The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-22
Oolora 40 Goal.

Tho coal deposits of Colorado are
practically inexhaustible, and they are
to be found in almost every portion of
that State. The Denver Republican, in
recent issue. gives some interesting
statistics concerning them. The north
eIn beit--in three counties some TWEEN
tn mines. is now being worked, the coal
from which is free-burning, semi-bitu-
minous and Of fair quality, the output
for last Year having amounted TO 550,-
600 tons. Tie middle region. that lying
between Denver and Colorado Springs
from the only mine bein0 worked the
output during the last half of the year
was some $1,000 tons while i'm the
southern belt, which includes Trinidad
and FL Moro, the entire region is rich
in fine qualify of coking coal. At the
Starkville mine 100, 600 tons were mined
and shipped last year, the value of
which loaded on the ears was about so
per ton. AT the same point forty coke
ovens are in operation, the product Of
which is worth $500 per ton, and all of
which goes TO Arizona. The Eagle
Mine shipped 400,000 tons of coal and
II, 600 tons of coke, and another mine
produced 20. 900 tons of coal. The out
put of coal from the Canon region was
100000 tons for the year; while that
from the Gunnison country was 43, 800
of soft and 1000 tons of anthracite
coal! The Colorado Coal and Iron
Company manufactured at their mines
at Crested Butte 10000 tons of coke
The area of soft coal land outside of
Crested Butte is very extensive. coal OF
more or less degree of excellence being
found under hundreds OF square miles
throughout Gunnison County. The an
thracite coal is found over an extensive
territory, bnt much OF ii IS inaccessible
and of an inferior quality. The best coal
is found al the head of Anthracite Greek.
about three miles from Crested Butte.
An equally good quality IS also found
on Rock Greek; but the immense seams
found down Anthracite Creek toward
the North Fork of the GuLnison River
hardly come mp 10 the Pennsy lVania
standard of excellence. The anthracite
trade of this region is yet in its infancy,
but when preparations that are now be-
ING made for mining and handling il
are once fairly under way, it will proba-
bly, be able to furnish 200 OF 300 tons per
dav, and the demand viii inevitably
increase. The coal is in All respects the
equal of the Pennsylvania anthracite.
chemical analysis ';nd physical struct-
ure failing TO show any material differ
ence.
La Plata County is also very rich in
excellent coal. the largest vein of which
is the Mammoth, near Durango, which
is 50 feet in width. In this county the
seams are numerous and large, and for
the most part so situated as to allow of
cheap and expeditions mining. The
character Of the coal is mainly bitumi-
nous and we'll adapted to cooking,
though some of the seams yield steam
coal of remarkably good quality. The
output in 1882 from the various mines
there was about $500 tons 10 which
should be added the output of the rail
road mine at Monero which is in this
belt, which produced 1000 tons. MAX
ing a total of 1900 tons for the county
for the year. AT Como, in Park Coun-
ty, 75, 900 tons of coal and 90, 900 tons
of coke were sent to market.
In summing up, the Republican says:
Coal was produced in other sections of
the State of which no returns could be
procured, but it is believed that 100,-
900 tons will cover it all. The output
was, in other words, nearly 1000, 900
tons. valued at about S4,000,000 at the
mines. The anthracite output, nearly
1000 tons, value about $4,000, and
the coke production reached the sum of
nearly 100, 900 tons, valued at $3.50 at
least, a total of at least $3.50, 600, MAX
ing the value of entire coal output
81, 400, 900.