The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-01
COAL FIELDS TO
Be LOOKED INTO
Government Experts Will Make
Study of Utah, Colorado
and Wyoming.
INTERESTING DATA
WILL BE GATHERED
Inquiry FROM the Country Sets
on Foot Important Move
Soon.

ing the coal lands of the Western
States, both by the Government and
the public at large, has been so press
ing that the United States geological
survey has undertaken to devote a
large amount of its appropriation dur
ing the coming fiscal year to their
investigation. This work is under the
general direction of NJ r. Campbell,
and will be carried on in the various
States and Territories as follows
The coal fields of Wyoming are of
great extent and value at the present
time, but may be of even greater value
when they shall be more fully devel-
opcd. 1t is planned TO put six parties
INTO the coal fields of this State.
T.. &. Woodruff will examine the south
western side of The Bighorn Basin, be-
ginning work near the Montana line
and extending 1t southwark through
Cody and Meteetse To the southern
md of the basin. This field is exceed.
InglS promising and already has rail
road connection through branch lines
Of the Burlington TO Cody and also to
Jhermopobs, in the southern end of
The field. The Goals are of fairly good
quality ard altogether this field has a
most hopeful prospect.
a party under the direction of
Chester ". Washburne will examine
the northeastern side of the Bighorn
Basin from near the Montana line as
far southward as the season will per-
NIT According 10 report, the coal on
this side of the basin is of poorer
quality than that on the western side.
but this field now has the advantage
Of railroad connection throughout
almost it's entire length by reason of
the recent construction of the branch
line Of the Burlington road up Big
horn river,
A party under the direction of
Joseph A, Taft Will examine the
Sheridan field on the main line of the
Burlington railroad. This party will
map an area OF about 1900 square
miles, extending from the west line of
the coal field in the vicinity Of Sheri-
dan to Powder river and lying on
both sides of the Burlington railroad
The coal is extensively developed in
the vicinity of Sheridan, but farther
cast it's quality is not so good and
little mining or even prospecting has
been done. Along Powder river,
however, il is reported that there are
thick beds Of coal that may be called
sub -bituminous-a term adopted by
the. geological survey for the class of
coal usually called "blsck Ignite -
future these may be important.
All work in the southern part OF
Wyoming will be under the general
direction of \. c. Neatch. who Will
personally superinteDd parties located
at Casper. Rawlins and Rock Springs.
The field about Casper is part of
the great lignite-sub- -bituminous area
Of North and South Dakota and east
ern Montana. Active mining is carried
on at Big Muddy and Glen Rock on
the line of the Chicago and North
western railway. The coal is of COM
parativcly low grade, but, according
to reports. is Of considerable extent
and may at the same time be important.
The area surveyed will amount to
1000 or 1900 square miles, most of it
lying north of North Platte river.
The Rawlins field is very extensive.
It lies mainly west of the town of
Rawlins, ON the Union Pacific rail
road, in Carbon county. The coal in
its northern part is little known. for
IT bears a heavy cover Of tertiary
sediments, but the field extends south
the somewhat famous Yampa field
in Routt county THE coal field IN
the vicinity Of the Union Pacific rail
road has been prospccted but has not
been developed owing TO the proX-
unity Of better Goals i'll the Rock
Springs and Hanna fields. South of
the railroad coal has been mined to
some extent in the Encampment re-
gion, but generally the field is un-
limb Of great synclinal basin, which
extends southwark into Colorado and
the Oregon Short Line railroad.
Throughout most Of the central part
of this basin the coal beds are sup
posed TO be too far below the surface
TO be accessible, but this supposition
is hoped that a geological examination
of the field viii throw light on this
question.
The Rock Springs area is local
dome near the center of this great
svnclinal basin. The doming of the
rocks has brought the coal beds to the
surface and the coal is extensively
pany for the use Of the railroad and
for shipment both East and West.
II Is a high grade bituminous steam
coal and is considered the type for
much of the Western country. This
field is of limited extent and will be
thoroughly examined during the com.
ing season by one of Mr.. Vcatch g
parties.
Tho coal fields OF Colorado arc fairly
well known, largely on account of the
fact that many Of them contain high.
grade Goals which have been exten-
sively developed by the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company and other coal
companies IN the State, The largest
and least known area is in Routt
county, in fhc northwestern part of
the State. Part of this field has 81
ready been examined by the geolog
ical survey, aud during the coming
season it is proposed that a party
under the direction of Hoyt s. Gale
shall begin work in the vicinity OF
Mcckcr, in Rio Blaneo comfy. exam
inc the western end OF the Yampa fielc
and then turn westward and cxplort
the northern rim of the great Tint,
basin, carrying the work into Utah
Along the southern foot Of the Uinti
monntains the coal-beariDg rocks ar,
largely, if not wholly, covered BY late
sediments or waste brought down
rom the mountain slopes. Mr.. Gal.