USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume I > Part 51
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4
STATE COAL PRODUCT FROM 1864 UNTIL 1917
Year Location of Mines
Short Tons
1864 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
500
1865 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
I,200
1866 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
6,400
1867 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
17,000
1868 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
10,500
1869 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
8,000
1870 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
13,500
1871 Jefferson and Boulder Counties
15,860
1872 Jefferson, Boulder and Weld Counties
68,540
46.
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Year Location of Mines
Short Tons
Jefferson, Boulder, Weld, Las Animas and Fremont Counties . . 69,977
1873 1874 Same as 1873 77,372
1875 Same as 1873 98,838
1876 Same as 1873
117,666
1877 All Coal-Producing Counties
160,000
1878
Northern, Central and Southern Divisions 200,630
1879 Northern, Central and Southern Divisions
322,732
1880 All Coal-Producing Counties
437,500
1881 All Coal-Producing Counties
706,744
1882 All Coal-Producing Counties
1,061,479
1883 All Coal-Producing Counties
1,229,593
1884 All Coal-Producing Counties
1,130,024
1885 All Coal-Producing Counties
1,356,062
1886 All Coal-Producing Counties
1,368,338
1887
All Coal-Producing Counties
1,795,735
1888 All Coal Producing Counties
2,185,477
1889 All Coal-Producing Counties
2,597,18I
1890 All Coal-Producing Counties 3,077,003
3,512,632
1892
All Coal-Producing Counties
3,510,830
1893 All Coal-Producing Counties
4,102,389
1894 All Coal-Producing Counties
2,831,409
1895 All Coal-Producing Counties 3,082,982
3,112,400
1897 All Coal-Producing Counties
3,361,703
1898 All Coal-Producing Counties
4,076,347
1899 All Coal-Producing Counties
4,776,224
1900 All Coal-Producing Counties
5,244,364
1901 All Coal-Producing Counties
5,700,015
1902 All Coal-Producing Counties
7,401,343
1903 All Coal-Producing Counties
7,423,602
1904 All Coal-Producing Counties
6,658,355
I905 All Coal-Producing Counties 8,826,429
1906
All Coal-Producing Counties 10,111,218
10,790,236
1908 All Coal-Producing Counties 9,634,973
1909 All Coal-Producing Counties 10,716,936
1910 All Coal-Producing Counties 11,973,736
19II All Coal-Producing Counties
10,157,383
1912 All Coal-Producing Counties
10,977,824
1913
All Coal-Producing Counties
9,232,510
1914 All Coal-Producing Counties 8,170,559
1915 All Coal-Producing Counties 8,624,980
1916 All Coal-Producing Counties 10,522,185
1917 All Coal-Producing Counties
12,433,129
1891 All Coal-Producing Counties
1896 All Coal-Producing Counties
. 1907 All Coal-Producing Counties
464
HISTORY OF COLORADO
MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS
Tons Mined Aver. Price
Year
Value of Output
Number of by each Employes Machines Machine
per Ton at Fatal- Mine ities
1882
$ 2,388,328
1,781
$2.25
1883
2,766,584
2.25
1884
2,542,554
1,750
2.25
66
1885
3,051,589
2,200
2.25
9
1886
3,215,594
2.35
6
1887
3,941,817
5,000
2.20
IO
1888
4,808,049
5,375
2.20
29
1889
3,993,768
1.54
23
1890
4,344,196
5,827
1.40
16
1891
4,800,000
6,000
20
284,646
1.37
30
1892
5,685,112
5,747
1.62
34
1893
5,104,602
7,202
1.24
46
1894
3,516,340
6,507
1.24
19
1895
3,675,185
6,125
1.20
23
1896
3,606,642
6,704
34
318,172
1.16
68
1897
3,947,186
5,852
37
352,400
1.17
35
1898
4,686,081
6,440
