Annual report for ... with accompanying papers
The mineral statistics for 1908 were collected through co-operation of the Iowa Geological Survey and the United States Geolo&rical Survey.
Overview
Annual report for ... with accompanying papers is an 1892 historical mining reference by Iowa Geological Survey, preserved in the Mountain Man Mining research library, focused on coal mining geology. The mineral statistics for 1908 were collected through co-operation of the Iowa Geological Survey and the United States Geolo&rical Survey.
This 1892 document, Annual report for ... with accompanying papers, is preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library for research and reference. Original source: archive.org.
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The Branner Geological Library
Iowa
Geological Survey
Volume Xix
Annual Report, 1908
Accompanying Papers
SAMUEL CALVIN, Ph. D., Statu Gbolooibt JAHBS H, LEES, Abhibtast Statk Geolooibt
De8 Hoines
Published fob Iowa QsoLoaiOAL Subvet
Des Moines:
Emort H. English. Statb Prixttbr
Edward D. Chassbll. Statb Bindbr
♦
Geological Board
His ElcBiLENCY, Wabbbn Gabst ... Govebnob of Iowa
Hon. B. F. Cabboll Attditob of Statb
Db. Geo. E. MacLeak - Pbesident State IlKivEBsiTr of Iowa Db. a. B. Stobmb - - . - Pbesident Iowa State College Pbofessob Fbank F. Almy Pbesident Iowa Aoademy of Soibncbb
Geological Corps
Samuel Calvin State Geologist
James H. Lees Assistant State Geologist
Nellie E. Newman Secbetabt
Frank A. Wilder Assistant on Coals
Henbt Hinds Assistant on Coals
W. H. NoBTON Assistant on Undebobound Waters
S. W. Beteb Assistant on Economio Materials
T. H. Macbride Assistant on Abeal Geology
B. Shimek Assistant on Abeal Geology
Melyin F. Abey Assistant on Abeal Geology
S. W. SrooKEY Assistant on Abeal Geology
Ira a. Williams Assistant on Economic Materials
Contents
Membebs of Gbolooicai Boabd ill
Geological Corps Iv
Table of Contents v
List of Illustbations Yi
Administrative Repobt zi
Statistics of Mineral Production fob 1908 1
Coal Deposits of Iowa 21
Fuel Values of Iowa Coals 397
Analyses of Iowa Coals 476
Histobt of Coal Mining in Iowa 621
Coal Statistics 691
Genebal Section of Des Moines Stage 698
Cabbonifebous Section of Southwestebn Iowa 606
Bibliography of Iowa Coal 669
Peat and Peat Deposits in Iowa 689
Biblioobaphy of Iowa Peat 781
Floba of Nobthebn Iowa Peat Boos 736
Index 779
List Of Illustrations
PtJLTBS. PAOB
I. Map showing progreBs of detailed mapping, to face xlii
II. Map showing location of mines in the Des Moines district 102
III. Geological sections in Polk county 161
IV. Geological section along North river in Warren county 172
V. Geological section along Middle river in Warren county 173
VI. Coal bed shown in Red Rock quarry 187
Vn. Geological cross-section In Mahaska county, to face 198
Vni. Map showing mines in northern Monroe county 231
IX. Coal Measures sandstone resting unconformably on Saint Louis
limestone, Keokuk 333
X. Sections of Iowa coal beds, from which coal for the St. Louis tests
was taken 407
XI. Graphic log sheet, boiler test, Iowa No. 1 coal 423
XII. Graphic log sheet, boiler test, Iowa No. 2 coal 431
XIII. Graphic log sheet, boiler test, Iowa No. 3 coal 437
XIV. Graphic log sheet, boiler test, Iowa No. 4 coal 446
XV. Graphic log sheet, boiler test, Iowa No. 4 coal, large briquettes. . . .461
XVI. Graphic log sheet, boiler test, Iowa No. 6 coal 469
XVn. Graphic log sheet, producer-gas test, Iowa No. 2 coal 466
XVIII. Map of Iowa showing relative production of coal by counties, 1908. .690
XIX. Map of southwestern Iowa showing outcrop of geological formations. 608
XX. A. Section from Braddirville to Fox quarry.
B. Section from Essex to Stennett 626
XXI. A. Section from Hamburg to West Fork river.
B. Section along Missouri river bluffs 640
XXII. Section of fault north of Thurman 646
Fiourb8. Pagb.
1. Stratigraphical arrangement of Iowa coal beds 26
2. Uneven character of surface upon which coal was. deposited 27
8. "Horseback" in coal bed 27
4. Carboniferous erosion: sandstone occupying "cutout" in coal seams. ... 28
6. Preglacial erosion: drift occupying small gorge 28
6. Postglacial erosion: gorge of Des Moines river at city of Des Moines. . 29
8. "Pinch" in coal bed 30
9. Fissure filled with clay 31
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii
nOURXS. PAOB.
10. Sketch of Webster county showing Immature state of drainage 34
11. Map showing location of principal mines In Webster county 38
12. Cannel and bituminous veins at Johnson mine, Kalo 44
13. General geological section across Boone county along Des Moines river. 59
14. Map giving location of principal mines in Boone county 62
15. Bottom of shaft, Milford mine, Boonesboro 66
16. Section in Eagle shaft, Boonesboro 69
17. Vein of Big Five mine, Moingona 71
18. Coal bed in Hutchinson mine No. 2, near Squaw creek, Zenorsvllle 76
19. Bed at Mormon Ridge mine, near Albion 84
20. Map showing shipping mines of Dallas county 87
21. Bluff near old Pritchard drift. High Bridge 88
22. Coal seam at old Tudor shaft, Dawson 90
23. Section at Chaney drift, three miles north of Adel 92
24 Clay seams in Topping mine, south of Linden 93
25. "Hanging Rock" section, Redfleld 94
26. Bed of old Leeper mine, Redfleld 95
27. Bed of Van Meter and Chicago mine. Van Meter 99
28. Ironstone nodules in roof of coal bed 109
29. Section showing undulatory character of the coal seam in the Flint
mine No. 2 110
30. Railroad cutting near Rose Hill mine, four miles west of Des Moines. .119
31. Shaft of Giant No. 1, east Des Moines 124
32. Railroad cut oie mile east of Hastle 127
33. Part 6f shaft of Manbeck mine, north of Avon 128
34. Railroad cutting near east county line, below Runnells 130
35. Map showing location of principal Polk county mines outside of Des
Moines district 131
36. Shaft of mine near Altoona 143
37. Geological section from Prairie City to Newberg (Williams) 153
37a. Map showing the principal mines of Jasper county 156
38. Shaft of old Black Oak mine, Lynnvllle 166
39. Coal on North river (Madison Tp., Sec. 25. Madison county) 168
40. Section of shaft at Bennum mine. Summerset 177
41. Ironstone mass in coal bed 183
42. Fault in Hawkeye mine. Flagler 192
44. Map showing shipping mines in southeastern Marlon county 195
45. Ideal cross-section in Mahaska county 199
46. Map showing location of mines in southwestern Mahaska county 200
47. Seam of coal northeast of Rose Hill 202
48. Coal bed, having small erosive channel' filled with drift material 206
51. Ironstone band In roof of coal seam, Eveland mine 215
52. Section on Whitebreast creek. Six miles below Lucas 222
53. Chum drill of the Consolidation Coal Company, operated by a gasoline
engine 226
viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fiourb8. Paob.
54. Sketch map of Monroe county 229
55. View of Buxton from the west 232
56. Steel tipple, showing box car loader, shaft No. 10, Consolidation Coal
Company. Buxton 236
57. Tipple of shaft No. 2, Hocking Coal Company, Hocking 241
58. Tipple at shaft No. 3, Wapello Coal Company, Hiteman 243
59. Diamond drill of the Wapello Coal Company 244
60. Coal seam in Frye mine. Confidence 258
62. Bed of Winger mine. Harvard 261
63. Map showing shipping mines In central Appanoose county 269
64. Bluff on Walnut creek. Mystic 272
65. A type of tipple at the smaller mines 273
66. Fault in CentervlUe Block No. 9. Centerville 278
67. Fissure in seam at Thistle No. 1. Cincinnati 282
68. Ideal cross-section through the What Cheer district from Rock creek
to the North Skunk river 287
69. "Fault" in What Cheer coal 289
70. Coal bed at Rowley mine. North of Slgourney 290
71. Coal near the old Leibig mine. Verdi 291
72. Unconformity between the Saint Louis limestone and the Coal Measure
shales. At quarry on Des Moines river, three miles above Ottumwa.294
73. Map showing mines in central Wapello county 296
74. Section of shaft of Phillips No. 4, Ottumwa 299
75. Bluff in Sugar creek. East of Ottumwa 302
76. Coal bed at Bates and Spratt mine. Fairfield 311
77. Exposure of Coal Measure strata in the north bank of Cedar creek,
Section 32, Fairfield township, Jefferson county 313
78. Section of shaft of Washington mine. Perlee, Jefferson county 315
79. Exposure of coal in Section 5, Salem township, Henry county 317
80. Outcrop west of Rome. Henry county 318
81. Bluff on S'oap creek, near old Brown cannel mine. Carbon, Davis
county 321
82. Seam at Whitmore mine, Bonaparte, Van Buren county 329
83. Section at Farmington, Van Buren county, showing Coal Measure
deposits resting in depression in Saint Louis limestone 330
84. "Unconformity of Coal Measures and Saint Louis limestone, Sonora
quarry, Lee county .' 332
85. Outcrop northwest of Denmark, Lee county 335
86. Top of bluff on Mississippi river at Nassau slough. Below Keokuk 338
87. Cross-section along Skunk river Des Moines county 339
88. Contact of Carboniferous with Devonian strata at the Sanders quarry,
north of Iowa City .' 344
89. Basal conglomerate of the Des Moines, in the left bank of Montpelier
creek, Muscatine county 346
90. Coal at Hoor drift. East of Muscatine 348
91. Sinking a shaft near Buffalo, Scott county 351
92. Coal bed in Goodwin mine. Grand Junction, Greene county 358
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix
Figurb8. Paob.
93. Blap showing mines in the Panora and Fftnslers districtB, Outhrie
county 366
94. Coal bed at Greenbriar mine, Jamaica, Guthrie county 867
95. Section of former Scott shaft, Fanslers, Guthrie county 870
96. Goal bed south of Adair, Adair county 879
97. Section at Beynon shaft, near Henshaw, Taylor county 382
98. Seam at Anderson shaft, New Market, Taylor county 384
99. Bluff at Shambaugh mill, west Nodaway river, Glarinda, Page county. .387
100. Coal bed at old Westrope mine, Montgomery county 390
101. Coal bed in Plowman shaft, Briscoe, Adams county 392
102. Vein at old Syfert and Jones mine. Carbon, Adams county 392
103. Indicator diagrams of gas engine tests on Iowa No. 2 coal made at
Saint Louis testing station 467
104. Diagram showing value of coal production from 1897-1908 .597
105. Section, west to east, from the Wilson section to Corning 649
107. Cat-tall (Typha kUifolia) on border of swamp In central Iowa 744
108. Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cemua) a bog plant of northern Iowa. ...746
109. Hoary Willow (Salix Candida), a bog plant of Worth county 764
113. Great Bullrush (Scirjnu validus) on margin of pond in central Iowa. .768
116. wamp Thistle iOiraium muticum) 772
Administrative Report
iH ill
Hi iii
Seventeenth Annual
Report of the State Geologist
Iowa Geological Subvey, Des Moikes, Iowa, December 31, 1908. To Governor Warren Garst and Members of the Geological Board: Gentlemen: — During the year 1908 the Geological Survey has been active in a number of lines affecting the welfare of the state. Co-operation with the United States Geological Survey, in the work of preparing a topographic map of the state, has been continued on the same terms as during the year 1907, the work of 1908 being limited as before to the coal producing portion of the state, and chiefly to the Pella quadrangle. It would be a matter of very great economic importance if our coal areas were covered with standard topographic maps, and it is the purpose to extend the mapping in these areas as rapidly as possible. Such maps are needed as a basis for the study of the vertical distribution of the coal seams, a matter of much scientific, as well as of economic interest. Giving reliable detailed knowledge of the surface configuration of the region they represent, they are of the highest value in the solution of problems relating to drainage and soil conservation. The best locfttion for wagon roads, electric lines and steam railways, so far as grades are concerned, is determined at once by reference to such maps. In a few of the states the topographic work is complete as a result of active co-operation of state and national surveys; in the other states the urgent call for co-operation is very much greater than the United States Survey has been able to meet. It is hoped that the work in Iowa may be continued until, not only the coal areas, but the entire state has been reliably mapped. In the north-central part of the state, where
xiv ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
questions of drainage are vital and must be settled by comprehensive plans that have no regard to township or county lines, maps showing minute details of topography are among the prerequisites to success. The rate at which topographic mapping can be carried on in the several states depends on the national appropriations for topographic work. Iowa, in common with many of the other states, has a very direct interest in the progress of the topographic branch of the United States Geological Survey.
Besides the Director and the Assistant State Geologist the corps employed in the regular work of the State Survey has been about the same as during previous years. S. W. Beyer and Ira A. Williams, with such assistants as they were authorized to employ, have continued the investigations on peat and road materials. The peat work is practically finished and the report will appear as one of the papers making up Volume XIX. It will require another season to complete the field work on road materials. Henry Hinds, under the direction of F. A. Wilder, completed the field work on coal, and the report on this subject will soon be ready for the printer. Dr. Geo. A. Smith of Shenandoah has re-studied the section of the Missouri stage, generously devoting a large amount of time to field work in order that he might personally visit and re-observe the natural exposures and gather data for more detailed correlation. His paper has been re-written and is now ready for publication. W. H. Norton has collected the facts disclosed by the activities of the present year relative to deep wells, well sections and underground waters. S. W. Stookey completed the survey of Poweshiek county. M. F. Arey finished the work in Grundy and made a survey of Davis county. T. H. Macbride worked in Calhoun and Greene counties. B. Shimek made a very thorough survey of Harrison and Monona counties, adding to our knowledge many facts of exceeding interest from both the practical and the scientific points of view. The Mineral Statistics have, as usual, been compiled by Dr. S. W. Beyer.
I have the honor to remain, gentlemen.
Yours respectfully,
Samuel Calvin.
Mineral Production In Iowa
In 1908
By
S. W. Beyer
Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908*
By S. W. Beyer.
Value Of Mineral Production.
Coal $11,619,455
Clay .3,477,237
Stone including lime 577,782
Gypsum 573,498
Lead and zinc 26,300
Sand-lime brick 38,225
Mineral water 27,540
Sand and gravel 74,380
Total $16,414,447
Coal $12,258,012
Clay 3,733,476
Stone including lime 648,135
Gypsum* 730,383
Lead and zinc 58,400
Sand-lime brick 55,618
Mineral waters 33,400
Sand and gravel 110,501
Total $17,627,925
Coal $11,772,228
Clay 4,078,627
Stone including lime 569,775
Gypsum 564,688
Lead and zinc 26,799
Sand-lime brick 42,881
Mineral waters 58,900
Sand and gravel** 976,549
Total .$18,090,447
The mineral statistics for 1908 were collected through co-operation of the Iowa Geological Survey and the United States Geolo&rical Survey. The slight differences In results shown below are due to natural variations in interpretation and editing of retuma
tMlneral, paint is combined with mineral water.
tMlneral paints and iron ore are Included with mineral waters.
{Mineral paints included wKh mineral waters.
Portland cement included with sand and gravel.
'
Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908
The mineral production for 1908 shows a gain in the value of clay products, mineral waters and sand and gravel and a falling off in all of the other mineral products produced in the state. The greatest shrinkage was in the coal production. The total value of mineral products marketed shows a gain due to the opening and operation of the Portland cement plant at Mason City. Prices for all the mineral products of the state, save coal, were lower than for the preceding year. The manifold uses of cement and the greater effort directed toward the betterment of the public highways are responsible for the increase in the production of sand and gravel. The great increase in the manufacture and use of drain tile owing to the continuance of wet years swells the clay output. The outlook for 1909 is favorable for an increased production in all of the more important mineral industries.
Table I gives th total mineral production by counties and follows herewith :
Table No. I.
Value of Total Mineral Production by Counties for 1908.
Counties
No. of producers
Coal
Clay
Stone and Lime
Miscellaneous
Total Value
Adair
Adams
Allamakee
Appanoose
Audubon
Benton
Black Hawk
t 41.915
Boone
Bremer
1
Buena Vista
Butler
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Cedar
Cerro Gordo
Clarke
Clay
Clayton
Clinton
Crawford
Dallas
""299,407
Mineral Production By Counties
Table No. I— Continubd
Counties
Od
a
u
o
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2;
Coal
Clay
Davis
Decatur . . Delaware . Des Moines Dubuque . . Emmet . . . Fftyette . . .
Floyd
Franklin .. Fremont . .
Greene . . Grundy . . Guthrie .. Hamilton Hancock . Hardin . , Harrison Henry . . . Howard ., Humboldt
Ida
Iowa
Jackson .. Jasper . . . Jefferson . Johnson ..
Jones
Keokuk . , Kossuth
Lee
Linn
Louisa
Lucas
Lyon
Madison
Mahaska
Marion
Marshall
Mills
Monroe
Montgomery .
Muscatine
Osceola
Page
Palo Alto
Pljrmouth
Pocahontas . . .
Polk
Pottawattamie Poweshiek . . . Sac
Shelby
Stone
and
Lime
Miscellaneous
Total Value
18,798' 10.100 39,0171 32,224
37,230!. 29,470,. 71,168i 23,580 13,211 72,804
Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908
Table No. I— Oontinubd
Counties
No. of producers
Coal
Clay
Stone
and
Lime
Miscellaneous
Total Value
Story
Taylor
Union
Van Buren
?H.964
Wapello
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Webster
Winnebaso
Winneshiek
Woodbury
Worth
Single Producers . . .
Totals
Coal
The coal production for 1908 shows a shrinkage of nearly six per cent while the average price was about three cents per ton higher, the highest price on record since 1880. Monroe county shows the largest shrinkage and all but two of the leading coal producing counties show a falling off in production. Polk and Mahaska are the exceptions. The average number of men employed is the largest in the history of the industry in Iowa while the average number of days worked is the lowest since 1897. The output, disposition of product, value, average price per ton, average number of days worked and average number of men employed are given by counties below:
Coal Production Of Iowa In 1908
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Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908
The table given herewith presents a fair picture of the Iowa coal industry during the past ten years :
Year
Total Tone
Value
Average Price
Average Number of Days Worked
Average Number of Men Employed
The ten leading producers during 1907 according to the authority of the United States Geological Survey were as follows:
State
Short Tons
Value
Average Price
Average
No. of
Daye
Worked
Average
No. of
Men
Empl'd
Whole United States
The following table based upon figures given by the United States Geological Survey gives the production for the ten states which were the leaders in output of coal in 1908. It will be seen that Iowa maintains her rank of the preceding year although there are some changes among other states. As compared with the preceding year there is a sharp decline, both in quantity produced and in spot value :
Clay Products
Ten Leading Producing States In 1908.
State
Short Tons
State
Value
Pennsylvania $118,816,303
Illinois 49,978,247
West Virginia 40,009,054
Ohio 27.897.704
Alabama 14;647,891
Colorado 13,586,988
Indiana 13,084,297
Iowa 11,706,402
Kentucky 10,317,162
Kansas 9,292,222
Whole United States. . .415,842,698
The outlook for 1909 is for an increase in production and a slight falling off in average price per ton.
Clay Products
The value of clay products marketed in 1908 shows a splendid growth of approximately ten per cent. This growth is recorded in spite of the fact that there was a falling off in production of the majority of the common clay products. Iowa holds her position in first place as a producer and user of drain tile and doubled her output of sewer pipe during the year. Mason City in Cerro Gordo county is the greatest center for the manufacture of drain tile in the United States, and for that matter in the worid. Eight plants, fully equipped and up-to-date, are in operation at the present time. Webster county is rapidly coming to the front in the manufacture of hollow ware, including drain tile, sewer pipe and hollow building block.
Mineral Production In Iowa Fob 1908
The day products for 1908 were distributed as follows:
Article
Common Brick
Paving Brick and Block
Face Brick
Drain Tile
Sewer Pipe
Building Block
Pottery
Miscellaneous*
Totalt
Quantity in Thousands
Value
Compared With
Increase per cent
Decr'ase per cent
Includes raw clay mined and sold, |3,690.
tThe returns of the United States Geological Survey give the total as 14,073.187. The figures tor pottery and raw clay are as above.
TABLE NO. in.
Talue Op Iowa Clay Products For 1908. Tabulated By Counties.
Counties
Number of producers
Com 'on Brick
Paying
Brick or
Block
Face Brick
Drain Tile
Miscellaneous
Totol Value
Adair
Adams
Appanoose
Audubon
Benton
Black Hawk
Boone
Buena Vista
"15308 1,000
Butler
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Cedar
Cerro Gordo
Clarke
Clay
Clayton
'"11312 9,590 6,110 8,774
Clinton
Crawford
Dallas
Decatur
Iowa Clay Pb0Duct8 Fob 1908
TABLE NO. Ill— Continued
Delaware . Des Moines Dubuque Emmet . . Fayette .
Floyd
Fremont . Greene . . Grundy . Guthrie . Hamilton Hancock Hardin . . Harrison Henry . . Howard . Humboldt
Ida
Iowa . . . Jackson . Jasper . . Jefferson Johnson Jones Keokuk . Kossuth . JL4C0 I4nn Louisa . . Lucas . . . Madison Mahaska Marion .. Marshall Mills Montgomery
Muscatine
Palo Alto Plymouth Pocahontas
Polk
Pottawattamie Poweshiek Scott . . . Shelby . Sioux . . Story .. Tama .. Taylor . Union . . Van Buren
o 0
Com 'on Briok
S
Paving
Brick or
Block
Face Brick
Drain
Tile
Miscellaneous
28,001 22,800< 20,570j
Total Value
Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908
TABLE NO. Ill— Continued
Counties
*r2
Com 'on
Paving
Brick or
Block
Face
Drain
Miscel-
Brick
Brick
Tile
laneous
0 Qi
Total Value
Wapello . . . Warren . . . Washington
Wayne
Webster . . . Winnebago Winneshiek Woodbury . Worth Wright Single Producers
?
12i 37.999 1!
1.541i 7,500' 356,5841 174.686
"98800' 232,565
Includes pottery and raw clay mined and sold.
Iowa ranked ninth in the total production for 1907, maintaining her rank and showing an increase in production over the preceding year of 7.49 per cent against a decrease of 1.30 per cent for the whole United States. The ten leading producers, with number of firms in operation, value and percentage of total products, are given below, as tabulated by the United States Geological Survey:
state
No. of operating firms reporting
Value
Percentage of total Product
Ohio
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
Illinois
Indiana
Missouri
California
Iowa
west Virginia
Total for United States
Stone
Pottery
The production of pottery for the year 1908 shows but little change when compared with that for 1907. The output for 1908 was as follows :
Red earthen ware % 8,161
Stoneware 7,549
Miscellaneous 3,000
Total $18,710
An increased output is expected for the present year owing to the enlargement of the plant at Ottumwa.
Clay
The production and sale of raw clay during 1908 was less than for the preceding year. l!his is shown not so much in the diminished tonnage as in the lower prices received, especially for fire clay. These facts are shown in the following table :
Kind
Qaantitv in Short Tons
Value
Pire Clay . . . Brick Clay . . Miscellaneous
Total
Stone
The quarry production for 1908 shows a falling off of about twelve and one-half per cent. The greatest shrinkage is in stone used for building purposes. The amount of crushed stone used for concrete shows a marked increase. The production for the year was distributed as follows :
Limestone —
Building stone % 87,846
Paving, curbing and flagging 12,239
Rubble and riprap 119,709
Crushed stone used for —
Roadmaking 65,175
Railway ballast 51,688
Concrete 149,439
Lime burned 79,400
Other purposes 1,942
♦Total $567,438
Sandstone 2,337
Total stone $569,775
*The returns of the United States Geological Survey Kive the total output of limestone as 1610,346. The lime produced is vaJved at 179,400, as above.
Minebal Production In Iowa Fob 1908
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Pboduction Of Limestone In 1908
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Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908
The outlook for the stone industry is not encouraging save in the line of crushed stone for road work and concrete. The growth in the use of cement and cement products is reducing the demand for stone and brick for structural purposes.
Sand and Gravel
According to the reports received the production of sand and gravel for 1908 more than doubled the output for 1907. The records for both years are more or less incomplete. During the latter year the majority of commercial producers responded. The production reported by ninety-four producers representing twenty-nine counties may be classified as follows:
Kind
Quantity in cubic yards
Value
Moulding Sand Building Sand Engine Sand . . F*urnace Sand . Other ands . . Gravel
Total
The value of the output reported for 1907 was $110,501.
Table V shows the value of sand and gravel produced in Iowa in 1908 by counties:
Sand And Gravel Production In Iowa For 1908
ir
Table V.
Sand And Gravel Production In Iowa In 1908 By Counties.
Counties
w
o p.
Molding Sand
Building Sand
Engine
Furnace Sand
Other Sand
Gravel
Total Value
Appanoose
Black Hawk
Cerro Gordo
t 41,915
Clayton
Clinton
Des Moines
Dubuque
Fayette
Floyd
Hardin
Howard
Ida
'"'l20
Johnson
Linn
Lyon
Marion
'"""38
Marshall
Montgomery
Muscatine
Osceola
Page
Palo Alto
Polk
Scott
Sac
Sioux
Wapello
Toh
Woodbury
Single Producers
Total
Gypsum
The production of gypsum and gypsum products for 1908 was less than for the preceding year. The statistics of the industry for the year 1908 were as follows :
Mineral Production In Iowa For 1908
Short Tons
Value
Crude gypsum mined
Distributed as follows: Sold crude —
To Portland cement mills
As land plaster
To plaster mills
Sold burned — Plaster of Paris, wall plaster, etc.
Total
The production of crude gypsum for 1907 was 251,874 short tons and was distributed as crude gypsum 18,834 tons valued at $29,115 and burned gypsum 162,965 tons valued at $701,268. The price per ton was considerably lower for 1908 than for the preceding year.
Mineral Water
The amount of mineral water produced and sold was the largest in the history of the industry in Iowa. Five counties reported sales during the year. The springs at Colfax in Jasper county are by far the largest producers. The amount and value of the water sold were as follows :
Quantity in gallons
Value
Medicinal Table . . .
Total sold
Used for soft drinks 317.500 gallons, not included In above figures.
The sales for 1907 amounted to 127,200 gallons valued at $30,500.
Lead and Zinc
On account of the slump in the price of pig lead the amount of lead ore produced and sold in the Dubuque region was much less than for the preceding year. The sale of zinc ores accumu-
Pobtland Cement
lated during several years brought up the zinc figures, amount of ore sold during the year was as follows :
The
Quantity in pounds
Value
Lead ore Zinc ore
The outlook for the present year is not promising unless the prices of pig lead and spelter increase. Some lead is being mined and held in stock. Prospecting and development work continue in a small way.
Sand-lime Brick
The sand-lime brick industry shows a falling oJ0f both in quantity and value of output. There was no change in the number of plants. The product was distributed as follows :
Number in thousands
Value
Common brick Front brick . . Miscellaneous
Total .
Portland Cement
Iowa for the first time appears as a producer of Portland cement. The Northwestern States Portland Cement Company of Mason City was the only plant in operation during the year. The plant of the Iowa Portland Cement Company of Des Moines is approaching completion and will probably be a producer during the present year. The Hawkeye Portland Cement Company has made but little progress during the year. The price of cement to Iowa consumers is the lowest it has ever been. The Lehigh Portland Cement Company has purchased property in the vicinity of Mason City and contemplates putting up a plant in the near future.
20 Mineral Proddotion In Iowa For 1908
Iron
The Missouri Iron Company continued development work during 1908 and perfected its plant for handling and treating ore. Ore on a commercial basis was not produced during the year.
Peat
But little progress was made during the year toward the production and utilization of peat on a commercial scale. The plant installed near Fertile in Worth county was operated during a portion of the year but rather in an experimental way.
The Goal . Deposits Of Iowa
By
Henry Hinds
The Coal Deposits Of Iowa
By Henry Hinds
Contents
Paoe
Introduction 25
Part I. Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa.
Humboldt county 33
Wright county 34
WebBter county 34
Des Moines valley 37
South Lizard valley 53
Hamilton county 54
Hardin county 56
Boone county 58
Des Moines valley 62
Ogden 74
Squaw creek valley 76
Angus 77
Story county 77
Marshall county 83
Dallas county 85
Des Moines valley 87
North Raccoon valley : 90
Middle Raccoon valley 93
South Raccoon valley 95
Raccoon valley 98
Polk county 99
Des Moines valley above Raccoon fork 103
Walnut creek valley 112
Raccoon river valley 117
Des Moines valley below Raccoon forks 121
Des Moines Fourmile divide 131
Fourmile creek valley 138
Highlands east of Fourmile 143
Camp creek valley 147
Skunk river valley , 148
Resume 149
Jasper county 153
Part Ii. Coal Deposits Of South-Central Iowa.
Madison county 167
Warren county 168
North river valley 174
Middle river valley 175
Sandyville district 178
Milo district 180
Lacona district 181
Marion county 181
District north of Des Moines river 185
District south of Des Moines river 189
Mahaska county 198
District north of South Skunk river 200
District between South Skunk and Des Moines rivers.' 203
District south of Des Moines river 212
Union county 217
Clarke county 217
Lucas county 218
Page
Monroe county 228
Monroe mines and coal beds 230
Ringgold county 245
Decatur county 246
Wayne county 254
Wayne county mines -. 258
Appanoose county 261
Appanoose mines 268
Part Iii. Coal Deposits Op Southeastern Iowa.
Keokuk county 285
Washington county 291
Louisa county 292
Wapello county 293
Jefferson county 306
Henry county 316
Davis county 319
Van Buren county 323
Lee county 332
Des Moines county 338
Part Iv. Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa.
Grundy county 340
Linn county 340
Jones county 341
Jackson county 341
Poweshiek county 342
Iowa county 343
Johnson county 343
Cedar county : 344
Clinton county 345
Muscatine county 345
Scott county 348
Part V. Coal Deposits Op Western Iowa.
Pocahontas county .355
Plymouth county 355
Calhoun county 356
Greene county 356
Carroll county 361
Guthrie county 363
North Raccoon drainage 365
Middle Raccoon valley 367
Brushy Pork valley 372
Wichita creek valley 373
Raccoon valley 373
Beaver creek valley 375
Deer creek valley 375
Stuart 376
Audubon county 377
Adair county 378
Cass county 380
Part Vi. Coal Deposits Op Southwestern Iowa.
Taylor county 382
Page county 385
FYemont county 388
Mills county 389
Montgomery county 390
Adams county 391
Introduction
Chapter I
The Coal Deposits Of Iowa
Introduction,
Owing to the irregular lenticular arrangement of the greater part of the coal beds of Iowa and to the heavy deposits of glacial drift which obscure outcrops of beds except along the courses of the major streams, a geological examination of the area under consideration is attended with considerable difBonlty, and generalizations as to the location and extent of nnprospeeted fuels are frequently rendered either impossible or extremely uncertain. During the early days of the development of the Iowa coal field, when the nature of the deposits was very imperfectly understood, it was generally considered that two or three persistent coal beds underlay essentially the entire region and that it would be possible to trace certain continuous seams from Fort Dodge to Des Moines and thence to What Cheer, Oskaloosa and other parts of the field. Systematic prospecting, especially in the southern counties, has, however, proved that few coal basins contained over a few thousand acres and that the greater number carry thick coal under no more than 500 or 600 acres. In many cases drill records have shown workable coal at one point and a mere carbonaceous film in the same horizon a few hundred feet distant. It is this lenticular character of the deposits that makes imperative a fairly large outlay of capital for the thorough prospecting of any given field before the installation of expensive mine equipments is undertaken.
Fleure 1. Si rati graph leal
Iowa coal beds.
An exception to the generally inconstant character of Iowa coal seams is furnished by the bed mined in the Appanoose- Wayne field in the south-central part of the state, and by the thin coal mined in the southwestern comer of the state. The latter is a member of the Missouri stage and is described in a special chapter on the stratigraphy of the southwestern counties. The Mystic seam of the Appanoose- Wayne field lies in a section of the Des Moines stage that was deposited under singularly uniform conditions of plant growth and sedimentation. Throughout an area containing at least 275,000 acres in Iowa alone, this bed is present everywhere except where locally removed by old erosion channels, and formerly it extended an unknown distance north and east of its present line of outcrop. The field occupies also a considerable territory in adjacent portions of Missouri. A remarkable feature is the persistency and uniformity of the characteristics of the coal bed: it nowhere varies more than a few inches either way from a thickness of thirty inches, and in Iowa it always bears in its middle portion a clay parting from one-half to two inches in thickness. Microscopic examination of clay from this parting shows that if it were once a soil it has since lost all the characteristics of modem soils. It is difficult to imagine the' conditions under which so thin and uniform a parting could have been laid down. Accompanying the Mystic coal are thin limestones which also preserve their character and stratigraphic position over a wide stretch of territory. The Appanoose- Wayne field produces about sixteen per cent of all the coal mind in Iowa.
In by far the greater part of the Iowa field, calcareous strata are conspicuously absent. The beds associated with the coal are chiefly argillaceous and arenaceous shales, with rather thin intercalated sandstones. These deposits, when traced either vertically or horizontally, change places one with the other with startling rapidity, so that drill records from even neighboring localities can be only approximately correlated. In many cases, however, the lenticular coal basins appear to lie in fairly persistent horizons, and where coal is absent in these, strongly bituminous shales are often found occupying stratigraphic positions corresponding with those of neighboring coals.
Introduction 27
In almost all cases coal bedg are anderlain with structureless clays, usually, but often erroneously, termed "fire clays." The roof over the coals is commonly black fissile shale, termed "slate" by the miners, that grades upward into light-colored argillaceous material. A fair amount of timbering is required in mining under such roofs, but "draw slate" is seldom very troublesome. In any drilling, coal horizons are usually numerous, but most of these bear only thin coal or mere indications of coal. Traced laterally, a horizon that is valueless in one locality may become of economic importance in another not far distant.
Aside from irregularities in the coal beds already mentioned, other factors destroy to a limited extent the continuity of some basins. The floor upon which the coal plants grew was often
very uneven, producing undulations in the beds of an amplitude of forty feet or less, and other features, as "horsebacks," etc.
Figure 3. "Horseback" fn coal bed.
In mining parlance, the coal usually "thins to the rise" and "thickens in the swamps" (low places). Several types of stream channels have locally effected the removal of all or parts of some beds. Sometimes shifting streams flowing through the
Coal Deposits Of Iowa
Carboniferous peat bogs, excavated and carried off some of the vegetal material. These channels were subsequently filled with clay and sands that today are found consolidated into shales and sandstones. The so-called "rolls" in the roofs of many mines are usually to be attributed to the partial removal of the coal producing peat by Carboniferous erosion. A second type of channel is the result of stream action during the long period of erosion which existed between the last emergence of the Coal Measures from the sea and the coming of glacial ice from the
Figure S. Preglaclal
north. These pre-glacial channels were filled with loose, onconsoldated material during the ice age, and sometimes their unexpected appearance gives much trouble in mines. The third type of channel is the work of modern streams acting since glacial time. As only the larger risers have cut through the drift deposits in much of the Iowa field, and as the result of such action is plainly evident at the surface, post-glacial channels cause little anxiety to the miner. They have, in fact, been of great service in laying open to view the coal beds which now outcrop along their sides.
Introduction
Figure t. Poatgl!
city of Dea HotneB.
Geological faults that aflFect mining operations at all seriously are extremely rare in Iowa. Where faults or "slips" are known to occur in and above coal beds tliey are almost always simply the result of the unequal shrinking of the carbonaceous material during the process of its conversion into bituminous coal. The throw of these faults is usually only a few inches or a few feet. Care should be taken to distinguish here geoloeal faults, properly so-called, and the "faults" of mining phraseology. The term "fault" is often used by mining men to designate those portions of a local field in which. coal is lacking because of removal by erosion channels or through lack of deposition between closely associated basins.
Fault In coal bed.
Other features characteristic of the qoal beds are of minor importance and are such as are found in most fields. These characteristics will be more specifically mentioned in the detailed
rO COAL DEPOSITS OF IOWA
descriptions of various mining comities. A full treatment of the stratigrapbical relationships and lithology of the Pennsylvanian rocks and of the chemical and physical properties of typical coals may be found in other chapters of this volume.
The Iowa coal field contains about 19,000 square miles, possibly two-thirds of which may in time become productive. These figures do not take into consideration that portion of the most productive formation, the lower Pennsylvanian (Des Moines) which is covered by the Cretaceous and upper Pennsylvanian (Missouri) and which will certainly become in part productive, or of that portion of the Missourian outcrop that is with little doubt barren. Mr. Campbell, of the United States Geological Survey, estimates the original coal supply of Iowa at 29,160,000,- 000 tons. Subtracting the 141,608,792 tons mined from 1840 to January 1, 1908, from the original supply, we still have left 3,820 times the production of 1907. If tlie present ratio of a half ton lost for every ton marketed continues, the supply will last 2,550 years at the present rate of production of about 7,500,000 tons a year.'
In the early days of mining, and indeed even now, operators confined their attention largely to the valleys of the major streams where coals are naturally exposed. The Iowa Geological Survey has insisted for many years that there could be no reason why the valleys should be more productive than the uplands, yet it remains true today that comparatively few mines are situated on the prairie levels. This state of affairs is in large part due to the greater ease of prospecting in the lowlands and to the
Introduction 31
heretofore abundant reserves of coal found in such situations. As competition becomes more keen, more of the higher divides will be prospected. Recent attempts to locate profitable basins well back from the larger streams have proved suggestively successful. The thickness of individual coal beds is not great. The thickest coal is perhaps to be found in Marion comity, where the Mammoth Vein Coal Company has encountered as much as sixteen feet in local "swamps." Where such thick coal occurs, however, it is often of poor quality and filled with concretions of clay-ironstone and sandstone. The greater part of the mining in the state is in beds from four to six feet in thickness, though the most extensively worked single seam, the Mystic of the Appanoose- Wayne field, shows only thirty inches, and considerable coal is taken from a fourteen to twenty-inch seam in Taylor, Page and Adams counties. Data recently compiled by Mr. Fisher, of the United States Geological Survey, appear to show that fourteen inches is about the minimum thickness for profitable working. Many operators in Missouri mine coal no thicker than this and the Al Russell mine, in Nodaway county, works in twelve inches.*
FlKure 8. Flaaure filled with clay.
The depth at which coal may be profitably mined is a factor that has not yet entered into consideration in Iowa. The deepest mine in the state, No. 3 of the Hocking Coal Company, is only 315 feet in depth. Coal does not occur in any part of the state, even in the Des Moines of the extreme southwestern corner, which lies at too great depth to be profitably mined if other conditions are favorable. The limit of practicable depth in working
IVtb ADnaal Rapt. Bureau 6t Ulnes. n. JED, 1905.
was adopted as 4,000 feet by the Eoyal Commission of Great Britain in 1871 and again in 1905.* Professor W. Calloway says, ' it is probable a depth of 8,000 feet will be attained. ' 'f The deepest shaft in England is at the Pendleton colliery, where a bed from two to six feet thick is reached at 3,483 feet. A seam only two feet thick is mined at the Kingswood colliery, in Somerset, at 2,460 feet. In Belgium, there are fourteen mines over 3,000 feet in depth, the deepest being 3,937 feet. In France and Germany are also deep shafts. 'The German miner has no doubt that not only is there a possibility, but the greatest likelihood of pushing down to a depth of 1,500 M. (4,921 feet) or more, and of mining coal there at a profitable cost."
In the following pages the details of the present status of the Iowa coal industry are discussed by counties. As each small mining district is a field by itself and the deposits are almost always lenticular, generalizations and correlations of distant beds are dangerous and usually unwarranted. A presentation of facts alone, with but few theorizations, is all that can be safely attempted with strata constituted as are those of the Des Moines stage. This is especially true when, as in Iowa, the coal bearing formations are concealed almost universally by a heavy mantle of drift averaging 100 feet or more in thickness.
Digest of Evidence. Royal Commission on Coal Supplies, 1901-05, p. XXXII.
tTrans. Inst. MIn. Eng., Vol. 21, 1900-1, p. 67.
:Dlg. of Evl , Roy. Com. on Coal Supplies, 1901-05, pp. 76, 77.
Humboldt Coumty 33
Part I
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Humboldt County
The greater part of the indurated rocks that lie beneath the heavy drift area of Humboldt county belong to Mississippian limestone formations. During the interval between the deposition of the limestones and the appearance of Coal Measure conditions, the region was a land surface trenched by valleys as at present, and it was in these depressions that most of the Des Moines strata now remaining were laid down. One such erosion valley extends from immediately south of the town of Humboldt nearly to the south county line. Lower Coal Measure strata also outcrop at intervals for a distance of four miles along the east fork of the Des Moines river above its junction with the west fork. The strata represented are chiefly sandstones and shales, the latter being in places so bituminous as to have encouraged prospecting for coal in them. Experimental drifts were started in section 18 (Se. qr.) of Beaver township and section 12 (Sw. qr. ) of Corinth, but, aside from a few tons of coal obtained from the latter prospect, little success attended these attempts to obtain fuel. Back from the river valleys a heavy cover of drift effectually conceals the indurated rocks, yet well records and theoretical considerations indicate that the northern extension of the main Iowa coal field reaches interruptedly three to five miles north of the Webster county line. The chances for finding on the southern edge of Humboldt county coal basins of workable extent and with suflScient roof are not particularly bright, yet lie entirely within the range of possibilities.
