Men me atten Hag miies ss Aone he AON ie hae a nei a tase Relea ee ae a Ne Ate Date en a balan: RP nh teal aoa werent nine ate a aeTba abba lag Kafer fine ihe bDltte Cinllg er ataedm ghee adhghe ba Rahemmetatnad on’. her Lntar Seta Ham ae 8 7 Nga tate Moat a land, Rael Pym LF tam Ng metal Ve eit nal catia Dr Bate es hei a Mande bate ie ease “eo SMR AD eR eel aan he Me Regn alte Ve ee he tieenig Ted e Pia relia Hig atten aie: ar = ate ae mete Wn it Ao tiag = bm te Ned ba dy Atha te er he Ang a ene one etd, a uy ue atrial achat hae Mat te a ten 8 mm a en Ne ta nb in Pit AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS. N a CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR SILLIMAN AND BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, Jr. VOL. XLITL—OCBPOBER, 1842. (TO BE CONTINUED QUARTERLY.) NEW HAVEN: Sold by B. & W. NOYES.—Philadelphia, CAREY & HART, J.S. LITTELL and DREW & SCAMMELL, 67 So. Third St.— Baltimore, Md., N. HICK- MAN.—New York, C.S. FRANCIS & Co., No. 252 Broadway, and G. S. SILLI- MAN, No. 49 Wall St.—Boston, C.C. LITTLE & Co. and W.H.S. JORDAN. —London and New York, WILEY & PUTNAM, No. 35 Paternoster Row, Lon- don, and 161 Broadway, New York.—Paris, HECTOR BOSSANGE & Co., No. 11, Quay Voltaire —Hamburgh, Messrs. NESTLER & MELLE. ZL NAN IST, PRINTED BY B. L. HAMLENY QQ Te ca ‘ker, I, XIE. CONTENTS OF VOLUME XLIII. NUMBER I. Geological and Statistical Notice of the Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va.; by A. S. WooupripcE, . Regarding Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone ; by Davin Date Owen, M. D., witha plate, - - - . On the Identity of Pyrochlore with the Microlite of Prof. Shepard; by J. E. Tescuemacner, and A. A. Haves, . On the Wisconsin and Missouri Lead Region; by James T. Hopaz,' - - - = E : & . Observations on Photographic Processes; by WiLL1AM F. CHANNING, - - - E : . 5 . On the Principle of Virtual Velocities; by Prof. THEO- DORE STRONG, - - : - i 3 . A dangerous Property of Wood Ashes exposed, and some of their other Properties examined ; by Dr. Joun T. PLUMMER, - - - - - - - - . Caricography ; by Prof. C. Dewey, with a plate, - . On the Dip and Variation of the Magnetic Needle in the United States; by Prof. Ex1as Loomis, - - - . On the Want of Identity between Microlite and Pyro- chlore; by Prof. Coartes UpHam SHEPARD, - - . Additional Objections to Redfield’s Theory of Storms ; by Prof. Rozert Harz, M. D., - : e . Notice of two New Fossil Mammals from Brunswick Canal, Ga.; with observations on some of the fossil quadrupeds of the United States; by R. Harian, M.D., with a plate, - - - - - - : . Description of a New Species of Thracia ; by Prof. C. B. Apams,_— - - - - - E 4 é Page. 116 122 141 145 47HO7 iv CONTENTS. XIV. Third Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists, - . : i x XV. A Daguerreotype Experiment; by B. Situman, Jr., A. M., and Wm. Henry Goope, M.D.,_ - a é XVI. Discovery of a Chambered Univalve Fossil in the Eocene Tertiary of James River, Virgmia; by M. Tuomey, - XVII. Bibliographical Notices :—Michaux’s North American Sylva: Loudon’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs: Leedebour’s Flora Rossica, 188.—London Journal of Botany: Kunze’s Supplemente der Riedgraser (Cari- ces): Memoir on a Jaw of the Iguanodon, and remains of the Hyleosaurus, &c., 189.—Sherwin’s Treatise on Algebra, 190.—Trimmer’s Practical Geology and Min- eralogy, 191.—Dana’s Muck Manual for Farmers, 192. —Murchison’s Address before the London Geological Society for 1842, 192.—Transactions of the Manches- ter Geological Society, 201.—Fourth Report of the Ag- riculture of Massachusetts, 202.—Catlin’s Letters and Notes on the Manners and Customs of the North Amer- ican Indians, 203.—New Works in Science, 205. MIscELLANIES.—Microscopic Fungus, 205.—Soirees of the Pres- ident of the Geological Society of London: Testimonial to Dr. Mantell, 206.—Steam Navigation in the Pacific, 207.— U.S. Exploring Expedition, 208.—Observations for Shoot- ing Stars, April 20-21, 1842, 212.—Botanical Necrology, &e., 214. NUMBER II. Art. I. Address before the Association of American Geologists Lt e bt ¢ and Naturalists, assembled at Boston, April 24, 1842; by Prof. B. Stnuman, - - = - II. Reply to Dr. Hare’s further Objections relating to Whirl- wind Storms; with some Evidence of the Whirling Action of the Providence Tornado of August, 1838 ; by W. C. Reprienp, - - . II]. On a Tornado which passed over Mayfield, Ohio, Feb. ruary 4th, 1842, with some notices of other Torna- does ; by Prof. Ex1as Loomis, with a plate, - Page. 146 185 187 217 250 IV. V. VI. VI. Vu. IX. XI. XII. CONTENTS. The Composition and Products of Distillation of Sper- maceti, with some few remarks upon its oxidation by Nitric Acid; by J. Lawrence Smiru, M. D., - Sketch of the Infusoria of the family Bacillaria ; by Prof. J. W. Barney, with a plate, - - i F A Monography of the North American Cuscutinee ; by Georce Encetmann, M.D., witha plate, - : A Catalogue of the Mammalia of Connecticut, arranged according to their natural families; by Rev. James H. LINSLEY, - - 8 - b - - Analysis of Meteoric Iron from Cocke County, Tennes- see, with some remarks upon Chlorine in Meteoric Iron masses ; by Prof. Coartes U. Surparp, M.D.,_ - On Washingtonite (a new mineral), the discovery of Euclase in Connecticut, and additional notices of the supposed Phenakite of Goshen, and Calstron-baryte of Schoharie, N. Y.; by Prof. Coarues U. Sueparp, M.D., Abstract of the Proceedings of the Twelfth Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Meteoric Observations, made at New Haven, Conn. on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of a i 1842 ; communicated by E.C. Herrick, - - - Bibliographical Notices _astie s has Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry in its application to Physiology, 379. —Perkins’s Algebra, 380.—Life and Writings of Ebe- nezer Porter Mason; interspersed with hints to parents and instructors on the training and education of a child of genius: Davis’ Manual of Magnetism ; including also Electro-Magnetism, Magneto-Electricity, and Thermo- Electricity, with a description of the Electrotype Pro- cess, 381 :—Thoughts on a Pebble, or a First Lesson in Geology, 382.—On the growth of Plants in closely glazed cases, 3883.—Hooker’s London Journal of Bot- any, 385.—Hooker’s Icones Plantarum: A Report on the Insects of Massachusetts, injurious to Vegeta- tion, 386.—The Botanical Text Book, for Colleges, Schools, and private Students, 388.—Monographie d’Echinodermes vivans et fossiles: Della Elettrotipia Memorie di Francesco Zantedeschi con cinque tavoli elettrotipiche di Zantedeschi e Antonelli, 390.—Lon- 345 354 364 367 377 vi CONTENTS. don Microscopical Society : A monograph of the Lim- niades, or fresh-water univalve shells of North Amer- ica, 391.—New Scientific Journals, 392. MiscEetianres.—On the use of Carbon in Grove’s Battery: Eh- renberg’s Notices of American Infusoria, 393.—Acarus Crossi, 305.—Remarks upon Mr. Murchison’s Anniver- sary Address before the London Geological Society, 396. —Ancient Meteorological Notices, 398.—Meteor of No- vember 10th, 1841, 399.