The weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1883, 1883-02-14
AN IMPORTANT INDUS
TRY.

AN IMPORTANT INDUS
TRY.
But few people comparatively speak.
ine. are awaFe of the extent and import
ance Of the vast coal deposits in the
mountains east of Bozeman, and as will
be seen by letter in another part Of
this paper in other pa rts of our county.
That these deposits exist in large quanti-
ties is not now q matter Of speculation,
q the developments already made at
the Chesnnt Coal Bank, at Moxey's and
several other points, places that matter
beyond the shadow of q doubt. The
quality also, as will be seen elsewhere,
as quoted in this article places it far be-
yond any of the coal or Ignite forma-
tons yet found in the Rocky Mountains
for steam making qualities. The advan-
tage to our country and the wealth they
will bring can scarcely be computed.
For manufacturing, mechanical and do
nestle purposes coal fills want that no
other fuel does. The rapid exhaustion
of the wood for fuel such as is easy OF
access, will and has enhanced the value
of that article 80 that from an economic
stand point coal will not only become
cheaper, but it will save our forests from
utter spoliation. Wood can be and is
used for so many purposes, entirely
necessary too, that it will soon become
incumbent upon us to husband it. Gov
eminent even encourages the growth of
it, and that country is truly blessed that
can find substitute for it for fuel and
other purposes.
We must confess that we did not know
to what extent this industry was spring
ing up, how much coal was even thrown
on the market, how many men it afford
cd employment for, and to what extent
it was coming into use, until upon invi-
tation of Messrs. Chestnut, Hoffman and
Pease, we paid visit to their coal mines
up Rocky Canyon. On our way there
We were continually meeting teams load
ed with coal and lumber. indeed so thick
are they that difficulties are encountered
in passing them through Rocky Canyon,
and on arriving at the mine we were
astonished, not alone at the amount of
work which had been done, but the
amount now being done, and the splen-
did shape the mine was now in for sup
pl ying the demand made upon it. Five
or six teams were there in waiting to be
loaded. Our first visit was to Tunnels
designated and 3. We found large
tunnels IL or Is feet in width, 6 feet in
height, situated in defile or canyon
between two mountains, well timbered
and penetrating in opposite directions,
the two mountains above mentioned
several hundred feet, and seven or eight
hundred feet below the crest, the quality
improving as you get farther in. The
end of the tunnel shows face of IL feet,
about feet of which, is what is termed
hard coal, that is such as is most valu-
able for fuel for domestic purposes, the
balance fine or soft coal, used for black
smithing and said to be better for steam
producing. There is yet another tunnel
known as number l, where work is pro-
crossing favorably. We met the super
Mr.. ]. Robertson, under
whose charge the mines are now being
worked and from him gathered some
facts as to the extent and capacity of the
mines. At present about fifteen men are
in the mine direct, and the
output of coal about forty tons per day,
which will be increased so as to meet
the demand. At present these facilities
are inadequate, but perhaps before this
article is even in print, this will be re-
NEEDED. While we were there teams
were in waiting to receive coal, and
although the output was as above stated,
it was not enough. It must be remem-
bered also that there is near there anoth-
ST -XxlSsl
be opened in the near future, 80 that so |
far a. extent is concerned there can be |
no fears. A comparative exhibit of the |
power of American Goals as |
tested by Gen. Meigs, and published in
the Engineering and Mining Journal
shows that one pound of'this coal evapo-
rates 607 hundreth pounds of water.
The best qualities of Pennsylvania coal
9.S5 hundreths pounds, while
! great many others fall far below the
standard as given cur coal, SO that it
will be seen that for this purpose the
'oal is above average, and that too upon
! quality of coal far inferior to that now
Produced. We not only congratulate
hese gentlemen in being possessors of
UGH property, but we have reason to be
thankful, as q community, that such
'aluable deposits are so near at hand to
70 made available for so many practical
purposes. Our resources are indeed
wonderful.