The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-07-04

j. ii. England, is nearly adjoining, and
owns the Sweepstakes" bull of the last
County FAIR. Good thoroughbred stock
is becoming quite general in this neigh
borhood l saw at Mr.. E. W. Myrick's-
with whom remained over night-some
very handsome Short Horn stock, such as
would delight the eye of a connoisseur in
thorough. breds. hope the people of the
country may have an opportunity to look
at his herd, at our next County Fair. The
crops of Des Moines are alike good with
those of the county. About two miles
south Of Gateley's ferry lies the "Cox
farm" of 200 acres, advertised for sale in
your columns. This, am told, can be
bought for $14 per acre. IT'S certainly a
bargain, good land and good location.
was told by various persons that in the
river at this point there is a vein of Can
mel coal, that had been drilled into seven
feet, and bottom not found. 1t crops out
in the bed of the river and az the ice comes
crashing down in the spring, il knocks off
pieces. which having been tested, present
the appearance and qualities of first.class
the vein through the ice. Mr.. Jones, of
Beacon, and a man of experience in these
matters, told me that he had seen speci-
mems of this coal, and there was no doubt
about its genuineness and good quality. If
such be the case, who. can determine the
future of the country possessing such a
mine of wealth. Going north and west
from this point we find country more
newly settled, but fast coming into the
ranks as great producing section. A
beautiful forty acre piece of corn near
Gateley's Ferry, belongs to W. F. Bonnet,
whose ma me l took for the HERALD j. M.
Crane, an old man now, told me he came
to his present home Oh the very day the
Indians gave up possession to our Govern
ment, in 1S43. He was one of the first
Grand Jurymen Of the county. AS the
"oldest inhabitant" asked him what he
knew about farming, and if he believed in
Greelcy's cbinch bug exterminator? Hav-
ing voted for Gen. Jackson, "By the eter-
nal" he did not believe in Greeley his
farming, or his chinch bug arrangement
either. Land in this section is held at from
$40 to $50 per acre. There is but little
wild land. John p McCrea was shutting
up forty acre piece, and showed me a
handsome piece of wheat of the Siberian
variety, owned by himself, and about the
best in West Des Moines. Gateley's ferry
(free) is the crossing point for the people
of this section who come to Oskaloosa.
EAST DIES MONIES.
This portion of the TIP. is not an agricul-
tural section. Being in the breaks of the
Des Moines river, and Muchachinock
creek, the land is necessarily very much
broken, covered with timber and not adap-
ted to farming use. This TIP. possesses
more lines of railroad than any other in
the county, except Oskaloosa; both the d.
", and q. R. r. of l. passing through it.
GIVEN STATION,
a point on both railroads, is the growth of
the coal interest, for which this section is
noted. Its business, aside from the coal
trade, is not large, there being but one
store--that of Fl. Brewer. who also fills the
Office of postmaster. A saw mill is kept
in running order during the winter months.
A blacksmith is heard each day perform.
ing an "anvil chorus" and the inevitable
sign of "Wine ard Beer" shows where the
toll worn workers may verify the truth of
the old adage that "a fool and his money
is soon parted"
An estimate of the coal beds underlying
these hills is perhaps impossible; miners
say it is inexhaustible. A visit to, and in the
mine of Poland & Baxter, gave me some
very useful information in reference to the
process of mining, which l will give at
some future time, in a more extended man.
ner than this place will admit Of This
firm, p g. B., have an excellent quality of
coal, and are shipping large quantities of
it to CouRcil Bluffs, Omaha, and other
points, via the D. Y. r. X. With such a
vast mine of wealth underlying our county,
there can but be a great future before us,
when increased railroad facilities, and
greater population shall necessitate its
development.
OF course would not leave this neigh
borhood without calling on an old-time
friend. Frank Castles. found him at his
quarry, getting out large stone, to be
the quarry the Capitol Commissioners
were invited to visit and examine. with
reference to its use in the Capitol building.
They might,-and in measure-haue done
worse in their selection. Within quar-
ter of mile of the railroad, it is easy Of
access and is also unlimited in quantity.
G. r. L.