Part 12 (1/2)

[Sidenote: And another.]

Andrew's bed could only be seen at a point 200 feet above the railroad.

It is nearest to the metamorphic axis of the mountain, and hence is the bottom seam in the group. It is said to be wanting at Newcastle. The coal is in two benches, descending:

UPPER BENCH.

Slate roof: FT. INS.

Coal 0 5 Bone 0 0-1/16 Coal 0 4 Bone 0 3 Coal 1 8 Pyrite 0 1-1/2 Coal 1 2 Slate 0 5 Coal 4 4 ---------- Total 8 ft. 8-9/16 ins.

LOWER BENCH.

FT. INS.

Fire-clay 0 6 Coal 1 4 Clay 0 1 Coal 0 4 Clay 0 0-1/2 Coal 1 1 Bone 0 1 Coal 1 9 ---------- Total 4 ft. 8-1/2 ins.

The lower bench would probably be neglected for the present, but the upper bench is worthy of immediate development. The coal is of good quality. Perhaps on a.n.a.lysis it would be cla.s.sed with bituminous coals, although the woody structure is discernible in places. It burns freely.

The outcrop of this bed is visible lower down the creek in a crushed condition.

[Sidenote: Large body of valuable coal.]

My visit was rather premature for a proper study of the group; but there can be no doubt that there is here a large body of valuable coal. The quant.i.ty is estimated by the mining engineer, Mr. Whitworth, at 10,500,000 tons. I saw no other coal beds in the territory so favorably situated for mining and loading. Of course, coal standing at an angle of forty degrees cannot be mined so cheaply as if it were horizontal; but all the mines in Was.h.i.+ngton Territory must contend with this disadvantage, and in all cases coming under my observation, except this one, the mining had to be done on the down grade, which involved much hoisting, pumping, bad air, etc., which can be avoided at the Gilman Mines.

An incidental advantage, also, is that the Squak Valley furnishes any amount of timber for building, propping, railroad ties, etc., and when more generally cultivated, a superabundance of agricultural products.

The experience of Newcastle, and the rapid growth of the market, indicate that these mines may be enlarged in their operations, almost without limit.

[Sidenote: Was.h.i.+ngton Mines.]

Was.h.i.+ngton Mines, on one of the upper branches of Squak Creek, show the outcroppings of three seams of lignite coal, dipping S. of W. I did not visit this place, but was informed that a company, known as the Was.h.i.+ngton Coal Company, was engaged in cutting these seams; but I am not informed as to what are their prospects.

[Sidenote: Raging River coals.]

The Raging River Coals. Six miles east of Gilman Mines, where the railroad enters the Raging River Valley, is found another group of coal seams, older than the Squak coals, and perhaps corresponding in age with the Franklin and Black Diamond coals, though apparently more bituminous than they. Raging River is about twelve miles long, and the railroad first approaches it about midway its length. There are indications of local metamorphism, if not intrusion, visible in the rocks between Squak Creek and Raging River, and this is further indicated by an outcrop of anthracite at the north end of the coal seams, within a mile of the road. Mr. Whitworth represents this anthracite seam as five feet thick, but crushed and fragile. Its structure is laminated, and it breaks into small cubes. He spoke, also, of another seam of anthracite high up on Raging River, three feet thick, with three inches slate six inches from the top. He mined in on this for thirty feet without observing any change. The outcrop of this group of coal seams extends from near the line of the railroad, up the west side of the valley, parallel with the river, and about a mile from it, and lying in high hills. This coal property is also owned by the Seattle Coal and Iron Company. The princ.i.p.al mining camp is near the head of the valley, ten miles above Falls City, six miles above the line of railway. Here I saw the coal seams, which had been uncovered without having been cut into sufficiently to determine fully their character. One seam is open in a ravine, half way up the mountain, but most of them near the top, at an elevation of about 800 feet above the river. There are at least six seams, and if the one on the mountain side be a different seam, there are seven. The coal generally is of good quality: bituminous, with cubical fracture; but its value is greatly diminished by numerous slate partings, and some of the seams are too thin for profitable mining. The dip is to the southwest at high angles: about eighty degrees on the mountain side--less in the top seams.

[Sidenote: Details.]

The seam on the mountain side showed a total thickness of seven feet with sandstone over and under; but of this there was only about 2 feet 8 inches of good coal in a body, and the rest coal and slate interleaved.

Near the top of the mountain there are six seams open near a rivulet, and quite near together. Reaching the top of the mountain, I found the upper opening (geologically the under opening), No. 1, to contain about two feet of good black coal, with one slate parting of an inch thick.

No. 2. This seam shows a total thickness of eight feet, but it contains so many slate partings that I could not estimate the bed highly.

No. 3. Here I saw fifteen inches of coal, with slate partings.

No. 4. An irregular bed, four to seven feet in thickness, crushed, and probably dislocated, and so slaty as to be of doubtful value.

No. 5. Another crushed and irregular exposure, four to six feet thick.

The coal looks better, and promises to be a good seam when found in its natural state.

No. 6. A two-foot seam resembling No. 1.

Mr. Whitworth furnished me the following details of an opening near the camp on Raging River, which was not in a condition to be seen during my visit, but which has since been gone in upon for about fifteen feet.