Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-12-18
Correspondence,
4 VISIT 10 TIE COAL WENES BY
THE PRESIDENT or TIE MIN
FRS' UNION or IOWA.
DEs MONIES, Iowa, Dec. 6, 80

readers may feel interested in matters
pertaining to mining in this State,
and also to hear Of some former citi-
zene of Maryland whom met in my
travels to Northern Iowa.
Coal has not yet been dicovered
north Of Fort Dodge, and in conse-
quence The operators receive good
price for their coal, particularly this
season, as the weather has set in very
cold with every appearance of it con-
tinuing so. I was told that they
hauled coal into Minnesota in wagons
fifty miles from there. Coal is selling
at present in Fort Dodge for $3.50
per ton. The mines are about six
miles east of the town, and coal costs
at the mines $3.50 and 1915 per ton.
The miners are receiving $l.OO,
$l.l2! and l.25 per ton for digging
The thickness of the vein varies from
three feet to eight feet, within n ra-
dius of from three to four miles.
There are number of small compa-
MES operating. The location Of the
mines resembles the Maryland mining
regions; very mountainous, and is
called Coalville.
DR.. George Sloan, formerly of Lon.
aconing, Nd, is located at Coalville,
and is highly spoken CT. He has
been very successful in his proles-
sion; is said to be industrious,
studying in his leisure hours, and
ever ready in answering call !;
has q word for each, regardless Of
station. The Doctor has coed pros
poets financially.
The Minneapolis and st. Paul rail
road is building past Coalville, which
will open up large tract of coal land.
A joint stock company has been
formed, and DR.. Sloan owns one-aixth
Of the stock. They lave contracted
for the building of sixteen houses,
and there is said to be one hundred
and seventy acres Of coal land owned
!y the company. The coal is about
six feet thick.
The Fort Dodge coal company have
three mines at Coalyille, but in two
Of them the Goa is nearly worked out
and they are prospecting for more in
other PLACES,
John Byrne, formerly a partner
with Samuel B. Dobbie ia Lonacon.
ing, is also in the coal business two
miles east Of Coalville. His step
father, Mr., McInally, is in partner
ship with him. They own twenty
acres Of coal land, and the coal there
ia from six to eight feet thick.
There were about twenty-five teams
waiting for coal when / passed their
bank, and was told it was a common
occurrence. They work about twelve
miners, and have good prospects.
I next visited Moingona, a coal
mine located on the North Western
railroad. Mr.. William Blythe is gem
eral manager. Such of your readers
as formerly worked at this mine will
be pleased to know that he still bears
the title of being fair and just man,
which is not often the case for man
SO long in the business, having been
employed by the Moingona coal
company for the last fourteen or fif-
teen years. They work the coal by
the long-wall system, and probably
have more work open than any aimi-
lar enterprise in the country, having
over one mile of an open face.
The North Western railroad COM
pany also owns a mine there. Will
liam D. Morgan, Esq., is superintend-
ent at that mine. He is said to be a
man Of experience, having been at
tending to that company's business
for the past eight years; his men
speak highly of him. The coal is
also worked by long-wall system, and
/ is from three to four feet thick
DR.. L. L. Porter, formerly Of Lon
aconing, is located at Mo'ngonia.
He has a wide practice; is very at
tentive to his patients; has been sue
ceasful, and consequently the people
Of that town have great confidence in
him.
On visiting Boonsboro | found the
miners on strike at Logan Il Cam
fields mine; they were getting tour
cents per busboI, but demanded Il
cents. They are paying different
prices in that region; the coal is all
about the same thickness-from three
to four feet; they are paying five
oo,,te at tbe small banks. which sup