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of coking. It is said that successful experiments have lately been made in coking lignites, and if this be so, the value of those of Texas will be greatly enhanced. The following, in relation to the subject, is from a late number of Ware's Journal of "Mines, Metals and Arts," of St. Louis:

Mr. W. J. Lynd, of Denver, after successfully experimenting, has devised a method of treatment by which he makes a serviceable coke, which is said to be very well adapted to furnace and other uses. It is even claimed that this fossil coal coke is comparable with Connellsville coke, which we could hardly expect, from the larger quantity of ashes in the lignite coal. Mr. Lynd has secured two patents. We give the following extracts from the description, wherein he says:

"That it may be more clearly known what are the coals understood by certain fossil coals, I specifically designate as such the coals found in the territories of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico, and all similar coals wherever found in the United States. Some of these coals are at present mined near Canon City, in Fremont county, at or near Trinidad, and elsewhere in Colorado territory, at Rock Springs and elsewhere in Wyoming territory; at Evanston and elsewhere in Utah territory; at Coos Bay and elsewhere in Oregon territory; at Bellingham Bay and elsewhere in Washington territory; at Monte Diablo and elsewhere in California. These fossil beds are reported by ;geologists to be of the eocene formation. In the geological survey of Ohio, vol. 1, page 83, is the following statement: It should also be mentioned that in North America the cretaceous was a great coal making period, as rocks of this age in the far west contain, at various points, important beds of lignite, some of which are from thirty to fifty feet in thickness. The coals of Vancouver's Island, Bellingham Bay, Monte Diablo, those of New Mexico and Arizona, as well as some of the most valuable beds in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, are of cretaceous age. These, with some tertiary lignites, comprises all the so-called coals of the far west.' In Professor Hayden's report of 1870, page 186, is the report of the Omaha Gas, Company: 'Residue, after coking in retort, twelve bushels of earthy breeze in small cubes, which, when put in the furnace fires, smothered