PERMFILE44509 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Extensive archaeological investigations have been conducted along • the route of Colowyo's railspur, and a final report for this work was prepared by the Laboratory of Public Archeology at Colorado State University. To provide assurance that archaeological resources on all Colowyo lands are protected, Colowyo has a company policy prohibiting any employee from collecting artifacts, digging or otherwise disturbing any designated or potential archaeological sites. Historical Resources The Streeter Canyon area has been a coal mining area since 1914 when the Collum Coal Company opened a small underground coal mine. The coal was used by local people because the area lacked cheap and easy transportation to move coal to distance markets. The town of Axial (now abandoned) was located along the freight wagon and stagecoach line between Craig and Meeker. On October 25, 1924, Federal Coal Lease No. D-034365 was issued to Clifford G. Phelan. On December 31, 1945, the Lease was assigned from Phelan to Colowyo Coal Company; the Colowyo Coal Company changed the name from the Collum Mine to the Red Wing Mine, and operated as a small producer of local coal until December 1, 1973. In addition to the Red Wing Mine, there was a second underground mine in the same area known as the Streeter Mine. The Streeter Mine operated on private land adjoining the north side of the Red Wing Mine until 1951, when the workings collapsed. In 1952, a fire was discovered within the closed mine; the fire is believed to have resulted from spontaneous combustion of the coal seam, and is still burning. On December 1, 1973, W. R. Grace & Co. acquired Colowyo Coal Company, which included assignment of Federal Coal Lease No. D-034365. Shortly thereafter, carbon monoxide was detected behind seals connecting the Red Wing Mine with the Streeter Mine. It was believed that the fire in the adjoining Streeter Mine caused the presence of the carbon monoxide behind the seals. The Red Wing 2.04.4-2