He sat on the mountain on the night of Rondal's birth and said it again. The railroad men spoke true - they didnt bother us no more. Instead they give the minerals over to the coal companies and the coal companies took our land two year later. Omar Kane, sheriff of Justice County, come around and said everyone had to move, that he had an order. American coal took a lease from the Richmond and Western railroad.
Railroad owns the mineral.
Mineral owner has precedence over the surface owner. He tacked a notice on Clabe's cabin door, on Dillon's, and most everyone's on the holler. When he passed us by, my papaw was pleased with himself. I told them other durned fools, but they wouldnt listen. Hit's what comes of bein greedy, Cincinnatus.