Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-12-18
THE VALUE OF COAL LANDS.
What Is Necessary to Develop the
Coal of Lafayette County.
Railroad Commissioners.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:-Th great
value Of the coal of Lafayette county
is not understood or appreciated by the
people of the county. But few Of its
citizens have examined into this most
important subject and comprehend the
immense wealth that lies hidden be-
meath the surface in more than half OF
the county. There is a stratum of coal
underlying a large portion of the coun-
ty, that is vastly more valuable than
all the other means of wealth, that only
needs development and to be turned
into money to make this one of the
most prosperous and wealthy portions
of the state. The number of acres of
coal land in the county is v~ariously es-
timated at from 100000 to 100000
acres.
1t is known that there is coal along
the bluff facing the river, a distance of
twenty-five miles, and that in the east
ern portion of the county it extends to
the southern boundary of the county, a
distance of twenty miles from the river.
1t is found on the Warrensburg road
sixteen miles from the river. In the
western portion of the county the coal
belt is not so wide, but it is safe to
average the width of the coal field tor
the twenty-fve miles at ten miles, giving
at least 16O, 900 acres of land under
which there is coal that will yield Co.,
600 bushels per acre. But let me as
sumo as a safe basis, that there is $780,
600 acres, L think it is much more,
which at &C, 900 bushels per acre, will
produce SO, OO0, 900 900 bushels of coal.
Now what is the value of this enormous
quantity of mineral lying valueless
for the want of development. If es-
timated at one-half cen per bushel it
amounts to $45, OOO, 900. If at one
cent it is worth 800, 900 900. But its
real worth should be estimated at its
value when mined and brought to the
surface ready for sale or shipment to
market. What is it worth then? Every
one will admit that it is worth at least
seven cents per bushel, and if sold at
that price the coal would bring $780,
600 900. To realize this great sum let it
be compared with the value of the entire
body of land in the county. There are
1872 900 acres of land in the county out.
side of the incorporated towns and
cities, which at the average price of
$40 per acre amounts to Sl5, $3.50, 900,
being $614.3 800, 900 less than the value
Of the coal at seven cents per bushel
and 0,000, 900 less than the value of
the coal at one half cent. per busbel.
! Now what is necessary to promote
the development of this great source of
wealth? Simply enough railroads to
take it 10 market OH terms that will
enable operators to compete with other
mines. The building of the branch Of
the Pacific road down the river to
Waverly, and the Short Line through
the interior of the county, would great
into money. But what facilities are
there now for shipment? This is a
most important question. Kansas City
is a large and growing city, and there
will be a constant and increasing mar
ket for this fuel. We have now two
lines of railroad that run through the
county to that prosperous place. Do
they afford such facilities and accom-.
modationsf for shipmentas are, needed, or
the public good requires? Emphatically
they do not. Lexington is near the
center of the northern line of the coal
belt and is forty-two miles from Kan
sas city. The freight on coal from
Lexington to Kansas City is seventy
FIVE cents per ton, or three cents per
bushel. Is this a reasonable and fair
rate? A single locomotive, manned by
one engineer and one fireman, aud as.
sited by one conductor and one brake
man, will carry at least one train of
twenty cars of coal from Lexington to
Kansas. City every day. A car will
carry twenty tons of coal, which at
seventy-tive cents per ton will amount
to SIS per car, OIL $500 freight for the
train and the net proceeds above the
expenses will amount to 1925 or $3.50
per day. Will any one, outside OF those
interested in railroads say, that this is
a reasonable rate of freight?
But what is the effect of such a charge
upon the shipment of coal and Indirect
ly upon the business interests of the
county? The freight is so high that
operators cannot engage in mining and
shipping coal as there is no profit to
them. The competition from other
points is so great that they cannot pay
the freight and make a profit, and will
not engage in the business. The result
Is, that the coal remains in the ground
where it is valueless, and price of land
is moi enhanced as it should be. Hun.
dreds OF laboring men who are anxiou.
to engage in mining the coal are with
out employment, and the business inter.
ests suffer for the means that active
operations in coal would put in circula'
ton. All for the want of reasonable
rates of freight to market, which the
railroads will not concede.
1t is charged that the Pacific railroad
discriminates in freight on coal to Kan
sas City in favor of the Lexington Goa
Company and against other operators
This is denied by the officers of the
road. But whether it does or does no
} is not pertinent TO h e subject. Admi.
! that the coal company pays the same a.
t others, the fact remains that the rate o
freight is SO high that it shuts out com
| petition with other mines that get NOR,
! favorable rates. jay Gould owns tn
D Pacific railroad and also owns, nearly
+ if not quite all Of the stock iu the Goa