Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, March 22, 1922
By Geo. Watkin Evans, consulting coal mining engineer, Seattle
The famous McKay coal seam, originally opened at Black Diamond, has either been mined, or traced continuously into the Ravensdale district, at which point it was originally mined some years ago.
The Ravensdale mine, originally called the Leary mine, was opened in 1899 by the Seattle and San Francisco Railway & Navigation Company. At a later date the property was purchased by the Northwestern Improvement Company, which is the coal division of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Several coal seams occur at this place in addition to the McKay coal. Slopes were sunk on the No. 5 seam and also on the McKay seam. In addition to the workings on the No. 5 seam, the No. 9 seam and also the No. 4 seam were developed to some extent.
The No 5 seam is approximately 25 feet thick, and by the system of mining introduced, a very large portion of this bed was mined, which is very unusual for so thick a coal seam.
The McKay coal bed was opened by a slope at a point where the bed is dipping at a very high angle. In fact, the McKay coal is very badly disturbed by faulting in this district and it is claimed that mining costs were so high that it was found unprofitable to continue trying to mine the coal from this bed.
The relationship of beds Nos. 9, 5 and 4 to that of the McKay coal bed has not been definitely determined but it is assumed that they overlie the McKay seam.
This mine has been abandoned for a number of years and it is not known when it will be reopened.
Within the past few years attempts have been made to open a mine by the Raven Coal Company, but for some reason this mine has been closed and is not now operating. This last attempt was to develop coal beds other than those originally mined at Ravensdale.
The cleaning plant at the Ravensdale mine was different from that of any other plant in the state. Spiral separators, such as those used in the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania were installed.
An attempt was made to “dry clean” the coal with these spirals but it was found that the physical character of the coal and the slight difference in specific gravity between the coal and the impurities would not permit of satisfactory separation. After many adjustments, the plant succeeded in doing fairly good work.
Ravensdale is on the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad between Saint Paul and Auburn. It is not as desirable a town site as Black Diamond, but still a fairly satisfactory place in which to live.
It is not far from Cedar River and for that reason has its attraction on account of good fishing.
[…] Ridge area; Cedar River area; Raging River–Upper Cedar River area; Ravensdale–Black Diamond area; Pacosco–Hyde area; Kummer–Krain area; National–Navy area; Bayne–Pocahontas area; […]
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[…] as follows: Newcastle–Issaquah–Grand Ridge area; Raging River–Upper Cedar River area; Ravensdale–Black Diamond area; Pacosco–Hyde area; Kummer–Krain area; National–Navy area; Bayne–Pocahontas area; and […]
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