1919-07-26-colville-examiner-p4-speculation-about-coal-near-detillion
July 26, 1919 Colville Examiner Page 4:
Correspondence from Miles
By A. E. Lewis
In a shaft that is being sunk cutting the coal outcropping strata veins near Detillion bridge on the west end of the former Indian reservation, coal of apparent good quality and quantity has been struck by the operators. The work is being done under the management of P. B. Housington and J. B. Johnson of Spokane. These outcroppings of shale strata in this region have long been known, but little was thought of its being coal until the opening of the Valley coal deposits in Stevens county about 40 miles northeast of the Detillion strata outcroppings. A closer examination by geological experts revealed true veins of, bleached or decayed shale indicating a great deposit of coal in this region. The true veins of shale immediately accessible for measurement showed an aggregate of 50 feet of shale alone interspersed at intervals with 3 to 4 foot veins of sandstone conglomerates, in this ancient deposit that has been heaved up by the convulsions of nature millions of years ago. The shaft that is cutting these immense layers of shale, has reached the depth of about 50 feet. The coal that is taken out is being used in the mine forge and tests nearly equal to coal bought for blacksmith’s use when the work was first started on the shaft. When the shaft reached a depth of about 35 feet, shale indicating coal was thrown out and examined by Robert Jones of Los Angeles, Cal., who pronounced it parafin shale similar to the blossoms of coal deposits in the eastern states, and indicating a parafin base which prevails ‘in the oil and coal fields of Illinois; Indiana and Pennsylvania. Mr. Jones came from the coal region of Wales, and spent most of his life in the coal fields of northern Illinois, near Chicago. About 14 years ago, when the engineers were surveying the Big Bend electric railroad from Spokane, following down the Spokane river valley to Miles near the junction of the Spokane and Columbia rivers, the service of a geological expert was secured by the company to visit the Spokane valley to examine its surface showings for mineral deposits; among other things examined and reported on was the Detillion shale outcroppings, with other coal blossoms at other points on the reservation. He stated to the members of the surveying crew that there was indication of an immense deposit of coal in the Spokane valley west of Chamokane creek, and especially pronounced as the survey neared the Columbia river valley, which was to be the terminal of the electric railroad. At that time and for years after it was impossible either to prospect or seek to develop any mineral deposits on; the Spokane Indian reservation, and the matter was dropped.
In 1916, the reservation was opened by act of Congress to mineral lease, and work on the mineral showings was immediately begun. The most active and best showing of mineral is that of the Ololim Copper Co., which is sinking a shaft on what is known as the Ololim copper ledge, about 2 miles east of the Detillion coal shale outcroppings. In several wells being sunk in the valley, slight indications of oil have been noticed, but not enough to attract only casual attention. In the river forming one of the abutments of the ‘Detillion Bridge is a stratified red rock of more ancient formation than the black and gray volcanic flow that covers the valley above. The strata of this rock follow the general directions of the strata of the coal shale deposits and indicate that it is the overhanging head strata covering the coal beds of the valley as they are supposed to exist. In the coal and shale taken from the shaft are found the imprints of leaves, ferns and trees of the era when the ancient coal deposits were formed. Coal is one of the most ancient formations of the planet, and closely follows that of the igneous, or fire rock period, and is the first to show the presence of life on our globe, both of animal and vegetable, which thrived in a tropical and miasmic climate of millions of years ago when the earth was young. The Detillion shale deposits by every indication date back to this early period. The coal deposits of the Spokane river valley if they exist are no doubt of great depth, except for these upheaved outcroppings.
Forest fires are ranging in. The mountains of the Colville Indian reservation in several places. Big fires can be observed in the forests across the Columbia river from Kettle Falls, Hunters, Gerome, and are reported farther west. A forest fire broke out on the former Spokane Indian reservation last week near the Lewis ranch on the Davenport-Detillion Bridge-Hunters road. Outside the destruction of Indian forests and range grass, no damage was done. Some ranch houses narrowly escaped destruction. The fire was controlled by the forest guards and citizens when it reached the Deer Trail mountains, going east. It is thought that the fire started by a match or lighted cigar dropped along the road.
