History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

46 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND
COAL MINING.
THE HOWLETT MINE. Sept 5th, 1867, reached the coal, and at
The village of Howlett is seven miles once commenced mining it to supply the
cast of Springfield, at the east side of market. The following statementof the
Sangamon River, and is in this county. substances passed through will give some
It was formerly called Jamestown. On idea of the geology of this part of the
the 18th of December, 1865, Mr. P. L. country:
Howlett, who was then running at distil- FEET INOHES
lery at that place, attached boring appa- Clay............................... 11 0
Soapstone......................... 3 0
ratus to the machinery of his distillery, Black Shale........................ 2 9
and commenced boring on the bank of 7. COAL............................. 1 10
the Sangamon, about twenty-five feet Fire Clay.................. 3
Blue Limestone.................... 3 0
from thle distillery. On the 4th of April, Light Marl....................... O
1866, he reached the coal, at a depth of Sand Stone....................... 49 9
210 feet. After passing through the coal, Blute Soap Stone Shale............. 16 2
he supposed it to be eight feet thick. HardblueFos.Rockwithironballs. 3 0
he supposedl it to be eight fteet thick. BlackShale.
Black Shale........................ 0 1
Many persons thought he was deceived in 6. C OA L.............................. 0 2
the thickness, among others Prof. Wor- Fire Clay.......................... 4 6
then, the State Geologist, who thought Dark Blue Shale.................. 3 10
Reddish Gray Clay Shale.......... 7 6
the signs of coal might have been occa- Very hard Conlomerate Rock..........
Very hard Conglomerate Rock..3
sioned by pieces falling from the thin Reddish Gray Clay Shale.......... 4 6
veins passed through above, Not willing Black Clay Shale.................. 1 0
Reddish Gray Clay Shale.......... 4 6
to risk the expense of sinking a shaft Gray Clay..........4 6
Gray Lime Rock.5 0
while there was any doubt with regard Gray Shale................... 2 0
to the existence of coal, although he was 5. CoAL and Rock mixed............ 1 0
convinced in his own mind, Mr. Howlett Fire Clay.......................... 6
L:ght Sand Rock..................16 0
moved his machinery to a more suitable Gray Shale............1 2
place for sinking a shaft, by the side of Variegate Lime Rock.............. 1 6
the Toledo, Wabash and Western Rail- Hard Black Shale................. 2 6
4. COAL....... 5 10
road, and commenced boring again May Fre C ay.........................3
4, 1866. This time he put down five 20
205 6
inch iron tubing, in order to keep any
Soon after opening the mine, 3ir. Howpieces of coal from falling out of the
lett caused some of the coal to be sent to
veins that he might pass. At a depth of
Chicago, to be analyzed by Prof. Blaney.
197 feet he again reached what he supAfter analyzing it, Prof. Blaney says:
posed to be the coal, and, according to
previous agreement, sent for Prof. Wor- "The following is the composition of
then, who remained until the drill passed the coal, analyzed at your request
through the coal, which he pronounced Volatlecombustible matter.5.. 64
Volatile combustible matter............... 36,765
to be eight feet thick. It was afterwards Fixed carbon.............................. 48,203
ascertained that a little more than two Ash........................................ 8,552
feet of this was bituminous shale. June 100,000
5th he commenced sinking a shaft, and "No, test was made of the percentage