The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-12-09
MINERALS or THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.

"Nevcr you let up on snakes: that way
lies hercsy." So r. W. Raymond pleasant
~ puts the case in the last 0cerland We
presume about twelve in every dozen per-
sons who have Travelled over the Pacific rail-
road through Wyoming nave % mentally
sJmonished their tongues to that sterile and
forbidding domain, where existence in the
summer is between alka!i fats and brass
lined heavens AMI the ''winter of discon-
tent has no ''sun Of York" to make it
glorious. But, good came out of Nazareth,
aud Wyoming, it seems, has developed a
practical, inexhaustable and valuable re.
source in great coal fields extending from
the western boundary of the Territory to
within 100 miles of Cheyenne. Prof. Hay
den of the U. S. Geological Survey, esti-
mates the deposit of coal undcrlies 100
miles square-10,0Oo square miles-of the
Territory. The average depth of the vein
is about eighty feet 1t is also believed the
northern portion of the Territory, On the
Bozeman route, has like deposits. We re-
collect of seeing veins and groupings of
bituminous coal in many places between
Fort Laramie and the Powder River. II
the projected railroad between Cheyenne
and Helena is built coal will be found in
cxhaus.!ess quantities on the line. If the
fuel Is not OH the surface it is cached be.
meath. The Wyoming Leader, in speaking
of these deposits, says:
''It will be seen that Wyoming is really
the great coal region of the world, surpass.
ing even Pennsylvania in extent, and beside
which the mines of Illinois. Iowa, and even
Europe seem insignificant"
This, in view Of tho fact TINT tho beds
are yet developed to only limited extent,
is probably wild enthusiasm, as the one
single biuminous coal field of Central and
South Western Pennsylvania, reaching out
into the adjoining States, underlies G5. 900
square miles, and has been thoroughly de.
vc!opcd. As Grca, British alone has CSC, O00,-
600 invested in coal, and mines 60, 000, 900 to
70, 0O0, 900 tons per annum, the Wyoming
mines that throw them into ''insisnificauce'
will have 10 be quite IN important industry.
Still, without cxaggeration, Wyoming has
doubtless discovered great resource in
coal, and it is stated iron likewise abounls.
IL this is the case, iron manufactures will
spring into existence where III: ore and
fuel abourds, JUS: rs certainly as they did
in Pennsylvania And as Territorial lines
do rot usually circumscribc mineral de.
posts, we may confidently anticipate OK.
tensive coal fields. already found in various
will be developed in Montana, and
the copper and lead ores 50 rich and cxtcn.
sivc in the Territory become prominent and
vastly productive RESOURCES Is the placer
mines are exhausted.
The geological surveys Of Prof. Hayden
hare done much for Colorado and Wyom.
ing in giving reliable information of their
mineral wealth, and attracting thither the
attention OF those able to develop it. One
Or two Intellectual efforts have been made
10 procure government geological survey
Of Montana. aud the object TO he attained
renders it worthy Of being again solicited.
Prof. Hayden has about completed his sur.
veys Of Colorado aud Wyoming. Wcthink
It probable that on = presentation of tho
case by Governor Potts and other Federal
And Territorial officers OF Montana, his scr.
viccs might bc ordered iu this field, and
much benefit result thcrcfrom.