Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-12-15
A MINERAL POINTER IN LUCK!
COAL IN VAST QUANTITIES FOUND
ON TIE BIG SIOUX RIVER
NEAR SIOUX CITY.
A. B. Ferris of this City, the Lucky
DiSc0verer.
The Finding Of Quartz.

JOhn Mckenna arrived mere on
Monday last from Lemars, Iowa,
bringing with him the full particu-
lars of the recent discovery of a large
vein of coal, twelve miles north Of
Sioux City, and about twenty-five
miles west of Lemars.
Mr.. Mekenna also reports the
people of Lemars wild with excite
ment over the alleged discovery of
gold and silver quartz, near the coal
mine.
1t is already known to the readers
of The Democrat that during the
past two months Mr.. A. B. Ferris
has been prospecting for coal in
western Iowa. He succeeded in
establishing beyond a reasonable
doubt that coal exists in paying
quantities in several places west of
Storm Lake. His most recent dis
covery appears to be rich find in
deed, and the statements made in
regard to it by Mr.. McKenna, who
visited the mine, are substantially the
same as made by The Lemars Dem
ocrat and The Sioux City Journal,
which we give below:
Lemars Democrat: Ever since the discovery
of gold on Capt. Moretons farm, all sorts Of con
tlicting reports concerning the matter have been
freely circulated, aud it was not until the black
diamonds were unearthed on Alr. Crokery's
farm on the Broken Kettle, that our people be-
came convinced that coal really lid exist be-
meath the soil of our county and that too, in pay
ing quantities Even then, there were some who
could not believe the good news and it was not
until a considerable quantity of coal from this
mine had been brought to town, examined by
experts, and pronounced of the very best quality
that the more SkeptiCal became convinced The
Sioux City journal gives the following interest
ing history of the mine:
Hon. IL. +. Sugden was interviewed while in
the city Yesterday about the coal mine in which
he is interested, twelve miles north of this citv
on the Big Sioux. lie said that he himself had
not seen the property. The gentleman having
the work in charge Mr. Ferris, u mining expert,
had been at work less than week. The coal
was in the side of a bluff, and where the worA
began was three feet thick. At seven feet in the
thickness had increased to three feet eight inches
The four inches next the roof rock is Slaty but
will burn. The balance is good coal-prououn-
ced better than the Fort Dodge coal, and fully
equal to that found about Des Moines. About ten
tons had been taken out The rock roof over the
coal runs back level, while the coal itself dips,
indicating that the vein Will be still thicker
further in. Some OF the coal taken ont has been
tried at Lemars and found TO burn well.
The opening of the mine came about this wav
Mr. Sugden said: Some twelve years ago ChaS.
Cookery, of Lemars was in the Broken Kettle
country, and had occasion TO get his horse Shod.
The blacksmith was out Of coal, but said he
could get some. and after some time returned
with coal. Mr.. Cookery aherward learned from
he used somewhere in the bluffs going out for il
at night usually. Mr.. Cookery did not follow up
the matter until after the reported finding of coal
ON Capt Moreton's farm near Ltmars. Then he
Investigated it and found the bank which Is
being developed.
c. L. Cookery has taken INTO the deal j. II.
HeebeS, of l.emarS, Hon. ii. Sugden and A. B.
Ferris, the latter the mining expert who has
charge of the work. 1t was Mr.. Ferris opinion
that within thirty days the mine would pay
profit over working expenses. The old grade for
the Pembina road is near, and if the mine opens
up as il now promises track will be put in. A
large tract OF land around the mine has been
leased on rental OF ten cents per ton for all the
coal taken out,
Mr.. Ferris, the expert who was in the city
Sunday says there is no doubt in his mind, but
that we viii develop some rich mines in Plym-
place is now being worked by two practical
miners Mr.. J. Bastain and Mr. : Harris. The
vein is about three feet thick, and several speci
mems from the mine are now in this city, enough,
We think to satisfy all that coal exists in large
quantities in this county. MIR. Ferris also dis
covered valuable minerals Of which more will
be said hereafter,
Mr.. Mckenna says that he was in
the mine, and from the large guam
tity of coal exposed to view he con-
siders it s most lucky discovery, and
believes that Mr. Ferris has struck
a bonanza. Mr.. NJ. brought with
him specimens of what is claimed to
be gold and silver quartz, and which
were found in one of the bluffs near
the coal vein, and he stated that
chunks of lead and zinc ores were
found.
The intense cold weather of last
week retarded somewhat the open
ing of the coal mine, and the form
ing of joint stock company for the
prosecution Of the work. 4 num-
Der of capitalists have expressed
themselves as anxious to subscribe
to the stock of the company.
Mr.. Ferris is to be congratulated
upon his good fortune.