Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-12-31
IS COAL UNDER
OUR CITY
frot' Thomson, Mining Expert,
Doubts IL, But Suggests an
Investigation.

That coal was discovered in pull
man in 1891 is the story told by
many of The old residents of this
place and interest has been revived
by the alleged discovery of coal on
the Ellsworth Bishop farm near Gar
neld' recently. II. II. Letterman, of
Fuilman, sent story of this discoy-
cry to The Spokesman-Re and
II was published last Tuesday, as fol-
0Ws:
Pullman, Wash, Dec 2S.-E. Fl.
Letterman, a real estate dealer of
this city, says coal was first discoy-
lered In tho Palouse country In 1891.
during the drilling of artesian wells
at Pullman. The Nelson Coal COM
pany of Seattle has had surveyors
on Ellsworth Bishops farm near Pa
louise several days and will have men
and machinery begin drilling for coal
by January /
flow Of artesan water was
struck In 1891 at Pullman at 10 TO
80 feet, says Mr.. Letterman. "Engi-
neer Nichols contended that coal as
well as artesian water was underly-
Ing this vicinity. Mr. Nichols advised
them 20 drill deeper and Mr. John
son drilled well near the o. X. &
~ depot. When the drill reached
20 feet a vein of coal was struck.
Mr.. Shoop owner of the drill, made
affidavit that the vein in his iudg-
ment was not less than six feet, and
might be eight feet thick"
A number of the residents of Pull
man at that time remember the mat
ter, and in speaking about It tell of
the excitement caused by the dscov-
cry. One of these said to The Herald
reporter: There is no doubt that
coal was found, and it created much
excitement at that time The town
was greatly worked up over the 10
cation of the State Agricultural Col
.lege and the discovery of artesian
water, which somewhat dimmed the
interest in the coal discovery A
company was organized to prospect
for coal and 1t was planned to sink
shaft TO depth of 100 feet, the
depth at which the coal was discov-
cred, but the panic times came on
about the time the company was
formed and every one went broke
and the investigation was never
made. Many of those who saw the
substance taken from the hole at
that time are certain II was coal"
Prof Francis Thomson, head of
the department of mining at the
State College, was seen by The Her
aid correspondent and asked about
the matter. Prof. Thomson said II
was greatly surprised when | read
Mr. Lettermans article and called
him up by telephone and asked him
many questions about It, He seems
very enthusiastic. | can scarcely be-
leve that there Is coal here, 1t seems
impossible with the basaltic forma-
ton under this country that there Is
any possibility of coal existing. Yet
it could exist under the basalt, and
if it only extends to a depth of 100
feet it is possible that coal may be
found
"The matter is worth investiga-
ting. | think company should be
formed and hole drilled or shaft
sunk 1t will not cost a great sum
to put down a hole 100 feet, and the
matter could be tested with light
expense If number of people would
assist There is a stringer of Ignite
peat in the rocks just west of the
%. r. & N. depot where the rock
quarry is located. but this is only
about an inch thick and is entirely
valueless. 1t is the same form alton
found near Albion. where a tunnel
has been driven for $50 feet into
the hill. / am in favor of an investi-
CATION and an effort to discover if
there really is any coal beneath the
basalt The matter is of vital i'm
portance and interest should be
awakened in 1t. 1t would be the
greatest thing for Pullman ever
known If it should prove to be true
that coal lays only 120 feet beneath
the surface"