USA > Iowa > Lucas County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 13
USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
"Such person, with a proper equipment, could insure the seeding of all lands in his district within the time required. and with such assistance, the crops could all be harvested at such time and in such manner as to avoid losses therein.
155
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
"If it be said that this looks too much like farming by proxy the answer is that the farmer, with his force, could reduce the cost of this plan by assisting therein and he would be employed in the cultivation of his crops from the time they were planted up to or near harvest time.
"Again : In this way the farmer would secure the planting and harvesting of his crops much cheaper than he could by purchasing machinery and attempting to perform this work himself. Having procured the necessary machinery and made arrangements to properly care for it and having pro- vided himself with all appliances necessary to keep it in repair. the party engaged in such business would necessarilly become an expert in taking care of and operating such ma- chinery, and hence, the farmer would reap the benefits and advantages of such reduction in the reduced price of the services rendered by such expert.
"The essential advantage of this plan to the farmer is il: securing the planting and harvesting of his erops at the proper time. Nature has provided for a seed time and har- vest. This law is inexorable and if it is not observed the penalty provided therefor will surely follow.
" If the ground is not properly prepared for sowing, or if the seed is not sown at the proper time the injurious effects of such failure are plainly seen, not only in the growing product, but in the quality and quantity of the matured product.
"Any person can see this result in the crops on each side of a highway as he passes along. The corn crop on one side of the road may have a healthy appearance while the crop on the other side of the highway may seem to be in an un- healthy condition; stunted and materially injured in its growth. What is it that produces this difference? It is not in the soil for that is the same. It is not in the failure of sunshine or rain. The conditions in this respect have been the same. Observation will demonstrate that this material difference has been caused by the failure to properly pre- pare one field for planting. or in failing to plant it at the proper time.
"It is a fact well known to farmers that the plowing or breaking of land when the ground is wet. is a positive injury to land; an injury, from the ill effects of which it will re- quire at least one year for the ground to fully recover. It
156
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
will require at least one year to dissolve the clods produced by plowing the land when it is wet. The first year will pro- duce an immense crop of clods and weeds. Hence, the absolute necessity of the farmer improving every moment of the short time allowed him in this climate to plant and seed his lands at the right time. Time is the essence of this problem. At most, as a general rule, he only has about thirty days to accomplish this important work and from this brief time we must deduct the days when, on account of rains, he must cease work.
" I believe that the plan or scheme above suggested would revolutionize this work and result in the great advantage to the small farmers of the country."
If the scheme above suggested is feasible and could be enforced it would seem that it would not only eliminate the great burden on the small farmer of having to furnish ex- pensive farm machinery, but it would insure better crops. It may not be the best remedy for the ills mentioned, but if it should lead others to devise a better plan it will have effected a much needed reform.
It is also evident that the time is not far distant when electric power will be largely used in farming, especially in marketing farm products. In Minnesota and Canada elec- tric power is largely used in operating gang plows and har- vesting machinery, thereby eliminating the great expense of purchasing and keeping numerous horses, but, we repeat, the greatest advantage is found in the fact that this important work is accomplished at the proper time.
RAILROADS
Lucas county is well supplied with railroads. It has the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad running east and west through the county. Then it has a branch railroad extending south to St. Joseph, Missouri, and there connecting with a direct road to Kansas City and Omaha. Then it has another branch road extending northwest to In- dianola in Warren county, where it connects with a branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, running to Des Moines.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad is now en- gaged in building a line of railroad from the town of Carlysle
157
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
in Warren county, running north and south through Lucas county, to the town of Allerton in Wayne county, a distance of about sixty-eight miles. This will give it a direct connec- tion between Des Moines and Kansas City.
Instead of first building a temporary cheap road, as has been the custom with railroads, with the idea of improving it and straightening it afterwards, this company is building a first-class road bed in the beginning, so that when completed it will at once assume the position of a first-class road, and it will doubtless constitute a part of its main line from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific coast.
The history attending the building of said roads is inter- esting to the people generally. A short time prior to the year 1858 the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company was organized to build that road from Burlington, Iowa, to Plattsmouth on the Missouri river, but for several years this enterprise moved along very slowly. It secured a congres- sional grant of the undisposed of public lands lying within fifteen miles on each side of the established line of the road. In some counties, especially in the counties of Union, Adams and Montgomery, the company under this grant acquired the title to many thousand acres of valuable lands, and it obtained the title to lands in every county traversed by the road west of Wapello county.
