New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-25

rarest straightness and of the greatest power.
These. shipped under the common name of Oregon
pine, are sent into every part of the habitabie
world. They furnish masts to the shipbuilders OF
England, of France of Northern Africa and even OF
Spanish and Southern America. They are shipped
In great numbers TO Chill, and hundreds are sent
every year straight across the Pacific into the
lands of the Orient. The substructurc OF this
country is coal formation, which in many places
has been probably worked. And the coal mines
oil West Washington to-day afford a large part OF
the peoples revenues. They spread over consider
able territory, within which from fifteen to twenty
workable mines have been found. Some OF them
are fine and hard, with sufficient surplus OF car
bon TO entitle them to be called anthracite. Some
of them are fair btuminous Goals, while others
must be classed, for want of better term as lig-
mite. few of them will coke admirably. Inc
value of this discovery is not easily appreciated
unless one lives in mining country, where the
great smelters eat up coal and coke at so feariui
rate. The heaviest expense OF q smelter Is Tor
COKE and when coal is found that can be con-
verted into good fair coke it is as much prized
as new gold mine. The depth of the coal seams
into the earth is known in many cases TO be as
much $4,000 feet, and as there are no less than
eight large coal groups, or coal fields in Washing
extent of their fuel supply. Large bodies of iron
ore one of them possessing magnetic quahty, are
found in the Cascade Mountains and several of then
are already being worked at an elaborate profit.
That large bodies of iron suitable TO the manu-
facture of steel are in existence in the Cascade
Mountains and require merely test of the pro-
cesses by which the ore can be saved with little
waste of talings, is an undoubted and a very COM
forting fact. 1t is not thought that any consid-
cradle quantity of the more precious metals lie
in paying quantities in the Cascades but con-
nual and unfailing foTtne is assured to the State
by the discoveries already made of iron and coal
Washington is rich in natural resources, is
fortunate in climate, and is particularly fortunate
in situation. This American Mediterranean on
which Seattle and Tacoma stand Of itself offers
| advantages of commerce too great and far-relch-
ing TO be estimated yet. Seattle was the first of
the Puget Sound cities to appreciate what might
be accomplished in foreign commerce. and she still
holds commanding position in the great struggle
after Oriental wealth. The disaster she mt with
a few months ago, while it dealt cruel blow to
her people, has not been felt as any great obstacle
TO their progress Rapidly the city is being built
anew. No appreolabe fraction of her population
has been lost. Money has been plentifully sup
piled from New-York and other Eastern cities
with which TO rebuild the town. and it will rise
within another year to a commercial social a
political and a municipal eminence that it has
never held before. But for the fire. some people
say, the census Of 1890 would have shown 81, 900
inhabitants in the city limits of Seattle 1t will
probably not show less than that anyhow, and at
the rate of growth possible to town containing so
much energy and self-conldence and surrounded
by so many natural opportunities Seattle will
prove herself before the present generation has
passed away to be a second San Francisco
l.. l.. q.