—Terrestrial origin of the alleged Meteoric rain in Hungary: Meteorology: Solar Eclipse . of July 8th, 1842, 401—Vegetable and Animal Fibrine, Albumen, and Caseine, 402.—Oil of Indian corn, 403.— Gold Medal of the Geographical Society, awarded to Prof. Robinson: Discovery of a new Metal: Death of Prof. J. P. Emmet, 404. ERRATA. P. 73, 1. 6 fr. bot. for hypochlorate read hypochlorite ; 1. 4 fr. bot. for phosphorus read phosphorous.—P. 75, 1. 15, insert comma after fluoride, and substitute comma for semicolon after nitrate.—P. 93, 1.10, for presenting read prosecuting.—P. 102, 1. 24, for bank read branch.—P. 292, line 13, after snatched out insert of. —P. 295, 1. 14, for front read forest ; 1. 18, for as read and.—P. 296, 1. 5, for p. 12 read 308. —P. 298, 1. 21, for rain 8 2-3 in. read .83 inch.—P. 333, 1. 4 fr. bot. for turning read iwining.—P. 334, 1. 10, for is read inhabits.—P. 336, 1.5, dele campanulate. Vol. XLII, p. 140, 1. 10 fr. bot. for same read successive.—P. 205, |. 12 fr. bot. for five read four. “i apie AME iortartan ee Ghee? \ oo PUN eS lies at ie eee THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. Arr. I.— Geological and Statistical Notice of the Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va.; by A. S. Wootpringe, Presi- dent of the Mid Lothian Mining Company. TO THE EDITORS. Gentlemen—I have been delayed in replying to your letter of May last, hoping to receive from the respective owners of the coal mines, statistical statements of their mining operations, that I might transmit you more accurate and full information, than [ ean hope to furnish without such aid; but as I have failed in se- curing such assistance, I will submit such a statement, imperfect as it must be, as my knowledge and information enable me to furnish. The coal-field of this vicinity lies about thirteen miles west of Richmond; is known to extend from about fifteen miles north of James river, south beyond the Appomatox river; is said to be some fifty miles in length, and in breadth about twelve miles—its bearing is some thirteen degrees west of south ; it lies upon granite, and is supposed to be in the form of an ellipse; it outcrops to the east and west. The coal lies in six counties—Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Chesterfield, Powhatan, and Amelia. The mines in Chesterfield county, near the Buckingham road leading from Richmond to Lynchburg, may be said, so far as the north and south points are regarded, to occupy the centre of the field on the eastern outcrop; and it isin this vicinity that the coal ap- pears in its greatest thickness and purity; it varies from fifty Vol. xx111, No. 1.—April-June, 1842. 1 2 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. feet to some four or five feet in thickness.* A full and accurate account of the field and the quality of the coals is anticipated from the report of Professor Rogers, to be made to the next legisla- ture of Virginia. It may be well perhaps to remark, that all the explorations and workings in this coal-field, have been confined chiefly to the outcrop or sides of the basin, and that there is no- thing yet developed indicating with any degree of certainty how thick or deep the coal will be found imbedded in the centre of the field; but it is believed that enough has been ascertained, to show that so thick, varied, and valuable a deposit of bituminous coal, in the same space, is not to be found any where else. The first mines discovered in this vicinity, were the old Black Heath pits, Buck & Cunliffe’s, Ross & Curry’s, Wooldridge’s, Railey’s, and the Green Hole, and on James river, in Chester- field county, also, T'rabue’s and Sallee’s pits. ‘These have all been discontinued or worked out; they produced coal of excel- lent quality for smithing purposes, particularly the Old Black Heath mines. The mines now in operation are the Maidenhead pits, known as the mines of the Black Heath Company of Colliers, discovered. in 1821. There are at these mines several shafts, varying from one hundred and fifty to seven hundred feet deep; during the year before the last, Col. Heth, originally a large shareholder, purchased these mines of this incorporated company, with all their real estate and other property ; he bought also Sallee’s pits, with a large adjoining tract—intending to combine all these va- rious tracts so as to form a new company, and with that. object went out to England. While there, an explosion from inflam- mable gas occurred in his mines, and destroyed fifty three out of fifty sixt persons who were in the pits. He brought out from. England suitable men to reclaim his mines, which was done, and with him came agents sent out to examine and report as to the value of this property. He is now in England, clos- ing a sale of the whole of this property, and the agents of the * Tt is probable that this coal-field extends through Virginia into North Carolina. t One of the persons who survived, was one of three descending the shaft in a basket ; they were thrown up in the basket to the full length of the rope running over pulleys at the pit-head frame, that. was forty feet above the surface ; they were thus thrown probably seventy feet high. The man saved, who remained in the basket, had both thighs fractured. Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 3 English company are expected out to put these mines under work—the water being kept out, so that they can be put in working operation at any time. On the Maidenhead tract, are two deep shafts, the one in which the explosion took place, about seven hundred feet in depth, and the other completed du- ring the last year, about six hundred feet deep. The coal from these mines is of good quality, averaging thirty six feet in thick- ness, and the two shafts can produce two million bushels of coal “per annum. On this estate are all the buildings, engines, and other machinery necessary for a large business, with a railroad, the property of the company, leading from the pits to James river, and passing through the tract of land owned by said com- pany, called Sallee’s, containing a valuable deposit of iron ore, which it is presumed will shortly be worked extensively and profitably, as the ore is in the midst of the coal mines, intersect- ed by the company’s railroad, within a mile of James river, and not more than about twelve miles from Richmond. Explosions occurred several times in the Maidenhead pits, prior to the great explosion. On these occasions several men were killed and burn- ed. At that time the art of ventilating coal mines was imperfect- ly understood here. Since that period, much greater, if not entire security, exists under the ventilation by Newcastle gas-men. - On the north of these works lie the mines owned by Thomp- son Blunt, now under a lease to Col. Heth, and best known as the pits of Wills, Brown & Co., of whom Col. Heth purchased the lease ; but one shaft and that about four hundred feet deep to the coal, is in operation at these mines; at the bottom of the shaft there are two inclined planes, one worked by mule power and the other by steam. These slopes increase the depth about. three hundred feet more; a steam engine is in operation over the pit. A force of about ninety hands is employed, including those at top and bottom and the cartmen; these pits being about two miles from the coal railroad leading from Manchester, which is the ship- ping point on tide water to most of the mines in the vicinity. The coal, which is about thirty feet thick, is of superior quality for smitheries, and the product about four hundred thousand bush- els perannum. Several accidents by explosive gas occurred in these mines during the last year and preceding years, by which some lives were lost, and several men severely burnt. ‘They are now wrought safely, under the management of Newcastle ven- A Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. tilators. 