The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-20
PLENTY Of COAL
! LEFT IN WYOMING
Geological Survey Reports on
Several Fields Known in
the State.
RAILROADS ARE NEEDED
Dry Farmers Spreading Over
Sections Well Provided
With Good Fuel.
RAILROADS ARE NEEDED

The United States geological survey
as JUST published a report on coal fields
eastern Wyoming. IN the Little Pow
er river Sussex and Lost Spring dis
lets.
The Little Powder river coal field Hes
bout midway between the Black Hills
nd BiGhorn mountains and embraces np
req OH the west sidc OF Little Powder
ver that s nenrly fifteen miles wide
nd extends southwark about thirty five
lilcs from the Montana Wyoming state
ne. There are no railroads in this area.
ne nearest road passing within fifteen
iiles OF the southwest corner OF the
old. The total available coal In tho
rea under present mining conditions is
stimated at 2.660. SOC, 900 tons.
The Sussex coal field, covering about
90 square miles, lies southeast OF the
Sshorn mountains and contains about
oS,sss,0o0 tons.
lost Spring Field.
The Lost Spring coal field forms the
outheasts:n part OF the broad area OF
oal-bearlns strata In northeastern Wy
ming eastern Montana and tho Da-
otas. = region known an the Northern
treat plains. The field comprises about
900 square miles lying northeast OF
Douglas, in Converse county. Wyoming
he Lost Spring field was named from
ne town of Lost Spring, Within the
'rea, which prior 10 1903 consisted OF
'oN car railroad station, store. postot1ice
nd bla clssmith shop, but which. since
ne coal mines north of the town were
'pened has grown rapidly and will prob
tbly soon become place OF considerable
Importance The territory near tho town
rapidly being settled by dry farmers"
eho have successfully raised potatoes
nd small grains without irrigation
Tntll late in 1910 practically no coal
isd been shipped from the Lost Spring
ield the little that had been mined hsv-
ns been used in Douglas and Lost Spring
md by the few ranchers in the region.
There is now, however. growing de-
nand for the coal among ranchers and
Try farmers. ms well as among residents
iornestIc fuel IL used soon after min
ns. but shipment to distant towns is
almost out Of the question, for even
With the most careful handling IN closed
>eriments have proved that 1t Is i'm
possible 70 ship this coal moro than 400
II 500 miles and still dispose Of 1t prof
tably as steaming and domestic fuel.
The amount OF total coal in the field
estimated at 2,155.376,Ooo short tons.
Character of Product.
The coal in the region studied has
,een referred 10 as Ignite by most writ
srs, that In tbs Little Powder field be-
ng often called "blacle Ignite" but un-
ier tho present scheme OF classification
~ the United States geological survey
should be termed subbiturninops. a
fresh sample Of the coal Is bright. black
md hard. When exposed to dry at
nosphere for a short time II gradually
pr eaks up into small fragments. Much
II the coal shows the texture OF the
wood from which It was formed, but
vixen 1t breaks to pieces the planes OF
fracture do not conform to the grain of
The wood.
The report has been issued By the
geological survey as bulletin s71-F. en-
titled Goal Fields in Eastern WyoIu
ing" by j. A. Davis. c. H. Wegenann
and ., E. Winchester. and may be OBJ
lalned free on application TO the director
II the snIEnN al MaShlnclnn. D. c.