Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-01

plash the shore,
These treasured joys will follow us till
death,
And cheer us as We gain the peaceful
eyermore.
Lou E. BEACH.
SEATTLE, January l, 1884.
TINE COAL LANDS OF WKsTERN
WASHINGTON.
Tacoma Ledger.
1t ia safe to say, indeed it is quite Ger
tain, that the stockholders of the North
ern Pacific Railroad are almost entirely
ignorant of the extent and value Of the
coal lands embraced within the grant to
that company and lying on the western
slope of the Cascade range. The area
referred to, bounded by the lateral limits
Of the grant on the north and south
respectively, and extending from the
top of the Cascade range to Puget
Sound, is rich in GOAL, timber and iron
ore. Nowhere else in the world can be
found an area not greater IN extent than
this, which contains 50 much wealth Of
either coal or timber as does that por-
ton Of the Northern Pacific grant which
lies in Western Washington. II We sur
vey the entire line from Lake Superior
to Puget Sound We shalt not and any
portion of equal length to that west of
the Cascades, the grant of lands apper-
tanning to which has value of even 50
much as one-fourth that which may
and certainly will when the fact shall
have become known-be attached to the
coal lands In question. Putting the
matter in a different form We may say,
and speak within bounds, that the grant
attaching to the last one hundred miles.
going west, of the Northern Pacific road
is moro valuable than that which apper-
tains to length Of four hundred miles
taken anywhere else on the line.
The westerly outcrop of tho upper
o1etaoeOus coal measures, containing
tho bitaminous Goals Of Carbon Hill,
Wiikeson. Green and Cedar Rivers to
the north, and on the south fork Of the
Puyallup River a. far ~ the Nutshell
Creek and upper Nesqually River. is
about along the Governments survey,
north and south line, between ranges
and s east, and very nearly parallel
With the Cascade mountain range.
This appears in the discoveries near the
range line at the points indicated. Il
is therefore seen that these discoveries
extend from the Nesqually River on the
south to the Skagit on the north, q dis
tanoe of more than 100 miles in length
by from IL to Is miles in width. Here
then il a coal field having an area Of
about 1900 square miles. Il contains
coal in immense deposits, in numerous
veins. Ranoing from to 20 feet thick.
Untold millions Of tens of it lie above
the water levels, and is easily and
cheaply mined. The greater part of il
is marketable, and unsurpassed in the
bituminous class for steam and manu-
featuring purposes. These are not re-
suits stated meEelyfrom assays and other
experimental tests, but from actual and
long continued use BY consumers in
largo quantities. Moreover, these meas
ures contain all tho varieties Of bitumin-
ous Goals. There are veins which are
adapted in q signal degree for the forge,
exceeding In all qualities of merit the
far-famed Cumberland coal which is
shipped around the Horn to San Fran
CISCO. There are also veins in which
tho volatile elements predominate. the
Ooals from which find ready demand for
the manufacture Of gas. From others
Of these veins may be produced an ar
ticle of coke equal to the best English,
and hence good for the manufacture of
iron, ore of which is found in abund-
anee in this vicinity.
We speak advisedly, from we'll au-
thenticated information, on the psint
of tho extent and character of these
coal veins and the quality of the coke
produced from them. The develop
ments, through elaborate and costly
prospecting done by the Northern Pa
ci6c Railroad Company during the last
two seasons, are such as to justify as in
making the above statements in regard
to what has been found. The explOra-
lions 40 made have perhaps been the
most comprehensive, aud, considering
the great area covered by them, the
most complete of all the explorations
for coal ever Eaade ia this country. The
diamond drill was freely used and the
resulting cores we're boxed and care
fully labelled and forwarded to Mr..
Willard for assay, or rather to Professor
Pumpelly. of Rhode Island, who Ia tho
geoloeiet and asaayer employed by him
for the Oregon Improvem. mt Company,
the object being, Of course, to enable
him to demonstrate the quantity,
quality and value Of the veins, and
where she most valuable deposits exist
and are more easily accessible, in order
that it might be clearly ascegtained
what coal lands within the limits de-
scribed would be safe and profitable for
investment.
In making his reports, Mr.. Bailey
Willis, who vac in charge, had the hem
eat net only Of the information by hia
own parties in the field, bat also that Of
an tho prospecting which was done By
other parties In the bituminous coal
nsld Of Pierce and King counties, previ-
Gus to and during the explorations made
by him. So that Professor Pumpslly
and Nr. Willard arc fortunately in pos
session of much reliable information in
reference 70 the coai fields near Wilke-
con, in which tho diamond drill VA
used, that has mot 90 far appeared in
any Of the published reports. From the
large outofoppinRs Of various veins
where ths diamond drill Was used, it is
abselntely csrtain that the drill cores
oout to the Professor must have fairly
sampled some Of the largest and rich.
| est bituminous yeins in that field.
But this ia mot al. Between the ont.
croppinQs which indicate the western
boundary Of The bituminous fields and
the eastern shore Of Puget Sound, liel
ths great hauite 6sld.shs loser liRnites,
snch . tho Newcastle. in King county
on The nogth. and the Hanaf0ed creel
moAOuroB, III milee east Of tie Pacific
kdivision h. F. B. b, IN ThaFuton coun'
q. On thu s0uth. This b kind Of fuel
which, though non-ookinQ, il good fol
domestic and steam paEpoees; and the
mines Of Ignite will alvsys be valuable
on this coast when they are % oondi
toned that the fusl can b eheaply pro-
dused from than, and oheaply deliver
cd in market
We have an apProximsts idea Of the
extent Of these coal zelda Prof. PUN
pealy h doubtless good Authority o.
thsif valus. Il p pegtinept 70 refer 4
90 transaction Of resent ooouTrenco
III. Charles Csoeksf and his associates
Iof The Central Pacific Railroad Compa
Inv purchased about two yeaSs ago q
III. r. D. Caandlee the coal mine q
Chxbouado, sttoa4sd In the eArbonifes
Ioas nsl6 q the Northern PAciA0, q
rnahee, thsy bo1Rht the Stock of u
| OAsboo Hi0 Coal Company, q whtel
| II. Ohan6l@ - ~ peinaipal ovnea
| n kn1b osmvoyoo eompsissd ssstis1
IA = ssusshlp n ard q g tUuueAi