The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-08
THE SrkAGIT MINES.
A gentleman informs the Seattle
Chronicle as follows:

a gentleman informs the Seattle
Chronicle as follows:
The name of the Skagit coal mines
has been changed to the Pacific Cum
berlaud Coal Mines. They are now
being worked under the management
of Grove, Adams Il Co., of San Fran
cisco, who are associated with eastern
capitalists who propose to engage in
the manufacture of iron ore in that To-
cality. The Pacific Cumberland coal
mining company's mines are 2S miles
from tide water, near the Skagit river,
and embrace 1855 acres of land, on
which there are twelve veins. Sew
eral shafts have been sunk and tun-
mel is now being run which will cross
cut all twelve of the veins, only five
of which, however, are considered
workable. The tunnel has progressed
l52 feet, and has cut one vein six feet
and one inch wide. 1t is expected an
other will be cut ten feet further in,
and third vein 100 feet further in.
The vein cut through already is fifty
feet below the outcroppings, the sec
ond l25, and the third 200. The tun-
mel is 100 feet above the river level.
The coal has been tested, and Is found
to be of the best class bituminous, par
ticularly good for blacksmithing and
fuel purposes. 4 test gives - per
cent. fixed carbon. Small shipments
will be made by the river first, which
is naVigable to the mines for 9months
in the year. \ railroad is contem-
plated, commencing at ship harbor
and running along the south bank of
the Skagit river To a point one and a
hnI ola hA iah
will be from 2S to 32 miles long, and
will tap the Olympia marsh, Swino-
mish flats and belt of fine fir and
white pine timber the latter miles
long hy 8 miles wide. About $50, 900
coal mines. Not more than thous-
and feet from these coal fields are a
series of veins of grey hematite iron
ore, five in number, ranging from
| 10 10 IS feet wide, working tests of
which have given from 3S To 53 per
cent. From six to fourteen miles
above. on the river, and accessible by
boat, are lime-rock quarries from
which the necessary fuX can be OBJ
tanned. Marble ledges are also found
in the same region. From Sheriff
| O'Loughlin we learn that Whatcom
t'uilA, - StNNiiilE w WIN q 'biiiAN
farming population from Whatcom To
| the British line. The bulk of the set
| tlement is on the Nootsack river bot
toms. They are about 80 miles long
and average about 6 miles wide, being
principally vine maple, spruce and
cedar lands, with numerous natural
meadows. Vegetables and fruit de
well, and experiments have demon
>trated the fact that as good oats, bar
ley and wheat can be produced there
as anywhere in Washington Territory
| The raising of swine and poultry Is
carried on successfully, and much at
tention is paid to dairying and cattle
raising. Seattle is the principal mar
ket, although much produce is taken
over to New Westminster, where ther,
is good market at high prices, e.-
pecaly for butter, bacon and eggs
Mr.. o. Loughlin reports the county out
Of debt and taxes low. There il still
great deal of land open to the pre-
emptor and homesteader on the Moot
sack, and much equally as good on the
Samish river, midway between La
Conner and Whatcom. There AT,
about 20 sections of land on the Olym-
pia marshes. Much of it is open tc
settlement, and is irst-class farming
land, but will require draining anc
dyking.