Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1890-01-01
SAND COULEE.
RAPID GROWTH OF THE TOWN AND
MINING INTERESTS.
and Cou1es Coa Is Now Consumed In
Dwellings, Factories and Smelters-.
Locomotives Burn lt-Business
Aspects of the Town.
New Dwellings.

The "Sand Coulee coal fields" has been
q general term used to designate the coal
region extending along the northern base
Of the Belt mountains for more than go
miles; but since mines have been opened
at various points la this region, the name
may now be properly restricted to that
country lying between Box Elder creek
and Smith river, and extending far up
toward the mountains.
The principal mines are operated by
the Sand Coulee Coal company at a point
about 10 miles south of Great Falls. To
this place the Manitoba railway COM
pany has extended a branch line, and,
the enterprise and business of the com
pany have built up the growing town of
Sand Coulee, which bids fair to become
one OF the important tributaries to Great
Falls.
Nature seems to have specially favored
this country in locating the coal beds so
that they are easily accessible. About
half way up the steep sides of the coulee
the coal crops out in veins Of from six to
fourteen feet, and could not have been
moreconveniently located If man had done
the planning for his own accommodation.
The vein has a regular thickness of
from six IT, nine feet between the shale,
although in some places the vein has been
found to be twenty-five feet thick. The
veins produce an excellent quality Of
steam coal which forms a good field for
the railroads and smelters; and a part of
the seams is found to be good coking
coal which has been submitted to practi-
cal tests and found to be all that is re-
CURED in a coking coal.
RAPID
In 1883 the Sand Coulee Coal company
was incorporated under the laws of
Minnesota with a capital of $25O,0O0.
J.. j. Hill Is the president, and A. H.
Bode was the first secretary. Mr.. E.
Anderson, managed the affairs of the
company until August 1sS9-when he re-
signed and Mr.. II. Burrill succeeded to
the control of the mining operations. The
company owns about 5000 acres of coal
lands.
The company commenced operations
in July, 1888, and in the short space of
eighteen months have made wonderful
progress. Mining is here carried on
after the most approved principles and
the latest improved machinery is salts
factorily used.
The excellent management is shown in
| the o output of the mines. In
January. 1889, the mines were producing
| 800 tons per day while in January, 1890,
the. daily product is 1900 tons and before
February, this will be increased to 1900
tons daily. Sixteen entries are now be-
ing driven at the rate of six feet each per
day; and yet only 50per cent. of the work
is expended on the daily product, the re-
mainder Of the work being employed on
opening up entries for future product.
COAL IN DEMAND.
The quality of the coal has constantly
improved with the depth, until now it is
almost entirely supplanting the produce
of other mines in the chief industries Of
Montana. The Manitoba aud Montana
Central use this coal exclusively; so also
does the Montana Smelling company a
Great Falls. The company supplies 25t
tons daily for the Anaconda smelter a
Anaconda, and $50 tons to the Boston &
Montana smelter at Butte. The coal i
used exclusively by the following com
panies: Drum Lummon mine at Marys
Vile; at Butte, the Lexington and Parrot
smelters, Butte reduction works, mote
railway, and the Butte s. Boston MininI
company. At Helena the motor line, ga
works, electric light plant, water works
Hotel Broadwater and several dealers US
this coal exclusively. Shipments are ais
made to Wickes, Livingston and othe
towns. Under the present efficient man
agement the daily product of the mine
seems to be limited only by the demand.
DWELLINGS AND STORES.
The company have built As neat col
tages for the use of the miners and thei
families, and have erected two larg
boarding houses for additional accommc
dalton. The town has grown 80 rapid
that they have now on hand material fo
25 two-story houses, which will be bull
before February 10, 1890. The compan
, has also a large store room which Is file
, with supplies for miners, stockmen, farm
ers and settlers. P. Barton of Sprin
Valley. ILL.,, had the management of thi
1 SJOGc uutiA DeCcuIUoE IL, Wueu nc ItSlSl
ed and the company secured the service
: of Chas. Odell Of Detroit, Mich.
A. Nathan of Great Falls has a branc
store here, in which he carries a lare
, stock of general merchandise.
The company's pay roll for the mont
4 of November, 1880, included the nam,
of about 45O men, and on December !
:. nearly $4,000 were distributed amor
! them.
n PROSPEROUS MINERS.
III The miners are as a rule steady, sob
n and industrious. They command goc
wages and are contented and happy.
A fine brick school house was built
the town during the past few months ar
now the children have all the advantag'
of schooling to be found in the east. II
country surrounding the town is col
posed OF the rolling bench lands covere
with grasses for which Montana ia
nous.
ROBERTS CLAIM DISCUSSED.
Judge Hunt Listens Patiently but Do
Not Decide.
" HELENA, Dec. sS.-[Special to the Tt
MI