A Massive New Coal Vein in the Cascades
A promising sixteen-foot-thick deposit of high-quality coal is discovered near the foothills of the Cascades, sparking speculation about a new rail line.
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.
A short time ago, Mr. J. L. Lonas discovered a vein of coal fully sixteen feet in thickness, some samples from which he took. This has been submitted to the examination of experts at Olympia, Seattle and Victoria, and pronounced anthracite, fully equal to the best Cumberland. It is noticeably hard, with a brilliant appearance, and breaks clean and sharp. Put on an ordinary fire it becomes a bright red, but does not consume or change shape until subjected to a blast. There can be no doubt that the value of this coal will lead to its development, and in due time to the building of a railroad to it.
“There can be no doubt that the value of this coal will lead to its development.”
Resource extraction defined the early economy of the Pacific Northwest. This report highlights the 'boom' mentality of the era, where a mineral discovery was immediately translated into plans for infrastructure, rail, and wealth—a cycle that repeatedly transformed the Washington landscape.
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