The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-11-22
OUR TRIBUTARY COAL FIELDS.
What Mr.. Geo. 81. Eldridge Has to Say
About Them.

Mr.. Geo. I'll. Eldridge who has been
stopping at the Grand Union the past
few days, has just completed a map OF
the greatest importance to Benton, as
upon his report will depend in a large
measure not only whether we are soon
to have a branch of the Northern Pacific
railroad, but the course it will follow
from the Judith Basin to this place.
Mr.. Eldridge is one of Prof. Pulnpel-
ly's principal assistants in the great
work Of making an accurate survey IN
report upon the whole country tributary
TO the Northern Pacific from Lake Su-
perior to the Pacific ocean,, and some
months ago he was detailed to look up
the resources of the country through
which the supposed Benton branch will
pass-a task he has but recently conl-
pleted.
His instructions were to proceed from
the Basin between the Belt and High
wood mountains, and particularly te
make an examination OF the coal depOs-
its on Belt creek, Sand Coulee, Deep
creek and through that extensive coal
field, and it is to this work he has APP
piled himself most diligently. Mr.. FL
bridge has q full corps OF assistants, and
he not only examines the veins that are
opened on developed, but sets his men
as work prospecting, and thus secures
the fullest share of information on the
subject. While he is naturally reticent
in speaking of the merits Of any particu-
lar coal mine, he refers very tavorably
to the district, and p~ronounces the coal
Of good quality and i'll quantity abund-
AMI. It is a Ignite coal, but OF a supc-
rior grade, and far ahead of the lignites
of Dakota and eastern Montana.
Mr.. Eldridge made q careful eNaniina-
ton Of the Deep creek mine, and speaks
very favorably Of it. He says there is a
vein Of four feet and six inches of good
coal, as clean as he has seen in Montana,
and that 1t can be worked with ordinary
facility.
The mines i'll Sand Coulce, Cashiers
aud elsewhere in the district were care
fully examined, and q full report Of his
observations and researches will be for
warded at once to headquarters, a report
which we are prompted to believe will
not be unfayorahie to the best interests
of Benton.
Mr.. Eldridge stated that while he had
NOT tY.. xarJnI t{en Yarrfr o,1yvn,yDI fra,.s#
the Basin to Benton (by way Of Arrow
creek, he was led to believe from the
geology Of the country and information
received that it is barren OF resources,
while the proposed route between the
Belt and Highwood mountains and
through the coal fields offers many in
ducclnents to 4 railroad, among which
are good agricultural lands adjacent,
good Goals, stoaae, and silver mines, TIM
Der, etc, in tiae mountains near at hand.
AS the final determination of theroute
will depend for the most part on his re-
port, it is pretty certain that Benton's
best interests will be subseryed by the
adoption of the latter proposed line.
Mr. Eldridge is a most pleasant gen
tlemaaa, an excellent conversationalist,
and it is pretty evident that his knoWl-
edge of coal aad coal misaing is as extern
sive a needs be. He is very much
pleased with Benton, and thinks the
foundation has been laid for a large ON
mercsal city. And o think we all Of
us.
oEYru a AT A Nj a s%nEpC s