The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-01-21
Letter From WheatIand.
WHEATLAND, Mo, Ian. 9th,

lately L nave WatCEeQ 1Or IL With even
more than usual interest While the
eyes of the many are turned to Alaska
gold mines, mine are fixed on those of
the Sth District. There is something real,
tangible and convincing in reading the
names of West, Riley, Lowe, Dempsey
coupled with Bald Hill, Goose Walk"
and "Mexico." wonder if the people
thereabout are living up to their privil-
eyes. tits no small thing to be able these
bright winter days to walk over and look
at a real gold mine. think it would fill
HE with such exhilaration as "hobo" is
supposed to feel while snuffing the breath
of his 'pal' who has just Struck drink. "
hope-and, was going TO say pray, but
nobody would believe that part-that they
may roll out the nuggets as big as powder
kegs, until every one of those honest SONS
of toll are millionaires who will build
churches with their names over the door,
and schools to teach the yet unborn to
worship only them. Seriously, what is the
use of digging gold? The New York
Tribune of late date, answers a rustic
inquirer who was green enough to ask
of it, eff the adoption of the single
gold standard by all the nations of the
earth would not raise the value of gold ?"
that there was no scarcity of gold; that
every ton of sea water had so many
grains, and that this multiplied by the
number of tons of sea water gave billions
of millions.
But is there not something funny about
these mining eXcitements? Like relig-
ious revivals they break out" when times
are dull and grow by hope and fear. We
have them here, ours is not gold but lead
and zinc. Even now there is chap in
here with blank deeds of agreement,
soliciting the natives to grant mineral
right to their homesteads. The consider
alton is share of the product. The post
Office drug stores, and real estate offices
have abundance of specimens which any
one can see are something out of the Or
binary, and everybody can draw on their
imagination for their value. We are said
to have all the indications of great min
eral wealth, and some, said to be experts,
claim we have oil to boot. 1 kno7O we
have innumerable holes in the ground,
lost mines, "latterday saints" and liars
galore
you will look on your map of Mis-
souri,, find Osceola and Bolivar, then draw
line between the two you will have the
location of our new railroad -3SH miles
long. This is a connecting link There
is from Osceola to Kansas City a railroad
called the Blair line. This road years
ago, secured right of way into Kansas
City. The Frisco" branch from Spring
field to Bolivar has been for years a one
horse affair, but the Goulds who own the
Frisco" have rented this Blair line for
twenty years with right to purchase at
any time within five years, the Blairs to
build this connecting link" This gives
the Frisco direct connection from Spring
| field to Kansas City. This new line is
only about four miles west of us at the
nearest point. There is great rush of
men, seeking work, to it. They are
camped i'll wagons and tents or coming
and going i'll great numbers. The wages
will be just whatever the contractors
choose to pay. They, the laborers, are in
that ideal condition of "eating today
what they earn tomorrow" and Of course
are submissive. l suppose we will soon
feel the stir of the building and working
of the railroad. This has been very
honest country. The people leave their
houses for days empty of people and
unlocked while they go visit. In the
fifteen years we have lived here we have
slept with doors unlocked and much Of
the time close to the roadside Have
never lost anything by theft This will
all change for our poor but honest" folks
are to be mingled with those who have
graduated from other schools and some Of
them by their looks have diplomas from
the "pen.'
Our neighbors. over in St. Clair county
are wrestling with bogus railroad debt.
The United States Court says they must
pay it, principal and interest, and as the
principal is $23I, 900 and with interest is
over a million dollars, the county never
having received one cent value therefor.
is not willing to pay. The whole matter
rests with the County Court, l. e., County
Commissioners. This Board is elected
every two years but the candidates of both
parties invariably pledge themselves not
to order levy to pay one cent of the prin-
cipal or interest without a majority of the
voters say so at a special election. The
consequence is that for years most Of the
term of this County Court has been passed
i'll Jail at Kansas City for contempt of
court, in refusing to make the levy as
ordered. The bond-holders are tired of
the force policy and seem disposed to try
milder measures. The U. S Judge had
released the Court that it might come
home and canvass the sentiment of the
county and see if a compromise could be
made, fixing their return to Jail early in
this month. But Oh their reporting for
further Imprisonment, they were again
furloughed by the Judge with instructions
to call meetings though the county and
debate the payment question. If this fails
! to reach an agreement it is thought more