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Wright County
Little is known as to the actual occurrence of Coal Measures in Wright county, for the heavy cover of glacial drift on the uplands conceals the underlying indurated rocks. It seems certain, however, that only a small area is underlain by the fragmentary remnants of the northern extension of the Iowa coal field. Des Moines rocks may be found in the two southern tiers of sections in Wall Lake and Vernon townships and in most of the western half of Troy township. It is not probable that workable beds of coal will be discovered in this county.
Webster County.
The surface of the greater part of Webster county is a gently undulating plain or prairie, poorly drained. A large section of country in the southwestern portion of the county is destitute of streams of any consequence, so that no natural outcrops of the indurated rocks beneath the heavy cover of drift may be seen, and prospect records and wells furnish the only clue to the geoivebste
Figure 10. Sketch of Webster county which shows the immature state of drainage.
Webster County 35
logical structure of the region. In other parts of the county, however, the Des Moines river and its few important tributaries have cut deep, narrow, sharply V-shaped valleys more than one hundred feet through the surface formations, exposing here and there splendid geological sections which include in places thick coal beds.
It is owing largely to the restriction of natural exposures of the coals to the immediate vicinity of the Des Moines river that the inception and growth of coal mining has been almost entirely confined to points along and near that stream. The finding of coal near Tara, Otho, and Dayton indicates that other coal basins exist at points remote from the main valleys and that only the expense and uncertainty of prospecting operations have prevented their discovery.
Coal Measures of the Des Moines stage underlie the greater part of the county. The underlying Mississippian limestone is exposed in the bottom of the lower portion of Lizard river valley, in the Des Moines valley from Fort Dodge northward to beyond the Humboldt county line, and in small sections of the river bottom above and below Kalo. It lies immediately beneath the drift in several small isolated areas of small importance. Resting unconformably on Mississippian limestones near Fort Dodge and on the Des Moines strata in many other districts are the gypsum-bearing rocks of Permian age. The area underlain by Permian is irregularly oval in shape and extends entirely across the county from northeast to southwest. At its maximum, be tween Fort Dodge and Kalo and northeast of these points, the area is six miles broad; southwest of Moorland it is not more than one mile in breadth. Coal has been found, although not usually in thick seams, beneath the gypsum in many parts of the area just outlined. The well on the Webster County Poor Farm (Elkhom Tp., Sec. 3, Sw. qr.) penetrated the drift with its heavy clays, tibe Permian with its gypsum, the Des Moines with its coals, and stopped in the massive limestone of the Saint Louis. The detailed record of this boring is as follows :
36 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Well On Webster County Poor Farm. .
FEET. INCHES. 23. Soil 2
6. Shale, with limestone bands 34 6
Total 237 10
Because of the great irregularity of the surface of the Saint Louis limestone, it is impossible to give an exact idea of the depth of the base of the Coal Measures in various parts of the county. Roughly speaking, the limestone in the northern third of the county may be said to be at and slightly above the level of the Des Moines river (about 1,000 feet above tide). When allowance is made for the thickness of the mantle of drift under the uplands, it will be seen that the Coal Measures are quite thin in this region and that the chances for finding coal are proportionately small. In the southern half of the county the base of the Des Moines is found at depths of 150 to 250 feet below the prairie level. The drift is from 50 to 150 feet in thickness, leaving in many places 100 feet or more of strata which may include workable coals. Developments in Boone county on the south suggest that prospecting on the uplands of southern Webster county, while somewhat expensive and hazardous, might yield good results.
Webster County
Owing to its strategical position as the most northerly productive area in Iowa, mining was energetically pursued at an early date and the output soon reached a large figure. In 1862 a production of only 250 bushels was recorded by the. State Census. In 1870 the United States Census showed that an output of 34,400 tons had placed Webster fourth iq rank among the coal producing counties of the state. In 1880 a production of 126,712 tons made her fifth in rank, while in 1890 she had dropped to twelfth place with a showing of 137,739 tons. The partial exhaustion of the known coal basins has led in recent years to a notable falling oflf in production. The statistics for the years 1898 to 1906 given below are taken from reports of the Iowa Geological Survey; for 1907 from those of the United States Geological Survey:
Year Tons
Tbar Tons
As shown by the report of the State Mine Inspectors, the decline in production was still further accentuated in the early part of 1908, the output for the year ending June 30, 1908, being only 59,031 tons. Eight mines, aside from small country banks, were in operation and 229 men were employed. The average price per ton at the mines was about $2.10.
Details in regard to the various mining districts may be found in the following pages.
Dbs Moines Valley.
Fort Dodge. The Colbum, the lowest seam found in the Holaday creek area, lies in the upper portion of the Coal Measures present at Fort Dodge and has been mined in a small way in times past by drifts and shallow shafts at and above that point. A little coal is still taken out during the colder months of the year about two miles north of the city, where both the Colbum and a liigher coal are found. Just above *Hhe slide on the west bank of the river (Douglas Tp., Sec. 7, Sw. qr.), the upper bed is shown in the following section :
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
xxy///AV
Pigrure 11. Map shawlng location of the principal mines in Webster county.
Feet.
4. Argillaceous limestone, a single heavy layer 2
2. Shale, fissile, very bituminous 44
1. Sandstone, red and white, with fossils of coal plants; to water 6
One-fourth mire below this, the same bed is shown at some old mines and what is probably the Colburn seam appears a few feet below in two benches, thus :
w
FEET. INCHES. 3. Coal 2
Wkb8Ter County 39
Coal corresponding to that already mentioned is exposed one mile below the Minneapolis and Saint Louis station, along the railway tracks (Cooper Tp., Sec. 29, Sw. qr.). Numbers 3, 4 and 5 in the section given below probably occupy the Colburn horizon.
Feet. Inches.
8. Limestone, argillaceous, a single, solid layer 1 6
2. Shale, sandy, yellow; to level of railway track 4
1. Shale, nearly covered with talus t6 water level 25
Kalo, Coalville, and Holaday Creek. For some distance below Fort Dodge outcrops of the Permian-gypsum-bearing strata replace those of the Des Moines stage in the valley of the river. Where the river leaves this younger formation and again flows in a valley in which coal-bearing strata are found, many mines have at one time and another been located. Shafts and slopes have dotted the hillsides from Kalo two miles northward, ias well as the right side of the valley below that village. The Coalville basin as now known comprises about six square miles, all in Otho and Pleasant Valley townships. Possibly the Otho field once formed part of the Coalville basin and has since been cut off from it by pre-glacial erosion. At any rate, the basin is now limited to sections 16, 17, 8 and 9, the west half of 15, 10 and 3 and the southeast half of 4. Three horizons have been recognized, the lowest the Colburn or Cannel ' ' seam, the second the coal, and the highest a thicker seam sometimes termed the ''Soft'' coal. Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the exact relationship of these beds, owing largely to the irregular character of the **Big" coal.
The Colburn seam, as we have already seen, is not confined to the Colburn basin and has been mined as far north as two miles above Fort Dodge. It is exceedingly variable in level ; thus, on Holaday creek it lies about twenty-five feet above the level of the creek bottom or fifty feet above the river level, while in the vicinity of Kalo it is ten feet below the river on the east bank and ten to eighteen feet above the water level on the west side of the
40 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
valley. Above Kale the seam rises rapidly toward the north until it is cut off for a space by the Permian rocks. The bed also Tlndergoes marked lithological variations, there being an increase on the western edge of the basin of the quantity of impurities present and in the percentage of volatile gases. On Holaday creek the bed consists of from four to nine inches of cannel above from one to three feet of bituminous coal ; along the river above Kalo the seam bears nearly three feet of cannel in places. While inferior in fuel value to the bituminous coals, the cannel is growing more and more in importance as the other seams become exhausted. The following, published in the Mining World by G. H. Ashley, sums up the situation:
*'No typical cannel coal has yet been reported from Iowa, though the region near Fort Dodge in Webster county supplies a so-called 'cannel.' An examination of its analysis shows it to have 39.04 per cent of volatile matter, 39.22 per cent fixed carbon, and 15.87 per cent ash, giving it a fuel ratio just below one, or on the borderland between cannel and bituminous coals. The coal is low in the coal series, occurring only about fifty feet above the Lower Carboniferous limestone. The seam appears to be somewhat more regular than some of the bituminous seams near it in the series. In its best section the cannel shows thirty inches immediately overlying twelve inches of bituminous coal. Where principally mined it shows sixteen inches of cannel separated by three inches of shale, and twenty-two inches of bituminous coal, the cannel in all cases being above."
It has often been stated that the so-called Upper Bituminous'' bed and the **Big" coal are distinct seams. This is only in part true. The confusion evidently arises from the presence in several parts of the basin of a higher coal lying not far above the ''Big" coal and mined at a few points. This higher seam is the true ''Upper Bituminous." It is of a pockety nature and usually contains coal of a quality much inferior to that of the thicker bed beneath. Much of the coal commonly termed "Upper Bituminous," however, actually occupies the horizon of the "Big" coal. In his description of the Coalville basin Dr. Wilder says
"A limited portion of this area contains coal varying in thickness from six to eight feet. This is known as the 'Big coal.'
Geology of Webster County, Iowa Geol. Surv., VoU XII, p. 90 : Des Moines, 1902.
Webster County 41
The Big coal is confined to a curiously narrow and contorted strip. It is rarely over 300 feet wide and often only 200 feet. Its center lies twenty-five feet below the rest of the upper bituminous horizon. Its edges rise rapidly, however, and all of the upper bituminous coal forms with it a continuous seam. Because it lies below the rest of the seam and is of better quality, it is often regarded as a distinct seam. The coal in this horizon outside of the Big coal varies in thickness from three feet to five feet. It is generally uniform in quality and some of it is of value only as steam coal. It lies fifty feet below the prairie level, is horizontal in position and free from fault. The Big ooal ranks with the best coal produced in the county.
Coalville basin seems to be part of the trough of an ancient river. The Big coal was formed in the stream channel, while the rest of the seam represents the bottom lands. The Big coal is too pure to admit the belief that water was flowing through the channel when the coal was deposited, and that the vegetable matter was drift material. The fact that as yet it has not been possible to connect the tortuous sections of the Big coal, also leads to the belief that the hollow in which the Big coal lies represents portions of a deserted channel, which in places was filled in and consequently is at times barren. The Big coal has an excellent shale roof and is worked very economically.'
Three mines are now working on Holaday creek, cleaning up the odds and ends left from former operations. Little coal is now left in workable shape in any part of the Coalville basin. The most northerly of these mines is the Eogers and Collins shaft (Pleasant Valley Tp., Sec. 4, Ne. qr., Se. 1/4). The shaft, situated on the right bank of the creek, is forty-seven feet deep and takes coal from the middle vein" where it is from four to eight feet thick. It is probable that this coal forms part of the **Big" seam, though it does not appear to lie in a basin which is continuous with other parts of that bed. The seam is extremely irregular; ''horsebacks" and ''rolls" are rather common. Northeast of the shaft is a remarkably large "bowlder," ten feet thick in the center and gradually tapering towards the ends. As nearly as can be determined at present, it occupies an area of nearly ten acres. The coal divides as this body is approached, half passing above and half below it. Above the central or thicker part of the rock the coal thins notably. Evidently at this point a quantity of sediment borne by a shifting
42 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
stream gained admittance to a temporarily deserted channel, burying beneath itself the mass of vegetation which had already gained a footing there. After the disturbing influence had been withdrawn, swamp conditions again prevailed. At this mine the roof is firm, black ''slate." The bottom is a sandstone and less frequently a fire clay. Entries have been driven 800 feet from the shaft. A single-cylinder hoisting engine is used. The product is shipped over the Chicago Great Western Railroad and is also sold to the local wagon trade.
Half a mile southwest of the Rogers and Collins (Sec. 4, Se. qr.), the test-hole record given below shows a section similar to that near the mine. Both the hole and the shaft are located on the southern edge of the Permian gypsum area. Drift, Permian and Des Moines strata may be distinguished in the record.
FEET. INCITES. 9. Soil 3
Farther down Holaday creek, just above its junction with Miracle creek, is the Minn and Scott bank (Sec. 10, Nw. qr., Sw. Vi). This is a slope to the *Big'' seam, supplying a local trade, from the bluff on the west side of Holaday creek. Forty acres have been leased and the company is working 400 feet back from the slope mouth in six feet six inches of coal. The roof is a black slate which requires only ordinary timbering; the bottom is sandstone. Here an upper seam is present about twenty feet above the "Big' coal, a series of shales filling the interval between them. The Colburn, only a short distance below the **Big'' coal, consists of from two to two and a half feet of bituminous coal capped by five inches of cannel.
A little below, on the opposite side of Holaday creek, is another local mine, that of J. E. Martin (Sec. 10, Sw. qr., Ne. 1/4). Three seams are worked here by separate drifts. The
Webster County 43
upper is reached by a steep but short incline over which cars are hauled by a cable wound on a small drum and operated on the double pull-rope system. The middle seam is the one from which the greatest amount of coal is now taken. It is the **Big" seam, with coal from two to nine feet in thickness, thinning to the east. In this vicinity the *Big" coal lies in a basin 300 feet wide, running northwest and southeast. At this mine this bed lies fifteen feet or less beneath the upper seam and has a sandstone bottom. The lower, or Colbum seam has only recently been opened by Mr. Martin by a drift a short distance down the creek. It shows from one to three feet of bituminous coal overlain by from four to eight inches of cannel.
The following section is typical for the district. The drilling was headed on high ground. The ''Big" seam, always very variable in level, was penetrated at one of its highest points, while the upper seam, if it ever existed at this point, has been removed by pre-glacial erosion and its place taken by drift.
Drilling In Pleiasant Vallkv Sec. 9, Se. Qr.
Fekt. Inches.
9. Sandstone, white, compact 1 6
4. Coal, hard 3. Black jack
Total 112 2
The Gleason Coal Company is beginning to drive entries in a new mine on the prairie level (Pleasant Valley Tp., Sec. 9, *Sw. qr., Nw. 14). A steam hoist has been installed and a shipping business is to be done. In sinking the shaft, the following section was revealed :
U Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Feet. Inches.
3. Yellow and blue clay ' ...65
2. Black "BlaU" ..15
Total .84 2
Mr. Gleason reports that while prospecting they drilled 150 feet without finding more than the one coal. The Colbum horizon is, therefore, barren at this point. The coal found varies in thickness from one inch to four feet and a half. Other mines have recently worked this seam on the south, but 500 feet east of this shaft it is said to "go to the rise" and disappear.
In the valley bottom of the Des Moines river above Kalo, three mines are taking coal from the Cannel seam. On the southern border of the gypsum area is the Johnson mine (Otho Tp., Sec. 8, Nw. qr., Ne. y). Although the mouth of the slope is at the side of the tracks of the.KaIo switch, no coal is shipped, all being used at the adjacent plant of the Johnson Brothers Clay Works. As in other parts of the Cannel seam the sulphur content is often disagreeably large. Both cannel and bituminous coal are taken out. The section here is as follows: ,
Fisrr. INCHES.
(exposed), 4. Coal, cannel, 3. Shale, dark colored. 2. Coal, bituminous. 1. Fire clay, (espoBed).
figure 12. Cannel and bHumEnous veins at the Johnson mine. Kalo.
A quarter mile south, beside the tracks of the same switch, is the Irvine slope (Sec. 8, Nw. qr., Se. 14)- The Cannel seam is reached at an elevation ten feet lower than that of the tracks of the switch. The seam is about twenty-eight inches thick at this point. The bottom is fire clay and sandstone. During the summer of 1908 attention was devoted chiefly to making roads through old workings. In the early autumn of the same year, some coal was being supplied to the Central Brick and Tile Company, whose yards are close at hand.
Webster County 46
A half mile farther south on the same switch is the shipping mine of the Craig and Dawson Coal Company (Sec. 17, Nw. qr., Nw. 1/4). The shaft is fifty feet deep to the Cannel seam, showing that a sotitherly dip of about 100 feet to the mile prevails between this mine and those farther north. An upright double engine hoists the coal. The seam is from thirty-three to forty inches thick. The relationships of the strata near the seam are well shown in the following typical section found in a drilling near the mine:
Drilling In Section 17. Nw. Qr.
FEET. UrCHSS.
The Foster bank is a small affair in the side of a ravine at Kalo. The *Big'' or ''Upper Bituminous** horizon normally contains a coal bed from three to four feet thick at this place, but the present drift is taking coal from under a large ''roll'* which has reduced the thickness of the seam to two feet. The bottom is a very argillaceous sandrock ; the roof a black bituminous shale.
For a distance of over a mile below Kalo, mming was at one time in active progress. At present only one small local mine is in operation. The Hewitt bank, a fourth mile southeast of Kalo, is a drift high on the side of a ravine in which several shipping mines were formerly located. The seam lies in the "Upper Bituminous" coal horizon and shows an average thickness of four feet at the Hewitt. ''Horsebacks'* and "rolls** are fairly common, though seldom of large size. Vertical "clay slips,** usually about one inch thick, occur about one foot from the top. When the coal is of normal thickness a one-inch band of "bone** lies in the seam. The entry runs 1,000 feet into the bluffs, exposing a fire clay beneath the seam and a soft blue-
46 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
black shale above. The coal mined is rather soft, yielding a large proportion of slack and nut. Near the bottom of the ravine, forty feet below the drift mouth, the Colbum horizon is occupied by a bed of coal eighteen inches thick. Five to seven feet above the coal mined an upper seam, two feet and less in thickness, is found in isolated patches. The following drilling made on the L. W. Hart land, near the Hewitt bank, shows the Upper Bituminous," or *'Big" coal horizon above and the Colbum below.
Feet. Inches.
Total 80 3
Otho, A new field has been opened south of Otho by the Craig and Dawson Coal Company (Otho Tp., Sec. 30, Ne. qr., Ne. 14). By means of a ninety-foot shaft a seam three to four feet thick has been reached. Entries have been driven only 200 feet from the pit bottom and hoisting is done by a small single-cylinder engine and boiler which are to be replaced soon by larger ones. Shipping facilities can be easily procured when the development of the mine reaches a more advanced stage. The seam worked has a fire clay bottom and a black slate roof. An upper seam lies from ten to twenty feet above the other, but is not being developed at present. It is from two to three feet in thickness has a fire clay bottom and, near the shaft, a roof of sandy shale which grades laterally into a <black slate. The upper seam is perhaps the cleaner of the two.
If this field were ever connected with the Coalville basin it has since been cut off by pre-glacial erosion. In some places the coal is cut out entirely and in others it becomes very thin. The
Webster County 47
upper seam may be tentatively assigned to the so-called ' Upper Bitmninous" horizon of the Kalo-Coalville area. The lower seam does not fall naturally into, a position corresponding with any coal previously discovered, though it may possibly represent the Colbum horizon at a point where it approaches closely the upper coal.
In as heterogeneous a collection of strata as the Des Moines stage comprises, two horizons cannot "be expected to preserve the same relations to one another, even in adjacent areas, nor can a horizon be expected to bear good coal in more than a small portion of its extent. The following is a record of a drilling made on the Doushack land (Sec. 30, Ne. qr., Ne. %), near the Craig and Dawson shaft.
Feet. Inches.
Totel 87 2
In section 18, north of Otho, attempts have been made from time to time to mine a thick seam of coal. Much of the bed has, however, been cut out by erosion and that which remains usually lacks sufficient cover. Below is given a section from the Bensing land, near the Minneapolis and Saint Louis railroad .
Feet. Inches.
lOi Sandstone 6 6
9. Sandy "slate" .' 12 6
48 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
2. Black "slate" 13
Total 113
Within a mile soutli and southeast of the Craig and Dawson shaft pr-glacial erosion appears to have either cut out the coal itself or to have removed so much of the cover as to render mining hazardous. The two drill records shown below (Sec. 32, Ne. qr., Ne. l) furnish typical sections for the district. It is possible that if drilling No. 2 had been carried farther down, a second seam would have been found and that No. 1 passed through an old channel which had removed the upper coal. The drillings do not, therefore, prove that two seams were not deposited in this district.
DRILLINa NO. 1.
FEET. / INCHES. 8. Sou 2 6
3. "Slate," coal, and calclte with hard band 5
Total 146
Drilling No. 2.
FEET. INCHES. 5. Soil 2 6
3. Black "slate" : 1 5
Total 73 7
Webster County 49
Lehigh. Of former vigorous nuning in the lower valley of Crooked creek and along the river near Lehigh little remains. Clay plants, using the Carboniferous shales exposed in the valleys, have largely superseded the coal mines. In October, 1908, only two mines were in operation and a revival of the activity of the past seemed unlikely. No new light has been thrown on the geology of the basin since the following description of it was written by Wilder
Lehigh coal belt is not more than two-thirds of a mile wide and extends from northeast to southwest across section 7, Webster township, and section 13, Bumside township. It is crossed nearly in the center by the Des Moines river. On the west side of the river Crooked creek cuts through it, and coal is mined on this creek two miles from its mouth. On the east side of the creek the prospect holes of the Crooked Creek Railroad and Mining Company have found coal a mile back from the river. All of the mining has been done along the river and Crooked creek. The coal lies in four seams, one above the other, so that prospect holes often pass through more than one seam. The seams vary considerably at different points. All of the seams have produced coal, but the coal from the Tyson seam is regarded as the best and this seam up to date has been most extensively worked. The Harper seam is thirty feet above the water of the river; the Tyson is twenty feet above water level; the Pretty seam is ten to twenty feet below water level,, while the Big is forty feet below the Pretty seam. The two seams above water level have been worked by drifting into the banks of the river, the banks of Crooked creek, and the sides of the numerous ravines in the vicinity. The Pretty seam and the Big seam are reached by shafts. The Big seam is said to lie at a uniform level, but the other seams are not so regular. The Tyson seam is never more than fifteen hundred feet wide, and it dips uniformly towards the center.
following is a composite section through the Lehigh coal seams :
Feet,
7. Coal, slate, six inches, Harper vein 0-2%
1. Coal, Big seam; four inches bone in center 3%-4%
Geology of Wcbatcr Countj/, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 88; Des Moines. 1902,
fiO COAL DEPOSITS OF CENTRAL IOWA
Both mines at present operating in the district are using the Pretty seam. In the valley of Crooked creek, a mile and a half above its mouth (Sumner Tp., Sec. 13, Nw. qr., Sw. i/4), is the mine of the McClure Coal Company. The shaft is seventy-five feet in depth. The mine employs steam power and does a shipping business. The Pretty seam, which is from two and a half to three feet thick at this point, is the only one now being developed, though attention will be turned to the Tyson in the near future. Under the coal is a six-inch band of a verv carbonaceous and compact clay underlain by at least two feet of soft sandstone. The roof is a light gray shale containing numerous bands of iron pyrites near the coal. The long wall method of development is used, mining being done in the clay band. AVork has been carried 1,300 feet north and 1,800 feet south of the shaft. The north side is now abandoned. Electric mining machines were used until the working face became so short that the time consumed in moving the machines .rendered them unprofitable.
The Crooked Creek shaft Number 9 is located near the mouth of Crooked creek (Sec. 18, Nw. qr., Se. 14 The product is hoisted by steam power and loaded on cars for shipment. The main entry runs 525 feet S. E. with a cross road 675 feet to the west. Rolls' and horsebacks" are found, though small, and a fault with a throw of about three feet has given some trouble. The disturbance attending this dislocation of strata was not sufficiently strong to impair the value of the coal near the fault plane. The Pretty seam, where mined from this shaft, is from two feet to twenty-eight inches thick and lies about thirty-five feet beneath the surface. Often, though not always, present beneath the coal is a thin seam of fire clay. Where the clay is lacking a soft argillaceous sandstone forms the floor of the coal. The roof is a compact bluish gray shale which stands well with only a moderate amount of timbering.
Near the river, three miles below Lehigh, coal has been mined for a local trade in the valley of a small creek. A little farther down (Yell Tp., Sec. 21, Sw. qr., Sw. 14) coal is exposed on the river bank.
Webster County 61
Feet. Inches.
Linnhurg. At the mouth of Skiller creek, four miles east of Dayton, at least two seams are present. An upper seam which lies about five feet above the level of the creek bed has been reached by drifts and shafts. The bed is strongly undulajjory. Only a bit over two feet of coal is shown. An attempt was made to work a lower coal here for shipping purposes, but it di not prove profitable and was soon abandoned. On the east side of the Des Moines river, opposite the mouth of Skiller creek, the Sunnyside Coal Company is now taking coal of good quality from an eighty-foot shaft (Sec. 16, Se. qr., Se. Vi). A small double engine is used for hoisting and a local trade is supplied. The bed lies forty feet below the level of low water in the river and varies between twenty-four and thirty inches in thickness. Although the mine has been opened only a short distance, there are indications that the seam is rather undulatory and has a slight general dip to the southeast. . Under the coal is three feet of fire clay ; above is a band of iron pyrites from one to ten inches thick. Over the sulphur band" is a one-foot layer of "bone," a very carbonaceous shale, which is taken down only over the roads; it is capped by a black ''slate" bearing Lingula and other brachiopod shells in abundance. Forty-five feet above the lower seam is an upper bed perhaps corresponding to the upper coal mined on Skiller creek. At the shaft the upper bed is quite thin, owing probably to the removal of much of the coal by the erosive action of the Des Moines at earlier periods. Locally these two coals are known as the Pretty and the Tyson, yet any attempt to correlate on but little evidence the beds of two such widely separated areas as the Lehigh and Linnburg basins seems unwarranted.
Another local mine — that of the Stratford Coal Company — is situated one mile below the Sunnyside. The seam, which is fifty feet below low wter level, has an average thickness of two feet seven inches and occupies the horizon of the lower seam
52 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
found opposite Skiller creek. Here the dip is to the southwest and the under-cutting is done in a layer of 'bone'' which lies beneath the coal, instead of above it as at the'Sunnyside mine. About three acres have been mined out. In the greater part of the mine the roof is a compact, variegated sandstone, often quite argillaceous. Where this sandstone is lacking a tough fossiliferous shale takes its place and the upper portion of the coal bed becomes ''bony,'* reproducing the conditions prevailing at the Sunnyside.
Workable coal was located near Dayton several years ago. The two sections given below, cited on the authority of the Craig Coal Company of Fort Dodge, appear to indicate a field the possibilities of which have been overlooked. The first drilling was made two miles east of Dayton (Dayton I'p., Sec. 18, Nw. 1/4).
Feet. Inches.
Total 186 10
One mile northeast of Dayton the Craig Coal Company obtained the following section :
Feet. Inches.
7 Coal 3 6
Webster County 63
Total 196 6
South Lizard Valley.
Tara, The Tara coal basin lies on the northwestern border of the Permian area, on South Lizard river about four miles southwest of Fort Dodge. A fairly level and apparently quite persistent seam bearing five feet and less of coal lies at a depth of 130 feet below the prairie level. For many years small mines supplying a country trade have operated here during at least the colder months, but when the region was visited by the author no coal was being taken out. The coal is of good quality. The floor is a fire clay and the roof a blue-black shale which does not always prove satisfactory. The limits of the basin have not been exactly determined, but it is known to include at least sections 33, 34 and 35 of Douglas township and section 6 of Elkhom township. Where coal has been mined (Elkhom Tp., Sec. 6, Ne. qr. ; Douglas Tp., Sec. 33, Sw. qr. and Se. qr. ; Sec. 34, Sw. qr.) the seam was from four to five feet in thickness. In adjacent territory drillings passed through coal which was not always of workable thickness. In Douglas township (Sec. 34, Se. Vi), five prospect holes were sunk and coal found in each case at about the same depth and under the same general conditions. A record of one of these holes is given below.
Feet. Inches.
54 Coal Deposits Of Cent&Al Iowa
In section 35, Douglas township, Sw. 14, the following record reveals three coal horizons ; two of them bearing seams of workable thickness.
FEET. INCHES. 13. Soil 2
Hamilton County
By far the greater part of Hamilton county is underlain by coal-bearing strata of Des Moines age, although the northern limit of this stage lies but a few miles beyond the northern boundary of the county. The Boone river and White Fox creek have cut down to the Mississippian limestone from the north to below Webster City and the Coal Measures are lacking also under a small area in the northeastern comer of the county. By far the greater part of the region is a gently undulating prairie, poorly drained, without outcrops, and unexplored by coal men. In the only district in which there is opportunity offered for coal beds, if such there be, to appear at the surface — namely, along Boone river below Webster City — seams are known to occur. Under the hesivj cover of drift on the uplands back from the river, and especially in the southern townships, there are doubtless other basins where future wealth lies undisturbed. Prospecting to be successful must be thorough ; since large sums may be expended in vain before the coveted fields are finally located. Seams have been more or less extensively worked not far from Hamilton county, in Webster on the west and in Boone and Story on the south.
Before the coming of the railroads brought cheap coal from other districts, considerable mining for local trade was in prog-
Hamilton County . 55
ress in the Boone river valley. Some coal is still taken out during the winter months. Old strippings, dumps, and drift openings may be seen near the river from five miles below Webster City nearly to the Webster county line. At least three horizons are known, some coal having been taken from each. Only one is considered of great importance; it lies at an average elevation of forty feet above the river level, though its altitude varies considerably at different points. Whether the coal is continuous under the entire district cannot be definitely stated from present knowledge, but the probabilities are more in favor of a number of nearly contiguous basins.
So far as known the most northerly point at which mining has been undertaken was at the Brockshink mine (Freedom Tp., Sec. 25, Sw. qr., Sw.Vi)? a short distance west of the river, where three feet of coal was capped by sandstone and underlain by fire clay. One mile south (Sec. 36, Sw. qr., Ne. V), sl small quantity of coal is occasionally worked by drifts on Mr. Silvers* farm. A short ravine on this* place shows vestiges of extensive stripping, about two acres of surface having been removed in this way from the upper vein." A second two-foot seam, separated from the first by three feet of shale and five of heavilybedded sandstone, outcrops farther down the ravine. Still lower is a third bed, eighteen inches thick at the outcrop, bearing a tenacious, easily combustible coal known locally as cannel. East of Silvers', along the river, much stripping was done in former years — notably on the land of John (laffin on Jhe west side of the river and on the Houck place opposite. The average thickness of the seam is reported to have been two feet and its elevation above low-water level about forty feet.
mi
On the west side of the river, farther down (Webster Tp., Sec. 1), on land now belonging to Eobert Lewis, coal has been removed for a distance of a fourth of a mile by stripping and at one place from a shaft. The seam worked here is from two to three feet in thickness. Two miles below, the river winds about a sharp horseshoe bend, impinging at the extremity of the curve against a steep bluff. On the brow of this declivity a shaft seventy feet deep was sunk years ago. It is said that the men worked in four feet of coal just before the caving of the
66 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
shaft stopped operations. Two miles west of the bend were the most important mines of the district, the Stockdale drifts (Webster Tp., Sec. 10, S. %). Openings have been made in both sides of the ravine through which the wagon road leads to the north. The thickness of the bed worked ranged from two to four feet, with an average of forty inches. Entries penetrated the hill for nearly half a mile, revealing a gentle dip to the west. The roof was seven feet of slate overlain by white sandstone. A sump seven feet deep failed to pass through the fire clay underlying the coal. At one time farmers came from long distances to procure this coal, but the entrance of considerable water into the mine caused operations to be discontinued about six years ago. Still farther down the river, near BelPs mill (Sec. 16, Sw. qr.), small openings have been made at various times. Nothing has been done here for several years.
Some prospecting was undertaken a short distance back from the river at several places north of the Stockdale mines and west of Silvers'. Since the results have never been made public, we have now only negative evidence derived from the fact that no shafts were sunk where the investigations were made.
The annual production of Hamilton has always been small. In 1862 it was 850 bushels; in 1880, 3,000 tons. In 1885 the total fell to 918 tons and has since shown a gradual decline.
Hardin County
Although Hardin lies on the eastern margin of the Iowa coal field, the superficial indurated rocks beneath two-thirds of its surface mav be classed as Coal Measures. The areas where Des Moines strata have not been identified form part of the northern townships and of the extreme southeastern comer of the county. Almost the only natural exposures of the Upper Carboniferous are along the Iowa river from Xenia to Steamboat Rock. At Eldora, ninety feet of Coal Measure rocks, chiefly sandstones, are exposed. The Des Moines does not possess great thickness in any part of the county. The elevation of its base is 950 feet above tide at Eldora and 970 at Steamboat Kock ; farther west this altitude probably decreases somewhat. Toward the west the elevation of the surface increases by 100 to 200
Hardin County 67
ieet, but a corresponding inci-ease in the depth to which the superficial deposits extend allows no increment in the thickness of the coal-bearing rocks. The average thickness of the drift is about 100 feet for the entire county and 150 feet or more for the western tier of townships. In several localities a maximum of 300 feet and more has been recorded.
Twenty-five years ago Hardin was a producer of coal ; now no mining of importance is being undertaken. In 1860 the tonnage was reported to be 262. In 1866 the production had increased to 30,000 bushels. The Census of Iowa for 1875 places the production at 7,193 tons and the U. S. Census of 1880 at 3,135 tons. A further decrease soon brought the total output to less than four figures and no recovery has since been evidenced.
Until the completion of the railroad south to Oskaloosa brought Hardin county coal into direct competition with the fields of southern Iowa, Eldora was the center of a flourishing mining industry. As many as four coal horizons have been recognized yet only one has been considered worthy of much development work. A drill record from section five of Eldora township shows this sequence of strata:
Feet. Inches.
Number 11 of this section is the base of a thick series of sandstones through which the Iowa river has hewn its way. The coal occurs in small pockets, five feet six inches thick at the maximum. The majority of the mines were situated in sections 5 and 6 of Eldora township and section 32 of Clay township. Where mined, the seam lies above the level of low water in the river, but a dip to the southeast carries it below the river in that direction.
k
68 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
An abundance of water forced attempts to follow the seam down the dip to be relinqnished at the river level, so that considerable thick coal was left as unworkable at the lower elevations. The coal was somewhat *soft," and contained much sulphur in the form of bands of iron pyrites. The bed thins rapidly to the west and disappears beneath the river on the east. No coal has been encountered in wells at Eldora on the south, although some is reported from the vicinity of the State Industrial School, one mile west of Eldora.
Well drillers report coal from various parts of the county, yet little reliance can be placed on their somewhat conflicting statements. No systematic search for coal has yet been undertaken. The fact that a good field was discovered on the line of the only notable Des Moines outcrop within the limits of the county leads one to infer that prospecting in the unexplored strata beneath the prairies might reveal other basins and pockets of importance.
Boone County
The coal bearing strata the Des Moines stage everywhere underlie Boone county to' a depth of between 400 and 500 feet below the highland level. In almost all cases, however, the upper hundred or two hundred feet penetrated in drilling from points on the plain consist of drift clays, sands, and gravels. Drillings at several points furnish data for an approximate determination of the depth of the Saint Louis limestone, or in other words, of the base of the (oal Measures, beneath the Des Moines valley region. The deep well at Boone penetrated 200 feet of drift and 260 of Des Moines strata; a drilling at Moingona reached the limestone about 200 feet below the level of the station at that village; a drilling at the Driscoll Brothers slope below Moingona encountered a clierty limestone at 125 feet beneath the river level. These determinations indicate that the base of the Coal Measures may be expected to be reached at an altitude approaching 700 feet above sea level. The usual variations in the level of the top of the limestone due to its very irregular surface must, however, be taken into consideration. Toward the east the limestone rapidly rises on the side of an anticlinal
Boone County
S
iM
Tl-u
'Am Hut*
i?r
'l.i.i
M'l
n
arch and comes to the surface a short distance beyond the Story county line. The strata found within 200 feet above the Saint Louis comprise the lower part of the Des Moines stage, and
therefore belong to the richest portion of the Iowa coal bearing rocks. Stratigraphically they correspond to the beds which include the coal seams of Polk county and the cotmtry to the southeast.
The Des Moines river has cut for itself a deep, narrow valley, bisecting the county from north to south and exposing along its course a magnificent geological section. The coal outcropping along the bluflfs soon attracted the attention of the first pioneers, so that mining began in this region during the early stages of settlement. Even in 1849 Owen noted that blacksmiths obtained their coal along Honey creek, and the building of a railroad into the district in 1866 gave AQM a great impetus to the coal industry. The production recorded in 1860 by the Eighth Census was 630 tons, value $1,200. In 1870 the output had increased to 42,143 tons. The State Census of 1875 shows only 955 tons, but the Tenth United States Census (1880) gives 140,000 as the figure and the Eleventh (1890) 174,392. Boone now ranks eighth among the counties of the state as a producer. According to the reports of this Survey, the tonnage for the past ten years has been as follows:
Hm
MBHvy WwBw
w
't '
tr.i'
L?
Im
! I
;i
ui
In
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ii
iKiM'l
'iS'rirf
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'.-.'ii'l ":i I
ti!
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Teab.
Tons.
Teab.
Tons.
During recent years the output suffered a slight decrease, but with the opening of new fields back from the river the outlook for the future is bright. The State Mine Inspectors ' report for the year ending June 30, 1908, is :
Number of tons of all kinds produced 218,491
Total number of employes 864
Number of mines 12
At $2.00 per ton, the value of this product at the mines becomes $436,982.
Several coal horizons were distinguished by Beyer in the Des Moines river valley as a result of his study of the outcrops of strata and of the mining being done in 1895. Only three coal horizons were known at that time and these are described as follows in the Geology of Boone county:*
first has an elevation of from fifty to seventy feet above the water in the Des Moines river and is the bed operated at the Knox and Porter slopes in the southern portion of the county, and the drifts along Honey creek in the central area. This horizon is usually overlain by a 'caprock* of hard, brittle, calcareous shale which contains in abundance the remains of a marine fauna— Bhynchonella, Discina and Productus are the more common genera represented.
second horizon occurs some fifty feet below the first and is the most persistent seam in the county. It is currently known as the upper vein," or black jack.'* The former name is in contradistinction to a lower vein which sometimes accompanies it ; the latter name is often applied to it on account of its semi -lustrous jet-black color and somewhat bony character. This seam is operated at the Blythe fDriscoll] mine and in the Moingona, Boonesboro, Milford and Fraser areas. It is usually provided with a good roof and carries its thickness well — two essentials to profitable mining. The roof shale often contains well preserved specimens of the genus Lingula.
Beyer, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. V, p. 218; Des Moines, 1896.
Boone County 61
The third horizon occurs from four to twelve feet below the second and is usually denominated the 'Mower vein.'* The distribution of coal in this seam is somewhat anomalous; the coal usually occurs in lens-shaped masses (pockets) of limited extent. The roof is fairly good, but often contains numerous septarian nodules and clay ironstone concretions, which render mining somewhat hazardous unless due precautions are observed. The product of this vein is much sought for furnace and domestic use and commands the highest market price. At the present time the production of this coal is almost wholly limited to the Boonesboro-Milford area."
Since the above was written mining operations have tended to show that the ''black jack vein,'' although the most persistent of any, is far from being continuous between the points at which the horizon has been recognized. In most other parts of the state, also, the most strongly marked coal horizons of the Des Moines stage contain workable coal only in basins of limited extent separated by areas in which the coal is thin or completely lacking. To the three horizons recognized by Beyer must now be added a fourth which lies between fifty and eighty feet below the level of the Milford-Boonesboro coal. It has been found at several points during prospecting operations, but as the parties interested are not yet ready to make public their discoveries, nothing very definite can be stated at this time. The Ogden mine, north of Ogden, has opened up this coal and it has been reported from the Milford and Moingona districts as well as from fields south of Fraser, south of Ogden, and near the Driscoll slope. Like the bird horizon, it possesses coal of good quality and is "pockety." It is not probable that any of the districts just mentioned are connected uninterruptedly by workable coal. Possibly the Scandia-High Bridge coal lies in this horizon.
The outlook for further discoveries of coal in Boone county is decidedly good. Drilling from the highlands, back from the river bluffs, has only recently been attempted in a determined manner and results have justified the effort. Goal is most likely to be found between depths of 200 and 300 feet below the upland ; above and below these levels it may occur, though not in the same abundance. Prospectors must expect to find no coal in many of their test holes, but a continued display of energy
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
should bring its reward. Detailed mention of the present state of onr knowledge in regard to various localities in the county, so far as it can now be made public, will be given in the following pages.
. yyy//
Figure 14. Map living location of principal mines in Boone county.
Des Moines Valley.
Fraser, For more than thirteen years the town of Fraser has been the center of an important mining industry which has only recently begun to show a decline. At present only one mine is in operation, but another will soon be ready for business and the output of the district may again reach an important figure.
