Dusting Off the Old Ones (1)
From birchyHistory
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'''1. The Passing of an Era, From Buffalo Chips to Natural Gas and Electricity''' | '''1. The Passing of an Era, From Buffalo Chips to Natural Gas and Electricity''' | ||
| − | When mention is made of the fuel used by the early settlers in Eastern Montana, if a person has read much of the early history of this state, the first thought would be of "buffalo chips". However along the streams it was not necessary to resort to that type of fuel as wood was in abundance. After Miles City was moved from "[[Milestown|old town]]" to its present site, the inhabitants became interested in obtaining a more substantial form of fuel than wood. There were outcroppings of coal along streams and creeks and soon numerous prospectors were "digging" coal and hauling it to town where it found a ready market. The first record at the court house of the filing of a "coal entry" was the recording of the receipt issued by the Receiver of the United States Land Office at Miles City on [[ | + | When mention is made of the fuel used by the early settlers in Eastern Montana, if a person has read much of the early history of this state, the first thought would be of "buffalo chips". However along the streams it was not necessary to resort to that type of fuel as wood was in abundance. After Miles City was moved from "[[Milestown|old town]]" to its present site, the inhabitants became interested in obtaining a more substantial form of fuel than wood. There were outcroppings of coal along streams and creeks and soon numerous prospectors were "digging" coal and hauling it to town where it found a ready market. The first record at the court house of the filing of a "coal entry" was the recording of the receipt issued by the Receiver of the United States Land Office at Miles City on [[5 Jan 1883]], to one [[Hugh H. Linn]] covering a tract of about 21 acres of land on the north side of the Yellowstone River right where the north abutment of the present [[Yellowstone bridge]] is. The receipt states that it was "Coal Entry No. 1". The mine was located not far from the bank for the river and the coal was hauled across on the ice in the winter time. There was neither ferry nor bridge at that time, so until the river was frozen over solid, no hauling could be done. This mine dubbed the "[[Red Jacket Mine]]" and was operated by [[Samuel H. Linn]] and [[John J. Coleman]]. Owing to the uncertainty of the delivery of the coal on account of the freezing over of the river, the operation did not last too long. |
| − | On checking the record, it is found that "Coal Entry No. 2" was entered by one [[Charles E. Case]] under date of [[ | + | On checking the record, it is found that "Coal Entry No. 2" was entered by one [[Charles E. Case]] under date of [[19 Dec 1885]], and according to the record, Case paid $20 per acre for 43.81 acres of land on the north side of the Yellowstone River about a mile below the site of the present Yellowstone bridge on Fifth Street. That there was mining activity on this tract before the the turn of the century, there is little doubt, but very little appears of the record concerning it. |
However, the taxes were not paid on this tract for the year 1896 and it was sold to the county for taxes. It was later sold by the county and in 1907 became the property of one [[Charles F. Hedges]]. Hedges formed a mining corporation under the name of the [[Yellowstone Coal Company]] and this concern started development of the property. The stockholders of this company were, besides Hedges, [[Pierre Wibaux]], the builder of the [[Wibaux building]] and President of the [[State National Bank]], [[George K. Foster]], the founder of the [[Foster Drug]] Company, [[A. J. Schrumpf]], a prominent dentist, and [[Charles F. Kline]], who was undoubtedly the "mine boss". Kline had considerable experience in the mining of lignite coal. Of course, there was no bridge across the Yellowstone River at any point convenient to the mine, and the same problem confronted the Yellowstone Coal Mine Company that bothered the owners of the Red Jacket Mine. There was no trouble in the winter, when the river was frozen over solid, but during the spring and fall seasons, difficulty was experienced in getting the coal across the river. This problem was partially solved by the installation of an anchored cable across the river from which a cable car was suspended and operated. However, this mine developed too much water seepage to make its operation profitable so it was abandoned after a short time. | However, the taxes were not paid on this tract for the year 1896 and it was sold to the county for taxes. It was later sold by the county and in 1907 became the property of one [[Charles F. Hedges]]. Hedges formed a mining corporation under the name of the [[Yellowstone Coal Company]] and this concern started development of the property. The stockholders of this company were, besides Hedges, [[Pierre Wibaux]], the builder of the [[Wibaux building]] and President of the [[State National Bank]], [[George K. Foster]], the founder of the [[Foster Drug]] Company, [[A. J. Schrumpf]], a prominent dentist, and [[Charles F. Kline]], who was undoubtedly the "mine boss". Kline had considerable experience in the mining of lignite coal. Of course, there was no bridge across the Yellowstone River at any point convenient to the mine, and the same problem confronted the Yellowstone Coal Mine Company that bothered the owners of the Red Jacket Mine. There was no trouble in the winter, when the river was frozen over solid, but during the spring and fall seasons, difficulty was experienced in getting the coal across the river. This problem was partially solved by the installation of an anchored cable across the river from which a cable car was suspended and operated. However, this mine developed too much water seepage to make its operation profitable so it was abandoned after a short time. | ||
