Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-06-07
COAL IN PULLMAN
A COAL MINE UNDER THE TOWN
Our CITIZENS ARE EXCITED OVER THE DIS
CovERY OF A LARGE VEIN OF COAL.
WILL SINK A SHAFT.

CovERY OF A LARGE VEIN OF COAL.
WILL SINK A SHAFT.
Several times in the last few years
experienced miners have stated their be-
lief that there was coal in the hills sur
rounding Pullman, as indicated by
groupings found in the railroad cut.
This belief was corroborated last
Wednesday when the drill in Elias
Johnson's well struck a wen of coal, as
was shown by the pieces thrown up by
the water which was flowing at the time
There is no positive information as to
the thickness of the vein, but it is be-
lieved that it is several feet thick. From
the time the vein was first struck until
the drill had gone seven feet deeper the
water was thick and black and the sed-
iment when dried, ignited by holding
match to it. The small pieces thrown
up varying in size from a pea to small
hens egg were loosened from
the sides by the action of the drill. The
fact that there is a bed of coal lying
underneath us is too good news to be
believed by some. who assert that the
report was a hoax. The following afi-
davit is sufficient to dispeu any such
idea:
STATE OF WASHINGTON, co
County of Whitman. "
John j. Shupe, being duly sworn, on
oath deposes and says that he drilled
the well on Elias Johnson's lot on Grand
street, in Pullman, Washington. That
That at a depth of about 11S feet the
drill struck vein of coal, having pene-
trated just previous thereto several feet
of slate rock. The water was flowing
before and at the time the coal was
struck Eand small pieces Of coal we're
thrown up by the water. As to the
thickness of the vein of coal afliant can
not state positively, but says that pieces
of coal continued to come up until the
drill went about seven feet below the
point where the coal was first struck,
and that during the time the drill was
going through said seven feet the water
was black. JOHN j. SHUPE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 9th day Of June, 1890. SEAL
E. W. DowNEN, Notary Public.
The evidence of coal is sufficient to
justify the exdenditure of few hundred
dollars on test by diamond drill. As
Mr.. johnson intends boring anoth,t
well adjacent to this one, it might be a
good idea to get diamond drill when
this vein is reached so that its thickness
can be determined to within a few
inches.
The discovery of coal will have an
important commercial effect on Pull
mans future, and the effect on real es-
tate is already felt.
The Spokane Spokesman in speaking
of the coal discovery here said the
following editorially last Thursday:
pullman, the town, not of the Illinois
sleeping car magnate, is elated. A vein
of coal eight feet in thickness has been
struck at depth of 112 feet. A few
days ago it was a gushing artesian well
that set the enthusiasm of the people on
tap, and it was while they were develop
ing that find that the coal was dis
covered.
There is a great deal to interest us in
the information here contained, great
deal for Pullman, for Colfax, for Moscow,
for Spokane, and for all the railroad
towns in Eastern Washington and part
of Idaho. Coal is an article Of consump-
ton that has done much for cities in the
East. There is little doubt but it will
do much for the interesting little town
of Pullman. There is big country to
be fed, and the output from mines oper-
ated at that point would be large. Coal
means freight haulings, and it is the
latter that compels the railroads to
grade mountains and seek share of the
business.
The size of the vein Is encouraging.
It means that supply equal to the de
mand of this growing state is at hand;
that this wonderfully fertile region, this
country of gold and silver and lead, Of
silica, of clay, aud of every other known
resourse, has underlying it to the south
| as well as to the west, vast coal fields
which will add to our wealth and our
record as the greatest state in the
union.''
***
.Verily Pullman, Wash, is lucky
town. A few months ago gushing ar
tesian well was struck, and the people
put up the prices of town lots a point.
Then another and another was sunk, and
each one seemed to vie with the other III
the quantity of its flow. The people
drank pure water for awhile, but they
could not drink it all, now, just as they
begin to ponder over what they viii do
with all this water they find coal. Coal
means heat, and heat applied to water
means steam, and steam means industry,
and industry means success. By the
way, the exposition managers should