Chapter I: COAL.--The thickness of the Coal Measures of the Puget Sound basin is

estimated by Bailey Willis at something like 14,000 feet, though he admits the obvious possibility of error in the calculation by reason of undiscovered faults. We may fairly expect them, however, to be thicker than the same group in the Rocky Mountains, which measure about 9,000 feet. As heretofore remarked, the sediments become thinner from west to east. Of course, the maximum thickness is not to be expected in every locality. Mr. Willis's estimate was made in the Wilkeson and Green River fields, and really did not reach the limit of the coal-bearing rocks. The coal rocks of the Cedar River and Snoqualmie basin have never, so far as I know, been estimated, but probably this group is equal in thickness to that of any other part of the field. The difficulty of measurement arises from the numerous fractures and changes of strike which exist.

[Sidenote: Fifteen workable seams.]

The number of distinct workable seams of coal of three feet and upwards, belonging to the measures, may safely be put down at not less than fifteen.

[Sidenote: Different kinds of coal described.]

Before considering the quality of these coals, I will, for better understanding, make some prefatory statements in regard to the character of coals generally. Charcoal has greater purity than mineral coals usually have, because there is nothing in the charcoal except what naturally belongs to the woody matter. Mineral coal, however, having been buried in water, mud, and sand, must, almost of necessity, have some mixture of foreign matter, either slate, which is simply hardened mud; silica, which may have been derived from sand; iron and sulphur, some of which may have been in the wood, but most of it, probably, introduced in solutions; to which should be added, unexpelled oxygen, which is not only useless as fuel, but which combines with a portion of the contained hydrogen, and forms water in the substance of the coal.

The proportion of ash in coals of the same class is usually determined by the amount of slate in the coal, in addition to the mineral matter which belonged originally to the vegetable material from which the coal was formed. In the pure state, the proportion of ash increases as the transformation of woody fibre goes on from peat to anthracite.

[Sidenote: The chemical changes in coal beds.]

It is worth while to note what are the changes which take place in the vegetable matter during the process. It may be described in a word as a progressive loss of oxygen, and by this loss the coal becomes richer, for the reason just given. The deoxidizing process is carried on by means of chemical changes in the substance of the coaly matter. The oxygen combining with a certain proportion of the carbon, forms carbon di-oxide, or carbonic acid gas; and a certain other portion, combining with hydrogen, forms water. Both of these are volatile in their character, and gradually escape. Another loss is effected by the combination of hydrogen and carbon, forming marsh gas. We have deadly proof that these combinations are in progress in all coal mines by the occurrence of "choke-damp" and "fire-damp," which are the miners' names for these gases.

[Sidenote: Deficient nomenclature.]

Unfortunately, we have no settled nomenclature for the varieties of coal, excepting the broad names lignite or brown coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite. Even the term "bituminous" is scientifically inaccurate, there being, in fact, no bitumen in any coal. But it is applied to such coals as contain more oxygen and volatile combustible matter and water than anthracite, and less of these elements than lignite. The term lignite is made to include a great variety of substances, covering the lignites of the Juro-Trias of James River (Dutch Gap), which retain not only the structure, but the appearance of decaying wood; the lignites of the State of Mississippi, which are of the same geologic age as those of the Rocky Mountains, but which, owing to their watery and crumbly character, are unfit for market; the lignites of the Grand and Moreau rivers of Dakota, which are reported to have no commercial value; the lignites of Bozeman, Montana, which are really valuable, but soon break down into chips and grits; the lignites of Green River, Wyoming, which are firm, bright, lump coals; and the lignites of King County, Washington Territory, many of which are hard, bright, steam and shipping coals. And when brought to the laboratory, it is found that chemically these lignites vary even more than they do optically.

[Sidenote: Lignite an unsuitable name for the coals of Washington
Territory.]

This want of a varied nomenclature is to be regretted, because it sometimes handicaps a good coal with an inferior name. It is only of late that the Laramie or Cretaceous coals of Washington Territory have been divided into lignites, bituminous coals, and anthracites. These grade into each other so insensibly that it would be impossible to classify them sharply. None of the lignites which I saw were as low in grade as the typical lignite. The woody structure was quite discernible in some samples of the Franklin coal, and less in the Newcastle and Green River; but in respect to the two latter, I could not with the naked eye discern more of the woody structure than I have seen in some of the West Virginia coals, which belong to the Carboniferous period. I sat by fires of Newcastle and neighboring coals for a month, and observed no unusual amount of smoke, and no peculiar odor. By analysis, these coals show a larger percentage of oxygen than the typical bituminous coal, but decidedly less than is found in the brown coal of Germany, or in some of the lignites of Montana. They need a new name. Their heating power is not so great as that of the bituminous coals of the same region. Their streak and powder are less black, and their fracture more conchoidal, but not decidedly so.

The bituminous coals have the usual cubical fracture. The Wilkeson readily breaks down into small cubes. The lignites are black and lustrous. They come out as lumpy as ordinary coal, and, when exposed to weather, do not break up into powder and grits like ordinary lignite. This is true, at least, of the Newcastle coal.

[Sidenote: The coking quality not general in these coals, but found in
some.]

The coking quality of these coals cannot be determined by calculating the proportion between the fixed carbon and the volatile, combustible matter. I am not sure that Professor Fraser's fuel ratio tables are a safe guide in any case. So far as now known, only a few of the Washington Territory coals can be made into good coke. On this point, however, we have only laboratory and rough field tests, excepting at the Wilkeson mines, where twenty-five ovens were turning out a superior quality of coke, as proved by every test save the use of it in high furnace stacks, in which there had been no opportunity for trial. It is claimed by many persons that seams on Green River, Skagit, Yakima, and Snoqualmie will furnish good coking coal. The coal on Snoqualmie Mountain, near Hop Ranch, has not been studied, but it certainly has the external characteristics of good coking coal, and Mr. Peter Kirke made a rough trial of it in an earth-pit with decidedly encouraging results.

Somewhat similar coal is found on Raging River, but where opened, so much slate was interleaved with the coal that washing would be necessary before use. More will be said hereafter with regard to these coals; but the remark may be repeated here in respect to the entire Puget Sound basin, that much additional examination is necessary before its coals will be fully understood. The variations in character of these are not owing entirely, or even chiefly, to their relative ages, but also to the conditions to which they have been subjected, especially in respect to heat. This metamorphic agency has acted not only in the body of the Cascade Mountains, but all through the coal-fields, where faults, flexures, and intrusive rocks have occasioned changes in the original condition of the coal-beds, giving results along the whole scale of metamorphism from lignite to anthracite.

