Page:Madras journal of literature and science vol 2 new series 1857.djvu/266

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256
On a reputed Coal Formation
[no. 4, new series,

the system answers,[1] though they are not very good specimens of Photography. Two of them are specimens of Hindoo carving in stone, the camera having been constructed a good deal with the idea of copying the curiosities in the many temples in this part of the country.





XI. Report on a reputed[2] Coal Formation at Kota on the on the (Upper) Godavery River. By Philip W. Wall, Mineral Viewer at Madras.

I have visited and examined the district around the village of Kota near the junction of the Pranheeta and Godavery rivers upon which reports have been made to Government of the probability of Coal being found beneath the surface there.

Although, in the report made by Dr. Walker in the year 1848 I could discover no positive evidence of the probability of the existence of a Coal formation in this district, I considered it desirable to provide myself with some means of making more than a mere superficial examination, of this particular locality, on account of the confidence with which opinions had been expressed, upon the subject, and that both Drs. Walker and Bell, whose examinations of the country must have been very extensive and minute, were led to expect satisfactory results from a search beneath the surface at this place.

Having seen in the Arsenal Stores at Madras, some light sets of Boring tools, (used for the trial of the ground for foundations of Public Works,) I applied for and obtained the use of two sets of


  1. "We have examined these pictures and find them to be Stereoscopic—A. J. S. Sec. Phot. Soc.
  2. Vide Dr. Walker's report on boring for Coal at Kota, page 261, Vol. I. No. II. N. S. of this Journal.