*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 063--- [ad] Pictures AND Picture Frames at Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 63 Coal was found on Mad River in 1854. At a later date it was disocvered on Eel River in large quantities. At Point St. George, several years ago, a shaft was sunk and a good quality of coal obtained; but for want of capital the work was abandoned. Recently ten tons of coal were shipped from Eel River to San Francisco, via Ukiah and the S.F. & N.P. Rwy. Co., by Mr. J. L. Flood, who is a three-quarter owner in a vast coal field on Eel River, at a cost of $20 per ton, but it must be remembered that this sum covers the cost of teaming sixty miles, over a rough and mountainous road, to Ukiah. Some day, perhaps, these figures will be mentioned as we now refer to the prices of 1849. The coal is a lignite, that is, it is known as the latest formation of coal. Mr. Flood has been contemplating for sometime past a development of this coal enterprise on Eel River. When Isaac Friedlander failed in 1875 he handed five-eighths of the property over to the Nevada Bank; of the remainder, Walker of redwood fame owned an eighth, the estate of Edmund Janssen another eighth, and the late Capt. R.S. Floyd the remaining eighth. Walker sold his share to the Nevada Bank later on, and when Messrs. Hellman, Sloss and Gerstle bought a large share in the bank this coal property was one of the items reserved by Messrs. Flood and Mackey. These gentlemen realized the enormous expenses required to open up the coal fields, but made a proposition to Mr. Janssen that he should join in forming a stock company. Captain Floyd, it is said, was ready to enter into the enterprise with his accustomed public spirit. The Janssen estate objected, however, to the expense, which for a company of 100,000 shares would involve assessments of $45 or $50 a share. Then an offer was made the Janssens of $21,000 for their share, but this was rejected. THE COAL VEIN. At a certain point where two cliffs rise high on either bank may be seen the great coal vein, which it has cut in two. On either side the coal rises almost to the top of the cliff, and, according to the experts, there are 18,000 tons in sight. When the surface of the earth was forced up by volcanic action in ages past the stratum of coal was broken grievously, so that if a mine should be begun at the north bank of the fork of Eel River it might easily happen that after progressing a few hundred yards above, or below, as the case may be. This is where the uncertainty lies, and it is just this that leaves the trail of speculation across the field. A rough guess gives 10,000,000 tons to the square mile, and there are about 40 square miles in the present tract. It will take nearly $5,000,000 to place the coal on the market --$2,500,000 for a railway to Ukiah, and $2,500,000 to develop the mine. From Ukiah the route would be sixty miles and practicable. There is on the whole, a good chance for San Francisco to have a large and cheap coal supply--that is, if the promoters succeed in overcoming the obstacles. The S.F. & North Pacific Railway Co. would join the proposed line at Ukiah, but this corporation cannot go farther, even at the inducement of the coal fields. When the Donahues mortgaged the road to [ad] Gibbard & Lever DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OF Furniture Cor. Third and H Streets, Pioneer Building, Eureka [ad] ---end---