The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-07-22

!; cred and all OF the bed clothing, furn
iture and clothing of the family In tn,
upper part OF the house was burned
The goods in the lower part Of tn,
house were removed but the hous,
burned to the ground. Nothing wa!
left but the foundation ii
John LaForce will tear down the
!, old house on his place and build new
onei He has not determined on the
size. The work will be put OF until
after harvest.
The hub of the mining district along
the Buxton Branch of the Northwest
ern railroad is the small town of La
konta, situated about twelve miles
southwest OF Oskaloosa. Five tracks
switch off at this place to as many
different mines namely, Fraker, Union,
Durfee, White City and Green Ridge,
ton. About three hundred people
make up the population OF the town
divided between railroad men and
miners, When the town was located
about eight years ago the people about
two miles east wanted the station
while those about the same distance
west were DESTROYS of having the
stopping place near them. The rail-
road happened to be bossing the job
and was looking for the location which
would be the most convenient for the
handling of the coal and that is the
reason the town is where it is now.
The town is not like many of the
smaller towns of the state depending
upon the farmers trade, as the rail-
readers make their homes there. Al
number of mines are close by and a
few of the miners live in the village.
When Lakonta was first located the|
farmers would not patronize the cner-
chants, but they are beginning toI
make the place their trading point.
AS a result of the Increased trade one
new store was built this spring by Hill
tabidel Bros, and If present plans are
carried out the town is to realize a |
new awakening. John Love, of Oska- |
loosa. has purchased coal land in that
locality, about one half mile from the
town, and is getting things ready for
the opening of mine as soon as pos
sible. Two hundred men may be |
worked as soon as the mine gets in
full running condition. Enough coal
Is in sight to keep that many men
ten years Ito remove 1t. The
homes of the new miners will proba-
bly, be located in the town of LaKonta.
The business interests of the town are
General merchandise, G. j. Thomas
and Hiltabidel Bros; Groceries, A. e.
Hall and E. l.. McFall;r Lumber and
Lanniag Bros; Blacksmith,
Chas. Anderson. The village has a
post office, with c.. f. Lanning post
master, and a hotel, of which Wm.
Cozad is the proprietor. A livery
,arn is run by the same people. A. S.
Garland is the station agent. The
'ailroad has az depot, stock yards,
round house and plenty @of switching
Dom, in order that they may handle
he large coal trains, over twenty-five
If which pass through the place every
lay. Three switching crews are re-
Iuired in this locality to bring the
,oal from the mines. A school house
) located near the town and one
eacher tries to handle about fifty
The mon of the town have
ormed a ball team and elected VIM.
Cozad manager. When a name for
he village was wanted the citizens
wrote to Congressman Lacey and he
ave it the name "Lakonta," after one
fthe big chiefs in the Ioway Tribe OF
indians. The town has nearly every
hing which goes to make up nice
title village and from the looks OF
he homes, which are well. kept, the
itiZens are progressive. The place
low needs sidewalks and the streets
iced grading, especially near the
torres.