The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-03
THINK IT GENUINE
Farmers Around Lorena Say
the Discovery of Coal
Is A RICH AND REAL FIND
Augusta People Take Little
Stock in Report

The story Of the discovery of coal four
teen miles east OF Wichita in last Sun
days Eagle started considerable stir
The story of the discovery was printed a:
given by Mr.. widows himself. Mr.
Widows says he has been prospecting fol
gas in the vicinity OF Wichita since las
OF the sandy strata west no gas could be
found west of the line some twelve OF
fourteen miles east Of wichcita and he
put down a well on the farm of w. R.
League, east of Andover. At depth OF
eighty feet he claims to have struck a
three-foot vein of coal. The editor OF
the Augusta Journal made trip to the
place and wrote of the coal find as fol-
lows:
Several years ago w. R. League, liv-
ing half mile west Of Lorena, employed
Samuel Crow to drill a well on his pace.
Mr.. Crow went down to water line and
while drilling Sle observed a whistling or
roaring sound in the well. An investiga-
ton showed the water bubbling as If a
pocket Of gas had been struck.
1.-THE work Of drilling was discontinued
and until very recently nothing further
was done. The water was used for
stock.
Harry widows OF Augusta, examined
The well and persuaded Mr.. League there
was gas to be had In paying quantities.
H.
was too skepdcal u spend any money
in prospecting. but was induced to make
a lease Of the ground around the well.
widows then took Mr.. Hilton, a well
driller Of I'll Dorado, into partnership
and they began sinking the well deeper.
Last week when a depth OF eighty feet
had been reached coal dust was pulled
out of the well and the water showed
signs OF oil
w. II. Chace came to town Wednesday
and said it was the general opinion
around Lorena that coal had been found
"The hole was there all right and by
scratching around in the dirt we found
a piece of coal. We were informed that
so many parties had been there and each
carried away specimens that they were
all gone.
Mr.. widows said the drill had gone
through a three and one-half foot vein
of coal and wanted 10 bet 800 that there
was a vein Of coal at the depth indicated.
after striking coal widows struck
out for Wichita and succeeded. as he
says. in organizing a prospecting COM
pany who will proceed to sink shaft
seven feet by four feet.
I'VE then interviewed Mr.. League, who
is an honest hard-working farmer, and
owns the farm on which the well Is To-
Gated He is fully convinced that there IS
a three or four foot vein of coal on his
place. and points to powdered coal. a
part of which floats on the water. to the
black guramy substances that comes up
on the drill and TO the crude oil that is
brought tip I'm the muA buckets.
He has been on the lookout since the
drilling began, knowing the proneness Of
prospeotors to season their finds with
salt" and has seen no evidence of
tricl-ery.
'AIr. Hilton was away when we were
there, but he IS reported to have said
that he would not take $3.50 for his in
terest in the hole.
''w II. Chace, who has examined the
deposit. believes there Is coal there and
numerous other substantial farmers
around Lorena are satisfied that the find
Is genuine