Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-11-24
WASHINGTON COAL.
A DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF
OUR FIELDS.
superintendent COrcy's Article OH
western Washington Coal Fields
The Skagit.WhatcOmF Field Some
Other Resources Are Incidentally
Mentioned.
tPostlutelligcncer.l
ARTICLE I,

ifost-lutelllgencer.l
ARTICLE I.
An able paper on . The Coal Fields
OF Western Washington. written by
I. B. Carey, superintendent of the
Oregon Improvement Company's coal
mines, was read at the meeting OF the
Illinois Mining Institute at Pana, ILL.,,
on May 1G. The journal of the in
stitute, in which the paper is printed,
says that Mr.. Corey, Though ut pres
ent the most remote member of the
institute, was well remembered in this
State as formerly superintendent of
the Chicago, Wilmington and Vermil-
ion Coal Company's mines at Braid
wood" The article, which is well
illustrated with maps and drawings,
opens as follows:
This is subject that would make
Il large volume OF one were to go into
detailed statement. from the fact
that the conditions are so varied and
they cover so many fields, each con-
tanning peculiarities wholly its own.
For this reason will only briefly note
in a general way what may be found
in this young and very prosperous
State, as yet in its infancy, SO far as
the discovery OF its mineral resources
is concerned, l will divide the coal
fields into four districts, viz: The
Skagit-Whatcom. King. county, Pierce
county and Lewis county fields.
sKAGITwHATCoM FIELD"
"This field is in the northern part
of the State. 1t contains three or
four workable seams of high grade
bituminous coal and one or two ligi-
mite seams. The coal measures, as far
as l know, are invariably undeilaid
with clay schists and metamorphic
states, and as these are an upheaval
the coal measures show a very dis
turbed condition. The coal does not
run regularly in thickness, but is what
is known as 'pockety,' that is, the
seams pinch to nothing or thicken to
abnormal size. The seams nearest the
schists (sometimes only two or three
feet from them) are richest in carbon
and lowest in moisture, the higher
ones gradually losing carbon as they
recede from the schists, until in few
instances l have observed fine grade
of locomotive coal, and those on the
Skagit yield coke equal to any made
in Pennsylvania. The principal dis
trict OF this field is in the region of
Skagit river, Lake Whatcom, and
! Nooksack river almost to the boundary
line. Dips are from 80 degrees to YER
tical around Lake Whatcom to north
west, Skagit river southwest, and at
Nooksack river the dip is very change
able, although in general terms it may
be said to be north to south, depend
ing on which slope Of the great anti
cinal and syclinal folds the seams are
exposed. The area is about $50 square
miles. Near Hamilton, on the Skagit
river, the coal is very rich in carbon.
At this place, across the river, there
are three or four distinct seams dip
ping at an angle of about 45 degrees.
Adjoining this are large seams of iron
ore which are exposed to view by the
Skagit river, its head being in the
Cascade mountains. Still back Of this
to the south there are some prospects
for coal, showing three seams, but
they have not been sufficiently de-
veloped to arrive at any definite con-
clusion as regards their worth. The
coal seams nearest to Hamilton are
more regular in thickness than any it
has been my pleasure to see in this
district. At Jennings, still further
down the river and west OF Hamilton,
there are two or more coal seams being
developed, and coke ovens have already
been constructed and more are in
course of erection. This coal makes
excellent coke and will be very con-
venient for smelling iron. The coal
runs irregular, varying from thirty
feet to one foot in thickness, and dips
at various angles. Persons who are
familiar with the oil fields in Penn
sylvania have examined the coal
measures at this place and are strongly
of the opinion that oil exists, and
there will be in the near future test
made to prove whether this theory is
correct or not.
"Still further north and west we
reach the coal mine at Blue Canyon,
on the eastern shore of Lake What
com. This coal is decidedly 'pockety,'
varying in thickness from twenty feet
to one foot. 1t is high grade OF coal,
but has not the coking qualities of
Skagit coal, and is better adapted for
gas making. Dip. northwest 30 de-
grees. The upheaval of the slate
sometimes causes big rolls, which in
terfere much with the workings. The
seam almost rests on the clay states,
which are soft and swell, causing con-
siderable trouble. About 100000 tons
have been mined, and the coal finds a
ready sale in San Francisco. The
company operating at this place has
expended a large amount OF money
erecting bunkers and large transfer
boat to carry railroad cars across
the lake, which is at the foot OF the
mountain, to railroad which carries
the coal to New Whatcom. Thence
it is conveyed to the Coast towns by
ships.
New Whatcom is located on Bel
bingham Bay. Near this bay the hrst