LITTLE    SNAKE   RIVER    COAL   FIELD,    WYOMING.  255 
The  remaining  development  consists  of  a  small  opening  in  the 
Mesaverde  about  a  mile  east  of  Sulphur  and  another  opening  in  the 
base  of  the  upper  coal  group  a  mile  west  of  Muddy  Bridge,  the  prod- 
uct of  each  being  used  by  two  or  three  ranches  in  its  neighborhood; 
a  few  prospect  drifts  and  slopes  in  Coal  and  Cut-off  gulches,  between 
4  and  5  miles  northeast  of  Baggs;  and  some  small  prospects  in  the 
hogbacks  east  of  Muddy  Creek,  between  the  Corlett  ranch  and  the 
old  Washakie  stage  station. 
Although  the  present  demand  for  coal  is  greater  than  the  supply, 
further  development  in  this  field  does  not  seem  probable  until  the 
good  coals  have  railroad  connections.  The  markets  to  the  east  and 
west  along  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  are  supplied  by  the  Hanna, 
Rock  Springs,  and  Uinta  County  coals,  and  a  possible  southern  outlet 
over  the  Denver,  Northwestern  and  Pacific  Railway 7 now  building,  is 
blocked  by  the  Yampa  field  of  Routt  County,  Colo. 
The  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company  is  contemplating  a  line  from 
either  Rawlins  or  Wamsutter  southward  across  the  field  through 
Baggs  to  Craig,  Colo.  If  it  is  built  from  Rawlins  the  Mesaverde  coals 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  area  will  be  developed;  if  from  Wamsutter, 
the  basal  upper-group  coals  from  the  old  Washakie  stage  station 
southward  will  probably  be  opened;  and  in  either  case  the  coals  near 
Little  Snake  River  will  be  thoroughly  prospected  and  worked.  The 
natural  market,  however,  for  the  Little  Snake  River  coals  is  in 
the  Encampment  copper  district,  which  lies  along  the  Sierra  Madre 
on  the  eastern  border  of  the  field. 