'These mines were opened about twenty five years ago ; during the first year’s operation, when the miners were out at their dinner, about one o’clock in the day, and within an hour from the time they ascended, the pit fired and the flames instantly rushed from the shaft to the height of two hundred feet above the surface; whether this was caused by an explosion olf gas Or otherwise, is uncertain.* . Hiitin diairaly adjoining these mines on the north, are those called the Gowrie pits, owned by Murchie, Mosely & Brander, and now worked under a lease by George E. Swann. There are two shafts on this property, one about one hundred and sixty feet deep, the other about four hundred and sixty ; about eighty thousand bushels of coal will be hoisted from these mines the present year. ‘The coal is about six feet thick; it is suited for grates, and for steamengines. 'The present prospect is not prom- ising; the shafts seemingly have been sunk on troubles, and a good body of coal is supposed to lie on the dip of the present works. There are employed at these mines forty men, includ- ing top and bottom hands and cartmen, and they are about the same distance from the railroad as the last named mines. It is probable that these mines will not be worked the ensuing year. Next on the northeast, are the old pits of Buck & Cunliffe, mentioned before as having been worked out; and on the north- east of them are the old Black Heath mines in like condition. About two miles north are Sallee’s pits, named before as being unwrought, and containing iron ore lying over the coal, and now owned by the English company ; in which company Col. Heth retains a royalty upon one half of the minerals owned by it, as well as in the coal property ; on the north lie Trabue’s old pits, extending to James river, now owned by Thomas M. Burfoot, and under a lease to Stanford, Duval & Co. who have sunk some shallow shafts south of the former workings, from fifty to two hundred and fifty feet deep. There will be raised from these mines during the present year about one hundred and twenty five thousand bushels of coal; they give employment to about fifty men. This coal being raised from near the outcrop, is not very suitable for any thing but domestic fuel. A new shaft is now sinking on * What other catse can be assigned? Itis hardly possible that any felonious attempt could have produced such an effect.—Eps, Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 5 this land, and from the great influx of water, a small steam en- gine has been put upto aid in sinking. On the southeast of these mines, on the lands of Maj. Clarke, some years ago, coal was mined to a small extent. We return now to the Maidenhead pits, being the point in the working mines where we began, and which lie on both sides of the Buckingham road; Wooldridge’s old pits and Railey’s, the property of Nicholas Mills, and before mentioned as being un- - wrought and exhausted, are directly east and adjoining. ‘These mines were not abandoned until the close of the last year, having been for the last half dozen years worked by Mills, Reid & Co. East of these mines are the old Union pits not before named, but worked out, not having been wrought more than some fifteen years after being discovered. South of these, are the exhausted mines owned by Nicholas Mills, and known as Mills Creek pits ; which like the Union pits did not last working more than twelve or fifteen years after being discovered. South of these are the old Green Hole pits, before named as one of the oldest pits and exhausted by working. The coal raised from all these old mines was of very good quality. Next and immediately south, lie the Creek Company’s mines, discovered about four years azo. ‘They were valued and sold to an incorporated company at $96,000. ‘They have but one shaft in operation, about three hundred and eighty feet deep, worked by a steam engine on the sround, and mule power operating below on an incline. The present year’s product will be, as it has been for the two preceding years, about two hundred and fifty to three hundred thousand bushels of coal, and there are employed here about seventy men at top and bottom. The coal is of good quality, but is difficult to mine in consequence of the field being some- what troubled. ‘This company own all the necessary machinery, mules, and about thirty men, with a sufficient outfit of houses, two coking ovens, and a branch railroad connecting their mines with the main coal railroad to Manchester. On the south of these works and immediately adjoining, are the Stonehenge pits, now unwrought, owned by the heirs of Martin Railey, deceased. The old shafts at these mines are numerous, and vary in depth from fifty to four hundred feet; it is supposed that the coal extends to the dip of the old works,—new shafts it is supposed will be sunk, and extensive operations may in future be carried on. 6 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. The coal from these pits ignites easily and burns freely, being very suitable for grates, locomotives, g&c., but unsuitable. for smiths’ use. 'There are several seams of these coals; the first from twelve to sixteen feet in thickness, the next twenty eight inches, the third four and a half feet. Other seams are known to exist below these, but have not been worked. These coals were discovered about thirty years ago, by a craw-fish bringing up coals to the surface above his hole. Wooldridge’s old pits were discovered by the wheels of the waggons running on the Buckingham road-turning up coal in the ruts; and the coal at the old Green Hole pits was said to be discovered by a deer jump- ing across the creek and throwing up coal on the snow. ‘The time of the discovery is not accurately known. The Mid Lethian Coal Mining Company’s pits lie immedi- ately south of the Maidenhead mines, southwest of Railey’s pits, west of the Creek Company’s mines, west and south of Stone- henge, and adjoin all these mines. This company procured a charter in 1835, and was organized in 1836. The sinking for coal preceded the organization of the company, and was in an- ticipation of it. The tracts of land contain four hundred and four and a half acres; upon the northeast corner, being the rise, a shaft had been previously sunk and worked; it is five hun- dred feet deep. By improvident mining, it crushed the pillars of coal, settled down, and was abandoned in 1836; there not being more than five or six acres worked by the then lessees. "These lands, being two tracts, were valued at $300,000, and owned by Wm. Wooldridge’s heirs, to wit, Dr. A. L. Wooldridge, Jane A. Elam, Charlotte Wooldridge and myself. The capital was divi- ded into three thousand shares of a hundred dollars each; and one third, being one thousand shares, was sold to some thirty shareholders, in and around Richmond—generally, of the most respectable and wealthy class. ‘The $100,000 cash, the amount thus raised, was given to the company as a capital for sinking, purchasing machinery, for laborers, &c. Four shafts were com- menced, nearly in a line on the run of the coal, extending a mile or more. In the autumn of 1839, coal was found in one shaft, at the depth of seven hundred and twenty two feet to the coal, at which time the other three were temporarily suspended, one being six hundred and twenty five feet deep, one three hundred, and the other eighty five feet. ‘These shafts are eleven feet Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 7 square, divided into four chambers by timbers, and from the samples of metals sent, you will see that sandstone and slate, in alternate layers, form the covering over the coal. 