Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-15
THE COAL HisEs OF WEsTEEs
WASHINGTON.

THE COAL nIsEs OF WESTERN
WASHINGTON.
Data and Detail Regarding This Sa.'
source Of Wealth.
The following was written by Rev. u.
r. Whitwor.h of this city in 1890. for
publication in a periodical Of that day
now defunct:
IN the early history and settlement OF
the Territory, the general supposision
vas that its principal resources would
he found on its surface, AZ exhibited IN
tn MAGNIFICENT forests, 30 dense, 80 ex-
tensiye. rs TO supply the world WITH
Iuuober for an almost indefinite period.
The common, bat brief and general de-
scriution of the country by letter wri-
tefa. vas embraced in the term "a lum-
herring region" IL Is indeed true that
the principal wealth has thus far bean
derived from this source. and that IL has
had much to do with bringing popuis-
ton and capital TO our western border.
In the future IL will not occupy 80 prom
inent place, bat must share its power
and influence with the treasures which
have been 20 long hid In the bowels OF
the earth.
The mineral resources Of the Territory
will hereafter be no mean or untmport-
ant factor in Its growth and develop
fneut. Foremost among them will be
found our Goals. speak of them in
the plural, because of the varieties
which are now known 70 exist. Coal, in
connection with iron, will SGT in opera
ton a greater variety of enterprises and
industries than any other known raw
material. Though il will not whiten
the wings Of commerce, ii will greatly
accelerate their speed, and so multiply
and enlarge it, transactions, with mu-
tual benefit 10 this coast ana 10 the
more distant regions With which we may
engage ira i.c. Like the tabled Briar-
irs, It will have itg numerous arms, and
thege will reach forth IN every direo-
ton upon the land and on the sea.
Very easly in the settlement OF the
Territory, there were found Indications
of coal. some OF which Was difficult Of
access, and 40. holding ont no induce
ments TO prospect or work II. The cost
of providing means of transportation, as
well as the transportation itself, has
greatly retarded the opening OF mines
and testing the quality of our GOALS.
As early az 1851 specimen of GOAL,
taken from vein found in tis bed of
the Stilacuamish river. was forwarded TO
Prof. Johnson at Washington City. who
vas then In the employ OF the u. 3.
Government, 10 be Analysed. The anal.
ysis was published Mt the time, showing
It TO be OF superior quality. especially
1.v no mn nn1AYtH
from sulphur, containing over 80 per
cent. of fxed carbon. with ESQ per cent
OF earthly matter, and Weighing FROM 30
20 So pounds per cnbic foot. Ii seems
70 have had some Of the qualities Of
oanMel coal, ipniting freelv and burning
Areely With bright blaze. The writer At
this. eume wears ago, went MP 70 sxxm-l
inc this coal, but found the veins TOO
small 10 justify their being worked. az
Tho hrst discovery made on Boiling
ham Bay vss In the fall Of 1862, 4 mile
or two south Of Whatoom. 60me pros
seeing waa done by Capt. Pattle. vhe
took up the claim, commencing his
work 10 the spring Of 1853. One Il The
minsn employed BY him is at preae0t Q
ner, Who vas assisted by Perry Dunneld,
~ IO8IQ0ub Va kklWo VWW4tye WA4V - vsA0
time Of his death few years go lived
In that city. These were probably the
nrst regular miners who struck pick
into coal in this Territory. Tho veins
which ontcropped were, however, 90
thin and inferior as 70 canse them soon
to abandon their work. In tho spring
Of 1854, the outcroppine of coal At what
10 nov known ~ Sehone, and long
L.. LnA fkA uaItarSrsk n vxa
Bay coal mine, Was discovered. lake
many similar GASES, the discovery was
accidental. Two men named Brown
and Hewitt were logging for tho mill on
Whatcom creek. A recently upturned
root Of . tree. which had been com
PEELED 20 yield 70 the blast, disclosed
black diamonds.
Az frst thew were uncertain. but.
sending for VConner and Dunfield,
they aeon became satisfied that u WAS
indeed coal. Capt. Rosder, Who Is vol
known on the Sound, became inteTested
with Brown and Hewitt. assisting them
In further examining and opening the
vein. About this time the United States
steamer Active, Capt. Alden. Vas in the
bay. One Of the officers. Lieut.. faunt-
leroy, saw and examined the coal. Some
Of Il was tried on the steamer. Samples
wore sent 70 San Francisco. and In
fow days aftorward Fauntleroy followed
With more. He. with few friends. do
tssnined 10 try and purchsss the mine.
They immediately dispatched Calhoun
Benham. with instructions - 20 price.
and with the sum Of ten thousand dol
lars - part payment. Other parties, in
the meantime. got wind Of the discovery
and sent their agent ON the same GRAND.
Both left Portland on the same Ateames,
thence travelled together to Monticello.
up the COwlitz River, and aoross che
country 10 Olympia. ~ bese they ooald.
So far the race was even. The chance
10 outatyip was reduced - journey
down ths sound. IL was not Ne day oe
sseAmboats shsL. Tho only chance Tor
bocoUosion on these waterx uas chr
slo0p or canoe. On their arrival at
Oly upiA there wna bat ons sloOp 10 b.
had, and tho competing party managed
- sesurU this and vas soon under vay.
Bsnhsm had 20 take \ canoe. bat be
proved 70 b the fortunate man. rsaoh-
akead Of the ship. He loae - tiDe In
ahosn6 q ~ tins. end q ooee nAde ~
dollsss. aAkia9 . tender a N thsa-
Hsovn - psrsssAly aassd fse . ~
ospeoa The ollsy, which W. astsgvAsds
fuily vati6ed s. NJ pastnssl 0oarssly
ssosp Ssvs Z isSs u - osSss
made Brown The oGss a tUoaAy-ssvsu
Akx>nn> IA hs.A ~v~s 49,. tneA nkh. - haxa