland, 650 ; and of England, Wales, and Scotland, 651 ; Exhaustion of English Coal-fields, 663 ; Report of Royal Commission, 654 ; the Coal-basins and the Coal-trade of France, 656; Belgian Coal-fields and Statistics of Coal mined, 656; Coal mined in Prussia, 666; Production of Coal in Spain, 656; Coal mined in Austria, 667; Area of the Coal-fields in the United States, and the Production of Coal in each County, 667-661 ; Details of Coal mined in Pennsylvania and in other States, 662-670 ; Coal-trade on the New York canals, 671 ; On Lake Erie, 672 ; Of Chicago, 673; Coal Production of the Globe, 674.

Index 691

LIST OF MAPS.

PAGE

Geological Map of Pennsylvania. ... 1 Geological Sketch of United States . 2

Anthracite Regions. 9

First and Second Coal-Fields IT

Western Pennsylvania 116

Axes of Folds in Strata 117

Blossburg Region, etc 125

Six Alleghany Coal-Basins 185

Cumberland Coal-Region 238

Consolidated Coal Company's Lands 241

Ohio and Eastern Kentucky 806

East Kentucky Coal-Field 341

PAGB

Alabama 3*75

Indiana and West Kentucky 388

lUinois 406

Iowa 446

The Pacific Coast 5^5

Pictou Coal-District 593

Cape Breton Coal-District 593

Coal-Basins of Ireland , . 650

Coal-Basins of England, etc 651

Vancouver Island Coal-Field 680

Railroad Map of United States 697

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Daddow's Anthracite Section 22

Section of Nesquehoning 24

Section at Mauch Chunk 26

Mount Pisgah Inclined Plane 27

Section at Tamaqua 29

First Glunpse of Wyoming Valley . . 44

Colliery Buildings 59, 61

The Miners' Pay-Day 64

Veins and Faults 83, 85

Shaft and Drift 93, 94, 95

Creep in Coal-Mine 96

Fossil Trees 97

Ventilation 100

Miner holing under 101

Trolley-Boys in England 101

Over-tilted Strata 114

Section Ogdensburg to Blossburg.. . 131

Carboniferous Forest 133

Fossil-Fern, Full Size 135

Sections Blossburg and Mclntyre. , . 137

Plan of Blossburg Mines 145

Section at Antrim 149

Mclntyre Plane 165

Section of Towanda Mountain ..... 167

View at Brownsville 224

Section of Tennessee Coal-Field. . . , 854

Dana's Geological Section 608, 609

Mining Thick Coal, S. Staffordshire. 649

THE IMPORTAIsrOE OF COAL.

*' Of other bulky articles in wMch commerce is carried on, manufacturing industry commonly returns to us some part of the identical substance whicli it had received as a raw material, something visible and tangible of which our senses can still take cognizance, which arrests our attention, recalling our minds to the original condition of those materials by which our wants are supplied or our senses gratified. On the contrary, the material which furnishes motive power is either wholly overlooked or soon forgotten. The evanescent movement of machinery which transports materials from place to place, or transforms them from one shape to another, leaves nothing visible or tangible on which oar senses can dwell. We see around us the fabrics which were ordered from Manchester a short month ago, and we handle the yellow bars and dust which left San Francisco within the last forty days" (a. d. 1849) ; " but of the miraculous power which has winged their way hither we see no traces on the surface, and are prone to forget the useful labor of the black masses by which we are so largely benefited. A piratical act has been committed, or a hostile invasion is attempted or intended, and the arm of our national power is stretched forth to thwart the designs of wicked men ; but, without the aid of this dark, forbidding mineral, the interposition of that arm would be all too tardy, its efforts altogether unavailing." — Walter K. Johnson.

" Coal," says Prof. J. S. Newberry, " is entitled to be considered as the mainspring of our civilization. By the power developed in its combustion all the wheels of industry are kept in motion, commerce is carried witli rapidity and certainty over all portions of the earth's surface, the useful metals are brought from the deep caves in which they have hidden themselves, and are purified and wrought to serve the purposes of man. By coal night is, in one sense, converted into day, winter into summer, and the life of man, measured by its fruits, greatly prolonged. Wealth, with all the comforts, the luxuries, and the triumphs it brings, is its gift. Though black, sooty, and often repulsive in its aspects, it is the embodiment of a power more potent than that attributed to the genii in Oriental tales. Its possession is, therefore, the highest material boon that can be craved by a community or nation.

*' Coal is also not without its poetry. It has been formed under the stimulus of the sunshine of long-past ages, and the light and power it holds are nothing else than such sunshine stored in this black casket to wait the coming and serve the purposes of man. In the process of its formation it composed the tissues of those strange trees that lifted their scaled trunks and waved their feathery foliage over the marshy shores of the carboniferous continent where not only no man was, but gigantic salamanders and mail-clad fishes were the monarchs of the animated world."

Coal is to the world of industry what the sun is to the natural world, the great source of light and heat with their innumerable benefits. It is not only the principal generator of steam, but steam is also dependent on iron, and the manufacture of iron on coal : therefore, these three most powerful among the physical agents of modern advancement have their source and basis in the coal-mine. Here, then, in these dark and gloomy caverns, and their coarse and rude productions, is a good subject for thought; and on a cold winter's evening when we enjoy the pleasant warmth of a fine coal-fire, while our apartments are illuminated by the gas from coal, we should endeavor to have intelligent ideas of the sources from which, and the means by which, these and so many other great comforts are derived ; and, above all, we should see another instance of the wisdom and goodness of Him who hath in so wonderful a manner placed beneath our feet in exhaustless quantities and in an imperishable form the " stored-up fuel of a world." I

THE COAL-EEGIONS OF AMEEICA.