Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-06-12
SAND COULEE.
The lnexhaustable Coal Field Which
Alone Would Insure for this Por-
ton Of the Territory a Great
and Glorious Future.

Inc following from tho Independ-
ent interests the people of Sun
River quite as much as any other
place in the territory, owing TO its
proximity to this vast coal field:
''There is no subject more interest
ing to the people Of Helena and vicin-
ity, and none that lays 80 close to the
prosperity of our town, us
CHEAP fUEL.
Wood, never abundant through
this region, has oven for the purpose
Of fuel-become very scarce. high
priced and Of poor quality. Tho past
winter has demonstrated the fact that
we must look elsewhere for our fuel.
Coal alone seems to offer relief, and
that, il imported, is very expensive.
For years our citizens and thinking
business men hnvs felt that
THE DISCOVERY OF COAL
in large quantities convenient to Hell
ena would prove n greater advantage
to the town and Territory than any
other mineral wealth. There have
been from time to time, discoveries
made, tending to prove the existence
of coal; but as yet no practical re-
lief to Helena has been obtained.
True, Bozeman and Livingston boast
Of coal fields, and each predict future
greatness thereon. Bull Mountain,
too, has been long talked Of. Judging
from that shipped to us for general
consumption, We conclude these east
ern Montana coal field must be cx-
pensive to work, or the coal very diff
ficult to transport, for it is high pric-
ed when it reaches Helena.
Coal mining, in order to show the
best results, must combine several
conditions; among others, good quail
ity, accessibility to market, easy pro-
duction (Which includes large veins
well rooted, readily drained, and
cheaply delivered to means of trans
portation), and just in proportion as
these condition are obtained does coal
become profitable. The mines of
SAND coULEE AND DEEP CREEK
seem to combine in Il large degree the
necessary requirements, although
they cannot be considered in active
operation, and until lately but little
was known Of them. Although Sun
River and Benton has been using
coal from mincs Of this district, still
it was not knon that they all belonged
to one vast deposit rs is now quite
fully shown. About year ago Max
Waterman and others, Of TT. Benton
and Messrs. Edgerton and Bullard Of
Helena, located and obtained gov
crnment patent for 100 acres of coal
land on Smith river-or Deep creek.
The Benton parties formed n COM
pany and have during the past winter
mined and sold coal ut Benton with
excellent results.
THE LATE TRIP DOWN THE MISSOURI
by Col. Dodge and party, consisting
Of Messrs. Wilson, Edgcrton and
Jockey. in Commodore Whcelers
upper Missouri boat has done much
to throw light on the subject Of these
mines. After trip to the mines
on a lumber wagon from the mouth
Of Sun river through rain storm,
they returned enthusiastic over the
coal deposits and most pleasantly sur
prised ut what they had seen.
The cntcrprising inhabitants OF that
region, in distance Of few miles
had made about fifty openings in The
side of the bluffs, showing deposit
or blanket vein Of from
TWELVE TO TWENTY FEET IL THICKNESS
and covering at least 5000 acres ol
coal land, slightly inclined to the
north, but not more than enough te
furnish good drainage. The vein wa
we'll rooted with stone, and tho con
can be run out OF the tunnels and
dumped into the cars for Transports
ton without hosting, MS the bottom
Of the vein is at least fifty feet above
the bottom Of the Coulec.
Col. Dodge and party found suffi-
cient to satisfy them that
THE DEPOSIT IS CONTINUOUS
and extends from Deep creek on the
southeast, to the north and west 4
distance of from twenty five to thirty
miles, passing with eight miles OF less
of the mouth of Sun river and vary
ing in width from five to ten miles
The coal is quite free from slate ever
at the surface, burns freely with &
bright blaze, breaks in cubes and
squares, is of Il highly bituminous
nature, and furnishes good specimens
of coke made on the ground
THE SIGNIFICANCE or THESE FACTS
can hardly be oycrestimatcd. They
should furnish the concluding and
conclusive argument in favor of the