[Sidenote: Analyses of Washington Territory coals.]

I here introduce (on the opposite page) a table of analyses made in Washington City from representative samples of Washington Territory coals and lignites selected by Mr. Bailey Willis during the examination which he made of this field for the Census Bureau, and found in Vol. XV. of the Census Reports.

THE COLLIERIES.

I will now give some account of the principal coal seams which have been worked in Washington Territory, namely, those in the field lying east and southeast of Puget Sound; and in so doing I shall add to my own knowledge all information from any reliable sources. Unfortunately, the sources of information are few.

[Sidenote: Authorities.]

In the Report of Bailey Willis to Professor Pumpelly for the Census Bureau, we have the best account extant of the Carbon River and Green River basins. Mr. Willis spent three years in his examination, assisted by topographical engineers. He made numerous trial-pits and borings with diamond drill, and forwarded samples to Washington City for analysis. Mr. F. H. Whitworth, of Seattle, accompanied me in my excursions, and prepared maps which are filed herewith. Mr. Whitworth has probably more practical knowledge of the Puget Sound coal basin than any one else. A small volume on the Pacific coal field was prepared some years ago by Mr. W. A. Goodyear. And Governor Squire's lucid and intelligent reports contain valuable information upon the coal, and all the other interests of Washington Territory. Governor Semple has also, in his Report for 1887, given us the latest official information.

ANALYSES OF REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY COALS AND LIGNITES.

Key for Sites:
A Miles City, Dakota.
B Newcastle, Washington Territory.
C Vein (?) G. R. C.
D Vein 33, G. R. C.
E Vein (?), G. R. C.
F Vein xviii. G. R. C.
G Vein ix. G. R. C.
H Vein vi. G. R. C.
I Vein iii. G. R. C.
J Upper Yakima River, Wash'n Ter.
K Carbon Station, Wyoming Territory.
L Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory.
M Wingate Vein, Carbonado.
N Vein cxxiii. W. C.
O Vein xviii. W. C.
P Vein v. W. C.
Q Vein i. W. C.
R Vein lviii. B. B. C.
S Vein xliv. B. B. C.
T Vein _d_, Carbon River, W. C.
U Skagit River, Washington Territory.
V Raton, New Mexico.
W El Moro, New Mexico.

Abbreviations for final row (Coke):
Wls Worthless
Exc Excellent
B&F Black and Friable
Ra Poor Rather Poor

======================+=============================+=================+
| LIGNITES. | BITUMINOUS | BITUMINOUS |
| | LIGNITES. | COALS. |
+-----+-----+-----------------+-----------------+
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| A | B | J | K | L | U | V | W |
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Original Sample No. | 79 | 24 | -- | -- | -- | 76 | -- | --
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Moisture |14.10| 4.16| 0.80| 8.10| 7.00| 1.17| 2.0 | 1.66|
Volatile Hydro-Carbons|36.95|44.84|36.02|34.70|36.81|14.40|37.1 |34.48|
Fixed Carbon |35.76|43.86|28.48|51.65|54.46|64.56|51.6 |60.08|
Ash |13.19| 7.14|28.23| 5.55| 1.73|19.87| 9.3 | 3.78|
F. C.--V. H. C. | 0.97| 0.98| 1.48| 1.48| 1.23| 4.48| 1.39| 1.74|
| | | | | | | | |
Coke | None| None| Fair| ----| ----| Ra | Good| Good|
| | | | | | Poor| | |
======================+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+

======================+=========================================+
| LIGNITES. |
+-----+-----+-----------------+-----------+
| Green River Field, Washington Ter. |
|-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Original Sample No. | 59 | 56 | 50 | 27 | 42 | 43 | 45 |
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Moisture | 7.27| 9.98| 8.68| 2.50| 4.82| 3.34| 3.24|
Volatile Hydro-Carbons|36.02|40.63|35.90|45.71|42.02|39.39|39.52|
Fixed Carbon |28.48|41.07|47.07|48.37|37.12|41.49|48.39|
Ash |28.23| 8.32| 8.35| 3.42|16.04|15.78| 9.85|
F. C.--V. H. C. | 0.79| 1.01| 1.31| 1.06| 0.88| 1.05| 1.22|
| | | | | | | |
Coke | None| None| None| Poor| None| None| Wls |
| | | | | [B] | [C] | |
======================+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+

[B] Produced fragile coke in field test.
[C] Produced fragile coke in field test.

======================+===============================================+
| BITUMINOUS COALS. |
+-----------------------------------------------+
| Wilkeson Field, Washington Territory. |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----------+
| | | | | Altered by| | |
| | | | | Intrusive | | |
| | | | | Rocks. | | |
| | | | +-----+-----+ | |
| M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T |
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Original Sample No. | 12 | 125 | 17 | 64 | 37 | 136 | 135 | 68 |
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Moisture | 1.80| 3.98| 1.33| 1.16| 1.54| 0.61| 0.44| 2.56|
Volatile Hydro-Carbons|42.27|28.64|25.88|29.09|28.17|29.58| 5.84| 8.43|
Fixed Carbon |52.11|54.10|60.67|60.38|59.70|56.18|73.98|83.27|
Ash | 3.82|13.28|12.12| 9.37|10.59|13.63|19.74| 5.74|
F. C.--V. H. C. | 1.23| 1.88| 2.34| 2.07| 2.12| 1.89|12.67| 9.87|
| | | | | | | | |
Coke | Very| None| Exc | Exc | Poor| B&F | None| None|
| good| [D] | | | [E] | | | |
======================+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+

[D] Produced first-class coke in field test.
[E] Produced first-class coke in field test.

NOTE.--G. R. C.--Green River column. W. C.--Wilkeson column.
B. B. C.--Busy Brook column.

[Sidenote: The different mines.]

In my brief sketches, I shall group the coal-beds as follows: _a_, Carbon River Group; _b_, the Green River Group; _c_, Cedar River Group; _d_, the Squak, Raging River, and Snoqualmie Groups; _e_, the Yakima and Wenatchie Group; _f_, Bellingham Bay, Skagit River, etc.; _g_, British Columbia Group.

