coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

50 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
IDAHO'S COAL FIELDS TO BE DEVELOPED.
State Mine Inspector Robert N. Bell, of Idaho,
has compiled his annual report and submitted it
to the governor of the state. He calls special
attention to the coal development in that state,
yvhich in part is as follows:
"The rock formations of Idaho embrace an ex­
cessive proportion of crystalline and highly meta­
morphosed metal bearing sedimentary rocks, with
a decidedly limited area of the unaltered sedi­
mentary formations to which all far western coal
deposits are confined, but we have a limited area
of the famous coal bearing cretaceous shales and
sandstones that have been such an important fac­
tor in the business development of our neighbor­
ing states of Wyoming and Utah, from where the
bulk of the coal now used in Idaho is imported
and which is estimated to amount to something
like a million and a half tons a year, exacting
an excessive drain of cash from this state each
year with which to pay for the essential neces­
sity, a condition that has proved rather unfortu­
nate in the commercial advancement of the state.
"I am gratified, however, to be able to state that
after a struggle of 10 years to that end, that
government patents have been recently issued to
two association of Idaho citizens covering two
claims whieli embrace a total of 1,100 acres of
coal land formerly in Fremont county, but now-
just over the line in the new county of Madison.
These deposits are situated on Horse Shoe creek.
a small tributary stream that puts down from
the foothill range directly west of the Teton
peaks, into the Teton river near Driggs, a sta­
tion on the recently completed Short Line branch
that extends south from Ashton and is only 10
miles distant from tlie mines.
"These coal claims cover a series of steeply
pitching veins, IS in number. They vary in
width from six inches to 10 feet, ancl have under­
gone development in a limited way ever since
they have been taken up by the owners, over 10
years ago.
"This work has demonstrated the continuity of
the veins for fully two and one-half miles and
to a depth at one point of 200 feet. These deiiosits
have been repeatedly examined by compe­
tent experts in coal matters and are estimated to
contain a resource of high grade fuel aggregating
5,000,000 tons on the two proporties above the
moderate depth of 500 feet on their dip.
"During the retarded development of these deposits,
pending the issue of their patents, they
have produced several thousand tons of coal,
yvhich has been sold to the farmers of the Upper
Snake river valley at about the cost of production,
which ranged from 50 cents for slack to $3.50
per ton for screened coal and has been hauled
away in wagons and sleighs to points all over
Fremont county and as far south as Idaho Falls,
and its quality is well known in that region and
has given eminent satisfaction. In fact, it is
equal to the best imported article in this line,
and the more extensive development of these de­
posits is now warranted to put them into shape
to produce 1.000 tons of coal per day. yvhich they
are capable of doing.
"The veins are very clean and their situation
affords excellent advantages for economical de­
velopment ancl operation by adit entry methods,
and they should prove an important factoi in the
upbuilding ancl business pi ogress of the state
and greatly reduce the retail cost of coal to the
consumer of the Upper Snake river valley settle­
ments, to yvhich the deposits are very conveniently
situated
"Other interesting bituminous coal prospects
have been found in Bonneville county and as far
south as Willow creek, yvithin IS miles of Idaho
Falls, at which point patent has also been issued
for a coal entry whieli carries fuel of excellent
quality that is now being exploited and seems to
warrant further development."
IDLE CARS SHOW DECIDED INCREASE.
The report of the American Railway associa­
tion issued April 7, giving the car surplussages
and shortages, shows:
Surplussages:
April 1, 1914 141,525
March 15. 1914 132.010
April 1, 1913 68,792
Shortages:
April 1, 1914 2,013
March 15, 1914 7.145
April 1, 1913 10.804
These figures show a net surplus of 139,512 cars
as compared with 124,865 cars March 15; 153,907
cars March 1, and 57,9SS a year ago.
The Slemp Consolidated Coal Co. announces it
will open a new million dollar operation near
Craftsville. Ky., on the Lexington & Eastern railroad.
The coal exported from the United States in
January, 1914. was 197.415 tons of anthracite,
923,760 tons of bituminous ancl 66.720 tons of
coke. For the seven months of the fiscal year
ending Feb. 1, the exports yvere: 2,2S3,862 tons
of anthracite, 10,878,629 tons of bituminous and
458,403 tons of coke. This does not include bun­
ker coal, of which 607,652 tons were loaded in
January, and 4,230/190 tons for the seven months.