BARCLAY, OR TOWANDA COAL-FIELD.
The Barclay coal-field lies about 20 miles in a direct line northwest of the North Mountain coal-field, and in the second basin northwest of the Alleghany escarpment,—as the North Mountain is the first, and lying immediately along its first plateau.
The Barclay consists of numerous small patches of coal, lying on the eastern branches of Towanda Creek, and covering an area of about 100 square miles; but of this area not over 10 square miles is productive of workable coal. Most of the productive formation has been denuded,—the streams having cut even through the red shale in many places; but throughout the area of 100 square miles the upper and lower conglomerate forms, perhaps, the largest portion. In the hollows of the conglomerate the coal deposits have been preserved, as before stated, in patches, and as represented in figure 114.
This is the extreme northeastern portion of t9he second Alleghany basin, and a continuation of the Ralston basin, which, to the southwest, forms the Farrandsviile and Snow-Shoe basins, and continues by Ebensburg, Johnstown, &c., as the first basin west of the Alleghanies; that is, the first or North Mountain formation ceases opposite Williamsport, and does not cross the west branch of the Susquehanna River. A deflection of the North or Alleghany Mountains to the west, as far as Lock Haven, removes the Alleghany escarpment between 20 and 30 miles west of the line of the North Mountain, which forms its escarpment north of the west branch, and between the west and north branches of the Susquehanna. The consequent result is that the first Alleghany coal-basin ceases before reaching the west branch, and the second, or Barclay basin, becomes the first basin south of the west branch, and continues as such into Maryland, where the Cumberland basins arise to the east and become the first Alle ghany formation. And here we may call attention to the fact that the Cumberland basins represent the same position in relation to the anthracite formations that the first or North Mountain basin holds. It may be noticed further on that the Cumberland coal measures are closely identified with the anthracite.
In the second basin, or the basins west of the North Mountain and Cumberland basins, the main seams are divided, and form numerous small seams, but holding a close resemblance, nevertheless, and presenting unmis takable evidences of identity. When the beds are divided into nume rous thin strata, the intervening space is generally partially filled with fire clay and thin slates, denoting the general quiet which prevailed while the coal formation continued uninterrupted in other quarters. The causes to be assigned for the interruption, in such cases, undoubtedly resulted from an insufficient depth of water, or, in other cases, an excessive depth : either cause is sufficient to account for deficient beds, as is demonstrated in the numerous coal-basins which we have explored. For instance, the deep
basins of Pottsville present the lower beds in thin, divided seams, while at the extremities of the same field, where the basins must have been of mode rate depth, the seams are largely increased ; but invariably, where there exists evidence of a very shallow basin and the absence of the upper seams, the beds are thin and divided by numerous strata of slates and shales.
A section of the Barclay basin presents a general resemblance to that represented in figure 115, with the difference only of a division of the principal seams ; and yet they are less "split up" than farther west. We invite attention to this subject, since it leads directly to the conclusion for merly advanced of a division of the principal white-ash beds in a western direction,—a fact which the evidence demonstrates.
The Barclay coal makes an excellent steam-fuel. It is a dry bituminous, cokes with difficulty or not at all, and contains but a small amount of bitumen and but little impurity. We should judge it to be a good furnace coal, particularly that of bed B, or the lower large workable seam, and that it might be used raw in the blast furnace.
The coal is mined with much ease, though not on the most economical plan. The size of the seams, the character of the top rock, and the abun dance of timber, all point out the " long wall" advancing as the true and most economical method in all such localities above water-level.
The Barclay mines are located about 16 miles southeast of Towanda ; and a railroad of that length connects the mines with the North Branch Canal at Towanda. The market for the Barclay coal is extensive, and rapidly increasing in the Northwestern cities and manufactories. It is available for most purposes for which anthracite is used, and is also appli cable in place of the richer bituminous in many cases. By good manage ment the Barclay mines ought to be very remunerative to the operators. There is a drawback, however, in the uncertainty of canal navigation, and the interruption in winter. A railroad is much needed up the north branch of the Susquehanna, for the development of the resources of this peculiar region, and the transportation of its coal, timber, &c. Yet the energy and enterprise which made the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company—one of the most successful of our coal companies—would effect the same thing for the Barclay Coal Company. Coal enough might be transported during the summer to supply the consumers of the Barclay coal during the winter.