Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-21


Afsv days ago a Pos1-IxzsIxzosscx1
reporter took . trip out to the coal
mines at Newcastle, the principal coal
mining camp in Washington Territory.
Boarding the two O'Clock train, he found
the coach filled With passengers, and
therefore took q position on The plat
form outside, from which he was afford
ed an opportunity to note the railroad
Developments making along the line.
Passing up along the beach, south OF
this city. large force Of Cinnamon and
a small force Of white men. were noticed
working on the Seattle extension Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, which, with
the exception Of laying few miles OF
iron, is now about completed. The
work on this line is Of the very strong
est, and when properly ballasted, the
Puget Soun0 Shore Line road will be
one of the best pieces Of road on the
coast, 20 experienced railroad men
state. After leaving the head Of the
bay, this line follows the Columbia and
Puget Sound road generally, though
being much straighter and crossing the
latter line many times. The new line is
also raised several feet above the grade
of the old road.
On reaching Black River bridge We
passed train of standard-gaRe cars,
marked an. p. X. r., Western Di-
vision,' loaded with rails and iron for
that and the Green River division OF
the Cascade branch, which will connect
with the Shore Line road Just this side
of the Black River bridge. At Renton
our reporter found everything activity.
New buildings, and large ones too, we're
TO be seen on every hand. Near the rail
road track were number OF long
sheds, under which workmen we're en-
gagged in framing Howe truss bridges
for the Green River road, which Is
being pnshed ahead with great rapidly.
In order 70 facilitate the work a tempo
rary Larrow-RaRe track has been laid
for several miles, and one Of the Q. d
r. 8. Co.'S locomotives is constantly
used in carrying materials and sup
plies to the front. II il expected to
have the first twenty-mile section OF
this road completed by the LIST day of
May next. A party of surveyors are
now at work locating standard gage
line of road from Newcastle down to
Cedar River to connect with the Green
River road, and il will not be surprising
II during the coming summer the old
uarrow-Raee line, which has done 80
much good service for its owners, will
be abandoned altogether. and its place
be taken by q standard gage line. over
nov route. The new line is intended
to avoid the high tressles between Rem
ton and Newcastle, and 1t is also ex-
| pected that q much easier grade than
the present can b. found.
Asthe train reached Newcastle, the
| first thing that attracted the reporters
attention, was the arrival in camp OF a
large train Of pack horses and mules
| On BEING asked where they we're from
| resident Of the place replied: THAT il
the pack train engaged in carrying sup
plies to the men who are opening and
| developing coal mines in the Green riveI
country. Those animals make triI
every week. It takes three days t.
make the round trip, and the balancs
| Of the time they rest up and recuperate.'
Later in the evening the reporter met
/ MT W0sAbnot ooR0A sASvCAAeOsss Va sAAs
mines, who is courteous gentleman Al
we'll as an experienced miner. HI
stated that everything was running
smoothly at Newcastle, and that tn
mine was now prepared to turn out 1OO(
tons per day, II necessary. The men arr
divided up into shifts. a portion worl
in day time and . portion in the night
The main bulk Of the coal comes from
the $50 foot level, up the slope, which Il
at Coal creek, one and a-half miles dis
taut from Newcastle. The sawmill hai
been moved to this latter place, and il
now run by Thomas Smart. A black
smith shop and carpenter shop are herr
being built. and 1t IL moro than likely ,
healthy little camp will spring up OF
Coal creek. A big revolving steam faI
has been built, TO force pure air into tn,
mine. and works to charm. 1t doe
away with the furnace in vogue TO
many years. At Newcastle proper Their,
are more ps0ple than ever before. an(
il il not uncommon to see two living il
one small house, 10 great is the pressur,
for room. However, several new houses
have recently been built, including /,
new cook house, and others are in con
temptation. The increase Of population
brings with u an increase OF business
for the Company's store, and an inoreas'
Of work for the employees thereof.
]. N. E. Atkinson is store keeper, ant
has a general supervision over that ant
several other branches Of the company
business. Messrs. Partridge and Ha,
are the book keepers and now occupy ,
comfortable little Office adjoining tn
store, recently built for them, and il
carrying out the details OF their worl
frequently burn the midnight oil. Their,
are three clerks in the store, Messrs
Padden and the Calhoun brothers, Wit
are kept busy waiting ON their numer
Gus customers.
A very neat little Catholic church ha
recently BEEN built there. under the di
rection Of Father Clusters, whs will holt
services there from time to time. Tn,
district school at that place II orowdes
with little ones, though there are, man.
children who do not attend school.
On the whole, Newcastle seems to b
In prosperous condition, and its resi-
dents are o0rrespondingly happy.