Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-03-06
MOUNTAINS OF COAL.
Natures Provision for the Comfort Of Dwell
Iers In This Land of Few Forests.


Natures Provision for the Comfort Of Dwell
Iers in This Land of Few Forests.
The fuel supply Of eastern Montana
Is apparently inexhaustible and with
out doubt underlies the whole region
which shall hereafter refer to. And
both on account Of its superior quality
and its accessibility it constitutes q
mine of wealth. perhaps not second TO
the gold and silver mines Of the ives.
tern portion OF the territory.
Referring more particularly Ito the
sunple continguous TO Miles City
will briefly outline what has come I'm.
der my perst nal observation through
my residence in this valley since 1875.
Leaving Miles City and going north
We first find coal cropping out from
bluff banks Of the Yellowstone about
one mile from town. Here one can
trace about five distinct veins or stratas
of coal from the outcroppings vary
ing in thickness from two 10 four feet.
Only one of these is at present being
operated.
Leaving the river and proceeding
north some two or three miles We tind
something better in thewsy ofa ten foot
strata and much better quality. As
we continue 20 leave the valley going
north the coal deposits continue grow
larger and quality better. This fact is
apparent the entire length Of the val
ley. That lying adjacent 10 the river
the veins are all small aud broken and
quality Inferior. Commencing again
at Miles City and going east about one
and oue-hslf miles we again strike the
hills aud find . three foot vein from
which the principal supply Of Miles
City and Fort Keogh is now furnished
at prices ranging from Two dollsrr
aud fifteen cents To three dollars yer
ton. Tnis coal makes very hot,
quick fire and is quite satisfactory for
furnaces aud stationary boilers. Hay-
ing such immense quantities and be-
ing SO cheap people hardly appreciate
it as they would under other condi-
tions. Upon the south side Of Tongue
river as We coltinue east and south
numerous deposits are fond until
about seven miles gives us arother
vein Of about ten feet, showing In
radius of about six miles something
like ten different coal strstas all IN
slgIt as nature has left them; how
many more remain in this area unds-
veloped, is ss IN tier OF conjecture
One would naturally conclude from
this outlook that we we're bountlfully
supplied with fuel for many moons to
come. No doubt all will concede this,
but still il Is not a starter. Passing
ovor some. Fifteen and twenty foot stra-
tas in the vicinity Of Pumpkin creek
tabont twelve miles from our city, as
unworthy of notice and going south
some fifty miles is where We strike the
bonanza, a veritable mountain Of coal,
which will utilize every inch ofs for
ty foot tape line. II can be traced for
miles running south into Wyoming
territory aud east towards the Black
Hills. II Is hard to estimate the extent
OF this body Of coal but 1 think |
can safely say that I have seen evil
dences Of this mammoth deposit at
least one hundred miles south from
the starting point, In many places
this body OF coal Ia exposed by land.
slides and washouts aud Is on fire al
two points 10 my own knowledge.
one place south In Wyoming aud = ls
near Tongue river In Montana. Cattle
aud game congregatsa at these hrss dur