The Butler weekly times., 1918-04-25
A THRIVING LITTLE CITY
New Coal Mines and M. K. & 7
Division Brings Prosperity to
Appleton City.

For many years Appleton City has
been known as one of the prettiest
and -e,,ietest little towns in Western
Missouri 1t was by no means what
is known as a dead town." as more
business was transacted there than
in many places with much larger
population. 1t was merely satisfied
with itself, and that is not altogether
healthy condition either for man
or a town. About the only excite
ment that the Appletonian had to
look forward to was the street fair
and stock show that is held each fall
and the annual visit of Crawfords 5
Comedians.
But now all that has changed and
metropolitan airs are taking the place
OF the old village quiet. Several
months ago the town organized live
Chamber OF Commerce and that start
ed ii. The country roundabout is
underaid with coal and the Chamber
OF Commerce succeeded in interest
ing some on, side capital to develop
it. \ switch from the railroad was
put in to the most promising i1eld
southeast OF town and giant shovel
put to work uncovering coal, which
is about Is feet below the surface.
The coal is soft, but Of a good quail
ity. After being uncovered it Is
broken up by light charges OF powder
and loaded in wagons and hauled to
the waiting cars. 1t requires abou.
10 men, engineers, machinists, black
smiths, etc, to operate the shovel, be-
sides the many miners and teamsters.
The pay roll amounts to $4,000 per
month. The shovel has dipper that
carries about a cubic yard OF dirt,
but a new outfit with a shovel pt
three cubic yards capacity is on the
ground and being assembled. The
company has purchased and leased a
large amount OF land south and east
of town and it look, as il the WORK.
would continue for several years al
least.
Next the NJ, X. 4 I. railroad CON-
panv, ior reasons best known to it,
sell. concluded to move its freight di-
vision point from Sedalia to a point
farther south and finally decided that
Appleton City was about the right
spot. \ strip OF land along the right
Of way south OF the city was pur-
chased and three miles out the work
OF grading and erecting the necessary
buildings was commenced. \ visit
to the site reminds one very
much oi the arrival and setting up o:
a big circus. Everything is hustle
and hustle with seeming endless con-
fusion. But everything is beautiful
lv systematized with everyone with
his special work to do, which he is
doing in a very efficient manner.
Two enormous tractors pull big
plows which tear up the dirt and load
it into the dump wagons which are
pulled by Missouri mules to the low
spots and dumped. ust as soon as
sufficient space is leVeled gang
OF McXlcans, or some other foreign
looking laborers are there with the
ties and rails and switch, of which
there is to be s., is quickly LAID.
Carpenters are busy shaping tinbers
for the rotndhouses and turn tables.
Engineers are. setting grade stakes.
lust over to one side are the COOK
wagons and tents in which the meals
for the outfit are being prepared. \
short distance over in Bates county
the condemnation OF about 100 acres
of land has been asked for and COM
missioners appointed to appraise it
and there an enormous reservoir will
be built, which will hold enough
water for the use of the company tor
two years, even if it should not rain
during that time.
Appleton City is taking full ad-
vantage of the prosperity that has
come to it. There are not near
enough dwellings to furnish homes
for those that want them and it will
take some time to build them. 1t is
said than rents have increased Won
leriully already and thereby lays the
danger to the town. They may kill
the goose that lays the golden eggs
by forcing the coal company and rail-
road to build town short distance
south. which would be mighty bad
tor Appleton City.