, 1858-11-26
BeIIIngham Bay COaI-Its Quality, &C.

BeIllngham Bay COaI-ItS Quality. &C,
In an excellent article which appeared
in the Oregon Times Of Oct. Both, under
the head Of SoUNDISGs OF THE SOUND" by
the Editor, who visited our Territory COZ
the wing" few weeks since, and Of which
article We have before spoken, we find the
following concerning the Bellingham Bay
Coal Mine, and the probability that the
Coal taken out there will, at an early day,
supply the steamers on the Pacific with all
they will require:
A mile below the grave Of whatcom, are the Bel
lingham Bay coal mines. Judge Ftzhugh the priDci-
pal proprietor In the management aud superintend-
ence Of these mines, has displayed, through long
course Of years, indefatigabe energy and enter
prise, which merits the brilliant and fortunate sue
osss Just now dawning upon his hbors From the
first, the quality Of the coal excavated has continued
~ improve The Judge exhibiied 10 specimens Us
rich and valuabe-as pure coal-as any we have ever
seen Of the Pittsburgh coal The shaft has been sunk
at angle Of about fertylVe degrees, TO depth Of
upwards OF three hundred feet Even with the present
meagre and insufficient facilities for making excuva
tons and hosting the coal Judge Ftzhugh informed
US that upwards OF one hundred tons be delivered
The bed strata Of coal lies beneath the waters of
the Bay, and parallel with them, The vein is twenty
two feet la width at the mouth, and Is now working
at the present depth, hfty-two feet in width. The
mine Is wholly In xhanslible and the day Il not far
distant when from its deep caverns 'Our ships which
oil the sea- on this coast win be supplied from 1t
with an article Of coal Of the first quality and At
cost Insignificant when compared with the prefent
prices. So that which, but few years since was
regarded almost universally. as a wild and extnva-
giant scheme, leading at once to bankruptcy and De
cunary ruin, will reveal wise aud commendable en-
terprise Of incacnlable valne to the Puget Sound
country, and, indeed, to the whole steam Shipping
interests upon the Pacific coast Il IL impossible TO
exaggerate the value and future benefits certain TO
enure from the working Of this coal mine to credit
too far the laudabe public spirit and enterprise which,
after years Of energetic and unfalterng toll Is at last
about 70 reward t propretors and the country with
source Of wealth and prosperity hitherto undreamed
oI and we are pleased to know that thepeople Of
Washington Territory place precisely this estimate
upon as we'll the mine ITSELF as the enterprise which
has developed its richness. n .9t1, |
As Illustrative Of the energy and force
with which Judge FnznUsH is driving an
exploration Of his bed of coal, we would
observe, that he has now reached, by the
slope, the depth of 500 feet, and is pre-
pared to get out from $50 to 200 tons per
day. The quality improves as he descends,
and he can furnish any amount at his wharf
for So per ton. rr l.ss e~l
A few weeks since, Judge F, sent tolthis
place a few sacks Of coal in order that our.
citizens might have an opportunity of prac-
tieally testing its quality, and of pronoun-
cling Judgment upon it, in accordance with
its merits. 1t SO happened that wo fell
heir to one of the sacks, and can testify
that, in connection with q little wood, it
will burn freely in common Office, parlor
or cooking stove, and we are told that it
burns equally we'll in grate or open
fireplace. The rssidaum, which we found
by no means as large as we anticipated,
consisted entirely Of ashes-there being no
appearance of slate in our specimen, aud
no formation of clinker in the burning
Of it.
The last sales of coal stock were at the rate
Of $25 on shares of 500; but we learn
that none Of the stockholders are at pres Mt
disposed to sell, as they are all sanguine
Of great success in the further and full de-
velopement of this magnificent vein. 1t
will be seen by the following, which we find
in late number of the California Farmer,
that the company are making arrange
ments to greatly facilitate their further
operations in the mine, as also, that the
Purser Of the Santa Cruz has pronounced
in favor of the coal. We give the para
graph entire. That paper says:
| BgLLNGHAM BAY Coal COMPANY The steamer
santa Graz on her last tip from this city had on
board for this Company, 500 feet Of sxihoh iron pDe
for their use, for raising water from the deep SHAFT in
their mneA This shat is now $50 feet deem and The
Company intend sinking it 800 feet more. Tie santa
Craz this coal and Purser WYAAS Of the steamer
informed Va that burned well and gave satisfaction;
50 much 50 that they used It entirely
Some time since, the Secretary Of the
Bellingham Bay Coal Company. G.
MITCHELL, Esq.-forwarded to JOIN HEw-
sroN Jr., NJ D., a practical and accom-
plished chemist Of San Francisco, spe,i-