The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-11-28
Oil Men Return.

MeSSrS AltnouSe and Brann who have
been east came in Monday for the pur-
pose of trying to get matters in shape
here 80 that prospecting for coal might
begin as soon as possible.
The leases recently taken embraced
oil, gas, coal and other minerals, but
Mr.. Althouse who is practical coal
man, has decided that it would be best
to separate the coal and other minerals
from the oil and gas leases and they
have been busy the past day or two
drawing new forms. They now have
three sets of leases -one for oil and
gas, one for coal and other minerals,
and ono giving an option to purchase
coal rights at so much an acre. By
this arrangement the land owner can
either lease his coal land at so much
per ton or give an option at so
much per acre. The terms of both
lease and option appear to be fair and
equitable, and there ought to be no
trouble now in getting block fixed up
so that prospecting could begin in a
short time.
Invitations are out for meeting of
the farmers to be held this afternoon at
which Mr.. Althouse and others will 90
over the coal proposition and thorough
ly explain all the points which may not
now be understood. We go to press too
early to give a report of the meeting
but will do so next week.
The company is making strong
effort to block up the lands contiguous
to the we'll, which means that they
want block to the south and west of
the we'll. The reason for this, repre-
sentatives of the company say, is that
the we'll shows that coal is in that block
and they prefer to begin developments
on block where they know it is, be-
fore going to block where they would
have to prospect to find it. Mr.. AL
thouse is of the opinion that the coal
in this vicinity, north Missouri, in fact,
is in pockets, and this is another reason
why he so much desires the land to the
south and west blocked up. He also
thinks that larger veins and better
coal will be found in the bottoms than
in the hills.
Mr.. Althouse is emphatic in the
declaration that they are not specu-
lators, that is getting the land leased
up for the purpose of selling it to some
one else, but they are bona fide COM
pany with plenty of capital to develop
and operate the property and that it is
their purpose to do so provided the
land can be blocked up in sufficient
acreage to justify the large investment
necessary to do core drilling and equip
mine for operation.
They say, and they talk like they
mean it, that they positively will not
begin coal operations until the land is
blocked up as before referred to. 1t
therefore is up to the landowners in
the block who have not yet leased to
say whether this great work shall go
on or not. 1t is up to them to say
whether this community shall go for
ward or backward, as it is impossible to
stand still. tits up to them to say
whether the town shall be made city
of 1000 to 5000 in the next few years
thereby giving them ready market
at good price for everything they can
produce on their farms. 1t is up to
them to say whether our railroad shall
be extended or not, thus giving the
benefits of southern outlet and south
ern markets. The coal company is in
touch with the officials of the Burling-
ton railroad and have been assured that
the road will be ready to transport all
the coal the company can get out as
soon as transportation is needed.
This certainly is crisis in the
history of the town and if the oppor-
tunity is thrown away it may never
present itself again. Some say that
the company has plenty of land leased
and will go ahead anyhow, but the
representatives of the company say
that they positively will leave the
town unless the land is blocked up as
heretofore referred to- We think the
latter would be great calamity and
our citizens should help to prevent it.
The opportunity is here before us and
it remains for us to accept or reject it.
Which do you choose?-Cainsville News.