Part I. Report of progress in 1869, by J. S. Newberry, chief geologist. Part II. Report of progress in the second district, by E. B. Andrews, assist. geologist. Part III. Report on geology of Montgomery County, by Edward Orton, assist. geologist.

95
the way is prepared to consider the strata above the level of the Putnam Hill limestone. It will be found that we have a second division
with its upper member a seam of coal which is found very persistent
over all the district examined. This coal is the "Nelsonville coal," the
" Straitsville coal," the " Sunday creek coal," the " Upper New Lexington coal," for by all these local names is the seam designated.
The range of this coal is readily seen on the map of grouped sections.
It is generally about 80 feet above the Putnam Hll limestone. In
some sections, measured by the barometer, the distance was a little
greater, but the instrument often gave results too great.
Another seam of coal will also be seen on the map, from 20 to 30 feet
below the one last mentioned. Both of these seams have great economic
value, and will hereafter be fully considered.
Between the top of the Putnam Hill limestone and the lower of these
two seams of coal, we have from 50 to GO feet of sandstones and shales.
At but a very few points could we find exposures where minute and accurate sections could be made. A few feet above the limestone we find
a tendency to the formation of iron ore. The largest development of ore
on this horizon was seen on the branch railroad, leading from the Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad to the Miami Company's mines, about half
a mile from the mines. These mines are in Newton township, Muslingum county. Here, 5 feet over the hard blue limestone, believed to be
the Putnam Hill, were some large and very fine nodules of iron ore,
doubtless of the Siderite class.
There are indications of coal at a few points, but nowhere was it found
to be of practical value. At one place a thin layer of limestone was
seen, but sandstones and shales everywhere strongly predominate.
At an elevation of from 50 to 60 feet above the Putnam Hill limestone,
it appears that the bed of the shallow ocean was made comparatively
even and level, and was then brought up from below the water. On the
higher and probably better drained areas, coal vegetation took root, and
grew, and we have, as the result, a seam of coal. This seam is not
always persistent, for the conditions of accumulations did not everywhere exist. This seam is seen at many places in the region of Nelsonville. At the mines of the Hocking Valley Coal, and Iron, Coke and
Mining Company, on the land of J. W. Scott, York township, Athens
county, this seam is found at a distance of 27~ feet below the main Nelsonville seam. It was not measured, but is there popularly called the
"three feet vein."
Near John Fluhart's mill, Green township, Hocking county, it was
seen about 25 feet below the main coal vein, but here it was much cut
away by the sand rock over it.
It was also seen near Horace Hazelton's, Salt Lick township, Perry