Part 13 (1/2)

This property was for sale when I visited it, and would have been sold but for a claim of owners.h.i.+p set up by the Northern Pacific Railroad, which, however, in the opinion of good lawyers, had no foundation.

[Sidenote: This the bottom group.]

This is the bottom group of the Was.h.i.+ngton Territory coal field. It will be seen that, taking the Gilman group, the Raging River group, and the Snoqualmie group on one line, and the Cedar River, Carbon River, and Green River group on another line, it may be fairly claimed that there are at least fifteen working seams of three feet and upward in the Was.h.i.+ngton Territory coal field.

_e. The Yakima and Wenatchie Group._ This field lies on the east flank of the Cascade Mountains, on the waters of the Yakima and its tributaries, Cle-ellum and Teanaway. It is believed to extend also into the Wenatchie Valley, although the area here is probably disconnected from the Yakima area. I purposely refrained from visiting this region, and for my statements I am indebted chiefly to Bailey Willis, F. H.

Whitworth, Charles Burch, and Mr. Jamieson of the Kirke Mines.

[Sidenote: Yakima or Roslyn coal field.]

The Yakima area lies north of the Yakima River, near to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and to the projected line of the Seattle, Lake Sh.o.r.e and Eastern Railway, and extends about sixty miles east and west, and six miles north and south. Its dip is gentle, say twelve to twenty degrees. It holds three coal seams of 2 feet 6 inches, and 5 feet and 5 feet respectively. There is not much evidence of fracture in any part of the field. The total thickness of the coal-bearing rocks is estimated by Bailey Willis to be 1,000 feet. This is evidently the lower part of the coal series, the upper part having been carried away. The best seam is mined at Roslyn, four miles north of the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the interest of that railroad.

The seam here furnishes upward of four feet of good coal. The coal is bituminous, dull black, firm, and free burning. Mr. Jamieson thinks it will not make good c.o.ke. Others, however, think that it will, and these are supported partially by the laboratory test in Was.h.i.+ngton City, D. C.

(See Table of Coal a.n.a.lyses, page 107.) It is called in the table Roslyn coal.

This coal is used chiefly in the locomotives; but the popular demand for it is very great in the plateau country of East Was.h.i.+ngton.

[Sidenote: Coal on the Wenatchie.]

I have no knowledge of the coal on Wenatchie River except what I obtained from Mr. Burch, who says that there are two seams of coal exposed in that valley, one of eight feet and one of three feet. The coal-bearing rocks extend for thirty-five miles up the river, and have a width of ten miles.

[Sidenote: Coal under the Great Bend country.]

The coal is reported by Mr. Burch to appear east of the Columbia River, opposite to the fields just described, and to disappear under the basalt. If so, here is a resource for the future. Concerning the importance of this coal field to the Seattle, Lake Sh.o.r.e and Eastern Railway, I will speak in another connection.

[Sidenote: The first mining on Bellingham Bay.]

_f. Bellingham Bay, Skagit River, and other Coal Fields._ The first s.h.i.+pping of coal from Was.h.i.+ngton Territory was done from the Seahome Mines, on Bellingham Bay, Puget Sound, about twenty-five miles south of the Canada line. The mines were very badly managed; they took fire on several occasions. The coal was of the lignitic grade, but not of the best quality, and when other mines of better coal were opened the Bellingham Bay mines were closed. It is reported that c.o.king coal has been found some distance back from the bay.

[Sidenote: Coal on Skagit River.]

Coal has also been found on Skagit River, which, I suspect, from a sample which I saw and from what I heard (some of it), is good, and possibly might c.o.ke well. One of the coal properties is held by A. Ford and others. The following description is furnished by Mr. Norman B.

Kelly.

It is found about three miles north of the Skagit River, and about five miles from Sedro. The country is hilly. There are at least six or eight coal seams, perhaps more. Those examined run from eighteen inches to thirty inches, and are thought to be clean coal. The seams lie between sandrocks. The outcrops begin near the level of the valley, and continue in a series to an alt.i.tude of 550 feet above the valley. The highest outcrops are those of the lowest seams geologically. The strike is north sixty degrees west. At the foot of the hill, the seams dip forty-five degrees to the southwest, but the angle becomes steeper on the mountain side, until finally they are vertical. All the outcrops are within 1,500 feet horizontal distance. Blacksmiths use the coal and p.r.o.nounce it equal to c.u.mberland. It c.o.kes readily in the open fire; burns with a bright, hot, but small flame, and seems to leave but little ash.

Of course, the thinness of these seams is an objection. There is coal, also, upon the south side of the river; but there has been but little development in this field. An a.n.a.lysis of this coal is given in the table preceding, but I cannot say from what seam the sample was derived.

The following a.n.a.lysis of coal of the Crystal Mine, near Sterling, is said to have been made by Mr. Wm. G. Tenne, a.s.sayer, of Portland, Oregon:

c.o.ke 71.31 Combustible gases 23.17 Ash 5.31 Moisture .21

A very fine showing.

[Sidenote: Coal south of Puget Sound.]

It has long been known that there are considerable areas of coal south and southwest of Puget Sound. But they have not been very highly esteemed, the coals being lignite of not the best quality. There are at least two seams of seven to twelve feet thickness, and they lie at an angle of five degrees, with good roof and floor. Some effort is now making on Skook.u.mchuck and Chehalis rivers to develop these seams.

[Sidenote: Total s.h.i.+pments of coal from Was.h.i.+ngton Territory.]