77

to show things in their natural position. The out-
crop of the seam as shown on the side of the valley
is correct as to position and height, and is continued
down on the supposition that the dip continues at the
uniform rate of 5°. The lines on the plan, A.B., C.D.,
and E.F., show the position of the sections.

The dotted line from station 35 shows the strike of
the seam from that point, or, in other words, the level
line, so that supposing the strata to continue perfectly
regular, with a uniform dip of 5°, this line would
show the position of a level driven in the seam, by
means of which all the coal to the rise or west side of
it might be drained and worked; and for the sake of
illustration I have presumed this to be the case,
though in actual working irregularities would be met
with. But as the level of the river is 36 feet lower
than the out-crop of the seam, by putting in a drive
from that level, a breadth of nearly seven chains more
may be won. This level line is shown as before by a
straight dotted line.

This drive could be taken from the end of the
railway by a back-over branch as shown at m, and n,
or by continuing the railway from the end of the 12
miles directly into the mine by a gentle curve. This
last plan would probably be the best, not only for its
simplicity, but by it a few more feet of level would be
gained.

Therefore all that is required to win the coal down
to that level is a drive, about 130 yards long and say
8 feet square capable of admitting the waggons used
on the railway. The rocks to drive through would
be grit, sandstone, coal, and shale, all easily worked
yet strong enough to stand without timbering most
of the distance. Besides this, a small shaft for venti-
lation, 30 or 60 feet deep, would probably be needed.
I think £500 would be sufficient for both these pur-
poses, so that after this sum had been spent the seam
would be won to this level and ready for immediate
work.

The extent thus won I calculate at about 100 acres,
but say 60 acres of coal 8 feet thick.

Now 1 acre of coal 8 feet thick will produce
12,904 tons. Then 12,904 tons by 60 acres = 774,240
tons the produce of 60 acres. If properly worked
almost the whole of this could be got out as the roof
is good, and the depth from the surface very trifling
but allowing one quarter (¼) to be lost in working,
we still have 580,680 tons which will supply 300 tons
a day or 90,000 tons a year at 300 days in the year
for more than 6 years. This I think would give any
company a fair start and allow time to prepare for
more extensive operations.

I have mentioned this to be the whole which can be
won by free level on the right bank of the stream at
this place, but I have reason to think from the gradual
flattening of the strata towards the S. and E. that the
level as it extends to the S. will bear more to the
eastward, and will have a greater breadth to the rise.
I think it is also probable that the drive
will win more coal at once, as the dip is not so heavy
towards the point B., and it is quite possible that it
may rise again towards the river "Rocky Hills," but
of this I will not speak confidently. However the 60
acres mentioned is a moderate calculation.

It is very possible that from further down the river
more might be won here; but as I have not examined
it so minutely, and the woody nature of the hills is
not favorable for such examination, I shall not specu-
late on the subject, particularly as the rocks in the
river bed are by no means regular, for at station 57
the dip is to the N. 30°, and again at 63 it is nearly in
the old direction E.N.E., but with the heavy dip of
30°. Here there is a seam of coal, but when I found
it there was no time for examination, and I have not
since had a chance of visiting it again. Indeed I may
state that I am unacquainted with the position of the

strata under these low woody hills, and I must defer
any remarks on them, till there is time for a closer
examination.

It is probable that a considerable amount of coal
may be worked on the left bank of the stream in Coal
Brook Dale, for the strata rises again soon after cros-
sing the river, and it is very likely that a little stone-
drifting would win as much here as at the other side.
But of this I cannot speak confidently, as I have not
examined it so closely, and the strata is not so regu-
lar. The uncolored part of section C.D. from C. to c.
shows this rise, but it is merely sketched, as I don't
know exactly where the change takes place.

I only mention one seam here, but there is every
reason to believe that many more will be found; and
here let me observe that it is often almost by chance
that seams are found at all, for it is quite possible to
pass close to the out-crop without knowing, even
though you may be searching all the time. For the
gullies where it is most likely that coal will be ex-
posed are generally full of dense scrub, and the ground,
and often the watercourse itself, is closely covered
with thick moss; and the face of the out-cropping
seam concealed by a curtain of this moss, leaving
a hollow space of 1 foot 6 inches or 2 feet between
itself and the coal.

With regard to the part between Coal Brook Dale
and the edge of the plateau at stations 17 and 18, all
of which I believe to be immediately available and
probably containing many workable seams, I may
state, that Coal Brook Dale to station F. (see Plan
No. 3 and Diagram No. 3) the strata is very much
broken, and though it may probably be easily worked
still it is impossible to say how or where, therefore
with my present limited information, I will say no
more about it, though the broken nature of the strata
may even facilitate the working in some positions.

Diagram No. 3 is intended to illustrate this part of
the field. At Coal Brook Dale the seam is shown as
on section C.D. on No. 3 Plan, and Diagram No. 7 and
between that place and Station F. it is represented as
very much broken; but it must be clearly understood
that these sections are no supposed to be correct,
but are merely shown in this way, to illustrate the
presumed dislocations, though there is no reason to sup-
pose that it may not be here; but it would be absurd to
pretend to trace a seam of coal over such a country
without extensive boring and leveling operations.
That workable coal exists here in large quantities
there is not the least doubt.

From station F. to station 18 the strata is very
regular dipping to the N.N.W. at an angle of about
5°, and it is quite certain that the rocks in this part,
must crop out on the side of the mountain below sta-
tion 18 and that the coal will be exposed there, but in
what position I cannot say. Only in the stream for
some considerable distance below the plateau, the beds
of grit, sandstone, and shale continue pretty regular.
Presuming that a seam of coal is found below station
18, we may safely calculate that it will extend over
great part of the plain from station 18 to F. on the
N.E., and from station 17 to E. and F., an area of, say
300 acres, which would be won by the opening of the
seam at the out-crop.

Now suppose that a seam 8 feet thick should be
found there extending over 300 acres, we have the
following figures:—

An acre of coal 8 feet thick will produce 12,904
tons. Then 12,904 tons by 300 acres = 3,871,200 tons.
And supposing half of this to be lost in working, there
still remains 1,935,600, tons which will supply 1,000
tons a day, or 300,000 tons a year for more than six
years.