Boone County 63
Mine No. 5 of the Boone Coal and Mining Company loads on the tracks of the Newton and Northwestern Railway, directly behind the Fraser depot, on the west side of the river (T. 85, E. 27, Sec. 34, Se. qr., Sw. 14). The equipment on top is modem and includes Canty self-dumping cages, tubular boilers and a geared, double hoisting engine. Two workable coal seams are found here. At the shaft the upper bed is thirty-eight feet below the surface, or about at the river level, but this elevation suffers changes of twelve feet or less because of the undulatory character of the seam. This upper coal varies in thickness between two feet six inches' and four feet, thickening usually in the swamps" and thinning to the rise.'' Sulphur balls" and *'dirt bands" are irregularly distributed through the coal and calcite occurs sparingly in thin films along cleavage faces. The floor of the seam is a sandstone from six to eight leet thick. The roof is a thin cap rock of variable thickness, overlain by black fissile shale. A thin **wild cat" seam, from one inch to one foot thick, is sometimes encountered fifteen feet above the heavier bed, but is as often lacking. At a distance of 400 yards from the bottom of the shaft a slope has been driven from the upper to the lower seam and cars are soon to be hauled up the incline by an electric motor. During the six years the mine has been under development, work has been carried back 3,800 feet from the river. The two seams are now yielding nearly equal amounts of coal, although the upper was opened and developed first. The distance separating the two may be as much as eighteen feet or as little as two inches, a difference due to the fact that the upper is undulatory and the lower is practically level. Where they are most widely separated, a two-foot bowlder," or clay-ironstone, roof overlies the lower seam. The . thickness of the lower bed is quite uniformly three feet six inches. It contains some of the best coal found in the mine. The underlying stratum is a fire clay. At the recently abandoned No. 3 mine of the same company, a half mile distant, the lower bed was not found.
The Boone Coal and Mining Company have recently done considerable prospecting in the Fraser district and as a result are now sinking a shaft southeast of No. 5, near the center of
64 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
section 2 of Yell township. A spur track is to be run up from Fraser. They have already worked out the coal beneath much of section 34 and the eastern part of section 33, Pilot Mound township. Prospecting has shown at least one workable bed under sections 1, 2 and 3 of Yell township, the eastern half of 4, and parts of 10. The seam probably underlies much of sections 11 and 12 and extends into sections 13, 14 and 15, the territory worked by the old Milford mine. Near Fraser, in Dodge township, seventy-five feet below the bottom lands, a bed has been found which is six feet thick in places and unworkable in others. The company reports that they have been unsuccessful in finding coal in any drill hole they have placed farther from the river than one and a half miles.
The following section illustrates the character of the strata in part of the Fraser field. Since the elevations of the heads of the bores differ greatly, the depths given for the thick coal are not uniform in the different records. Hole A was drilled from the upland, three-fourths mile west of mine No. 5. If the thick seam sought for had been present it would have been found at a depth of about 250 feet. Hole B, one-fourth mile east and the same distance south of mine No. 5, penetrated both beds that have been mined at Fraser. Hole C, put down not far from mine No. 3, penetrated only one thick coal. It may be observed from a study of the sections that several thin seams appear in some parts of the field and are absent in others.
Fraser Sections. Hole "A."
Feet. Inches.
16. Drift, gray, hard bands, sand and gravel 211
Boone County
Total 319
Hole "B."
Feet.
13. Drift, mixed gray and yellow clay 132
11. Shale, sandy, light-colored 1
7. Shale, sandy . light-colored 11
2. "Slate," black 10
Total '. 212
Hole "C."
Feet.
Total 152
Inches.
Inches.
66 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Milford. All important mining locality for a number of years was Milford, on the west side of the river, south of Fraser and west of Boone. A long coa I spur was run from Boone across the Des Moines to provide transportation for this field. Operations were continued until the district was considered worked out and was finally abandoned. Mining was done in an extravagant and wasteful manner in many cases, so that much coal is still left untouched and in such condition that it is worthless, Two coal beds were recognized in mining practice : a lower seam averaging three and one-half feet in thickness, and an upper ten feet and more above it. The latter seam was slightly thinner than the former, but was more uniform and persistent. The lower seam thickened and thinned with apparent irregularity. There was a third seam about forty feet below the "lower" coal. The "lower" seam is shown in the following section at the old Milford mine, the shaft of which, located at the base of the bluff, was 100 feet deep.
3. Shale, bituminous, with band at impure nodular Ironstone at base.
FIsure IS. Bottom of shaft. Milford mine. Bsonesboro.
Boonesboro. After the cessation of mining at Milford, the center of the coal industry of the Boone area was transferred to Boonesboro, on the opposite side of the river. A number of important mines have shipped coal from this district, yet recently there has been a falling oflF in the production of the field-. At present there are five shafts on the highland, all shipping mines with steam hoists and worked long wall. The two seam developed in the Milford district are present also on the east side of the Des Moines, although the "lower" is workable for
Boone County 67
only a short distance back from the river. Details of the strata at the various mines will be found below.
The shaft farthest east is that of the Rogers Coal Company (T. 84, B. 27, Sec. 24, Sw. qr., S. y2). It is 200 feet deep, reaching a bed uniformly three feet thick. Aside from a gradual dip to the south, the level of the seam varies only a few inches in different parts of the mine. Strips and bowlders ' ' of rock, predominantly sandstone, are found only occasionally in the seam. Entries have been run in all four of the cardinal directions and forty acres have already been mined out. The coal is underlain by fire clay and overlain by cap rock. '
A half mile northeast (Sec. 24, Ne. qr., Sw. %) is the oldest shaft in the county, No. 2 of the W. D. Johnson Coal Company. It has been operated almost continuously for more than fort - three years and by the present management for over thirty-eight. Much difficulty has been experienced with an underground fire which has been burning for ten years and has finally been brought under control by the construction of a solid brick wall around it. In the early days entries were driven rapidly away from the shaft and only the best coal was taken; now work is being carried back towards the shaft to obtain the coal formerly left. Rope haulage, which was necessary when the haul was longer, is not now in use. At present the coal mined is from three to three and a half feet in thickness, with a twoinch band of black jack at the base. This is the upper vein'; the lower'* was followed back from the river until it became too thin for profitable mining. The strata found in excavating the shaft are listed below, the lithological identifications having been made from small samples obtained by the foreman at the time of sinking.
W. D. Johnson Shaft.
Feet.
27. Clay, bluish, with considerjible grit 40
25. Shale, bluish, massive, dark below 9
24. Sandstone, light-colored, shaly 9
22. Shale, with iron-stone concretions 3
68 Goal Deposits Of Central Iowa
21. Sandstone, fine-grained, friable 12
16. Sandstone, whitish, argillaceous / 13
15. Sandstone, compact, somewhat coarse In texture 8
14. Shale, black, bituminous, fissile below 3
13. Fire clay and light-colored shale 9
10. Shale, dark, highly bituminous, brittle, compact 3
7. Coal, "upper vein" 4
5. Shale, with irregular iron-stone concretions 4
4.' 'iCoiil, "lower vein" 4
Totol 237%
Shaft No. 3 of the W. D. Johnson Coal Company (T. 84, B.
26, Sec. 19, Sw. qr., Ne. 14) was sunk seven years ago to avoid
the long hauls then being made to No. 2 shaft. The two mines
are connected underground, but both possess quarter-shafts
and may be ventilated independently. The upper vein" and
its overlying strata are the same at openings, except that
there are more bowlders" in the coal at No. 3 and a heavier
cover of drift. The bowlders" are bituminous sandstones,
very hard and compact and with a lime cement. They may be as much as twenty feet in length by four in diameter, and occur
usually in the top coal, next the roof. Mine No. 1 of the same
company was on lower land, near the river.
The Smiley and Heaps shaft is on the east side of the wagon
road, opposite the Johnson No. 3. It is 240 feet deep. The
company are working east, north, and south, one main entry
running east and the other northeast. The strata near the coal,
which is the upper vein," a few minor variations in
character and thickness on opposite sides of the shaft. The
small seam which is shown a foot above the upper vein" in
the Johnson shaft section, has increased to a thickness of ten
Boone County 69
inches on the north side of the shaft, although it is only six inches on the sonth side. The bed worked is three feet thick.
A bit over three-fourths mile soatheast (Tp. 84, R. 26, Sec. 30, Nw. qr., Sw. 14), the Eagle Coal Company is operating a shaft 230 feet deep. As shown in the accompanying figure, the strata near the coal differ but little from those found with the "upper vein" farther north.
Shale. blK, ADbly bitumtnbltumlno
UB, arslHii- I feet, averaging.
1. Shale (exposed). Figure 18. Section In Eagle shaft Boonesboro,
Where the seam is thin the coal is quite free from impurities, but wherever it thickens a two-inch band of black jack appears at its base and another occasionally finds a place in the top coal. The latter band is sometimes six inches thick, yet gives little trouble as it seldom persists continuously for more than fifteen feet horizontally. No "bowlders" are reported. The "lower vein" of the Johnson shaft section is present at this point as a fourteen-inch bed about eleven feet below the "upper vein." At from seven to seventeen feet above the latter is a thin coal between four and fourteen inches thick. It is not very persistent in this field. .
There are two local mines south of the Boone field proper and on lower land. The Black Diamond mine is a small shaft
70 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
located in a deep gulch on the east side of the river (T. 84, R. 27, Sec. 25,' Se. qr., Se. l). The shaft is forty-eight feet deep, the coal being a little above the river level at low water. The seam is two feet six inches thick, fairly uniform and level. The thin roof of rock," with a little black shale and a four-inch coal bed above it, preserves the characteristics of the upper vein" of the main Boonesboro area- Another seain one foot thick, twenty feet above the bed worked, also has its representative at thfe Eagle mine. In the bottom coal there is a streak of black jack about one and a half inches thick and at varying distances from the base of the coal seam. In mining long wall, the coal splits as it comes down, the bottom coal being ten inches thick and the top coal constituting the remainder of the seam.
On the west side of the river (T. 84, R. 27, Sec. 35), is the Pestotnik slope. It supplies a large country trade, as there is a good demand for this coal among the surrounding farmers. Mr. Pestotnik has just completed sinking a new shaft two miles northwest of Moingona (Marcy Tp., Sec. 2, Sw. qr., Nw. l), on what was formerly the main line of the Chicago and North Western Railroad. The shaft is ninety-five feet deep. Tracks are now being laid for a coal switch and hoisting machinery is being shipped.
Moingona. Many years ago Moingona was the seat of a flourishing mining industry and mines were turning out coal both at the town and also north and south of it, near the river. Today there are but two small mines open, aside from the new Pestotnik shaft already mentioned. At the junction of Wall and High streets in Moingona, is shaft, 104 feet deep, of the Big Five Coal Company. Coal is shipped, although hoisting is done by horse and gin and the output does not reach a large figure. The seam worked shows an average of thirty inches of coal. A little black jack is known, but the bed as a whole is a clean one. There is just sufficient fire clay beneath the seam to mine in. The clay is imderlain by about four feet of sandstone, that in turn by black slate," and the latter by the so-called 'Mower vein." Wlien present, the 'Mower" coal is variable in thickness and lies about twelve feet below the ''upper." It is not, however, at all persistent in this field. The
Boone County 71
"lower vein" is nndnlatory, while the "upper" is practically level.
Shale, bltuminouB.
Shale, , aren&ceouB. Coal. PI re clay.
Sandstone (exposed). FlBure IT. Vein at Big Five UolnKona.
One mile northwest of Moingona, beside the Chicago and North Western tracks, is the John Birmingham mine, now operated by the Coal Vall6y Coal Company. (T. 83, B. 27, Sec. 1, Sw. qr., Nw. Vi). The shaft, which is ninety-three feet deep, was simk several years ago, but development has taken place slowly. Coal is hoisted by steam power and shipped to points in Boone and neighboring cotmties. The strata present but slight differences from those at the Big Five mine, except, perhaps, that the seam contains a greater amount of black jack. Between this shaft and Moingona, the following section is exposed along the railway :
11. , eztenda about fifteen feet below the road bed GO
10. Sandstone, ahaly, alternating with sandy ahalea 12
8. Sandstone, both ahaly and compact , 4
4. Shale, containing terruKlnous concretlona and stems of
Lepldodendra 4
3. Shale, btue-black, containing Lingula umbotttUa Cox 2
Some deep prospecting hiis been done at Moingona, but detailed records could not be obtained. According to the best information procurable, the Mississippian limestone lies at a depth of about 200 feet below the level of the Moingona station. This places the base of the Coal Measures here at about 700 feet
72 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
A. T., as compared with 680 at Boone, and perhaps 720 seven miles down river at the DriscoU bank. A coal three feet six inches in thickness, about seventy-five feet below the seam now worked, is reported as struck in at least one hole.
Moingona to Madrid. Many years ago some important mines were opened along the river below Moingona in the same seams as were mined at that town. Nothing is being done in the district now. Still farther down the river, in the neighborhood of Bear and Peese creek, the Ledge sandstone, a massive arenaceous formation sometimes more than 100 feet thick, displaces the series of shales, thin sandstones, and coal beds which outcrops elsewhere along the Des Moines. This ancient channel is well shown in the geological section across Boone county already figured. Some distance below it, mines are often opened during the fall and winter for the local trade. One of the more important of these is the York bank on the east side of the stream; it was not in operation when the region was visited by the author. Two local coal banks had, however, been opened for the winter on the west side of the river and a brief description of the conditions at each of these may be taken as typical for the region.
The DriscoU* Brothers mine is at the base of a steep bluff about half way between Moingona and the Dallas county line (T. 82, R. 26, Sec. 5, Se. qr., Sw. l). Since the mouth of the slope is near the water level, it is necessary to raise the loaded cars 'along an inclined tramway from it to the top of the bluff, two hundred feet or more above the river. A small engine and boiler perform this duty. The coal is well exposed twenty feet above the river, then dips very rapidly down stream until the seam disappears beneath the water. At the present workings a slope 100 feet long reaches the coal below the water level where its average thickness is three feet. The bottom is solid arenaceous rock, the roof a firm blue slate." Old entries have taken coal from as far back as 700 feet from the face of the bluff. Below the slope mouth the strong dip down stream ceases, so that the bed may be traced in shallow test holes as a fairly-level seam for threefourths of a mile; it then appears to thin out and disappear. Above the slope the seam persists for 300 yards and perhaps more.
Boone County 73
DriscoU Brothers, boring from the level of low water near the entrance to their mine, encountered at a depth of 125 feet a cherty limestone which in all likelihood lies just below the base of the Coal Measures. A two-foot coal was found forty-six feet below the seam in their mine and also an eight-inch bed at greater depth; otherwise the test is remarkably barren. The detailed record follows:
FEET. INCHES. 22. Mud 1
9. Sandy shale and sandstone 6
6. Sandstone, dark, compact 12
3. "Slate," black 1 8
Total 125 5
TherWisecup bank is a mile below the DriscoU (Sec. 9, Sw. qr., Ne. %). It is a drift which has been driven into the bluff for 300 feet through an average of two feet of coal. Here, too, the loaded cars are hauled up an inclined tramway to the top of the bluffs by means of a pull rope, but in this case the motive power is furnished by two horses attached to a gin. The mouth of the drift is forty-five feet above the river. What appears to be a fairly persistent horizon is indicated at the DriscoU air shaft by a thin coal twenty-five feet above the bed mined at that point. Possibly the Wisecup coal may lie in this same horizon. In this drift, sandstone and sandy shale underlie the seam, while the
74 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
roof is a black slate" bearing below a thin layer of bluish shale containing sandy streaks and bands. The layer last mentioned is taken down with the coal in mining. The dip is to the west. A lower coal, which has not been opened near this point, appears at low-water level. At the old Knox bank, less than a mile below, a seam twenty-six inches thick has been drifted into at a height of about seventy feet above the river. Where it outcrops in the side of a ravine it has a good roof and bears coal of fair quality.
Some recent prospecting has been undertaken on the uplands on both sides of the river near Madrid. Workable coal is reported, but more tests must be made before the existence of a large field can be verified. A thick seam is reported from the vicinity of Luther, but this information is also somewhat vague.
Ogden.
A new field which will become one of the most important in the county has recently been opened by the Ogden Coal Company.* Their shaft is located two miles north of Ogden (T. 84, R. 27, Sec. 20, Nw. qr., Sw. y), and loads on a spur from the Minneapolis and Saint Louis railroad. The mine is not fully developed yet, but already turns out a large daily output which is shipped to the north and west. A large double hoisting engine is now in place and Goodman electric motors, mining machines, and automatic cages are planned for the near future. The seam has a height of from four to five feet, and dips slightly to the west. The coal is of excellent quality, being noticeably free from pyrites. Lenses of a compact, highly bituminous sandstone are occasionally found in the coal about four inches from the top of the bed, and a few clay-ironstone bowlders" of small size may be seen in the roof. The bottom is a fire clay one to three feet thick. Above the bed worked is an upper coal bed which is sometimes three feet thick and sometimes quite thin. The bed worked lies at a depth of 270 feet and is known to be of workable thickness under all of the 1,000 acres controlled by the company.
In sinking the city well at Ogden, the Ogden mine horizon was
since the above was written a controlling interest in the Ogden Coal Co. has been purchased by the Fort Dodge. Des Moines & Southern Ry." Co.
Boone County 75
penetrated at a point where there was apparently too little coal to warrant putting in a shaft. The section, as published many years ago in the reports of this survey, is:
Ogden Well.
Thickness Depth Of Sample Feet. Feet.
8. Soil and drift clays 108 108
7. Sand and gravel, water bearing 2 110
6. Shale, light-colored, sandy 7 117
5. Shale, black, with some coal at base 8 125
2. Shale and sandstone mixed 256
In Marcy township, not far south of Ogden, recent prospecting has proved a field two miles long from east to west by one and one-half miles north and south. A representative section from this territory follows:
Feet.
16. Shale, light-colored, sandy, with rock bands 13
Total 230
76 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Squaw Creek Valley.
At Zenorsville, near the eastern edge of the comity, mining was once carried on, but no coal has been taken out for a number of years. At the Hutchinson No. 1 shaft (T. 84, R. 25, Sec. 12, Se. qr., Nw. Vi), the section was as follows:
7. Shale, bltumlnoua, flsalle below 2
4. Sandstone, rather aott and triable 2
Total 112
Hutchinson shaft No. 2, located 300 yards northward, was on lower ground and only 105 feet in depth. At the base of the shaft were two coals, only one of which was worked. They are shown in the figure.
Shale, bituminous, flaalle. Coal, one to three feet.
Shale, bituminous.
8. Coal bed In Hutchinson mine No, 2. near Squaw creek. Zenorsville.
Story County 77
Angus.
Some large mines were once in operation in Boone county near Angus. Since the only mining being done in this district at present is just over the line in Greene, the various coals of the area will be discussed in the chapter on that county.
Story County
The Skunk river anticline brings the Missis sippian limestone to the surface in the west-central portion of Story county, along Skunk river and Squaw creek and the country between. From this area the strata dip rapidly in all directions. Coal Measures of the Des Moines stage underlie the drift of the entire eastern half of the county, of practically all of La Fayette, Palestine, Grant, and Union townships, of most of Howard, Milford and Washington, and of the north-central third of Franklin. Nowhere, nevertheless, do the coal bearing strata attain any great thickness. The upper surface of the Saint Louis limestone has been found at an elevation of 900 feet above the sea level at Story City, 738 at Nevada, and 700 at Maxwell and Collins. The difference between the altitude of the surface and that of the limestone can by no means be taken, however, as a measure of the thickness of the Des Moines ; for the drift commonly extends to a depth of 100 to 200 feet below the prairie level and proportionately less below the lowlands. For example, the drift is 101 feet in thickness at Nevada and the Des Moines 166 feet ; at Maxwell the latter is reduced to fifty feet at some points but attains at least 150 at others not far distant.
It will be seen that the Coal Measures, while attenuated in some localities, are often present in sufficient abundance to en-, courage search for coal. The greater part of the surface of the county is a prairie which yields no natural outcrops; yet, in spite of this, coal has been already located in many widely separated districts by means of borings and wells.- Indeed, the chief reason that Story is now producing no coal seems to rest more in the difficulties attending development work than in any lack of thick coals. Wherever miniag has been attempted, the roof has proved unsatisfactory, an eventuality very probable in a region of this type. The surface is so poorly drained that
78 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
large quantities of water sink beneath it and flow slowly through the heterogeneous drift deposits until from some deep-lying pockets of the latter they obtain entrance to all parts of the Coal Measures themselves. It is this water which is largely responsible for unsatisfactory characteristics of bottoms and roofs. There are, nevertheless, undoubtedly places in Story county where good coal will some day be found and where mining conditions will be excellent. Little prospecting has been done in the eastern and northeastern townships, both promising districts. The best results may be expected where the drift is thin, since in some parts of the county pre-glacial channels have cut so deeply into the indurated rocks as to largely destroy the value of what were once splendid coal basins.
The production of Story has never been noteworthy. The largest output was 12,000 tons in 1897, a tonnage which dropped to 7,885 in 1898, to 3,200 in 1900, and to 300 in 1901. Since 1902 almost no coal has been mined. Prospect records and other data may be found in the following pages. The report of Dr. S. W. Beyer on the Geology of Story County* has been of considerable assistance to the writer.
Summit. Early in 1893 a shaft was sunk at Summit (LaFayette Tp., Sec. 21, Sw. qr.) and mining operations were conducted for a number of years. Part of the product was shipped over a short spur from the Chicago & North Western railroad. Nothing has been done at this point for some time. The coal was only of fair quality, while the roof was very poor in places and water entered in inconvenient quantities. Trouble was always experienced from the tendency of the underlying fire clay to creep." The seam lies quite level and is uniform in thickness. In sinking the shaft no less than five coals were revealed.
Shaft At Summit.
Surface altitude about 1,050 feet A. T.
Thicknkss In Depth In Feet. Feet.
19. Clay, yellow, gravelly 20 23
♦Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, pp. 155-245; Des Moines, 1899.
Story Coujsty 79
12. Coal "blossom" 1-3 99 1-3
9. Fire clay, bluish 11 111 2-3
7. Fire clay '. : . . . 7% 119%
3. Shale, blue ..'... 6 134%
A well record from this vicinity shows the following sequence, including still another coal, below number 2 of the above record.
Feet.
Fire clay 3
Fire clay , 18
Coal 1
Fire clay 38
Shale, black 5
The Summit coal is, according to Beyer, an eastward extension of the Sugar creek basin near Zenorsville, Boone county. The altitudes and stratigraphic relationships of the two basins closely correspond. The seam worked has been reported to extend at least one mile east of the shaft, but its range toward the northeast is known to be limited. Prospecting east and south of Story City failed to locate promising coal horizons.
McCallshurg. Two miles south of McGallsburg two local mines were at one time established to supply winter trade. The seam worked was only eighteen inches in thickness, yet mining conditions were suflSciently favorable to maintain a profit. A three-foot coal is said to lie seventy-five feet below the upper seam and this report, if verified, may lead to future development.
Cambridge. In section 10 of Union township, northeast of Cambridge, a six-foot coal bed was claimed and a shaft was sunk. The latter filled with water, and positive data in regard to the
80 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
coaJ are now difBcult to obtain. Considerable prospecting has been done in and near the valley of Skunk river between Cambridge and Ames, with variable success. One or two coals were penetrated in each hole, yet usually these were under two feet in thickness. Where more promising seams were discovered they conamonly thinned rapidly in all directions; yet the presence of numel-ous coal horizons seems so firmly established that the outlook for the future is far from discouraging. The following records of holes drilled by J. A. McElhaney, of Lovilia, give a fair idea of the stratigraphy of the district.
Hole "A."
Grant Tp., Sec. 30, Nw. qr.
Feet.
Total 134H
Hole "B."
Grant Tp., Sec. 18, Ne. qr.. Nw. %.
Feet.
Total 151%
Story County Si
Hol.E "C."
Grant Tp., Sec. 17, Sw. qr., Ne. %.
J-Ebt. Inches.
Total 148 T
Hole "D."
Union Tp., Sec. 6, Ne. qr.
Feet.
Total 136
Maxwell, The town of Maxwell recently drilled five holes on either side of Indian creek. Some coal was found in each drilling, but the cover over the thicker coal was not considered sufficiently good to warrant sinking a shaft. The drill logs of two of the holes are showli below.
82 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Hole "A."
Tp. 82. R. 22, Sec. 28. Ne. qr., Sw. %.
5.' "Slate" 30H
Total 152H
HOLE "B." Tp. 82, R. 22, Sec. 27,' Sw. qr.
Feet.
10. Sandstone, and "keel" 10
Total 139%
Eighty roda east of hole the heavy seam is represented by three feet of coal which, however, is separated from the overlying drift by only two feet of slate'* and is therefore unworkable at that point. Eighty rods south of hole ''B,*' the drill apparently penetrated an old channel from which the coal had been removed. South of hole ''A" (Sec. 33, Nw. qr., S. 1/2), only six inches of coal was shown. In all five prospects the driller reported limestone at a depth of approximately 150 feet. If his identifications are correct, the surface of the Saint Louis lies at about 700 feet A. T. and the thickness of Coal Measures beneath the drift is in places as little as fifty feet.
Marshall County 83
A well near the clay pit of the Maxwell Brick and Tile Works, one mile east of Maxwell, passed through six feet of soil and drift and 142 feet of Des Moines strata, including three coal blossoms" less than one foot in thickness. Although the coal found at Maxwell lies at nearly the same level as that mined at Enterprise, in Polk county, it undoubtedly represents a lower horizon.
Collins. Three miles south of Collins (Collins Tp., Sec. 34, Sw. qr., Ne. l), a shaft was sunk in the bottom land along Wolf creek. The coal taken out had a ready sale. The seam is known to extend some distance east and south of the shaft, but the roof is not dependable. The sequence of strata at the shaft is about as follows : '
4. Coal Measure shales and clays 60
Total 142%
Marshall County
Marshall lies on the eastern border of the Coal Measure area of Iowa. Des Moines strata underlie the whole of the western half of the county with the exception of small areas at and southwest of Liscomb and above Marietta. The Des Moines also occupies all of Iowa and Jefferson townships and the divides of the western half of Timber Creek township. The youngest indurated rocks of the remainder of the county have been classified with the Kinderhook stage of the Mississippian series. On its eastern margin the Des Moines is extremely attenuated, while farther back towards the west outcrops are few and the drift on the uplands possesses an average thickness of about 200 feet. It is, perhaps, due to this concealment of the coal-bearing strata that so little coal has been found along the western border of the county. The great thickness of the drift which must be pierced in order to reach a comparatively thin series of Coal Measures renders prospecting precarious. For
/
M Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
a full discussion of the general geology of the county the reader is referred to Beyer'.
Practically the only place where mining has been carried on is near Mormon Ridge, three miles northwest of Albion (Tp. 85, R. 19, Sec. 34, Sw. qr., Se. y). A shaft fifty feet deep was sunk through the following sequence of strata:
Sbale, dark-colored, flulle.
Coal.
Fire clay.
in Rtdse mine, near Albion.
Only a few feet of shale intervened between the coal and a stratum of water-bearing sand, so that work was abandoned after not more fhan 100 tons of coal had been excavated. Later another company endeavored to reopen the mine, but water again interfered with progress. Nothing has been done here for a long period. A quarter of a mile north of this shaft, on the north side of Mormon Ridge, some coal was taken out many years ago. A drilling one mile northwest of the Mormon Ridge shaft (Sec. 28, Sw. qr., Sw. V4) penetrated at a depth of 118 feet a bed of black shale with some coal. The seam was reported to be several feet in thickness and to be underlain with a thin stratum of fire clay.
At one time a was sunk on Minerva creek, five miles west of Bangor (Liberty Tp., Sec. 9, Se. qr., Se. Vi). Just how much coal has been found here is not now definitely known. Traces of coal have been encountered in wells at various points in the western part of the county. Coal basins of local importance will undoubtedly be located in the future, but Marshall will never rank among the chief coal counties as a producer.
'Icotogy of MaTshall Coitnty, Iowa GeoL Surv.. Vol. VII. pp. 193.262: Des Moln*s,
Dallas County 85
Dallas County
With the exception of a small area in the southwestern comer of the county, the indurated rocks which outcrop immediately below the loose surface cover of soil and drift belong to the Des Moines stage, the lower and more productive member of the Coal Measures of Iowa. In the southern half of Union township and the southwestern quarter of Adams, the Des Moines strata are covered by those of the Missouri, the upper member of the Coal Measures, which, however, is so thin that Bear creek and most of its tributaries have cut through it so as to expose the underlying Des Moines in the bottoms of their valleys. Few coal beds have been found in the Missouri rocks and those that do occur are thin; but workable seams are plentiful in the Des Moines; Unfortunately for Dallas, a large part of the county is a high, level plain upon which there are no exposures of the solid strata ; while those rocks which are to be seen in the valleys of the Des Moines river and the Raccoon and its main branches, belong to an upper section of the Des Moines which apparently contains few thick coals. Strata lower down should, however, contain coal basins at many points. Very little deep prospecting has been undertaken, yet that which has been done has in most cases yielded good results. At Van Meter and southwest of De Soto, deep coals are known to be present; while others are now being exploited in the valley of the Des Moines. The fact that a few tests holes reveal no coal should not discourage the prospector; for undoubtedly the lower seams in this county lie in basins of rather limited extent, as they do in other parts of the state, and not in beds which are continuous over whole townships or even over many sections. The future of the coal industry in Dallas lies in the hands of those who are willing to risk considerable capital in systematic prospecting.
The depth to which it would be necessary to go in order to reach the bottom of the Coal Measures varies considerably at different points. The depth is definitely known at only a few places, but may be closely estimated at others. In the valley of the Raccoon, two miles west of Conamerce, the St. Louis has been found at a depth of 250 feet or at about 600 above tide. At Van Meter, the lower coal mined lies at an altitude of 590 A. T., making the base of the Coal Measures at least 430 feet
86 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
below the adjacent highlands. Near De Soto, a well 321 feet deep failed to penetrate the Saint Louis. At Redfield the Saint Louis limestone was reached at about 300 feet, or at an altitude of a little more than 60Q feet A. T. North of Dexter, on the South Racoon, 175 feet of Coal Measures and twenty-five of drift overlie the Mississippian. In the northeastern comer of the county coal is mined at a depth of 220 feet from a shaft situated well down in the deep valley of the Des Moines river. The thickness of the Coal Measures under the highland farther west must be at least 350 feet and is probably much more.
Dallas has never ranked as one of the leading producers of the state, but the recent developments in the Des Moines valley have caused a decided increase in its production. A still greater output may be expected in the immediate future, even though no new mines are started. In earlier years the tonnage showed considerable fluctuations. The state census of 1862 reported only 170 bushels mined in the county, but this had increased to 1,700 in 1865 and to 13,200 tons in 1880. The output increased more or less steadily until 1889, one of the banner years, for which the Eleventh United States Census reports 67,055 tons at a value of $111,472. The tonnage did not remain long at this figure, however, for in 1893 it had declined to 33,800 tons and later years witnessed a still greater fall. The statistics for the last ten years are given below; those from 1898 to 1902 are from reports of the Iowa Geological Survey, from 1902 to 1907 from those of the U. S. Geological Survey.
Teas. Tons. Tear. Tons.
Though the figures given for 1905 and 1906 are probably too low, a great contrast between 1906 and 1907 is nevertheless an actuality. That the activity of the industry has continued is evident from the following extracts from the report of the State Mine Inspectors for the year ending June 30, 1908 :
Number of mines 3
Tons of coal of all grades produced 108,700
Total number of employes 277
Dallas County 87
A number of small local mines which spring up in the winter months are not included in the above enumeration, but it is not probable that their total output now exceeds three thousand tons. Two of the three mines listed are near the Des Moines river; the third is a smaller mine west of Dawson. A small local mine was in operation on Panther creek during the early fall of 1907 and a few others were worked for short periods during the winter and late autumn. In the detailed discussion which follows the author has drawn freely upon previous reports of this Survey*.
Map BtiowinB shipping mines of Dallas county. DES MOINES VALLEY. It has been known for a number of years that there are at least four thin beds of coal, two and a half feet or less in thickness, in the northeastern comer of the county, where the Des Moines river has cut for itself a deep valley through the drift and indurated rocks. Two of the seams outcrop above the water level and one. is especially well shown in an exposure on the west side of the valley, just above High Bridge (Figure 21).
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Shale, -colored with sandy concretiona, becoming bituminoiu betow.
old Prllchard d
The third seam, and to a less extent the fourth, were opened by shallow shafts and worked on the longwall method to supply a purely local demand. In spite of the fact that attention had been called by this Survey to the discovery of a four foot eoal bed at greater depth than that to which prospecting was usually carried, no attempt was made to develop it until quite recently. The coal horizons in the strata near the present Scandia mine were published in 1897* and ain in 1898t as follows:
16 feet 40 feel
Thickness.
2 feet
I feet
Coals 3 and 4 of this list were worked at the old Chestnut Valley mine (T. 81, E. 26, vSec. 14, Nw. qr., Nw. Va) "util the Scandia Coal Company was organized to sink to the lower seam in the same neighborhood. Afterward the High Bridge Coal Company sank farther down the river and. the outlook for new mines in the near future is very bright.
Iowa r.pol. Surv.. Vol. VII. p, J24 ; Des Moines.
Dallas County 89
The shaft of the Scandia Coal Company, 166 feet deep, is situated near the middle point of the south line of section eleven, Des Moines township, on the west side of the river. A spur track has been laid to the mine from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railroad, a half mile to the north. Although development was not begun until the sunnner of 1906, a large daily output is now (1907) being shipped and sold to the local trade. The hoisting engine is of the double, direct-connected type with 14x30 cylinders and with a four-foot drum. There are two tubular boilers, one 16 ft. x 60 in., of 80 horsepower, and the other 16 ft. by 66 in., of 100 horsepower. It was the original intention to use electric mining machines and a dynamo was purchased for that purpose, but so far the plan has not been put into operation. The coal remains fairly constant at a thickness of three feet eight inches and lies fairly level at an altitude of about 700 A. T. Sometimes rolls in the roof cut out all the coal, but more often these interfere with only the upper foot or two of the seam. The company owns the coal rights of 1,400 acres of land in a basin which is elongated from the northeast to the southwest but the extent of which is not known. It is possible that another shaft may be sunk by the company on the opposite side of the river near the tracks of the Boone branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad. A drilling done in that locality (Se. qr. of Sec. 12) penetrated at least three coal horizons at a considerable depth. The upper coal, as reported by the company, is sixteen inches thick, with a three foot seam forty-six feet below it and a five inch blossom" lower down. Between the two lower horizons is a compact sandstone twenty feet thick.
Farther down the river than the Scandia mine, at High Bridge on the east bank, the High Bridge Coal Company sank a shaft 220 feet during the summer of 1907. In September of that year they had driven entries only 300 feet, but were rapidly pushing the development of the mine and preparing to install an equipment capable of handling the large output which they expect to ship over the Boone branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad. The company has leased a large territory and believes most of it to be underlain with workable
90 COAL DEPOSnS OF CENTEAL IOWA
coal. As far as opened up the vein has proved to be about four feet thick and without noticeable dip. Sandstones and sandy shales are very common in the drill records and as. many as three thin coals are sometimes found above the thick seam. Whether the latter belongs to the same coal horizon as the seam worked at the Scandia is not determinable from the data now available, yet the probabilities point strongly to such a connection.
North Raccoon Valley.
Dawson. Dawson was for a short time the center of a fairly active mining industry'. Shafts were sunk on all sides of the town, to continue in operation, however, ne great length of time. Six coal horizons have been reported; yet only three are generally recognized as workable. Two of the latter were shown in the old shaft of the Chicago Coal Company, one-half mile east of Dawson.
Dawson Section.
8. "Slate." gray 2 6
B. Sandstone 8
3. "Slate." black, oily 13
Number 2 was the bed worked at this point and also at the old Tudor shaft at the foot of the bluff north of Dawson. This coal
Shale, bitumlnouB.
Dallas County 91
did not prove suitable for a locomotive fuel because of a tendency to clinker, due probably to the iron pyrites included in the seam. Forty-five feet below number 2 is a coal bed which varies in thickness from three and a half to four feet. On the Dixon farm, two miles south of Dawson, the strata found in a shaft from which a little coal was taken are reported to be as follows :
Feet. Inches.
3/ Shale and "slate" ; 38
I. Pire clay 10+
The shaft was imf fortunately situated, reaching the coal near the top of a ''rise" on the edge of the basin. Toward the southeast, the direction of a strong dip, the bed thickened gradually up to the point at which work was abandoned.
A sjiort distance west of Dawson the two upper seams become slightly thinner than at the Dawsoii shaft and the other strata undergo a few changes, as shown in the following drill record (Dallas Tp., Sec. 9, Ne. qr., Se. l).
FEET. INCHES. 12. Soil 3 9
II. Clay, yellow 14 ' 6
Total 126
The only mining done at present in northwestern Dallas county is by the Hutchinson Brothers Coal Company, one and a fourth miles west of Dawson (Dallas Tp., Sec. 8, Ne. qr.). Coal is elevated 110 feet by steam power from a sean three feet to three feet six inches thick. The company controls 204 acres on the north side of the railroad. In the summer months only suf-
92 Coal Depositb Of Central Iowa
ficient work is done to keep the mine in good condition, bnt in the winter a fairly large local trade is supplied and some coal is hauled to Dawson to be loaded for shipment. The seam is extremely nndulatory, differences in level of twenty feet or more occurring at points not greatly distant from one another. Where coal is now being excavated, only a few irregularities are found in the roof and coal; though on the "rises" at what are supposed to be the edges of the basin, "rolls" in the roof and other "troubles" become more numerous. It is probable that this seam is the representative of the "second vein" at Dawson.
Minbum. Three miles southwest of Minburn, in section 24 of Washington township, a seam outcrops about fifty feet above the Raccoon, in the valley of a small tributary. The coal has a dip to the east and lies in two benches separated by a foot of fire clay, the upper bench varying from eighteen to twenty-four inches and the lower from twelve to thirteen inches in thickness. A roof of firm shale covers a coal of good quality, but attempts to mine it have been of a desultory character only.
Adel. Three miles north and a little west of Adel, a thin bed of coal, eighteen inches thick, outcrops in a small creek which crosses the Chaney farm (Colfax Tp., See. 12, Se. qr.). For many years this seam has been drifted into and mined intermittently. At the present time a little coal is obtained by stripping for the winter use of one or two families. East of the Chaney farm this bed again outcrops as a coal seventeen inches thick. Near this point well drillers report having penetrated a thicker seam sixty-six feet below this horizon. They were unable to determine its exact thickness, however.
Figure 23. Section iit Clianey drift Three miles north of Adel.
Dallas County 93
A company has been formed to search for coal near Adel and several test holes have been drilled. Up to date, results have not been of an encouraging nature.
Middle Raccoon Valley.
Redfield. In following the valley of the Middle Eaccoon from the Guthrie county line to Redfield, the vestiges of numerous abandoned drifts may be seen in the slopes bordering the river and its tributary creeks. Several coals outcrop above the water level in this territory, but nothing has been found which exceeds two feet in thickness and many of the seams in which development has been attempted can scarcely be said to have returned a fair reward for the labor expended upon them. Little has been done during recent years and no coal was being taken out when the region was visited during the early autumn of 1907.
The Keeler and Topping banks have at one time and another taken coal from a tripartite seam about two miles south of Linden (Linn Tp., Sec. 31, Ne. qr.). The three benches, which together yield only eighteen inches of coal, are shown with the roof and bottom in the section given below.
Feet. Inches.
2. Coal, 8, 4 and 6 inches, separated by thin clay partings 1 11
Figure 24. Clay seams in Topping mine, south of Linden.
Less than a mile down stream, two seams are known, one about ten feet above the level of the river and the other sixtyfive feet higher. The upper bed is the thicker, being twenty inches at its best, so that most of the mining done here has been in this seam. Still farther down the river, a small creek empties into it from the north in the eastern portion of section 32, Linn township. An eigliteen-inch bed which is perhaps the
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
equivalent of one of the coals mentioned has been drifted into from the valley of this tributary and the following section has been measured at one of the old mines :
Feet. Inches.
Along the valley of the Middle Raccoon between this point and Kedfield and in that of Mosquito creek just above its junction with the Raccoon, thin veins similar to those mentioned above have been drifted into in the past and a few may be opened up in the future to supply a very local demand during the winter months. They are hardly worthy of detailed mention. Some drilling of rather a crude character has been attempted north and west of Bedfield. North of the town a fourfoot bed was reported and west of it one twenty-seven inches thick, overlain by eighteen inches of black jack. These reports need verification and amplification; though the discovery of good coal basins in this county would imdoubtedly follow deep prospecting pursued on a large scale.
South of Redfleld, in a opposilie the picnic grounds, a massive sandstone forms a steep escarpment known as "Hang-
Febt. Ihcsbs-
Drift ,
Sandstone, massive, rather finegrained, buff to dark brown In color 50
Shales, ash color to drab, somewhat sandy la places.' 10
Coal 2
CUr, drab color, foBslllferous
Coal 1
Shale, somewhat Bandy, drab. In places carbonaceous, exposed.. 5 Hanging Rock" section. Redlleld.
Dallas County 96
ing Rock." Twelve feet lower is a three-foot bed from which coal has been taken in the past by slopes, drifts and shafts. The section at this point is shown in figure 25. The seiun is separated into two and sometimes three benches by .thin argillaceous partings. One of these partings is one inch thick and always present, while the other is one-fourth inch thick and appears only occasionally. The seam has an imreliable clay roof in places. Traces of a coal seam of unknown thickness are said to have been found here at greater depths. The old Leeper mine n4ar Kedfield had a shaft sixty-five feet deep which was operated more than twenty years. The characteristics of the seam at that point are shown in the following figure.
FEET. mCHBS.
Figure £6. Bed of old Leeper mine, Redneld.
SOUTH RACCOON VAIiET.
Union Township. As along the Middle Raccoon, small mines have intermittently taken coal from thin veins at various points along the South Raccoon. Considerable coal has been removed on both sides of the river in section 12, Union township. On the land belonging to E. "Woods, drifting into a twenty-inch seam had been bun as long as twenty-five years ago, and the old Dawson drift employed at times as many as sixteen men. Nothing has been done here during the last three years. On the opposite side of the river (Sec. 12, Ne. qp., Nw. V4) Oliver Cave's mine has supplied a considerable country trade for ten years or
96 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
more. The seam is the same as on the south side of the river, and the thickness is from fourteen to twenty inches. A shaft which was sunk here at one time furnished the following section :
Feet. Inches.
