The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-11-01
MlLWAUkEE's COAL PROPERTY
NEAR ROUNDUP BIDS FAIR TO
Be BIG PRODUCER.
PLAN TOWNSHIP {
w. w. Taylor Tells Of Development Of
Republic Mlne-Best Quality Of Coal
in the state-yvill Run Full capacl-
ty in the Spring and Output Will Be
3,o0o Tons Daily.

The Republic Coal company, sub.
sidiary concern OF the Milwaukee
Railroad company, has struck vein
Of coal at their mine near Roundup,
which bids fair to be the largest pro-
ducer in the state, and from which
the best quality of coal in Montana
will ba taken, according to w. w.
Taylor, general superintendent OF the
Milwaukee's coal interests, who has
just returned from trip of inspection
to the mine. Two cars Of coal from
the mine have already been loaded
and development work is progressing
rapidly.
I'VE struck vein last Saturday
which measures six feet, two inches
in width" said Mr.. Taylor yesterday,
and expect that when the mine is
run full capacity it will produce at
least 5000 tons daily, or enough fuel
to supply the company, not only
throughout this section of Montana,
but as far east as their Iowa field.
The coal is semi, or very near BIZ
luminous, and is considered the best
quality in the state. Active work on
the mine will be continued in the
spring, but in the meantime we will
keep the same force Of men, about 80
miners, working on the development
of the mine. Next year we expect to
run full capacity and will employ in
the neighborhood of 800 men con
stantly.
"The Milwaukee at present uses
about 1000 tons of coal day and the
present output Of our mines in the
Iowa field is about 4,50O tons daily,
so you can Judge for yourself the
amount Of fuel which the road is re-
quired to purchase from other inter-
ests. The product Of the new mine will
not be placed on the market at all, in
fact, outside Of a small amount which
the company will furnish to few
ranchers near by, none will be sold
at all The Milwaukee is developing
coal properties in the state of Wash
ington which it is expected will furn-
ish the western end of the line with
fuel, and will consider it fortunate
if we strike as good quality of coal
in that state as we have already de-
veloped at the mine near Roundup.
"Steel has been laid up to the mine,
and the temporary buildings will be
replaced by permanent ones in the
spring.
s'The company prospected in the
Bull mountain country, near Round
up, more than two years ago, before
the survey for the railroad was made,
and soon after the extension was
made certainty. The residents OF
that section of the country told us at
that time, that there was lots of coal
in the country. but that it was not OF
a good enough quality to mine. When
the survey was completed and it was
found that the road would be built
through the Musselshell country, the
company found that 1t would be an
almost absolute necessity to open UP
coal field In that section and devel
opment work started in earnest.
knew that the vein which we opened
last Saturday in sinking an air shaft
existed some time ago, and felt con
hdent that 1t would soon be developed
The development work on the veir
which was encountered recently, be
gan the first OF last month, and has
been pushed right along since thai
time.
"The mine entrance is in Yellow
stone county and the tipple is in Fer
gus county just across the river, 81
that the coal is taken out of the mine
in one county and loaded onto the
cars in another.
The railroad does not run int
Roundup, but misses that place abou
two miles and half, the neares
point being at the mine, where a nev
townsite is being laid out, the lots il
which will be placed on the market b,
the townsite company next spring
The railroad company will build be
tween 200 and 800 houses for tn
miners, and with the large force o
men employed at the mine the tow
1000 people soon after the lots ar
1000 people soon attire the lots ar
placed on the market. Unless the res
idents Of Roundup wish it otherwise
and refuse to abandon that place TO
the new town, 1t will be name
Roundup in all probability. The ne,
town will be division point ON tn
line, besides being the base of tn
coal supply. with the other natura