Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1884-07-26
SKAGIT COAE AND IRON
MIN Els.
Interesting Description ct this Iln-
nlensc Coal deposit.
From Laconner Ms.l.

From Laconner Ms!l,
sumo time ago san Francisco firm
sent an experienced coal cXprr, and min
ing engineer tc the Skagit river mines
owned by J. Conner TO examine ana
report upou them. These mines are To-
Gated in tract OF coal lands embracing
1920 acres. This gentleman made u most
Thorough Examination and exhaustive re-
port, which is quite too voIuminouS tor
publication at this time. The eng iCccr
found in all seven veins of excellent coal,
any one of which shows tinc quality
quite equal to any found on the Pacific
pronounced little, if any, inferior to the
celebrated Cumberland coal OF Maryland,
which now mouopolzes the trade on this
coasts for iron working purposes. We
give below table showing the width OF
the veins OF ali except the Conncr mine,
which, containing the finest quality OF
coal yet found on the Pacific SLOPE, is
worthy of more extended notice.
No 1, Lowest vein 5 feet
;, 2, Scott vein q,
;, 3, Crittenden vein
;, 4, Abbot yein ~
;, 5, Howell vein
), 6, Adams vcin Fl ~
The expert says OF the Coaner mine:
"rhc Conner vein, the highest in the
lit. rs we'll as in measure SO far as known
is five feet wide, separated into three
benches by two seams of rock from twelve
to tOHrteen inches in thickness. This
vein has a tunnel driven on i, 800 feet ,
and as shown in this tunnel the coal in-
creases aud the ro'k deer, ases as We pro-
grtss toward southeast. 1t is therefore
not unlikely the character OF this vein
will be most favorable rs work is contn-
ued in that direction: the floor and ioo
are excellent and require no tlmbcring,
aud the dividing rock in the vein is of
nature that is easily worked. This vein of
very excellent coal can be worked cheap
or than would be ut first thought An
analysis of this coal gives ~ per cent
Oi carbon, which, unless some unknown
constituent would prevent. would ineli-
cate it might lie used fer smelling direct,
but be that as it mny there is no doubt
of its adaptation for torges. Competent
mechanics pronounce it fully equal to the
Eastern Cumberland for general use and
for the purpose of steel working superior
to that very fine article. This coal low.
ing suppose to its superior eleva'ioM
underwent during the process OF upheaval
from its original horizontal position OF
deposit, a metamorphosis or change
whereby. owing to the heat caused by
that action, n portion of the volatile mat
ter was freed or partial drbitumeniza-
tion was effected, Had this process heen
sufficiently extended vein of anthracite
coal would have resulted, but AS it was
only partial. coal devoid of sn excess
of gas and retaining Its large percentage
of carbon was obtained. I x! carbon is
the heat-givng principle or element in
all coal, the larger the per cent the better
it fuli's its purposes, provided for uses
that fame Is required sufficient gas is
retained. In the instance of blacksmith
coal sufficient bitumln, with its COM
plement of gas to promote more rapid
combustion of the carbon, and sufficient
bitumen to form close surface, or as
a blacksmith would say "hollow fire"
are the requisites demanded. A coal
with excess of gas prevents "hollow
fire" and renders it impossible for the
workman to stand to his work as the heat
instead of being confined to the work
spreads with the extent OF fame. 1t will
therefore be apparent to you that AS this
coal has but small amount of gas, and
bitumen enough for the purpose mention.
ed, and as the plcntitude of carbon is
very evident from the work done here
with it, you have in this vein coal that