Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-05-29
THE COAL SUPPLY.

The supply OF cheap fuel Is the great
want Of the San Francisco manufacturers.
The Nanaimo coal-beds on Vancouver's
Island have the precedence in time and
value, and convenience to market. The
company now furnish at the ships about
500 tons per day from the old bed, which
is three miles from the harbor, and 1920
feet deep. They have found a new large
vein half a mile from the bay, at depth
of ITO feet, of equally choice coal They
propose to put 500 tons per day into the
shu,es when this vein is fairly opened.
This coal is contracted to the shipper at
SIS 25, delivered in the shute. Its price
n San Francisco is S13 %. 1t ranks
very high for steamships, and manufac-
turing, and engines. The margin of profit
is, of course, very large to the contractor
and shipper. 1t will bear a strong compe.
tition and still keep leading place in the
market.
The Bellingham Bay mine produces
100 tons per day Of rather solid coal, yet
highly charged with sulphur Its market
rate in San Francisco is s. per ton. The
shaft dcsccnds between 800 and 900 feet,
aud extends 1900 feet under the bay.
The present vein will last about four years,
but another vein lies near, which, rcr.
haps will be opened sooner.
The Skagit mine is opened only 90 feet,
simply for testing its value 1t cokcs well,
yet has some traces of sulp hur. The vein
opened is three feet thick, with dip of
500 to 100. The castings are sandstone
| H. -, h. ot
coal, a foot thick, is solid. 1t makes a hot
fame, but burns out quietly 1t is about
a mile from the river, and when the "jam"
is removed steamboats, can 60 to the coal
shute The signs of good coal in that To-
calty arc rather encouraging.
The old Seattle or Washington mine fur
nishes-as stated last week--200 tons per
day of good steam and domestic coal
With better transportation they can fur
nish 400 tons per day. tsels for 81 per
ton in San francisco The Rcnton coal
mine, opened near the Black river, turns
out - tons of pretty good steam and
domestic coal; but with more careful sort
ing the reputation of this coal will improve
The Talbot mine is just opened near the
Renton, and its tests prove good for steam
and for domestic use. The Clymer, or
New Seattle mine, is just opened and
tested, near the Talbot, with similar re-
suits.
The Puyallup coal-bcds, % and 2S miles
from Tacoma, prove very extensive, APP
pearing numerous over two townships
This coal is free from sulphur trace, cokes
well, gives abundant gas, proves equal to
Cumberland for the backsmith's forge,
and superior for steel Welding. Its vein
castings are light fre-proof sandstone, Civ
ing signs of belonging to the older and
better ccal measures. Veins of anthracite
have been dicovered in the same region.
Marble has also been found, as Mr.. Gale
informed the writer few weeks ago. In
dications of iron-beds are but a few miles
away A narrow.gauge railroad could,
with easy grade, be made TO Tacoma, and
: transport 1895 tons per day. 'Tias coal
veins are in the hills above and sclf.drain-
ing so that the supply can be as large as
the market. The quality Of the Goals of
this locality is equal to the Nanaimo, and it
promises to be superior for blast purposes.
The Tenino and Skookum Chuck Goals
on the line of the North Pacific railroad
are rather lighter and moro sulphurous
than those of Seattle, yet with careful
sorting they will furnish large supply fit
for steam and domestic use. The same
coal veins extend along the foothills of the
Cascades in Oregon. They have been
found about twelve miles east of Aurora.
and in the Calapooia Mountains, and at
Coos Bay. Doubtless the coal supply in
quantity and quality on our Northwest
coast will equal all the demands for GEN.
turtles to come.-PortIGnd Paper