Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-21
.NEWCOALM|N
HAS A 1000
TON CAP AC|IY
Fowler & Wilson Preparing
to Operate Huge Mining
Industry in East Ottum-
wa Have 600 Acre Field.

that is estimated to nave an output OF
1000 tons daily when the capacity is
reached is underway east OF OttumWa
with the Fowler & Wilson Coal Co. be-
hind the move. And to make this
even better for Ottumwa the company
has deteremined that the new mine is
to be distinctively an Ottumwa mine
and not q camp on the outskirts OF the
city but one in which the employees
shall live in Ottumwa adjacent to the
new property. The mine will be
located on the south side Of Agency
hill along the Rock Island lines south
OF the city some two and half to
three niles. Already there has been
some 600 acres secured by the COM
pany, and it's engineering staff under
the direction Of Mining Engineer
Ernest Grantstaff of Abba, is on the
ground making the final surveys and
planning the work generally. Mr.
Grantstafi will probably lay out the
top works in connection with the new
mine.
A Modern Coal Mine.
The prospect in the opening of the
new property is the best that has
loomed up about Ottumwa for many
years and the feature Of the new in
dustry will be its entire modern equip
ment. The most up.to-the-minute
equipment used in smining will be in
stalled and this includes electric power
and equipment generally. The local
power plant Of H. M. Byllesby & Co. Will
run a line OF power wires to the new
plant and furnish the electric power
for operation Of the east end mine.
Shaker screens and other modern top
and inside work will be installed and
throughout the mine is to be strictly
modern. This is the statement OF Ed
Fowler, who with William Wilson. his
business partner, has been very busy
working out the details OF the new
coal property for several months.
An ottunrwa Enterprise.
For several months past the pre-
liminary surveys and drilling for coal
has been carried on in the hills east
Of the city and 50 promising has been
the results in places that the company
long since decided to ascertain as far
% possible just what the prospect
was and to develop the property.
While nothing Is vouched as to the
depth OF coal veins found in the east
end hills. 1t Is known that they are Of
Q sfzo TO warrant the expenditure OF
huge sum for the installation Of
modern mining equipment sufflcient to
handle daily 1000 tons Of coal. The
Rock Island road has already arranged
to lay mile or more of trackage from
It's line in that vicinity and will build
yard for the mine trackage near the
top works. The mine is located around
the turn of the lower road on the way
to Cliffland at what is known as the
old stone house on the south face of
the Agency hill. While the company
does not state when 1t expects to get
busy mining coal in the new property
It. is known that by the first of the.
new year the mine is expected to be-
gin operation.
When asked this morning If the
company would establish a camp at
the new mine Mr.. Fowler said that it
would not. Instead" said he, eve ex-
pect the employees will live in the east
end and if the mine should develop to
such an extent as to demand more en-
ployes than we figure on now we will
arrange to have train for our en-
ployes. We do not intend to go out
OF Ottumwa, but to make this an Ot-
tumwa enterprise.