At that time railroad companies expected the people along the line thereof to aid in the construction thereof. In the first place this aid was in the shape of subscriptions to the stock of the company at the rate of one hundred dollars per share, but after the road was built this stock was sold by the subscribers at from $10.00 to $25.00 per share and a short time after these subscribers had disposed of their stock it was selling in the market at from $75.00 to $100.00 per share. The main line of the Burlington Railroad was com- pleted through this county about 1868. Then about the year 1880 the Burlington Company built what is known as the Chariton & St. Joseph road, and about the year 1890 it built what is commonly known as the North Branch to Indianola, and in 1911 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Com- pany commenced the construction of its railway, called the St. Paul and Kansas City Short Line Railroad, from Carlysle
158
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
to Allerton. The townships voted a local tax to aid in the building of the St. Joseph and Indianola branches.
Thus it is apparent that manufactories located at Chari- ton could send their products in every direction, and this advantage ought to result in the establishment of manufac- tories here.
COAL
For many years our state geologists have expressed the opinion that the western portion of this county was under- laid with deposits of coal, and for many years divers persons have undertaken to develop the same, but such efforts have been spasmodic and irregular and after sinking some shafts and for a time mining coal in paying quantities, the mines have been abandoned, to be taken up by other persons and again abandoned.
The prospects of the development of extensive coal mines in the county were never so bright as at the present time. The history attending the efforts to discover and develop such mines is long and interesting. It was known by the pioneers of the county that coal existed at different points in the county .. At some places it could be seen in the banks of streams, where the water had washed away the earth to such extent as to expose the veins of coal. For many years farmers have been obtaining coal for their own use by drift- ing into hillsides, where veins of coal from eight to eighteen inches thick appeared. At other places persons have for many years mined coal from such thin veins and sold it at the nearest towns.
About the year 1871 one major safely of Ottumwa was led to believe that coal in paving quantities could be found in the western part of the county, but after making an effort, and expending some money to discover it, he abandoned the enterprise.
Afterwards about the year 1873 one N. M. Close, a resi- dent of the county, also expended considerable time and money in prospecting for coal. He sank a shaft near the village of Lucas and was rewarded by finding a vein or rather a deposit of coal about twenty-four inches thick, at a depth of about one hundred feet from the surface. It having been determined that it would not pay to operate a mine of this
159
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
character the enterprise was again abandoned for several years and the public settled down to the belief that although coal in paying quantities existed in a large portion of the county, yet it would require quite a large sum of money to develop it and operate a mine.
At length about the year 1896 one William Haven under- took to solve the problem whether or not coal existed in the county in such quantities and of such quality as to pay for operating a mine. He obtained drills and experienced miners and proceeded to prospect for coal at a point about one mile east of Lucas. While, as the work progressed, the indications became favorable, vet it was impossible to induce men of means to risk anything in the enterprise, and it seemed that Mr. Haven's efforts and sacrifices would end in a failure, the same as his predecessors. But fully believing that the coal existed and that he could and would find it, he continued his efforts until at length rumor announced that "Haven has struck a seven-foot vein of coal." It proved to be true, with the exception that the coal or deposit was from five to seven feet thick. His shaft was located near the town of Lucas. A company known as "The Whitebreast Coal and Mining Company," was organized to operate this new mine and for a time, night and day shifts of miners continued with proper machinery to lift coal from a depth of about two hundred and fifty feet from the surface and load it on the cars of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company.
For about six years the villages of Lucas and Cleveland were the busiest little towns in Iowa. But it was afterwards ascertained that this coal did not exist in veins or regular strata. but in pockets, and that a five-foot deposit of coal might end at any time. Hence the extent of the coal at any particular place was found to be uncertain. For instance: the drill would pass through a deposit of coal from five to seven feet in thickness in a certain forty-acre tract of land. while two or three drill holes on the adjoining forty-acre tract would fail to show any indications of coal. except per- haps they would show the existence of the minor veins, which appear all over the county. Afterwards Mr. J. C. Osgood of Burlington. Iowa. became interested in Mr. Haven's mine and in a short time he acquired the controlling interest therein. and in his company called "The Whitebreast Coal and Mining Company." Mr. Haven then withdrew from
160
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
the company, and from the coal business in Lucas county, and engaged in other business.
After Mr. Osgood and his associates took charge of said mine. They procured the best mining machines then in use and a large number of miners and for a few years they did an extensive business in the mining, shipment and sale of coal in western Iowa, northern Missouri and eastern Nebraska. When the pockets of coal began to fail, they continually searched for other pockets by means of a diamond drill.
In this way he found another extensive pocket of coal at a point about five miles southwest of the town of Lucas and the business again revived. When this pocket was exhausted he then abandoned his mining enterprises in Lucas county.
While his mines were in full operation Mr. Osgood caused his company to issue and sell its bonds in the New York market, amounting to many thousands of dollars, such bonds being secured by a mortgage on all of its property, including its leases on several thousand acres of supposed coal lands. but when said mining operations ceased, the purchasers of said bonds brought an action against the officers of the com- pany individually for misrepresentation in the sale of said bonds. This action was afterwards compromised and dis- missed. .