43
225,646
1.15
24
1899
5,363,667
7,166
63
527,115
1.12
42
1900
5,858,036
7,459
90
756,025
1.12
29
1901
6,441,891
8,870
62
319,678
1.13
55
1902
8,397,812
8,956
98
857,279
1.13
73
1903
9,150,943
9,229
157
1,270,22I
1.23
40
1904
8,751,821
8,123
125
945,965
1.31
89
1905
10,810,978
II,020
I2I
1,247,687
1.22
59
1906
12,735,616
11,368
141
1,337,006
I.26
88
1907
15,079,449
14,223
175
1,689,517
1.40
99
1908
13,586,988
14,523
2II
1,668,602
1.4I
61
1909
14,296,012
11,472
253
1,929,545
1.33
95
1910
17,026,934
15,864
256
1,905,78I
1.42
19II
14,747,764
14,316
242
1,975,4II
1.45
91
1912
16,345,336
13,000
304
2,552,168
1.49
95
1913
14,035,336
11,990
300
2,311,493
1.52
108
1914
13,601,718
10,098
306
2,502,558
1.66
75
1915
13,599,264
12,372
299
2,628,300
1.58
63
1916
16,930,564
44
1917
30,000,000
13,570
2.45
PRODUCTION, IN SHORT TONS, OF LEADING COUNTIES
Year
Las Animas
Huerfano
Boulder
Fremont
Routt
1887
506,540
131,810
297,338
417,326
1888
706,455
159,610
315,155
438,789
1889
993,534
333,717
323,096
274,029
1,491
.
465
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Year
Las Animas
Huerfano
Boulder
Fremont
Routt
1890
. 1,154,668
427,832
425,704
397,418
705
1891
1,219,224
494,466
498,494
545,789
1892
. 1,171,069
541,733
545,563
538,887
330
1893
1,587,338
521,205
663,220
536,787
816
1894
1,153,863
408,045
419,734
245,616
2,710
1895
1,253,149
386,696
377,395
315,344
2,767
1896
1,261,555
353,338
448,706
294,822
1,832
1897
1,427,526
367,894
477,790
304,589
945
1898
1,211,340
1,075,881
451,539
426,533
1,339
1899
2,125,143
632,577
540,475
620,609
1,2II
1900
. 2,123,41I
854,944
574,334
619,413
1,375
190I
2,476,138
918,609
482,975
536,313
1,558
1902
·3,245,27I
1,189,313
806,37I
695,999
3,180
1903
3,213,743
1,319,666
803,924
633,858
2,775
1904
2,808,953
1,187,905
736,824
256,200
5,568
1905
4,297,599
1,426,640
839,804
512,002
3,643
1906
4,768,882
1,803,791
1,022,096
666,034
5,297
1907
4,885,105
1,797,790
1,296,729
772,949
5,690
1908
4,190,80I
1,644,068
1,067,948
669,274
13,005
1909
4,592,964
1,915,910
1,332,322
611,980
92,439
1910
5,548,085
2,387,090
802,769
722,142
258,452
19II
. 4,458,753
1,786,645
954,752
661,240
317,79I
1912
4,708,698
1,899,538
1,054,925
738,833
448,261
1913
. 3,739,357
1,705,240
902,918
535,778
334,961
1914
2,693,288
1,724,265
1,000,590
169,27I
666,384
1915
2,853,847
1,682,335
946,888
473,284
852,315
1916
4,154,334
1,811,585
1,061,250
592,09I
919,895
1917
3,352,037
1,840,136
840,000
661,188
834,841
PRODUCTION, IN SHORT TONS, OF LEADING COUNTIES (Continued)
Year
El Paso
Gunnison
La Plata
Weld
Delta
Garfield
1887
47,517
243,122
22,880
39,281
30,000
1888
44,114
258,374
33,625
28,054
115,000
1889
54,212
252,442
34,97I
28,628
1,357
239,292
1890
25,617
229,212
43,193
46,417
775
183,884
I891
34,364
261,350
72,47I
22,554
191,994
1892
23,041
225,260
81,500
2,205
200
277,794
1893
19,415
258,539
104,992
35,355
2,580
212,918
1894
.30,268
200,325
53,571
42,818
3,697
75,663
1895
51,840
239,182
106,099
27,934
4,514
274,27I
1896
12,544
260,596
104,661
4,300
5,000
165,797
1897
12,500
297,417
76,788
8,310
5,765
182,884
1898
14,942
323,32I
100,650
24,085
5,052
222,480
1899
27,668
319,434
116,500
47,573
6,100
I34,354
1900
94,334
432,555
123,524
80,015
5,417
141,159
Val. 1-30
466
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Year
El Paso
Gunnison
La Plata
Weld
Delta
Garfield
1901
175,979
397,043
144,892
33,374
5,844
173,707
1902
218,549
364,874
155,029
73,681
9,350
207,262
1903
. 207,797
436,604
143,637
94,492
13,029