[Sidenote: Anthracite, coking and gas coals.]

_a. Carbon River Group._--These beds lie on South Prairie Creek and Carbon River, tributaries of the Puyallup River. Anthracite coal in thin beds is reported high up on Carbon River, near the base of Mount Ranier; the result of metamorphism. Also undeveloped outcrops of soft coal at numerous points on the same river. There are, however, only three collieries at work in this group. One is called the Carbonado mines, which are on the Carbon River. Three miles north, a little east, are the famous Wilkeson mines; and two miles northwest of Wilkeson, are the South Prairie mines, on South Prairie Creek. (See Map.)

These coal-beds stand at high angles (fifty degrees and upwards), and dip in different directions. At Carbonado, there are four seams in pairs, separated by Carbon River, two of which dip to the south, and two to the north. At the South Prairie mines there are two seams, one of which dips to the east, and the other to the west. At Wilkeson there are three seams, all of which dip to the west. Mr. Willis interprets this coal-field as being a dome-like anticlinal, with compressed and crumpled sides, whose major axis runs nearly north and south. The Wilkeson and South Prairie mines are on the line of the major axis, whilst the Carbonado mines are in a group of subordinate short folds lying south of the main line. The anticline extends to Nisqually River, and shows two other coal areas south of Carbon River, the coal of which is said to resemble the Wilkeson coal.

The Carbon River coal-field first having been almost engulphed by volcanic uplifts and overflows, and almost buried by glacial drift, is now visible only in narrow strips along creeks, and at intervals along the Carbon River.

Owing probably to the heating of its beds, we find in this little field the coal which stands highest in reputation for coking and heating qualities. There are some differences in the coal at the three mines. That at South Prairie was sold chiefly for making gas. The best of the Wilkeson coal is made into coke, and is in demand beyond the supply. The price is $7.00 a ton at the ovens. The entire product of the Carbonado mines is said to go to the Central Pacific Railway. It is impossible to say what may be under the Drift; but, to all appearance, the amount of coal here is not large, and the beds are sadly faulted, and pitch deep into the ground.

[Sidenote: The Common Point, equidistant between Tacoma and Seattle.]

_b. The Green River Group._--I include in this group the Black Diamond and Franklin collieries, the Kirke or Moss Bay Company mines, and the Sugar Loaf Mountain beds. This, as well as the Carbon River field, is nearly equidistant from Tacoma and Seattle, being about thirty miles in a right line from each place. The Carbon River basin is geologically associated with Mount Ranier; the Green River basin with the outliers or foot ridges of the Cascade Mountains. The latter are much more approachable than the former. At the east edge of this field, the Northern Pacific Railroad emerges from the Cascade Mountains, having come down the cañon of Green River. This point is known as "The Common Point," because the cities of Tacoma and Seattle are about equally distant, and the routes afford equally good grades from this point.

The narrow gauge road from Seattle now comes to the Franklin mines, and by continuing it a few miles to connect with the Northern Pacific there would be railroad connection to Seattle as well as to Tacoma. The river here cuts through the Coal Measures, leaving the less valuable part of the field on the south side. The area of this field is roughly estimated at fifty square miles. It contains all, or nearly all, the grades of coal from lignite to bituminous; the variety of coal depending upon the degree of local disturbance. As a rule, so long as the coal is not crushed, the more pitched and flexed the rocks, the better the coal; which fact indemnifies the miner for extra expense in mining. Here, the tendency is for the seams to become steeper and more broken from west to east; _i.e._, as they approach the foot-hills of the Cascade Mountains. The strata in Lizard Mountain on the south side, however, form an exception. Here the strata are nearly horizontal.

[Sidenote: Franklin and Black Diamond mines.]

The Franklin mines are on the north bank of Green River and at the south edge of what has been known as the McKay basin, and the Black Diamond mines are on, or near, the north edge of the same small, oval synclinal basin. From this basin the dips become steeper toward the mountain, where Kirke's beds stand at a high angle. On the west edge of the Green River basin, say a mile west of Franklin, there is an outcrop of lignite. The coal of the Franklin and Black Diamond mines is bituminous lignite. The Kirke coal, or at least part of it, as judged by the eye, may be called bituminous coal, though not so much deoxidized as the Wilkeson. The coals mined in this basin are firm, black and shiny; they burn freely, and make but little dust. They have not, however, so far as tested, the heating power or coking qualities of the Wilkeson coal. Two seams are worked at Franklin, and three at Black Diamond. All of the seams worked are above four feet. A number of volcanic dikes and flows are found in and around this basin.

[Sidenote: The Kirke or Moss Bay Company (English) mines.]

The Kirke or Moss Bay Company mines are six miles east of Franklin, and within a mile of Green River. They lie against the mountain. The strike of the mountain is northwest. The coal beds dip toward the mountain at a high angle. There are five seams of from five to fifteen feet in thickness; one of them (No. 2) may be said to be over forty-seven feet in thickness, though not all good coal, as the details given below will show. The top of the outcrops above sea-level are as follows:

FEET.
No. 1 970
No. 2 1,160
No. 3 1,350
No. 4 1,461
No. 5 1,513

Some places on the outcrop rise much higher. The base of the mountain is about five hundred feet above sea-level. No shipping has been done from here. A gang of miners was at work opening the beds, with the special view of testing their coking qualities in order to be used, if practicable, by the Moss Bay Company for smelting the steel ores of the Cascade Mountains.

The only seam well opened when I was there (Nov. 17th and 18th) was No. 3, which is a large bed and shows an excellent quality of bituminous coal. The bed shows the side and end (or "tooth") structure. The coal is very black and moderately lustrous, and breaks readily into small rectangles of less than an inch. Its coking qualities have not been tested. Nos. 4 and 5 are said to be softer and more powdery, and may possibly be better for coke than No. 3. They have an available thickness of about ten feet each. The details of No. 3 are as follows:

Roof, Black Shale. FT. INS.
Coal 0 9
Bone 1 6
Coal 0 7
Hard Slate 2 0
Coal 0 8
Bone 0 2
Coal 0 5
Bone 0 1
Coal 1 2
Soft Parting 0 1/2
Coal 1 0
Bone and Coal 0 7
Coal 1 0
Bone 0 1
Coal 1 3
Bone 0 1/4
Coal 0 5
Bone 0 1/2
Coal 0 7
Bone and Coal 1 8
Coal 0 4-1/2
Bone 0 1
Coal 0 7
Sandstone bottom. -----------
Total 15 ft. 3/4 ins.

