Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-08-17
BIG INCREASE in coal, SUPPLY
Extensive improvements Being Made at the WASH
burn Mines at Wilton, To Accommodate the
Increasing Demand for Legnite Coal.

The Washburn Ignite Coal com I
pany is making extensive preparations
for an increased output of Ignite the
coming fall and winter. In addition
TO opening a new mine in the center
of tract of a thousand acres of lig-
mite coal and fitting it with modern
coal mining machinery, the company
is remodeling the old mine, which has
been in operation for several years,
doubling or trebling its producing
capacity, refltting it with new machin.
cry and ventilating apparatus, and
erecting hosting apparatus that will
increase the hosting capacity from
500 to 1900 or 1900 tons a day. For
the past sixty days these improve.
ments have been in progress at Wilton
under the supervision of E. l. Foster,
well known as one of the first coal
operators in Iowa. When these i'm
provements and additions are COM
pleted, which will be about October
/. the Washburn Ignite Coal Com
pay will be in shape to put out 1000
or $500 tons Of Ignite daily, an out
put which has never been approached
by any mine in the state and which
foreshadows to some extent the enor
nous development of the Ignite indus
try in North Dakota
In addition to all these improve
ments and additions at the mine pro-
per, the company is making prepara
tions for the convenience and comfort
of its miners. in the way of a three
story hotel a little distance west of
Mine No. /, which will be for the ex-
elusive accommodation of the miners.
Few coal companies have made such
arrangements for the health, care and
/ comfort Of their employees as will have
/ been done by the Washburn company
when the present hotel is completed,
which will be in the course of few
weeks. The building is frame struc-
ture, three stories in height and its
dimensions are 6S-6S feet. Its interior
is light, airy and we'll ventilated 1t
is erected on stone basement in
which will be a steam heating plant,
& complete bath room and other con-
veniences. Upstairs on the first floor is
a large, light and airy dining room,
a reading room which will be supplied
with papers and magazines, recreation
room. convenient and modern kitch.
ems. refrigerating apparatus and the
other appurtenances necessary to the
management of a good hotel. The
second and third floors are divided IN
to sleeping rooms all of which have eX-
terror faces, windows from the outside
and ample floor space for the men tc
be housed. The building IS to be
heated by steam and is wired through
out for electric lights. Board and
lodging will be supplied to the min
ers at the rate of S. per week. Few
hotels will be able to furnish then
guests with better conveniences thar
will be supplied here, and miners
working at the mines will be assured
of good boarding and lodging places
The hotel will accommodate about 2J'
men. The exterior woodwork ha
been completed. the plastering IS pe
ing done as rapidly as possible, an'
the building will soon be ready for use
In addition to the hotel the Wash
burn company has number OF COZ
tages at Chaplin, a little distance iron
the mines, for its married miners a
nominal rent. As fast as addltiona
married employees can be obtained col
tages will be erected for them Ihes
are comfortable. and situated at con
venient distance from the mines. MIN
ers who work for the Washburn com
pany this winter will have no reason
TO complain of insufficient or poor az
commodations The management o
the mine is confident that the pes
way to obtain the best class OF miner
Is to make the surroundings pleasah
and comfortable, provide a convei
lent and enjoyable place for the me
after working hours. and insure goo
board and lodging, which the compah
will do by operating their own hote
The improvements at Mine No. ar
extensive. The principal change an
the one which will result in the srea
est increase of the output is the raisin
OF new hoisting tower and the SIM
ing Of new shaft. The present hols
Ing apparatus is insufficient. ana