176,354
1904
248,013
494,545
146,080
118,862
21,683
198,545
1905
188,775
513.317
168,669
101,812
9,497
172,563
1906
. 210,793
583,175
173,720
95,420
6,812
193,063
1907
269,795
588,859
184,018
136,074
22,087
220,040
1908
317,763
503,140
166,090
343,414
37,689
220,099
1909
. 312,233
598,463
139,858
327,545
55,031
257,796
1910
336,780
640,982
147,755
322,896
63,590
189,755
19II
332,155
575,648
96,749
520,396
71,399
165,908
1912
. 334,904
557,685
132,487
491,037
75,043
185,452
1913
. 326,899
472,753
140,055
409,13I
86,464
158,662
1914
280,577
402,043
132,317
475,734
86,861
112,842
1915
. 299,883
439,403
117,502
432,50I
69,053
I39,393
1916
313,184
511,755
III,406
461,274
76,986
132,540
1917
COLORADO COAL FIELDS
The following account of the Colorado coal fields is taken from "The Rocky Mountain Coal Fields," by L. S. Storrs, and published in 1902 by the U. S. Geo- logical Survey :
"As already stated, the coal-bearing rocks of Colorado are confined to the Upper Cretaceous, and with but few exceptions to the Laramie formation. Areas of coal-bearing formations are found along both the eastern and western flanks of the Rocky Mountains, with two smaller fields in the park region immediately back of the Front Range, between that and the main range. For convenience the fields have been divided into three groups, the eastern, park, and western, the fields of each group being separated by areas of great elevation and erosion. The fields of the eastern group are the Raton, Canyon City, and South Platte; those of the park region, Middle Park and Como; those of the western group, the Yampa, Grand River, and La Plata, with several small areas separated from the main fields by erosion.
"The coal fields of Colorado contain every variety of coal from the typical lignite to the equally typical anthracite. The area of the latter, however, is very limited, probably not exceeding eight square miles.
"The fields of the eastern group are the more accessible to the principal markets, the product of the western group being subject to the higher freight rates incident to the haul over the main range in reaching the large markets of eastern Colorado and the prairie states.
"The fields of this state have been more thoroughly explored than those of any of the other states of the Rocky Mountain region, owing to the aggressive policy of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. This exploration has demon- strated the superiority of the Colorado coal fields over those of the other states in the Rocky Mountain region as to the size of the fields, their available tonnage, and the character of the coal itself.
467
HISTORY OF COLORADO
RATON FIELD
"This field takes its name from the Raton Mountains, which are included within its limits. Part of the field is situated in Colorado and part in New Mexico, but only that portion which is in Colorado is here considered.
"The field is bounded on the south by the Colorado-New Mexico line, and ex- tends eastward along this line from the base of the Front Range to the plains. The range forms the western edge of the field, and the coal-bearing measures extend northward along its base a distance of 45 miles, reaching out into the plains an average of 32 miles throughout its length. The southern portion of the field is drained by the Purgatory River and its branches; the Huerfano River drains the northern end. These streams are located very near the southern and northern ends of the field, respectively.
