The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-01-24

From the St. Leafs Posl- Dispatch ]

Mississippi River & BOEne Tcrrc rail- !
road, actually merging into cachoIhcr,
ARE the new Flat River towns of Dcs-
loge, st. Francois, Flat River, Esther
and Elyins. Cautwell, named for the
chief promoter Of The district, has re-
Gently been laid out 10 the same dis
iriet. The valley Is ono Of the busiest
places Ia tho world, Everything is
lead. The houses and stores are ali
new, and even some Of the mining
properties are not complete. The
people down there believe there will
be 10000 people 10 tho valley within
the next five years.
With the discovery Of disseminated
lead In the Flat River valley, in which
Mr.. Cantwell was closely followed by
WIN. Il. Taylor Of Pennington, aud
Firman Desloge Of ~. Louis, who for
many years had mined lead at Bonnie
Terre, there came rapid development
Of tho district Alessrs. Cantuell and
Crawley sold their first discovery TO
the ST. Joseph Lead Co. for siO, 200.
Mr.. CantweIl next developed the Cen
trail Lead Co.'S mine, becoming pres
ident Of the company. The Central
put IN one Of the biggest lead plants In
the world, erecting Its own smelter.
but Mr.. CantwcIl was not yet content.
lie organized the Columbia and the
Catherine companies, two OF the rich.
est 10 the district, aud is president Of
both. lie has been tirelcss worker
for the district. lie wanted to see II
become the creates, lead district 10 the
world. He believed 10 barring no one
out, Ia hiding nothing Of the valleys
riches, aud has developed a capacity
for work that borders upon genius.
The farmers aud bills folks in the
Flat River country we've wresllriug
with a difficult, problem when Mr.
Cauiwell walked into the valley l2
years ago. They were endeAyoring TO
raise crops upon some Of the poorest
land on the earih's crust. The hill
sides were rocky aud barren. There
was every indication Of meagey earn.
ings. The farms were poorly equipped
aud the houses were small, most oil
them mere cabins In the woods. But
the lead discoveries brought a new era
An era Of wealth Lands that had
sold for almost nothing became of
great value. The people who wanted
them had money, aud they could pay
what the lands were worth.
Seldom indeed has any community
been blessed as the discovery Of the
lead blessed that Of the Flat River
country. Farm after farm was sold nj
from 800 $500 an acre, some q! II
Tor more. Judge VIM. H. Taylor,
for 30 years Circuit Clerk Of ST. Fran
co.'s county, m ide Il million dollars sci.
ling lead lands. lie bought consider.
able land n the country just after the
civil war. Two years ago he sold To
the st Louis Smelling and refining
Co. National Lead Coal 1900 acre
tract, which cost hin Ia 1868 Is, 500,
ior SSg2 900. lie sold IA juO.scre
tract At Doe Run, where he drilled
aud found lead the same year Mr.
Cantwcll found lead on the Crawlcy
tract, to the ST Joe Lead Co that
same year for 900, 900 lie had
bought less than year before for
S2U, 900, Judge Taylor Is now living
in ST. Louis, with his family, at the
West End uulel.
There are scores Of persons who
had nothing but their barren lands be-
fore the discovery OF lead aud are now
wealthy. At the Bonno Trrre mines
Of the 81, Joe Lead Company Is Emil
Stewart. miner. lie sold 1I-acre
tract to the ST. Joe company throC
years ago for $50, 900. lie did not
permit bis wealth to interfere with bis
mode OF life. lie went into this mine
aud worked the night after the deal
was closed, and he is working there
yet.
DIR. Charles Hoffman sold to the St.
Joe company four months ago = tract
Of 1870 acres, which be entered rs gov.
eminent land in 1851 and for which
he paid 81 rs an acre. lie sold ii
for $4,000. Dr. Hoffman is now 80
years old.
Frank Hill of st. Louis was in the
Hotel business at lionue Terre when
the Flat River country was opened.
lie invested in lands there and made
s200, 900, getting $40, 200 for what is
known Us the Gumbo property in Flat
River.
From twelve 10 fifteen thousand
acres have been bought in the district
for mining purposes, aud not less than
iihy farmers have been paid from
$40. 900 TO sI5, 900 for land.
Mrs. Jennie L. Forster and George
Cole, living at Pennington, Mo-, have
made fortunes In the lead mines
They we're the principal owners Of the
property Of the Derby Lead Co, which
recently sold an s0O-aorc tract in Flat
River for s225, 900 The purchasers
arc ex-Secretary Of the Navy Vim. c.
Whitney, United States Senator stc-
phcn d. Elkins Of West Virginia aud
2. A. widener, The head Of the Gen.
rral Electric Co, at Philadelphia.
They are sinking u shaft on the prop
eriy.
Edwin Harrison aud ID. p. Doak OF
St. Louis have made riches In Flat
River lands. They sold the 500-aerc
tract OF the Federal Lead Co, six
months ago to the Gugg inhcim people
Of Mexican smelier fame, AT Perth Am
bog, n. j., and protited $3.50, 200.
Jacob Day sold within the last fort
night for slOs, 600 = tract Of 3G0 acre
three miles west of the town Of Des-
loOo IL had s.Dst his father "a 600