There is a natural exposure of No. 2, the "Big Seam," which I saw on the mountain-side above the miners' camp, and took the following details:

No. 2, Big Seam, descending. FT. INS.
Coal 1 2
Bone 0 2-1/2
Coal 0 5
Bone 0 4
Coal 1 4
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal 1 0
Bone 0 1/4
Coal 0 8
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal 0 7
Bone 0 1
Nigger-head and Coal 0 6
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal 1 8
Bone 0 1/4
Coal 2 0
Bone 0 4
Coal 1 10
Bone 0 1
Coal 0 7
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal 1 0
Bone 0 1/4
Coal 1 2
Bone 0 2-1/2
Coal 0 6
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal 0 3
Bone 0 1/4
Coal 1 3
Bone 0 1/4
Coal 1 8
Shale 0 1-1/2
Coal 0 6
Bone 0 4
Impure Bituminous Matter 21 5-3/4
Coal, clean and good 5 6
-----------
Total 47 ft. 6 ins.

The Kirke mines are sixteen miles from Salal Prairie, and two miles from the Northern Pacific Railroad at the Common Point. The route has been surveyed by the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Adjoining the Kirke, or Moss Bay Company property, is a section of coal land (No. 34) on Sugar Loaf Mountain, owned by parties in Seattle, who offer it at $50,000. There are a number of seams on the property, but I could examine only one which had been opened near the foot of the mountain. It is a good seam of bituminous coal, of the same character with the Kirke coal. I took the following details:

Sandstone Roof. FT. INS.
Coal 1 6
Soft Shale 0 1/4
Coal 0 2
Soft Clay 0 1/4
Coal 0 1
Soft Material, mining. 1 2
Coal 0 6-1/2
Slate 0 1/4
Coal 1 0
Bone 0 1/2
Coal 0 10
Bone 0 1/2
Coal 0 5
Bone 0 1/2
Coal 0 7
Bone 0 1
Coal 0 4-1/2
Bone 0 2-1/2
Coal 1 4
Hard Slate Floor. ----------
Total 8 ft. 5-3/4 ins.

_c. The Cedar River Group._--This group consists of the Cedar River mines, nineteen miles from Seattle by rail, the Renton and Talbot mines, ten miles, and the Newcastle, eighteen miles. These coals are in the same river basin, and are all high grade lignites.

[Sidenote: Cedar River mines.]

The first shipment made from the Cedar River mines was in July, 1884. There are two good seams here, one of which measures eleven feet. The outcrop curves from a south to a southwest strike. The dip is 20° toward the east.

[Sidenote: Talbot and Renton mines.]

The Talbot and Renton mines, ten miles from Seattle, are on the same seam, but, owing to faults and other causes, they have not been worked of late. The seam is seven to nine feet of good coal, resembling the Newcastle, but has a bad roof, and soon reaches water. The dip is to the southeast at the grade of 10° to 25°. The outcrop curves as at Cedar Mountain. This always bodes trouble.

[Sidenote: Newcastle Mine.]

The principal mine in this basin is the Newcastle, from which more coal by far has been mined than from any other. Its present annual output is equaled only by the Carbonado mines, which are pressed to their full capacity by the Central Pacific Railroad. The Newcastle coal is a high grade lignite, of firm texture, shining black color, and angular fracture. It is not a coking coal, but has a wide and established reputation for grate, stove, and boiler uses. It is the typical "Seattle" coal, and is sold chiefly in Oregon and California. (To-day, owing to scarcity, it would bring $25 per ton in Los Angeles). It has not the heating power of bituminous coal, but it is greatly superior to many of the lignitic coals. Many difficulties have been met with in the mining at Newcastle, the most of which seem to have been owing to the necessity for mining on the down grade, or fall of the coal; and the mines being now 1,000 feet deep.

I was twice at these mines, but, owing to the just previous destruction of the hoisting machinery, I could not make an examination.

An additional difficulty was that the mine had taken fire.

[Sidenote: Cost of mining.]

The cost of mining at Newcastle has ranged from 85 cents to $1.50 per ton, averaging about $1.10.

[Sidenote: Large production.]

According to Governor Squire, in 1884, the beds mined at Newcastle were, beginning at the lowest, 14 feet, 10 feet, and 5 feet in thickness. The dip is 30° to 40° northward, and the trend north 80° west. Governor Semple gives the following as the output of the Newcastle mines from June 30, 1878, to June 30, 1887:

1879 127,381
1880 128,853
1881 149,602
1882 158,340
1883 218,742
1884 149,948
1885 149,050
1886 85,561
1887 140,701
---------
Total 1,308,178

Average per year 145,353

"The great falling off in the output for 1886 is attributable mainly to the labor troubles of that year, the mine being closed for several months; also the abandonment of the workings from the No. 4 vein."

The slope has now been sunk to a depth of 950 feet, and the mine is being operated entirely from this level. When this lift is finished, it is thought that several others of equal depth can be sunk as the basin is likely to be very deep.

[Sidenote: Misrepresentation.]

After writing the foregoing, I received a volume issued annually by the United States Geological Survey on the Mineral Resources of the United States for 1886; and on page 364 I read with surprise the following statements in regard to the Newcastle mines of Washington Territory: "Considerable iron pyrites is present in this coal, which fact, added to the chaff-like character of the coal for igniting, causes much annoyance and cost to the mine from fires. Coal, or the mine refuse, piled in large quantities quickly ignites."

I knew when I was in the Territory that the mine was on fire, as I have heretofore stated; but I heard no intimation of spontaneous combustion. In fact, I was told that it was accidental.

I wrote at once to Mr. David T. Day, of the Government Survey, who is the present editor of this valuable work, asking his authority for such statements concerning this mine as had never, so far as I knew, been made before; though the mines have been described, or mentioned, in all the preceding volumes of the same work, and were mentioned with approval by Bailey Willis, Goodyear, and all other writers on the resources of Washington Territory. Moreover, that I had spent weeks in the neighborhood of the mines, and never heard anything of iron pyrites or spontaneous combustion.

Mr. Day replied that he had no personal knowledge on the subject; but that those statements had been furnished him by Mr. James F. Jones, who is connected with some mining operations along the Northern Pacific Railway.

I wrote also to Mr. F. H. Whitworth, of Seattle, calling his attention to the above statements, and asking what was the truth of the matter. I received his reply just in time to insert in this Report. I copy below all that he says on the subject, which puts a different face on the matter.

[Sidenote: Correction by Mr. Whitworth.]

"No, I do not think there is any of any consequence of iron pyrite
in the Newcastle mines. Nor do I consider that the fires in the
mine originated in the decomposition of the pyrites. The fire in
the mine originally started in the 'gob,' close to the furnace used
for ventilation, and where the ashes of the furnace were thrown.
Therefore, I have always believed that the fire was not spontaneous
in its origin. The fire originated in the upper water level 'lift.'
But it was led down into the second and third 'lifts' by carelessly
breaking through the chain pillar, and thus letting the fire down.
Several years before the fire started in the mine, and about
three-quarters of a mile, or a mile, west of the point where it
started, by careless mining and drawing of pillars, there was a
'squeeze,' and the mine heated; the result, I think, of the crush;
but the mine did not fire. While you were out here the mines were in
danger of firing, and when the cause was not the proximity of the
present fire--but that, too, I think, was brought on by reckless
mining. Running their 'breasts' 75 feet wide and more, and leaving
only skeleton pillars, a 'squeeze,' of course, resulted, and the
crushing produced the heat, and it did finally fire. The crushing
being so great that the top work came down to within five or six
inches of the bottom, you see easily producing crushing sufficient
to cause fire.

"But the coal does fire outside spontaneously, or rather the slack
does, when it is piled in considerable quantities, and after a year
or more of exposure. The combustion in the slack piles usually
commences in the firing of the shaley cap rock, which is thrown in
with the slack as the rock disintegrates, or as that process goes on
with the 'nigger-heads' thrown into the slack pile. And yet I feel
satisfied that the slack piles fire when there appears to be almost
none of the rock or 'nigger-head' in it. Two conditions, I think,
are required: first, that the slack particles be small, and second,
that large quantities of water be present. And I have supposed the
heat and firing was caused by changing of the conditions; small
particles of slack by disintegration to much smaller particles.

"And yet it may be possible that there may be sulphur in the form of
pyrite present in sufficient quantity to do its work. Very
semi-occasionally, very seldom, I have seen in the sulphur streaks
some slight indications of pyrite; but generally the sulphur
streaks, or balls, seem to be composed almost entirely of sand, with
very little sulphur, and some coaly matter.

"The coal never has fired on shipboard.

"I remember that, several years, ago Mr. Howard, of the O. I. Co.,
had collected and stored in his yard in San Francisco, Cal., in one
pile, several thousand tons of Newcastle coal, and was carrying it
for some time in stock, and that he complained that his coal was
heating, and feared fire. Since then they [have not] stowed in such
large piles, nor carried stock so long.

"No, sir; the sulphur that we rooted [out] at Gilman was not in form
of pyrite, nor have I seen any so far. I do not fear spontaneous
combustion, because in the Newcastle, when it has occurred, it has
resulted from carelessness."

This statement from Mr. Whitworth is certainly satisfactory on the main point, namely, that there is nothing in this suggestion which need diminish the reputation of the Newcastle coal as a stocking and shipping coal.

In 1884, Mr. Jones (the same man) made a special report to Governor Squire on the coals of Washington Territory, in which he describes the Newcastle coal, speaking of it most highly, and saying nothing of spontaneous combustion. He uses the following language concerning the Newcastle coal: "The coal is taken from three beds, and is commercially known as the 'Seattle lignite,' having a bright lustre and good fracture. It is a good and choice fuel for steam generating and for domestic use. The condition of the coal adds much to its value."

[Sidenote: Gilman Mines.]

_d. The Squak Creek, Raging River, and Snoqualmie Group._--These are not all in the same hydrographic basin, but they are considered together because they are the coals which will be reached by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad. A great outcrop of coal seams occurs in the valley of Squak Creek in the mountain spur which lies between Squak and the Newcastle mines. These seams are now being opened by the Seattle Coal and Iron Company, and are known as "The Gilman Mines."

[Sidenote: Structure of Squak Mountain.]

The geological structure of the Squak Mountain and its coal seams is peculiar. With all their local irregularities, the general trend of the coal-bearing rocks in Washington Territory is north and south; so determined by the line of the Cascade Mountains, which is the main axis of elevation, with numerous subordinate and parallel axes. But on Squak Mountain we find the whole group of rocks and coal seams whirled at right angles to the general line. In other words, their general direction is east and west, instead of north and south, and the rocks lie in regular order against their central axis, dipping northward at a high angle, and showing no fault, so far as I know, except, possibly, a vertical fracture somewhere in the mountain, as suggested by a change of 38° in the strike at a point about one mile west of the outcrop on Squak. If the fracture exists, it does not follow that there is any serious dislocation. These coal seams are thus carried almost squarely across the spur from Squak Creek to Coal Creek, or from the Gilman Mines to the Newcastle Mines.

The simple explanation is, that, in the upheaval of the country, the Squak Mountain was made by a cross axis of elevation which runs east and west, or at right angles with the Cascade Mountains. Its metamorphic core shows itself along the crest of the mountain.

[Sidenote: Peculiar advantages for mining possessed by the Gilman
Mines.]

The part of the mountain which holds the coal seams is a high spur which puts off at right angles northward from the crest or backbone, and continues to Lake Washington, a distance of five miles. At the point where the spur leaves the backbone, it may be 1,000 or 1,200 feet high, and it declines gradually to the lake, and then makes a bluff shore-line. On the east side of the spur on Squak Creek it is steep, whilst on the west side, next Newcastle, it drops off more gradually. This difference of grade occasions a great difference in the economy of mining on the two sides. On the east, or Squak Creek side, the ends of the seams are boldly presented, showing in diagonal parallel lines extending from the top of the spur to the creek level, an average exposure of, say, 900 feet in elevation. Here the entries are being driven in horizontally near the water level, and the future progress of the mining will be inward and upward instead of downward and sidewise, as at Newcastle. The entries will all be on the horizontal line crossing the seams. The extreme distance, 1,300 feet. The length of the seams on the company's land is about two miles. Depth below water level, indefinite.

No shipments have yet been made from Squak Creek, Raging River, or Snoqualmie Mountain, but active developing work has been in progress since September last at the Gilman Mines (forty miles from Seattle), and shipping will begin shortly. A switch of only 600 yards in length is required from the main line of railway to reach the outcrop of the coal, and there is every natural advantage for mining.

[Sidenote: Seattle Coal and Iron Company.]

[Sidenote: Seven seams.]

[Sidenote: Details.]

The Seattle Coal and Iron Company own this property, which consists of 1,300 acres underlaid by seven coal seams, five of which will be mined ultimately, three in the beginning. I was able to examine three seams which will be mined at first, and give the following details.

Top Seam, No. 4, descending:

Roof, rich Bituminous Black Slate,
containing streaks of-- FT. INS.
Coal 2 3
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal 0 7
Slate, variable 0 0-1/2
Coal 0 11
Clay 0 0-1/2
Coal 2 0
Clay, variable 0 1-3/4
Coal 1 1
Clay, mining 0 3
Coal 1 1
----------
Total, good 6 ft. 3-1/4 ins.

[Sidenote: Good coal.]

This is a good seam of coal, five feet six inches of which can be depended on for shipping. The coal is dull-black in color, and easily mined. The bottom is soft sandstone. Overlying the roof-slate, is sandstone. The seam here is said to be one foot thicker than it is at Newcastle.

[Sidenote: Another good coal seam.]

Seam No. 2 has been uncovered by the diggings on the railroad, and happens to be at an

unfortunate place for showing the coal. A stump, partly silicified, with part of its bark lignified, had been taken out of the coal bed, and on each side of it was a tapering band of "Nigger-head," tapering from eight inches at the stump to nothing at the distance of five feet six inches from the stump. Selecting an average place, I got the following section, descending:

Good roof of Argilaceous Sandstone. FT. INS.
Bone 0 1
Coal 0 6
Nigger-head, local 0 5
Coal 1 10
Coal, sulphurous 0 3
Coal 1 3
Bone 0 0-1/2
Coal 2 0
Black slate floor. ----------
Total 6 ft. 4-1/2 ins.

Judging from this outcrop, which I suspect does not do full justice to the bed, at least six feet of merchantable lignitic coal may be depended on from this seam.

[Sidenote: And another.]

Andrew's bed could only be seen at a point 200 feet above the railroad. It is nearest to the metamorphic axis of the mountain, and hence is the bottom seam in the group. It is said to be wanting at Newcastle. The coal is in two benches, descending:

UPPER BENCH.

Slate roof: FT. INS.
Coal 0 5
Bone 0 0-1/16
Coal 0 4
Bone 0 3
Coal 1 8
Pyrite 0 1-1/2
Coal 1 2
Slate 0 5
Coal 4 4
----------
Total 8 ft. 8-9/16 ins.

LOWER BENCH.

FT. INS.
Fire-clay 0 6
Coal 1 4
Clay 0 1
Coal 0 4
Clay 0 0-1/2
Coal 1 1
Bone 0 1
Coal 1 9
----------
Total 4 ft. 8-1/2 ins.

The lower bench would probably be neglected for the present, but the upper bench is worthy of immediate development. The coal is of good quality. Perhaps on analysis it would be classed with bituminous coals, although the woody structure is discernible in places. It burns freely. The outcrop of this bed is visible lower down the creek in a crushed condition.

[Sidenote: Large body of valuable coal.]

My visit was rather premature for a proper study of the group; but there can be no doubt that there is here a large body of valuable coal. The quantity is estimated by the mining engineer, Mr. Whitworth, at 10,500,000 tons. I saw no other coal beds in the territory so favorably situated for mining and loading. Of course, coal standing at an angle of forty degrees cannot be mined so cheaply as if it were horizontal; but all the mines in Washington Territory must contend with this disadvantage, and in all cases coming under my observation, except this one, the mining had to be done on the down grade, which involved much hoisting, pumping, bad air, etc., which can be avoided at the Gilman Mines.

An incidental advantage, also, is that the Squak Valley furnishes any amount of timber for building, propping, railroad ties, etc., and when more generally cultivated, a superabundance of agricultural products. The experience of Newcastle, and the rapid growth of the market, indicate that these mines may be enlarged in their operations, almost without limit.

[Sidenote: Washington Mines.]

Washington Mines, on one of the upper branches of Squak Creek, show the outcroppings of three seams of lignite coal, dipping S. of W. I did not visit this place, but was informed that a company, known as the Washington Coal Company, was engaged in cutting these seams; but I am not informed as to what are their prospects.

[Sidenote: Raging River coals.]

The Raging River Coals. Six miles east of Gilman Mines, where the railroad enters the Raging River Valley, is found another group of coal seams, older than the Squak coals, and perhaps corresponding in age with the Franklin and Black Diamond coals, though apparently more bituminous than they. Raging River is about twelve miles long, and the railroad first approaches it about midway its length. There are indications of local metamorphism, if not intrusion, visible in the rocks between Squak Creek and Raging River, and this is further indicated by an outcrop of anthracite at the north end of the coal seams, within a mile of the road. Mr. Whitworth represents this anthracite seam as five feet thick, but crushed and fragile. Its structure is laminated, and it breaks into small cubes. He spoke, also, of another seam of anthracite high up on Raging River, three feet thick, with three inches slate six inches from the top. He mined in on this for thirty feet without observing any change. The outcrop of this group of coal seams extends from near the line of the railroad, up the west side of the valley, parallel with the river, and about a mile from it, and lying in high hills. This coal property is also owned by the Seattle Coal and Iron Company. The principal mining camp is near the head of the valley, ten miles above Falls City, six miles above the line of railway. Here I saw the coal seams, which had been uncovered without having been cut into sufficiently to determine fully their character. One seam is open in a ravine, half way up the mountain, but most of them near the top, at an elevation of about 800 feet above the river. There are at least six seams, and if the one on the mountain side be a different seam, there are seven. The coal generally is of good quality: bituminous, with cubical fracture; but its value is greatly diminished by numerous slate partings, and some of the seams are too thin for profitable mining. The dip is to the southwest at high angles: about eighty degrees on the mountain side--less in the top seams.

[Sidenote: Details.]

The seam on the mountain side showed a total thickness of seven feet with sandstone over and under; but of this there was only about 2 feet 8 inches of good coal in a body, and the rest coal and slate interleaved. Near the top of the mountain there are six seams open near a rivulet, and quite near together. Reaching the top of the mountain, I found the upper opening (geologically the under opening), No. 1, to contain about two feet of good black coal, with one slate parting of an inch thick.

No. 2. This seam shows a total thickness of eight feet, but it contains so many slate partings that I could not estimate the bed highly.

No. 3. Here I saw fifteen inches of coal, with slate partings.

No. 4. An irregular bed, four to seven feet in thickness, crushed, and probably dislocated, and so slaty as to be of doubtful value.

No. 5. Another crushed and irregular exposure, four to six feet thick. The coal looks better, and promises to be a good seam when found in its natural state.

No. 6. A two-foot seam resembling No. 1.

Mr. Whitworth furnished me the following details of an opening near the camp on Raging River, which was not in a condition to be seen during my visit, but which has since been gone in upon for about fifteen feet. From bed-rock, ascending:

FT. INS.
Clay 0 2
Coal, crushed 0 5
Black bone 0 1
Coal, crushed 0 11
Black bone 0 1
Coal, hard 0 6
Sand rock 0 3
Coal, good 0 10
Bone 0 2
Coal, good 0 6
Bone 0 1-1/2
Coal, good 0 6
Bone 0 1
Coal, crushed 0 36
Clay and rock (diminishing) 4 6
Coal, crushed 3 0
Strike, north, 76-1/2° east.
Dip 22° to south.

Mr. Whitworth says that the coal improved as he went in, and he is quite hopeful about this seam. But his record reads to me like the description of a slide; still it may not be so.

The show upon the whole, as seen by me, was not satisfactory--and yet the beds might possibly improve inward; and if the coal should coke well, it might pay to wash it; as could easily be done at Raging River.

[Sidenote: Snoqualmie Mountain Coal Group.]

The Snoqualmie Coal Group outcrops some hundreds of feet up the west side of Snoqualmie Mountain, and about three miles southwest of Hop Ranch. The outcrop has been traced perhaps one mile. There are five seams here running north and south with the strike of the mountain rocks. The seams dip west at an angle of 45°, _i.e._, away from the axis of the mountain.

[Sidenote: Details.]

[Sidenote: Good coking coal.]

Seam No. 3 is the third seam from the bottom. A side entry had been driven in on the coal for 60 feet, but water now barred the entrance and prevented a thorough scrutiny of the seam. Its thickness was about 3 feet 6 inches, of which there was a band of lignitic coal of three-quarters of an inch near the top, and five inches of the same near the bottom. The weathered outcrop of this, as of the coal-beds of Washington Territory generally, had a brownish hue, but the fresh surfaces showed a good black bituminous coal. It lies firm and regular in its bed. When dug and handled, it goes to small pieces, and may generally be crushed to powder in the hand; which, of itself, is no bad sign of a good coking coal.

Seam No. 4, the second seam from the bottom, descending:

FT. INS.
Roof, Slate 2 0
Bone 2 0
Coal 0 6
Fine-grained Sandstone, average 2 2
Natural Coke 0 6
Bituminous Shale 0 6
Coal 4 2
Bottom, Sandstone.

The coal of this seam is soft, black and lustrous. An entry was driven in 50 feet, which required much propping, the roof being bad. At the end of this distance we came squarely against a wall of sandstone, showing a fault. At this point six inches of the top coal is thrown up vertically, which showed that the seam thus far had dropped, and that the continuation was to be looked for at a higher level. Mining upward through the soft material, the coal had been again struck at an elevation of 16 feet, but not the full thickness of the seam, and not in its true position; but after following it upward 4 feet more the seam was found in its natural state.

There seems to be no slate in this seam, but occasionally there is found in it a ball of "nigger-head," or hard sulphurous matter, from the size of a man's head down.

[Sidenote: Also good coking coal.]

An experiment of coking this coal in a small pit at the mouth of this bank was made by Mr. Kirke and his coal-bank manager, with as satisfactory results as could be expected from so imperfect a trial. I found pieces of the coke lying near, and saw better samples which have been brought from here. While, of course, the coke thus made is not the best quality, it certainly promises well.

[Sidenote: Large and valuable bed.]

Seam No. 2, descending:

Roof, fine-grained Sandstone, under
which is seven inches Black Slate. FT. INS.
Coal 0 6
Slate 2 0
Coal 0 7
Slate 0 4
Coal 0 5
Slate 0 5
Argillaceous and Ferruginous Rock 1 7
Coal 0 1-1/2
Bone 0 5
Coal (main bench) of good quality 7 0
Nigger-head 0 2
Coal 1 0
Slate 0 1-1/2
Coal, good 0 6
Slate and Clay 0 7
Lignite (brown coal) 2 1
Bituminous Slate 1 8
Coal 0 1/2
Nigger-head 0 4-1/2
Clay and Bony Slate 0 7
Coal 0 1
Nigger-head 0 1-1/2
Coal 0 1/16
Bituminous Slate 1 2
Coal 0 1
Slate 0 7
Coal 0 7
Slate and Sandstone bottom. ---------------
Total 23 ft. 1-9/16 in.

[Sidenote: Another good bed.]

Seam No. 1 is only partially exposed, the workings having caved in; but enough of the seam was visible to show that it was a bright, soft, friable, bituminous coal, of good quality, containing some slate and nigger-head. Its fracture would be called _dicey_ by some geologists, because it breaks readily into small cubes, even smaller than dice. The seam is probably about five feet in thickness.

[Sidenote: Geological relations.]

This group probably corresponds geologically with the Kirke Mines, on Green River; but, judging by the eye, it is a more bituminous coal and better suited to coking. The large bed here may correspond with one of the large beds at the Kirke Mines.

I fear that faults are numerous in the coal rocks of this group, which, of course, would add to the expense of mining. But if, as expected, it furnishes a good smelting coke, the field will be extremely valuable from its contiguity to the magnetic ores of the Cascade Mountains and the scarcity of coking coals.

This property was for sale when I visited it, and would have been sold but for a claim of ownership set up by the Northern Pacific Railroad, which, however, in the opinion of good lawyers, had no foundation.

[Sidenote: This the bottom group.]

This is the bottom group of the Washington Territory coal field. It will be seen that, taking the Gilman group, the Raging River group, and the Snoqualmie group on one line, and the Cedar River, Carbon River, and Green River group on another line, it may be fairly claimed that there are at least fifteen working seams of three feet and upward in the Washington Territory coal field.

_e. The Yakima and Wenatchie Group._ This field lies on the east flank of the Cascade Mountains, on the waters of the Yakima and its tributaries, Cle-ellum and Teanaway. It is believed to extend also into the Wenatchie Valley, although the area here is probably disconnected from the Yakima area. I purposely refrained from visiting this region, and for my statements I am indebted chiefly to Bailey Willis, F. H. Whitworth, Charles Burch, and Mr. Jamieson of the Kirke Mines.

[Sidenote: Yakima or Roslyn coal field.]

The Yakima area lies north of the Yakima River, near to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and to the projected line of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, and extends about sixty miles east and west, and six miles north and south. Its dip is gentle, say twelve to twenty degrees. It holds three coal seams of 2 feet 6 inches, and 5 feet and 5 feet respectively. There is not much evidence of fracture in any part of the field. The total thickness of the coal-bearing rocks is estimated by Bailey Willis to be 1,000 feet. This is evidently the lower part of the coal series, the upper part having been carried away. The best seam is mined at Roslyn, four miles north of the Northern Pacific Railroad, in the interest of that railroad.

The seam here furnishes upward of four feet of good coal. The coal is bituminous, dull black, firm, and free burning. Mr. Jamieson thinks it will not make good coke. Others, however, think that it will, and these are supported partially by the laboratory test in Washington City, D. C. (See Table of Coal Analyses, page 107.) It is called in the table Roslyn coal.

This coal is used chiefly in the locomotives; but the popular demand for it is very great in the plateau country of East Washington.

[Sidenote: Coal on the Wenatchie.]

I have no knowledge of the coal on Wenatchie River except what I obtained from Mr. Burch, who says that there are two seams of coal exposed in that valley, one of eight feet and one of three feet. The coal-bearing rocks extend for thirty-five miles up the river, and have a width of ten miles.

[Sidenote: Coal under the Great Bend country.]

The coal is reported by Mr. Burch to appear east of the Columbia River, opposite to the fields just described, and to disappear under the basalt. If so, here is a resource for the future. Concerning the importance of this coal field to the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, I will speak in another connection.

[Sidenote: The first mining on Bellingham Bay.]

_f. Bellingham Bay, Skagit River, and other Coal Fields._ The first shipping of coal from Washington Territory was done from the Seahome Mines, on Bellingham Bay, Puget Sound, about twenty-five miles south of the Canada line. The mines were very badly managed; they took fire on several occasions. The coal was of the lignitic grade, but not of the best quality, and when other mines of better coal were opened the Bellingham Bay mines were closed. It is reported that coking coal has been found some distance back from the bay.

[Sidenote: Coal on Skagit River.]

Coal has also been found on Skagit River, which, I suspect, from a sample which I saw and from what I heard (some of it), is good, and possibly might coke well. One of the coal properties is held by A. Ford and others. The following description is furnished by Mr. Norman B. Kelly.

It is found about three miles north of the Skagit River, and about five miles from Sedro. The country is hilly. There are at least six or eight coal seams, perhaps more. Those examined run from eighteen inches to thirty inches, and are thought to be clean coal. The seams lie between sandrocks. The outcrops begin near the level of the valley, and continue in a series to an altitude of 550 feet above the valley. The highest outcrops are those of the lowest seams geologically. The strike is north sixty degrees west. At the foot of the hill, the seams dip forty-five degrees to the southwest, but the angle becomes steeper on the mountain side, until finally they are vertical. All the outcrops are within 1,500 feet horizontal distance. Blacksmiths use the coal and pronounce it equal to Cumberland. It cokes readily in the open fire; burns with a bright, hot, but small flame, and seems to leave but little ash.

Of course, the thinness of these seams is an objection. There is coal, also, upon the south side of the river; but there has been but little development in this field. An analysis of this coal is given in the table preceding, but I cannot say from what seam the sample was derived.

The following analysis of coal of the Crystal Mine, near Sterling, is said to have been made by Mr. Wm. G. Tenne, assayer, of Portland, Oregon:

Coke 71.31
Combustible gases 23.17
Ash 5.31
Moisture .21

A very fine showing.

[Sidenote: Coal south of Puget Sound.]

It has long been known that there are considerable areas of coal south and southwest of Puget Sound. But they have not been very highly esteemed, the coals being lignite of not the best quality. There are at least two seams of seven to twelve feet thickness, and they lie at an angle of five degrees, with good roof and floor. Some effort is now making on Skookumchuck and Chehalis rivers to develop these seams.

[Sidenote: Total shipments of coal from Washington Territory.]

Governor Semple, in his report for 1887, gives as the total shipment for the year ending June 30, 1887, the amount 525,705 tons. And he gives as the total output of coal from all the Washington Territory mines from the beginning of shipments to June 30, 1887:

MINES. TONS.
Newcastle 1,308,178
Franklin 46,272
Black Diamond 148,418
Renton 35,015
Talbot 10,000
Cedar River 64,816
Carbonado 402,207
South Prairie 139,792
Wilkeson 10,372
Bucoda 4,550
Roslyn 40,987
Bellingham Bay (estimated) 250,000
Clallam Bay 500
----------
Total 2,461,108

I have now given a sketch of all the coal mines and coal areas of Washington Territory, and will conclude with a few words on the coal of Vancouver's Island.

[Sidenote: Coal on Vancouver's Island.]

_g._ _Coal Seams in British Columbia._ The productive coal field is on Vancouver's Island, on the east side of the Gulf of Georgia. There are three mines in operation as given below:

ANNUAL OUTPUT.

SHORT TONS.
Nanaimo Colliery 112,761
Wellington Colliery 185,846
East Wellington Colliery 28,029

This coal is marketed chiefly in California. The coal is lignitic; and yet it is said to coke well. It is also good stocking coal. The beds dip from 5° to 30° southward. The cost of transportation to San Francisco is about the same as from Seattle, and the cost of delivering on board ship about the same as from the Newcastle mines. The tariff of 75 cents per ton on foreign coal is regarded with satisfaction by the coal men of Washington Territory. The repeal of this tariff would inflict a heavy blow upon the mining industry of the Territory.

[Sidenote: The Iron Ores.]