Butte semi-weekly miner., 1888-01-18
AT ROCKY FORK.

One Hundred and Thirty. six Feet Of Cles
| Coal-The Best Storage and Shipping
| Coal in America-Where Butte vii
Got Her Future Supplies Of Fuel.
The following is taken from Waite
Cooper's article on Montana coal, in tn,
Holiday MINER: "The coal fields O
Rocky Fork are situated at the base of the
Snowy Mountains, on Rocky Fork o
CIarke's Fork. about 45 miles south OF thu
Yellowstone River. The veins crop out or
the face of high bluff bordering on Rocl
Creek, and incline to the south II degrees
fifteen workable veins have been discovered
at this writing, from Ak to az feet in thick
ness. agyregating 1876 feet of clear coal
This coal is very firm, hard bituminous
requiring the use OF powder for mining. By
analysis this coal is found to contain but
4 per cent, ash, a bare trace of sulphur OF
other impurities. with less moisture than
any coal in the West. As storage and
shipping coal it has no equal in America.
Large quantities OF this excellent coal,
mined three years ago may be seen now
lying
ON THE DUMP
in the open air having suffered but slightly
from decomposition. The railroad compa-
ny is strongly in hopes Of being able to
furnish coal to the smelters of Butte by
the coming February. For quantity and
compactness this coal field has scarcely an
equal. An idea may be formed OF the i'm
~>f fsaIl ,pI, &c %Lok
the fifteen veins are covered by one and
one-fourth miles of bluff front. The ton
mage OF coal contained in one square mile
can scarcely be computed and would sup
ply every want OF Montana and parts OF
Territories accessible for the
next fifty years. It will supply the North
ern Pacific Railroad and the people tribu-
tary to the line as far east as Brainerd,
and west at least as far as Missoula. All
he great mining camps of the Territory
will draw their supplies of the better classes
Of coal from the coal field OF Rocky Fork"
Mr.. Cooper's statement as to the
EXCELLENT QUALITY
oi the Rocky Fork coal are borne out by
The reports of the United States Geological
survey, whose examinations, however,
we're made before there was sufficient de.
7elopment to enable them to get as good
'amples as can now be obtained. The
'eams run in under an abrupt range of
;he highest mountains in Montana, and
must be subjected to tremendous pressure
outh of the present workings. It is the
opinion of the Geological Survey that
,earer to the mountains the coal would be
ound at depth of about 800 feet, where
he coal measurers lie fiat, and the quality
must improve with the pressure. 1t is this |
normous supply of fuel that is bound to
'ecome an important factor in the de-
elopment of smelling industries in Butte, |
nd when there is direct rail connection
ia Pipestone Pass, it should be delivered |
ere at cost of not much over 81 a ton.
LOCAL MINING NOTES.
The recent strike on the 200 foot level of |
be Hope mine gives every indication of
ermanency.
Since the change in the management,
,any improvements have been made in
ne Lexington mine and mill.
Robinson & Co., are making regular
,ipInents from the Bonanza. the first
ass to the Butte Sampling works and
'e second class to the Lexington mill, for
duction.
The oscillating screens at the Silver Bow
i'll continue to double the work, ane are
perfect success in every respect. They
e set at an angle, and their motion up
i'd down frees the pulp ffom the base OF
II stamp, giving more surface Dorn on the
ce OF the screen to discharge. avoiding
thering and packing, and allowing full
scharge of the whole screen.
The Granite mine, in the ! eur d'Alenes.
shipping a carload of orr daily to San
.ancis' o for reduction. II it takes the
rail route via Portland it has to travel
'er ] 900 miles, paying high freight rates
'er the mountain ranges south of the
illamn. ,tte. In a short time the ore can
brought to Butte on haul OF less than
10 miles over easy gra1es, and as lower
AIDES of ores can be handled, there will be
ain loads of it where there are now car
ads.