The Black Butte station, fourteen miles to the west of
Big Pond, was named for a large black colored butte about five miles
to the west of the station. This swing station was also located along
Bitter Creek. At this point along the creek, the water was so tainted
with alkali that oatmeal was added by the station cook to hide the taste.
It was near this station that emigrants discovered that coal found
in this area was able to be burned in their camp fires. Today the land
that the Black Butte ruins are found upon is owned by the Black Butte
Coal Company, an open pit mining operation. They have erected a fence
around the ruins, and will conduct a guided tour. |
