Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-17
W|L[|STON MINES
CAN SUPPLY FUEL
To BIC TERRITORY
All Northwest Can Draw on
Field if Coal Strike
Continues.

Wuliston. y. D., July 16.-That the
Nilliston district alone can on snort
notice supply the coal needs OF the
entire northwest in case of a contlnua-
ton of the coal strike In the eastern
fields is shown by a survey or the
situation here as regards the 1aciilties
for mining. If the existing mines IN
this immediate vicinity were worked
10 capacity a daily production OF thou-
sands of tons of Ignite coal could De
shipped from this point alone without
the o~pening of any additional pro-
perties.
In addition to the government nine,
the product of which is used exclusive
ly for operating the power plant or the
United States reclamation service
there is only one mine of Importance
heinp operated here at the present
time. this being the mine of the Willis
ton Coal & Ice company. TINS NINE
has all the facilities needed for min
ing and shipping 500 tons of coal a
day. but its present output is only
about half that tonnage.
President j. A. Husebye of the VIII
liston Coal & Ice company says that
his mine can readily fill orders up to
500 tons a day by adding an extra
shift to the working force. and thai
Ine tOIIlIdDA ho" mas " tNANA
TO keep up maximum production tor
many years. Should the demand Just
ify such action, other mines could
quickly be opened at various points.
The Black Diamond Coal mine is at
present being worked by miners un-
der lease, turning out from 20 to %
tons a day, the output being sold
locally. This mine at one time en-
ployed 20 men, but on account of the
low price Of coal the attempt to run
it was given up by the company and
the mine turned over TO a few miners
who have been operating II since. y.
r. Ludowese. president of the Black
Diamond Coal company, says that it
would take about go days to open up
a shaft and give proper attention to
protection for the workers before the
mine could again be operated at full
capacity. Considerable capital was at
one time put into this property and 1t
could readily be put into such shape as
TO furnish coal to the entire state and
Mr.. Ludowese says that the vein now
being worked is from s TO II feet in
thickness and undoubtedly contains
millions of tons of fuel.
The Bruegger mine at Avoca, a few
miles east of this city, has been closed
for about six years, but Mr.. Bruegger
says that plans are now being made
for r%eopening it for next years pro-
duction. This mine has been handi-
capped by an excessive flow of water
and pumps had to be operated con-
stantly while mining was carried on.
1t was closed for lack of sufficient
capital to keep the mine in repairs and
in such condition as to afford full pro-
lection to the miners. but wider de-
mand for coal would make possible q
resumption of mining.
Mr.. Bruegger plans to go into the
briquetting business as the coal in
this form can be shipped more eco
nomically and will keep in storage in
definitely, not being subject to slack
ing" as is the case with Ignite Goa.
as it comes from the mine. This pro-
perty consists of some 240 acres and
the mine is well located for shipping
The mouth of the mine is close to the
tracks of the Great Northern railway
The E%llithorpe mine has at present
a capacity of so tons q day, which
could be increased to 100 tons, and the
Square Deal mine now has a capacity
of % tons daily. Besides these there
is the Star mine and the Lovejoy mine
and others that are operated more or
less during the fall and winter months
and the combined capacity Of which
would provide ample fuel for a large
section of the northwest.
As to the coal resources, these are
practically limitless. this locality being
in the heart Of the Ignite district,
every acre of which contains thousands
Of tons Of coal. only the outcrops or
upper veins of which have been
touched.