Afterwards Mr. H. L. Byers of Lucas, still believing that there were "millions" in the old coal mine near the town of Lucas, took possession of the shaft in said mine, pumped out the water, and proceeded with a few miners to mine, and by means of the old machinery to lift some coal daily from said mine. He claimed that a visit down the shaft would convince any person that there were millions of tons of the best quality of soft coal in sight. We have no doubt but that Mr. Byers actually believed that this was true. Mr. Walsh of Chicago sent an experienced coal miner to examine said mine and verify Mr. Byers' statements. This expert came and after making such examination reported that Mr. Byers' representations were true, and on his report to Mr. Walsh, he, Walsh, expended several thousand dollars in the purchase of new machinery for said mine. But in a short time this expert ascertained that he had been deceived by the appearances of said mine. That, in fact. the supposed sparkling coal, which
161
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
he could see in the said mine was not coal at all, but a black glistening material, wholly unfit for use as fuel.
Mr. Walsh abandoned said mine, having lost a few thou- sand dollars in this transaction. But this transaction did not affect Mr. Byers. He still claimed that there were mil- lions in it, and in a short time he induced a Mr.
of Kansas City to invest about thirty thousand dollars in said mine. The water was again pumped out. The machinery repaired, miners obtained and mining operations commenced again, but after a few weeks it was again demon- strated that there was nothing in it, and again it was aban- doned. But Mr. Byers was not affected by this repeated failure; he still believed that by the investment of a few thousand dollars this mine would prove to be one of the best paying properties in the state.
While it seems that Mr. Byers is thoroughly mistaken in his judgment as to the value of his mine, yet we must credit him with an honest belief in the value of this property, and we do not doubt that if he had money to invest he would again risk it in an effort to operate said mine.
About the year 1906 Mr. William Haven again undertook to prospect for coal in the northeast part of the county and he continued his work until he discovered coal in paying quan- tities and of a good quality, and he secured by purchases and leases several hundred acres of land in which he became satisfied there was coal. Mr. Haven secured the assistance of a few wealthy men, residing at Aurora, Illinois, to pros- pect for coal. These men did not invest in this property with the view of operating a coal mine. They had very little experience in such business, but as they regarded such invest- ment as safe and profitable they furnished the money nec- essary to acquire the title to a vast coal field, with the view that this property would become valuable, and they would leave to others the work required in securing a railroad to said mines, and in operating the same.
Fortunately for them the St. Paul & Kansas City Short Line Railroad which is now being built by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company will pass through this coal field, and this will develop the most extensive coal mines in the state. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company and the North-Western Railroad Company have each secured coal rights in large tracts of lands in this local-
162
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
ity, and it is expected that each of these companies, as well as Mr. Haven's company, called "The Inland Fuel Com- pany," will open and operate their mines in or during the next year.
The Inland Company has sunk one shaft and for the last five years it has furnished most of the coal used in the county. This shaft is located about five miles north of Chari- ton. The coal is of good quality, being almost free from chin- kers, and producing fine white ashes.
A large number of farmers use this coal for heating pur- poses, rather than spend the time and labor required in chopping and hauling wood. We look forward to the time as not far distant when it will require thousands of dollars to meet the weekly or monthly payroll of numerous miners engaged in operating said coal mines, thereby largely increas- ing the volume of money in circulation in the county, and insuring local prosperity.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company are now engaged in building a branch railroad extending from the town of Carlysle in Warren county to the town of Aller- ton in Wayne county, where it will connect with their line of railroad from Chicago to Kansas City and from there connecting with their lines of railroads to Los Angeles and the Gulf of Mexico. This will be a very important railroad. It passes through said coal field in Lucas county.
This company has secured the coal right in large tracts of land in Lucas county, and it will at once proceed to mine and develop coal mines in these lands.
The North-Western Railroad Company has also, by pur- chase and leases, secured coal rights in and under a large number of acres of land in this same coal field in Lucas county, and it is understood that it will undertake to open mines this season. Coal has never been discovered in the western or northern part of this state, nor has coal in paving quantities been discovered in northern Missouri or eastern Nebraska, and hence said proposed mines will find a market for much of their coal in said localities.
This new branch of the Rock Island road is called "The St. Paul and Kansas City Short Line Railroad." Con- trary to the usual custom of railroad companies to build a temporary and cheap road bed in the beginning, and then improve and straighten the line thereof afterward. the
163
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
Rock Island Company is building this road in a perma- nent and first-class manner in the start. For instance, their right-of-way through the town of Chariton is about two hun- dred feet wide, thereby giving them an abundance of room for depot grounds and stock yards at convenient points. In- stead of searching for cheap grounds for their stock yards and coal station they have, at a great expense, graded down hills and filled in ravines in order to place such improve- ments at the desired point or place.
Today, January 21st, 1913, they finished laying the rails from Carlysle to Chariton, and in a few weeks one can go from Chariton to Des Moines without changing cars.