8. Limestone, blue, compact 1
6. Limestone, blue, fossiliferous 10
5. Shale, black, bituminous; "black Jack" 8
This shaft is no longer used but coal was removed by means of drifts during the winter of 1906-1907 and some of these may be reopened for winter trade. The coal thins to the south and west until it disappears altogether within a distance of a mile. To the southeast it thickens and dips so rapidly as to be carried below the river a short distance from Cave's mine. Attempts to work it beyond this have been frustrated by the amount of water which entered the seam.
Panther Creek. The only mine being worked in the southwestern part of the county in September, 1 907, was the Thomas Bott bank on Panther creek, about two miles and a half above its mouth. The mine is a drift which has been driven into the hill about 300 feet through two feet to two feet ten inches of coal. Since the opening is in the bottom of a deep, steep-sided ravine, much difficulty is experienced in hauling the coal to the level of the surrounding country. One digger and two wheelers are employed in the fall and about seven men in the winter. During the remainder of the year the mine is closed. The seam dips to the south and thins to the north. Above is a good roof of a verv fossiliferous shalv limestone which when fresh is hard and firm. An eighteen-inch coal is reported above the one worked, though the surface indications are a mere blossom."
Bulger Creek. A little drifting for coal has been done on the lower part of Bulger creek. The seams are very thin and nothing has been taken from them for a long time. An interesting record is that given below of a deep well drilled one mile south-
Dallas County 97
west of De Soto in section 25, Adams township. At a depth of 321 feet the base of the Coal Measures had not been reached. Four seams of coal were penetrated, one foot at a depth of 98 feet, two feet at 239 feet, eighteen inches at 255 and three feet at
De Soto Section.
Feet.
79. Clays and shales, red and yellow 7
72. Shale, with marly partings 3
69. Limestone, coarse grained 1
68. Shale, with marly partings 4
63. Calcareous rock, hard, gray 4
61. Shales and clays, red and blue 10
57. Shale, with thin layers of rock 5
43. "Rock," hard, white : 19
98 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
37. "Rock," hard, light-colored 4
Raccoon Valley.
Van Meter, Below the junction of the north and south branches of the Raccoon river, abandoned drifts with their accompanying dumps may be seen at several points, but none of these have been used for a long time and the seams are in all
Polk County 99
eases very thin. The bluffs near Van Meter were the field of operations for most of the attempts to obtain fuel. Van Meter is best known for its deeper coals, however, for it was at this town that the only shipping mine in the southern half of Dallas county produced coal for many years. A shaft was sunk in the western portion of the town from a surface altitude of 878 feet A. T. to a depth of 305 feet. At the bottom of the shaft is the three-foot bed shown in figure 27. This coal was worked out at this point before being abandoned. Twenty feet higher is the middle seam, to which work was chiefly confined, the bed ranging from eighteen inches to four feet in thickness, with an average of three feet. Overlying the middle seam is from three to eight feet of fire clay which was taken out and used in the manufacture of brick. Above the clay is a thin coal, eighteen inches thick at its maximum, and thinning out entirely in places. No coal has been mined here in recent years.
Figure IT. Bed of Van Meter and Chicago mine, Van Meter. rOLH COUNTY
The fact that the Des Moines river, which crosses Polk county, had cut' down through the overlying mantle of drift and exposed Coal Measures beneath, led to the discovery at an early date of coal by explorers ascending that stream, while the establishment of an army post and the growth of a large city at the mouth of the Raccoon encouraged attempts to mine the seams exposed.
Summaries of the early history of the coal industry, which was largely confined to the neighborhood of Des Moines, will
100 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
be found in previous reports of the present Survey.* Today the larger mines have withdrawn to new fields farther from the city, yet all are contained within an ellipse bounded by a line passing through Ankeny, Commerce, Fort Des Moines, Avon, Altoona, and Enterprise. With the exception of the Commerce and Avon shafts, and those near Des Moines which supply the city trade, all the mines have railroad connections and ship much coal to the west and north. The equipments both above and below ground are in general very good and all but the Avon Coal Company employ steam power for hoisting. Underground haulage is in most cases by mules, though some of the larger mines have tail-rope or motor systems in the main entries. Blasting from the solid is the common practice; the room and pillar method of working is in use at all except the Commerce mine. Mining machines do not seem to be very popular, though there is seldom anything in the nature of the coal to prevent their use. The quality of the coal differs but little from the average for the Iowa field. Block coals are imcommon, but comparatively little slack is produced and what there is finds a ready market in the city as a boiler fuel.
The growth of the industry has been steady and consistent, increasing from 600 tons in 1856 to 1,358,397 tons in the fiscal year 1907-1908. The number of mines has not increased so rapidly, however, for the tendency has been toward a concentration of capital and effort at a few points and the suppression of small banks through the competition of large mines. An illustration of this tendency is furnished by the fact that in 1908 thirty-three mines were producing four times as much as did twenty-three in 1895.
In the following table the statistics for the years 1856-74 are taken from state and federal census reports, for 1881-95 from the reports of the State Mine Inspectors and from 1896-1907 from the reports of the Iowa Geological Survey and the United States Geological Survey.
Keyes: Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 267; Des Moines, 1894. Bain: idem. Vol. VII, p. 352. 1897.
Polk County
Tornaoe.
Teab.
Tonnage.
The following figures from the report of the State Mine Inspectors are for the year ending June 30, 1908 :
Tons of coal of all kinds produced 1,368,097
Total number of employes : 3,249
Taking the average price per ton as $1.73 at the mines, the value of the product for the fiscal year 1908 becomes $2,332,508. This represents a slight decline from the previous year due to the abandoning of a number of mines, but shafts have been sunk in new fields and the output will certainly increase in the future as it has in the past. For over ten years Polk has ranked second among the counties of the state, producing during recent years nearly 20 per cent of the total. In round numbers, about 22,000,000 tons have been mined in this county and nearly 7,000 acres have been ''mined out/* In spite of this, however, the possibilities of the region are as yet scarcely realized.
The following description of the present status of the industry is from data gathered during the summer of 1908. The mining districts are somewhat arbitrarily grouped along the drainage lines and on the high divides and the situation of most of the mines is shown on the accompanying maps.
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Polk County 103
- Des Moines River Valley Above The Raccoon Fork.
Polk City. Between High Bridge and the immediate vicinity of Des Moines little mining of importance has been done near the Des Moines river. At one time coal was taken from a depth of 238 feet at Polk City by a shipping mine with a good equipment. There were three and one-half feet of coal in two benches separated by an eight-inch band of calcareous shale, but as the basin proved to be of limited extent nothing has been done there in recent years. In an effort to locate more coal in a place so favorably situated as regards market and shipping facilities, several companies prospected in the district. Always an exceptionally large number of thin seams were found, but none of workable thickness have been reported. About a mile north and northeast of the town, several drillings penetrated as many as seven coal beds. Unfortunately the thickest of these was a twenty-two inch seam. Another company drilled a hole 325 feet deep near Polk City and encountered ten seams, the thickest only nineteen inches. A third company tried a deep prospect southeast of Polk City Junction (Lincoln Tp., Sec. 30, Sw. qr., Sw. /4). They record the following strata beneath the upland level :
Feet. Inches.
104 Coal Deposits Of. Central Iowa
10. Shale, dark, "slate" 4
r
Total 300 2
Another prospect northwest of Polk City, in the valley of Big creek (Sw. qr., Sec. 26, Madison Tp.) brings to light several other thin coals :
Uset. Inches.
Polk County 106
I. Light shale 9 2
Total 190 3
These two records show that frequent, though slight, oscillations of the level of the land relative to that of the sea prevailed in this district during Des Moines time. Conditions were often favorable for the formation of coal-producing swamps, yet did not remain so sufficiently long to yield deposits which would become of economic value.
Near Andrews, on the west side of the Des Moines river, the appended drill log of a hole in the southeast comer of the Jas. Stoner land again shows several coals. They are somewhat thicker than those found near Polk City. Four other drillings in this vicinity showed the variations of strata usual in the Des Moines stage; but no thicker coals were found. Prospecting farther back from the river might give better results.
Feet. Inchb8.
106 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Total 249
North Des Moines District. Between Polk City arid the corporation limits of the city of Des Moines mining has been confined to thin veins opened at a few places by drifts and slopes in the lowlands. Old Saylor may appear to form an exception to this statement, but it lies well back from the river on the! edge of the upland and will be discussed later..
A mile and a half below the mouth of Beaver creek is the shaft of the West Riverside Coal Company. It lies at the foot of the bluffs near the corporation line and ships over the Perry and Des Moines Electric railway, beside whose tracks it is situated. About fifty feet down in the shaft is a fifteen-inch seam, still lower is one twelve inches thick, while at a deplii of 160 feet lies the bed worked. This latter. seam is known as the third vein," and varies in thickness from three feet six inches to five feet. The coal shoots well off the solid, contains comparatively little pyrites, and only infrequent bowlders.'- While irregularities and impurities are uncommon in the coal itself, small slips," running down to the coal, appear in' the thick black shale slate") which forms the roof. The development of this, mine has extended over a period of only three years and at present only a small engine is utilized for hoisting. The elevation of the seam worked is about 660 feet A. T., but varies considerablv because of undulations.
One-half mile south, beside the* tracks 'of the same electric railroad, is a mine of the Blount-Evans Coal Company. The shaft is 135 feet deep. The seam worked lies slightly higher here than at the West Eiverside and presents somewhat different characters, vet there is little doubt that the coal of one mine is identical with that of the other. It varies in thickness from three feet to four feet six inches, and cannot be successfully shot from the solid by hand labor, as it breaks down into dust and fine fragments when such a method is employed. With the
Polk County 107
use of mining machines, however, the yield of Imnp is as high as ninety per cent. During the winter of 1906-07 three Ingersoll punching machines, driven by compressed air, were in operation. The freedom of the coal from impurities allowed them to do good work, so that it is the intention of the operators to install two more. After the holes are drilled two and a half feet deep, a very small charge of explosive is sufficient to bring down the coal. Ventilation is effected by means of a twelve-foot fan and hoisting by a double engine driven by steam from one boiler of eighty horsepower. A second boiler will shortly be put in position. Above the coal is a considerable thickness of the good roofing slate" common to the district. Little difficulty is experienced in supporting it, even where it becomes quite sandy next the coal, as it does in places. A so-called second vein" was found about 110 feet down in the shaft, where it is not sufficiently thick to be of importance. The ''first vein" is present, but is also thin.
The Madison Coal Company has a mine at Twenty-third street and Hickman avenue, one mile-south of the Blount-Evans, in the valley of a short tributary of the Des Moines river. About forty acres have already been worked out. At 165 feet the coal, which is at an elevation of 655 feet A. T., is reached, and although this bed is nearly twenty-five feet lower here than at the Blount-Evans, it is considered with reason that the horizon remains the same. The thickness worked remains quite constant at a little over four feet, except on the south where the coal thins to a few inches along an east and west line. The decrease takes place at some points with surprising suddenness,, the normal thickness being reduced to practically nothing within a distance of eight or ten feet. Whether the ''fault" is due to an erosion channel or to the natural thinning of the bed at the limit of the basin cannot be stated with certainty from the evidence now obtainable. Rolls in the roof sometimes extend down to the underlying clay. Small slips, or faults, are common in some portions of the mine, but their distribution is quite irregular. The coal is markedly, but not sharply, undulatory, there being a difference of four or five feet between the crests of the rises and the bottoms of the "swamps." Especially in the "swamps," bands of cannel coal appear and reach a thickness
108 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
of eight inches or less. Above this bed there are known to be several thin coals, besides one which is thicker than the seam now being worked. Attempts to mine it would probably prove unsatisfactory because of the inconstancy of its thick coal.
One-half mile southeast, near the western boundary of the Chautauqua grounds, is the new shaft of the Eagle Coal Company. The coal bed is continuous from the Madison to the Eagle and thickens locally, being from four to seven feet thick at the Eagle. West of the shaft, which is 170 feet deep, is a low ''swamp" into which entries are now being driven and where the best coal lies. Its axis lies northwest and southeast. Elsewhere, also, the seam is strongly undulatory. The roof is a good bituminous shale (''slate") of varying thickness, with only occasional' areas where draw slate appears. In places a layer of black jack makes its appearance at the top of the coal. All the coal produced at this mine is hauled in wagons to be sold to the city trade. A steam hoisting equipment is in use and a large output is expected during the coming winter.
Following is the drill log of a prospect hole at the shaft. Its accuracy was afterward ascertained during the excavation of the shaft.
Feet. Inchkb.
29. Shale, sandy, light-colored 14
27. Shale, sandy, light-colored 18
16. Shale, sandy, light-colored 7
Polk County 109
Total 179 11
In the bluffs on the east side of the river, opposite the West Riverside, two minea are now in operation, both controlled by the Flint Brick and Coal Company. Shaft No. 2 is situated on the side of the bluff behind the clay plant of the same company. Steam for the hoisting engine is obtained from the clay plant and much of the coal mined is used by it, the remainder being either shipped or retailed in the city. All work underground is now to the west, on the opposite side of the river. The shaft
Figure Z8. Ironstone nodules In roof of coal bed.
is 180 feet deep and the elevation of the seam at the shaft 675 feet. A. T. The thickness of the coal varies between three and five and one-half feet, although as much as seven feet has been found in local thickenings in "swamps." The seam thins to the west as the workings of the mines on the west side of the river are approached, while it was abandoned within a short distance east of the shaft, where its height decreases to eighteen mchea. Part of the seam furnishes a good shooting coal; the remainder tends to cleave horizontally, so that great difficulty is experienced in attempting to shoot it down. Pyrite is fairly common, especially near the roof and the bottom of the vein. "Bowlders" also occur; some in the top coal are as much as
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
m
fourteen feet long by three feet in diameter. Those in the coal
are so compact that dynamite is employed
to break them up, while those in the roof
usually split easily. Ironstone concretions,
locally termed snakes" because of their
great length in proportion to their other dimensions
, are embedded in the clav which
usually forms the floor of the coal. The seam is strongly rolling, parts of it differing as much as twenty-five feet in level in this one mine.
One-half mile north of No. 2, at Polk Junction, is shaft No. 3, more familiarly known as the Oak Park. It ships over the Des Moines & Colfax Electric railway. Eighteen feet down in the shaft is the socalled first vein," over three feet tliick but filled with clay seams. It has been reached at about the level of low water in the Des Moines river by several slopes in the neighborhood, but has not been touched in recent years. At a lower level is an eighteen-inch seam. At 130 feet below the surface lies the bed worked, four feet thick at the shaft but as high as six feet in local thickenings where work is now being prosecuted. The coal presents the same characteristics as that ofthe Flint No. 2. It is perfectly clean in some parts but irregularities and im- '/i purities become more conspicuous towards the thin edges of the basin on the southeast. In all of the rooms now open, the coal shows a good vertical cleavage and is shot down without difficulty. The roof is good, being both sandstone and black shale. The bottom is a fire clay, except where a shale with minute intercalated layers of coal makes its appearance. Mining is now being done
5/
Polk County Hi
northwest of the shaft. The workings are connected with those of Mine No. 2 and considerable territory has already been worked out in a strip running north and south on both sides of the river.
The North Des Moines district, as now known, embraces an area of four square miles. Two seams appear in most parts of it with reasonable persistency, while a third, lying between the others, is found less frequently and is of very variable thickness. The-lower, or 'third vein," in which all of the mining on a large scale has been conducted, has nearly reached the limit of its productiveness. There are undoubtedly parts of the upper coals which will repay development in the near future. . Prospecting both east and west of the present mines has revealed little of encouragement; although, so far as known, investigations have not been carried west farther than a mile and a half from the river. Little coal has been found under the higher land of Highland Park ; but under the lower land of the pre-gladal valley bounding it on the north and east, mining has often proved profitable from Saylor southeast to the Fair Grounds.
It must not be understood that the ''third vein*' is a continuous bed underlying every part of the North Des Moines district. On the contrary several "faults" are well known to the miners. On the west side of the Blount-Evans shaft is a large "fault," 400 or 500 feet wide. This feature continues to the southeast and the same or a very similar "fault" was found east of the new Eagle mine, where it is more than 300 feet in width. Near the latter mine signs of disturbance can be traced in the pit of the Shackleford Brick Company, but the exposures were very unsatisfactory at the time this was visited. The "fault" was penetrated from the southwest by an entry of the new Eagle and from the northeast by one from the former Bloonifield. In both cases rolls in the roof of the coal became more frequent as the feature was approached. A similar "fault" disturbed mining operations east of the West Riverside shaft. It proved to be 303 feet wide and the entry which was driven through it encountered sandstone, slate, and a little fire clay in succession. The coal seam, when again found on the eastern side, soon attained a thickness of five feet, although when first reached it
112 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
was only six inches in height. This fault" runs southwest and northeast, perhaps joining the one first mentioned at right angles. Somewhat similar phenomena separate the Oak Park and Saylor fields, as also those of the Oak Park and the recently abandoned 0. K. mine which lay a half mile east of it.
It is altogther probable that these disturbing features are not true faults in the geological sense. That they are not preglacial erosion channels seems likely from the absence in them of a drift filling. It is not at all clear, however, whether they are valleys eroded and refilled during the Pennsylvanian period or whether they simply mark the limits of small productive areas in a coal horizon. The latter explanation is applicable to the faults ' ' in which the coal thins gradually until it disappears altogether, often rising as it thins. Where the coal is abruptly cut off, it is more likely that stream erosion has removed it. Both types of 'faults" may, therefore, be considered to be represented in this district.
Walnut Creek Valley.
Clive. A new field has been discovered a mile east of Clive and was opened during the summer of 190.8 by the sinking of the Gibson shaft No. 5 (Walnut Tp., Sec. 35, Se. qr., Se. l). A spur track is to be laid from the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. Neat top works, protected from fire by galvanized iron sheathing have been built and an Ottumwa firstmotion engine, cylinders 16x32, installed for hoisting purposes. Danville self -dumping cages are employed. Entries have not been driven far, but the coal promises to be of good quality and to preserve a thickness of at least four feet. Tlie shaft is 160 feet deep, and the altitude of the coal at the shaft is about 675 feet above tide. Systematic prospecting by the company has revealed considerable variation in the depth of the coal from point to point: west of the shaft the bed drops ten feet in a distance of 125 feet. East of the shaft at least three coals are present above the one worked, while south of it there are probably four.
Polk County
Hole 150 Feet East Op Gibson No. 6.
Feet.
Fill 42
Sand 9
Soapstone 2
Soapstone and fire clay 29
Shale 2
Fire clay 9
Shale, gray 4
Shale, black 23
Fire clay 3
Soapstone 6
Shale, gray 2
Sandstone 1
Shale, black 1
Fire clay 1
Shale, gray 3
Shale, black 9
Hole South Op Gibson No. 5.
Feet.
Soil 2
Sand and gravel 10
Blue clay 20
Sand 10
Fire clay and soapstone 9
Sandstone 5
Fire clay 8
Shale, gray 2
Fire clay 4
Sandstone 8
Shale, gray 8
Shale, black 6
Rock, compact 1
Shale, black 3
Sandstone 1
Fire clay 7
Sandstone 7
Shale, gray 6
Shale, black 5
Fire clay 2
Shale, black 11
Inches.
a
Ikghb8.
T
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
It seems probable that the last drilling did not reach the horizon of the coal mined at the shaft and that numbers 1, 4 and 10 of the second section correspond respectively with 5, 11, and 15 of the first. Nmnber 17 of the second may have been cut out of the first section by erosion. These suggestions are only tentative, however, since all the strata, including the coals, are so changeable both in their vertical dimensions and lithographic characters that exact correlations are made extremely difficult.
Valley Junction, Another new mine is that of the Keystone Coal Company, north of Valley Junction (Walnut Tp., Sec. 11, Nw. qr., Ne. Vi). When visited during the summer of 1908 entries were just being started and a double, geared hoisting engine had but recently been set up. The section at the shaft is :
SoU and clay,
Feet.
Sand 12
Shale, light-colored 6
Shale, light-colored 9
Shale, dark 3
Fire clay 1
Shale, light-colored 24
Shale, dark 2
Shale, black 5
Fire clay 3-
Shale, light-colored 7
Shale, dark 10
Hard rock band
Shale, dark 8
"Bowlder"
Shale, black
"Bowlder"
"Slate," black
Fire clay
"Slate," black 19
Inches
The coal horizons shown here agree very well with those found at the Gibson mine near Clive. The altitude of No. 1, the seam worked, is about 676 feet A. T. It may be seen that a
Polk County 115
field rich in possibilities is being newly developed along Walnut creek. Considerable prospecting has recently been conducted between Valley Junction and Commerce, and new mines may be expected in that district some time in the near future. It is not to be understood, however, that the coal lies in continuous beds, even between points where the seams are evidently closely related, as are those at the Gibson and the Keystone. Under the lands prospected by the Keystone Coal Company, for instance, number 5 of their shaft section is not very persistent, and number 1 appears to be confined to a basin which is elongated from southwest to northeast. The lower seam was only eighteen inches thick in test holes drilled one mile west and two miles northwest of the shaft.
Mouth of Walnut C4'eek. Two mines are in operation about one-fourth mile above the mouth of Walnut <;reek beside the tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. On the east side of the tracks is the shaft of the Walnut Creek Coal Company, which is working the ''third vein.'* The maximum thickness of the seam is four feet, but it thins so as to become unworkable north and northeast of tBe mine workitigs: Another coal, eighty feet and more above the lower, is workable over part of the company's land, though it is only six inches thick at the shaft. Most of the coal has been taken from the east side of the shaft, but the work is now to the west.
Drilling Near Shaft Op Walnut Creek Mine.
Surface Altitude 818 feet A. T.
Feet.
116 Coal Deposits Of Centkal Iowa
Total 157%
Drilling 2,000 Feet Northeast Of Walnut Creek Shaft.
Surface Altitude 890 feet A. T.
FEET. INCHES. 26. Soil 3
13. Soapstone shale .,%,,,, 16
Total 282 6
The mine of the Coaldale Fuel Company is on the opposite side of the tracks, a short distance south. Both of the two lower seams found at the Walnut Creek shaft are here much thicker, the lower varying between three and one-half and five and onehalf feet, the upper being five feet three inches and lying fourteen feet above the lower. Both these seams are now worked from the same shaft. Both contain quite clean coal with very lit-
Polk County 117
tie dirt, no **clay slips, and with the ''sulphur*' confined chiefly to the roof. The roof is in part black ' slate ' and in part a clay ironstone (''bowlder'*) which requires little timbering. Entries have been extended three-fourths mile to the south, in which direction there is a gentle dip, and the main haulage is by Goodman electric motors.
' Raccook River Valley.
Commerce. Coal has long been known at Commerce and has been worked by small shafts at both the western and eastern edges of the town. Only one mine is ia operation now, a gin shaft supplying local trg,de only. It is on the land of Dr. Hulme, just east of Commerce (Tp. 78, E. 25, Sec. 28, Nw. qr., Nw. 14). A number of coal seams are known at this point. Twenty feet below .the surface is the first seam, ten inches thick and with a good "slate'* roof and fire clay bottom. The second seam is the one which has been chiefly worked. It lies seventy-five feet below the uppermost coal, at an altitude of about 755 A. T. and with a dip to the northwest. Its thickness is variable, but the average may be taken as three feet. The roof is so firm that the coal can be worked longwall. The third seam, three feet three inches thick, is thirty feet farther down and has a sandy soapstone shale roof. Two and one-half feet bow the third is a twenty-inch coal, while other thinner seams are known at still greater depths. Where mining has been carried on just west of Commerce, the succession of coals is much the same. The second seam, however, is only twenty inches thick and a third two and a half feet.
Valley Junction. The VaUey Union Coal Company is operating a new mine at the foot of the bluffs on the south side of the Baccoon near the Valley Junction bridge. At a depth of 150 feet, at an altitude of about 680 A. T., a four-foot coal bed is reached; while seventeen feet above it a two-foot coal is reported and forty-three feet still higher is q, two and a half foot seam. The mine supplies a local trade in Valley Junction and the country districts on the south. Entries running east, west and south, have been driven a total distance of 1,700 feet. The roof of the lower coal is a tough bituminous shale. Hoisting is done by a small single engine.
118 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Park Avem cmd Vicmity. In the southwest comer of Section 13, three-fourths mile southeast of the Valley Union mine, is the shaft of the Hollingsworth Coal Company. Hoisting is effected by a double, geared engine with IQxlS-inch cylinders. The product is shipped over a spur from the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad. The seam mined lies 150 feet below the surface, at an altitude of about 670 feet A. T. The coal bed is slightly undulatory, without noticeable dip in any particular direction and the average thickness of the coal is four feet. Entries extend from the shaft in all four of the cardinal directions, the main entries being north and south. At present the work is about half way between the shaft and the Baccoon river. In general, the coal may be said to be clean ; a few dirty streaks and irregularly placed bands of iron pyrites give little trouble. The roof is alternately "slate'' and sandstone, one giving place to the other without apparent regularity. The presence of a thick bed of coal below the one now being developed, as well as of one above it, is shown by the following section :
Section 992 Ft. S. And 25 Ft. E. Of Hollingsworth Shaft.
Surface altitude about 840 A. T.
Thickness. Depth Of Base.
Feet. Inches. Feet. Inches.
6 " m Shale, lishtK:olored 25
29 4 Shale, light-colored 57 11
1 Shale, dark 58 11
9 Coal 59 8
62 1 Shale, light-colored 121 9
U Coal 132 2
8 8 Shale, light-colored 140 10
1 6 Shale, light-colored 188 8
8 .. Shale, light-colored 215 8
Polk County 119
Three-fourths mile east and a little south of the Hollingsworth, beside the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy tracks, is the Iowa mine (T. 78, R. 25, Sec. 24, Ne. qr., Nw. 1/4). The shaft is 150 feet deep to a coal bed which varies in thickness between four and four and a half feet and lies at an altitude of about 690 feet A. T. This seam is reported to be present under all of the 300 acres controlled by the company. At first entries were driven under the railroad tracks toward the west, then attention was turned toward the north. For 400 feet from the shaft the coal dips to the west, then lies level for a short distance until it begins to rise toward its initial level. A thin band of black jack and pyrites is quite generally present about eighteen inches below the roof of the coal. Immediately above the seam is a "dirt band" between one-half and two feet in thickness, and lying on it a foot or less of coal. The latter is seldom removed during mining operations, being left to render notable service as a roof. A lower seam, perhaps identical with the one shown in the Hollingsworth section, is reported; but information on this subject is somewhat vague.
Flsure 30. Railroad cutlltifc nea
Drift 10
Clay sbalee, red and drab, variegated.. 6
Limestone, eftrtby. nodular
Shalee, variegated 5
Limestone, impure, nodular H
Clay, yellow and drab, variegated 4
Clay shale, dark drab, somewhat bituminous 2
IroQBtone. black, nodular 1
Coal, Impure 3
Clay shale, hard, drab, somewhat aandy
in places 15
Limestone, nodular 1
Mae Hill mine, four miles west of Da Moines.'
120 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
The Midway Coal Company is now operating the Shaw mine, one mile east of the Iowa (T. 78, E. 24, Sec. 19, Ne. qr., Ne. %). The shaft cuts two seams at this point, but it is not the intention of the operators to mine in the lower coal for some time to come. The lower seam is 180 feet below the surface at the shaft and is four feet eight inches thick at that point. The coal now being excavated lies forty feet higher, at an altitude of about 700 feet A. T. Its thickness varies between four and six feet. There is a small general dip to the west, though it is somewhat obscured by the local grades due to the undulatory character of the seam. A single-cylinder, geared engine is utilized for hoisting. There are no shipping facilities here, yet a considerfible trade is supplied locally and in Pes Moines.
One mile northeast is the Bennett (T. 78, R. 24, Sec. 17, Se. qr., Nw. %), another mine which, although without railroad connections, is able to market a large daily output in Des Moines. Steam power is used. The shaft is 125 feet deep to a level, clean coal bed which varies irregularly in thickness between three and a half and five feet. The seam is known to the miners as the third vein,*' though its altitude of about 715 feet A. T. and its relation to the limestone bands to be mentioned later seems to indicate a probable correspondence with the ''second vein'' of the territory farther east. The ' second vein ' ' is absent ; but the first vein," 100 feet above the third at this point, is workable in places. It has a poor roof, however, and is largely cut into by pre-glacial channels. No coal was found in the first fifty feet of shales and thin sandstones which lie below the so-called third vein."
The Johns Coal Co. opened a new mine in the autumn of 1907 about one mile northeast of the Bennett, at the base of the bluffs near the brick plant (T. 78, E. 24, Sec. 16, Nw. qr., Ne. 14). Two tubular boilers, one 60-in. x 18-ft. and the other 40-in. x 16-ft., furnish steam to a single-cylinder hoisting engine. Although the mine lies close to the Chicago Great Western railroad tracks, no coal is shipped. Various manufacturing industries in Des Moines consume the entire product. The seam mined belongs in the same horizon as the lower coal at the Bennett and is four feet thick.
Polk County 121
Dbs Moines Valley Below The Raccoon Pork
South Des Moines, Owing to the strategical position of a field SO close to the business center of a large city, mining was energetically prosecuted in the South Des Moines district at an early date and was continued until the complete exhaustion of the known supply was in sight. Three horizons at which coal has been found are generally recognized, the first a little above the river level, the second about seventy feet lower, and the third, from 120 to 150 feet below the bottom lands. Coal does not always exist at all three of these horizons at any given point, nor are the horizons always separated by exactly the same intervals. Changes in level of a coal bed from place to place may be due to rolling*' of the coal seam, to a dip common to all the strata, or to a thickening or thinning of certain strata below the coal. Nor are the three horizons of which mention has been made the only ones known, though they are perhaps the most persistent. A general idea of the relations of the strata in the district may be gained from the following shaft record of the old Clifton mine, which was situated a short distance south of the West Ninth street bridge.
Clifton Shaft Record.
Elevation of Surface About 890 Feet A. T.
Feet. Inches.
122 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Very little mining is done today in the South Des Moines district. The only mine now in operation between the West Ninth street bridge and Levey is that of the Beck Coal Company at Sevastopol. The present shaft of that company opens to a new mine situated near the center of section 14, range 24, township 78. Hoisting is done by steam. There are no railroad connections. Work is being done in the third vein,'* which is here quite level and roofed by a firm bituminous shale. Scattered ironstone segregations may be seen here and there in the coal, but clay seams and small faults, often numerous in the first" and second" veins, are lacking. Not more than two or three acres have been worked out.
.Fort Des Moines, Several attempts have been made to locate fields near the army post, but so far the only successful one appears to have been that of the Blount-Evans Co. They have recently sunk 218 feet near the crossing of the Fort Des Moines electric line over Yader creek, about a mile north of the Fort. This coal appears to be in an isolated pocket of 200 acres, with the long axis lying northeast-southwest. Although the company drilled seventeen holes on the 360 acres owned by them.
Polk County 123
the remainder of the tract proved* barren. test hole near the present shaft shows :
Feet.
10. Shale, Bandy, light-colored 7
8. Shale, sandy, light-colored . . . .; 13
2. "False bottom" ! %
1. Shale, light-colored ., 24%
Total 207%
Other prospects in the vicinity show* that there is a barren succession of shales and sandstones for a considerable distance below the bottom of the shaft. There is a marked predominance of sandstones, some bearing highly mineralized waters, among the superficial strata for a radius of a mile from Fort Des Moines.
East Des Moines. Like South Des Moines, the district east and northeast of the Capitol became the scene of extensive mining early in the history of the industry. Three coal seams of encouraging size — the ''first,*' ''second*' and " third*' — became in succession the foci of operations in various mines; then as the fields near the centers of congestion were exhausted, new shafts were opened far thel" and farther to thef north and to the east until the present locations were reached. The stratigraphical relations of the coal horizons are illustrated by the accompanying section from the shaft of the old Giant No. 1, which was a short distance east of the Capitol.
At the present day the only mining being done in East Des Moines is by the Glenwood Coal Company, whose shaft No. 3 was sunk on the north side of the State Fair Groundsl At a depth of 110 feet they found four felt six inches of coal, incrfeas-
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Feet. Iwche8.
2. Coal. 1. Pire clay. FlBurs SI. Shaft o( Olant number 1, E:aBt Dea Moines.
ing to six feet in a few spots and overlain by a tolerably firm calcareous sbale. Near the shaft there is a slight grade, but as a rule the entries are quite level. Of the 200 acres leased by the company, fifteen have been worked out, and during the summer of 1908 entries were being driven east and north in a little less than five feet of coal. Steam for hoisting is furnished by two tabular boilers capable of producing a total of 160 horsepower. The product is hauled by wagon into the city.
It is difficult to connect the G-lenwood coal with any of the seams found near the Capitol. Perhaps it may best be correlated with the "third vein" of the Giant section and with the coal now worked at the Economy mine in Four Mile valley, and the conception advanced that it lies near the crest of a very low anticline.
. Carbondate. For more than twenty years mining was prosecuted at Carbondale, until the last mine to continue was closed during the summer of 1908 because of the numerous pre-glacial and Pennsylvanian erosion channels encountered on the edges
Polk County
of the workings. The following section of the strata at old Carbondale No. 2 (Tp. 78, B. 23, Sec. 9) is taken from Bain's Geology of Polk County,"* which has been freely drawn upon for material relating to mining districts which are no longer active.
Carbondai4E No. 2.
Feet. Inches.
16. .Limestone, white, brittle 1 10
A record from section 10, farther east, is as follows :
Feet. Inches.
23. "Slate," black 1 6
'Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII ; Des Moines. 1897.
126 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
The correspondence of the last two sections is only approximate. Numbers 18 and 22 of the last are not represented in the first, and number 7 of the first is not found in the last. The thick coal at the base of both sections represents the same horizon and lies at an altitude of a little over 700 feet A. T. The horizon of number 22 of the last section yields thicker coal in other places, notably in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9, where a boring started on the upland found a five-foot bed at sixty feet. The Saint Louis limestone has been found only eighty-four feet below the horizon worked at Carbondale, and so far no coal has been reported from the strata between the limestone and this horizon.
A mile northwest of Carbondale several mines were formerly located near the tracks of the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railroad. The record of a drilling near old Gibson No. 2 (Sec. 5, Ne, qr.) is as follows:
Feet.
Total 130%
Polk County
Number 8 of the above section probably lies in the horizon of the coal mined at Carbondale (No. 1 of both Carbondale sections). The coal is not particularly persistent in the neighborhood, but in many cases its absence in drill records is due to removal by pre-glacial erosion, which reached to a great depth in the valley of Fourmile creek. Number 3 of the section was located over a considerable area.
Ross Junction. Coal which corresponds in position with that mined at Carbondale was formerly developed at Hastie (Rosa Junction) by several companies. The shaft of the Wabash mine was 100 feet deep. One mile southeast of this point the Iowa Coal and Mining Company once operated a shipping mine (Fourmile Tp., Sec. 15, Se. qr., Ne. y). Four coal horizons tave been recognized here. The upper coal, mined by drifting, is shown in the accompanying section and sketch of a near-by railroad ont.
Flsure 32. Railroad
mile east of HaaCle.
e. Coal 8
6. Clay, white and ash-colored 2
Coal, impure K
3, Shale, yellow and white ,; .', t
2 , Coal, Impure '...'. 2-3
. shown in the old Iowa shaft there are about thirty-five this horizon a three-foot seam, twenty-five feet lower , *li:ree feet eight inches thick, and fifty-four feet still farther three-inch representative of the coal at Hastie.
128 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Levey. On the south side of the Des Moines river, one-half mile south of Levey station, the small gin shaft of the Avon Coal Company is supplying a local trade. Although it is only 300 feet from the Winterset branch of the Chicago, Bock Island and Pacific Railroad, no railroad facilities are utilized. The shaft is thirty-four feet deep to the top of the coal, which is three feet eight inches thick and lies at an altitude of about 770 feet A. T. The strata in the shaft are said to be practically the same as those occurring three-fourths mile northwest at the old Manbeck mine and shown in the accompanying figure.
8. Plre clay, light-colored. T. Sandstone, maaalve, yellow. 6. Coal.
5. Fire clay and gray shale, "soapstone."
4. Shale, bituminous, hard and compact
3. Ironstone, Irregular, nodular. 3. Coal.
FlRuro 33. Irl ot apart at Manbeck mine, north of Avo
Polk County 129
The coals numbered 11, 9, and 6 in the figure correspond to the tripartite seam mentioned as exposed in the railroad cut near the old Iowa mine on the opposite side of the river, so that number 2 falls into a position corresponding with that of the upper seam in the Iowa shaft. The two upper benches of this tripartite coal found in the Manbeck shaft have been mined by drifts at numerous points to the southeast, along the Winterset branch of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. In an attempt to discover workable horizons below those already known, a drill rig was set up in the bottom of the Avon Coal Company shaft, and the following sequence of strata recorded :
Driliing In Avon Mine.
Feet. Inghe8.
Depth of shaft 34
41. Coal at bottom of shaft 3 8
130 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Total 198 9
It will be seen that no workable coal was found in this prospect. Number 38 may be correlated with the second coal seam found in the old Iowa shaft, on the opposite side of the river; but the Carbondale-Hastie horizon cannot be recognized. There was some dispute among the drillers as to the proper identification of number 1 ; it may, perhaps, be the Saint Louis limestone.
Runnells. The upper coal horizon (numbers 6 to 11 of the Manbeck mine section) outcrops at many points in the bluffs on both sides of the river. At Ford it is well exposed and drift mines working it will be discussed in the chapter on Warren county. At Eunnells and fopsome distance east and west of the town, the same seam has been worked by drifts and slopes, as well as by shafts located a short distance back from the bottom lands. Figure 34 illustrates a section measured in a cut on the Wabash railroad, about a mile east of Runnells.
-T
fc5
rf
Sandstone, bulf. heavily bedded.
Coal, impure. Clay. drab.
Shale, bituminous.
jar unst county line, below Runnells.
Polk County
The Ford-Runnells coal horizon may usually be recognized by the heavy sandstone, known as the Ford sandstone, which often overlies it. This is best shown at Ford, but is also represented by sandstones and sandy shales on the north side of the river. A stratum of clay shale, often bituminous, sometimes intervenes between the sandy layers and the coal, but it is erratic in appearance and variable in thickness. Prospecting four miles north of Runnells failed to reveal the Ford horizon in a convincing manner.
r XX///PV
C Tl
FIsrure 35. Map showing: location of principal Polk county mines outside of the Des
Moines district.
The Des Moines— Fourmile Divide.
For many years mining operations have been conducted in the neighborhood of Marquisville, but it was not until recently that attention was'tumed to the upland district on the north. Today a very respectable portion of the coal produced in Polk county is
182 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
taken from the prairie region lying between Ankeny and Marquisville, while indications point to the continuance and probable extension of the present industry for many years to come.
Ankeny. Two miles southeast of Ankeny (Crocker Tp., Sec. 25, Ne. qr.), the Anderson Coal Company sank a shaft early in 1908 to a thick bed of coal. The main entry has been driven 500 feet due south and development work has advanced far enough to promise a large production during the coming winter. The product is loaded on a spur of the Chicago and North Western railway, over which most of it is shipped north. Three tubular boilers of eighty horsepower each furnish steam for the Eagle first-motion hoisting engine. Hopper scales and Olson automatic cages form part of a modem equipment. The tipple is arranged so that three cars may be loaded simultaneously. The coal seam, which lies at an elevation of 675 feet A. T., has so far proved to be a clean one. The field, so far as prospected by this company, consists of 700 acres. The 285-foot shaft lies in about the center of the field. The drift is as much as 100 feet thick at this point, yet four small seams, ranging from six to eighteen inches in thickness, occur between it and the bed worked.
Carney. The new mining camp, Carney, is three miles south of Ankeny. Shaft No. 2 of the Saylor Coal Company is located here (Crocker Tp., Sec. 36, Sw. qr., Sw. %) and, although but two years old, the mine already ranks as the largest producer in the county. Houses for the new camp have been moved over from old Saylor. The hoisting is done by a first-motion Eagle Iron Works engine, cylinders 18x36, drum six feet. Five boilers, one two-flue and four tubular, of about 100 horsepower each, supply the power. The tower and other top works are modem and well equipped. The tipple is so arranged that loading may be done on all or any of three tracks which join to form a short spur to the Chicago and North Western railway. Automatic cages and hopper scales facilitate loading. A large part of the interior of the mine is lighted by electricity, while the same power is also employed for the main haulage, which is done by two Goodman haulage motors. Three cutting machines, driven by two air compressors, are in use in the mine. The coal seam
Polk County 133
is quite uniformly four feet thick and is practically free of bowlders. " It sometimes is slightly rolling, yet it rims for long distances with little change of altitude. In spite of small clay seams in the roof nd coal, as well as the usual amount of ' sulphur, ' ' the bed may be ranked as a clean one. The following is the record of a drilling made near the shaft.
Drilling At Carney.
Feet. Inches.
