The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-13
MONTANA COAL BEDS
Hon. 7. Z. Collins Paper Read in
the Helena Convention.
THE COKE MAKING INDUSTRY
An important Factor In the Up
building of Diversified Manu-
featuring Interests In
This State.

AAhihiSIdtiou CouNentlOn just auJOuTne'
in Helena:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of tn
| Convention:
The topic or subject assigned me 70
discussion on this occasion is of such 9
broad and expensive character that
feel incapable of doing IL justice befor,
an assemblage of this magnitude anC
| character.
In calmly considering the future re-
sources of the great commonwealth o.
Montana, / would place coal and iron
perhaps next to agriculture-as IL.
| chief products. There are but few
civilized countries I'm the world wher,
coal of some character has not beer
| found and utilized for the benefit oil
| mankind. but our own state Is particu.
larry fortunate in both the amount and
| quality of its coal measures.
Great Britain. for centuries. and until
comparatively recent years. the great
| coal producing nation OF the world, has
only about $1,000 square miles OF coal
deposits, while In the United States, the
combined areas are about 1870 900 square
miles-or more than all OF the rest of
the world combined.
Although no thorough investigation
OF our vast coal deposits has been
made. ii is known for an absolute fact
that we have enough to meet the in
dreds of years TO come.
The coal beds OF Montana are found
principally on the eastern slope of the
Rocky and Belt mountains, from the
northern to the southern boundaries,
and extending eastward for distance
OF nearly $50 miles. Although our coal
measures are not believed 10 be con-
tinuous. they are known to cover an
area Of great magnitude and embrace
fuily one-fifth OF the entire area OF coal
deposits of the United States-or to be
more accurate, about 10000 square
miles. IL will be readily seen from
these figures-and statistics will bear
me out in the assertion-that both the
area and supply are practically without
limit.
The coal found adjacent to our noun
tain ranges is true bituminous coal. ac-
.cQrding 20 the reports OF Professor
Newberry and other competent and
scientific authorities. and from much
of this coal a most excellent coke can
be made.
The coke making industry OF Mon
tana, while yet in its infancy. has been
developed sufficiently To demonstrate
beyond doubt that large areas of her
coal measures will make excellent and
indeed. a superior quality of coke. The
plants now in successful operation AT
Horr, near Livingston, and at Belt.
near the city Of Great Falls, attest to
this fact. The quality and quantity OF
coke. now being manufactured at these
points, indicate that at no distant day
Montana made coke will not only sup
ply the entire demand of the state. but
n surplus will be furnished, which will
be shipped out to supply the demand
made for coke by our neighboring
states.
This cheap coal and coke will vet be
l,a.e H., q -.
smelling interests | feel justified I'm
asserting that not a silver smelter I'm
The state would be running to-day were
Z not for the cheap coal and coke fur
1ished by the coal mines OF Montana.
Ind but few. II any. copper shelters I
sould afford, even at the present price I
" copper. TO work with coal and coke /
u the prices of ~ years ago-before I
he coal mines of Montana were devel- I
ped and the product put on the mar 4
Iet for the benefit Of the general pub /
ic.
Taking a conservative view of the
oal mining industry OF Montana. one
an hardly imagine the Importance OF .
his factor in the upbuilding OF diversi-
ed manufacturing interests-more par
those Industries designed for
he treatment OF the various classes Of
res found in the mountains of the
tate. L feel confident that the charac-
err and cheapness of our coal will vet
nake Montana one OF the busy hives OF
of the western hemisphere.
The coal found i'm Montana Is espe-
iaily valued for the production OF
the requirements In the CON
umption Of fuel are often better met
nth In free-burning bituminous coal
which rapidly spreads the heat wher-
yer its flame reaches-than with the
lore compact and fiameless anthracite
pal that slowly consumes and gives
ut heat only to bodies I'm close prox-
nifty. In the generation OF steam. our
alive coal is highly valued and hard
equal-the heat secured from it's con-
imption being diffused along the en-
re length Of the boiler. instead Of be-
" concentrated Immediately over the
re CRATE. and, as a result, the fire is !
ore readily kindled and managed
IAN when more compact fuels are
'ed. The coal mined in Cascade coun-
Is now supplying engines along the
reat Northern railway from the coast 4
hge In Washington. TO ST. Cloud.
Inn. Vast shipments OF coal are also I
ing made from Belt TO Anaconda
ne products of the coal mines Of Belt
ID Sand Coluee aggregate 5000 tons c
r day. 10000 tons per month. or I
5000 tons each year. and yet the in n
lstry In those two camps Is I'm its in v
ncy. o
our coal mines. as a rule are easy Of a
cess and are lying In horizontal veins v
pm $50 TO 300 fet below the earth's q
race. and they are easily opened up. =
inflated and safely mined. The thick q
IS OF the vein is from three 20 twelve q
tor an average OF about six feet h
While we have no accurate data
owing the production OF coal during q
2 past year. IL was undoubtedly K
'gely in excess Of I GOO 600 tons. And IN
W the mines ~ Belt are well opened p
. the output this year will probably Z y
coed 1000. 900 tons. This is rnora than a
? entire product Of the nation half a Z,
ltury ago. However. the output of 81
Al In the United Staotes at this time I pI
In excess OF 175.OO0 900 tons. These M
ures furnish the mind with some idea / q
the probable development OF this in n
stry IN our state in the near future. Il