The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-08-03
COKE INDUSTRY.
Reference Made to the New Coke
Plant at .Belt-Sand COulee
Coal Also COkes
and IS The SAME vein
Interesting Facts About Tests Made
Which Proved the COking Quail
ties Of the Sand COulee Coal.

GREAT FALLS, July -.
Ito THE EDITOR OF THE TRIBUNE:
Though not apparent to everyone, a
thoughtful observer will perceive at
once that no more important news has
been given relative to the establishment
Of manufacturing industries in the fut-
ure at Great Falls, than the news print
ed by the TRIBUNE last Wednesday rela-
tive to the coking plant at Belt.
All biologists posted IN the stratig-
raphy of this section are aware that the
coal mines Of Belt, Sand Coulee and
Smith river, belong to the same period
and the same horizon; and although the
thickness Of the vein may vary locally
| the character Of the coal is the same,
and throughout the whole coal bearing
area the coal deposit is essentially BIZ
luminous.
| The coking qualities Of the three
areas of the Great Falls coal field, viz:
Sand Coulee, Belt, and Smith river, have
been determined many years ago; and it
is a surprising fact that after the emf
nently satisfactory tests made no corpo-
ration has hitherto established the in
dustry on a large scale. 1T remained for
the Anaconda company with it's accus-
toned foresight to recognize its value
and also it's possibilities, and this section
owes a debt of gratitude to that corpo-
ration for it's erection Of the coke plant
at Belt, thus demonstrating to the in
dustrial world the coking qualities Of this
great field.
In the early part of the SOS the cox
ing Goals Of Belt creek we're examined,
tested. and proved excellent, on the west
eide of the creek, by John X. Cashier
and George Watson, and on the east
side by Henry Willard. who erected a
coke over and produced m~erchantable
coke.
In 1856 the Sand Coulee coal from
the various tunnels was thoroughly
tested, understandable coke produced, and
the value of the field for such product
fully demonstrated. Among the mines
which were thoroughly tested we're the
Largent, Buddington, Culberson, and
the Minneapolis %company's properties.
The tests were made locally under the
direction of Hon. Paris Gibson on a large
6Cdl6 duu d ldTko dulOuut vi ulOucy WAS
expended IN obtaining thorough results.
also made by Prof. Douglas Of the Cop
Prof. Dodge of Ann Arbor university,
in Michigan. The result of these tests
are on record and show the admirable
coking qualities of these Goals.
Time and again has the writer pro-
claimed these facts in the columns of
the Great Falls press and had the docu-
ments and evidence on hand to prove
| these statements. / have now before
me Prof. Douglas report on the Bud
dington mine, wherein it is emphatically
stated the "whole vein from roof to floor
cokes," and gives the result of the tests
made by sections.
1t has always been the impression OF
the writer that the coking qualities OF
the Great Falls coal field was one OF our
natural Why? Because Tor
our copper and silver smelters coke is an
indispensable article and il not produced
here will have to be hauled from a dis.
lance at increased expense. Because,
for fhe same reason it will be imperative
ly required for the great iron furnaces
which in the 10 distant future will be
erected at Great Falls. Because for the
same reason it will be wanted for the
foundries, both brass and iron, which
are now and will be located in Great
Falls in the future.
An important thing ought to be re-
membered also, and that is, that the
slack which has hitherto been used for
ballasting the railway tracks, or sold to
smelters at a nominal figure to get rid Of
it, is the identical material which is
proved to make coke.
In conclusion l would state that
hope the example of the Anaconda COM
pany will be followed by other corpora.
tions. There is no earthly reason why
the Sand Coulee slack coal should not be
coked at this city. Yet it is within
bounds when it is stated that this past
seven years, from Sand Coulee, $4,000
tons OF coking coal has been cold for
what it would fetch, used for ballasting
railroad tracks, or thrown over the
dump. The cost of transportation would
be small, the coke when manufactured
would have a market on the ground, and
it would be a source Of increased profit
to the companies shipping here by reason
Of the increased price received. That coke
can be produced here in any amount re-
quired, has been proved, now let capital
come forward and do the rest.
INDUSTRY.