Total 237 7
One-half mile south of Saylor No. 2, beside the tracks of the Chicago and North Western railway, over which it ships (Saylor Tp., Sec. 1, Nw. qr., Sw. %), is the present mine of the Bloomfield Coal Company. The output is quite large and is shipped north chiefly, only a comparatively small amount going to Des Moines. The equipment is of the type commonly seen in Polk county mines of the better class. Three boilers of seventy-five horse power each furnish steam to the hoisting engine, which has two 18x32 cylinders and is directly connected to the six-foot drum. Hopper scales and Olson self-dumping cages are employed. There* are two workable coals at this mine. The shaft extends to the upper seam, which lies 271 feet below the surface of the ground. This bed was mined successfully until the roof became troublesome. The coal was found to be four to four and a half feet thick. A slope was run from the upper to the lower
134 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
seam, fifteen feet below, and an engine was placed under ground to haul loaded cars up the incline by means of a pull-rope. The roof of the lower bed is good, while the thickness of the coal is satisfactory (three feet eight inches to five feet). The work at present is to the west and south. The company controls about 600 acres. What the miners describe as a *'faulf coming in from the north and going off toward the southeast checked operations on the east side of the workings. The so-called **fault" appears, however, to mark simply the limit of the coal basin, for the coal thins gradually toward it until the overlying shale and the underlying fire clay meet. Toward the west the upper seam appears to split into two thin veins, if the record of a prospect hole one-fourth mile west of the shaft be taken as accurate. The strata at this point may be easily correlated with those at Saylor No. 2, the lower coal at the Bloomfield being the same as the bed worked at Carney.
Hole West Op Bloompield Shaft.
Surface Altitude About 935 Feet A. T.
Depth.
Polk County 136
Saylor. At the old mining camp of Saylor, at the end of a spur track which runs one mile due west from Saylor Station, is the mine of the Western Coal Company, formerly known as Saylor No. 1. During its ten years of service this mine has produced a large amount of coal and has enjoyed at times a larger output than any of its contemporaries. At the present time, pillars are being pulled and preparations made to abandon the mine in the course of one or two years. Since little water enters the workings and mining has always been conducted in a scientific manner by the old company, the coal found in the pillars is still in good condition in many places. Two tubular boilers and a first motion Ottumwa engine are used for hoisting purposes. Two cars are loaded simultaneously and the screens are usually arranged to sort the coal into three grades. The elevation of the bed, 216 feet below the surface at the shaft, is about 680 feet A. T. The coal averages four feet in thickness and is fairly clean. The roof of bituminous shale (''slate'') stands well.
Marquisville. For a long time Marquisville was the center of an important mining industry. The Des Moines Coal Company operated a shaft in section 13 (Nw. qr.) until a fire caused the mine to be abandoned in October, 1907. The coal is said to have been removed from nearly 600 acres and an upper seam to have been worked out under the Poor Farm, farther north. An old record of the Des Moines shaft shows that this coal occupied a higher horizon than does that of the mines previously described. The altitude of number 3 of the following section is about 720 feet A. T., the surface at the shaft being about 900 feet A. T. Numbers 3, 9 and 11 occupy the same horizons as numbers 9, 15 and 17, respectively, of the Bloomfield section.
Des Moines Shaft, Marquisville.
Feet,
136 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
15. Fire clay and sandstone 22
7. Shale, black, with some coal 4
Total 184%
Coal has been known for some time to exist east of this territory, and during the summer of 1908 a shaft was by the Swanwood Coal Company near the tracks of the St. Paul and Des Moines Railway (Saylor Tp., Sec. 12, Se. qr., Se. %). About 200 feet of entries have been driven and the intention is to push the development of the mine rapidly until a large production is assured. The elevation of the seam worked is a little below 700 feet A. T., and a record of the strata shows several thin coals.
Swanwood Shaft Section.
. Feet. Inches.
Polk County 137
3. Shale, light-colored r 3 8
Total 236 11
The company has determined by prospecting that at least 300 acres are underlain with workable coal. The greatest thickness f oxmd was four feet ten inches ; while the seam thins toward the edges of the property. The record cited below of a drilling made 1,500 feet east of the Swanwood shaft shows how rapid are the lithological variations in the Des Moines stage when strata are traced either laterally or vertically. Number 18 of the following record may be correlated with number 13 of the Swanwood shaft section, 10 with 8, 7 with 4, and 3 with 1.
Drilling East Of Swanwood Shaft.
Feet. Inches.
17. Shale, sandy, light-colored 2
9. Shale, sandy, light-colored 22 6
138 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Total 270 5
South of the Swan wood (E 14 of Sec. 24, Saylor Tp.; the Sw. 1/4 of Sec. 19, and the N. 1/2 of Sec. 30, Lee Tp.) a group of mines worked out a higher seam where the coal was three to four feet thick. This horizon may perhaps be represented in the Swanwood sections by one of the thin coals found above the seam that is workable at that point.
Fourmile Creek Valley.
Berwick District. The Delaware Coal Company sank a 170 foot shaft northwest of Berwick a few years ago (Delaware Tp., Sec. 5, Sw. qr., Sw. 14). Ordinarily the seam is three and onehalf to four feet thick, sometimes running locally to higher figures, and all the coal is of good quality, with few bowlders*' or clay seams. The roof is ''slate" and an ironstone '*cap rock." Most of the section of land in which the mine is located has been proved to be underlain with workable coal. The seam is practically level so far as now known, though as only ten or fifteen acres have been mined out this statement is not of wide application. The seam, lying at an elevation of 708 feet A. T., can best be correlated with the horizon of number 4 of the Swanwood shaft record and with one of the coals mined at Marquisville. Eighteen feet higher is another four-foot seam, containing good coal, but possessing a poor roof which renders mining in it diflScult. A spur runs to the mine from the St. Paul and Des Moines tracks on the north. Most of the product is shipped either north or east, some going even as far as Milwaukee.
One mile north and east of the Delaware, just east of the intersection of the Douglas-Delaware township line and Fourmile creek, a prospect record shows the succession of strata given below. The elevation of the surface is uncertain, yet the coal may reasonably be supposed to lie in the horizon of that at the Delaware mine.
Polk County 139
DEPTH IN FEirT.
3. Black "slate" 169%
Norwoodville. Norwoodville, a coal camp, is situated two miles due south of the Delaware mine. Mining has been carried on in a desultory fashion at this point for a number of years, but it was not until recently that the present large production was attained. The company now in charge of operations has met all difficulties in a determined and scientific manner.
The Norwood- White shaft No. 1, commonly known as Klondike No. 1, lies on the north side of the Chicago Great Western tracks, near the camp (Delaware Tp., Sec. 18, Se. qr., Ne. y). The shaft, which is 215 feet deep, reaches, at an altitude of 715 feet A. T., a coal seam which averages four feet in thickness, varying between three and five feet in the various parts of the mine. The mine is fully developed and entries have been carried a considerable distance. Trains of cars going north are hauled 2,700 feet by tail-rope ; those going west are drawn 3,300 feet by the same method. What appears at first sight to be too small an engine for the depth of the shaft and the amount of mine run produced is reported capable of hoisting five cars in two minutes during the regular course of a day's work. The coal bed follows a succession of swamps" and ''rises." Small clay seams and veins of calcite may -be seen running through the coal, while others appear only in the roof. A mile north of the shaft the coal bed is begirfoing to pinch out as the workings are carried forward. This is true toward the east also, where the presence of an erosion channel is thought to be the cause of the decrease in the size of the seam. There is not much ''drawslate" in the roof, yet the latter is rather uncertain. "Slate" lies immediately above the coal in part ; while those portions of the mine in which the "slate" is replaced by sandstone have usually been abandoned because of an influx of water.
140 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
A short distance east of No. 1, in section 17, is shaft No. 2 of the same company. Loading is done on a short spur running south from the Chicago Great Western railway. Steam is supplied to a first-motion double hoisting engine by a 150 horse power marine boiler and a 100 horse power horizontal boiler. Hopper scales and self-dumping cages add to the eflSciency of the equipment. Not over forty acres have been mined out. The nature of the coal bed is much the same as in Mine No. 1, except that the thickness of the seam is more variable (two to five feet) and the bed is more level. Lying in the top of the coal are occasional bowlders, ' ' sometimes as much as twelve feet in their largest dimensions. Water gives so much trouble that entries have to be abandoned now and then.
Drill Log Taken Near Norwood-White No. 2.
Feet. Inches.
Total 169
Lower Fourmile Valley. On the eastern slope of Founnile valley, at the end of a long spur extending to the north from the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railway, is the Maple Block shaft (Tp. 79 N., R XXIH W., Sec. 28, Se. qr., Nw. %). The depth of the shaft is 168 feet and the elevation of the bed worked 702 feet A. T. This mine, with its well equipped top works and conveniently arranged underground workings, ranks as one of the largest producers of the county. Hoisting. is effected. with a first-motion engine with two cylinders, each 18x36. Loading is done on three tracks. The coal bed is fairly level, undulating
Polk County 141
gently. In some of the ' swamps ' ' seven-foot coal is found ; but this maximum thickness is quite local and on the rises ' ' the bed thins sometimes to as little as three feet six inches. The average thickness of the seam where it has been mined may be taken at a little under five feet. ' ' Bowlders ' ' and other impurities are not conspicuous, although a few clay-ironstone masses are found in the main dips. The bottom is a hard fire clay which shows little tendency to heave. Only a little draw-slate'* is found above the coal, the roof being in general a fairly firm bituminous shale. The seam worked here is known to underlie at least 1,200 acres. The Maple Block Coal Company controls 900 acres, all well prospected. The long axis of the coal basin lies southwestnortheast, with one end about one-half mile south of the shaft and the other two miles or more northeast of it. An attempt has been made to mine another vein which lies not far above the one already described. In places it is found to be of workable thickness, but it is not constant in its appearance. In the following record of a hole drilled one-fourth mile west of the Maple Block shaft, this upper seam is shown to have split into thin beds divided by shale.
Holb W1C9T Of Icaplb Block Shapf.
iXBT. nroHxa. 21. Yellow sand 23
Total 169 3
142 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
The mine of the Economy Coal Company loads on the same spur, a little more than a mile farther south (Tp. 79, R. XXEEI W., Sec. 33, Se. qr., Ne. y). At the pit bottom, 110 feet below the surface, the coal lies at practically the same elevation above sea level as at the Maple Block shaft and it undoubtedly lies in the same coal horizon. Between the territories of the mines, however, a fault," encountered 1,500 feet south of the Maple Block shaft, intervenes. This seems to extend from northeast to southwest ; but whether it is an old erosion channel which has cut out the coal, or simply the barren measures between adjacent coal basins is not determinable from the present condition of the mine workings. At the Economy the seam varies in thickness from three and a half to five and a half feet, with five-foot coal where the miners are at present employed. When the mine was new, diflSculty was experienced from the wet shaft and numerous ''bowlders" in the coal, but these conditions have steadily improved. A thick bituminous shale forms the roof. Eight to ten inches of draw-slate" which, however, does not fall if properly and promptly supported, usually tops the coal.
The company has leased 1,000 acres, much of it known to be underlain by this seam. Here, as at the Maple Block, an upper ccJal is found twenty feet above the one worked. A half mile southwest of the shaft it is four feet thick; a fourth mile east it shows only twenty inches.
Altoona, The Gibson Coal Company operate their No. 4 mine one mile southwest of Altoona, near the upper portion of one of the chief tributaries of Fourmile creek (Clay Tp., Sec. 23, Ne. qr., Sw. i/4). At a depth of 186 feet lies a four-foot bed of good coal that probably forms part of the basin already mentioned in connection with the Maple Block seam. Except where rolls in the roof cut out part of the coal, sometimes rendering it unworkable, the thickness of the bed is uniform. The roof is, in general, either a black ' slate " or a compact siliceous bowlder" formation. No regular **draw slate'' has been encountered, but the operators are forced to leave the coal in a narrow strip in the midst of the main workings where the roof is a soft, sandy shale. Southeast of the shaft pre-glacial erosion has cut out the strata above the coal along a line parallel to the long
Polk County
axis of the coal basin (northeast-southwest), rendering further operations in that direction impossible because of the filling of drift, sand and clay immediately over the seam. About 100 acres have been worked out, chiefly to the west and south, and the limit of coal available from the present shaft has been almost reached.* Another shaft may be sunk on the opposite side of the pre-glacial channel cited.
What is probably a continuation of the same seam was worked from a shaft 215 feet deep near the Altoona station, until an influx of water forced a cessation of operations. The seam thinned east and west of the shaft and thickened to the south, the direction of the main dip. Fig. 36 gives the characteristics of the strata at this point.
Feet.
7. Drift and Carboniferous Clay.
1%
Coal. 3. Shale. 2. Coal. 1. Fire clay.
4.
Figure 36. Shaft of mine near Altoona. THE HIGHLANDS EAST OF FOURMILE CREEK.
Enterprise. Shaft No. 1 of the Enterprise Coal Company is located a half mile north of Enterprise, near the tracks of the St. Paul and Des Moines Railway and reaches the coal at a depth of 212 feet. The mine has been in operation about five years aad may be ranked as one of the best equipped in the central
*Thi8 shaft was abandoned May 1, 1909.
144 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
part of the state. The buildings constituting the top works are protected from fire by galvanized iron sheathing. Hoisting is done by a double, first-motion, Eagle Iron Works engine with 13x38 cylinders and a six-foot drum. There is one boiler of 125 horse power and two of IPO horse power. The tower is sixty feet high from the surface to the sheave wheels. Olson automatic cages are employed. Loading is done on two tracks and is facilitated by the use of a Christy box-car loader. A small amount of coal may be stored in an elevator into which it is carried by an endless chain conveyor. The main haulage underground is by Goodman electric motor, trolley system, on 3,500 feet of track, each train consisting of from fifteen to twenty cars. One Goodman cutting machine is being tried as an experiment.
Shaft No. 2 of the same company was sunk during the summer of 1907 in the southeast quarter of section 21, Douglas township. A short spur track leads from it to the main line near Enterprise. The depth of the shaft and the character of the equipment are essentially the same as at mine No. 1, although No. 2 is as yet too young to employ electric haulage to advantage. Entries are being driven from the shaft in all of the cardinal directions. The east entry, at present the longest, has been driven 300 feet.
The Enterprise seam exhibits many of the characteristics of the so-called second vein*' of the Des Moines district. Especially in mine No. 1 are *'clay slips numerous. In most cases the fissures are filled with a soft white clay; yet a few contain an argillaceous sandstone which is significant because totally unlike the material underlying the coal. The thickness of the seams averages two inches and their lateral extension is often considerable. Individual streaks have been followed for long distances during the progress of mining operations. They intersect the shale of the roof at a high angle and extend downward into the coal bed ; but they almost always thin out and disappear at some point above the floor of the coal. Thus it is evident that they have no genetic relationship with the fire clay underlying the coal. They may be simple or branching, and either curved, zigzag, or strictly vertical. The Enterprise coal shoots
Polk County 145
well off the solid, except where these slips' are so mimerous that their yielding qualities have a deadening effect on the force of the explosives.
In both of the Enterprise mines a band of black jack, usually slightly exceeding one inch in thickness, is found near the middle of the seam. This black jack is a feebly combustible mixture of slate and coal, often with abundant inclusions of iron pyrites. The stratum above the coal bed is in most places a shale which requires close timbering. Occasionally a layer of more tenaceous shale, known as slate, makes its appearance next the coal and forms a firm roof over small areas.
The Enterprise Coal Company has proved by prospecting the presence of good coal under more than 1,100 acres; while it is probable that about 300 acres more should be included in the same field. From north to south the workable basin is at least two and one-half miles long, with a width from east to west of one-half to three-fourths of a mile. The thick coal lies at an elevation of about 765 feet A. T. and is four feet thick at Enter prise No. 1. At No. 2 the thickness varies from two to six feety but nothing under four feet is utilized for room work. One mile northwest of No. 1 the company sank a shaft to three feet eight inches of coal, but soon abandoned the mine because of trouble with a roof of white clay and shaJe. Thirty feet above this seam is a thinner coal which is fairly persistent. The relationships of the strata in this district are shown by the sections; given below.
Drilling One Mile Due West Of Enterprise No. 1.
Depth In Tett.
146 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
This test did not extend to the Enterprise coal horizon, but no workable coal has been reported from deeper holes in the vicinity.
Prospect Near Enterprise No. 2 Shaft.
(Douglas Tp., Sec. 21, Center of Se.
Fobt. Xnchk8.
Total 208
The limestones cited in the above section are stratigraphically important if correctly identified. Samples for inspection could not be obtained by the author. The record given below is of a hole made by another driller in the same section of land, but on the west side of the St. Paul and Des Moines tracks. No limestones are reported.
Polk County 147
Depth In Feet.
Clay, sand and gravel
16. Soapstone shale, red, at 108
15. Soapstone shale, white, at 112
10. "Slate," black, at 166
Two miles sonth of Enterprise the Enterprise coalis still in evidence, as shown below. Thicker coal is present in the same horizon in neighboring drillings.
Depth In Feet.
6. Blue clay and bowlder at 80
Bondurant. It is claimed that good coal has been found in workable thickness near Bondurant. Nothing definite could be ascertained in regard to this report.
Camp Creek Valley.
Lower Camp Creek Valley, A systematic attempt to locate a profitable field was made in sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Camp township. In most of the test holes only two feet or less of good coal was found. The record of one of the deeper holes (Camp Tp.. See. 14, Nw. qr., Sw. Vi) is as follows:
148 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Feet. Ii7Cheii.
13. Sandstone, light-colored 12
8. Shale, light-colored . . . v 5
Total 251 4
One of the holes (Camp Tp., Sec. 14, Ne. qr., Se. 4), which penetrated somewhat thicker opal than is common in this district, is as follows:
Feet. Inches.
Total 73 3
Skunk River Valley.
Santiago. Some prospecting has been done in Franklin and Washington townships. Several holes drilled near Santiago failed to bring to light coal in paying quantities. One of these
Polk County 149
prospects, although carried 100 feet, liid not reach the solid strata below the drift. Another which was continued to twice this depth did, however, penetrate the surface formations. Extensive mining has been carried on near the Skunk in Jasper county, a few miles beyond the county line.
Resume
The coal bearing strata of Polk county belong exclusively to the Des Moines stage of the Pennsylvanian or Upper Carboniferous series. No other rocks outcrop below the heavy mantle of drift within the limits of the county; for the Saint Louis limestone, the stage immediately underlying the Pennsylvanian, lies 200 feet and more below the bottom lands of the Des Moines and Baccoon rivers. The contact of the Saint Louis and the Des Moines is by no means, however, a plane surface, a fact elaborated in another portion of this volume. At Mitchellville the limestone lies 224 feet below the surface, or at an altitude of about 764 feet A. T.* ; at Greenwood Park it is 498 feet down at an altitude of 374 ; while at Carbondale it lies 200 feet below the bottom lands at an altitude of 600. One interpretation of the Avon mine boring would place the Saint Louis at the same level near Levey as on the north side of the river at Carbondale. Some interesting results have been obtained in the southwestern part of the county, indicating the presence of a deep and remarkably steep sided post-Mississippian valley at Commerce. A mile and a half south of Commerce, south of Millman, and at Valley Junction, the altitude of the top of the Mississippian is 565 feet or more above sea level. A boring made by Dr. Hulme at Commerce passed through a series of shales, sandstones, and thin coals, characteristic of the Des Moines strata, to a depth of 500 feet or an altitude of 320 feet A. T. Two miles west of Commerce the surface of the Saint Louis is found to have regained a level of about 250 feet higher.
From the above it will be seen that the Saint Louis furnishes no datum plane upon which the geologist may base his conclusions. Even though it were conformable beneath the coal bearing strata, it would still be of little assistance, since coal
*Thia altitude Is based upon data received from the Chicago, Rock Island ft Pacific Railway, which places Mitchellville station 988 feet above sea level, Cairo datum.
160 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
companies seldom carry their test holes below horizons which lie at least 100 feet above the base of the Des Moines beds. Nor is much aid given to stratigraphical research by the lithological characters of the Des Moines strata themselves ; as already explained in a previous chapter, few strata have any considerable lateral extent or vertical thickness. A study of the records of shaft borings and prospect holes cited in this report reveals the difficulties attending an attempt to correlate the coals found in even adjacent situations and these difficulties are by no means alleviated by the carelessness exhibited by drillers in identifying strata.
Argillaceous shales of many hues are predominant among the Des Moines strata of Polk county and with them may be included the black bituminous shales so eagerly sought by prospectors as possible indications of coal. The white structureless clays, commonly, though often improperly, termed 'fire clays," are found in thin beds under most of the important coals. Sandy shales are not uncommon, but true sandstones are rare and lie in thin beds of limited lateral extent, except in the southern part of the county where the Ford sandstone appears. Limestones are exceedingly rare and are always thin, but when present are a great help to the stratigrapher. Three thin bands found in the vicinity of Des Moines enabled Bain to construct the two cross-sections shown in Plate III. Those interested in the data upon which these sections are based are referred to his 'Geology of Polk County.
An interesting and significant fact in connection with the coal seams at present being developed within the county is that, with the exception of the beds at Commerce, Fort Des Moines, Levey and Enterprise, all lie at an altitude between 675 and 720 feet above sea level. Two possible explanations present themselves :
(1) many of the coal basins lie in the same coal horizon and the general dip to the southwest prevalent throughout much of the Iowa field flattens out in the central portion of the county, or
(2) the basins lie in several horizons separated by no great vertical interval. Of these explanations the first appeals most strongly to the writer, the term horizon'* being applied in its
Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII., pp. 302-310; Des Moines, 1897.
152 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
broadest sense. The rolling** cominon in some basins accounts rsatisfactorily for differences of elevation of twenty feet or less between related coals.
There seems little doubt that the basins utilized by the Anderson, Saylor No. 2, Bloomfield and Western mines occupy the same horizon and are separated from one another by rather limited barren areas of irregular shape. There is a considerable gap between the fields of the Western and the Oak Park, yet there is a strong suggestion that the third vein" in which the North Des Moines mines are working may be correlated with the coal under the highlands farther north. Stratigraphic studies of exposures along the Des Moines river seem to establish the equivalence of the third veins" of the North and East Des Moines districts. The first vein" on the East side is probably the second" of South Des Moines. The 'Third veins" of East and South Des Moines may possibly be equivalent; but the nature of the coal and the material immediately overlying it does not bear out this supposition. The seams now worked at the Johns, Bennett, Midway, and Iowa mines, south of the Raccoon river, apparently lie slightly above the ''third vein" horizon of East Des Moines, though those at the Hollingsworth, Walnut Creek and Coaldale may be tentatively correlated with the lower coal of the east side. Possibly the Valley Union, Keystone and Gibson No. 5 shafts of the Valley Junction district, reach coal which may be assigned to the horizon of the Iowa-Johns basins. The Commerce mine is developing a basin which is stratigraphically higher than any other now worked in the county. The thick coals of the Marquisville, Berwick, and Norwoodville fields belong to slightly higher levels than those worked between Marquisville and Ankeny. The Enterprise seam cannot well be connected .with any other, though the characteristics of the bed are reported by experienced mining men to be surprisingly like those of the ''second vein" of East Des Moines. The relationships of the beds in the southeastern corner of the county have already been sketched. With the coal once worked near Youngstown by the Christy and Gibson No. 2 mines may perhaps be correlated the ''third vein" of East Des Moines and the coal of the Economy, Maple Block, Gibson No. 4, and old Altoona mines.
Jasper County 153
The visible supply of coal in this county appears to be more than adequate for many years to come, and there are undoubtedly undiscovered basins more than equal in aegate magnitude to those already known. Less than eight per cent of the county has been prospected ; while even in the prospected lands a lower series of Coal Measures from 100 to 200 feet thick has been left uninvestigated. The results of the few holes carried all the way to the Saint Louis limestone have not been encouraging, yet it should be remembered that a certain number of fruitless prospects are often drilled in the midst of valuable coal territory and that the strata lying immediately above the Saint Louis are known to be exceedingly prolific in other parts of the state.
Jaspeb County
With the exception of the extreme northeastern corner of the county, constituting about half of Hickory Grove township, Jasper is underlain by strata classified with the Bes Moines stage. The formations underlying the Des Moines, and the latter itself at many points, have a moderate general dip to the southwest. The geological structure along a line running from southwest to northeast across the county is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying sketch. The drawing is on a vertical scale of 350 feet to one inch.
Figure 3T. KCtlon from Prairie City to NewlwrR (Wnilams).
PL Plelatocene. St. L. Saint Loul*. Da. Des Moines.
Kd. KInderhook. Dv. Devonian.
Owing to their irregular basement and to the varying degrees of erosion which they underwent before the invasion of the ice sheet, the Coal Measures vary in thickness within wide limits. The underlying limestones and calcareous shales of Mississip-
154 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
plan age have been doubtfully identified in drillings at a number of localities, but the accuracy of none of these determinations can be vouched for by the author. It seems certain, however, that there is a notable thinning of the Des Moines in the eastern and northeastern sections of the county, while the figures given below for the central and west central portions have about them the elements of probability. At Mitchellville, just over the Polk county line, the base of the Coal Measures was reached at a depth of 224 feet, making its altitude about 764 feet above tide.* In drillings in the Oswalt coal-field, a limestone, possibly the St. Louis, was reached at a depth about eighty feet below the level of Skunk river. The altitude of the Mississippian at this point is, if the above assumption be correct, about 730 feet A. T. ; but unfortunately the data obtained for the district are not such as can be fully relied upon. Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the thickness of the Coal Measures at Colfax. Norton refers the aquifer, which is reached in the majority of the wells at about 300 feet, to the St. Louis. Basing his deductions on a somewhat generalized record furnished from memory by one who had to do with the sinking of several of the" wells, Williams gives the thickness of the drift as -eighty feet and of the Des Moines as 217 feet, placing the base of the latter at about 544 feet A. T. This furnishes rather a surprisingly low altitude for the top of the St. Louis, although it is not at all an impossible one. Dr. T. D. Hulme of Conunerce, who has had a wide range of experience in drilling deep wells in various parts of the state, considers the Coal Measures to extend downward only 100 feet in a hole headed on lower ground at the old Hotel Sanitarium. He describes the following generalized section from memory :
Feet.
Drift, shale, Bandstones, limestones, thin coal beds 100
Heayy beds of cherty, fossiliferous limestone, containing large cavities; also one or two beds of sandstone and thin beds of
calcareous soapstone 100
Soft sandstone bearing artesian waters 6
Heavy beds black shales with beds of limestone; no coal 300
It is, perhaps, dangerous to base any conclusion upon records given from memory of holes sunk so many years ago. Just east
Report on Artesian Wella, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VT. p. 293; Des Moines. 1897. XGeoloyy of Jasper County, Iowa Geol. Surv.. Vol. XV, p. 307 ; Des Moines, 1905.
Jasper County
of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad bridge over Cherry creek, a limestone has been reached which, if referred to the St. Louis, would place the base of the Coal Measures a very moderate depth below the creek bottom, at about 725 feet A. T. The log of a hole put down in the southeast comer of Newton, if the record has been correctly given, places the top of the St. Louis at about the same altitude there. The basement limestone was struck at depths between 117 and 161 feet in a series of drillings in sections 28, 31 and 32 of Lidependence township. Just above it, from one to five feet of coal was encountered.
As in so many other sections of the Iowa field, mining in Jasper county has been largely confined to the valleys of the main streams where coal has been seen to outcrop or where it may be easily traced in test holes of shallow depth. The future will reveal lucrative basins in other parts of the county, where only systematic prospecting can hope to locate them. The workable seams lie in basins of limited extent, distributed along a nxunber of horizons, and there appear to be two groups of such horizons separated by a short stratigraphic interval. Present knowledge of the conditions is not, however, sufficiently definite to permit of correlating the coals of the different fields. The southwestern portion of the county contains much undeveloped coal ; it is the logical field for thorough exploration. The northeastern portion is not so promising, both because the Coal Measures are thinner there and because the strata present were deposited contemporaneously with those which have not so far yielded abundant coal in neighboring counties on the west and north. There are strong possibilities, nevertheless, in even the northeastern townships.
Coal mining began at an early date in Jasper and increased steadily. In 1860 the production was 2,336 tons ; in 1870, 20,720 ; in 1880, 74,462; in 1890, 192,152, 'and in 1892, 293,255. The annual output for the past ten years has been :
Tear.
Tonnage.
Teas.
Tonnage.
Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
Jasper now ranks fifth among the coal counties of the state. According to the report of the State Mine Inspectors, the production for the year ending June 30, 1908, was 467,552 tons. Ten mines employed 836 men.
The occurrence of coal in various parts of the county and the mines in operation in September, 1907, are described below. Mr. Ira Williams ably described the status of the Jasper coal industry as recently as 1905.* In order to avoid duplication of work, his report has been freely drawn upon for material.
Figure 37a. Mdp showing the principal mines of Jasper county.
Oswalt. Along the northern side of Skunk river valley from Valeria to Colfax, extensive mining was undertaken many years ago. The Jasper County Coal and Mining Company removed the coal from much of a thick bed, ranging in thickness from three to six and a half feet, which lies twenty-five feet below the level of the river. This one company mined out as much as 500
Geology of Jaaper County, lo-a Qeol. Surv., Vol. XV, pp. 385-348.
Jasper County 157
acres in sections 34 and 35 of Poweshiek township, while others sank shafts to the same seam in adjacent territory, notably the Valeria and the Diagonal companies, whose shafts were a short distance from Oswalt. Throughout the field, the roof of black slate occasionally becomes so attenuated that the drift comes dangerously near tUe coal, allowing quantities of water to enter the mines. The dip is, in general, to the west. A lower coal, somewhat thinner than the first seam, lies from thirty to forty feet below the one chiefly exploited. A generalized section for the region is:
OSrWALT FIELD.
Feet.
11. "Slate," black 6-35
Number 1 of this section was found in a few other drillings and may possibly be the St. Louis limestone. Its altitude is slightly lower than that of the limestone encountered at Mitchellville, in Polk county.
Two small mines are now working the ''upper vein** in this district. Both supply an important country trade and haul some coal to a neighboring switch for shipment. The Warrick mine (Poweshiek Tp., Sec. 34, Sw. qr.) is entered by a slope 210 feet long with a grade of one foot in three. Cars are hauled to the surface by steam power. Four hours pumping daily is required to remove the water entering the mine. The seam is undulatory and shows an average thickness of four feet. Thirty feet and more of shale intervene between this bed and a higher one, thirteen inches thick. The Adams mine, operating a gin shaft, is situated a short distance west. In sinking the shaft, thirty feet
168 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
of surface material and thirty-five of slate*' were encouiitered. The coal is said to average five feet in these workings.
Southwest of Oswalt, number 10 of the Oswalt section given above apparently becomes attenuated, although it does not disappear ; the lower coal, number 6, thickens slightly and remains of economic importance ; while the thin bed, number 12, persists essentially unchanged. On the south side of Skunk valley, southwest of Oswalt, the Burris and Davis shaft reached a four-foot seam at a level about fifty-five feet above that of the water in the river. Two thin beds were penetrated at elevations of about fifty and eighty feet, respectively, above the thick coal. Near the old Cook shaft, east of Mitchellville (Washington Tp., Sec, 6, Se. qr., Se. 14 ), the three Oswalt horizons may be recognized, as shown in the following section.
Old Cook Mine. East Of Mitchellville.
5. "Slate" and soapstone 46
3. "Slate," with a band of soapstone 16
The lower coal pinches ont" to the north. In a well on the farm of A. W. MacDonald, southeast of the Cook shaft (Washington Tp., Sec 8, Sw. qr.) two seams, possibly corresponding to numbers 2 and 4 of the Cook section, were associated with the fallowing sequence of strata.
FEET. IKCHKb.
8. "Slate" and coal 40
2. Sandstone, gray, magnetic 8
Colfax, Colfax is now the main center of the Jasper county coal industry. The first mining in the county was done at the
Jasper County 159
Slaughter bank, one and a half miles east of Colfax (Sherman Tp., Sec. 32, Sw. qr.). A six-foot seam has been removed from about thirty acres of land by means of drifts slightly above low water in the Skunk river. The roof is a slate" of fair stability and the seam dips to the south one foot in 216. Drilling on the south, between the Slaughter bank and the railroad, failed to find the coal in some cases ; while in others little or no roof was present. No coal was found in an interval of sixty-five feet below this bed. About the same conditions were met in drillings just south and west of Colfax. The Slaughter coal appears to occupy the horizon of the principal bed of the Oswalt district.
The largest mines in the county are located southeast of Colfax near Severs, a mining camp. Two shafts, shipping over the coal spur of the Colfax Northern Railroad, are being operated by the Colfax Consolidated Coal Company. The company control about 1,000 acres of coal rights in Mound Prairie and eastern Washington townships. The whole has been thoroughly prospected and workable coal found to underlie considerable areas. Their mine No. 7 (Mound Prairie Tp., Sec. 17, Sw. qr., Ne. 4) is developing coal three feet six inches to six feet in thickness at a depth of fifty-five feet. The seam is undulatory. The roof is a bituminous shale, bearing in places thin streaks of limestone which weaken it to some extent. Hoisting is done by a geared, two-cylinder Ottumwa engine, supplied with steam by five boilers, one of 100 horsepower and four of forty horsepower each. The haulage engine, situated above ground, is a four-drum, double Ottumwa tail-rope engine, ninety horsepower at eighty pounds pressure. Coal is supplied to the engine room by an endless chain purveyor. Jackson 'half dump,'' automatic cages are in use and chutes are arranged so that three freight cars may be loaded simultaneously. Workings are planned on the room and pillar, double entry method. Tail-rope haulage is extensively employed.
Mine No. 8 of the same company is one mile south of No. 7 (Sec. 20, Nw. qr.). The shaft is 164 feet deep. The tipple is excellently well arranged to handle a large output. From the automatic cages the coal descends over a somewhat complicated system of screens. Five cars may be loaded at once, three with
M
160 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
various grades of large coal and two with pea and slack. The two-cylinder hoisting engine is direct-connected and is supplied by three boilers of 100 horsepower each and one of 150 horsepower, fed by two Penworthy injectors. A McEwen high-speed engine and a Goodnian multipolar generator furnish the electric power used in the mine for illumination and for the recently installed Goodman haulage motor. The coal at No. 8 exhibits the same variations in thickness as does that at No. 7 and is connected with it at one point at least. As in many other portions of the Iowa field, however, the thick coal here lies in adjacent basins separated by areas where the bed becomes attenuated or fails completely. The seam at No. 8 is strongly undulatory and possesses a ''slate" roof which requires much timbering. In parts of the workings, iron pyrite is found freely distributed in irregularly placed bands and nodules. Running north and south near the shaft is an ancient channel of erosion, which has cut out some of the coal. Rolls in the roof are occasionally found, but give little trouble.
Following is a section in a drill hole put down on high ground near shaft No. 8. The chum drill is used by this company in all of its prospecting. Essentially the same sequence was found . also one-half mile east.
FEET. INCHES. 17. Soil 4
Total 176
Jasper County 161
A mile and a half south of No. 8 is the Shorten bank (Mound Prairie Tp., Sec. 29, Sw. qr., Se. 14), reopened during the summer after an idleness caused by the burning of the shaft. A four-foot coal bed is reached at a depth of 100 feet. Impurities, especially ' ' sulphur, ' ' are common in the seam; This is a local mine, hoisting with a twenty-horsepower double engine. Less than one acre has been worked out.
Metz, Local mines have operated intermittently in the vicinity of Metz. Northwest of Metz (Mound Prairie Tp., Sees. 1 and 2) two seams, both outcropping in the vicinity, have been worked. The lower seam is eighteen inches to four feet thick and lies at about the water level in Skunk river. The upper bed lies just below the drift, thirty-nine feet above the river, and varies in thickness between fourteen inches and three feet. The lower coal is the one usually developed. It has a good roof of sandstone, beneath which bowlders'* and masses of calcareous ironstone sometimes appear, replacing all, or part of the coal. In the edge of the Skunk river flood plain, a twenty-two inch coal was found at a depth of twenty-five feet below water level. Some mining has also been undertaken in a small way southwest of Metz (Mound Prairie Tp., Sec. 15, Se. i/4). On the land of Dexter Fowles, coal of good quality was taken from a shaft fiftyseven feet deep. The seam is four feet six inches thick and has a roof of firm ' ' slate. ' '
Newton. For many years coal has been mined south and southwest of Newton, chiefly for local use. Four coal banks are now in operation during part of the year in the district lying about three miles southwest of Newton, in Palo Alto township. The field, which includes all or parts of sections 5, 8, 9, 10, 3, 15 and 16 and small portions of adjoining sections, bears two seams separated by a short interval. The following section may be taken as typical for the district :
6. Sandstone or "slate" 6-20
162 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
The strata exhibit even more pronounced variations in thickness than is indicated in the above section and their lithological characters are not at all constant. Where one coal is well developed the other is apt to be thin or lacking, while throughout the field there are barren areas in which neither seam is found. True faults of small throw, known locally as slips, are common, especially in the lower seam. Drillings on both sides of the railroad in the northern part of section 8, Palo Alto township, are said to have stopped in a stratum of limestone about fifty feet below the level of the track. It is possible, though by no means certain that this is the St. Louis limestone at the base of the Coal Measures.
Mr; Lister, who has operated several mines in this field, is now working a small slope on section 10 (Nw. qr., Ne. 14). The opening penetrates the hill for about seventy yards through coal that is from eighteen inches to two feet thick. Old workings not far distant show four feet of coal in the same seam and the present slope is being excavated in the hope of finding a similar thickness at this point. In ascending order, the strata above the coal are: slate," 3 feet; fire clay, 4 feet; coal, 8 inches; soft sandstone, 8 feet.
The McAllaster bank is a new mine (Sec. 9, Ne. qr., Sw. 4) with a shaft thirty-four feet in depth. The upper seam" is the one worked ; the 'Mower" has been found also. On the west side of this forty-acre tract, drillings are said to reveal a thickness of four feet or more for the ''upper" bed. Entries have been driven a short distance. A twenty-horsepower engine is used for hoisting.
Carson Brothers Coal Company have a forty-foot gin shaft not far from the McAllaster (Sec. 9, Sw. qr.). The seam is four and one-half to five feet thick with a slight general dip to the west. Over the coal is a fairly firm roof made by thirteen to eighteen feet of fissile shale or "slate." The bottom is a fire clay, occasionally replaced by white argillaceous shale.
French Brothers sank seventy feet to a five-foot coal southeast of the Carson (Sec. 16, Se. qr., Nw. %). Hoisting is done with a twenty-two horsepower engine. As the "slate" and soapstone roof proved dangerous, six inches of coal is now left up and gives
Jasper County 163
ample warning before a fall occurs. Under the three feet of fire clay that underlies the bed worked another coal, which, however, is only three inches thick, occurs. Fifteen feet and less above the principal seam is a nine-inch coal.
Some of the earliest mining in the state was inaugurated on Cherry creek (Newton Tp., Sec. 32, W. i/), where there are two seams bearing a close relationship to the field just described. The lower coal is about at the creek level and is one foot in thickness. The upper lies close to the drift, twenty feet higher and is eighteen inches to two feet thick. The interval between the two is bridged by shale. Deeper drilling revealed no other seams. Four miles southeast of Newton, near the Iowa Central tracks (Buena Vista Tp., Sec. 7), several drifts have been operated on the land of A. C. Davis. The seam is eighteen inches to two feet in thickness. Water caused considerable trouble.
Vcmdalia. At the village of Vandalia, two seams have been utilized. The Cavitt shaft, sixty-five feet deep, reached the lower bed, which is four feet in thickness. The Pulver slope mined from a three-foot coal twenty-five feet higher. A drilling in the town brought to light a third horizon, thirty feet below the second and bearing coal eighteen inches thick. In the northeast comer of section 30, a seam twenty-two inches thick has been drifted into to some extent. Wells liear Vandalia seldom fail to penetrate coal beds at moderate depths. On Walnut creek (Des Moines Tp., Sec. 34, Ne. l) coal was taken from a thirtyinch seam until trouble with water and a poor roof caused it to be abandoned. Two miles to the north, coal is still taken out by two local mines during the fall and winter months. The White mine is west of Walnut creek (Sec. 22, Nw. qr.) and drifts into a seam four feet thick, twenty-eight feet above the creek level. Two feet of ''slate" above the coal is overlain by an eighteen-inch limestone *'caprock." There is a gradual dip to the southeast. The Norris drift (Sec. 22, Ne. qr., Se, y) has been in operation on the opposite side of the creek for more than twenty-five years, and about thirty-three acres have been mined out. It is now worked by Charles Calvert. A ''sulphur band" of black jack and iron pyrites, two inches in thickness.
164 Coal Deposits Of Central Iowa
occurs persistently in this coal. The bed is very similar to that mined on the west side of the creek.
Prairie City. Coal northeast of Prairie City has already been described in connection with the Colfax district. One-half mile east of Prairie City, at the north edge of section 1, a drill hole 185 feet deep penetrated three and one-half feet of coal at the bottom. Mining was not undertaken on account of water.
Monroe. On Calhoun creek, four miles west of Monroe, drifts were at one time run into a four-foot coal which outcrops in the hillsides (Des Moines Tp., Sec. 32). Water and a poor roof have prevented mining here during the last twenty-three years.
Pour miles east of Monroe are a group of local mines working in a district which was once one of the most active in the county. An important mining camp named Draper was established uid operations were undertaken on a large scale by the Jasper County Coal and Mining Company and others. At present only a few small mines are in existence. There are two coals in this district, a lower four feet thick and an upper sometimes slightly thinner. The two beds are separated by from ten to forty feet of shale and sandstone. The larger mines worked both beds; but at present only the upper is being developed. Considerable coal is still to be won from the area, but many of the property owners are reserving their coal rights for future sale.
