81 



The coal production of Coloiado in 1876 was 117,666 short tons, as against 1,368,338 

 short tons for 1886 and 1,791,735 tons in 1887. 



The average number of men emjiloyed, directly or indirectly, in the coal mines of 

 Colorado is estimated at 3,500. 



The State inspector estimates that the average thickness of the coal beds worked 

 in Colorado is 5 feet 37j inches. He also states that the thickest bed worked is 9 feet 

 and the thinnest is 2 feet. 



The average price paid for mining and loading the coal and doing the necessary 

 timbering is 89 cents per ton of 2,000 pounds of screened coal. 



The average cost of the coal delivered on the cars is $1.74 per ton. 



The average value of the coal is estimated at $2.35 per ton, making the total prod- 

 uct of the State w^orth $3,215,594.30. 



Idaho. — Large areas exist in the Territory underlaid by bituminous coal and lig- 

 nites. Mines have been opened at Smith's Fork and on Twin Creek, and what is 

 known as the Mammoth bed shows local thickness of 70 feet. 



A good quality of lignite has been found near Boise ; also on the Snake River, be- 

 tween Payette and Weiser City. A good blacksmithing coal is also reported on. 

 Sucker River, 22 miles north of Silver City; also several deposits near Lewiston, in 

 the northern part of Idaho. 



Montana. — Much interest has been taken of late years in the coal-fields of Montana 

 and the development of the coal and lignite beds. 



Although the occurrence of good fuel in Montana is a matter of great importance 

 to the development of the Territory, there has been no great activity displayed in 

 coal mining in Montana during 1886. The greatest production had been at the Tim- 

 berliue mines, between Bozeman and Livingston, but the production there was seri- 

 ously interfered with by labor troubles, as a result of which the mines were closed in 

 July, and no coal was produced during the last six months of the year. 



The value of the Territory's output in 1886, at $3.50 per ton, was $174,460. The 

 number of men employed can not well be estimated. 



Neiv Mexico. — There were no special developments in the coal-mining industry of 

 New Mexico in 1886. The field of the largest operations has shifted from Raton to 

 Gallup and other points near by on the line of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 

 Bernalillo County, and near the Arizona border. 



No new mines have been opened. The production of the Raton district fell from 

 135,833 tons in 1885, to 87,706 tons in 1886. This fall in production was due mainly 

 to the increased production of better coal at the Starkville and Rockvale mines in 

 Colorado, which furnished the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad with coal for 

 shipment and for railway uses. The coal from Raton is used almost exclusively for 

 fuel by the Santa Fe Railroad. The mines are located within the Maxwell laud grant, 

 and it is understood that a royalty is paid. 



A large amount of the San Pedro coal is coked, the coke being used by smelting 

 works in New Mexico and Arizona. 



Wyoming. — The coal-fields of Wyoming are of great extent and value. They have 

 been known since 1850, but remained undeveloped until the completion of the Union 

 Pacific Railroad to Carbon, 100 miles west of Laramie, in 1868. The Coal Measures 

 are estimated to cover at least 20,000 square miles of the surface of Wyoming, and 

 the beds are found for nearly 350 miles along the line of the Union Pacific Railroad, 

 in every case, where developed, cropping boldly on the surface. In quality, the coal 

 is a lignite of superior grade, and suitable for all heating and domestic purposes, but 

 non-coking and useless for gas making. 



The entire coal-fields of Wyoming are practically controlled by the Union Pacific 

 Railroad. The capacity of these beds is indefinite. They would doubtless be able to 

 supply the whole demand of the far West with a uniformly good coal. 



The total amount of coal mined in that region in 1875 was 300,808 short tons, and 

 in 1885 it was 807,328 short tons.— B. E. Fernow. 



24738— Ball 2 6 



