Fergus County argus., 1903-04-08
Among the Mines
Devoted to the Large Min
ing Interests OF Fergus
County General Notes.
Bio Field of Fine Coal.

]. L. Bright came by yesterday
morning and took the Argus report
er out to the coal mine of the Lew
istown Coal Company, which is COM
posed OF Messrs. Bright, Greene and
Borgh. The property consists Of
about 600 acres of land lying between
Big Spring and Little Casino creeks.
about three miles southeast of the
city. John Borgh has been working
a mine about the middle Of the prop
erty for the past year, and. consider
ing the short time since work was
begun on the first open cut, there is
a great deal of development work al
ready accomplished A most advan-
tageous place was chosen for opening
up the mine. By striking into the
side of one of the steepest banks on
Big Spring creek, not only was the
vein easily struck, but the formation
of rock Is such that but little timber
ing is necessary. There has been ap-
proximately $500 feet of tunneling
done, the greater part Of which is in
a splendid bed of coal. The coal vein
is struck after going in ninety-fve
feet. The entrance tunnel extends
$40 feet in a southwesterly direction
and from this tunnel a branch tunnel
leads off 120 feet. Lying parallel to
the entrance tunnel is another tun-
mel 600 feet long. The parallel tun-
nels are the first part Of the usual
development system which Messrs.
Bright, Borgh and Greene will en-
ploy in their mine-simply that Of
blocking off rooms, leaving pillars of
coal to form all of the support neces-
sary. In this connection it may be
said that the mine has the best cell
ing and walls that could possibly be
desired. It will require the minimum
amount of timbering and thus great
ly reduce the expense Of developing.
At present four men are at work wild
ening and timbering the open cut,
which will be one Of the best ever pos
sessed by a western mine. Having
convinced themselves that they have
a practically unlimited supply of coal
will be made for disposing of 1t in
large quantities, the owners are max
ing everything of the most substantial
character. The vein which they are
now in varies from 4S to 81 inches.
The dip is just sufficient to greatly
aid in the mining. That the vein is
extensive is shown from the fact that
across from the place OF principal de-
velopment, over one and quarter
miles, the same bed is found. In fact,
from all investigations made 1t is rea-
sonably believed that the entire tract
of 600 acres Is underlaid with coal.
Hugh Lochray, who is connected
with the Sand Coulee mines and is
recognized as one of the best inform
Gu coal experts in the state. made a
visi- to the mine week before last,
and, after being taken through by Mr..
Borgh, expressed 1t as his opinion
that 1t Is one of the most promising
prospects in the state for large coal
bed, and one which will be easily work.
ed. The coal company has already
partially perfected arrangements with
the Montana Railroad company to run
a track out to the mines. The survey
has been tentatively made and the
coal company is planning to extend
the shoots, put in two screens and
otherwise facilitate the handling Of
the output. BY the time the road gets
here the company will be in shape
to put out at least $50 tons per day
and with the excellent arrangements
being made the output can be greatly
increased by simply increasing the
force. With coal, which in quality
and quantity will challenge compar-
ison with the output of any other mine
In the state, and reasonable shipping
rates, 1t seems not only possible but
probable that this city will some day
not far off reap the benefits of being
adjacent to a large, extensively work
ed coal mine.