Geological Papers. 121 



cult to wash it out. So far there has not been enough found to 

 make it pay. 



Coal. — The coal seams examined in British Columbia were all 

 coal of the lignitio type. At one place several tunnels had been 

 made and coal had been mined at several different times, but had 

 each been abandoned ; the seams were too thin and the coal con- 

 tained too much dirt. Probably by sinking shafts, thicker veins 

 and a better quality of coal could be obtained. 



The Eocene formation in the vicinity of Bellingham contains 

 several coal-seams of workable coal ; but a study of them and of 

 the mines of the region was not made by the writer. A description 

 of them, however, may be found in Professor Landes's report.^^ 



SOIL. 



The soil is very variable. In the glacial overwash regions it 

 may vary from a few inches of loam to sand, gravel and clay all in 

 the same dooryard. On the highlands east of Blaine, except in 

 the sand and gravel districts, it is usually good. In the Sumas 

 valley about Sumas City it is so light that it is blown from stumps, 

 leaving the roots bare. In the immediate vicinity of Sumas City 

 and lake it is deep, and ranges from a dark black muck to peat, from 

 six inches to three feet in thickness. In all the swamp areas it is 

 decayed peat. 



The region is fast becoming a farming section. 



Loc. cit., part I, p. 47. 