Wm. Marshall is hoisting coal from a shaft fifty-six feet deep by means of horse and gin (Fairview Tp., Sec. 33, Ne. qr.). The upper seam is from three to four feet in thickness. The second seam, about twenty feet below, is a shooting" coal and is not worked. Long wall mining in the upper bed is rendered peculiarly easy by the presence of a clay band, from eight inches to one foot in thickness, separating the coal into two benches. Upon the removal of the clay band, the top coal wedges down by its own weight, while the bottom coal may be pried up with bars. This mine is quite new.
A fourth mile northeast of the Marshall is the Shaw mine, entered by a slope ninety feet in length with a grade of one in twelve. The upper seam is three feet eight inches thick at this point and is split into two divisions by a clay band, fourteen inches in thickness on an average. In one part of the workings
Jasper County 165
this band is only six inches thick ; while at the other end of the breast, only 300 feet distant, it has increased to three feet. The lower seam is found as at the Marshall and was formerly worked. The present slope is a new opening into old workings. The old Shaw slope, a short distance south (Sec. 33, Ne. qr., Ne. y), had removed the upper seam from under more than eighteen acres.
The Gray slope and Sheeler Brothers shaft are adjacent mines working on the northern border of the old Gilchrist workings (Sec. 34, Sw. qr., Nw. %). A layer of impure coal about one foot in thickness lies in the middle of the seam here. The coal is three feet six inches thick. It lies so close to the surface that water gives much trouble after heavy rains.
The McConoghey mine is situated northeast of the ones previously mentioned, near the Skunk river (Sec. 26, Ne. qr., Sw. 1/4). A slope enters a four-foot seam, which is capped by arenaceous limestone, a rather common occurrence in this field. The dip is to the southwest. An unusual feature for the district is a well defined fault which occurs here. A displacement of two feet has been measured; the fault plane is nearly vertical and strikes northwest-southeast. A lower bed, penetrated in a well at a depth of forty-five feet, is reported to be eight feet in thickness. Southwest of the McConoghey, in the same section, the lower seam is known to be thirteen feet below the upper. The latter shows the thin clay band characteristic of it farther west. In the southwest part of section 36, the coal occurs in the hills bordering the Skunk river flood-plain, and a small amount of mining has been done here.
LyrmvUle. Considerable coal has been found north and west of Lynnville along North Skunk river and its tributaries. In section 3 of Lynn Grove township, two seams outcrop above river level. Farther north, in sections 33 and 34 of Richland township, three seams are known. Only the upper bed, which varies between one and four feet in thickness and lies about twenty-five feet above the river flood-plain, has been mined. Under quite a large area here, at least one workable seam may commonly be found at any given point not too near the river bottoms. A general idea of the sequence of strata in the district may be gained from
166 Coal Deposits Of Centkal Iowa
the shaft record of the old Black Oak mine (Sec. 34, Se. qr., Nw. 1/4) :
Feet, Inches.
7. Sandstone, soft, masalve, upper six incbee Indu-
Shale, somewhat flsslle, Irregular concretionary bands ol Impure limestone, "nlggerhead," at
Shale, bituminous.
Coal.
Madison County 167
Part Ii
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Madison County
The southwesterly dip of the Des Moines strata carries them under the Missouri in Madison county. Des Moines rocks are the highest of the indurated series in the northeastern section of the county and in long re-entrants running far up all the main valleys; but in other parts of the region the barren lower section of the Missouri stage lies over and conceals the more freely coal-bearing members of the Pennsylvanian. Outcrops of the Des Moines are of that upper portion which preserves its characteristics more persistently than do the more heterogeneous strata below it, as has been more fully described .in the section on Guthrie county. It is probable that the three coal horizons found along the Raccoon river in Guthrie are represented also in Madison. For example, what is probably the Panora coal appears on Bulger creek in JeflFerson township and the Lonsdale and Marshall in Madison township (section 25). Coal is also found on Cedar creek (Crawford Tp., Sees. 17 and 18), southwest of Bevington (Sec. 36), near St. Charles, and along Clanton creek and Middle river. All these seams are, however, quite feebly developed and hardly of even local importance.*
The heaviest of these coals, where they approximate a thickness of two feet, have been mined for local consumption during the fall and winter months. Less of this is done now than a decade or more back. A two-foot bed has been drifted along Middle river near Patterson and near North river in Madison township (Sec. 25, Nw. qr.). There are probably basins of good coal underlying Madison county ; but it will be necessary to drill
This, et aeq., is taken largely from Tilton and Bain : Geology of Madison County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 537-539; Des Moines, 1897. Recent developments are practically negligible.
168 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
200 or 300 feet in order to reach the horizons which have yielded the best coal In other parts of the state. Thick coal was found at Van Meter in Dallas county at a depth of 285 feet in a shaft the mouth of which had an elevation above sea level of 878 feet.
Shale. Bandy 32
Limestone, Impure, bluiab 2
Shale, black, bituminous 3
3. Shale, argillaceous, bluish
At Lucas, in Lucas county, four to five feet of coal is found at a depth of about 290 feet, with another thick aeam slightly lower. Conditions at Lucas should be very similar to those in the lowlands of northeastern Madison county. Rumors have been circulated of discoveries made in deep drillings near Peru, but nothing at all definite could be learned. Thinner, but still profitable, seams may be expected nearer the surface. Such beds are found in Dallas, Warren, and Lucas counties. Southwest of Norwalk, about four miles east of the Madison county line, a thirty-two inch 'seam lies at an altitude of about 890 feet A. T., and is reached by a shaft sixty-five feet deep.
Warren County
In no other comity in the state, apparently, are the possibilities of finding hitherto undiscovered coal so bright as in Warren. In Polk on the north, Marion on the east, and Lucas on the southeast, strata corresponding stratigraphically with those imderlying Warren are known to include coals in abundance. Owing to the fact that numerous thin coals outcrop in the many deep valleys into which the surface of the county is carved, the temptation has always been to neglect search for deeper seams and to confine attention to those already in sight. Even the lat-
Warren County 169
ter, however, are worthy of development on a much larger scale than they have received. A serious check on attempts to establish shipping mines within the confines of the county has been the poor transportation facilities at hand and the diflSculty of constructing new lines in so rough a country. This is a drawback which will be obviated in the course .of time.
As in other sections of the Iowa field, the coals of Warren lie in more or less isolated basins that are surrounded by areas in which the seams are either attenuated or absent. These basins exhibit a certain amount of regularity in their arrangement along stratigraphic horizons or groups of horizons, as has been carefully worked out by Tilton and described by him several years ago in the following paragraphs:*
CocU Seams of the Lower Group. In this line of strike the borings at Milo and southeast of Palmyra are the only ones, having accessible records, that have pierced the Saint Louis formation below the Coal Measures. The ' Carbonaceous shale ' ' at Milo, at a depth of about 328 feet from the surface or 609 feet above sea level, marks the lowest horizon at which there is now any evidence of coal in the county. It might be regarded as the lowest possible horizon were it not that the floor on which the Coal Measures rest is so irregular. Southeast of Palmyra (Tp. 76 N., R. 22 W., Sec. 5) the Saint Louis is 329 feet below the uplands or 546 feet above sea level.
The strata are nearly horizontal, the dip rarely reaching as much as two degrees southwest, but because of the slight dip to the southwest and the slope of the surface to the northeast, the several strata gradually approach the surface toward the northeast and recede farther and farther from it toward the southwest. Southeast and northwest the old Saint Louis surface lies as nearly horizontal as any surface carved into ridges and valleys by erosion may be expected to lie.
About sixty-eight feet above the lowest horizon are unsatisfactory indications of a second horizon; while a marked third horizon lies 712 feet above sea level, or 225 feet below the upland surface at Milo.. This latter horizon is the upper one in the two groups found at and below the altitude of 725 feet above sea level, and marks the upper part of the group of strata in
Geology of Warren County, Iowa .Geol. Surv., Vol. V, pp. 344-347 ; Des Moines, 1896. Immediately after the panic of 1893, there were a larsre number of farmers' mines takinsr coal from thin seams. The number of these has' steadily decreased ; while all of the mines now In operation, with one unimportant exception are working coals known for many years. Professor Tilton's account takes cognizance, therefore, of all Information obtainable at the present time.
170 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
which coal has been formed of greatest thickness near Des Moines on the north and Lucas on the south. At this same level lies the lowest coal penetrated by Earle Brothers, in section 9, southeast of Spring Hill. At this same level also lies Caldwell and Cassidy's mine in section 31, just west of Summerset; and in section 28, east of Summerset, Jones and Benham have mines where there is a local thickening of the coal, if not an independent basin. To a continuance of this same horizon belongs the seam of coal in the bluff at Ford. This particular horizon, then, is marked by evidence of coal so widespread and of such thickness (two and a half to three feet) that the horizon may be considered as one especially rich in coal.
Coal Seams of the Upper Group. All seams, evidences of which have been found above the horizon last described, outcrop along ravines at different points in the county. The first of these, the lowest of the group, is to be found in the central part of the county, at and above a level of 800 feet. It lies at the level of Middle river east of Spring Hill, in section 2, and at the level of North river in sections 19 and 20, Greenfield township. On South river it is about on a level with the river bed south of Indianola, but it dies out before reaching Milo. Another seam, a few feet below the position of the one last mentioned, is at Summerset, about the level of the railway tracks. 'East of Summerset it is frequently drifted as a surface seam. Another seam on this same horizon appears at the level of Whitebreast creek, in section 35 of Whitebreast township.
These upper seams mark quite an important coal horizon. The coal, under favorable conditions, is quite uniformly eighteen to thirty inches thick.
Above this horizon, in the west-central part of the county, two others exist over quite an area, the first about thirty-five feet above it, the second forty-five still higher up. The lower of these two seams furnishes an easily accessible supply of coal in Jefferson township, the upper semn appearing only at the higher points along the divides. The horizons of these two seams are also marked in White Oak, Otter and Liberty townships by indications of coal. The upper seam is drifted in a few places while the lower of the two horizons is drifted in the vicinity of Milo and in the south-central part of Belmont township. Both horizons appear in the ravine of section 26, southeast of Lacona, and the lower of the two is mined a mile north of Lacona.
Intermediate Coal Seams. Between these two groups of seams, one at and below a level of 725 feet in the central part of the county, and the other at and above 800 feet — belong the
Warren County 171
seams outcropping along the ravines in southern Eichland, Palmyra and Union townships, where they are often drifted for local use. These latter seams frequently present a thickness of eighteen inches of good coal, and are more nearly related to the upper of the two groups of seams in the central part of the county than to the lower group.
The carbonaceous material found in the well at Milo at a depth of 150 feet from the surface, or at an elevation of 775 feet, suggests, together with the position of coal in Palmyra and Union townships, a coal horizon that may be looked for at a corresponding level in the southern part of the county.
In the southwestern part of the county the single coal seam that exists will not afford very profitable mining, nor are there local indications that there are seams to be reached by shafts of moderate depths. The nearest coal seam to the northeast would, if extended beneath Virginia township, lie about thirty feet beneath the river bed at the mouth of Limestone creek. To the east of Limestone creek, nothing but sandstone appears till the vicinity of Squaw creek is reached.
All of the mines in operation in this county are small local affairs, using man and car haulage, and if shafts, primitive methods of hoisting. The more important banks are near Lacona, Milo, Summerset, Carlyle and Norwalk. They will be mentioned more minutely below. Practically all of the county's production has been consumed within its own borders. The annual output has never been considerable; but, on the other hand, it has seldom dropped as low as 1,000 tons. Commonly, Warren has mined between 5,000 and 25,000 tons per year. In 1900, one of the banner years, the tonnage published by the Iowa Geological Survey was 27,824. Since that year the output has gradually declined ; for the year ending June 30, 1908, the State Mine Inspectors report a production of 5,950 tons. These figures do not, however, include coal taken out by small country banks, working only two or three men for part of the year. The six principal mines of the county employ only thirty-seven men.
Coal Deposits Of South Centeal Iowa
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174 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
North River Valley.
Descending North river from the west county line, an exposure of good coal is met with a little over a mile down stream (Linn Tp., Sec. 32, Sw. qr., Se. 14). As measured by Tilton, the section is :
Feet. Inches.
8. Sandstone, gray, easily decomposed 1 6
7. Shale, clayey, blue, jointed 5
6. Sandstone, very fossiliferous*. 7
5. Shale, clayey, blue, jointed, sandy above 6
3. Sandstone, nodular, reddish 3
1 Fire clay, exposed 4
Two miles northeast of this exposure (Sec. 34, Ne. qr.), a forty-foot shaft was sunk to what is probably the same seam. At this point the bed is three feet in thickness.
Two miles southwest of Norwalk and a half mile north of the river ( Sec. 23, Nw. qr., Se. ) is the local mine of the Hartshorn and Son Coal Company. The shaft is sixty-five feet deep to a seam thirty-two inches thick. Hoisting is eflfected by a traction engine attached to a drum. The seam exhibits a dip of one foot in sixty to the north. The roof is an argillaceous shale which requires considerable timbering; the floor is a fire clay that shows some tendency to heave. Two miles southeast of Norwalk, a coal lying a few feet above water level has been reached by shafts and slopes at various points along North river (Sees. 19, 20, 21 and 29, Greenfield Tp.). The seam varies from two to three feet in thickness. The Hawkeye mine now supplies a good grade of coal to the surrounding farmers. Down river (Sec. 22), the coal is found sufficiently far above the river to be reached by drifts.
A few miles southwest of Carlisle, drifts and shafts have reached a thirty-inch coal from the south side of North river valley (Allen Tp., Sec. 8). A bit more than half a mile south of the river three mines are now supplying a local trade. They are located in the upper portions of the valleys of small tributaries to North river, at an elevation of from forty to fifty feet above the level of the river. The seam varies in thickness from
Warren County 176
thirty inches to three feet. A fairly constant characteristic of the bed is a ''sulphur band" of black jack and iron pyrites about one inch thick, which lies near the middle of the coal. The roof is a ' ' slate ' ' of fair stability, although weak in places. The John Gross mine formerly worked a twenty-four foot shaft, but a slope has recently been opened (Allen Tp., Sec. 8, Sw. qr., Sw. % ) . The coal may be seen outcropping here in a ditch near the slope mouth. A few hundred feet southwest is the new Peterson coal bank, a slope 180 feet in length to the coal. A half mile east is the Myers and Farrel shaft, thirty feet in depth (Sec. 8, Se. qr., Nw. 14). Hoisting is done with horse and gin. Work has been chiefly south and west of the shaft. For 300 feet from the shaft the dip is southwest, then ceases, and finally becomes slightly reversed.
Middle River Valley.
Along the upper course of Middle river, in Warren, little mining has been attempted and a large part of the coal used is taken from beds less than fifteen inches in thickness. There are, however, several places where workable seams are known. Southeast of Spring Hill, a boring made by Earle Brothers near their old shaft furnished the suggestive record given below (Tp. 76 N., B. 24 W., Sec. 9, Nw. qr., Se. 14). The top of this drilling is twenty-eight feet above the river bed, so that the first seam mentioned in this record is that which is found to pass beneath the
bed close bv.
Feet.
rm7. Soil and clay 8
n6. Shale, clayey, blue 6
T14. Shale, clayey, dark 1
US. Coal 1
a2. Fire clay 2
Til. Shale, sandy, hard 13 "
4. Shale, clayey, red and blue 34
176 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
According to Professor Tilton's geological cross-section along Middle river, number 1 of the above record occupies the same horizon as the coal mined at Ford, on the Des Moines river.
Between Earle Brothers shaft and Summerset, only thin coals have been reported. At Summerset, shafts were sunk sixty to 100 feet to the so-called 'Third vein,'' which was four feet in thickness. Nothing has been done at this point for some years, but two miles northeast is a group of local mines working in a seam which lies from fifteen to thirty feet above the low water level of North river. This bed varies in thickness from thirty inches to three feet where worked, and shows persistently, about one foot above its base, an inch or less of iron pyrites. In this, as in its altitude, the seam corresponds closely with the coal worked near Carlisle. It has a slight dip to the south. The roof is a thin layer of black slate" overlain by a thin arenaceous limestone which renders the whole secure, except where the base of the drift approaches perilously near the coal. Sixty feet above the seam now worked is a fifteen-inch bed which has been mined a little. From sixty to forty feet below the seam now worked is a heavier bed, said to be as much as four feet thick in places. Between the two lower seams a thin bed, known locally as the ''lost vein," is sometimes present and sometimes absent. Two mines are now supplying a local trade from the seam first described. The Overton mine (Tp. 77 N., E. 23 W., Sec. 33, Nw. qr., Ne. %) is taking coal from a shaft recently sunk 125 feet. The Buchanan mine operates a shaft thirty feet deep on lower ground, one mile north (Sec. 28, Nw. qr., Se. 14). The lower seam was also worked in this vicinity formerly. The accompanying figure illustrates the sequence of strata above the lower coal, which probably lies in the Ford horizon.
Three small mines are now working at and near Ford. Considerable coal has been taken out in the past from a seam which outcrops along the base of the bluflf until it comes to an end as it reaches the water level of Middle river, one-fourth mile east of the Clarkson bridge. The stratigraphic relationships of the Ford coal with other seams along the Des Moines river have already been discussed in the chapter on Polk county.
Warren County
Figure 40. Section o
Llmeatone, blue, I
Kerous. Shale, blue, arglllac
16. Limestone, fossil lleroue.
f>. Sandstone.
fissile. .
Jocust Grove Coal CoinpaDy have a thirty -foot shaft a Mt'e less than a mile southwest of Ford (Richland Tp., Sec. 9, ".'''-i Sw. Yi). Hoisting is by horse-gin; pumping by traction The seam is level and shows a thickness of four feet
178 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
four inches. A constant feature in it here is the inclusion of a band of black jack about eighteen inches above the base of the coal. The thickness of the band, from eight to eighteen inches, is included in that of the seam as given above. Above the coal is fourteen feet of slate; next higher, six feet of the massive Ford sandstone.
A slope, sometimes called the Red Diamond, is taking out a large pillar left by the old Fordville company in their workings opposite the store at Ford. The roof over this particular piece of coal is not good. The 'dirt band" found at the Locust Grove is practically lacking at this point ; but more sulphur is present. The old workings are said to extend back nearly a mile from the face of the bluff.
Another slope is being operated opposite the Ford station, where the seam is from three feet to fifty inches in thickness, and shows only a one-inch *'dirt band," near the base of the coal. There are no ''slips." Rolls in the roof occasionally cut out all or part of the coal. The roof is an infirm black ' ' slate, ' ' which may be as much as twelve feet or as little as six inches in thickness, and is capped by the heavy Ford sandstone. The present company, having run 350 feet into the bluff, is heading off part of the old Fordville workings.
SANDYVILLE DlfiTRICT.
ft
In the southwestern quarter of the county, very little coal has been found and only thin coals have been worked along South river above Ackworth. In the vicinity of Sandyville, east of Ackworth, some two and three-foot coal is known. One mile west of the village, two feet of good coal has been reached by drifts (Union Tp., Sec. 20, Ne. qr., Ne. 14). Three miles north of the town three coals are shown in the following exposure (Union Tp., Sec. 3, Se. qr., Nw. Y) :
Feet. Inches.
6. Limestone, gray, arenaceous, fossiliferous 2
Warren County 179
A mile south of this exposure, in the valley of a small creek, a three-foot seam was reached by a shaft twenty-four feet deep (Sec. 10, Se. qr., Nw. y). A mile northeast of the exposure, a coal from three to three and a half feet in thickness was entered by drifts (Richland Tp., Sec. 35, Nw. qr., Se. 14). It will be seen that there is considerable workable coal near South river in this region, and it has been left practically imtouched. On the north side of South river valley, in Palmyra township (Sec. 5, Sw. qr.), two drillings were carried to the base of the Coal Measures. Only one of these, begun on higher ground than the other, showed coal. The drill record of the latter test is given in full below :
Feet. Inches.
34. Clay, yellow, with gravel below 20
31. Limestone, fossiliferous 4
21. Shale, clayey, red running to brown, bed of South
river 26
20. Shale, brown, sandy below 19
14. Shale, gray with hard bands 10
13. Shale, soft, blue, with bands of gravel 27
10. Shale, bright, with ironstone bands 17
9. Shale, clayey, red, blue, and brown 26
180 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
7. Shale, light above, dark below, hard 23
3. Shale, light, with hard bands 7
2. Shale, gray, very hard and sandy 12
Total 367 2
South and southeast of Sandyville, along Coal and Fly creeks and their tributary branches, numerous drifts and slopes have taken coal from thin beds. In almost all cases these seams show thicknesses of less than two feet. Heavier coal could probably be found by drilling.
Milo District.
Three miles southeast of Milo, pn Flank creek, is a field showing a basin of coal from thirty to forty inches in thickness. The coal is of medium grade, thin bands of pyrite being interspersed through its substance. Two other seams are found at slightly higher levels; they are commonly thin, yet occasionally show as much as two feet of coal. The lower bed is tapped during the colder months by shafts, slopes, and drifts at several points in sections 28, 29, 32 and 33 of Belmont township and in the northern portions of sections 3 and 4, Whitebreast township. The most important of these small mines at the present time is, perhaps, the Heinen drift (Belmont Tp., Sec. 33, Ne. qr., Ne. V), where the bed lies at an altitude of 835 feet above sea level. Mr. Heinen is now pulling pillars and preparing to move to a new location not far up Flank creek, where three feet of coal has been found in a well.
On Otter creek and its tributaries west and southwest of Milo, is a group of small local mines. One mile west of Milo (Otter Tp., Sec. 13, Sw. qr., Sw. /4), is the Hollingsworth bank, reached by a shallow shaft. The seam is eighteen inches thick. This mine has been idle for two years, but may be reopened. One mile southwest (Sec. 23, Nw. qr.), Joe Mitchell works intermittently a slope for the local trade. This coal is also thin. The principal mine of the district is the Bayles bank, one inile and a
Marion County 181
half southwest of Milo. A slope is now being driven in from the valley of a small ''ditch" (Sec. 26, Ne. qr., Ne. it being planned to use the old shaft as an air course. A seam has been worked by numerous openings in this neighborhood since 1870. It is a fairly clean coal, showing a thickness of from twenty-one to twenty-seven inches. It grows thinner to the west and extends but a short distance east into section 25. In sections 32, 33, and 34 of Otter township and in 5 and 8 of Liberty township thin coals have been feebly exploited at numerous points along the streams.
The coal beds of the Dayles area appear to lie in fairly definite horizons and have, accordingly, been termed by the miners the ''first,'' "second'' and "third" veins. The coals, however, are not continuous, but lie in basins of limited extent at levels which approximately correspond. The altitude of the bed chiefly worked at present is about 870 above tide. About thirty feet below and fifteen feet above are other horizons which have yielded only thin coals.
Lacona District.
. One mile north of Lacona, the Jones mine is operated during a portion of the year. A bed two and a half feet in thickness is reached by a shallow shaft. Farther north, on Wolf creek, and southeast near Whitebreast creek thin beds have been reached at one or two points. Southwest of Liberty Center (Liberty Tp., Sec. 29) a little coal is still taken from a sixteen inch bed during the winter months.
Marion County
Marion county embraces the northwestern portion of, what has proved the most prolific section of the Iowa coal field, and includes some of the best coal basins in the state. Topographically, the greater part of the county is rough, as the result of the excavation of valleys by several important streams, chief among which is the Des Moines river. The topography has affected the coal industry in two ways : it has favored it by aflfording an easy means of locating and reaching coal beds exposed m the valleys beneath the drift, while it has hindered it by check-
182 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
ing the building of railroads excepting along a few rather circumscribed lines of travel. A number of railroads do traverse the county ; yet their courses are such that they can carry Marion coal only into territory already supplied by fields enjoying the advantage of a shorter haul to the centers of consumption. This is a defect that will be remedied in the course of time.
In the eastern half of the county the base of the Coal Measures lies at no great depth beneath the surface of the county. In fact, the larger streams have cut completely through the Des Moines beds in the lower portions of their courses so as to expose the Saint Louis limestone in the lowlands. Thus, the Des Moines river flows over the limestone as far up the valley as Howell and over aii isolated exposure of it just below Eousseau; English creek leaves the Coal Measures just below Flagler; South Skunk river and Thunder, Walnut, and Cedar creeks also uncover the Saint Louis for several miles above the points at which their waters enter Mahaska county on the east. The Coal Measures, therefore, are not very thick in the eastern half of the county, although above depressions in the very uneven surface of the Saint Louis limestone, coal may be foimd below the level of the basement formation at the outcrops mentioned. Owing to the general dip of the strata to the southwest, the Coal Measures of the southwestern part of the county attain greater depth than do those in the eastern. Few deep drillings have been made in this area, so that only a general idea of the average depth of the surface of the Saint Louis may be offered. At Milo, a few miles from Marion county in Warren, the base of the Coal Measures was reached at a depth of 328 feet, making its elevation above sea level about 609 feet. Borings in Lucas county, ou the south, place the Saint Louis at about the sanio average level in that quarter. Results obtained by borings farther north in Warren county and in Polk do not deviate materially from the figures already given. It is probable, then, that the thickness of the Coal Measures in southwestern Marion seldom exceeds 400 feet and more often approximates 300 feet or less.
Marion county contains in local ''swamps" some of the thickest coal in the state. Vertical heights of as much as sixteen feet have been reported from more than one mine, but in such cases
Marion County 183
the value of the coal is often decreased by the presence of considerable foreign substance or by weakness in the overlying stratum forming the roof. Coal appears to be abundant in all parts of the county ; verj' rarely is a test hole sunk without encountering at least one seam. Nevertheless, the discovery of thick coal in one pocket by no means indicates tbe presence of a workable field in the neighborhood. The coal lies in isolated basins of lenticular shape, many of them small, and it has been known to thicken and thin with startling rapidity when followed short distances laterally. It is not safe to sink a shaft to any seam until its extent has been accurately determined by a free use of the drill. Such prospecting operations have been actively carried on within the limits bf the county and coal rights covering large tracts of land have been reserved by companies now operating in neighboring coimties on the east and southeast. When the fields in which these companies are now working approach exhaustion, it is reasonable to suppose that tliey will turn their attention to Marion. Large sections in tbe southwestern comer of the county have been neglected, and yet this is the most promising teri-itorjof all, since under it the Coal Measures are presumably thickest. The building of a railroad through this area would be followed by rapid coal development.
DiiReulties attendant on mining in Marion are little, if any, greater than in other sections, yet some trouble is experienced from tbe more than usually large number of "bowlders" often encountered. These "bowlders" are sometimes sandstone concretions, yet much more frequently they are of impure carbonaceous limestone, black on freshly broken .surfaces, but whitening after exposure to the atmosphere. "Bowldei-s" are ctunmouly oval or lenticular in shape and lie with their long axes parallel to the bedding planes of the strata. They often occur
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
in aggregations, leaving large areas perfectly clear. Their favorite position is in the top of the coal, next the roof, and they are apt to be most numerous where the coal is abnormally thick. Marion has always been an important producer and has shown a steady and consistent gain in output, aside from temporary setbacks. The annual production for 1860 is given in the federal census reports as 1,548 tons ; for 1870 as 4,313 ; for 1880 as 72,- 550 ; and for 1890 as 145,180. The output of the last ten years as given in reports of the Iowa and United States Geological Surveys is as follows:
Year.
Tonnage.
Yeab.
Tonnage.
The report of the State Mine Inspectors for the year ending June 30, 1908, shows a slight falling off.
Number of mines 20
Number of tons of all grades produced 327,745
Number of men employed 693
Marion now holds sixth place among the coal counties of the state, having recently yielded fifth place to Jasper. The price per ton at the mines is lower here than in other parts of the state, being only about $1.40.
Mining is now most actively carried on in Liberty township. Flagler still ships considerable coal; while smaller mines may be found near Pella, Harvey, Dunreath, Knoxville, and Coalport, and on Whitebreast creek. In the following account brief mention is made of the mines found in operation in September, 1907. Material has been freely taken from earlier reports of this Survey.*
No attempt has been made to correlate the various coal basins, for no regularity in their stratigraphic position has as yet been deciphered. The roughness of the county renders extremely uncertain attempts to assign any particular relationship to coals geographically separated; while the inconsistency in character
Keves. Iowa Geol. Surv.. Vol. II, pp. 317-340; Des Moines. 1894. Miller, Vol. XT, pp. 169-182; Des Moines, 1901.
Marion County 185
of the lower Des Moines strata makes the advisability of such attempts doubtful. The forthcoming publication of detailed topographic maps of the Kjioxville and Pella quadrangles by the United States Geological Survey may, perhaps, aid in determining the possible value of future correlation work on a large scale.
District North Op The Des Moines River.
Morgan Valley, In the northwestern corner of the county two seams, separated by a vertical distance of ten feet, outcrop just above the level of the Wabash tracks. The upper seam, four feet or less in thickness, is capped by a massive sandstone that reveals its close relationship with the Ford horizon. The lower is one foot or less in thickness. Up a ravine near Morgan Val-' ley, a switch track was laid for a distance of three-fourths 'of a mile from the main line and coal was shipped over it from a mine situated at its extremity. The shaft was forty-five feet deep to a four-foot coal which possesses also the heavy sandstone roof. This mine has been idle for several years. One-fourth mile south (Perry Tp., Sec. 4, Sw. qr., Sw. 14), beside the tracks of the same switch, brick and tile is being made from Carboniferous clay underlying a twenty-inch seam of coal. The seam outcrops near the bottom of the valley. A compact sandstone roof makes it possible to excavate the clay in 'broad rooms, with an entry fifteen feet wide at the foot of the short slope. Only the upper ten or twelve feet of clay is utilized, the coal being at first left up for a roof. As the working face advances, the coal is removed and used at the plant.
Along the river, below Morgan Valley, several outcropping seams have been drifted from the sides of the bluffs. These coals are either thin or of limited lateral extent. At Dunreath, however, extensive mining was carried on many years ago. Miller* recognizes the existence of four horizons near this village: the first forty-five feet above river level, the second fifteen feet lower; the third twenty feet beneath the second, and the fourth at low-water level in the bed of the river. All four horizons do not bear coal at any one point. The coal in the lower
Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XI, p. 176'; Des Moines, 1901.
186 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
two horizons is thin in most cases. The second seam is the one from which the larger mines of the district obtained their supply, and may be correlated with the coal found occupying a depression in the Eed Rock sandstone in the quarry near Bed Rock. At Dunreath, the seam is from four to seven feet in thickness. The Black Diamond mine (Red Oak Tp., Sec. 26, Sw. qr., Nw. 1/4) removed the coal from about seventy acres; the Success (Sec. 27, Nw. qr., Sw. 14 ), from approximately forty acres. The upper horizon shows a thickness of two and a half feet where it has been drifted to some extent at its outcrop in the hill south of Dunreath.
The New Dunreath Coal Co., northeast of the village, plans to reopen its shipping mine during the coming winter (Sec. 22, Ne. qr.). With the exception of a few months, this shaft has been idle for two years because of trouble with accumulating water. The shaft, fifty feet deep, reaches what is probably the second Dunreath horizon, in which the coal is here four and onehalf feet in thickness. A short spur has been built from the main line of the Wabash railroad. Hoisting is done with a double, geared engine with cylinders 14x20 inches.
Two miles northeast of Dunreath a group of small, local mines have operated intermittently. At the present time Le Grande coal bank is the only producer (Red Rock Tp., Sec. 13, Nw. qr., Sw. 14). This is a slope 200 feet long, with a maximum grade of one in three. In excavating the air shaft, six feet of surface material, a small coal blossom," three feet of fire clay, and forty feet of shale were successively encountered before the thick coal was reached. The seam worked is four feet in thickness and, so far as now known, dips toward the south. Ironstone bowlders" are freely dispersed through the coal and contingent portions of the roof and underlying fire clay. A sulphur band, ' ' two inches or less thick, occupies a central position in the coal. Whether the seam worked here and those sometimes exploited in neighboring mines are identical is difficult to determine ; for a network of small streams has cut deeply into the horizon on every hand.
At the Red Rock quarry, southeast of Dunreath, is the small coal basin already mentioned, and illustrated in the accompany-
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188 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
ing sketch. At its point of maximum thickness, this seam shows six feet of coal.
Otley. One mile southwest of Otley is a basin containing coal from four to seven feet in thickness, with an average of five feet. At one time the Otley Coal Company did a shipping business in this field; but now only local mines are operated. The Yukon, or Vriezelaar, mine (Summit Tp., Sec. 21, Se. qr., Se. l) has enjoyed a long continuance. The main entry runs east and southeast for a considerable distance, showing at its extremity a slight dip to the east. The roof is a fairly firm shale, showing, as does the coal itself, occasional streaks of pyrites. The mine is entered by a gentle slope 125 feet long, over which cars are hauled by means of a pull-rope attached to a small single engine. About twelve men are employed during the winter. A short space northeast, on the same forty acres of land, is the small HoUingsworth & Rickabaugh slope to the same seam.
Pella. Pella itself lies on a rather level divide on which, over a limited area, the surface drainage is poor. The water sinking through the porous soil has tended to destroy the value of what coal lies immediately under the city ; so that all mines now work- . ing are situated a few miles from the corporation limits. These mines do no shipping and are not large affairs ; yet they do an important wagon trade. Two miles northwest of Pella (Lake Prairie Tp., Sec. 32, Ne. qr., Se. 4) is the Buwalda mine, where coal is taken from a seam which varies in thickness from three and a half to five feet. In places six feet of coal has been encountered, but in such cases the condition of the overlying **draw slate" made mining impracticable. The shaft was sunk 112 feet, chiefly through sandstone, and is most fortunately placed at the lowest point of the basin. Sandstone forms the roof, except where slate somewhat erratically intervenes between it and the coal. The same coal was mined from a shaft situated onefourth mile east. It is estimated that this coal pocket contains about 200 acres, less than half of which has been worked out.
The Dieleman Coal Company has a shaft to a seam of similar thickness one mile south of the Buwalda (Sec. 5, Ne. qr., N. Vo)- In this shaft, which is 104 feet deep, less sandstone and more shale were penetrated. The main entries extend 100 yards
Marion County 189
north and 150 feet south of the shaft. The seam is undulatory, as is usually the fact in this region.
In the rough country on the border of the Des Moines river valley, south of Pella, seams outcropping in the ravines are occasionally drifted for local use. Several basins containing coal three feet or more in thickness have been located ; but very little prospecting has beien done and little is known about the nature and extent of the workable coal.
District South Op Des Moines River.
Sttan. Several shipping mines have operated at Swan, in the Des Moines valley near the Marion county line. The town is situated in the midst of a considerable coal field, not yet com-* pletely mined put, but abandoned since 1898. Three seams were present, as shown in the following section ( Swan Tp., Sec. 18, Sw. qr.), the upper being about twenty-five feet above the level of the railroad track.
Sample Drilling At Swan.
Feet. Inches.
Coal Creek. Several small country mines are occasionally worked by slopes and shallow shafts along Coal creek (Pleasant Grove Tp., Sees. 17, 20, and 21). The seam is seldom more than three feet thick. The upper part of the section given below is exposed on the west bank of the creek (Sec. 20, Ne. qr., Nw. y),
Feet. Inches.
6. Shale, light-colored, argillaceous 2 6
5. Shale, drab, arenaceous 5 6
4. Sandstone, gray, laminated or massive 3
2. Shale, black, upper 13 feet exposed to water level 30
190 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Red Rock. One mile south of Red Rock, Keyes reports a four-foot coal lying immediately underneath the Red Rock sandstone, twenty feet above river level. This seam is said to have been opened on Teter creek and to be exposed at the ferry at Rousseau.
Whitebreast Creek. Along the upper portion of the valley of Whitebreast creek in Marion county, there is known to be much coal. Owing to lack of transportation facilities, only country mines have been opened. These are located chiefly in sections 24, 26 and 35 of Franklin township, and 19 and 30 of southwestern Knoxville township. The following sequence (Franklin Tp., Sec. 26, Ne. qr., Se. Vl) is typical.
Feet. Inches.
7. Sandstone, yellow, soft 11
2. Fire clay and black "slate" 60
Number 3 of the above section is the coal usually mined, al-
-
though some has been taken from the outcrop of number 6. In general, the coal is quite soft.
Gosport. Coal outcrops at several points along English creek in the vicinity of Gosport and has been drifted for local consumption. Where worked, the coal shows thicknesses of three feet and less, and near the outcrop naturally possesses a roof of poor stability. The coal seen along this creek probably belongs to a succession of basins lying in a limited number of horizons. The advent of a railroad would probably cause considerable development work to be inaugurated.
Knoxville, In the northeastern comer of the city of Knoxville, a number of mines were formerly opened to supply the city trade. The coal was about three feet thick on an average, increasing to six feet in a few places. It is said to have lain in a narrow trough running northwest and southeast and overlain by black slate" and small patches of sandstone.
Marion County 191
In the valley of English creek, south and southeast of Ejioxville, several local mines have been opened to supply the surrounding country districts and Knoxville. Three miles south of Bjioxville is a five-foot coal with a good roof of black ''slate." Where reached by slopes, it dips southeastward. Farther east (T. 75 N., E, 19 W., Sec. 20), at least two coals, separated by twenty feet of shale, are known. The lower may be reached from the valley by drifts and is from forty inches to four feet in thickness. Evidences of coal may frequently be detected in descending the creek from this point. Three miles southeast of Knoxville, on English creek, are two coal banks which do an important wagon trade. Of these, the most southerly is the Hayes bank (T. 75, R. 19, Sec. 15, Sw. qr., Nw. V). This is a slope driven east to a six-foot seam which lies about forty feet beneath the surface at the slope mouth. The soapstone roof requires careful watching. The Miller bank is on the opposite side of the creek, one mile north (Sec. 9, Se. qr., Nw. 14). A coal varying in thickness from forty inches to six feet is entered by a drift situated about forty feet above the level of the creek. This seam is the one also mined by the English Creek Coal Co., one mile north. It is said that a lower coal has also been found here; but details are not available.
Flagler. The Whitebreast and other coal companies mined out more than 100 acres at Flagler. Since only the best coal was removed, there still remains a fair supply at the village and a few small mines are utilizing it. There are two'-horizons, both of which have furnished workable coal. The old Whitebreast No. 11 worked in a lenticular basin which thinned rapidly in all directions from a central point where a thickness of fourteen feet 18 reported. The Knoxville Fuel Company has recently reopened a slope in the hillside, just below the station of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (T. 75, R. 19, Sec. 3, Ne. qr., Se. /i). At present an elevated tramway runs 800 feet from the slope mouth to a tipple beside the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy tracks; but a new opening is planned for the near future. Rope haulage is to be installed shortly. At the slope mouth the seam is only slightly below the entrance ; it dips strongly to the north for 300 feet, becomes level for 400, dips north once more
192 Coal Deposits Of South Centbal Iowa
for the next 600, and then remains constant in position to the end of the entries. Since the slope opens to the south, water does not drain off naturally, but must he removed by siphoning and pumping. Prospecting in this neighborhood revealed a continuous basin covering at least 500 acres. The coal is quite regularly five feet thick and Is overlain by from twenty to forty feet of hard "soajistone" shale. A boring at the Rock Island depot shows that the seam lies forty feet below the railroad; while a trial shaft one mile north of the Knoxville mine shows a continuance of five-foot coal to that point.
On the south side of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy tracks, opposite the Knoxville mine, a few small slopes are taking coal left in old workings in the lower horizon. The amount to be won in this manner is not great.
One mile west of Flagler, the English Creek Coal Company operates what is commonly known as the "Hawkeye mine," loading on a switch from the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (Sec. 4, Se. qr., Se. Vi). The shaft is fifty feet deep to a seam which varies from three to six feet in thickness, and occasionally cuts out completely for short distances where rolls are present in the roof. The few "bowlders" in the coal do not give much trouble, nor do the slips, or geological faults, which sometimes change the level of the coal as much as three feet. The seam has a strong dip to the south. The mine has a good
m
i?T0ik'
Figure i2. Fnul: In Hawkeye mine. Flagler,
" "slate" roof, separated from the coal by two feet of "draw slate." Hoisting is done with a geared double engine, cylinders 12x18 inches. Three thousand feet of tail rope used for underground haulage are propelled by an engine situated above ground. Much coal has been mined out here, but the company owns a
Maeion County 183
large field where work is now being carried on, one-half mile to the south.
Coalport. At one time Coalport was an important town, supplying coal to the numerous steamboats then plying between the cities located on the navigable portion of the Des Moines river. With the cessation of navigation, mining on a large scale was abandoned and today only one mine is open — a drift in the face of the bluffs beside an abandoned channel of the river (Polk Tp., See. 14, Sw. qr., Se. 14). The coal here is from six to eight feet in thickness, lies fairly level at an elevation twenty-five feet above that of the river, and has as a characteristic feature a four-inch "sulphur band" in its center. Bolls occur, though the coal is never reduced to less than four feet. The coal is soft, but will stand transportation ; a little is hauled to Howell and
SandBtone, heavily bedded. with lepidodendrlda, - larlds, fliicea and calamitea below.
Shale. bltumlnouB.
Coal, rather Impure. Sandatone, very thinly bedded, and sandy ahale (exposed
from that point. A lower seam is also found here as sii "Wxi iji the accompanying illustration of the section found in
194 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Harvey, Workable coal is known near Harvey, both northwest along the Des Moines river and south as far as Walnut creek. Two local mines are now in operation a short distance south of the town. The V. R. Olive bank (Clay Tp., Sec. 9, Se. qr., Se. l) is a hundred foot slope with a thirty per cent grade. The seam is four to six feet in thickness and contains a fev? pockets of ironstone bowlders." The roof is eighteen feet and more of a slate" bearing occasional arenaceous patches. Onehalf mile southeast is the Lone Star slope ( Sec. 15, Nw. qr., Nw. 14) The company is now pulling pillars preparatory to moving a short distance to a location nearer the center of the field. This particular basin is said to contain only thirty acres of good coal. With the exception of a few bowlders" the seam is clean and regular. Both the above mines haul some coal to Harvey for shipment.
