The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03

miles southeast OF Seattle. FOR rs pro-
duct has stood every lest successfully
and steadily won favor Tor steam pur-
poses on railroads and steamers ana last
~ on government warshi2s and revenue
cutters The mine is one Of the many
sources Of Seattle's trade. for all its sup
plies are drawn from here. is product is
brought here over the railroad for sale
or shipment by sea. and its employees
make their purchases here or at the local
store. which is stocked from Seattle meT-
chants.
The Mckay basin, which was opened by
the Franklin mine IN 1854. is a great de-
posit Of semi coal cut and eN-
posed by Green river. but lying mostly 10
the north OF that stream. The first open
ings were in the fern OF slopes sunk
from the hillside overlooking Green river,
and there the homes OF the miners were
established. A series OF unaccountanie
fires eliminated in December, 1885, in one
SO disastrous that IL became necessary
10 abandon the old workings. A new
slope had previously been sunk on the
same Wien at a point two miles north or
the old workings and was sufficiently de-
veloped at the time OF the last nre Tor
the company TO begin mining coal
there last May, branch rail-
road having already been con-
structed TO X. Accordingly the ma
chinery and boilers were removed TO this
point and operations were transferred
thitaer, the miners continuing 10 occupy
the cd camp and going 10 ana coming
from their work by train. The new slope
has been sunk $50 feet at>an angle OF
about - degrees and from X four levels
have been run, two in each direction The
production averages about 5000 tons
month and viii be increased as the mine
is developed; SO also Will the number OF
employees. which declined from an average
OF $50 in 1883 10 $50 last year, Tor more
men are being put 10 work as the Levels
are extended into the coal vein. The coa4
from the new mine is fully equal, II not
superior. TO that from the old mine ana
meets with such favor among consumers
that the demand keeps pace with the
gradual Increase in the supply.
Coal for warships.
The Importance OF having available on
Puget sound. within the territory of the
United States. a supply OF steam coal
equal in quality to that brought from
abroad and sufficient in quantity 10 meet
all Geman ds. has recently been emphasiz-
ed by several events. These are that Fe-
get sound has within the last few years
become one of the chief rendezvous for
tse vessels of the United States navy and
revenue marine, the causes being that IL
is the most convenient point for Quitting
the Bering sea patrol feet, that the con-
struction OF the Port Orchard dry dock
has made il a naval center and that the
navy department mas realized the adyan-
tages possessed by Port Angeles for prac-
tice with big guns. With this change mas
come the necessity of procuring supplies
and coal for ships of war In this section.
The improved railroad facilities nave
made il possible to procure the supplies
at as low prices as anywhere else on the
coast The existence in the adjacent
country OF large bodies of coal developed
By a number OF mines capable of produc-
ing more than enough for the demand or
all the tributary country and OF the
steamers plying on these waters. was a
fun Their recommendation of the Sound as
a naval rendezvous.
Tests of Franklin Coal.
The Oregon Improvement Company has
for some years past paid close attention
to the introduction OF the Franklin Goa
for steam purposes. being convinced that
IL would stand all tests in comparison
with the product OF British Columbia,
Australia and England. The latter Goals
have the advantages OF q reputation made
and of being known by engineers, wlnle
Franklin had its reputation 10 make. The
first series of tests was made at San Fran
cisco in 1893 by Horace 3. Gale. the me
cl anical engineer. The purpose was 10
ascertain the quantity OF water evapor-
ated 10 dry steam from temperature OF
2l2 degrees Fahrenheit per pound OF coal,
the average steam pressure obtained and
the percentage of refuse remaining from
the. coal consumed The duration Of the
test was IN each case ten hours except In
that OF the first test OF Westminster Brym-
DO coal which lasted hours f6 minutes
The results OF the tests is given In the
following table: