[Sidenote: The iron company at work.]
There seems to be no question but that the location on the eastern shore
of Lake Washington is definite. A contract has been made with Denny, and
with those holding with Guy, but not with Guy himself. I understand that
no contract has been made with, or for, any other one, although Mr. Kirk
has been and is still examining all other places.
Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Williams, another of the firm, are living on the
grounds at Kirkland, and have a force of men preparing the grounds, the
position of the different buildings having all been located. Brick and
other material is being placed on the ground.
They have entered into contract to roll for the Seattle, Lake Shore &
Eastern Railway 30,000 tons steel at Kirkland, to be delivered within
the next twelve months. They, however, will bring the blooms from Moss
Bay for this.
[Sidenote: Coking coals.]
Coke is the fuel Mr. Kirk wants, and thinks he will have. But I do not
think that the question of coke supply is settled yet. Mr. Kirk's
property that we visited (Section 2) is, so far, not developing as they
had hoped. Mr. Kirk has disposed of his interest there. The Smith coking
ovens that we visited at Wilkeson are still producing a small amount of
coke. One or two other veins have been opened at Wilkeson recently, and
the company opening are proposing to put up ovens, and work and coke
their coal. It probably will make about the same quality of coke as the
Smith mine. The only coal that has been analyzed and stands that test
for coke, is Section 34, near Kirk's Section 2. We got some samples of
it, you remember.
The Snoqualmie coal has been taken possession of by a Mr. Niblock, who
talks now of going to work to open. That, you know, cokes well in the
open air.
The following is the cross-section of our best veins at Ruffner, or
Raging River, Section 16. Roof, sandstone:
FT. INS.
Mixed Coal and Slate 1 2
Coal (clean) 3 1
Rock 3
Coal 6
Rock 6
Coal 1 3
Total, coal, 4 ft. 10 in., rock, 9 in.; which seems to be very strong
coking coal. This bench can be worked to advantage, I think.
We have another, also, of about three feet of coal, clean, and it is
underlaid with three feet of fire-clay, which probably will be as
valuable as coal. I have burned some of the brick, and sent some away to
be tested.
No further discovery has been made in the neighborhood of the Denny or
Guy mines. At the "Chair Peak" Iron Mines, owned by Mr. Wilson, Kelly,
_et al._, as they have examined further, the deposit has shown itself
much larger than at first supposed. It is about two and a half miles
from the Guy lode, on Mt. Logan.
[Sidenote: New discoveries of iron ore.]
Some quite extensive iron deposits have been discovered on the west side
of the Sound, nearly due west from Seattle. They have not yet been
analyzed.
What is thought to be a very rich deposit of iron has just recently been
found on one of the islands in the San Juan group, within the territory
of the United States, said to equal the Texada deposit in British
Columbia, which the iron works at Irondale, near Point Townsend, use.
The Irondale furnace commenced work again about a month since.
In regard to the precious metals: there have been no developments of
importance on this side of the mountain.
The Okanogan, Salmon River, Coeur d'Alene and Colville mines promise
richer and richer as they are more developed.
[Sidenote: Lumber business growing.]
4. The activity in the lumber business is unabated--is on the increase.
The increase of the lumber mills, that I have mentioned in the first
part of this letter, indicates _that_.
The traffic on the railroad, both in logs and manufactured lumber, is
much larger than had been anticipated, and is increasing. In July the
road hauled 2,843,464 feet of logs. September log haul was about ten per
cent. greater. I could not get the exact figures to-day.
[Sidenote: Population and freights increasing.]
5. Spokane Falls is still growing very rapidly, and now claims 12,000 to
15,000 inhabitants, and is building very substantially. Along the line
of railroad on this side of the mountain the country is filling up, of
course, with small ranches or home-makers, and those already on the line
are making increased clearings, and will therefore have more to ship.
The following shows something of what is being done in July: "Coal
freight, 2,750 tons; miscellaneous, 3,090; passenger traffic, $6,150;
and the advance has been about the same as in logs, except on coal."
[Sidenote: Labor strike at Gilman Mine.]
[6. Mr. Whitworth next gives an account of certain difficulties and
troubles, chiefly with miners, which ended in a "strike" that was
somewhat prolonged, but he thought the men would soon go to work on the
company's terms. Of course, the high hopes concerning these mines
(Gilman) had not been realized. Mr. W. proceeds as follows:]
[Sidenote: Gilman coal seams.]
On the Smith, or No. 4 vein, we had just got the gangway driven far
enough to turn rooms. The Andrews vein we were driving the gangway
entirely in the coal, but were not yet far enough to turn rooms. Nos. 1
and 2 veins had gotten, with the gangway, well in under the hill, and
was looking very fine, and turning out good coal. With the prospect of
No. 4, or Smith vein, and Andrews vein, I am still well pleased. On the
vein in Section 26, just across the valley, I have started in a tunnel
to open it; have already driven about sixty feet through the rock, and
have about seventy feet still to go. This tunnel is still going on, not
having been stopped by the 'strike.'
[Sidenote: Progress of the West Coast Railroad.]
The West Coast Railroad is completed to Snohomish City, and trains run
regularly, the bridge across the river being completed only about ten
days ago. Both passenger and freight traffic is much larger than
anticipated. They are grading, and expect to have ready for service yet
this fall, five miles beyond Snohomish. Along most of the entire line
the timber is very fine and abundant, and a great deal of the land
adjacent is rich agricultural.
[Sidenote: Resources of the country along the new line across Cady's
Pass.]