The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-03
WHATCOM COUNTY COAL.
NINE OWNERS PREPARE FOH
LARGELY INCREASED DEMAND.
Anticipate Neutrality Laws Will
Give Them British Columbia's Cal
ifOrnfa Market-The Navy Will
Also He Large COnsume4.

Special Dispatch TO the Post-Intellisencer.
WHATCOM, April 3o.-The coal indus
try Of this and adjacent counties is begin
ming to show the effects of the Increased
demand for naval purposes. Both the
Fairhaven and Blue Canyon mines ara
doing extensive development; work to IN
CT, use their output. AT the former
large new double drum hoist is now being
placed and preparation made 10 open
second level below the present tunnel lew
ei. At Blue Canyon work is being pushed
on double shift, and the company Is pre-
pairing for a large demand. not alone from
government sources. but from comfner ciai
enterprises also.
IL Is regarded here as doubtful whether
Great Britain will be able tn observe her
neutrality regarding coal as a contrabafid
or war. The greater her vigilance, how
ever. the greater will he the increase OF
the Puget sound coal product. For exam
pie. California bought 100000 tons of coal
In 1897. OF this 55s 900 tons came from
British Columbia, $4,000 tons from The
United States. and 4i2.0t1 from austria
Tia ana Great Britain. Should the foreign
supply of coal for California be shut eff.
San Francisco would be forced TO fail
back on Puget sound and the Rocky
mountain coal mines, greatly increasing
their market and bringing prosperity TO
their owners and employees.
Should strict neutrality be maintained on
the part OF Great Britain and her colonies.
Il will materially benefit the coal Industry
Of Whatcom county, as we'll as those OF
King and Pierce counties. Some FIVE years
age the navy department at Washington.
anticipating such crisis as the present
and realizing the necessity Of a greater
knowledge OF the Pacific coast caal sup
ply. began an investigation into the
quality OF the various Goals mined on Pa-
eet sound. The L. S. 8. Yorktown was
ordered 40 Puget sound in March, 1894,
II test the coal and report. Her commando
en- Capt. William NJ. Folger. speat over a
month In practical daily steaminS trails.
and made 4 lengthy technical report.
signed by the examining board of en-
giueers. A. Il. Bates. j. NJ. Pickereil and
Albert Mor.tz that BIuA Canyon and
Fairhaven Goals were the best OF th0ne
tested. as safe as Comox or other British
Columbia Goals and showed greater evap-
orative efficiency
This trial was supplemented in 1865
by a three months test on the u. 8. s.
Mohican, one of the old navy. Her COM
maader, Capt. Dennis Mullen. reported in
substance as did Capt. Fosger.
In April. lss4 the Blue Canyon Coal
Company was awarded the contract for
coallng all Of the thirteen United States
vessels then on their way 10 the EIrlng
sea II enforce tslv sailing regulations. and
with Few exceptions, the government
has net used British Columbia coais since
and has bought thousands of tons Of Blue
Canyon coal, both for use Ia Alaska and
for any OF the naval vessels on tina
Sound OF cosstwise. Only about thirty
days ago the department at washsrgton
awarded the Blue Canyon company a con-
tract for 80 tons of coal to be delivered
at 81. Michael. ard go tons at SffkA.
Or April ~ owing 70 the certsiuty of war
with Spain. the department asked 10 b.
released from both these contracts. stat
iSg ;aa, It's plans had been altered and
~eo0id rot require coal at ;hosa posnts-