The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-07
A SCIENTIFIC STUDY.
Western Washington a Field
for Geological Survey.
EXAMINATION OF COAL VEINS.
The United States Biologists Soon to
Begin Work-Lake Beds of East
ern Washington.
EXAMINATION OF COAL VEINS.

Joseph silas Duler. the government geo!ogist
in charge of the Cascade division, is at the
Grand hotel. His territory includes California
above the fortieth parallel, Oregon and Wash
ington. His visit to Seattle is in connection
with the work OF the United States geological
survey i'll this state.
Mr.. Diller, who is one OF the ablest biologists
in this country, is now in his Al year. His
birthplace was Plainfeld, Pa, but the early
part OF his scientific education was acquired at
Harvard. Alter his graduation from the
Lawrence scientific school there in 1879 he
TOOK year in postgraduate work and then
went to Germany on ii fellowship From 1851 to
1888 he was geolosist of the Assos expedition,
aud did 4 good deal OF work in Asia and Greece.
In leS5 he became assistant geologst on the
United States geological survey, and in that
capacity he has Travelled extensively through
out the country. lie is 4 member OF several
scientific societies, and is the author
Of numerous papers and reports pub
lished in scientific journals in America
and Europe Among his contributions are
Notes on the Geology of the Troai," Ola
monds in the United States" and "Noses Oh the
Geology OF Northern California"
MI Diller has been making preliminary sur
yey OF This state with view to determining the
best method OF beginning aud carrying on the
regular work OF the geological survey. THE
first thing TO be DONE said he last night
OF the country, for without that we
shall be unab.e to put our work in a
shape which will be valuable to the general
public. We must have a first-class man, and so
the people must not be disappointed If they
have TO wait for the results OF the geological
survey until the map is prepared. But we do
ni' propose 10 map out the whole state at once,
but to keep the geological work SO far as may be
abreast OF the typographical work, so that
geological maps OF any section may be pub
AShed with the least possible delay.
- expect that one camp will start in at this
tssk before the first OF July. They will begin
right in this ueighbJrhooi, for the population
is the thiekest here, and the benefits OF geolog-
zeal survey can he most quickly realized here
The genera! public can assist US by collecting
al! sorts OF geological specimens; for reference
to such collections may often save us consldera-
bic time and trouble.
zone OF the things to be done in Western
Washington IS 10 make careful study Of the
coal veins. The miners lose time and money by
hunting for vein after they have struck \
fault, or u break in it, The layers of coal and
rock here have been much twisted and folded,
SO mat faults IN the veins are common, and fire.
quenIly tacsa faults occur thai it is difficult
10 te l where the vein begins again.
wei, when Nc have studied the formation
through Il large region, We shall fad the general
way III which the breaking and foldin. of
strata have been done, and we can formulate a
rHle-Hceurate enough for ordinary working
by which the miners can find the coal alter
having struck q fault.
so. course comVieter knowledge of these
coal veins Will be oi much benefit to trade and
commerce il many other ways and will he q
material assistance in the development OF your
mining industries.
My business in Seattle today is look
Ing up some fossils. In somo rocks along
the Duwamish between this city AMI
Bsack river Junction are marine shells In Tho
rocks il coal formations IT Newcastle. car.
boEalo, NiSeSon aud further south are brsck
ish water shells. am now locking for intorma
ton to show what re,atlon these two formations
bear to each Other, and what relation To lorna.
tons IL Oregon ami California
professor Israel {. Russell is now in Eastern
Washington with party studying the beds lstt
by huge lake which once covered the space h.
tween the Cascades aId the mountains OF Ituhn
and extended souIh through OREGON and even w.
to California THIS LAKE exlstei in the rDt1tl.
! tertiary period, when the mountains were lower
than no", aat the PLATA, between u level. Ver.
citation was iuNGr-7g-, as : shown hv tzc fossil
/ remains, ana there we've Ilsay animals. Trace,
o. to- later are ioGHt more abuadaEt!y further
south than IN Ri, state.
TN succeeding geo orjesl periods some con-.
yU---aas %! nature Ia ,cd the mountains s,tiI
higher. c-uupel the Vd.ttyS OF F..t-
eEa Washington ami probably tore out
tie Chasm u the Cascades ~ vhirt
the waters Of the lake were poured out into y.s
sea TIE Columbia river now runs tA.5lcs
that ealgo-
"Il.e g.chue-s OF the soil @: Eastern Washing
taA $ pl-i.y due TO the TACT that much 81. il /.
the sediment ..am iA.s lake some, e. co.r,,
IS v1-csu., ash.
When Professor Russell has determined the
p! a. his o.. lake, he vii have done rugns
toward solving tie rratj Il problems OF ths
tsaet east of TIE mountains, Tor he can tslI
u7.;;g closely the sour ss OF a-.e. ~. lgatsr,un
Y.y. aa4 tae lands WHICH ela &c irrigated BIZ
driven wells