THE COAL FIELDS OF LUCAS COUNTY
Under the above heading, Mr. Horace Barnes, the enter- prising editor of the Republican, of Albia, Iowa, thus, in a late issue of his paper, correctly represents our coal interests :
"Some day, and that before long, the people of Chariton are going to be awakened by the blasts of powder shots which shot firers will touch off in mines of the Inland Fuel Com- pany, three miles out from Chariton. The Chariton people are not aware at this time of what a wonderful body of coal lies so near their doors. If they do realize it they do not say, and the persons whom you talk to on the streets are dubious of this and dubious of that. The Chariton people are much like the Albia people. The earlier residents of Albia could see nothing in the question of there being coal under the land in this county, and they went dreamily to sleep and let outside capital come into the county and gob- ble all the fine coal lands and the Albians sat down to see millionaires made from the coal out-put. while they were satisfied with the trade which came to their stores as the result of the miners receiving their pay. This is practically the way it is in Chariton. I talked with a half dozen men. business men, and they stated the coal near there would never reach market, that mines would not be in operation until years after they were dead. They will have to die pretty shortly, for arrangements are now under way which will make Chariton one of the liveliest towns in the state.
"The Inland Fuel Company is the name of the company which has 10.000 acres of coal land either in their own right
164
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
ยท
or under such a lease that they can obtain it at any time. For the past eleven years the money has been poured into the mine. The income from the output has been barely enough to pay the men. But those who owned the mine were content with that. They have had one idea in view and that was to get the coal in sight, get the mine in such condition that when things did come that way they could mine the coal rapidly and profitably. There is not a mine in Iowa where such an extensive system has been followed as at the Inland Fuel Company. They have driven entries until at this time they have two and a half miles of entries. The greatest part of this has the rails laid. The mouth of the shaft below is of concrete with heavy steel beams extending across the roof and making it absolutely safe. The main entries have been driven and laterals have followed so that the men can always have an open course to freedom in case of accident. It must have taken considerable nerve to tackle the proposition the way it has been done-sinking dollar after dollar and no regular income. But the owners of the mine knew some day there would be a railroad come down that way and that hope is now realized. I was up there the other day when the final gap of the new Rock Island was completed and when the first train down over the new road came through the town. Chariton people hardly knew the new road had completed the gap, but those faithful fellows who for eleven years have been looking forward to just such a time knew it. They knew everything about it. It was a gala day for them, but they said nothing. Just kept on the even tenor of their way, knowing the long wait was about over and the mine would be given operation.
"The mine is one of the best in the state and has a qual- ity of coal that is the best in the state. A government in- spector was down in the mine and dug coal which he car- ried away with him and took for government inspection. A carload of the coal was also shipped for testing qualities. and the report came back that it was the best Iowa coal which had ever been given a test. The men who have been backing the mine and awaiting the time for a railway, could afford to wait for they knew that when the time was ripe there would be a railway reach down into that section and give them the market they will seek. They have played the coal game similar to the railways. The latter will option
165
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
large fields, make purchases here and there and then let the coal lie in the ground until they get ready to come for it. This is the way it has been with the Inland Fuel Company. William Haven and George Verner have been right in the field all the time and have remained with the company dur- ing the entire eleven years and have spent the money care- fully and honestly and they now have to show for it what will be one of the largest mines in the state.
"The coal is easily mined and will prove a bonanza for the men who have employment there. There has never been a charge of dynamite used in the mines. Black powder is sufficient to loosen the coal and one shot brings down great quantities of the coal. I was in one of the rooms which had been turned by Alfred Goater, a former Monroe county miner, and who made money during the days of the old Jack Oak and Cedar mines. Mr. Goater had a quantity of coal down with the one shot that would be the envy of every miner who could see it. Mr. Goater backs up the operators in the statement that it is the finest coal he has ever seen and the finest he has ever worked in. The company now gives em- ployment to thirty men, but with the building of a new switch to connect with the Rock Island they can easily take care of three hundred men and in a very few days' notice. It is expected that the mine will be running full blast by next fall and at least three hundred if not four hundred men will be at work. The miners have a local union and there is no friction whatever between the men and the company. There has never been any disagreement made to the district officers and that speaks mighty well for the men. The officers of the local are C. H. Runnells, president; F. E. Johnson, secre- tary. The two men do all the business for the miners and there has never been any squabble of any kind. I believe it should be stated right here that I never met an operator who was more inclined to union labor than George Verner. He told me it would be impossible to run an open mine and even if he could he would never give countenance to such a thing. He believes fully in the labor movement and thinks it a great deal better for the miners and operators both. Operating a mine for eleven years with no strike, no trouble to report to the district officers and no friction means a whole lot in the mining industry and shows a confidence on the part of both the miner and operator. There has been one Vol. 1-10
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.