NORTHERN PACIFIC COAL FIELDS WEST OF THE MISSOURI. 497 
NORTHERN PACIFIC COAL FIELDS WEST OF THE MISSOURI. 
From the best information we can obtain, one of the most extensive coal 
fields on the globe is located west of Missouri river, and along the line of the 
Northern Pacific R. R. The first outcropping of this deposit is about twenty- 
six miles west of Mandan, commonly called the Coal Banks; but, so far as pros- 
pected, only a three foot vein has been struck. This vein is a lignite—when first 
exposed—burning with a clear flame, developing somewhat in combustion the 
characteristics of cannel and bituminous, but not so good as the Pennsylvania or 
Ohio coal. This is the quality of all the coal undoubtedly in this whole region of 
country. Forty miles west of Mandan is the extensive mine of Mr. E. H. Bly, 
proprietor of the Sheridan House, Bismarck, who prospected a large section of 
country on the line of the railroad last spring. This mine is a seven foot vein, 
thirty feet below the level of the railroad grade, and dips about this distance in 
4oo. Over this is a four foot vein, and still another above this corresponding 
with the level at the Coal Banks of three feet. At Green river, 107 miles west of 
Mandan, is a monster vein of coal of thirteen feet. Mr. Bly in his explorations 
discovered numerous veins of coal from three to seven feet in thickness, and 
claims that anywhere in this great area in’the bend of the Missouri, to and includ- 
ing the Bad Lands, on the same level, the same veins may be struck. On the 
south side of the Missouri river, hear Fort Stevenson, a subterranean fire has been 
burning coal for years. Even the Indians have no knowledge of how long, but 
by report, extending far back, making there miniature Bad Lands like those west 
of the Green river, where the fires are extinct. There is no doubt that the so- 
called Bad Lands were underlaid with extensive layers of coal, and that upon 
burning out the surface settled down, leaving the peculiar characteristics which 
constitute their present formation. This is at least the accepted theory with those 
who have seen the process going on in northern Dakota. The question of coal 
for fuel, for all ages to come, and at cheap rates too, for the treeless prairies of 
the Great Northwest is settled—and permanently settled. There is enough for 
all. Mr. Bly has already contracted to get out 25,000 tons the coming season. 
These coal lands can be purchased of the Government at $20 per acre, and the 
Railroad Company will sell at the same price. One thing is certain, that no one 
man or company can ever monopolize this busines. There is too much of it. 
There will be coal on every 160 acres for 200 miles west and 200 miles south of 
the Missouri river—in western Dakota.—Sismarck Tribune. 
Large quantities of pottery are manufactured in Brazil from the hard, silici- 
ous bark of the caraipe tree. In the process, the ashes of the bark are powdered 
and mixed with the purest clay that can be obtained from the beds of the rivers— 
ee a 
this kind being preferred, as it takes up a larger quantity of the ashes, and thus 
peserees a stronger kind of ware. 
