The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-05

One OF the greatest plans OF develop
ment Of Washing;on's great coal industry
Is nearing completion by the Pacific coast
Company and by next fall that branch OK
this extensive institutions business viii
have been increased At least third over
the present output. The proposition 10
the Coal creek property. on which de-
veloping work has been proceeding for
more than a year. and when II 10 in q con-
dition 10 be operated TO the fullest extent
the total output Of all the company )
mines including the weu-known Frank
lin, the recenily-purchased Lawson prop
erty in the same vicinity and the New
castle locality. will be from 2.soo to 1900
tons a day, making the Pacific Coast Com
pany still more than now the most
prominent coal-mining concern on the
west coast.
The Coal creek and Newcastle property
includes $3.50 acres, and although ii has
been operated some years has not indi-
Gated the slightest sign OF being exhaust
ed. and II Is known that there Is product
enough there 10 keep the business going
at full, blast for an indefinite number OF
years.
The Coal creek property has been de-
veloped by drifi-tunnei 500 feet long
driven along what is called the Bagley
No. 2 vein. Al the end Of the drift-tun-
mel cross tunnels have been driven in the
rock north and south. intersecting five
workable veins. making total Of six
valuable veins, with others yet to be de-
veloped. Gangways have been driven by
Harrison mining machines on the several
veins. and airways are being driven 10
the surface for increasing the ventilating
facilities. The tunnels have been extend
ed by Ingersoll rock drills operated by
compressed air furnished from an Inger-
soil air compressor located at the boiler
plant on the surface, the air being con-
veyed to the point of operation through
three-inch pipes. The use. of this machin-
cry has resulted In a maximum amount
OF work per day being made possible. and
therefore Fastening the work of devel-
opment, which would ordinarily have re-
quired much more time. The gangways
are all above the water level. and will
give lift on the veins of $40 feet to the
surface. thus providing for large daily
output for several years before develop
ment below the water leve! will be re-
quired.
Size Of Tunnels and Veins.
The main tunnel is fourteen feet wide
and eight feet high. and the cross tunnels
l3x7 feet. each laid with double tracks OF
35-pound Trails The main cross tunnel
has length OF SIS feet, while another
cross tunnel leading into the May creek
vein Is 10 feet long
The veins of coal SO far opened and un-
der process OF development are the we'll
known May creek vein. showing four and
half feet OF good coal: No. 0 veia, with
five feet; Bag,ey No. l, with eleven feet;
Bagley No. 2 with seven and a half feet;
Newcastle No. e. with Ave feet, and New
castle No. 4. which shows six feet OF coa,,
all Of them In good condition. with prom
Using hanging and foot wat-. The veins
extend The full length Of the property OF
the Pacific Coast Company, distance OF
three miles.
A conservative estimate of the quantity
of coal available through these new OPEN
ings Is 100000 tons. making ii one of the
most valuable coal properties In the state.
and adding considerably TO the commercial
Importance OF King county and Seattle
AT the average cost of mining and deliver
Ing the product screenings. nut and lump)
into the bunkers in Seattle Of 81 50 a ton.
II is realized that the enormous sum Of
SIS .ec.ooo Will be expended before this esti-
mated supply is exhausted, to say moth