HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 1
THE COAL OF THE COUNTY
As but little has been done to expose the seams of coal, such as there are, their full nature, extent and value cannot be set out in these pages. Two seams are known to exist, of which the upper, Coal A, possesses some economic value. This coal is found in all the higher hills in the western part of the county overlying, the heavy conglomerate sandstone which is above the whetstone grit. The outcrop of this coal may be seen on Section 32, Township 2 north, Range 2 west. It is a dry, semi-block coal, and burns too loosely for good smithing purposes. It would be well to work this coal for local use. A true block, sub-conglomerate coal thirty inches thick has been found and mined on Section 8, Township 1 north, Range 2 west. This coal is found a few feet below the whetstone grit. Farther north it thins out and becomes worthless. Just above the Lower Chester limestone is another coal from one to four inches thick It will not pay to work this seam, though some money has thus been spent. One mile north of Paoli, on the farm of Mr. Gassaway, this coal outcrops. In the central and eastern parts of the county, in the St. Louis limestone, is found a thin seam of cannel coal, which will not pay to work. The two seams first mentioned above will pay to work in localities.
IRON ORES
In all the hills in the western part of the county, in the conglomerate above the whetstone grit, is found a considerable quantity of the hydrated brown oxide of iron. An analysis made by Prof. Cox, developed the important fact that the ore contained over fifty per cent of metallic iron. The ore is from three to ten feet thick, and will justify the erection of blast furnaces at many places in the western part of the county when proper railroad facilities are secured. The same ore is smelted at the blast furnace in Shoals, and when combined with Missouri ores furnishes an excellent neutral iron.
WHETSTONES AND GRINDSTONES
The excellence of the grit of Orange County is well known, and is not surpassed by any other in existence. Ax stones, carpenter stones, "slips", etc. of the best quality are readily manufactured. The past has been more fruitful in the number and extent of manufacturing establishments of this character than the present. Steam was employed as well as horses, and many stones were sent to England and elsewhere. The Hindostan grit is celebrated for its uniform texture and keen bite, and its solidity under high revolving speed. Many grindstones have been manufactured from the grindstone grit of the Chester group. Beds of whetstone and grindstone grit are inexhaustable, and will eventually be a source of great revenue to the county when shipping facilities are quicker and better.
LIME, CLAY. BUILDING STONE, ETC.
Several members of the St. Louis limestone in the eastern and central portions of the county furnish good lime, though the best comes from the Lower Chester. In early years this stone was thus burned in Lost River, near West Baden, and the lime shipped on flatboats to Southern markets. It has been burned for local use in the county ever since. The fine lacustral clay in the northeast part of the county is excellent for stoneware, and was thus used at Lancaster for a time. Kaolin is found in the county. Specimens of Indianite have been found on Section 20, Township 3 north, Range 1 west. A three-foot stratum of fine yellow ocher is exposed on Section 7, Township 1 north, Range 2 west. Limestone and sandstone suitable for building are found in great abundance. One member of the Lower Chester limestone furnishes, in many parts of the county, a good, fine-grained and easily worked stone, which is white as alabaster. It is quarried at the sand hill, near Orleans, is exposed on the Orleans and Paoli road, two miles from Orleans, and found on Section 5 Township 2 north. Range 1 east. The Lower Chester sandstone is often good for building purposes. It is obtained thus on Section 25. Township 2 north, Range 1 west. It is light tea-colored, and the upper members make good flagging stone and the lower good building stone.