The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-04

diner river on the borders of the Nation |
al Park, quite extensive veins of good
coal crop to the surface Of the ground |
and are visible on the bluffs and cut
banks along the Yellowstone river.
Lower down near.
CINNABAR,
several persons have located lands. The
claims of the Horn brothers, however,
show the most development. The coal is
a good quality of bituminous. and will
make excellent coke, several hundred
tons having been mined and shipped to
Wickes and other points and through
tests made These mines are not pro-
ducing any fixed output for the want OF
a railroad rate sufficiently low to warrant
shipment. The analysis of this coal
ranks with the best cooking Goals of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia The
strike extends westward and has the APP
pearance of being extensive.
THE TRAIL CREEK
coal beds begin about twelve miles from
the Park Branch railroad and are situated
on Trail Creek, a small branch of the
Yellowstone river The veins in this
vicinity are large and the coal good fine
Ignite, having great heating qualities. 1t
is also hard and does not slack when tx
posed to the weather. Ii will stand
transportation long distances with but
little loss. 1t is a free burning. fanny
COAL suitable for smelling, roasting,
steam, and domestic purposes. The
veins are from four to twelve feet in
thickness and comparatively clean. Much
enterprise and energy has been display
ed by the mine owners in this vicinity,
and quite extensive developments made
The mines are situated some seven miles
from the nearest side track on the North.
ern Pacific road, and the coal has to be
hauled in wagons to the railroad, which
expense added to a very high railroad
rate renders it very difficult to place this
coal on the market at a price sufficiently
low to admit of its coming into general
use, still with all these difficulties the
Trail Creek Coal finds its way to the
markets of Livingston, Bozeman and
Helena and is giving general satisfaction.
The veins in some localities pitch to the
north about 20 degrees, and in others are
neatly fat The field seems to be eX-
tensive, extending westward several
miles. 1t is thought by many that these
seams have no relationship, and do not
belong to the,great Bozeman, Bridger and
Timberline fields, notwithstanding they
are in close proximity and run in about
the same direction. The coal ofthe Boze-
man fields however, is entirely different
in character, it being bituminous, and
all coking coal These fields are very
extensive, being some thirty-six miles in
leagth. commencing about FIVE miles
west of Livingston, where several loca-
tions have been made and quite extern
sively developed, the coal at this point
being very rich in gas and making very
strong coke.
The strike extends westward to a
point three miles east fBozeman, thence
70 the RQEthgaEdy Up Bridge GGfsk h t srs
surface at frequent intervals in its course.
In most places there are four veins from
three and one-half feet to twelve feet in
thickness. The Northern Pacific rail-
road track crosses the strike at or near
Mountain Side station. One and half
miles west of this point, and very neal
the Northern Pacific track, is situated
the.
CHESTNUT MINE,
the first coal mine opened IN Gallatin
county. This property has been ex-
tensively developed, and at one time was
a producer to the amount of 300 tons per
day, the output of which was sold to
the Northern Pacific railroad company.
The mine is now owned by the Union
Pacific railroad company, and is not
being worked.
One mile east of Mountain Side station
is situated.
THE MAxEY MINE,
also owned bv the Uuion Pacific railroad
company. 1t has extensive develop
ments and if worked would be large
producer. These two mines are consider
ed very valuable properties, capable of
producing large quantities of good coke.
ing coal. Two and one-half miles fur
Their east brings us to the.
TIMBERLINE MINES,
some of which are owned and operated
by the Northern Pacific coal company,
the output being used mostly by the
Northern Pacific railroad for steam pur-
poses.
TIE N. p. COAL COMPANY
is mining and shipping about 300 tons
per day, which is about 200 tons less
than the usual output at Timberline.
Messrs. Queley & Hofmans mine is not
in operation, having been closed down
because of the expiration of their con-
tract with the Northern Pacific railroad
Work has, however, been
on this property, and it will |
soon be producing 100 tons per day. The
of this mine with present tun-
nes and openings is 300 tons per dav.
There is in addition to the above pro-
badly an output of some 80 tons per day
taken from the Trail Creek, Hodson
Brothers and other mines. The coal is
usually mined by the ton, the mines re-
ceiying $l.30 per ton for mining, cleaning
and loading it into the mine car. The
car is then drawn from the mine by a
mule in charge of driver. An indus
trous miner is said to be able to mine
from three to four tons of coal per day.