, 1878-02-16
From the Daily OF Friday.

GOAL BUSINESS. editor Oi
that marvel Of typographical and lit
erary art known under the vague
title of the Pacific Tribune, evident
ly is not pleased with the character
Of the codl mines on this coast, and
particularly those in Washington
Territory. and in last nights issue
states that coal mines are generally
considered "mighty poor property
in fact, the general tone Of the arti
Gle in question is calculated to dis
courage the operation of one of the
most important and profitable indus
tries of this Territory. In one por-
tion of the article the statement is
made that during the last ten years
in building the railroad out of Seat
tie, in other transportation, in build.
ing the towns of Newcastle, Renton
and Talbot. in opening the mines at
those places, etc., we do no doubt
that fully seven hundred thousand
dollars have been expended. 1t is
safe to estimate the hard cash spent
in opening coal mines in Washing
ton Territory and Vancouver Island,
securing means of transportation
ETC., at $780, 900 in the past ten
years. q sum that all the profits of
those years and all the probable
profits of the next ten Will barely
equal" Even admitting that the
Seattle, Talbot and Renton compan-
les have expended the sum of $780,
600, the amount realized from the
sale of coal for the period mention
ed-ten years has been amply suf-
fcient to afford handsome margin
over and above the amount invested.
According to the published report Of
Delegate Jacobs, the sum realized
from the sale of coal from the three
mines above mentioned, during the
last six years, was S3 ,600, 900, and
we doubt not but that the mines Of
British Columbia can show a record
equally good. No doubt much time
and money has been expended in
prospecting for and opening mines
on this coast, but that three out of a
dozen of the coal veins partially O.
entirely open are failures, we do not
believe, and it is a statement wholly
unsupported by evidence. We con-
fdently believe that this Territory
is destined ere long to be one of the
very foremost coal producing re-
gions of the world. and the success
of our mines thus far, and the su-
periority of the coal taken out, fully
justifes such an opinion. But, then,
perhaps our contemporary had in
his minds eye the famed" Puyal-
lup mine, when he wrote; which, in
view of its manifest prediction fol-
that section. accounts for the milk
in the cocoanut.
THE YAKIMA INDIANS. The latest
news from Chief Moses is to the effect
that he is trying to be friendly with
the whites, and in order to conciliate
them drove from his camp few days
ago the two hostile Nez Petces who
sought shelter there. These men
fought with Joseph during the cam
paign. They have been received. by
Smohalla at his camp near Priest
Rapids, General Howard thinks
they will be surrendered without any
trouble. A brother-in-law of Chief
Joseph, who was apprehensive of
another war, visited the fort at Walla
WAlla recently and informed the
commanding officer of his fears,
saying he thought the soldiers were
mad" and the Indians were afraid.
The officer communicated with Gen
eral Howard, and the latter, to calm
theis fears, sent the following dis
patch last Saturday:
PORTLAND, Feb 81, 1878.
COMMANDING OFFICER FoRr WALLA WALLA.
No danger of Indians while be-
having themselves properly being
disturbed by soldiers. We are try
ing to effect an arrangement that all
Indians. those with Moses and others.
may each secure title to homesteads
as whites do. Tell him, General
Howard, after his return from Wash
ineton. would like to have a talk
with Moses at some convenient point.
The soldiers are not "mad," but
friendly. .. 0. HOWARD,
General Commanding.
OLD BoREAs ON Blowout. -
The zephyr that prevailed hereabouts
all day yesterday and last night, was
unprecedented in violence by any
thing hitherto experienced in this
section. Warning had been sent
from the signal Office at Olympia
yesterday morning, that this portion
of the Sound would be visited dur
ing the day by storm of unusual
severity; and sure enough. all the
afternoon. and far into the small
hours OF the night, the wind swept
through the city with velocity and
fierceness never before known by
the Oldest inhabitants. Hats flew
off, signs were blown down, windows
were broken, and "the divil' was to
pay generally. The wind gradually
died away during the night. and was
succeeded by light showers.
BUHNING .FLUE.-About half-past
) o'clock last evening, while the gale
was at its height, people were startl
ed by the appearance of a huge flame
of fire issning from chimney at the
residence of Thomas Russell, 0rner
of Cherry and Second streets. The
fire burnt with great fury for some
time. but finally died out without
doino any narceuiihle damage.