'The last shaft Was recommenced at the beginning of the present year, and is now down three hundred and fifty feet, and it is expected coal will be reached by the first of next June, at the depth of six hun- dred feet. The last year about three hundred thousand bushels of coal were hoisted; the present year about six hundred thou- sand bushels will be raised, and the quantity would have been enlarged had the demand justified the increase. Coal in the working shaft was found, as before stated, at the depth of seven hundred and twenty two anda half feet from the surface—the coal in the shaft was thirty six feet thick, and the sink below the coal is sixteen and a half feet deep, making the whole depth of the shaft seven hundred and seventy five feet. I write now from memory, and may not be critically correct as to a foot. In the journal sent you of the metals,* the specimens and list com- mence about two hundred and forty feet below the surface. The upper metals in the samples kept, got mixed or deranged, and were thrownaway. Any discrepancy (if any) in the journal of metals as kept, with the depth of the shaft as here given, must have been produced by the difficulty of measuring the thickness of the metals on the side of the shaft in sinking. The coal lies at an angle of about thirty five degrees, dipping to the west. The thickness of the coal varies, which is, I presume, produced by the form of the rock upon which it is deposited being uneven; in some places the coal rises to fully fifty feet in thickness. 'The whole capital was expended in sinking as above described; in procuring a large steam-engine, buildings, mules and mule-power machines, railroads above and under ground, besides some eighteen laborers, and a coal-yard and fix- tures. The whole of the lands are supposed to contain coal. The exploring drifts now in progress, extend north and south over a quarter of a mile; the coal on the west being the dip, and on the east being the rise, seems to indicate great regularity,—a drift now going on to the southwest on a slope, shows that the coal is flattening off, it not dipping now more than one in ten feet, and in quality is of the most promising character. It will be seen by * The miners’ name for the rocks and other matters raised with the coal.—Eps. 8 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. observing the location of these mines, as stated before, that the lands take in the coal from the eastern outcrop, on the south, so as to reach over on the dip fully a mile, far beyond any explora- tions westward. The present works and fixtures are capable of producing one million of bushels per annum, and by the aid of a second engine over the same shaft, another million might be pro- duced. The next year, when the sinking shaft shall have reached coal, two raillions per annum can be raised, and that quantity doubled by increasing the steam power. ‘'l'wo large steam-en- gines are now building, and intended to be erected before the close of the season; one over the sinking shaft, and the other in the mines to operate on the incline. As to the quality of the Mid Lothian coal, I refer to the tiles sent you, and the certificates contained in my circular, also for- warded to you; adding this fact, that this coal upon trial has been found to suit a greater variety of purposes than any coal hitherto discovered ; and of this you will find ample proof by attentively examining the circular referred to. The whole effective force at these mines, including the coal- yard hands, and top and bottom hands, is one hundred and fifty men and boys, with some twenty five mules. Most of these mules will be discontinued as soon as the steam-engines are erected. The ventilation of the mines is committed to the man- agement of a Newcastle miner or gas-man of much experience and skill, trained by Mr. Buddle, the distinguished English mining engineer. The ventilation is kept up by means of brattice work of boards, and aided by a furnace under ground. ‘The atmospheric air is taken down on one side of the shaft, and courses the whole drift, passing out by the furnace in the opposite side of the shaft. On the upceast side the air is received some thirty feet from the bot- tom of the pit into the shaft, and at the top it is boxed up so as to throw it off fifty feet above the mouth of the shaft. Large quantities of inflammable gas are thrown out from the coal in the mines constantly, and any interruption in the air coursing the mines with regularity, might and would be attended with disas- trous consequences from an explosion of the gas. Si Humphry Davy’s lamp is used at the mines, more as a pioneer than oth- erwise ; no mines are considered safe that require to be worked by safety-lamps. They ought to be used only in going through Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 9 the mines to see that all is right, before the miners are put to work ; or to be used to free the mines in case they are overcharged with gas. The interior of the mines contains iron railroads of a very sim- ple construction. Iron bars, two inches by half an inch, are in- serted edge up into cross pieces of timber, four by two inches, laid at the bottom of the drifts. The iron is admitted into the timber about an inch deep; no wedging is necessary, and the road can be curved at pleasure. Mules are used on these roads below, and thrive and lools better there than those above ground. Impressions of fishes and vegetable remains, such as ferns, bark, and knobs of wood, are often found in the slate lying over coal in this neighborhood. They were particularly numerous at the Union pits, and mines of the Creek Company, which seem to be a distinct formation of coal from the main formation, and many suppose it a deposit at an after date. As no sinking is now going on at either of these mines, I am unable to procure and for- ward you any samples, as the old ones have been disposed of. I will be upon the watch, and secure for you hereafter any speci- mens that may be obtained, and worthy of your attention. The coal basin extends across Chesterfield county to the south to the Appomattox, or perhaps a little beyond the river into Ame- liacounty. Nocoal, however, has been found of sufficient thick- ness to justify working, nearer the river than Rowlett’s old pits. distant one mile to the north. Between these pits and Hill’s old pits, distant five miles still farther to the north, is supposed to be the only part of this section of the basin that will be found valu- able from the abundance of its mineral treasure. ‘The coal meas- ures may be traced on the north from these limits to the James river pits, and south a little beyond the Appomattox, but no ex- ploration has yet discovered ‘coal beyond the limits mentioned, in sufficient quantities to be wrought to profit. Rowlett’s pits mentioned above, were some twenty years since leased by a company of gentlemen in Petersburg, wrought for a few years and abandoned; subsequently an incorporated company purchased them, but after a trial of two years gave up further search for coal, having been unsuccessful, though the land is stillowned by them. About twenty years ago Hill’s pits were first pul in operation. 