Meigs County Telegraph

Origin of Coal.—An eminent geologist, Mr. Whittlesey, expresses it as his conviction that coal-beds were deposited from water under the same circumstances as the other beds between which the coal is found. Mr. Whittlesey says that the numerous analyses of coal shows that no timber now existing contains within itself the proper quantity of ingredients to form coal. It must, therefore, acquire its ingredients in part from some other source, or a part of those existing in wood or woody fibers must be deposited, and another part of the ingredients remain in excess. There is very little vegetable matter that contains nitrogen, and woody-fiber has none. In coal nitrogen is found in notable quantities at almost every analysis. Woody-fiber seldom furnishes more than 50 per cent. of carbon; coal has from 70 to 90 per cent.

The inference that coal was once in a vegetable state arose at first from the fact that the impressions or petrifactions of leaves are abundant in coal strata. As the impressions of the same trees and leaves are found in the shales and sandstones that overlie and underlie these strata, this fact, says Mr. Whittlesey, is equally strong proof that the sandstones and shales are of vegetable origin.