The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1900-10-12

In-fhe summer of 1875, the BeIIing
ham Bay Coal Co. did considerable
work on coal discovery lying on un-
surveyed lands on the northeast shore
OF Like Whatcom. The outcrop of a
promising vein had been traced for sew
eral miles on the surface; and with
VIEW TO working it from its lowest point
OF vantage, tunnel was started from
the shore line of the lake. The projec-
tors OF this tunnel either had miscon-
ception OF the location OF the vein above,
or were prepare to spend a large sum
OF money. For with the dip of the vein
an average of so degrees north, and the
direction of the tunnel to the northward.
1t is evident that mile of such tunnel
would hardly have reached the vein.
Add To this the cost Of necessary air
courses and the outlay would have been
enormous. Realizing possibly the
enormi.y Of their undertaking, perhaps
Tor other reasons, the fact remains that
work was abandoned that winter. The
The obse- want traveller may have noted
an unprelentious dump of slate colored
rock as he rounds the bend in view of
the village of Blue Canyon. Through
the rank foliage he may even have dis
covered black hole. These are all the
landmarks Of once hopeful activity.
TIE SECOND ATTEMPT. I
Not until 1888, when the land In cues
ton Was surveyed and thrown open for
settlement, was any further attention
paid to the discovery. A syndicate
composed principally OF Tacoma men
was organized, the property located I'M
der the coal lands act of the United
States mining laws, and the lower end
OF Lake Whatcom again became the
scene Of ACTIVITY. It was short lived.
Their funds disappeared one day togeth-
er-with the company's treasurer. Time
moved on; contestants appeared claim
], g the right to file by reason Of aban-
donment, and after decisions and re-
Seisals by the local'la Office and the
department of the Interior it was not
ssntil October of 1890 that the litigants
compromised and the property passed
ITO the hands OF a few active men.
such is the initiatory history of the now
samous Blue Canyon mine.
SUCCESS CAME.
That well known promoter and organ
izer, James F. WarGner, had secured
control of the property. With mora
enterprise than capital he and his rart~
ners began development work on tho
vein in deep Tavine afterwards named
Blue CMnyons Roads were built an an
Q tEamNAy costing So6G0 vas OaDs~
In February 1891. There were
Tread connectiqns and it was
q advisable o.interest the North
kcifc k. r. which had secured
ri OF the S. J.. S. & E. r. r., only
Ailes distant. The Blue Canven
Goal Mining Co. was then organized
With capital stock of a half-niili Ii
dollars, TO which If. McNsughr, close
~ identified with the N. P r. R., sub
scribed for a one-fif th interest, agreeing
that the Northern Pacific r. r. should
bald the kranrh from Blue CANYON to
the s l.. S. & E. r. r. and make an
entlet to tide water at the embryo CITY
OF Anacortes. That promise was never
1ulkiied and it should be a source OF
conKFatulstion ca the part of every citi-
zen on the Bay thai it was not
Ten prary arrangements for handling
coal by the lake and wagon were made
in March 1891, and IN exactly five
months From the date OF the beginning of
operations coal was placed on the
market. 1t has poured ii unin errupt-
eddy since.
On July 3lst. 1891, at Portland, for a
4
trolling stock OF the Blue CANYON Coal
Mining Co. passed into the hands of
what is known as the Helena Syndicate.
Development work was prosecuted Wig
oreusly. Steamships and the Great
Northern railway began using the coal
and the increased demand made more
rapid means of transportation necessary.
1t was then that an allied corporation to
the Blue Canyon Coal Mining Co,
styled the Bellingham Bay & Eastern
Z. Z. Co, was conceived.
QUALITY OF COAL
Regarding the product OF the Blue
Csnyen mine it may be said it is dis
tinctly hituminOus as distinguished
from lignite Seattle coals) The former
belongs to an older geological period,
while the latter more nearly resembles 4
the vegetable matter in its petriied |
state. The one is rich ia bitumen, the
other lacking in lasting qualities.
Three Kinds of coal are prepared by the
company, adapted for different uses.
These are domestic or house coal, gas
coal and steam coal.
Domestic or house coal is q screened |
limp coal, free from slate or slack and |
makes friends with the housekeeper |
wherever used. 1t produces light red
dish ash, no clinkers, and burns with a
clean, smokeless yellow fame. Econo-
my in the consumption of coal with the |
careful housekeeper is an ever mindful /
need, and no coal on the Pacific coast is
more satisfactory in this regard. Tie
high amount of fixed carbons, as per
analysis shown herewith, is plentiful
evidences of this fact. There is mere
heat in a ton of Blue Canyon coal by
two to two and one half times that con-
tanned in Ignite coal. For example YOU
will admit that cord of oak wood will /
Hast longer and make more heat than 8
cord of fir wood. So it is with bitumin
Gus blue Canyon) and Ignite Seattle
coals) 4 ton of coal is not ALWAYS q ton
OF coal. Observant housekeepers have
found this out. The company also pre-
pares grade OF nut or stove coal at a
lower price that is very popular for use
In large stoves.
comparative analysis of the best
known Goals or Puget Sound is here
with given. Blue Canyon heads the
list in heat giving carbons.
fz S. E So