Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-11-13
APrivate Company With Plenty of
Capital Organized to Mine and
Sell Ignite Coal.
Josephus Plenty, a Chicago Business
Man, the Leading Spirit in
the Enterprise.
Nine Barges to be Built at Once and
Put on the River to Haul
Coal.


1 Headquarters at bismarck.
In the fall of 1886, J. G. Rapelje of this
city, secured possession of some tracts,
of land located six miles n1rth of Stan
ton, Mercer county. At the time of the
purchase Mr.. Rapelje was confident that
in the future coal in paying quality and
quantities would be mined on this land.
He let the matter rest at the time, but
since then has induced Josephus Plenty,
president of the Plenty agricultural
land skylight works of Chicago, to be-
come interested. Last summer, OF about
two months ago, Mr.. Plenty, who is a
practical surveyor, came from Chicago
and went up to the coal mines and made
q survey of two veins situated about six
miles north of Stanton. Hea found two
veins six feet deep each and separated
I by two feet of earth. These veins are in
a bluff and crop out about $50 feet be-
i low the surface and not more than $50
feet from the bank of the river. He se-
cured an interest IN the mines. About
two weeks ago he was called to Chicago
by a telegram, but yesterday Mr.. Rapelje
received a letter in which he stated he
would soon return.
The mines we're opened about a month
ago, but it was not considered advisable
to put the first coal taken out on the
market, as the vein grows much better
in quality as the tunnel is extended. The
company now has one tunnel running
about seventy feet into the mine. In
order to avoid building an air shaft, an
other tunnel will be run on a perpendic-
nlar line a few yards away and connect
ed near the working point, which will
afford perfect ventilation.
The coal is to be transported down the
river, and John P. Hoagland has the
contract to build the barges. They will
be twenty feet wide and ninety f, ct long.
There will be nine of them built to be-
/ gin operation with. Part of the timber
is now in the shipping yard and opera
aions will soon begin. It is not settled
yet as to what arrangements will be
made for a boat to haul the bargee, but
q boat will probably be purchased on
the Lower Missouri. The company is in
receipt of some good offers and they will
probably accept one of them. The idea
OF nine barges is that three will be load
I ing, three in transit and three in port
unloading at the same time. 1t is not
intended the first season to go further
down river than Chamberlain and Pierre.
III The tow boat, or propeller, will handle
three barges-one ahead and one on each
side.
The opening of the mine or head of
the tunnel is not over $50 feet from
where the boats will anchor. A peculi-
arity about the bank of the river at this
point is the fact that the channel has
b never changed since the country was
settled. From the mouth of the mines
to the loading point there is a descent of
forty-eight feet, and the coal will slide
down a shute into the barge.
Mr.. Rapelje said the undertaking of
this enterprise was strictly private and
the company did not care particularly to
advertise it until the boats commenced
operation. This much information for
the benefit of Bismarck, however, is
given out. AS soon as possible after ma
vigation opens in the spring, Ignite coal
Twill be coming down the river.
The mines are about sixty-six miles
above Bismarck by river and this will
be the headquarters Of the company.
There is plenty of capital behind the
scheme, but it has been kept quiet, as it
ne private business and no one is asked
to buy shares. There has been consider
able discussion heretofore regarding
these mines, but for lack of capital all
schemes have failed to materialize. The
#Abner ONeal, on a recent trip up river,
took on several tons of their coal at the
mine and pronounced the quality good.
The engineer, Mr.. Strom, said it burned
2fclean without clinkers and made a hot
fire. It 0 seems assured that one of
North Dakota's greatest resources will
be opened to tie world in the spring.
Woman's Work at Worlds Fair.
&s The following communications will
explain themselves: