The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1875-12-04
Ghe 2l'anepnrer JIndependeNt
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1875
Columbia City and Its Coal Discovery


In last weeks issue Of the INDEpFN-
DENT. under the head of Editorial Cor
rcspOndcnce, we promised our readers
IN account of the rich coal discovery at
Columbia CITY. Owing to the fact
that the beautifully drawn paper ideal
of the above city has not vet been trans
formed into reality by the erection of
houses, docks, jail, etc, ii may perhaps
be necessary to briefly describe its To-
caity, advantages and prospects, that
all may better understand the locus IN
qro with which we have to deal.
Columbia City is on the West bank
of the Columbia River. in Columbia
County, Oregon, thirty miles north
from Portland, six miles south and on
the opposite side of the river from IA
lama, the present terminus ofthc North
crn Pacific Railroad, and about eighty
miles from Astoria at the mouth of the
river. As yet it is city only in the
anticipation Of ita projoctore, having
hut half dozen or so wooden build
ings to mark the site, foremost among
which is that prerequisite of modern
civilization, the public school house,
where by the way very good school
is being conducted by Prof. Hodges.
The town has 4 steam saw mill, but, as
we are informed, is not at the present
time in operation. Williams Brothers
once kept store here, but they have
gone away, and the store is closed. Dr.
<. G. Caplcs and family reside here,
the DIR. occasionally ministcrlng 10 the
wants of the afflicted But as ii is a
healthy locality and sparscly populated
we don't imagine the profession is par
ticularIy lucrative.
Considering only the natural adyan-
tages of Columbia City as a CONNER
cial point on the river, that it is below
all the bars of the Willamette, and the
nearest and only practical point on the
river for the terminus OF railroad CON
nccton with IlillsborO on Orcgon's
Wcst-sidc road, through the Cornelius
pass. the natural outlet of the largest
part of the Willamette Valley, it is
somewhat surprising that this point has
not heretofore been the center of great
[. attraction. But, be all this as il may,
the recent coal discoveries promise to
become the key to unlock 5he natural
resources and advantages of the place.
It was suspected years ago that coal
existed in this vicinity, in fact a mine Of
coal of very good quality was discov-
cred and partially developed seven
miles southwest of This point, by II. G.
Victor, once 4 resident Of St. llclcns,
and lately heard from As one of the nm
Iorlrnatcs of the lost steamer PdcjVc.
The new coal discovery lies about one
mile back from Columbia City. The
mine is said to be all but unlimited in
quantity, and scaiarng men and assay
crs who have tested it pronounce it Of
the best quality, far superior to that
now being exported in such quantities
from Seattle. The credit of this dis
covery is due to the energy of DIR. Ca
piles, who it is to be hoped, together
with his associates i'll the bonanza,
may realize handsome profits. Ii is
scarcely necessary to mention the bcnc-
fits to the commerce of the river certain
to be derived from convenient coaling
station on the Columbia. Let the new
discovery be developed as soon as prac-
ticablc.