The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15
COAL MINING.
And the Coal Resources of Washington
An Exhaustive Paper.

And the Coal Resources of Washington
An Exhaustive Paper.
T. E. Corey, formerly superintendent
OF the Oregon Improvement Companys
mines, presented to the convention in the
following paper probably the best and
! most carefully prepared article on this inn
portant subject ever written:
In writing an article on this subject I
find that the time given me is so limited
that shall be compelled to draw largely
from a former paper written by my
self and published some three years
ago in the Illinois Mining Insi-
tute Journal II would be a very
difficult task to go into a detailed
statement of the various Goals found in
this state. owing 10 the diversified condi-
ton OF the coal beds; in fact. doubt very
mitch If there is any state in the Union
where there is such a variety of coal.
There has already been found coal from
the lowest grade Of Ignite 10 the highest
grade Of anthracite. AS yet the coal in
d9stry of this state is only in its infancy
Hardly a month passes but what new dis
coyeres are made, and some of them con-
sidered valuable. Most of the discoveries
SO far have been made by accident rather
than by any preconceived plan of pros
pecting.
Commencing at the western portion OF
the state, the veins as exposed show hard
~ anything but woody matter; but, as We
20 east to the Cascade mountains, the
coal increases in richness until We find
very good quality of anthracite.
II is also true as we approach the Cas-
cades the strata are more irregular, In
fact In the bltuminous districts there
seems to be no regularity Whatever. but
the strata being more or less broken up
with anticlinals and synclinals. East of
tae mountains the veins run great deal
more regularly and the angle of the DIP is
not so great
Commencing at the northwestern part
of the state, there are three or four seams
OF high grade bituminous coal and few
Ignite seams The coal measures are all
urcerIain with clay schists and metamor-
phic states, and THIS fact shows that they
are in an upheaval: the coal measures,
consequently. are in very disturbed con-
dition The coal does not run regularly.
but what is known as ''pockety;" that Is,
the seams pinch TO nothing or thicken TO
Abnormal size. The seam nearest the
schists which is sometimes only two or
three feet from them, are richest In car
bon and lowest I'm moisture, the higher
ones gradually losing carbon as they re-
cede from the schists. and those on the
skagit river yield coke equal to any
made in the United States.
This coal district is in the region of
Skagit river. Lake Whatcom and Nook
sack river and extends almost almost TO
the Canadian line. The dips are from %
degrees to vertical Around Lake What
com to the northwest, Skagtt river, south
west, and at Nooksack river the dip is
very changeable, although in general
terms II may be said to be north or south.
depending on which slope of the great
anticlinal and synclinal folds the seams
are exposed. The area of this section is
about SEQ square miles. The coal around
Hamilton. on the Skagtt river, Is very rich
in carbon There are four distinct seams,
dirrfng at an angle OF about s. degrees.
There are also here large seams OF iron
orr which are exposed 10 view on the
Skagit river For miles south OF this there
are strong indications Of coal, and some
very good veins Rave already been DIS
covered Around Hamilton the coal seams
n e more regular than IN any part Of the
fed IN the northwestern part OF the state
At Jennings, which is west Of Hamilton
arc two or more seams OF coal Quite a
number Of coke ovens have been erected
about one-third OF the output being made
into coke, and ar excellent coke II makes.
too which, as | have before stated. Is
equal TO any in the United states. This
coke being SO near the iron ore Wall be
accessible for smelling iron. The coal
veins run from thirty feet TO one foot in
thickness and dip at various angles. North
and west OF Jennings Is the Blue Canyon
coal mine which is located on the eastern
shCre OF Lake Whatcom. The vein varies
from twenty feet 10 one foot and has not
the coking qualities Of the Skagit goal
hu> Is a good gas coal; dips northwest 80
degrees. The seam rests on the cay
states, which are soft and swell. causing
considerable trouble in mining.
The company operating at ms place mas
expended large sums of money in erecting
bunSers and large boat 10 transfer rall-
road cars across the lake, at the FOOT or
the mountain to a railroad which carries
- To NJ From theme
II is conveyed 10 the coast towns by ships
New Whatcou IS located on Belhnghan
bay. Near THIS bay the first coal IN this
state was discovered and mined for the
Hudson Bay Company's steamers some
forty years ago Tire vein = from ten 70
twelve feet in thickness. and is found in
the upper measures Of the cretaceous II -
a Ignite. and IS not underlain by meta
morphic slatsS It dips 70 the northwest
on the west side Of Lake Nhatcofn there
are several small seams or coal bat not IN
sufficient quantities 10 make them work
able. South Of this IS Chuckanut bay.
where tho coal easures crop out fer
miles showing an enormous thickness bat
TO veins n yet have been discovered which
are considered 20 be OF any value TIE
measures end abruptly In the northwest
corner Of Skagit county. Going north n
New Whatcom the country IS nat. ana con-
seuuentfy no exposures are 20 be seen The
coal on the Nooksack river is all nigh
grade. but the seams are thin. The prOd'fc-
tive Part or this field Is nearly all on the
eastern range. or nearest 70 she noun
vains. All through almost the entire north-
western part az Skagit county me countrE
IS very mountainous and broken. and IS
dcnsoIy covered with timber. fir. cedar an:
hemlock-thc finest in the world.
Farther west. near Port Townsend, coal
measures are 70 he seen. and several small
seams Of coal. hgt as yer nothing 10 JUS
tify starting q plant
IN SuohcmiSh county there have Been
several veins discovered. but from the best
information I have 40 developments have
been made 10 justify an opinion as 30 their
worth
Next IS King county, which - t1e largest
and mos developed coal field. ia che state
Thers- are TWO classes OF coal $50 thls coaH-
u onea hiRn gra3e ~ liCnite. which aas
al area OF bout "a square miles the other
a. b.turn nous. which covers about 80
SQUARE miles They 70 douat belong 20
Fas 'CFatacebus eDocs, the lIguitsS brihS N
rhe upper and the Az luminous being IN the
lower re hfturufuous coal ty3ng ~ closer
proximity 20 ixEeous agencies. Whica h%
their beas am pressure nave ufiFtn OF
volatile "a seS aglsf moisture. resulting IN a
higher grade ~ coal For this reason TIE
QusHty oc hE;3fninorrs eosl - improved a.
IL approaches The noun .A4IS' AID -