"As yet the productive area of the field is limited to the eastern edge, that being the most readily accessible. For freight-tariff purposes it is divided into two districts: The southern or Trinidad district is located near the southeast corner of the field and includes the mines of Las Animas County; the northern or Walsenburg district includes the mines of Huerfano County. Besides these districts there is a very important area, at present non-producing, which consti- tutes by far the largest portion of the field. A part of this area will become pro- ductive upon the completion of a railroad line that is now being constructed along the Purgatory River westward from Trinidad.
"Immediately below the lowest coal is a bed of massive sandstone 90 to 120 feet thick. This is the uppermost member of the Trinidad formation, and is very persistent throughout the entire area. The thickness of the Laramie in this field varies from 3,000 feet, as exposed immediately under the basalt flow of the Raton Mountains, to 4,500 feet on the Cuchara River. The Laramie strata are divided into two groups, upper and lower, each of which contains throughout the entire extent of the field, at least one coal bed of workable thickness. The indi- vidual seams, however, vary greatly in character, and a seam which is productive at one point may be worthless a short distance away. The two groups are sepa- rated by a barren zone of about 700 feet.
"The main structural features of the field were determined by the post- Cretaceous revolution, at which time the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountain ranges were elevated. By this disturbance the strata along the western border were tilted up along the eastern base of the Sangre de Cristo Range, while on the opposite side of the field a broad anticline was produced. A second epoch of disturbance coincided with the period of eruptive activity. As the result of these movements the strata along the western border are tilted from 25° to 85° to the east and those along the eastern border from 3º to 17º toward the west, while in a broad belt extending north and south through the middle of the field they are nearly horizontal. The fault displacements produced by these dis- turbances are in places very numerous and in many cases of some magnitude, the largest ranging from 70 to 80 feet. These faults, however, appear to have no connection with the eruptive bodies, as in many cases mining operations have been extended through an intrusive dike without change of level.
"There are numerous masses of eruptive rocks within the limits of the field, all of which have played an important part in the alteration of the various coal
468
HISTORY OF COLORADO
beds. The most noticeable of these are the Spanish Peaks and the attendant series of dikes situated at about the center of the western border, Silver Moun- tain, in the northwest corner, and the great overflow of the Raton Mountains along the southern border. The attendant dikes and interbedded sheets have cut through the productive measures, and in several instances the sheets have entirely destroyed the coal or altered it into a hard columnar coke which has no market- able value.
"In this field, more than in any other in the state, there is a noticeable lack of uniformity in the thickness of the individual coal beds. The most persistent is the lowest, which is also the only one that can be identified in different parts of the field with any degree of certainty. Extensive exploration of the field, both on the surface and by diamond drill has developed the presence of about 40 coal beds in the entire section. Of these, five are usually of a workable thickness, two or three in the lower measures and two in the upper.
"The beds worked in the Trinidad district are confined to the lower series, although in the northern part of the district the upper group contains two work- able seams. In the southern part of the district the producing mines have from 4 to 8 feet of coal. The beds here have a slight inclination, which gradually in- creases towards the north, becoming as high as 15° in places near the northern end of the district.
"In the southern portion of the Walsenburg district three beds are worked, their total thickness being about 16 feet. Numerous dikes have been encountered in mining operations in this portion of the district, entailing considerable expense in the 'dead work' necessary to drive entries through them. This is offset to a great extent by the superiority of the product from that portion of the bed af- fected by the intrusion. These mines encounter water at a distance of about 1,000 feet from the outcrop. The mines in the northern portion of the district are operated upon four beds, the total thickness of which is about 9 feet. These mines, being operated below the level of the Cuchara River are in 'wet ground.' The strata in this district have an inclination of 3º to 8° toward the southwest.
