The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-12
PRODUCES MORE COAL THAN
ANY STATE WEST OF ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.
Evergreen State Bids Fair to Control
the Entire Coal Trade of the
Pacific Coast.

According to official statistics gath
cred by the geological survey, the
state of Washington is more than
maintaining it's lead over all states
west of the Rockies, in the production
of coal. In fact, Washington is the
only state of the far west that is to-
day producing coal in any considera-
BILE quantities, and bids fair to con-
tori practically the entire coal trade
of the Pacific coast south of the Brit
ish Columbia line.
1t is a fact, however, that there was
falling off in the production of coal
in Washington during the past year,
as compared to the twelve months
Of 1903, due to reasons explained in
the report Of the survey. But despite
this slight decrease, Washington stays
we'll in the lead and has so far dis
tanced all competitors that they cut
very little figure in this traffic. AS a
matter of fact there are no indications
that any other state west of the Rocky
mountains will ever produce coal in
considerable quantities; the large and
the valuable deposits seem to be con-
fined entirely to Washington.
Coal Production.
Speaking of the coal production in
Washington, the report of the survey
says:
1.-The coal fields of Washington are
confined to the western and central
portions of the state. Four principal
fields may be mentioned the North
Puget Sound, including the mines of
Skagit and Whatcom counties, the
South Puget Sound field containing
the operations in King and Pierce
counties; the Puget Sound basin,
just east of Seattle; the Roslyn field
on the eastern slope of the Cascade
mountains, and the southwestern field,
embracing the counties of Lewis and
Cowlitz.
'The Goals of Washington range
from Ignite to bituminous coking
Goals, and some natural coke has been
observed. The bituminous Goals of
Washington are the only bituminous
coking Goals on the Pacific slope of
the United States. The coking Goals
are found in the Wilkeson Carbonate
district, the Roslyn field and the north
and south Puget Sound districts.
They run high in ash and are usually
washed before coking. The Ignite
Goals of Newcastle and Renton are
generally of high grade and well suit
ed for domestic use.
First Discovery.
Coal was first discovered in Wash
ington in 1S4S when a ignite, or
Not found in C0W1itZ
valley. Four years later bituminous
coal was found in Bellingham bay,
and the first mine in the state was
opened on this bed. Shipments did
not begin, however, until 1860. This
mine was operated continuously from
1860 to 1878, when, because of fire
caused by spontaneous combustion
the workings were abandoned and
they have not since been reOpened
Shipments were not resumed from any
of the mines in the northern district
until 10 years later, 1901.
Coal was discovered in King coun-
ty in 1859, and mining began near the
present Issaquah in 1862. Shipments
to San Francisco began in 1871, since
which time the Washingtonians have
been an important source of supply to
the San Francisco market. About the
same time the Talbot and Renton
mines, which are in King coun-
ty, began shipping, and rail connec-
ton between the Renton mines and
Seattle was obtained in 1877. Pro-
duction in the Green River field be-
gan between 1880 and 1885, and the
Pierce county fields. which had been
opened up in 1875, and afterwards