'These were worked for five or six years, and likewise abandoned. The coal at both of these workings Vol. xxi1, No. 1.—April-June, 1842, 2 10 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. was of excellent quality, and particularly well adapted to the use of grates and other purposes requiring gas and flame. ‘The exceedingly faulty character of the field at both of these points led no doubt to the abandonment of these workings. These are the only workings that had been attempted on the ‘ south side of this great coal basin, until two years since, when coal was accidentally discovered upon the lands of James H. Cox, next south of Hill’s old pits and three fourths of a mile distant. This coal was first discovered on the side of a hill, where it had been uncovered by the washings of heavy rains; for the coal here along the whole line of outcrop reaches within a few feet of the surface, being only covered by a coating of soil, sand, and eravel. Since its discovery, an average of about twenty hands have been engaged in exploring and mining it, and from the ex- plorations already made, the belief is entertained that no part of the basin presents a more regular, uninterrupted, and undisturbed formation than this. The thickness of the seam varies from seven to fifteen feet. The coal is of superior quality, and peculiarly ‘suited to grate purposes, steam engines, the blast furnace, gas works, &c. The accompanying certificate* from Dr. Andrews, shows its richness in volatile matter, and the small quantity of ashes it contains. At present, the operations at these mines can- not be increased to any extent, in consequence of their distance from market, and the want of proper facilities for transportation. The present mode of transportation is to carry it in carts to the river, and thence by boats to Petersburg, at the cost in all of * To Cuarxus Bere, Esq.—Sir: The specimen of bituminous coal from the Clover Hill coal mine, which you left with me for analysis, belongs to the variety called slate coal. It has a specific gravity of 1.26; principal fracture slaty ; cross fracture uneven, brittle, slightly soils the fingers, and is composed of two alternate varieties, one velvet black with a brilliant lusthe on the foliated fracture, the other dark grayish black, lustre glimmering. It ignites very freely, and burns with a lively yellow flame; cakes, but swells very little in coking. One hundred parts contain— Carbon, ; . : : : d : : 5 eyo: Volatile matter, . : F é : ‘ 4 ‘ i BS" Alumine, Silex, bom the ashes, . ; : 5 : ; 6.5 Oxide of iron, It contains also a small portion of sulphur combined with the iron as a sulphuret. The caking quality which it has, will make it a useful fuel for the forge, or for those purposes which require a hollow fire. For the manufacture of gas, I con- sider it superior to the caking coal of Newcastle, England, or the splint coal of Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 11 eight and a half cents. This high cost of transportation forbids, for a time, successful competition with mines enjoying greater facilities. It is designed to remedy this inconvenience by con- structing a railroad to the Appomattox, a distance of five miles, or one to intersect with the Richmond and Petersburg road and reach James river some where about Osborne’s or Bermuda Hun- dred. The country through which both of these routes would pass, is admirably adapted to the purpose, being very level and abounding in timber and other railroad materials. Euther of these contemplated improvements would place these mines ina state of fair competition with any other mines in Virginia, or perhaps in this country. These mines have recently been sold by James H. Cox to the Clover Hill Company, who are now working them with a force of twenty laborers. Moody & Johnson have a lease of Ander- son’s land, next adjoining that of the Clover Hill Company, and employ a force of twelve operatives. These two workings to- gether, last year, produced two hundred thousand bushels of coarse grate coal; the fine coal not being able to bear the cost of transportation, is still remaining at the pits. Whatever has been said about the quantity and quality of the Clover Hill coal, is ap- plicable to Moody & Johnson’s coal, as all is taken from the same seam. The deepest shaft which has yet been sunk is two hundred and fifty feet deep. The measures passed through were princi- pally sandstones and shales. Impressions were frequently met with of ferns and other aquatic vegetables, but no fish or other animal remains. Scotland, and next best to the cherry coal of Staffordshire. It contains6 per cent. more volatile matter than the Richmond coal, which isnow used at the gas factory in this city. It will answer very well for the grate, and make a cheerful fire. The following table will show the quantity of volatile matter in each kind of coal mentioned, and also the quantity of ashes. Cherry coal, 44.75 volatile matter, 10 per cent. ashes. Splint coal, 35. 4s K Oran a Richmond coal, 32. ce ft 8.75. és Clover Hill coal, 38.5 “ £e ayaye tk us Newcastle coal, 226 “ bs i Se Ka I am, sir, your obedient servant, Grorce W. AnDREWs. Baltimore, Dec. 15, 1840. 12 Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. The bearing of this part of the field is fifteen degrees to the west of south, and inclines to the west as you proceed to the south, until near the river it is thirty degrees. The same is the case on the western outcrop. This induces the belief that the basin is here rounding off, and that at no great distance to the south of the river, the coal formation entirely disappears. ‘This belief is confirmed by explorations made on that side of the river. Several mines were worked formerly on James River, on the western outcrop of the coal-field, in Powhatan County, which are now unwrought, principally because the coal both in quality and quantity is not equal to the coal of Chesterfield, and will not bear working in a depressed state of the trade.