The Hawkeye Portland Cement Co., located at Harvey, report that they have prospected 280 acres of land owned by them in section 20, Clay township, and 120 acres in neighboring parts of sections 21 and 28 and have found good coal under the greater part. The seam lies at slightly varying elevations, but is never more than 100 feet below the surface. The borings are said to show from fifteen to fifty feet of soil and yellow clay, forty to sixty of light-colored shale, six to seven and a half of coal, followed by fire clay, sandstone, and a succession of shales to the Saint Louis limestone. Between this area and Everest corporate interests ,control extensive coal rights on land which they are holding for future development.
Everest, Liberty township, in the southeastern corner of the county, is now the scene of vigorous activity in the mining industry. Everest (Sec. 17) is a new mining camp containing about 200 houses, the homes of employes of the Mammoth Vein Coal Co. The field is a large one and may be expected to turn out much coal. Mammoth Vein No. 5 is a short distance northeast of the camp (Sec. 17, Ne. qr., Nw. Vi). In point of output it is the largest in the county and ranks well up with the best producers in the state. The average thickness of the seam at this mine is over eight feet ; while as much as fourteen and a half feet has been carefully measured at one point and sixteen feet is
Marion Countyreported
at another. From the foot of the shaft the bed dips gently toward the southeast and rises towards the northwest. The roof is a firm slate ' about eleven feet in thickness. Coal is hoisted forty-five feet from the bed to the surface by a geared double engine with cylinders 12x14 inches. Steam is furnished by four boilers, two of seventy-five horse power each and two of 150 each. The equipment for producing the electric power
.Xv/// Iv.
Figure 44. Map showing shipping mines in southeastern Marlon county.
used at all the company mines is located here. At No. 5, electric lighting is used in the main entries and haulage is effected over 2,500 feet of track running northeast and southwest by two class B Goodman motors.
Mine No. 9 of the same company is one mile northwest of Marysville (Sec. 19, Se. qr., Se. 14). This slope is not yet devel-
Iw Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
oped, although entries are completed for 1,000 feet and the mine is ready for work at any time. The coal is from six to ten feet in thickness' Near No. 9, on Mr. Feagan's land, is a small drift supplying a local trade from the same coal bed.
The Mammoth Vein numbers 10 and 11 are a pair of slopes facing one another from opposite sides of a deep ravine (Sec. 20, Ne. qr. ) . Formerly the two openings were connected across the gulch by an elevated tramway and dumped their product at the same point. A fire so seriously damaged No. 10, however, that it has been temporarily abandoned. Electric power is conveyed across country from No. 5 by cable. One class B motor hauls cars over 3,200 feet of rack-rail track in No. 11, and along the side of the ravine to the tipple. Electric lighting is employed in the main entries. The mine is entered by a slope 400 feet long, with a sixteen per cent grade. The coal averages about five feet in height and is quite clean, except for "bowlders" of impure limestone, which are not a serious source of trouble. The dip is to the northeast, about sixteen feet in 100.
Marysville. A number of small mines have operated in the valley of South Cedar creek, at and above Marysville. The Avery mine, on the south side of the creek near Marysville (Sec 32, Ne. qr., Nw. A), is now taking out some coal for local trade during threshing time and winter. At the end of a slope, 100 feet long and with a grade of one in eight, is found coal six feet in thickness, lying not far from the level of the water in the creek. The dip is southwest and the overlying stratum a sandstone. Bowlders" of impure limestone occur in sizes ranging from pebbles to rocks three feet in diameter. The basin in which this seam lies apparently covers considerable territory in this region. A tract of land near Marysville has been purchased by one of the large coal companies of a neighboring county.
Hamilton and Bussey. Many openings have been made in the area embraced between Cedar creek and the railroads connecting Bussey and Hamilton. Just southwest of the latter town, there may still be seen the top works erected by the Southeastern Coal Company, which sank 200 feet to a seam from four to eight feet thick, but did not develop the mine farther. There is good coal here, although bowlders*' and thin lenticles of
Marion County 197
rock in the coal give some trouble. The York Coal Company worked a shaft 164 feet deep half a mile north of town, on the Wabash railroad. The coal here was from three to six feet in thickness and was cut out by rolls in many places. The mine was abandoned one year ago (1906). West and northwest of Hamilton thick coal is found in several horizons; but reliable accounts of the relationships of the various seams cannot be obtained, as little mining has been done for a number of years. The forthcoming publication of a topographic map will enable more exact correlations to be made. The section at the Novelty mine, an abandoned shaft not far north of Hamilton, may be useful for purposes of comparison.
Feet. Inches.
T. Shale, gray 60
6. Shale, dark gray, fissile 14
2. Ironstone "bowlder" 3
Several shipping mines once operated west of Bussey in coal four feet and more in thickness. The 0. K. company mined out nearly 100 acres from gloves and shallow shafts. When the region was visited by the author, only two mines, both small, were in operation. Near one of the former 0. K. mines (Sec. 23, Nw. qr., Ne. /4), is the new slope of the Campbell and Guthrie Coal Company. The seam shows a constant thickness of about four feet; while two thinner coals appear at a slightly higher level. This slope works to the south and opens to the north-. A short distance north, in section 14, is the small B. B. mine, worked during the colder portion of the year. Coal is elevated through the thirty-foot shaft by horse and gin. The bed worked is four feet thick and, as usual in this district, contains a few bowlders" of clay ironstone.
198 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Mahaska County
As in Marion county, the coal basins of Mahaska are seldom , of large size, though often bearing thick seams of coal. Two j causes have operated to limit the fields: (1) pre-glacial and j post-glacial erosion have sometimes destroyed the continuity of basins previously quite extensive, and (2) the irregular basement upon which the Coal Measures rest in many cases re- " stricted the original area covered by individual coal swamps by its influence on Pennsylvanian topography. The last statement j perhaps requires some elaboration. As discussed elsewhere in this volume, the Des Moines strata everywhere lie unconform- j ably on a strongly eroded surface which, previous to the deposi- ' tion of the Coal Measures upon it, had been carved into hills and valleys much resembling the present surface of the county. When the region was depressed somewhat below sea level, or tilted so that drainage was checked, deposits of sand and clays were made iSrst in the depressions on the surface and extensive swamps were also formed. The consolidation and compression of these deposits resulted in the formation of the sandstones, shales, clays and coals which today constitute the Coal Measures of Mahaska county. Thus we often find that the coal basins are limited laterally by the resistant calcareous strata that originally formed the sides of the valleys and wide depressions in which the coal plants grew. Continued deposition of sediments eventually buried even the highest points of the basal formation ; but subsequent erosion removed much of the higher strata thus formed and again exposed the underlying limestones. In a large part of the northern and eastern sections of the county, where little coal has been discovered, Coal Measure strata remained in only isolated patches, so that the drift was laid down directly on the Saint Louis in many cases. The more important streams later removed both the drift and the Coal Measures from the lower portions of by far the greater part of their valleys.
Although great quantities of coal have been mined in Mahaska county, the productive areas have been confined to a comparatively small portion of the whole region. Mining on a large scale was first undertaken on Spring creek, near Oskaloosa, and
Plate Vii.
igflO FECT,
S,aU
ifpr, , I /tC
J m
Mahaska County
in the valley of Muehakinocb creek. The eoal worked lay in basins of limited extent, separated by areas in which coal was thin or lacking. The succession of strata above and below the coal roughly corresponds in the various fields and the altitude of the coal itself may be placed in several cases between 700 and 730 feet above sea level. It seems probable that the gradual subsidence of the region during Pennsylvanian times was cheeked at certain periods, sufficiently long to allow
(juantities of peat to accumulate in depressions on the lowlands.
Production in the Muehakinock valley has
been largely replaced by the development of
coal beds in the southwestern comer of the
comity, a fact made possible by the extension
of the Chicago and North Western Railway
into the latter territory'. The coal seams of
this area present the peculiarities of those of
adjoining fields in Marion and Monroe eonnties
. The basins of coal are lenticular in
shape and are not large; the coal is higher
than in many parts of the Iowa field, but
wliere thickest often contains aggregations of
clay ironstone 'bowlders" distributed "like
raisins in a cake." In this region the Coal
Measures are found to extend to greater
depths than in many other sections of the
county, although shafts usually reach the coat
at depths of less than one hundred feet. As a producer, Mahaska has always stood
at or near the liead of the list of Iowa counties. During the eighties and early nineties
slie stood pre-eminent, but was passed by
Monroe and Polk in 1901, and by Appanoose
in 1902. The annual output given by the
federal census for 1860 was 3,412 tons; for 1870, 32,550, for
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
1880, 283,961 ; and for 1890, 1,056,447. The production published by the Iowa and the United States Geological Surveys for the last ten years is :
Yeab.
Tonnage.
Yeab.
Tonnage.
The State Mine Inspectors report that 772,468 tons were produced and 1,586 men employed by the thirty-five largest mines in the county during the year ending June 30, 1908.
Below may be found a brief description of the various fields and of the mining in progress in August, 1907. The author is under obligations to previous reports of this survey for data respecting the older mining districts.*
Figure 46. Map showing location of mines in southwestern Mahaska county. DISTRICT NORTH OF SOUTH SKUNK RIVER.
This district appears to contain but few workable basins, although there are doubtless some which remain to be discovered. Considerable prospecting has, however, been undertaken without bringing any positive results. From Peoria east to New Sharon and beyond, and near Barnes City, Indianapolis, and Tioga, persistent search has been fruitless, in many cases not
Keyes. Coal Deposits of Iowa, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, ppu 340-356 ; Des Moines,
Bain: Geology of Mahaska County, Idem, Vol. IV, pp. 315-380. 1895.
Mahaska County 201
even revealing thin seams. Still, it would be going too far to postulate from evidence so far gained, that northern Mahaska will not in time be the scene of active operations. The only localities in the district which have yielded good coal up to the present time are near New Sharon and Rose Hill.
New Sharon. An area covering a little more than two square miles on the ridge between North Skunk river and Buck creek, about three miles northeast of New Sharon, has furnished coal to a local trade for a number of years. Some large companies have prospected the region, but have apparently considered that their discoveries did not justify the considerable expense incident to the establishment of shipping mines. The Coal Measures are not very thick in this area, as shown by the fact that the St. Louis limestone has been found in the valley of the Skunk only a short distance both above and below the coal field.
Three local mines are now producing, all operating in the same coal. The Williams mine (Union Tp., Sec. 9, Sw. qr., Ne. V4) is entered by a slope 200 feet long, having a grade of one in three and a half. Entries extend one-fourth mile north, east and west, through coal which varies from two to five feet in thickness. The seam is sharply undulatory and has undergone faulting on a small scale. . Nearly a score of old shafts and slopes have been worked on this farm. A short distance west is the Williams Brothers mine (Sec. 8, Se. qr., Ne. 14) with a slope 400 feet long. The average thickness of the seam here is four feet, . while in other respects it has the same characteristics as at the Williams bank. As many as thirty men have been employed here during a few winters ; but the output has declined of recent years. Cars are hauled up the slope by steam power. Not far northeast is the Duffus mine (Sec. 9, Nw. qr., Sw. also a slope using steam haulage. The slope is 220 feet long and has a twenty-five per cent grade. This is comparatively a new mine at which only a few acres have been mined out. The coal averages about forty-four inches in height and shows no faults. A few bowlders" are present. The following section may be considered typical for the Buck creek district.
Feet.
202 Coal Deposits Of Sodth Central Iowa
Southwest of these mines, near the Skunk (Sec. 17, Sw. qr., and Sec. 18, Se, qr.), a seam forty inches thick, but split Into two benches by twenty inches of clay, has been drifted a little. It does not appear to be continuous with the Buck creek coal.
Rose Hill. Three miles west and one north of Bose Hill, at Blyth, is the new mine of the Atwood Coal Company {White Oak Tp., Sec. 6, Nw. qr., Nw. V). A spur track was run in from the Chicafo, Bock Island and Pacific railway in January, 1907, and considerable coal is now being shipped. The shaft is fifty feet deep and a modem steam hoisting equipment has been installed. Walker's lift-rail device is used on the cages for dumping the ears. The operators plan to use a number of IngersoU-Rand machines underground, both of the shearing and of the undercutting types. The seam is from five to six and a half feet in thickness, with the brightest and heaviest coal in the upper half of the bed. The roof is a dark "slate" which is always strong, while its thickness varies from fifteen to fifty-five feet. About one mile west (Spring Creek Tp., Sec. 1, Nw. qr.) coal believed to be part of the same seam was formerly mined
Six miles east of Blyth, on the east side of North Skunk river, .shipping mines were once in operation (Monroe Tp., Sec. 36, Ne. qr.). The basin found here was not of great extent, and in its higher portions possessed only a drift clay roof where the shale had been cut away. The sequence in this anea is:
Shale, dark gray, poorly bedded, otten very mucli broken (exposed).
Coal, containing some cIbt ironstone, sltgtatly aboTC river level.
Mahaska County 203
District Between The South Skunk And Des Moines Rivers.
This district for many years produced more coal than any other of equal size in the state, but the chief fields are now exhausted. The Muchakinock valley and the country immediately surrounding Oskaloosa have yielded the most coal, while Black Oak and Cedar townships, forming respectively the northwestern and southeastern extremities of the district, have failed to show good basins. The region is magnificently supplied with railroad facilities and this feature has had much to do with the magnitude of the coal industry within it.
Leighton. A little coal is still taken out for the country trade from the district a mile or two southeast of Leighton, where a seam from three to five and a half feet in thickness has been reached bv drifts and shallow shafts. Where the drift approaches dangerously near the coal, mining is precarious, but in many places a firm ''slate" above the coal obviates this difficulty. A section of one of the old shafts (Scott Tp., Sec. 12, Ne. qr.) is:
Feet.
Olivet, In 1904, the Eogers Coal and Mining Company took over a small mine near the Olivet station (Scott Tp., Sec. 9, Sw. qr., Ne. %) and has been gradually increasing the output. The seam varies from three to six feet in height and is unusually level. It lies 118 feet beneath the surface, at an elevation of about 700 feet above tide. Immediately over the coal is sixteen feet of 'hydraulic rock," capped by a compact sandstone. Two coal horizons are known above the one worked. The fire clay forming the floor in the mine has been tested and shown to be of good grade for fire brick and glazed tile purposes. Only four acres of coal have been mined out ; the operators report that 314 acres are known to be underlain with good coal and that probably twice as much may be assigned to this basin.
204 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Half way between Olivet and Evans (Sec. 11, Se. qr.) is the small local mine of the Lester Butler Coal Company, open winters and threshing times only. Hoisting is done by horse-gin. The seam is about three feet thick and lies sixty feet under the surface of the country, indicating the possibility of its being in the same horizon as the second seam at Olivet.
Evans. Two miles west of Evans, on a switch running a half mile south from the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railway, is shaft No. 4 of the Garfield Coal Company (Scott Tp., Sec. 13, Nw. qr., Se. 14). This mine was opened in 1905 and has since worked three-fourths mile south and one-half mile west. The company owns 550 acres and leases 200 more, the whole known to be underlain with coal which, however, is thin in places. At the shaft the seam is five feet thick and lies 110 feet beneath the surface. Tail-rope haulage is employed in the south and west main entries. Some of the coal is mined with machines; four cutting and two drilling machines are driven by an IngersoU aircompressor. Hoisting is by an Ottumwa direct-connected engine, supplied with steam by two boilers of 150 horse power each.
A half mile west of Evans, near Muchakinock creek (Garfield Tp., Sec. 18, Ne. qr., Se. A), is the slope of the Clean Coal Company. The slope is 200 feet long ; the air shaft forty feet deep. A small haulage engine brings cars to the surface by means of a pull-rope, whence they are propelled over a tramway 200 yards north to a coal switch. This seam averages three to four feet in thickne*ss.
The greater part of the coal contained in the basin between Evans and Garfield No. 4 has been nined out. The basin is a large one ; but the actual relationships of its various parts are so obscure that no attempt is made here to define its limits. Coal has been found in at least three horizons, separated from one another by from forty to eighty feet of shale and fire clay. The principal seam is said to have attained a thickness of eleven feet in a few instances. It is roofed by from twenty-five to fifty feet of carbonaceous slate," and underlain by from three to twenty feet of fire clay. The dip is, in general, to the southwest. Following is the record of a drill hole in section 18 (Sw. qr.).
Mahaska County 205
Feet. Inches.
Bolton. Bolton is a mining camp three miles west of Beacon, at the end of a coal spur running north from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railway. Here, since 1902, has been located the slope of the Bolton-Hoover Coal Company (Garfield Tp., Sec. 19, Sw. qr., Ne. i/i). The slope extends 150 feet to the coal, which lies seventy feet below the surface and is from four and a half to six feet thick, with an average of five feet three inches. Thirty feet of firm slate" lies between the coal and the surface drift. Sumps ten feet deep fail to penetrate the fire clay beneath the seam. Sufficient coal is said to exist in this basin to supply the company's mines for ten years to come, although 220 acres have already been mined out. One-half mile southeast of the slope is a pre-glacial channel filled with drift and cutting out the coal over an area 400 yards long and 100 wide. In the mine the haulage rope extends over a mile to the present workings, while the tail-rope runs above ground for nearly a mile and descends into the mine through an old drill hole. Within another year, the company intends to run in another slope 1,200 feet northeast of the one now in operation.
Beacon. Much coal has been taken out on all sides of Beacon and operations have not yet ceased. Quite recently several shipping mines were located on a coal switch running west from the town through sections 27 and 28; but of these only one remains. Slope No. 3 of the Garfield Coal Company is a mile west of Beacon (Garfield Tp., Sec. 28, Ne. qr., Ne. i/4). The seam here has shown as much as six feet of coal, although the average is nearer five feet. This slope, which opens to the south and works towards the north, has been in active operation for three years and its workings are just beginning to break into those of old Garfield No. 1, which was situated between number 3 and Beacon. 'When the mine was first opened rolls in the black shale roof gave considerable trouble, often cutting down the coal to a
206 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
thickness of three feet or less ; but at present these are only infrequently encountered. Loaded cars are hauled 800 feet from the foot of the slope to the surface by a pull-rope operated by steam power.
Figure ii. Coal Bed, having small eroBlv cliannel filled with drift material.
West of the Garfield (See. 21, Sw. qr., Se. 14) is the small country mine of Toy and Deaver. Very little coal has been taken out yet from a fairly regular four-foot seam. Cars are pulled up the steep slope from the mine by horse and gin.
The succession of strata in the Beacon district is indicated by the following drill record {Sec. 28, Ne. qr., Sw. V4).'
5. "Slate," black 17
Total 86 4
A lower seam was discovered some time after bed number 2 of the above record had been opened up. It extends from Garfield No. 3 at least one mile west and is reported to be from forty to fifty inches in thickness. It is supposed to be a split from the upper coal, though little has been positively ascertained on this point. The coal worked at Beacon, Bolton, and Evans is very similar in character and is found with a similar association of strata ; it may perhaps lie in a series of pockets belonging to the
Mahaska County 207
m
'AtHe horizon. This point, however, is of little economic im- iDrtance, since the general inconstancy of coal beds found in alaska and neighboring counties renders the drill the court :t first and last appeal when definite information in regard to occurrence of coal is desired. A mile north of Beacon (Sec. 22, Ne. qr., Ne. 14 ) is the Ream ank, a small drift taking coal chiefly from old workings. The worked varies in thickness from two to six feet. Near the wagon road between Beacon and Oskaloosa are several local mines which do business in a small way. The one nearest Beacon is the Colter mine, formerly the Sowden (Sec. 23, Sw. qr., Nw. 1/4). This is an old mine operating a sixty-foot to a seam five feet in average thickness. The roof is a slate'' which is not always firm. Near the Colter, but on the north side of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific cut-off (Sec. 23, Nw. qr., Se. V4) is the Raven mine, formerly a shipping concern but now supplying local trade only. The coal available from the present fifty-foot shaft has been almost exhausted. The seam is three feet thick. A short distance north of the Raven, on the same land, a new slope is being driven into the hillside from the valley of a small stream. The coal is of the same thickness here as at fte Raven, and outcrops in an adjacent ravine. Only a small of coal remains to be won from this opening. Southeast of on the south side of the Iowa Central tracks (Sec. 0. qr.), is the Wassenchove mine, reached by a shaft seventy depth. The bed averages four feet and thickens in the
M
While there are places under Oskaloosa where
.1 as been cut away, or is only thin and of poor quality, the
eja.x X" part of the city is built over a good bed of coal. A num-small
mines have been operated in various parts of the
axnd east and northeast of the corporation limits, on Spring
As a typical section for the district, there may be taken
tlj record of the shaft of a former mine in the south-
20 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Feet.
4. "Hydraulic rock" 1
A few small mines are now operating for the city trade. In the northeastern section of Oskaloosa, north of the new cemetery, is the Cunningham mine. The shaft is sixty feet deep to a seam four and a half feet thick. The roof is a thick blue slate." Just north of the city limits, near the old cemetery, is the forty-foot shaft of the Schultz mine. The work at present is in four feet of coal, although the average for the mine is slightly less. Both the above mines hoist by means of horse and gin. Several local mines are still taking coal from the once productive Carbonado district, but they are small affairs and usually work only during the winter months. Among the more important ones may be mentioned the Barrowman and Oakley mine, three miles northeast of Oskaloosa, and the Davis, one mile east of the same city. The coal at the last named mine varies from five to six feet in thickness and is, perhaps, a continuation of that of the Oskaloosa district and separated from it by pre-glacial erosion. Several hundred acres of coal was left untouched because of the failure of suitable cover between it and the drift.
Muchakinock. For many years the region around Muchakinock, a former mining camp one mile east of Given, produced more coal than any field of similar size in Iowa. Later the mining companies turned their attention a short distance to the north, and finally, having completely exhausted the basin, left for new fields. Coal was shipped over a long coal spur of the Chicago and North Western Eailway, chiefly by the Consolidation Coal Company, the largest operator in the district. The coal lies in an irregular area about two and one-half miles east and west by three and a quarter north and south. The area extends but a short distance south and about an equal distance east and west of Muchakinock itself. The coal does not connect
Mahaska County
directly with that of the other basins, low coal shales and 'hydranlic rock' occupying its place along the dividing lines. The bed lies at a general elevation of thirty feet above the underlying limestone with fire clay, graduating below into shales, between. An upper coal is usually found wherever the cover is suflScient to have protected it. It varies in thickness from oije to four feet, but it is of poor quality and of no value."*
Below is the record of a drill hole bored from the prairie level near old Consolidation No. 7 (T. 75, E. 16, Sec. 36, Nw. qr.) :
Feet.
5. Shale, gray, argillaceous 26
2. Shale, bituminous, fairly firm 54
Total 116%
The only mines now to be found in the district are three small, local banks that are utilizing coal which the exigencies of mining caused the larger companies to pass over. These banks are: (1) the Boggs, one-half mile north of old Muchakinock (Harrison Tp., Sec. 7, Nw. qr., Sw. l) ; (2) the Plum, one-half mile east of Muchakinock (Sec. 7, Sw. qr., Se. l); and (3) the Kennebec,
Feet. . 1
5. Shale, dark gray, somewhat fissile 3
Figure 49. Bluff near Given.
Bain: Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, p. 362; Des Moines, 1895.
210 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
one-half mile south of the Plum (Sec. 18, Nw. qr., Se. Vi)- Before the Pekay switch was removed, the Kennebec hauled some coal to it for shipment.
Given, West of Given is a small coal area distinct from that of Muchakinock, yet closely related to it. Of former mining in this basin, nothing remains. The exposure shown in the figure may be seen in the bluflf near Given.
Half way between Given and Beacon is an area of coal closely related to that in the Muchakinock basin, as may be seen by comparing the Muchakinock section already given with the following record at old Consolidation No. 8 (Garfield Tp., Sec. 34, Sw. qr., Se. y) :
Feet.
7. Shale, gray, argillaceous 32
2. Fire clay, graduating below into gray shale 35
With its field of action limited by old workings north and south, the mine of the National Union Coal Company, two and one-half miles south of Beacon (E. Des Moines Tp., Sec. 3, Ne. qr., Sw. /4), still continues to do a considerable shipping business. Coal is brought to the surface by both a slope and a shaft, the former 100 feet long, the latter thirty-three feet deep. Eope haulage is already in use from the foot of the slope to the surface and is to be extended underground. Undulations in the coal bed are sufficiently pronounced to create heavy grades in the roads. The following average section for this territory shows that pre-glacial erosion has cut out much of the indurated beds found above the coal at old Consolidation No. 8.
Feet.
3. Shale, black, bituminous 20
Mahaska County 211
Pekay. The Pekay and Lost Creek district, from which large quantities of coal have been taken out in the past, may be regarded as the southern representative of the Muchakinock basin and as separated from it by areas of thin coal. The Pekay basin extends from a point a mile southeast of old Muchakinock for a little over three miles in a southeasterly direction. Where normal, the coal is five to six feet in thickness, but in places the bed becomes attenuated. An upper seam, two feet thick and forty or fifty feet above the one worked, has been removed by erosion in all but a few localities. This basin is now nearly exhausted.
One mile south of Pekay, and one-fourth mile east of the Buxton branch of the Chicago and North Western Eaflway, is the slope of the Western Fuel Company (Harrison Tp., Sec. 29, Nw. qr., Ne. This mine is taking out the coal left on the southern border of the old Whitebreast workngs. The seam is here from four to six feet in thickness, clean, and level. . Between the coal and the drift is a variable amount of ''slate"; at the foot of the slope, where doubtless it has suffered considerable pre-glacial erosion, it is only four feet thick, but farther east it increases to twenty feet. Under the coal is a thick stratum of fire clay. Cars are pulled 150 feet up the gentle slope and one-fourth mile west to the tipple by a large tail-rope engine equipped with a powerful friction clutch. Rope haulage is also employed for a distance of 200 yards in the mine itself. The mine is not yet old, and will increase its output shortly.
One-half mile east (Sec. 29, Ne. qr.) is a fifty-foot shaft operated for the local trade by Gott Brothers. Twenty-five feet of slate" intervenes between the coal and the drift at this point. Southeast of the Gott mine is the Gray bank and south of that, near the county line, is the Davis. These are small local mines. Small pockets of coal are common near Eddyville and are utilized by a country trade; but none, apparently, are of suflScient size to warrant development on a large scale.
Wright. Three miles northeast of Wright, a coal occupying a position but little above the Saint Louis limestone, has been mined in a small way. A section of the shaft (Whitp Oak Tp., Sec. 16, Sw. qr.) shows:
212 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Feet.
A seam in what is perhaps the same horizon has been drifted from the. rivQr valley, a mile and a half northeast of the above mine. Both basins are probably of limited extent.
District South Of Des Moines River.
Southwestern Mahaska was known to contain basins of thick coal some time before any attempt was made to develop large mines in the region. It was not until the lower Muchakinock valley had been worked out that the Chicago and North Western Eailway was extended into this territory to open up what has proved to be a very productive area. The adjacent portions of Marion and Monroe counties are also turning out quantities of coal. In Mahaska, individual basins are not extremely large; but the coal is often quite thick. ' Bowlders ' ' of an impure limestone, termed clay-ironstone, 'are sometimes so numerous as to cause considerable difficulty in mining.
Cedar and Coal Creeks. A little mining for local purposes has been prosecuted along Cedar and Coal creeks; but the absence of railroad facilities in much of this territory has retarded development. Four seams of coal of workable thickness have been reported as found in a well about one mile east of the iron bridge over Cedar creek. On South Coal creek, near old Eveland postoffice, is an exposure showing ten feet of impure coal, overlain by twelve feet of shaly sandstone, and underlain by three feet of fire clay (Fig. 50). Drifts have been operated in this coal, but the greater part of the seam is of very poor quality.
Durfee. Durfee is a mining camp of 100 houses situated on the upper part of South Coal creek, at the extremity of a four-mile coal spur from the Buxton branch of the Chicago and North Western Eailway. At this point the Rex Coal Company operates a shipping mine (Jefferson Tp., Sec. 19, Se. qr., Sw. V). The seam lies 118 feet below the surface at the shaft and varies in thickness from five and a half to thirteen feet, with an average
Mahaska Codnty
of seven feet. It is so undulatory that some difficulty is experienced in draining the mine ; ditches are dug in the higher parts of the entries wherever praetieahle, yet it is necessary to use three gasoline engines to pump water over the more pronounced "hills" or to the surface. The company controls 700 acres of coal, of which the south and east portions are quite clean. On the north side of the basin a dark impure limestone occasionally comes in to divide the seam into two benches. Rock is so plentiful in this portion of the coal that hand mining is rendered diffi-
Flgure 60. Ci
cult and Ingersoll-Rand machines are to be installed as an experiment. Tail-rope haulage is employed for half a mile on the main north and south entry. The top works are modern and well equipped. Power is furnished by four boilers capable of producing a total of 260 horsepower. The handling of the coal is accelerated by the use of Olson automatic cages and a Christy box-car loader. There are three pairs of double ennes at this mine, one each for the tail-rope, for the box-car loader, and for hoisting.
Buxton. Number 14 of the Consolidation Coal Company is a new mine still in course of development. The shaft is 133%
214 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
feet in depth and is located about a mile and a half north of Buxton (Jefferson Tp., Sec. 28, Sw. qr., Ne. y). The nature of the seam and its accompanying strata and the type of equipment are much the same ds at the other Consolidation mines described in the chapter on Monroe county. At this mine, however, the retreating method of work is to be essayed ; entries are to be driven to the boundaries of the property before rooms are turned and work will then be carried back toward the shaft. Progress is retarded by the presence of numerous pyritic concretions and clay ironstone ''bowlders" in the coal bed, A Norwalk aircompressor furnishes power for the drills used in driving entries. The all-steel tipple is the latest and best of those erected at the various Consolidation mines and the top equipment is, in general, of the best pattern. The company owns 600 of the 700 acres or more included in this particular basin.
The Crawford Coal Company operates a shipping mine on a short switch from the Buxton branch, about half way between No. 14 and Buxton (Sec. 23, Nw. qr., Se. i/4). The shaft is forty feet in depth and from its foot entries have been driven 2,500 feet south, 400 north, and 400 west. The company expects to work over about 160 acres. Rope haulage is to be installed in the main s6uth entry. A typical section at this point, given from memory by the superintendent, is :
Eveland. The Eveland mine ig at the camp of that name, one mile northeast of Buxton (Jefferson Tp., Sec. 34, Nw. qr., Ne. %). The seam worked is from four to seven and a half feet in thickness, ordinarily showing five feet. Eock in the coal gives little trouble. The roof is of a peculiar type, presenting the appearance of a mass of bowlders'' firmly welded together so as to /form a secure cover over the workings. Irregularities in the under surface of this stratum sometimes cut out the top coal. This mine has been in operation five years and has worked one-half mile east and one-fourth mile north and south. The
H&Haska Couniy 816
product is loaded on a short spur running west to the Buxton branch of the Chicago and North Western Railway. The basin is a small one. Northeast of the shaft the seam splits, shale coming in between the two benches. At the shaft the coal lies only fifty feet below the surface, but under higher land near by
a considerable thickness of strata is found between the coal and the drift, as shown in the following record.
i. 9andstan 35
3. "Slate," gray and blue 45
3. "Hydraulic rock," very hard 3 6
I. COBl 5 i
Crickett. On the west side of Bluff creek, a little more than a mile north of the Eveland mine, is the shipping mine of the Crickett Coal Company {Sec. 27, Nw. qr., N. 1/2). The shaft is fifty-four feet deep and was sunk in 1905. Not very mneh territory has as yet been mined out. The seam worked averages five 8nd a half feet in thickness, although a few rolls in the roof cut of the coal under small areas. As in many other parts oAcM- s section of the county, "bowlders" are plentiful in places. . King out the coal two shearing machines and a compressed- 3. :r-ill prove of service.
U oiita. Two miles southwest of Lakonta and about the same aist east of the Crickett, is the mine of the Greenridge Coa-T. Company (Jefferson Tp., Sec. 25, Ne. qr.). The .product /its -pped over a switch from the No. 13 spur of the Chicago and Western Railway. The company leases 280 acres of land, *Tist 160 of which is said to have been prospected and proven underlain by from four to .seven and a half feet of coal, are extremely plentiful in iiarts of the seam. Vre the coal attains its greatest height conditions detrimental
216 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
to profitable miniiig prevail, such as an abundance of rock in the seam or, perhaps, a poor roof. As the mine has been in operation only a short time, mule haulage is still found adequate. The electric shot firing system employed gives good results: wires from the top station traverse each main entry, and may be tapped and a current run into the rooms as required. Separate buttons control the firing in each room. The shaft is 100 feet deep ; coal is hoisted through it by a geared engine, capable of elevating 700 tons daily. The mine is not now running full capacity and an effort will be made to increase the output during the coming winter.
White City. White City is an attractive mining camp two miles west of Lakonta, on the Buxton branch of the Chicago and North Western Railway. One-half mile north, on a short railroad spur, the Crescent Coal Company has sunk a shaft (Jefferson Tp., Sec. 13, Sw. qr., Nw. 14). A large quantity of coal is shipped. The following is a record of a drilling near the shaft.
Feet. Inches.
A few places in the mine show eleven feet of coal, yet the average height is nearer seven feet. ''Bowlders" of sandstone and clay-ironstone are freely distributed through the coal in some localities, leaving others quite free from them. Although the seam may contain considerable rock, the latter is often so easily removed that the working remains good from a miner's viewpoint. The coal bed is sharply undulatory. About 125 acres have already been mined out. There are about 350 acres of coal, usually thick, in basins tributary to this shaft ; but the drillings cannot, of course, be depended upon to show how much of this is sufficiently clear of rock to be profitably mined. The equipment of the Crescent mine is modern, and adequate in every respect.
Clarke County 217
Union County
The rocks immediately underlying the heavy drift cover of Union county belong without exception to the Missouri, a stage that may contain seams of coal. These coals are usually so thin, however, that they can be worked with profit only when they occur near the surface and present few obstacles to facile development. Below the Missouri lies the Des Moines, the productive stage of the main Iowa coal field. Its summit probably lies at least 400 feet below the surface in Union county, excepting, perhaps, the northeastern comer, where the depth is less; but as the upper part of the Des Moines is nowhere very productive, horizons of good coal mit not exist above a depth of 600 or 700 feet. Moreover, it has not yet been proved that the Des Moines bears coal at any level as far southwest as the region under discussion. It is not probable that prospecting would yield a proper financial return, even though a workable coal basin were finally located.
Clarke County
Clarke county is covered by a heavy mantle of drift under which lie beds of Pennsylvanian age. The greater part of the region bears Missiourian strata, thin in the eastern section and 100 feet or more thick in the western ; yet. where pre-glacial erosion has cut to exceptional depth and in the valleys of the main streams in the eastern and northern parts of the region, the Des Moines, is the highest of the indurated formations. The outlook for basins of thick coal near the base of the Des Moines is good, but the depth to which prospects would necessarily be carried in order to reach the best horizons, would make the expense of locating a field quite high. Coal has been mined at Cleveland, in Lucas county, only two miles from Clarke, at a depth of 326 feet. Recent borings at Leon, in Decatur county, revealed good coal horizons at about 500 feet. At both these localities the best coal lies at from 550 to 600 feet above sea level, although other horizons are present nearer the summit of the Des Moines. If coal is to be sought at Osceola or at other points in the central portion of Clarke, borings should be sunk 600 feet in order to reach the coal horizons known to exist on the
218 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
east and south. Farther west these horizons lie still farther below the surface, both because the elevation of the latter is greater and because of the westerly dip of the formations ; but in the deep valleys of eastern and northern Clarke, a depth of 400 feet would probably reach the base of the Coal Measures.
Lucas County
The gentle dip to the southwest that is common to the Carboniferous beds in most of the Iowa coal fields lessens greatly in Lucas county, so that the limestones of the Missouri stage appear only in a few places on its extreme western border and the Saint Louis limestone lies closer to the surface than would otherwise be the case. The highest indurated rocks of practically the entire county belong to the lower and more productive division of the Coal Measures and bear coal in considerable quantity. A zone of upper horizons bearing coals of moderate thickness outcrops along Big and Little Whitebreast, English and the various branches of Cedar creek ; while lower horizons containing thicker coals have been found in drillings and shafts in the Lucas district, northeast of Chariton, and on Cedar drainage. As in the lower Coal Measures of the region north and east, the coal lies in discontinuous basins along more or less definite horizons. The largest basin so far located contains less than 4,000 acres ; while *the driller considers himself fortunate if he discovers a thousand acre field in prospecting ten or fifteen miles along the valleys. The shales and sandstones making up the bulk of the Des Moines stage are equally erratic in occurence, grading into one another laterally with startling rapidity. Even the limestones, which are few and poorly developed, have little persistence and do not serve as horizon markers for the driller or geologist.
In the northeastern part of the county, where prospecting has been actively pursued in recent years, the best coal has been found between 700 and 750 feet above tide, with some between 625 and 700 A. T. It should be remembered in this connection that the level of a continuous bed may vary by forty or fifty feet at neighboring points because of undulations. Since the elevation of the uplands is about 1,040 feet A. T. and the streams have
Lucas County
often cut over a hundred feet below the divides, it is evident that the depth to which borings need be carried is by no means prohibitive. The base of the Coal Measures lies at about 611 feet A. T. on an average, though the surface of the underlying Saint Louis calcareous formations is extremely uneven, changing in elevation as much as 100 feet in one mile. On the uplands it is sometimes necessary to drill 200 feet before the drift is penetrated, but commonly 150 feet or less is sufficient.
In the western portion of the county the Saint Louis lies at somewhat greater depth and the best coal is found about 300 feet below the lowlands along Whitebreast creek. Little is known of conditions in the four southern townships, nor has the Mystic coal of the Appanoose- Wayne field been recognized within the county, although it is probably present in the southeastern comer. A deep drill record from section 12 of Benton township fails to show any trace of the Appanoose formation or to bring to light lower coals of workable thickness.
The early production of coal in Lucas county was not large, having been 945 tons in 1860 and 37,284 bushels in 1868, In 1880, however, as a result of the opening of the Whitebreast mines east of Lucas, the county had forged to the front with an output of 126,498 tons and in 1890 the total was still larger, 339,229 tons. Hardly more than a year later, the closing of the larger mines caused a decline that was only checked by the installation of the Whitebreast No. 4 at Cleveland. Recent statistics are:
T£Ab.
Tonnage.
Teab.
Tonnage.
The closing of the Big Hill mine in 1907 and the abandonment of the Cleveland mine early in 1908 left the county without a shipping mine and reduced the output for the year ending June, 1908, to 74,288 tons. As soon as railroad facilities are provided for the northeastern quarter of Lucas, it will again become one of fhe most important of Iowa coal counties. The following pages contain a brief review of the coal data available in July,
220 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Cleveland. The WMtebreast Fuel Company of Illinois drilled
fifty holes near Lucas, as a result of which the mine now known
as Cleveland No. 4, was opened about two and one-half miles
southwest of Lucas at Cleveland. The shaft was sunk 326 feet
. early in 1899, penetrating the following coal horizons.
Thickness In Depth In
Coal. Feet. Feet.
No. 1 1.5 81
No. 2 1.5 100
No. 3 0.6 122.4
No. 4 0.2 216.6
No. 5 0.9 294.9
No. 6 4.9 318
The basin now mined shallows rapidly to the west, southwest and northwest, extends one and one-half miles southeast of the shaft, and connects through an area of low coal with the Lucas seam on the northeast. The coal varies in thickness from one foot to six feet, but the roof is apt to be of poor quality over the thickest coal. Elsewhere the roof is a fairly firm and thick black fissile shale. Undulations are well marked. Little sulphur and no black jack interfere with the purity of the coal. Li the south workings a large erosion channel in which the coal is replaced by shaly clay was encountered and was tunnelled through for several hundred feet before the coal was again found. Electric haulage is . employed in the main entries, three eighty horse power motors being in service and one held in reserve. The power is derived from a Brownell engine, with a Milwaukee generator. The pit cars are built of steel alone. Hoisting is done by a double engine with 18x32 inch cylinders. The tower and tipple are of steel construction, erected by the Pittsburg Steel Co. The link-belt shake and screen are used. The automatic dirt dump was made at the mine. This mine has now almost exhausted its territory and will be abandoned early in
Lucas. In June, 1874, Mr. "William Haven and others leased 540 acres of land on Whitebreast creek, two miles east of Lucas, and the next year began drilling operations. Two. upper seams were penetrated within 138 feet and after considerable delay due to financial difficulties a lower coal over five feet in thick-
Lucas County 221
ness was finally found. ♦The Whitebreast Coal Company was organized to work this field and did so by means of three mines between Phillips and Lucas. Until the field was exhausted in 1891 it was one of the most productive in the state. In an endeavor to find more coal the company bored 123 diamond drill holes along a strip of varying width and considerable length trending northeast and southwest from their mines, but no basin of suflBcient extent for development on a large scale was located. These prospects covered an area of about twenty square miles, chiefly in Whitebreast valley, and were continued to about 300 feet below* the surface level. Of 120 holes, seventy showed less than three feet of coal, twenty-two between three and four feet, twelve between four and five feet, and sixteen over five feet. In one prospect a thickness of seven feet of coal was penetrated, and in another eight feet.
