The Lincoln County herald., 1871-08-10
OUR IRON RESOURCES.
A Word OF Warning.

Brother had leased tho land, an area ol
about two by six miles, about which 90
much has been written and published o
late because Of tho deposits Of iron on
that have long been known to exist there
That there is q vast quantity Of iron orc
there, more than generations yet unborn
will ever see mined, sufficient evidence
sbounds. But this is not pertinent to
the article under consideration. As q
journalist, aud especially as . county
journalist, it is not only our duty to bring
our resources into notice, but to put on
their guard all persons owning valuable
deposits. If men are the rightful owners
OF property, to them should accrue its
advantages and our object in writing
this article is to warn all who have not
vet fallen into the pit.
Men love gain it 10 human nature,
and the "sharp business man" ever has bis
eyes open to take IN advantage when it
is presented. The agitation Of our pros.
pectivo railroad. and the opening of our
coal mines, gave an impetus to the open
ing out Of other mineral resources that
have long been telieved to exist in quan.
titles in Lincoln couuty-especially iron.
Capt. Stoker Of St. Louis, an experienced
geologist was employed, who pronounced
tho iron ore in this county big thing.
A fortune for somebody was imbeded
iu tho bowels of this two by six miles
and moro Of territory. All that was
needed to make it reality was enter
prise. The men who owned it partook of
tho spirit, but ever unseldsh, and conf
dent of the good intentions Of those who
we're working it up" fell into snare, of
which perhaps they are now le,surely
repenting.
The land was "leased," the con6ding
property holders probably believing that
work was to be commenced Immediately.
Leases, or more properly deeds, we're
prepared, the object explained, and some
Of them doubtless signed their names
to the articles without ever reading them,
looking forward to great public good to
be accomplished. We learned ut the
time that the land had been "leased" to
the gentlemen named above, and know.
ing the business foresight Of some of the
men to whom the property belonged, we
did not once dream of their being duped
but accidentally in looking over the re
corder's books, We saw tho deeds that had
been given these men, which strike US as
being rather injurious than otherwise to
the owners Of .he land. Let US consider
the wording Of these cousiguments? We
quote from the records:
"This indenture made and entered into
this Goth day of May, 1871, by and be-
tween -, Of Lincoln county, Mis-
souri,, parties of the FIRST part and Elias
Norton and William Norton, composing
the firm of Norton & Bro, and John Il.
Knox, Of Lincoln county, Missouri, par.
ties Of the second part, Witnesseth that
the said parties of the first part have this
day granted, bargained, and sold, and by
these presents do grant, bargain and sell,
convey and cou6rm unto the said parties
Of tho second part, all our right, title,
interest and estate Of, in and to all mineral
Of achdtsoeuer nature or kind, or fossil
substances that arc situated or may be
found on, or in the earth of There comes
in description of land for and in consid.
Grafton Of the sum of one dollar in hand
paid to the said parties of the first part
by said parties Of tho second part, the re-
ceipt whereof Is hereby ACKNOWLEDGED, and
for the further conside alton of Eve per
cent. Of the net profits Of all mineral and
fossil INSTANCES that may be mined on said
estate aud converted into money, provided
tho land in cultivation is not to be inter.
fered with in any manner so as to disturb
the cultivation thereof; to have and to
hold the estate in the mineral aud fossil
substances aforesaid, with sll the rights,
immunitles, privileges and appurteua noes
w s''9 oeu0 OS'ooe'ues w su0 osiu poEsioo
Of the second part and to their heirs and
assigns forever, the said - hereby
covehant,ng that he will warrant and de-.
fend the tito to the promises aforesaid
to the said parties Of the second part, aud
to their heirs and assigns against the
lawful claims Of all persons whomsoever.
In witness whereof We have hereunto sci
our hands and seals the day and year frs,
above written"
All the deeds recorded are in substance
the same a. the above. It will be OBJ.
served that they are general warranty
deeds to all IMMORAL and fossil substancel
on certain lands jorever, without any
condition as to when the work will com
mencs, which may be fifty or hundred
years from this time for aught any on'
knows; that all the land not in cultiva-
tion NJ tha dot, oc <ho J..J o,~ .,,h: oo