* In Goochland County, on the western outcrop, coal of good quality was formerly worked, and known as the Dover pits, owned by Anderson & Moody, and conveyed to the Dover Coal Mining Company. ‘These mines are not now worked, the com- pany having failed. Since the failure of the Dover Company, the mines have reverted to the former owners; and on the east ‘side of the outcrop, on the Goochland and Henrico side of James River, are several mines, some of them now in operation, and some not. The largest operators in that neighborhood, are the Messrs. Crouches & Sneed, the owners of extensive mines in good work- ing condition, employing about one hundred and fifty hands, and raising four hundred thousand bushels of coal the present year. Near these mines, on James river, are those of the Tuckahoe Coal Company. ‘The old mines are out of work, but a shaft is sinking, employing from fifteen to twenty hands, &c. Near these are Woodward’s and Cottrel’s Mines, both now un- wrought. Northeast of Crouches & Sneed’s mines, lie the Edge Hill pits, now worked but not extensively, by Richardson, proba- bly employing some thirty hands, and producing about eighty thousand bushels. On the north part of Crouches & Sneed’s property, Townes & Powell are engaged in hoisting coal, but not working more than some twenty hands, producing the present year about one hundred thousand bushels. There may be some other mines in this vicinity not remembered. ‘There is a railroad connecting these mines with the James River canal, down which the coal passes to Richmond. ‘The coal on the north side of * These mines were worked by three incorporated companies, all having failed. % Coal Mines in the vicinity of Richmond, Va. 13 James River sells for a less price than that on the south side, be- ing considered net as good.* : Some four or five miles north of ‘these mines, lie those ealled the Deep Run pits, worked by John Barr, who at present employs some forty hands, and raises some two hundred and fifty thousand bushels of coal; he uses steam power. This coal is of fair quality, as is also that from Burton’s pits, now mined by Grubs & Co., who will probably raise about the same quan- tity as Barr, and employ as many hands. The coal from these mines is transported to Richmond by the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad Company, a branch of their road having been extended to the pits. The charge for coal on this road is four cents per bushel from the mines to Richmond. The charge for boating coal down the James River canal, including tolls, is about three cents from the mines,—that on coal passing the coal railroad in Chesterfield from the mines, to tide water, is five and a half cents ;—for taking it from this road, at its junction with the Petersburg and Richmond railroad, two cents per bushel to Richmond,—to Petersburg four cents, including yardage at either place ; and coal going by this road, to either Petersburg or Richmond, is entitled to half a cent per bushel deduction from the main coal road charge. 'The charge for transporting from the mines on the south side of Chesterfield County to Petersburg, is about eleven cents per bushel, by waggons. It is in contempla- tion to branch, at some future day, from the main coal road to Warwick, about five miles below the present shipping yards at Manchester, where vessels of large size can load with coal with great facility; a bar just above that place preventing large vessels from going up to Manchester or Richmond. 'The charge for transporting coal on the principal coal railroad is unusually high, but will soon be reduced. It being the first road of the kind in Virginia, it was deemed prudent to make the transporta- tion high, a dividend of six per cent. per annum, payable semi- annually being authorized in the charter; the surplus raised from the five and a half cents per bushel, being pledged to the refund- ing of the capital subscribed; this application has been faithfully * There is found in connection with the coal at Sallee’s and Burfoot’s pits in Chesterfield, and on the north side of James river at the mines generally, a sub- stance formerly called dead coal, recently called natural coke, that has lately been used and very much approved as grate fuel. ‘ 14 Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. made, until the whole of the capital, with the exception of some twelve per cent., has been repaid. When that isaccomplished, the tolls are to be so reduced as to allow six per cent. upon the then nominal capital only, and to pay the expenses of transportation, at which time the charge for transportation ought to be reduced some two and a half cents per bushel; and if at that time the contemplated branching to Warwick shall take place, and locomo- tive power be substituted for the present expensive plan of using horse power, then the price of Virginia coal can be so lowered as to make it the intérest of all consumers of bituminous coal on our Atlantic border to use it almost exclusively. Richmond, Sept. 1, 1841. Remark by the senior editor.*—The coal of Virginia has been long known throughout the Atlantic states. From the Mid Lo- thian Coal Mines, we have recently received a series of specimens illustrative of the structure of this coal-field. It is based upon granite, and consists of the usual alternations of sandstones, shales, clays, and coal. The coal is of an excellent quality; and it appears fine print- ed certificates of many manufacturers, that it is used in very va- rious operations requiring fire, especially in the different manu- factures of iron both in light and heavy work, and il is said to have been recently introduced into the manufacture of copper. Art. Il.—Regarding Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone ; ; by Davin Date Owen, M. D., of Indiana, with a plate. (Communicated for this Journal.) THe occurrence of representations of human feet in solid rock, has lately excited considerable attention, both in this country and in Europe. The intimate connexion of the subject with those great problems, the age of our race and. the gradual peopling of our globe with animated beings, invests it with additional inter- est, in the eyes not only of the scientific explorer but of the gen- eral reader also. * See Vol. 1, p. 125, for an account of these mines, by John Grammer, Jr. . Vol. XLIU.N? 1. Page 14. July 1842. Plate 1. Hartford Corin. tion of the Slab, with foot prints and scroll. d from the bed of the Mississippi, at St. Louts, in 1849.) ONG Uh te nalirval sta. . Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. 