"Aside from this eastern edge, the measures have been thoroughly explored at only two other points, both in Las Animas County, on the drainage of the Purgatory River. The first embraces the highly inclined measures of the lower series along the western border, where two beds of excellent coking coal have been opened up at intervals from the state line north to the center of this side of the field. The second district lies about 12 miles east of the first, where two workable beds of the upper series outcrop within a short distance of the Pur- gatory River. These seams have only very slight inclination. The beds of the lower series have not been tested at this point, but they will doubtless be found to contain a workable thickness of coal, which can be reached by shafts from 600 to 1,000 feet deep.
"The coal of the northern district is entirely of the semi-coking variety known as 'domestic,' though the finer sizes make an excellent steam coal, which is largely used in the accessible territory. There is a limited quantity of this kind of coal in the southern district, but the bulk of the product is true coking coal. The tran- sition from one variety to the other is very gradual, and hence there is an area through the center of the field which produces a coal that cokes too strongly for domestic purposes, yet does not produce a desirable metallurgic coke in the
469
HISTORY OF COLORADO
ordinary beehive oven. The coal of the upper series of beds is better adapted for coke making than that of the lower series, and with proper manipulation a most excellent metallurgic fuel can be produced.
"A large portion of the domestic coal and a little of the steam coal reaches the markets of Kansas and Nebraska, the rest being consumed in Colorado. The principal consumers of the coke and a portion of the steam coal are the large lead and iron smelters of Pueblo and Denver.
"The extreme southern end of the field is crossed by the main line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad, which carries the product to the markets of southern Kansas. The lines of the Denver and Rio Grande and the Colorado Southern roads from Pueblo to Trinidad are located on the plains a few miles east of the various mines, which are reached by branches from these roads; the line of the Denver and Rio Grande to Alamosa and southwestern Col- orado passes westward through Walsenburg along the northern end of the field.
CAÑON CITY FIELD
"The field is located in Fremont County near the town of Cañon, and is 42 miles north of the Raton field. Its western boundary is formed by the northern end of the Wet Mountain Range, from which it extends eastward to the plains; the valley of the Arkansas River marks the northern limit, and that of the New- land Creek the southern. The field comprises an isolated area of 54 square miles of Laramie measures, with an average thickness of 900 feet; two-thirds of the area contains coal beds of workable thickness.
"Along the western margin of the field the strata are steeply upturned against the flanks of the mountains, but rapidly flatten out, so that in the body of the field they are nearly horizontal, with a slight westward dip as the eastern edge is reached. Faulting is very rare and there are no dikes or other evidences of erup- tive bodies within the area.
"Extensive prospecting with the diamond drill has demonstrated the presence of as many as 16 coal beds 4 feet thick and upward, the lower beds being the most persistent, and ranging from 4 to 5 feet in thickness. There are known to be two other beds which have a workable thickness at various points.
"The coal produced in this field possesses excellent qualities for domestic purposes and is known throughout the plains region as the type of that class of fuel. In burning it does not coke, but produces a bright flame and leaves but a small amount of very light ash. When ground to a fine powder and ignited in a crucible it forms a slightly coherent mass. The fine coal and the culm make excellent steam fuel, the demand for these sizes being fully equal to the supply from the mines. In general the coal of this field may be considered as the transition type between the lignitic coals of the South Platte field and the more highly al- tered coals of the Raton field.
"The product of this field is used mainly for domestic purposes, being shipped to the markets as far east as the Missouri River.
"The main line of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway passes through Caño1, branches being built to the mines. The Santa Fé also has branch lines reaching the field.
470
HISTORY OF COLORADO
SOUTH PLATTE FIELD
"This field consists of a continuous strip of coal-bearing rocks, beginning a few miles north of Colorado Springs and extending thence nearly to the north line of the state. The western limit is defined by the upturned strata in the foot- hills of the Front Range, along which the field extends for a distance of 140 miles. The width of the field averages about 40 miles. The limits thus defined are those given by Mr. Hills in the articles before mentioned (R. C. Hills, geolo- gist of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company), and the area outlined is a con- servative estimate of the extent of the Laramie formation containing coal seams of economic value. The great area east of this line in northeastern Colorado contains, with local exceptions, only coal of an inferior grade.
