Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-05-13

Heuln, laid ut but fifteen years ago is to-day a town OF more than 10000.
and is still growing at a rteh hard to conceive. Marion has sprung from
1920 to 10000 within the m time. while Johnston City, n but a prai-
RE site, and hat bt a half dozen years ago, is a thriving place off 5000,
with its modern conveniences and uptodate structures equal to the pride
of many a large town. Benton, which is tn county capital of Franklin
and ice ruled thu country round with the majesty of 1000 residents is now
a busy place of 5000, with the n 10 yet
Many a interesting story is told of the earlier residents of the section,
OF the day when o was lot figured among thea assets of the farmers ad
the pioneers OF Illinois, especially the Illinois days Of Dickens and his
American Notes" One is of Charles Carroll Of Shawneetown, to whom
fell a stretch OF land upon which he was inclined to refuse to pay the taxes
1t all can about in this wise: In the early days of Little Egypt, Goodan
and Campbell of Marion We're tobacco factors, shipping heavily to Europe
and conducting a business which was large for those days. By wreck at
largely fell into the hands IF Sawyer, Wallace & Co. of New York, also in
the SAM line of business. For a number of years the land remained in
the possession of the New York firm, which planned to develop it as farm
ing M n sent a Co. Manning put to ok after it. HI scarcely proved
q success, though thisis Of 10 moment, fr before e was ablet o work III
his plans for the development of the tract the Jew Workers failed in their
tur n in their settlement the land vas turned over to Carroll in partial
adjustment of a claim OF SON $40 900. Carroll had doubts about the value
of his ew property and ws o the point of refusing to pay the taxes, when
his caution prevailed and he decided to hold the land a while and take h
quickly told. The real extent OF the GAL deposits became known and a
part only of the Carroll holding wa sold for 100000, or ten times the
bankruptcy claim Of tn owner. This is but a single instance. There are
many more.
Still another instance-and this of having mes cake and eating it, too.
conductor Oh one of the roads running through the coal district became
possessed in the early days of a tract of perhaps 250 acres OF land o. which
he did little save mt it u and pay the taxes, Tor h e continued in the
service of his road. Only recently he became incapaciated for railroad
work IN determined % quit the work. Almost a he same time he received
al oferf or the Goa rights of his possession which he had permitted, al
most, to lie fallow. The offer $25OoO and this conductor will retire,
put his coal rights price out at interest and then farm the surface of his
holding. for it is still his
The geological estimates Of the collaborating area included within the
thousand or so square miles referred to ire that the seam which are now
being worked arec capable of outputing approximately 5000 tons per acre
THIS "lthout sldera oner seams not O. considered Of value, III
which, in the event of higher prices n shorter supplies, would eventually
become of marketable character. Inasmuch as the field embraces something
like 100000 acres, it is easy to calculate the total deposit as in excess Of
upon the coalconsuming world. Basing values upon the lowest leasing basis,
8 cents Der ton, thu Goa values alone represent a land value in the neigh
riches of agricultural sections who productive value, eve before the min
ing of coal began, was considered the peer of any in the State.