, 1883-01-12

@NNNNtoNAN lAO"NNNlN 10 WI
coal, and is a remarkablevein. That is
Il wonderful region, where coal mines
crop out for 40 miles Us you go to-
wards the mountains. 1t commences
with Ignite ut Rcuton, and goes ON
improving rs you go oast Thirty
miles above you have good bitumin-
Gus veins, and 40 miles finds excel
lent anthracite coal veins, as good as
the world knows. When you remem-
ber that these coal beds are extensive,
as we have shown, you will see that
these mines will constitute Il means
of enormous wealth for all time To
come, which is made more important
by the fact that no other region west
Of the Rocky MOUNTAINS POSSESSES
any such natural resources.
The mine at Carbonate, 81 miles
east of Tacoma; is owned by the
Central Pacific railroad. This min
ing district has bituminous coal OF
good quality, and lies in deep can
yon along Carbon river, pouring
torrent fresh from the SHOWS and
glaciers of Mount Rainier, or rs we
prefer to call it, Tacoma. The word
means THE Mountain" 1t is fitting
TO give it the name it always bore
among the Indians. Carbon Canyon
is a deep gorge, into which we weru
let by steam power operating rail
way up and down steep incline
Loaded cars are hauled up this incline
in forty seconds. The steep grade is
about 300 feet long, and wears fear
ful look at first glance, but the visit
to the depths below fully paid for the
trouble and for all the long journey
to seach there. The gorge Is 50 deep
that the walls are very abrupt. Some
times they are clad with brush and
great frs and cedars, but often they
are bare rocks that overhang Us One
place is suitably named Inspiration
Point If any person can look on it
and not catch inspiration he must be
base born and sordid souled. The
whole canyon is absolutely wonder
ful, and so possessed of natures Sc
crets that one feels oppressed with
the thought that we penetrate here
farther into the unknowable than
was intended for us.
The mining company have about
two thousand acres, including a mile
or more of carbon river depths. AS
we proceed we find narrow tram
way extending before us, Now it
crosses an abrupt bend Of the river
by rustic-looking bridges; now it
enters 4 tunnel to prospect a coal
vein; then it follows the creek away
to cross and recross, entering tunnels
frequently, bending as the river
winds and making smooth way for
our footsteps that would not other
wise be very easy to travel The eye
is never out of sight of plain eviden-
ces of coal. New veins are cropping
out continually; sometimes they are
too small to work to advantage; some
times they may be of inferior quality,
but there are many of good quality
and good size.
To vary the monotony of coal, and
continually ly coal, at one time beau
tiful brawling stream leaps over the
upper wall and comes leaping and
pouring down, now making a clean
bound over a rocky point, now twist
ing in and out among the tangled
grOwths, until it reaches the river 400
feet below.
At Inspiration Point we found
whole chapters of geology and of
natural science written on a cliff that
looked as though it might have been
freshly chiseled down for hundreds
Of feet. The locality shows exactly
how the upheaval occurred. The
strata appears like material rain
bow painted on the face of the cliff,
not with gorgeous cOlors, but with
veins eff coal. Our guide-the son
of n. y. Willis, the author and poet
was a gentleman Of rare attain
ments in the study of mines, and
made our visit instructive as well as
a pleasure Coal veins We're to be
seen on this naked wall, doingc the +
full share to vary the display.
Eleven distinct coal strata unite to
make the grand arch alluded to.
Many of them are small, but eleven
coal veins in one group, as there are,
constitute magnificent display.
We have attempted to convey some
part of the impression the coal re-
gions of Puget Sound made upon us
when we saw them. The extent of
coal is only dimly understood as yet.
Coal and iron abound in that vicinity.
They constitute two of the most en-
during, certain sources of wealth
known to nations. England has be
come enormously rich by means Of
coal and iron deposits no greater
than exi on the Sound. Coal and
iron give her the supremacy she en-
joys among nations. They will do
MS much for OREGON and WASHINGTON