Washington's Thick Coal Seams Promise Industrial Growth
A geological survey of the region's vast coal reserves reveals a rugged, difficult landscape that promises to drive the Pacific Northwest's future industrial independence.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Superintendent C. B. Corey’s article on 'The Coal Fields of Washington' relates the vast potential of the Pierce, Lewis, and Cowlitz county fields. While the terrain is rugged, with deep canyons and dense forests making mining a difficult task for engineers, the seams are thick and of excellent quality. Carbonado is currently the largest producer in Pierce County, with coal being sent by rail to Tacoma and then by ship to California. Mr. Corey notes that while some of these coals are dirty and require washing, they are destined to be of great value to the Pacific Northwest as we begin smelting our own ores. As exploration continues, it is evident the mineral wealth of Washington has only just begun to be discovered.
“It is a huge reservoir of coal destined to be of great value to the Pacific Northwest when we commence making our own iron and smelting our silver ores.”
This 1892 report highlights the era's reliance on coal as the backbone of industrial progress. Today, while Washington is transitioning away from fossil fuels, the legacy of these industrial hubs like Carbonado and Wilkeson remains etched into the landscape of the Cascades, serving as a reminder of the extractive boom that defined the state’s early economic identity.
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