Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-24
THE BENNETT COAL MINES
Rocky Ride From Sedro to
the Great Coal
Vein
The Fairhaven & Southern
Branch Being Cleared
and Graded
Work of Development Going
Steadily Forward With
Good Results

The road from Sedro to the Bennett
coal mines is anything but smooth.
Messrs. Cowgirl, Donovan and Thompson
had evidently ridden over 1t and were
fully satisfied with their experience, as
they preferred to walk rather than ride
In the farm wagon, the only conveyance
which could he found in Sedro. Editor
Sniter of the Hamilton Herald Joined the
party here and pointed out the various
improvements going on in the city. The
road to the mines crosses the Fairhaven
Il southern some little distance above
the city and then makes a short cut into
the woods. The road was rough enough
as il was, and the driver seemed 10 take
especial delight in running over every
stump and into every rut and chuck-hole,
but the party thoroughly enjoyed the
trip.
About four miles from Scdro the road
crosses the Seattle a Northern track and
about half mile further ON the main line
of the Great Northern. The grading al
| this point for the Great Northern road is
/ finished and ready To receive the track
| The tedious ascent OF the hill is COM
menced shortly after crossing the road
and little before noon the party arrived
! at the mines. " here they We're received 10y
Supt. kummsNy and Engineer Wise, who
has charge Of the building OF the branch
| of the FairhaVen n southern leading 10
| the mine. A large number of men are at
work clearing the right of way and pre-
pairing for the grade of the coal branch
aud everything possible Is being done to
have the road completed IN time to de-
liver coal at Fairhaven by November lst.
ILL.,
party into his Office. large log building
which is arranged as comfortably and
conveniently as possible. After resting
for few moments dinner was announced
and the party repaired to the dining
room where a splendid repast was served
to which the party did full justice.
Everything about the place wa. as neat
ana clean as could be imagined aud the
absence of the annoying fly was especi-
ally remarked. After dinner the mems
sleeping quarters were visited. This
building like all the others is built of
logs and Is large aud cOmmodious. One
thing that strikes the visitor is the neat
ness and cleanliness which Is everywhere
| visible and Superintendent kummiSky
was highly complimented for the perfect
order in which everything was found.
After visiting the various places Of in
terest about the mines the business of
the day commenced and the entire party
ascended the hill to the shaft which i
being sunk about 80 feet above the tun-
mel. The shaft Is being SUNK for the pur
pose of giving better sventilation and air
10 the main tunnel. When the party ar
rived at the shaft the men were engaged
in hoisting water which had flowed In
during the dinner hour. Superintendent
| Kummiskv gave each gentleman present
a candle and ordered work 10 suspend
while the Inspection was taking place.
/ The shaft is at present about l25 feet
U Il. HarnI nNai hos In oh
times that distance before striking the
| tunnel.
Climbing down a shaft on ladder, whose
ruug> and sides were slippery aud wet
was a novelty 10 several Of the gentle
men present and they clung to the ladders
with u tenacity that could not be- shahcu
bose. Al the siNty-foot level a drift ha.
been run into the vein. Here the party
halted and under the guidance of Supi.
kummiskey were shown the largest
known vein Of coal In the world.
The drift is about scVcuty-tiVe tegt in
length and its face j. one great mass Of
coal. trOSs-cuts have been run from
each side Oi the drift. leaving the vein Of
coal exposed and showing itS width to be
thirty four feet The party standing Ia
the face of the drift, their burning can
dies making the bright shining mineral
shine and sparkle like black diamonds.
presented weird spectacle and each one
took PICK and dug out some specimens
of the coal to take home with him.
The coal is bright and wonderfully
hard. when the fact j. taken into cOnsid-
GRAFTON that IL is taken out at only about
sixty feet below the surface of the earth. !
IL is pronounced by experts to be as good
IL not better than that found In Pennsyl- !
vania at the same depth. Supt. kummis-
Ky states that 1t makes splendid coke and
exhibited some specimens with which he
had been experimenting.
Above this shaft Is another one In
which another vein of coal about twelve
feet wide was discovered. The veins are
separate and distinct, the upper contain
ing coal Of an Inferior quality, but the
quality will no doubt become better az
depth is reached One theory is advanced
that after reaching certain depth the
veins viii unite and forming one immense |
body of coal. while others maintain that
they viii remain as they are, separate /
and distinct. Work I'm the upper shaft II /
abandoned at present but will be resumed 4
as soon as every thing Is In shape and the |
work now being carried ON Is completed /
The next place visited was the big tun- |
mel. in which the company i, pushing I
work with the same VigOr which charac-
teriLps all OF its movements. The tunnel /
Is eight feet wide at the bottom, seven al /
the top and six feet high. II l. heavily 4
timbcred all along. and presents the APP I
pcarancc Of solidity and permancncy
The tunnel is about 85 feet below the air .
SldIi ana i III lefl deep. anu " ufthH j
driven at the rate Of seven feet per day, /
which. considering it, size and the char /
acter Of The ground. T. wonderfully good I
work Three shifts Of miners OF eight F.
hours each is constantly employed. aud T.
nothing q, being left undonc which can In
any way facilitate the work. The air IN
the tunnel is pure and So far little trouble
has been experienced from imperfect ven
tilation.
Coming ont OF the tunnel. the party
were taken 10 the blacksmith shop. where
they were shown how good the coal is for
blacksmil hing purposes. In reply 10 In
quiries. The cumpany's blacksmith stated
F that the ouly coal he used was from the
mine, and that he found 10 10 be- superior