The herald., 1895-01-30
AN ERA OF CHEAP FUEL.
A NEW COAL SUPPLY FOR Los
ANGELES.
DR.. J. Il. Bryant's Remarkable Discovery
of Black Diamonds at Yaqui-
ma Bay, Oregon.


An era OF cheap fuel, apart from the recent
develo oment of petroleum, is dAwning upon
Southern Cali fornia, II an abundance of coal
close to water transportation counts for any
thing, The outlook for the establishment of
extensive manufacturing plants in Los An.
geles was never brighter than at present, so far
as the fuel supply is concerned. Oil burning
has made it possible to operate machinery
probably where formerly the high price of coal
prevented. Now in addition to an abundance
of cruds oil. there is a prospect of securing any
quantity Of good steam coal thst can be laid
down in Los Angeles at price that will place
it on a par with oil.
This new and unexpected supply of coal. it
is alleged, will come from Yaquiua bay. Ore
gon. Dr.. ]. H. Bryant, al ex-membsr of the
Los Angeles city council, and well-known in
local business and professional circles, as well
as throughout the northwest, is the gentle man
who proposes to supply Southern California
with black diamonds, at price not before
dreamed of here. DIR. Bryant has been quietly
developing wonderful coal discovery on the
borders of Yaluina bay, for several years past,
and at last he is prepared to let the people of
this section know what is in store for them.
In an interview the subject DR.. Bryant
gave THE HERALD the following intorma-
tten:
'In S81 John NJ. Ayles, an English sea cap
tain, wintsred on Ysquiua bay, Oregon, and in
his wanderings over the adjacent country dis
covered groupings of coal, He made some de-
velopments and became convinced that
beds of coal existed in that vicinity. He OBJ
tanned an option on quarter section and de-
parted for England 10 get capital to more
fully develop his findings and also to engage
in other enterprises opening up on this partic-
ular bay. There was yet no hngbor or railroad
to market any production that might be dis
covered, but so sanguine was he of the value
OF the resources of the region, that he bent all
his energies to interest capital to develop the
country and he was on the verge OF success,
thereupon re-engaged in his calling as sea
captain and assumed command of East
India merchant ship and did not again see
Yaquina har Dor until ran across him, learned
his story and sent him up there in the begin
ming of 1898, from Los Angeles to relocate his
coal discovery.
II followed him soon after and invest gated
for several months. satisfying myself that the
black diamonds were there sure enough, in
opening drifts and demonstrated beyond doubt
extensive beds Of e1csllent coal existed there.
For 1S months have had al agent securing
coal-bearing lands until now some 1000 acres
are under my control, embracing about all that
is of value and near to the sea.
"rhis coal Is of an excellent quality, free
from sulphur containing small percentage of
ash. but replete with carbonaceous matter.
making 1t very desirable for steam and heating
purposes. 1t ID independent OF railroad trans
portation and can be shipped direct by water
to any southern sea port town at the least pos
sible cost 1t is over 800 miles near er than the
Wellington or Columbia coal, of better do
nestle quality and for furnaces has no su perior
in our market"
Toe quest. on that now confronts the people
OF Los Angeles is how they can benefit by thi S
find. 1t has already been suggested that smell
ters iron works and other manufacturing in
dustries be established on the coast where
cheap fuel is assured. Tho cars carrying the
crude ores down, could in return carry coal to
the inner towns.
Doctor Bryant is now about organizing for
active operations. He has had experience in
iron industries and fenis confident that n new
era il about dawniDg upon Southern Califor
MIA.
If the mpany which hs is organizing can
deliver coal al the wharf opposite Los Angeles
as cheap as he anticipates, it will certainly re-
suit in giving the manufacturing interests of
dissection great impetus.
The board of trade markets were wildly ex-
cited today and made a sensational decline af-
feeted by heavy selling under the influence of
the gold export scare and the strained finan-
cial conditions. Cash wheat went below all
former records ana was worth only forty nine
cents bushel. There seemed to BE- wheat,
both optional and each, TO burn on the board
today, There might have been few failures
but the market recovered at an opportune no
ment.
Yesterday May wheat closed at 531S cents
Today it onened at SO, sellers, and then
dropped to 52A. The market was very shaky
and psnicky feeling prevailed all around
There was every indication that big crash
WAS in prospect, but this was prevented by
lucky chance which shored the market and
double saved several firms on the board from
throwing up the sponge. When 500 for May
had been reached, Charley Smith, seeing a
ehsnce on the million aud half of puts
which he bought yesterday, bsgan to buy
heavily against them. Dealers VINO were In
the same boat did likewise and this heavy buy
ing had the effect OF staying the market aud re-
storing 1t TO feeling of strength. Under this
influence the market rallied and danger
seemed to be temporarily sverted.
In sympathy with May wheat, May corn
broke and tumbed headlong. CLOSING last
once broke TO 43c Before noon it had fallen
to 421ac, but rallied later with wheat,
Provisions also came in for their share OF the
general decline. May pork dropped soc, but
rallied again on heavy buying orders,