"The productive portion of the field, which comprises about one-sixteenth of the total area, is divided into six districts. The most southern is located im- mediately north of Colorado Springs and includes that portion of the Palmer Lake divide which is drained by the tributaries of the Arkansas River. North of this there are no mines operated for a distance of 54 miles. The mining districts northwest of Denver, at Boulder, Marshall, Erie, Lafayette and Louis- ville, form the northern group. The non-producing eastern half of the field and a wide strip through the center have not been divided into districts, and may be considered at present as inaccessible on account of the depth of the beds from the surface, lack of railroad transportation, or the inferiority of the coal to that elsewhere produced.
"The coal-bearing rocks are assigned to the Laramie, their total thickness ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 feet. The workable coal beds are included within the lower half of the measures.
"The strata along the western edge of the South Platte field are steeply up- turned along the base of the range, but rapidly flatten out toward the east. There are, however, gentle undulations through the body of the field, their axes extend- ing parallel with the axis of the range. The inclination of the beds along this western border depends upon the extent to which the strata have been removed by erosion and ranges in the northern district from nearly horizontal to over- turned strata, with a general easterly dip. The strata at the southern end of the field have a northward dip of about 9°. Faulting is generally confined to the northern district, in which there are numerous displacements, often of such magnitude as to prevent the extension of mine workings. The occurrence of eruptive rocks is limited to the small flow near Golden, on the western edge, and a small patch at Castle Rock, near the center of the field.
"So far as known, there are from one to four coal beds in the field, from two to four being formed in the southern district and in the southern part of the northern district, and one in the rest of this district. These beds vary from 3 to 16 feet in thickness, the greatest development being in the center of the field.
"The character of the coal is essentially lignitic, with local variations, though quite removed in structure from true lignite, since it mines in blocks which show the even fracture of "block" coal. It has a black color and a brilliant luster. It slacks rapidly upon exposure to the air and is therefore not adapted for storage or long transportation. The best grade of fuel is produced from that portion of the field in which the strata have been subjected to movement. This is the
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HISTORY OF COLORADO
western edge of the northern district, where the strata are steeply upturned. The poorest coal is produced in the southern district. The coal found in the upper half of the measures contains too many impurities to enter into competi- tion with that from the lower half.
"On account of the excessive moisture content of these coals their use is entirely confined to the markets in the immediate vicinity, where they have a large consumption for domestic and steam purposes, the low cost as compared with the coals of higher calorific value from the more remote fields of the state being greatly in their favor.
"The proximity of the northern district to Denver, which is the most im- portant market of the state, has induced the development of a large number of mines along the western border of this district, where the coal can be reached either from the outcrop or by short shafts. The great thickness of the overlying beds in the Denver Basin has thus far prevented the operation of any mines in the immediate vicinity of the city.
"The mines of the southern district are reached by branches of the Colorado Southern and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroads, those of the northern by the Colorado Southern, Union Pacific and Burlington systems.
COMO FIELD
"Located in Park County, in the most southern of the interrange series of parks, is a strip of Laramie strata, 21 miles long and from 3 to 5 miles wide, which comprises one of the most valuable fields of the state.
"Only one-half of this area can be considered available on account of the in- trusion of an eruptive mass which limits the workable area on the south. The northern end is badly faulted, which makes the cost of production excessive. The inclination of the beds along the western outcrop ranges from 30° to 50° through the workable area. The eastern border is obscured by the overlying post- Laramie beds.
"The coal bed as developed in No. 5 opening contains from 5 to 8 feet of coal in the lower bench and 2 feet in the upper, separated by from 8 inches to 3 feet of shale. A mile south of this opening there is a bed containing 472 feet of coal. Whether or not these openings are on the same bed has never been determined. The coal cokes strongly and mades an excellent locomotive fuel.
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