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reported by Col. John M. Moore and others. I have seen specimens of the coal, which is of a very good quality.

The carboniferous formation extends northward from Llano county to the Red River in Wichita county, throughout which, in various places, coal crops out. Some of these places are noted in my last report. But as yet only diggings near the surface have been made. Deeper, larger beds and better coal may be, and probably will be found.

From recent experiments made to ascertain the comparative value of the bituminous coal of Cumberland, Maryland, and the anthracites of Pennsylvania, we learn that for steam raising power the bituminous coal is the best by from ten to fifteen per cent. A notice of these experiments appeared about a year since in the Coal Trade Journal. They were made by fifteen or more customers (living in different parts of the country) of Messrs. Stevenson & Pierson, large coal dealers of Boston, and at the suggestion of Messrs. S. & P.

Anthracite has long been considered as the best coal for almost every purpose, but these experiments prove that it is not.

Since my last report, I have been informed by letters that the brown coals or lignites of Robertson county have recently been used as fuels at Dallas and elsewhere, and given general satisfaction.

The proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Nicholson, at Bastrop in Bastrop county, lately told me that during the last three years lie had used the Bastrop coal (lignite) as fuel for cooking and warming the hotel rooms, and found the coal cheaper and better than wood, and wood is abundant in Bastrop county near the town.

The composition of the Texas lignites does not differ materially from the lignites of the Pacific and Rocky mountain States, generally leaving from forty to fifty per cent. of fixed carbon. The western lignites are extensively used for generating steam, and as fuels in dwellings, and there is no doubt but that those of Texas can be used for the same purposes.

The great drawback upon the commercial value of the lignites is, that they will not coke by the ordinary process