Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-15

ferent and in some respects superior to
both the Renton and Seattle. although
il belongs 70 the same general class. IL
did not, however, prove extensive, and
in. few years vas worked out. 30 far as
the propert, of the company was con-
eeraed. Is seems TO have been detached
or broken Of from the main body, and
manifessly, "a would appear from its
covering, the vein is not in place. Il
had no slate or rock covering.
The Renton Company has found the
Talbot vein on their property, and With
appearances of icing in place. they are
working it by q slope only short dis
tancs from where tho Talbot Company
formerly had i.s works. and are taking
out an excslien. character os coal.
The coal up Cedar river. known IS
MoAIlis.er coal, may possibly belong 70
the game ssries IS the Renton ard TAI
bot. lea existence has been k1ozn for
spwsrds of tsn years, bat its remossress
has hitherto prevented its being worked.
There is no difficulty in the way of con-
strueting road from Renton TO this
coal. aud the distance will probably not
exceed six miles. The prospect now Is
that the ROAD will be confused up, a7d
the mine opened during the coming
year. The property, consisting Of 16O
acres, was sold TO Mr.. Davis of San
Francisco for $4,000.
Large bodies Of coal have long been
known to exist on Green river. speoi-
mems from which indicate superior
quality. II 10 somewhat probable that
the Green river coal is continuation
of tina. found on the Puyallup and Car
bon rivers A large body of the coal
land on Green river is owned by the
estate Of Judge AoHenry Of California.
In 1874 the first claim was taken, and
the first work done in the Puyallup coal
fold by the Flett Bros., and their broth
er-in-lav Gale. At considerable ex
peuse they opened wagon road from
South Prairie 10 the coal on Flett's
creek, a tributary OF South Prairie
creek, and thus brought a few tons to
Tacoma for trial. This GOAL vas taken
from what is now called the Gale vein.
The existence of coal on the Puysllup
had been known for several years, car
tainly AS early a. 1852 or $50, If not lit
tie earlier; but owing TO its Iemoteness
and difficulty of ascess. had never been
explored or exa,uined. Mr.. Van O2ie,
now a resident of Elhi, Pierce County,
was one Of this frst. if not the very first.
to discover it. Prospecting along the
Puya!lnp river he came ACROSS some OF
tAe coal golns which had been cut and
barred by the stream. A. first he WAS
much elated with his discovery, sut con-
timing np the stream he found SO much
of i ~ to lead him 20 conclude thai abe
q1lu'. y > too great TO make a claim
81 +4s 1us 5aIar value to him. Ths
au4. I'll. tefore remained for years ua-
touched and unexpiofed, the upper val
10y of the Puyullup being all t.is time
terra ino0gnita. But as soon as the
Fle.t Brothers had demon stra.ed the
truth OF its existence. and opened up
the way to reach it. numerous explor-
ers during the fall Of 1874 and the sum
NOR of 1875. went in, and not only eoa-
firmed what had been previously re-
ported. but added very materially to
the stock Of knowledge which was thus
accommodating. Numerous claims were
taken in the spring of 1875. under the
coal land law, and considerable labor
expended, by which many outcroos of
coal veins were found aud uncovered;
all Of which went TO demonstrate the
Importance and valse Of the field.
In the winter of 1876. the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, becoming
satisfied of the richness of the field,
oommoneed the construction of their
Puyallup branch limo, which terminates
ut Wilksson, thirty-ons miles from New
Taooms. The village of Wilkeson is
on Plat creek, about half q mile below
the Gale opening. The building Of this
road was premature, before sufficient
animation had been made to determine
whore the best coal would be found, the
most accessible and the easiest to be
worked. This has. in part been the
cause of the failure in working mines
at Milksson, which we're opened by the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
They not only expended about half a
million dollars In boi!ding and equip
ping the road bat some $4,000 or $780,
700 In opening the mine and making
she necessary Improvement, running
over period of three years, whom they
deemed il advisable to cease their op-
eretioas. II thorough examination htd
been made Of the field it is not likely
the road wou d have run and Terminated
where il docs. There are better GOALS
than in the field at Wilksson, aud there
10 better GOAL at Wilkes0n than the rail
road company worked. Much of is
cokin0 GOAL of the first quality, while
large percentage il good blacksmith
coal, we'll adapted for the lighter work
Of the forge.
Another, and what IL deemed q more
valuable group. u on the north fork Of
she Puysllup, now known rs Carbon
river. ID having received that name by
reason Of the numerous oltoroppings Of
GOAL seams along its bed and on the
sidee Of it, towering bluffs. A short
branch Of railroad three and one half
miles long has recently beon completed
from near Wilkeson 70 Csrbonado. on
The blU4s of Carbon river, near the new
mine recently opened on the west side
OF The river BY B. d. Chandler Of San
Francisco, under the able management
Ct M. WinRxts. formerly supsrintsnd-
ent at South Wellington. Vancouver
Lsland.