Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-15
TALK OF NEW TOWN,
Discussion Revived of Coal
Field Discoveries in the
Lower End.
ANOTHER COLLIER VILLAGE LIKELY

And lacldentally the Revival OF the
Rock leland, Mascatins T. Southwest.
ern Railwsy-some Suggestions From
the lows Side OF the River In Rs
gard to II.
From down the river in the vicin.
ity OF Dfury and Muscatine come ru-
mors of revival of the new coal
town discussion. Purported fresh
discoveries Of coal on the Hayes
farm are said to be responsible for
the reopening Of the subject.
This farm is located about IS miles
east of Muscatine and is underlaid
with two fine veins Of coal, one three
feet and the other four.and-a-half
feet thick. Mr.. Hayes. the owner,
has Prospected and sunk test shafts.
and coming to the realization that he
had a good thing, attempted TO in
terest local capital, but failed, owing
to the fact that the farm was too far
removed from any railroad. By sd-
vertising in trade journal he finally
succeeded in interesting Col. j. h.
Allen, Of Virginia, who came to In
vestigate. and has decided to remain
and work the veins, shipping the
coal by way of the river. He has 40
men at work now and is construct.
ing homes for them and building a
fine house for himself. He will also
construct store and the place is to
be known as Hayesville. Several
barges Of the coal have already been
sent to Muscatine, and it proved
very satisfactory. 1t is the intention
to ship the coal north.
In speaking of the matter further,
the Muscatine News-TribUne says:
lin addition to the coal found on
this lard there are tho banks of su-
perior clay. These two banks OF clay
are % totally different in their COM
position and color as is possible to
conceive. Samplesfrom both banks o!
clay have been tested, and while TIE
darker clay has been found suitable
for paving and building brick and
dark pottery, the other bank contains
nearly white or cream colored CLAW
that will turn out as fine chinaware
as is produced from the clay which
turns out the elegant chinaware
made at Liverpool, Ohio. Aside
from the coal, it is thought there is
a fortune alone in the clay. Two
prominent pottery manufacturers
have asked for barge load of clay
as samples, and have declared that
If on further tests the clay CONES up
to expectations, they will remove
their plants 10 Hayesville Gas the
new settlement will Re called) il suit.
able arrangements can be made. A
stock company, to be called the
Hayes Coal Mining company is in
process Of formation. Ample capital
has heen arranged for, and the com
pany will start out under the bright.
est auspices. Col. Allen, who will
be general manager of the company,
is practical coal man, and q first.
class civil engineer. Col. Allen
comes to us bearing the finest letters
Of recommendation from the govern.
ment Of West Virginia. bank presi.
dent and others, and is one Of those
genial, whole-souled southern gen.
tleman 1t q pleasure to meet. and
together with his estimable wife, he
Is stopping at the Grand until such
time rs his residence at Hayesville il
completed"
That New Road.
And thereto attaches q prospect Of
the revival of the some time ago in.
corporated Rock Island, Muscatine &
Southwestern railway, one of the OBJ
jects Of which was originally to tar
these same Hayes osl fields, cross.
ing Book river near the mouth, and
passing down the east bank of the
river to Drury township. and there
crossing the Mississippi into Iowa,
and perhaps furnishing the inlet to
Rock Island Of some Of the other
roads which are figuring on coming
in, and connecting with the new
bridge and terminal COMPANY.