The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-02-06
Important Move In Jasper Coun-
ty Coal Fields.

ArtICle5 OF lucOrpOEdtlOu iOr phc
Colfax Consolidated Coal company
were filed at Newton last week and
it is probable that this action marks
a step in the larger development of
the large coal deposits lying along
squaw creek, south of Colfax. The
capital stock of the new company Is
5000 900 and the incorporators, b.
Wightman of Chicago, t, III. Griggs
of Davenport, Ia; Judge David Ryan
and Thomas Hooper, Jr. of Des
Moines, w. @. Sheppard and W. A.
Sewers of Oskaloosa. The principal
place of business will be at the
mines in Mould Prairie township,
Jasper county. The first board of
Directors, elected to hold until June,
1908, are T. II. Griggs, B. Wightman,
Judge Ryan, w. O. Sheppard and T.
N. Hooper, Jr. Mr.. Griggs is presi-
dent of the Citizens National Bank
of Davenport and also a director in
the Rock Island and Burlington,
Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad
companies. Judge Ryan is well
known in Oskaloosa. Both these
gentlemen have been interested in
mining coal in Iowa for thirty-five
years. MIR. Wightman, as also Mr..
Sheppard are among the best known
coal operators in the west, owning
large interests in the Bituminous coal
fields of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri
Mr.. Wightman is the manager for the
Milwaukee & st. Paul Railroad COM
pany's coal properties in Illinois.
Mr.. Hooper was for years the repre-
sentative in Iowa of the Stickney
system of railroads. Later he was
transferred to st. Paul with the title
of assistant general freight agent,
which position he afterward resigned
and returned to Des Moines to pro-
mote privatelbusines enterprises. He
is the dominant force in the Colfax &
Northern railroad, which connects
the Rock Island and Chicago Great
Western by a line extending from
Colfax to Valeria. This road will
give the output of the mines south of
Colfax ready and convenient access
to the best markets.
Mr.. Sewers is we'll known through
out the state as a coal operator, hav-
ing been for a long time identified
with the development of the coal
measures in Mahaska and Lucas
counties. While the parties inter-
ested are, directly or indirectly asso-
| ciated in a m~easure.with several of
the Iowa railroads, it is claimed by
several of the gentlemen that the
deal is not related to railroad manip-
ulation. They contend that it is
purely a private investment and cite
in support of the contention that
each of them have been engaged in
the development of coal properties
for years. All are sanguine that the
new propertiesl acquired in Jasper
county are destined to yield profita-
BILE returns upon the investment,
both as regards quantity and quality
Of the output. Immediately upon be-
ginning business the company. will
absorb the mines of the Jasper Coal
company and of the Colfax Coal and
miningicompany. Several new shafts
will be sunk and more coal lands
added to the present holdings of the
company. 1t is estimated that by
May 1st.not less than 5000 tons OF
coal will be taken out per day and
placed on the market. This is said
TO be of particular interest to Des
Moines consumers, who may then
expect a reduction from the present
price of So per ton, brought about by
a combination of operators conduct.
ing mines in the vicinity of the
city.