p.2

[left side]

in its details. In any case from the
section accompanying the Fairburg coal, I
am pretty certain that it is the same
coal as the upper coal of Lasalle and
I know from reliable data that the
Lasalle coal is our N. 11 on the [Gettsburg?]
[coal'o?] equivalent.

The fine small specimen which you
sent me (I much regret that it is not
a large one), is my [shigillaria attenuate?]
published with figure in my [Gothville?]
catalogue. As you have it you may
compare better specimens. It has been
found at Ashland [Ga?] in pretty great
abundance. But as it was not
possible to give me any positive indi
-cation about the horizon of that Ash-
land coal, I can not say any thing
concerning its stratigraphical distribution
I mark its presence with the Fairburg
coal as a first point ascertained to
continue compara[sous?] in the future
or see, if I go to Ashland, if a relative

[right side]

of position may be established between
these coal [bech?] - If your Fairburg coal
is N. 11 as I believe, you should
persuade the proprietors to make a
boring underneath* [for?] at a distance
of about 40 feet say 25 [?] 6.50. They
could find coal N. 9 which, though
in North Illinois is generally less develo-
ped than in N. W. Kentucky may
attain 5 feet in thickness and has
a coal a little less bituminous but
much less charged with sulfuret,
pyrites, iron &c. Coal N. 11 is in the
West a much mixed coal, difficult
of exploitation from its repeated
partings and very unreliable in
its detail of conformation. Has
not its upper shale 30 feet a great
many fossil (animal)?

Yours very turly

[S. Lesquereau?]

* This I had already done in
letter of April 17th I. A. L.