The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-09-21
WESTERN COAL FIELDS.
valuable Ranges Throughout the
Pacific Coast.
Rich Veins In Washington-Future fossi-
bilities of a Region Hitherto sup
posed to BE Devoid OF
Fuel Prospects.



The magnitude of the coal deposits
in the state of Washington is little
realized away from the Pacific coast.
Not all the Atlantic states combined
contain such a supply, according TO
writer in the New York Tribune.
Workable veins are known to exist IN
eighteen out of the thirty-four coun-
lies. and thew cover an area Of more
than 1000. 900 acres. The coal ranges
in character FROM camel to seminar
thracite. through all grades Of domestic,
Gas. stcaming. coking and Smlthlng
| Goals. With the exception OF the Kos
Iva mines in Iittitas county, the pro-
| ductivc measures lie west OF the Cas-
cadc range. They are all Ignite ana
| bituninous. Anthracite has been found
in the OlxrnpicS and in the Cascades,
and there is fine deposit atthe base
Of Mount Rainier. These, however,
have not been developed sufficiently to
iudge of their values. The Ignite
measures extend from British Columbia
on the north to the Columbia river:
and east from Puget sound fifteen
miles. The area covered is estimated
at 500. 600 acres Less than . per cent.
Of all this territory has been worked,
although, about ) per cent. OF 1t is
owned 10y companies prepared to open
up veins as soon as the market IS ready
for the output Many hundred acres
are held by prospectors VINO lack the
money to develop their claims. Of the
mines already in operation the New
Castle, owned by the Oregon improve
rnent company lies twcnty-one miles
from Seattle and consists Of four veins,
the shalloHcst of which is three feet,
the deepest twelve ieet. The coal is
excellent fddr steaming purposes. The
Gilman mine. forty-two miles from
Seattle. is row working two OF its five
veins. The output is hi&Gshi-gradc lig-
mite, with small streal1s OF bituminous;
too small, however, to warrant separa-
ton The Cedar mountain mine is
working two veins, one Of them eleven
feet six inches in depth. At Franklin
the coal is Of Ii semi ii luminous char
acter. the deposit being Of q somewhat
older geological formation. The same
is, true OF the Black Diamond mine,
thirty miles trQM Seattle. This mine
employs something bike 800 man and
it's capacity is estimated at LOCO tons
pei day.
The S,2aeit county mines bid fair to
be Of more immense value in the near
future. TAo probationary tcst3 riado
by tie York town Indicated ta2t this
coal is the best for gtca:ning
purposes On the sound. 1t also makes
e very superior coke. The Luminous
measures join the Ignite on tac east
and extend to the Cascade range. The
veins al@ So twisted that 1t Is impoS-
>iblc to determine their number. Ehc
Carbon river group is Developed mere
than the others. four veins being
worked. the product high grade gas
and steam coal. Twelve miles north Is
, the Raging river group. CON -la1!ng Of
eight veins. four Of which ar Being
worked. The Roslyn mines Gre 1875
miles east from Seattle. Their veins
lie nearly horizontal, near the surface,
and cover an. area Of 100000 acres. The
mines have been IL operation since
1886. Over 1000 men are employed.
and the daily output is ab,~t 100
! tons OF bituminous lump coaL well
adapted to domestic and steaming
purposes. The first discovery Of coal
in Washington was made IN 1852, at
Bellinghaln bay, but 10 export Of i'm
portancc was made until 1870 Last
year over million and quarter tons
were marketed. whicll for g season Of
depression is no bad showing. The
Washington coal veins are easier mined
than those of the eastern states on ac-
count of the angles at'which they dip,
allowing then, to be opened by
tunnels. and saving the expense Of
hosting the output. Timber Tor
bunilers:: etc, is cheap and ab1:4Iant;
water for washers is 10 DE found every
where. This, of course, has great
bearing on the values Of the mca3ares.
It seems only Il question Of dime l21ore
Washington will be the lar.yuat coal
producing district in The United States,
and probably the largest in the world.