Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-22
A MOUNTAIN OF COAL
A Trip to the Famous Fair
haven Mines in the
Skagit Valley
Work in the Big Tunnel Being
Vigorously Prosecuted.
A Large Vein
A Picturesque Ride Up and
Down the Mountain Side
On the Branch


So much has been said and written re-
gardlHg the famous Fairhaven coal mine
that IL seem like a thrice told tale TO at
tempt to add to the information with
which everyone is familiar. The mine
has been visited by scores Of experts and
by large number of persons who are
familiar with coal and coal mining, and
the opinion has been unanimous that IL Is
one Of the biggest coal propositions they
had ever seen. The quantity OF the coal
is unlimited, while its quality has been
tested for all purposes, and has resulted
in establishing its worth beyond all doubt.
| 0Yesterday morning that indefatigable
worker, Chief Engineer j. j. Donovan,
accompanied bya HERALD representative,
visited the mines. and on their arrival
| they were received by Professor Jennings
and Superintendent Hale, who escorted
the visitors to the different places in and
about the mine.
The first place Of interest is OF course
the big tunnel, and towards the big bore
the party wended their way Before
entering, an anxious inquiry was made by
the newspaper man regarding the possi-
BILE chance Of an explosion, but being
assured that there was absolutely no
danger, and noticing with what
bravery the other members of the
party stepped forward he lit a candle and
followed. At the ll5O foot level the big
vein was encountered, a drift was started
following its course. The drift is now In
about 100 feet and its face is one mass OF
coal. In order 10 ascertain the thickness
Of the vein a drill was drove nine feet
into it on one side aud four feet on the
other, without touching the walls. How
thick the vein Is Mcssrs. Hale or Jennings
would not venture TO assert The coal Is
bright, lively, clean and remarkably free
from dirt
But few feet from where the drift
starts from the tunnel is the place where
the explosion occurred last Friday night,
iniuring three men Quinlan, Ferry and
Lane. The entrance To- the place where
the gas is dense is boarded up, and as an
additional prccautlOn a large sheet Of
canyass is thrown over IL. Mr.. Jennings
volunteered TO show the party the well Of
natural gas but the offer was thankfully
and firmly declined The effects Of the
explosion is plainly evident in the tunnel.
The timber In several places was broken,
a car was thrown nearly 100 feet, break
ing IL, and the track on the floor Of the
tunnel was torn up.
One remarkable fact in connection with
the tunnel is the purity Of the air. Even
at the great distance Of 1.1jO feet the air
was as pure as on the out side. This Is
the result Of sinking the air shaft and
connecting II with the tunnel. The men
work without any evidence OF discomfort
and in few days the gas will De carried
away and all danger from It's presence will
be obviated. Coal Is being taken from the
tunnel and piled on the dump. At present
there are about 80 tons ready TO be ship.
ped.
About 400 feet west Of the big tunnel
a number Of men are employed I'm sinking
an incline, following the course Of a vein
for prospecting purposes. The measure
Is three feet wide with clearly defined
walls and bids fair to be the most i'm
portant Of all yet discovered in that
chlnery will be placed In position at the
incline in fow days and work will then
be prosecuted vigorously. The coal Is
similar In character 30 that discovered in
that vicinity. A few feet across gullya
short tunnel has been run showing up
another body OF coal and about 200 feet
from the incline a prospect hole has
brought still another body into
view; in fact six different and distinct
veins OF coal have been uncovered in the
vicinity Of the incline.
One hundred men are engaged I'm bal
lasting and surfacing the railroad leading
TO the mine. The track is laid up 10 the
mine and a platform has been erected for
the handling and shipment of coal. Tho
road climbs the hill with but a slight
grade, when taking the character and
steepness Of the mountain into consldera-
tion. After leaving the mine the road
makes several curves, crossing itself
twice, and the work Of building the line
can be understood when the fact Is stated
that after travelling four and a half miles
along the road from the mine, It is but
one mile by an air line 20 the starting
point. The main line along the SkagIt
valley from the branch TO Sedro is a three
mile tangent. The ride up and down the
mountsiniside is a very picturesque one.
the road passing through a dense body of
timber and a number Of mountain streams
and marshes skirting the entire line.