15 Mr. Schooleraft, in the year 1822, first called attention, through the columns of this Journal,* to these impressions ; the German Professor Leonhard, of Heidelberg, discusses the matter in his popular lectures, now in course of republication in this country by Prof. F. Hall; Dr. Mantell, in his ‘ Wonders of Geology,” also speaking of the same foot-prints, says that he has requested Prof. Silliman to ascertain the nature and age of the rock in which they appear; and a correspondent, in a recent number of this Journal, calls for information on the same subject. These various observations and inquiries, and all others of a similar character which have met my eye, expressly refer to a single specimen; the only one, it would seem, hitherto discover- ed; namely, a slab of limestone originally found on the western bank of the Mississippi river at St. Louis, quarried for Mr. F'red- erick Rapp in the year 1819, and by him removed to the German settlement of Harmony in Indiana, where it became a frequent object of visit and examination among curious travellers. There Schoolcraft saw and described it; his article, above referred to, (and from which Mantell tells us he derives his information, ) commences thus: “T send you a drawing of two curious prints of the human foot in limestone rock, observed by me last summer at Harmony on the Wabash, together with a letter of Colonel Benton on the same subject. ‘The slab containing these impressions, was origi- nally quarried on the west bank of the Mississippi river at St. Louis, and belongs to the older ficetz range of limestone, which pervades that country to a very great extent.” Leonhard, asa note by his editor reminds us, refers, also, as his sole authority, to the article here quoted, and of course to the specimen in question. That specimen is now in my possession ; and inasmuch as it has thus attracted the observation even of foreign geologists, and has given rise to not a little discussion and contrariety of opinion among scientific men, I feel called on to contribute what infor- mation I possess relative to its history and description; more es-’ pecially as I have recently obtained evidence sufficiently conclu- sive touching its precise geological character. The best information I can furnish in regard to the exact spot of its original location, and the circumstances by which it came * See Vol. v, p. 223, ef seq. 16 Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. into the possession of Mr. Rapp, is to be found in the subjoined ex- tracts from a letter written by the gentleman under whose inspec- tion it was quarried, then a resident of St. Louis, but now of Cincinnati, Mr. Paul Anderson. ‘This letter is dated October 11, 1841, and is in reply to one which I addressed, in the course of last autumn to Mr. Baker, Mr. Rapp’s man of business, who was a resident of Harmony at the time of the purchase, and in which I had requested of him to procure for me what information he could on the subject. Mr. Anderson writing to Mr. Baker, says: “The letter of Mr. David Dale Owen, of the 20th ult. enclosed in yours of the 8th inst. was duly received by me here. ‘Well, sir, as to the limestone slab that Mr. Frederick Rapp obtained of me sometime in 1819 at St. Louis, I will tell you its history. The year after I was located in St. Louis, during the ex- treme low water of the Mississippi, 1 was shown the imprint of hu- man feet, that was in the limestone rock on the very margin of the river, and which had been only seen by the old inhabitants there very few times; as it was said by them that it was not more than once in the period of ten years or so, that the river fell to its then stage. This rock lay about opposite the centre of the city proper, and seemed to have been polished smooth by the attrition of the water. ‘There was no rock lying on it, as it was the lower ledge of the stratified limestone that reached, by steps, to the bluff of limestone rock that ranged along the foot of the river lots of the city. This bluff of stratified rock was seemingly from ten to twenty feet high, and from twenty to forty yards from the mar- gin of the river at extreme low water mark, all along the city. This bluff has been quarried out and a fine range of three story ~ stone warehouses erected there on the river front. A street, too, of sixty feet wide has been laid off, besides a graduated MeAd- amized wharf on the outside of that again to low water mark. ‘CA Mr. John Jones, who claimed a sort of ownership in the rock as being the first discoverer of it that season, was employed by me to cut out the slab for Mr. Frederick Rapp, who was then at St. Louis on a business visit. J paid Jones (to the best of my recollection) one hundred and eighty dollars for the slab, and shipped it around to New Harmony to Mr. Rapp. Previous to its being sent away, there was an offer made of five hundred dollars for it by a “virtuoso” from some of the eastern cities ; Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. iW and in consequence of this high estimate of its value, there were many of the citizens strongly disposed to prevent the slab being sent away from the city. “IT know of no rock along that margin, of a soft and plastic nature, that seemed to be in a process of consolidation ; but the Opinion was well grounded there at that time, that the imprint of the two human feet had been made on the rock when it was soft alluvium mud. ““T never saw or heard of any imprint of human feet along there,or any where else, save on this rock; but I recollect of re- marking in many of the steps of the smooth rock along near to the same place from which this slab had been taken out, the nu- merous imprints of turkey, deer, and buffalo feet.* I often looked to find human imprinted feet, but was unsuccessful.” These extracts fully explain the circumstances under which the slab was originally obtained by Mr. Rapp. When that gen- tleman, in the year 1824, sold the New Harmony estate to my father, the slab also came into my father’s hands, and ultimately into the possession of the late Mr. William Maclure. After his decease, it was presented to me by his executors, and is now pre- served in my museum of objects of natural history at New Har- mony. The slab itself is a ponderous mass of solid limestone, weigh- ing upwards of a ton. Although fossils had been observed in the vicinity of its original location, yet until lately no remains had been discovered on the specimen itself. In preparing to re- move it, however, from Mr. Maclure’s residence to my laboratory, observing a horizontal fissure which extended entirely across the rock, I split off by the aid of wedges a continuous layer, some two or three inches thick, from its inferior surface. This opera- tion, besides materially facilitating its transportation, disclosed, as IT had hoped it would, some familiar fossil shells; and I subse- quently discovered a good many more by reducing the detached * Those unacquainted with the science of geology, frequently mistake for fossil foot-prints, what are in fact moulds of shells, or merely casual appearances. On the table-mounds in Iowa, a rock contains numerous impressions of a species of Pentamerus, which, when partially weather-worn, so closely resembles the print of a cloven foot as to be continually mistaken for it by the uninitiated. Hitchcock, misled by a report regarding fossil footsteps, undertook a journey of several hun- dred miles—to find nothing but accidental markings on the rock. Vol. xtum, No. 1.—April-June, 1842. 3 18 Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. portion into small hand specimens. I was thus enabled definitely to determine the age of the rock. _ The fossils obtained, proved on examination to be the same species which I had often previously observed at Leavenworth in Indiana, on the Ohio river, and elsewhere, ina rock, the exact geological position of which I had already satisfactorily ascer- tained. This stratum lies from ten to twenty feet below the lowest members of our true coal measures, and is considered the equivalent of the mountain limestone of Europe. Four species of Producta, the best preserved among those ob- tained from the slab, are here represented, (Fig. 1.) = EEE SAA Producta found in the slab. In the above plate, aa are the under and upper valves of a species which I have not seen described; 66 represent the exter- nal and internal view of the under valve of another species, also, I believe, undescribed ; nor have I seen d described; c resembles the Producta Martini of Sow., but its under valve is much flat- ter and less distinctly striated. I had long since felt assured, from the bearings of our geolo- gical formations, that the limestone of which these are character- istic fossils, formed the bed of the Mississippi at St. Louis; but I had not had an opportunity, during extreme low water, of making a thorough examination at that place. ‘The discovery of these Producta confirms in a satisfactory manner my previous views. Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. 19 There is but one corroborative, though not essential evidence, desirable to add to that already given in proof of the age of this rock. ‘Ihe uppermost bed of the group to which it belongs is a stratum of limestone of a reddish tint, and characterized by a very remarkable fossil coralline, resembling the Retepora of Lin., but verticillated spirally like a continuous screw ; described by Lesueur under the appropriate name of Archimedes.* Here is a sketch (Fig. 2) of one in my possession : Fig. 2. —<— TSS oy « ‘ of Archimedes, of Lesueur. In the same rock which contains this fossil, or in the beds im- . mediately beneath it, which often exhibit an oolitic structure, the * Tam not sure that Lesueur ever published his description of this fossil; but I know that while he resided here (at New Harmony) he engraved a plate contain- ing several views of it, with that intention. He considered it, 1 believe, a new genus ; but it may be only a new species of Retepora; if so, most aptly entitled Retepora Archimedes. 20 Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. species of Pentremite here represented, (I*ig..3,)* is also a very common fossil. Three other species have been ob- Fig. 3. served in this rock: the Pentremites ovalis of Grold., the Pentremites florealis of Say, and the Pentremi- tes globosa of Say.t ‘The above corallines and Cri- noideans are peculiar to these beds. Hence I have been accustomed to designate this group of rocks here in the west, as the Pentremital limestone, and its Up- p.irremites per bed as the Archimedes limestone. Iam not aware pyriformis. that these organic remains have been discovered in the Atlantic states. It is upon the Archimedes limestone that our coal meas- ures rest. Rising from beneath the great Illinois coal-field,t these limestone beds circumscribe it nearly in its whole extent ; and wherever visible, one or other of the above characteristic fossils can uniformly be found. These fossils afford a valuable and trustworthy guide, in determining the limits of our true coal- bearing rocks; since no workable seam of coal has ever been found, either in Indiana, Hlinois, Kentucky, or Tennessee, be- neath the rocks in which they occur. Without doubt some one of these fossils can be discovered in the vicinity of St. Louis at low water. I shall not fail to avail myself of the first favorable opportunity of investigating this matter. MM ° MN * The Pentremites here represented, differs a little from the drawing of the P. pyriformis which I have seen; this specimen is much more angular or pointed where the interscapula joins the inferior extremity of the umbulacrum, and the striz of the umbulacrum run slanting from above downwards, from the central fur- row towards the interscapula, instead of from below upwards. +t A Pentremite, but of a species very different from any of these, occurs in a stratum of rock at the falls of the Ohio; the probable equivalent of the Wenlock formation of Murchison; the same rock described in the reports of western geolo- gists, and popularly known here as the elzf rock. + Delineated and described in my ‘‘ Report of a Geological Exploration of part of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, made under instructions of the Seeretary of the Treasury of the United States, in the autumn of the year 1839.” I take this opportunity of correcting an error with reference to this same coal- field, which has crept into a notice (in this Journal, Vol. x1, 1841) of a geological survey of Indiana, which, as geologist of that state, I had made to its legislature in the winter of 1838-9. In that notice (at p. 134) Iam made to say: “ Our bitu- minous coal formation is part of a great coal-field which includes nearly the whole of Towa, Illinois, and eight or ten counties in the northwest part of Kentucky.” It reads in my Report, “ which includes nearly the’whole of Lower Illinois, and eight or ten counties,” &c. By a typographical error in the above notice which converts the word Lower into Jowa, I am thus made to say, that this coal-field extends over lowa; while, in point of fact, only a few townships in the southern portion of that territory are included in the coal formation. Human Foot-Prints in Solid Limestone. 21 The whole Pentremital series is a remarkably pure variety of limestone. A quantitative analysis of a portion of the slab in which the foot-prints occur, gave the following result : @arbonicsacid js. os. : : : . AQ.80 grains. Lime, . : : : ; : ‘ A8.80 Magnesia, . i é : ‘ : it WAAGO ala, ok Le a age eee 2.00 Oxide of iron and loss, : : : i 0 a80 | 100.00 gers. Specific gravity, ; é : ‘ , 2.67 The color of the slab has not been quite correctly given by Schooleraft.. He describes it as of a ‘grayish blue tint ;” but, on the exposed and worn surface, it has rather a purple tint; and, when fractured, is of a very light gray. I mention this because the blue tint is by no means characteristic of this group of lime- stones, but is peculiar to the lowest limestones of the Ohio valley, considered the equivalent of the lower Silurian rocks of Murchison, and the Salmon river and Trenton rocks of New York, and on account of this prevailing tint, frequently described as the “ blue fossiliferous limestones.” They lie from eight hundred to one thousand feet lower in the geological series than the Pentremital limestones now under consideration. So much for the age of the rock in which these foot-prints are found. 'The question next presents itself, are they true fossils, or are they the work of art? ‘To aid in the solution of this question, I have given (in the plate accompanying this article) a correct representation of the slab, with the foot-prints and other marks, as they at present ap- pear. ‘I’hat during the twenty two years since it has been quar- ried, no material or appreciable alteration seems to have occurred,* * Nor does it appear that these impressions had changed in appearance while the rock was in situ. I quote from the letter of Col. Benton (an eye witness) to Mr. Schoofcraft, referred to in the extracts hereinafter given from the latter gen- tleman’s article: ‘