In the Lucas district there are reported to be f ouf coals in addition to one that outcrops in the hillsides. These are said to be as follows :
Thickness Depth, Average, Coal Feet. Feet.
No. 1 12-3 60
No. 2 2% 90
No. 3 3% to 5 290
No. 4 4 330
These coals are not continuous over large areas but appear to lie in basins along fairly definite horizons. It will be seen that they correspond quite well with the coals found in the shaft at Cleveland. Strong undulations rendered the level of every seam somewhat variable. Coal in the second horizon can be profitably worked longwall and is so mined by Skidmore Bros., who are operating a local mine about one mile northeast of Lucas. The third horizon has supplied most of Lucas county coal and is now utilized at the Big Hill mine. The fourth horizon is not definitely known to contain thick coal at Lucas, but is that worked at Cleveland. It is possible, however, that the coal mined at Cleyeland and at Lucas lies in the same horizon, since the Saint Louis limestone is encountered not far below the third seam at Lucas.
222 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
The Big Hill mine ships over the Burlington from a location not far from the station at Lucas and although of limited extent, this mine has at times produced considerable coal. It is now idle because of trouble with water and for other reasons. The shaft is 290 feet deep to a coal a little over four feet in average thicknesa. Above the seam is a considerable thickness of sandstone which makes a firm roof but lets in much water. Laterally this rock grades into shale. A thick sandstone is found also at Cleveland between coals Nos. 4 and 5 of the shaft record.
Big Whitehreast Drifts. Coal outcrops at several points in the valley of Whitehreast creek from old Cleveland northeast to the comity line and, though usually thin, has furnished limited supplies for purely local consumption. In sections 5 and 8 of Whitehreast township some coal is occasionally taken from a fourteen-inch seam that outcrops near high water level in the creek. The section made by St. John farther down the' creek at the old Wheeler Mill is shown in figure 52. At and near the confluence of Big and Little Whitehreast creeks, a rather constant bed of thirty inches outcrops and has been drifted to some extent on Whitehreast and Barker creeks.
11. Sbale, arElllaceouB, varlgated
7. Llmeatone, impure, earth in places. . . 2
6. Shale, aah colored, calcareoua below.. G
5. Limestone, blulah, nodules in places.. 2-3
4. Sbale, black, bltuminoua, flaaile IH
1. Shale, light-colored, aandy In placea...lO
Chariton. An unsuccessful attempt to find thick coal was made near the Chariton river, in the northern part of Chariton. One boring which was continued for 322 feet (Sec. 30, Sw. cor-
Lucas County 223
ner) encountered only two thin coals at 112 and 318 feet respectively. Another drilling struck a small pocket of five foot coal at the depth usual for the lower vein." A good basin of deep coal was, however, located northeast of Chariton where the mine of the Inland Goal Company is situated. The Inland shaft record is (Lincoln Tp., Sec. 9, Nw. qr., Ne. 14) :
Feet. Inches.
32. Shale, sandy, light-colored 7
28. Sandstone, dry, light-colored 2
26. Sandstone, dry, light-colored 2
The thickness of the lower coal (No. 3) varies considerably. The upper horizons seem fairly persistent, but bear only thin coals. Although the Inland mine has no railroad connections and so supplies only a local trade, it is extremely well managed and is one of the best coal properties in the state. As soon as railroad
224 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
facilities are provided it will become one of the important mines of the Iowa field.
Little Whitebreast Surface Mines. At numerous places on both sides of Little Whitebreast creek, from section 22 of Lincoln township to section 19 of English, coal has .been taken for local consumption from seams outcropping in the valleys. Li Lincoln township the establishment of the Inland mine caused the abandoning of most of the work in this upper coal, for it is seldom more than thirty inches in thickness. In English township, also, little mining is now done. Two coals, the upper about eighteen inches and the lower slightly thicker, outcrop here. Sometimes these two seams approach sufficiently close to be mined as one, and again, they may be separated by a distance of fifteen feet or more.
Wild Cat Drifts. Along Wild, Cat or English creek and its branches, in sections 11, 12, 14 and 15 of English township, small drifts have been opened during the winter months. The coal mined is. in most cases only from fourteen to eighteen inches in thickness and lies only a short distance above the creek bottoms. A mine on W. S. Dungan*s land (Sec. 12, Nw. qr.) is said to have worked a thirty-inch bed.
Drifts on Cedar Drainage. Some fairly thick surface coals have been mined for local use in the valleys of Pleasant township, and, since this region is far from any railroad, are of considerable importance to the farming communities. At least three horizons containing discontinuous basins of coal may be recognized, but in the absence of a topographic map no correlation of separated outcrops can be made with any certainty. Reported occurrences of the upper coals along Cedar drainage are noted in the following list. No mines were open when the region was visited in the summer of 1907.
Lug As County
Location.
Thickess.
Bemabks.
Lincoln Township — Sec. 12 near center. .
Cedar Townehip — Sec. 6, near center
Pleasant Township — Sec. 24, north central
Sec. 23,. Se. qr., Ne. % . . Sec. 21, Nw. qr.. Nw. %
Sec. 13, Se. qr., Sw. %.
Sec 12, Nw. qr., Sw. . Sec. 11, Sw. qr., Ne.% . . . Sec. 1, Sw. qr., Ne. . . Sec. 1, Ne. qr., Se. %. . .
Sec. 2, N. %
Sec. 3, Se. qr., Nw. %. .
Sec. 3, N.
18 inches. . . 14 inches . . .
3 feet,
3 feet. 3 feet. 3 feet.
3 feet
feet. . .
Outcrop now concealed.
The Briggs drift. It supplies a
large country trade. A small shaft. A small drift on Little Cedar
creek. The Umbenheuer drift on Big
Cedar. A new drift on Little Cedar. An old drift on Little Cedar. A new opening. The Van Loon mine. Abandoned drifts. An abandoned drift. Top seam, mined by stripping. Second seam, drifted. Third seam, drifted from creek
bottom.
Zero. At Zero, on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, a mile and a half west of the Monroe county boundary, a mine was formerly operated by the Creston Mining Company. The shaft was 260 feet deep, th coal five feet in thickness. Where worked the seam was quite irregular, on which account the mine was finally abandoned after several companies had worked out considerable coal.
Deep Coals on Cedar Drainage. The Consolidation Coal Company, Inland Coal Company, and others have for several yeats been conducting prospecting operations in northeastern Lucas county in an endeavor to find workable basins in the more productive horizons near the base of the Coal Measures. There is little doubt that success has attended these efforts and that only the advent of a railroad in this region is necessary to place Lucas in the front rank of coal producing counties. Mr. Haven of the Inland Coal Company reports the location of five good basins, comprising a total of several thousand acres. The Consolidation Coal Company has purchased the mineral rights of a large tract in sections 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 of Pleasant township. Coal of an average thickness of four feet eight inches
226 Coal Deposits Of Sooth Central Iowa
is said to have been found in all holes drilled here on over 2,500 acres of land. The strata are extremely variable, yet the following drill records give some idea of their succession.
Flsure E3. Churn drill of the Consolidation Coal Company, operated by a gasallne enslne. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP, SEC. 16. NE. QR., NW. Vl-
Total '. 66
Lu0A8 County
Pleasant Township, Sbc. 16, Sw. Qr., Nw. %.
Feet. Inches.
Total 22i 6
Pleasant Township, Sec. 17, Sb. Qr, Sb. %.
Feet. Inches.
Total 234 1
The unreliable character of much of the coal in the lower horizon is illnstrated by six drillings made on J. F. Carson's land in and near section 32 of Pleasant township, which showed that the seam present ranged from six inches to five feet in thickness on a comparatively small bit of land. One of these drill records is :
Pleasant Township, Sec. 32, Ne. Qr, Se. %.
Feet. Inches.
4. Rock ("holder" in coal?) 10
Total 227
228 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Monroe County
Magnificently served by railroads and lying in a highly productive coal belt, Monroe county has for several years been the most important coal producer in Iowa. The number of mines is not exceptionally large, yet they are with few exceptions the property of companies that are willing and able to risk a large amount of capital in order to obtain a proportionately large return. Prospecting has been systematic and thorough, so that the larger corporations are able to look far into the future when planning the location of their mining camps and mines. As a result, the larger basins of workable coal are being exploited one by one in definite geographic order.
With the exception of a small area of about three square miles in the valley of the Des Moines river near Eddyville and for short distances up Gray and Miller creek, where the Saint Louis limestone outcrops, the entire county is underlain with Coal Measure strata of the Des Moines stage. From a thickness of zero at Eddyville these increase progressively toward the southwest until probably a thickness of about 400 feet is attained in the southwestern comer of the county. Very few test holes are continued to the Saint Louis, a practice which is to be condemned, as thick coals lying near the base of the measures may thereby be overlooked. In section 28 of Bluff Creek township the limestone was reached at a depth of 199 feet ; yet two miles north the coal mined descends abruptly into a small basin 283 feet below the surface, a feature probably due to a local depression in the basement limestones. A boring in section 29 of Mantua township found the Saint Louis at 216 feet, while drillings of about the same depth at Hilton and Foster stopped in the Coal Measures. A drill hole put down by the Hocking Coal Company to a depth of 317 feet in section 34 of Troy township encountered at least 272 feet of coal-bearing strata. Coal is reported at 313 feet in section 4, Wayne township.
Notwithstanding the amount of development work that has been done in this county, mining has been confined chiefly to the northern and central portions; while large portions of the southwestern quarter remain practically unexplored. It is in the extreme southwestern comer that the Mystic seam of the
Monroe County
Appanoose- Wayne field is most likely to be found if it be present at all in Monroe county.
Although coal was mined along Bluff, Miller, and Avery creeks, and west of Albia at an early date, the county did not rank among the few best producers until the seventies. As
Figure 54. Sketch map of Monroe county.
given in the U. S. census reports, the output for 1860 was 2,756 tons; for 1870, 15,410; for 1880, 181,288, and for 1890, 258,401. With the exception of the period of business depression ending in 1896, the coal industry of succeeding years has advanced steadily and notably. In 1901 the county passed all others and since then has held first place. According to reports of the Iowa Geological Survey, statistics for recent years are:
Teab.
Tonnage.
Teab.
Tonnage.
ISOl 1,237,332
280 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
During the year ending June 30, 1908, twenty-three mines produced 2,167,061 tons of coal and employed 3,634 men. Whereas in 1883 Monroe was responsible for less than two and one-half per cent of the production of the state, in 1907 she mined over thirty-one per cent of the total.
The status of the industry, so far as known in July, 1907, is sketched in the following pages.*
Monroe Mines And Coal Beds.
Northivestern Townships. The Consolidation Coal Company
has done considerable prospecting in Union, Cedar, and Wayne
townships and has located and purchased several basins of coal
which will be exploited at some future date. The Consolidation
driller reports that coal averaging four feet eight inches was
found in over 1,000 holes drilled in a strip one-half to two miles wide along White creek in Wayne township. This area forms
part of a continuous basin said to contain 7,000 acres of coal.
One of the drill records of a boring in this territory follows
(Wayne Tp., Sec. 7, Nw. qr., Se. l).
Feet. Inches.
Drift 97
Shale 26
Coal 8
Shale, dark 18 6
Shale, gray 30 2
Coal 4
Total 177 10
Another basin containing the same average thickness of coal occupies sections 7, 8, 17, and 18 of Union township and adjoining portions of Cedar. It is said to comprise 3,000 acres of coal. A smaller basin of 210 acres is reported from sections 14, 23, and 24 of Union township, south of Lovilia. Coal is also known north of Lovilia, where country mines are occasionally operated. The following record is from section 3 of Union township.
Acknowledgments for material are due to Beyer and Young: Geology of Monroe County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XIII, pp. 353-433; Des Moines, 1903.
a
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Drift 30
SandstoDe, buS 3
Shale, sandy, gray 7
Sbale. blue, lightxiolored 30
Shale, blue, dark 6
Coal 5
rtre clay
Total .
Figure &5. View of Bui
Buxton. The Consolidation Coal Company was organized in 1875 with headquarters at Muchakinoek, in Mahaska county, and was reorganized under the present ownership in 1881. The Chicago and North Western Railway extended its already long coal spur southwestward into Monroe county and the Consolidation headquarters were moved to the new mining camp, Buxton. Buxton is a thriving town containing a population of about 5,000 people, chiefly colored. It possesses a $20,000 Y. M. C. A. building, a large company store, well built houses for the miners, and is, in general, progressive. Special trains carry the men to and from the mines, of which there are five operated by the company. Mine No. 14, situated in Mahaska county, is discussed in another place in this volume. No. 10 lies two miles south of Buxton (Bluff Creek Tp., Sec. 17, Ne. qr., Nw. 14), No. 11 about one mile southwest of No. 10 (See. 16, Se. qr., Sw. Vi), No. 12 three miles east and south of Buxton (Sec. 12, Nw. qr., Nw. 14), and No. 13 two miles east of the same place (Sec. 2, Nw. qr., Se. y). Within a year Numbers 11 and 13 will be abandoned . and Number 15 will be sunk one mile southeast of Number 11.
The coal worked at these mines varies from four to seven feet in thickness, with an average of four feet six inches. Several
Monroe County 233
nnworked coal horizons are also known. A section representative of prospects in the territories of Numbers 10 and 13, which are located on the bottom lands, is as follows :
Feet. Inchs8.
Total 113
Of the upland prospects, as found at Numbers 11 and 12, the following is about an average.
Feet. Inches.
Total 225 3
The roof-shale is fairly firm and the coal is usually unifonn in character, though where there are strong undulations it is apt to pinch out." The company's mining engineer reports a very remarkable occurrence from mine Number 10. At the time
234 COAL DEPOSITS OF SOUTH CENTRAIt IOWA
the region was visited by the writer this mine was temporarily closed, so that the phenomenon was not personally investigated by him, but the source of information is apparently reliable. It is said that the seam drops nearly 145 feet in a horizontal distance of 800 feet, with good five foot coal continuous throughout the entire distance. A deep depression elongated northeastsouthwest and embracing thirty acres, is formed in this manner. The following drill records taken 700 feet apart show the relationships (Sec. 16, Sw. qr., Nw. %).
Hole A.
Feet. Inches.
14. Shale, light-colored 42 10
Total 28; 10
Hole B.
FEEl' INCHES.
11. Shale, light-colored 19 10
Total 134 2
Monroe County 236
There is also in Number 10 workings a contemporaneous erosion channel in which shale replaces the coal. The ancient stream ran north or south, and evidently divided into two parts and flowed around a small coal-producing area; fdr an ''island" of fifteen acres of coal is now found in the mine, with a barren strip 360 feet wide on one side and another 150 feet wide on the other. True faults with a maximum throw of five feet each occur in the same workings ; while a similar feature is encountered in the main south at Number 11. Pyritic concretions and clay-ironstone bowlders are not especially common, excepting at Number 13. Below are tabulated summaries of the results of
MINK irUMBEB.
Acbes
Mined
Out.
Acbes In Basin, Pbobable.
At the present rate of working, these basins will soon be exhausted, but the company owns large tracts of coal land farther west, in Monroe and Lucas counties.
The room and pillar system of mining is used, the rooms being turned forty feet and driven 210 feet. Widening out begins after ten feet and coal is obtained by shooting from the solid. At numbers 11. and 12 all the water pumped is used in wetting down the entries. Electric third-rail haulage, for which the current is carried in the rack-rail and returned in the running-rail, is used on all the main entries. Ten gathering motors have als() been ordered and will be operated by rack-rail in the entries and by trolley in the rooms. The capacity of the pit cars is from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds, although smaller ones are used on the edges of the basins where the coal is low. Nothing is worked out within 200 feet of the shaft. Fort-five Whitcome cutting machines, the same number of post-drills, and four Norwalk compound air-compressors are in use.
The tipples are all of the same pattern and, aside from that at number 11, of steel construction. Reynolds-Corliss and Litchfield engines are used in hoisting. Loading is facilitated by the use of Olson self -dumping cages and by box-car loaders at
236 COAL DEPOaiTS OF SOUTH OBNTBAL IOWA
numbers 10 and 12. The equipment on top is complete in every respect.
West of Number 13, in an area surrounded by Consolidation holdings, is the Regal mine (Bluff Creek Tp., Sec. 3, Ne. qr., Se. V4) and the associated mining camp, Frakerville. A five-foot coal is reached at a depth of 164 feet. Entries extend about onefourth mile east, west, and south to the limits of the 160 acres controlled by the company. Aside from an occasional stre of pyrite the coal is clean, though it is not so good in the northwestern workings. Hoisting is by a direct-connected engine and dumping by automatic cages.
car loader. Shaft No. 10, Consolidation Coal Com-
Coalfield. In the valley of Miller creek are a number of mines, chiefly local, operating in coals that lie not far beneath the surface and are reached by slopes. Near Eddyville the coal basins are found quite near the Saint Louis limestone. Two mines near Coalfield do a shipping business. The Coalfield Fuel Company works a slope on a short spur from the Iowa Central, northwest of Coalfield. Coal from three to four and a half feet thick has been mined across section 9 into section 8. The seam is slightly undulatory and dips, in general, to the southwest. Boden's slope is a short distance southeast of Coalfield and is
Monroe County 237
also a railroad mine. The bed worked bears an average of three feet six inches of coal, dipping strongly to the southeast as far (one-fonrth mile) as an entry has been driven into the hill. The coal thins on the south of this territory.
Lochman. The Central Coal Company now operates three shipping mines near Lockman, of which Number 3 is expected to become the best producer. This slope, which lies near the western extremity of the coal spur through the northern portion of section 36 of Bluff Creek township, pitches four and one-half inches to the yard. Wire-rope haulage is effected by means of a double Taylor engine. Slope Number 2 enters the hiU not far from the mouth of Number 3. Shaft Number 4, lying one-half mile southeast, is forty-five feet deep and has just been made ready for work. In all three mines from four to five feet of coal is worked, except where local irregularities in the thickness are present. Contemporaneous erosion channels, filled with sandstone, cut out the coal in places. The four-foot coal has been located in many drill holes in sections 25 and 36 of Bluff Creek, section 31 of Pleasant, and section 1 of Troy township, while at least one thinner seam is commonly found in some higher horizon. Following is a representative record from section 25, Bluff Creek township.
VESm, INCHES.
3. Shale, dark and fissile below 5 7
Total 150 8
South Avery Creek. For many years coal has been extensively mined in the valley of Avery creek, in Mantua township. As the areas near Hynes became exhausted, a coal spur was extended southward along the valley of South Avery creek and
288 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
new mines were opened. The Smoky Hollow Coal Company has been the largest producer in the district and to-day operates two slopes, Number 6 (Sec. 23, Ne. qr., Nw. 14 ) and Number 7 (Sec. 23, Nw. qr., Sw. 14). The coal either outcrops in the hillside or is covered only lightly by the drift. It varies from forty to sixty-six inches in thickness and is fairly level except for minor undulations. Prospects over a considerable territory show that the coal is usually present, although somewhat irregular in occurrence. At least one thin coal is commonly found above the bed worked; while in the territories of Numbers 6 and 7, a seam that infrequently shows a workable thickness occasionally comes within six inches of the bed mined, only to be separated from it again by distances of twenty feet or less. A prospect three-fourths mile west of Number 7 disclosed as many as four coals in a vertical interval of forty-five feet. The company has worked chiefly in sections 9, 10, 11, 13, 23 and 24 of Mantua township. The following section may be taken as an average for the district.
Total 189 2
Mine Number 6 is the best producer, Number 7 not being fully developed. Number 6 workings are nearly a mile and a half from the slope mouth; while Number 7 has worked in about 1,700 feet. Tail-rope haulage is employed in both mines. Two new shafts are now being prepared for future production : Num-
Monroe County 289
ber 8, forty-five feet in depth (Sec. 14, Sw. qr., Se. 4), and Number 9, fifty-five feet deep (See. 15, Se. qr., Se. %). A spur will be nin off to them from the company's main spur between the two slopes.
The White Ash Coal Company has worked a slope for eight years one mile south of Avery. The coal bed varies between three and one-half and six feet in thickness. A local trade is supplied, chiefly in the winter months. A tramway may soon be built to Avery and a shipping trade inaugurated.
Albiai Although numerous shafts have at one time and another been opened just north and west of Albia, especially in sections 8, 9, 10, 17 and 18 of Troy township, only one mine is now in operation in this district. The Star mine, two and onehalf miles northwest of Albia (Sec. 17, Nw. qr., Nw. has been open seven months in the year for about ten years. The shaft was sunk to a coal forty-four inches to six feet thick. A threefoot seam is said to lie forty feet below the surface at the shaft. The product of this mine is hauled to Albia, and to a switch on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railway whence it is shipped.
The Albia Fuel Company has completed the sinking of a shaft
one mile south of Albia (Troy Tp., Sec. 28, center of east line).
The mine lies on the west side of the Iowa Central tracks, over
which the product will be shipped.
Bockvng. For a number of years the Hocking Coal Company
mined extensively in and near the valley of Coal creek. Their
iio -ATxunber 1, at Hocking, was abandoned in 1906. Number 2,
utheast of Hocking (Monroe Tp., Sec. 4, Ne, qr., Ne. 14), is
still in operation, but its output is steadily decreasing and it will
also be in the course of a year or two. Number 3 was
sunk in 1905 two and a half miles south of Albia, beside the main
of the Iowa Central (Troy Tp., Sec. 34, Se. qr., Sw. %). It
1? that another mine will be started southwest of Hock-
The coal in all these mines is of the same general character
f Hea at a depth of 315 feet at Number 3 and 208 feet at Num-
. "y ''liich is situated on Tower ground. It varies in thickness
three and one-half to six feet. Round concretions of sand-
a.rid ironstone are fairly common in the coal and roof-
240 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
slate and undulations render the floor quite irregular in places, causing maximum variations of twenty-five feet in the level of the bed. The general dip of the strata is toward the south Where the coal is thickest the underlying fire clay often shows a strong tendency to heave. During the summer months the warm air-currents deposit much of their moisture on the cool sides of the entries .and rooms, altering the pyrite and marcasite of the roof-shale so that the latter breaks down somewhat. At Number 3 the coal lies in a trough-like basin trending east and west. On the north it rises and disappears ; on the south it rises and thins. The basin is from 1,320 feet to three-fourths mile in width. On the north the roof and bottom become more firm. The following section (Monroe Tp., Sec. 4, Se. qr., Nw. l) is representative for the district.
Feet. Inches.
Total 302
Both mines are well equipped and well managed, — especially Number 3. About 400 acres have been mined out from Number 2 shaft. At Number 3 automatic cages, stokers, and pit-car oilers, and a cleaver breaking device on the pit-cars facilitate the handling of the coal. The fan used is of an improved pattern devised by Mr. John Verner, one of the State Mine Inspectors.
Monboe County 241
The steel tower is sixty-six feet high to the sheave wheels. Coal is loaded through a curved shoot, a somewhat doubtful method of preventing breakage.
Hilton. The Whitebreast Fuel Company established one of, the largest producers in the state at Hilton, two miles south of Hocking Number 3, but closed it in July, 1907. The roof was
jA
iHI
Figure 67. Tipple of sliafl No. 2, Hocking Coal Company, Hocktng.
poor, making it necessary to use many props and to handle considerable dirt. The coal, however, was of fair quality and is not yet exhausted. The record given below is typical of the sequence of strata in this district.
MONROE TR. SEC. 10, NE. QR., NW. \i.
Fret. Inches.
33. Shale, gray and clayey 9 5
242 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
13. Shale, dark, and light below 17 8
3. Shale, dark above and light below 5 9
Total 283
Hiteman. For a number of years the Wapello Coal Company has mined extensively in Guilford and Union townships, using as headquarters the attractive mining camp named Hiteman, near the northeast comer of Guilford. The company has constructed a spur from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad northward to the camp and beyond to their mines. Mine Number 1, immediately south of Hiteman, was abandoned in 1903 because of the long haul of over a mile from the workings to the shaft. Number 2, just north of the town, was never considered a profitable mine and was abandoned in 1901. Number 3, one mile west of Hiteman, and Number 4, three miles northwest of the same place, are still in operation. Shaft Number 3 is located in a basin running east and west and for several reasons was sunk so as to penetrate the lowest point in the basin, although the coal at that point is rather poor and contains mncli rock. The coal runs no thicker in the basins than on the rises. Haulage on the south side of the mine has recently been materi-
Monroe County 243
ally improved by the iDstallation of a first-motion tail-rope engine and the making of a cut-off that obviates the necessity for two turns in the road, besides shortening the hanl. The north workings are approaching depletion. Mine Number 4 is one of the best producers in the state. It was opened in 1902 by a shaft 150 feet in depth through which coal is hoisted "by a geared engine with a six foot drum. The main haulage is eflfeeted by a first-motion tail-rope engine over roads laid with forty pounds of iron to the yard.
Figure SS. Tipple
.hello Coal Company, Hlteman.
The Wapello Coal Company has operated diamond drills in this-district for many years and has gained a complete knowledge of the various coals. Coal from four to six and one-half feet in thickness has been located in sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11 and 12 of Guilford township and 27, 28, 31, 34 and 35 of Union township. This statement is not meant to convey the idea that one continuous seam covers an extensive area; the strata are variable in thickness and occurence, as in other parts of the main Iowa field. The undulatory nature of the coal beds renders their level quite changeable between neighboring points. In most of the drillings a heavy stratum of dark, fissile shale, from twenty-five to sixty-five feet in thickness, lies immediately above
244 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
the thicker coal. the drift does not extend to this layer, a sandstone is often found next above it, with a thinner coal bed still higher in the series. The following sections illustrate the position of the strata.
Figure 59. Diamond drill of Ihe Wapello Coal Company UMON TP., SEC. 34. SW. QR . NE. W. 3. Son 15
Guilford Tp.. Sec. 2. Ne, Qr.. Se. W-
T. SoapBtone shale 8
Feet. Inches.
Ringgold County . 246
Total 129 6
Foster. The only mine of importance in the southeastern corner of the county is Number 6 of the Phillips Fuel Company, located one-half mile west of Foster and shipping over the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railway. The bed mined lies 184 feet below the surface and is from four to five and one-half feet thick. Two coal ''blossoms" were penetrated in sinking the shaft. A few well-marked geological faults of moderate throw are found in the workings, one of which made necessary the construction of an inclined tunnel sixty feet in length. Some trouble is also experienced from a ''squeeze" that is slowly spreading over a part of the mine.
The records of prospect holes in this vicinity are so variable that they form but a slight basis upon which to rest general conclusions. Usually a two-foot "cap rock" is found about four feet above the coal mined, and at least two thin coals occur between it and the surface. Some attempt has been made to correlate a coal which outcrops along Soap creek near Foster and on Avery creek in Urbana township with the Mystic seam of Appanoose county. This bed shows three feet of coal, split into two benches by a thin clay parting as at Mystic, but the beds are of poor quality for fuel purposes and have not been drifted into for many years. There is some evidence of the limestone "cap rock" of the Mystic seam, yet no "bottom rock" has been discovered and neither the limestones nor the coal appear in several borings made south of Foster. Various theoretical considerations lead us to doubt the verity of the suggested correlation.
Ringgold County
Ringgold county is underlain by strata of the Missouri stage,, sometimes known as the upper or barren Coal Measures. They are not completely lacking in coal, however, as is shown by the mining now being done in them in the counties on the west.
246 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Nevertheless, such coal beds as have been found in this group of strata are thin and workable only under very favorable conditions. Several hundred feet below the surface of this region the rocks of the Des Moines stage, the true coal bearer of Iowa, may be reached ; but the best coal horizons lie near the base of the Des Moines, several hundred feet farther down. Very little deep drilling has been undertaken in this part of the state, so that the exact location of various formations is but imperfectly known. The recent discovery of coql at Leon, at depths of approximately 500 feet below the surface, leads us to conclude, however, that coal may at some future date be found in Einggold at depths that will be somewhat greater because of the westerly dip of the formations. Considering the depth to which prospect holes must be carried in order to reach the. best horizons of the Des Moines, the number of prospects necessary to definitely determine the extent of any basin encountered, and the lack of certain knowledge that thick coal does exist so far southwest, drilling for coal alone cannot at present be encouraged in this county.,
Decatur County
The indurated rocks found immediately beneath the drift in the greater part of Decatur are of Missourian age, except where the drift deposits extend to exceptional depths. Des Moines strata outcrop only in the valley of Grand river as far north as Terre Haute and in the extreme southeastern comer of the county. The Missouri may carry thin coals of some importance, but is probably practically barren in this region, so that coal must be searched for among the Des Moines beds beneath it, and preferably in the lower portion of the latter, where coal horizons corresponding in stratigraphic level to those mined in Lucas, Monroe, Wapello and other counties may exist. It is not probable that the persistent seam, the Mystic, which occupies a higher level in. Wayne and Appanoose counties, preserves its identity as far west as Decatur county. As is well known, the coal of the deeper horizons lies only in basins of limited lateral extent, so that barrett prospects are often drilled in the midst of valuable fields. An unsuccessful drilling is not, therefore, an
Decatur County 247
absolute indication that no coal exists in the neighborhood, nor does the finding of thick coal in one hole necessarily mean that a workable field has been encountered, for it may be that the drill has penetrated only a small pocket. The discovery of thick coal does indicate, however, that workable basins probably are present at approximately the same level somewhere in the district.
Bain* cites a few attempts to find coal in this region. At Davis City a boring was carried 212 feet below the Bethany limestone, which outcrops near that point, and penetrated two seams of coal four inches and six inches thick respectively. A boring near De Kalb was unsuccessful. Neither of these two holes were carried sufficiently far to reach the most productive horizons. Mr. C. Woodruff of High Point reported finding three beds of coal respectively one foot, three feet, and four inches in thickness. The hole was located on the highland, approximately 1,125 feet above sea level and was 412 feet in depth.
Recently three interesting borings have been made near Leon. The core of one that was drilled with a diamond drill was examined by James H. Lees, Assistant State Geologist, and his report of the section is given in full below. The thicknesses given for the coals are doubtless smaller than the actual facts, as some material was lost in removing the core.
Record Op Prospect Drilling In Pasture Of Ed. Sharp, In Nw. Qr,
Ne. %. Sec. 32, Tp. 69, R. 25, Leon.
Altitude at Top About 1050 Feet Above Tide.
No. Feet. ' Inches. Total.
(Core begins Jiere.) ' 50. Shale, light gray, fine-grained, hard,
fractured surface rather rough 3 308
49. Shale, blue, growing darker below, very
fine-grained, fissile, softer than No. 50,
fractured surface smooth, soapy 12 320
Geology of Decatur County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 296-297 ; Des Moines, 1898. The reader Is referred to this report for a more detailed discussion of the stratigraphy than It Is possible to give here.
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
No. Feet.
48. Shale, black, rather rough feel, but not sandy, becoming calcareous below; last 3 inches impure coal or carbonaceous shale. Shale for 9 inches above coal very calcareous and fossiliferous, carrying brachiopods 3
47. Clay shale, gray, breaking very irregularly (air-slaked), crumbly, fine-textured, rather soapy, quite calcareous. Occasional small limestone nodules. (Core .shows 12 ft. 6 inches.) 16
46. Limestone, or very calcareous shale, gray, responding readily to acid, rough fracture 1
45. Shale, black, fine-textured, quite smooth feel, noncalcareous, similar to No. 48. Has numerous thin bands blue-gray material, not respondent to acid, evidently shale, also some pyritic nodules, as well as a 3-inch band of gray, rather calcareous shale, similar to No. 46, 6 inches from top 3
44. Shale, harder than overlying member, rather rough, calcareous, gray, pyritic, not in definite layers except near bottom, where they are inclined from the horizontal 2
43. Shale, typical clay shale, blue, soapy,
slightly calcareous 3
42. Shale, blue, finely sandy, with fine
specks of mica, noncalcareous 8
41. Shale, blue, fine-grained, fissile, rather soft, noncalcareous, becoming slightly darker below 10
40. Shale, brown, very fine and fissile,
rather soft, noncalcareous 3
39. Shale, similar to above except for bluegray color, becoming darker below . . 5
38. Shale, gray, finely arenaceous, noncalcareous 6
37. Sandstone, gray, very fine-grained, gradation from No. 38 7
36. Shale, blue-gray, fine-textured, fissile, , noncalcareous; occasional reddish concretions, possibly oxidized pyrite 19
Inches.
Total.
Decatur County
No. Feet.
35. Limestone, 'dark gray, crystalline, with thin streaks of hard, dark gray shale. Transition from shale above seems to be quite abrupt so far as shown by core. Apparently some fossils are present , .
34. Coal No. 1, in part hard and firm, in part slaked down to dust (blossom). Impure at top. Transition quite abrupt from limestone above to impure coal. According to driller's record 1
33. Shale, blue-gray, fissile, some layers slightly sandy, with ironstone concretions; noncalcareous; becoming darker below. Thin films of carbonaceous matter interspersed in upper portion, small mica flakes present 16
32. Clay shale, gray, fine-textured, noncalcareous, except for certain thin lenses of gray calcareous material. Becomes darker below, but core shows no gradation into coal 4
31. Coal No. 2, rather better than coal No. 1. Stands air better. First and last 2 inches, impure. Record shows. . 1
30. Clay shale, not so fine as No. 32. Breaks
irregularly. Contains small concretions, probably ironstone. (Core shows 2 ft. 6 in.) 6
29. Shale, blue-gray, strongly calcareous.
28. Shale, blue, fine-textured, fissile, darker
near the base 4
27. Shale, black, carbonaceous, finely gritty,
contains some pyrite 2
26. Limestone, dark gray, very fine-grained, hard, apparently nonfossiliferous, responds to acid. Grades both above and below into dark gray calcareous shale
25. Shale, black, carbonaceous, quite finegrained, fissile, has numerous thin, small lenses of hard, gray, slightly calcareous shale %-'%, inch thick. In places becomes very carbonaceous. 2
24. Goal No. 3, quite solid and hard. According to record 2
Inches. Total.
. Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
No. Feet.
23. Shale, gray, argillaceous, slightly arenaceous, contains fine black concretions of ironstone. Grades down into No. 22 2
22. Shale, gray, finely sadly and pyritiferous above, then arenaceo-calcareous, becoming less calcareous and more arenaceous below. Here it becomes bluish and grades into true clay shale, finally grading into No. 21 16
21. Shale, dark gray to black, similar to other black shales in general character. Some pyrite and some streaks of hard, gray, noncalcareous shale. Near the base the bed becomes carbonaceous, rather fine, fissile 4
20. Coal No. 4, solid and hard. According
to record J.
19. Clay shale, gray, rather irough, noncalcareous; irregular fracture, grades into calcareous shale below 2
18. Limestone, hard, dark gray, finegrained, subconchoidal fracture; considerably broken up and has shale and softer material in interstices
17. Clay shale, bluish, quite smooth textured, surface of core roughened in places by minute pyrite nodules. Below, the shale contains small black, calcareous concretions. The last 1% feet becomes darker and grades into calcareous shale, then into brownish, impure coal, then into No. 16 4
16. Coal No. 5, some parts firm and solid, others slaked and disintegrated into blossom. According to record 2
15. Shale, black, carbonaceous, with 2 inches of coal blossom at top. Coal has slaked badly, with small, white, feathery crystals
14. Shale, blue-gray, quite fine-textured for first 2 feet, then becoming slightly more arenaceous for about 2 feet, then argillaceous again and bluish. Pyritiferous locally. Is more fissile near base 8
Inches. Total.
l?t6-7
Decatur County
No, Feet.
13. Limestone, gray, subcrystalline, rather
fine-grained; ready effervescence with
acid. Transition from bluish shale
above and below is rather abrupt. . .
12. Shale, dark gray or bluish, becoming
black below 6
11. Coal No. 6, not very good quality 1
10. Clay shale, dark gray, finely arenaceous; contains some thin films of black carbonaceous matter. Becomes lighter gray below and somewhat more sandy. Shows two limestone bands about 4 inches thick, 6 and 24 inches from base 7
9. Sandstone, light gray, fine-grained, quite hard, contains numerous small specks of white mica. Becomes coarser below 4
8. Clay shale, dark blue, fine-textured, pyritiferous, becomes black below 4
7. Coal No. 7, sample used for analysis... 1
6. Shale, black, fine-textured, fissile 2
5. Coal No. 8, fair quality. Has thin, hard, pyritiferouB, calcareous layers above. 1
4. Shale, dark gray, fine, fissile, becomes lighter and calcareous below, where it shows interlacing veins of iron oxide. Finally grades down into No. 3 3
3. Limestone, brown, highly calcareous, fine-grained; shows blue clay shale seams - 2
2. Clay shale, blue, fine-grained. Grades down into sandy shale through 2 feet and thence into No. 1 2
1. Sandstone, light bluish gray, rather fine-grained, grows a little coarser about 3 feet down, then becomes finer again and rather clayey. To bottom of prospect
Inches. Total.
The AJbaugh prospect, a short distance southeast of Leon (Center Tp., Sec. 33, Se. qr.), penetrated 283 feet of drift, and coals as follows :
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Depth
Elevation
Feet.
Above Tide
Thickness
Coal. Feet. Inches
No. 1 1 11
No. 2 1 6
No. 3 10
No. 4 4
No. 5 4 6
The Biggs prospect at Leon was begun on higher ground and continued to greater depth than either of the two drillings just quoted. A chum drill was used, but the record was kept with some care and is given below for purposes of comparison.
Log Of Biggs Prospect Drill., Sw. Cor. Sec. 28, Tp. 69, R. 25, Leon.
Altitude of curb about 1120 feet above tide. Now used as city well.
Feet.
Above
Inches.
Total.
Tide.
An examination of these three records shows that a number of coal horizons, some bearing in places coal of workable thickness, lie between elevations of 783 and 527 feet above sea level, with the thickest seams between 550 and 600 feet. While a sufficient number of holes have not been sunk to determine whether a basin of coal that would justify exploration be present at Leon, the results obtained are encouraging as showing that good
Decatur County 253
coal does underlie Decatur county along several horizons. We may look forward hopefully to the time when better market conditions will justify the expenditure of large sums in locating and developing the mineral resources of the region. Chemical analyses of the coals found in the Leon drillings are given in another place in this volume.
The three prospects were drilled in greater part through the drift and the Des Moines. The Missouri has been removed at Leon by pre-glacial erosion, its place being taken by about 300 feet of drift. Since outcrops of Des Moines strata have been identified by Bain at Davis City at an elevation of about 915 feet A. T., the base of the Missouri may be expected to occur above that level in the central part of the county. The highest indurated beds shown in the three records lie at an altitude of 837 A. T., and are evidently, therefore, of Des Moines age, as is indicated also by the character of the beds shown in the sections. Numbers 1 and 2 of the Biggs' log are apparently incorrectly interpreted. Number 2 perhaps, presents a succession of shales with ome sandstone, at the base of the Des Moines, and No. 1 a series of limestones, calcareous shales, and sandstones belongmg to the Mississippian. This interpretation, which is merely tentative, would make the thickness of the lower, or productive. Coal Measures of the district, 400 or 450 feet in thickness. No coal will be found below the Des Moines.
Recent drilling near Cainsville, a few miles south of the Iowa state Une, in Missouri, is said to have revealed some deep coals at that point. The accuracy of the report could not be verified, but the following statement is the one commonly given out.
Thickness Depth.
Coai.. Feet. Inches. Feet.
No. 1 :..., 4 4 500
No. 2 2 2 520
No. 3 3 6 525
No. 4 1 6 546
264 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Wayne County
In the eastern third of Wayne county is found the western continuation of the Mystic coal and the accompanying strata of the Appanoose formation. These beds and their stratigraphic relationsTiips will be briefly described later in the chapter on Appanoose county. They are found to extend almost unchanged into Wayne county, and the coal is mined at several places in the eastern townships where, however, it is a few inches thinner than at Mystic and Centerville. At Seymour, where the coal is rather extensively mined, the bed is usually little more than twenty-five inches in thickness. A number of local mines are in operation in the vicinity of Confidence in coal about twenty-eight inches high. In tracing the coal west from Seymour it is found to become gradually thinner and poorer in quality; it thins out and even disappears in places, while the roof is sometimes uncertain. In short, there occurs a disappearance of the constant characters the formation possesses in Appanoose county. The results of the only systematic prospecting that has been undertaken within the county are not now available, so that data are somewhat meager ; but so far as can be learned the western boundary of the Mystic coal lies a few miles west of a line drawn through Sewal, Harvard, Bridgeport, and Bethlehem. Mr. R. C. Poston of Corydon drilled several holes three miles north of Harvard, on the Vollmar farm (Corydon Tp., Sec. 34). The record of one of these is :
Feet. Inches.
50. Limestone, fossiliferous 3 5
46. Shale, gray ..." 1 10
Wayne County 256
41. Sandstone, light-colored 2
32. Shale, light-colored '. . 1
21. Shale, light-colored . . . 1
7. Shale, light-colored : 1 6
Total 349 2
Two other drillings made in the same locality show a general correspondence with the above record, although the inconstancy
of strata peculiar to the typical phase of the Des Moines stage is evident. It will be observed that not less than seven thin coals
256 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
appear in the record given above, not one of which can be correlated with certainty with the Mystic seam. In the other two holes the thin coals, numbers 45 and 54 of the above section, were not encountered. It is barely possible that some of th identifications made by the driller are open to question and that the Mystic coal is present here in workable thickness.
Kepprts of borings made at Corydon are rather conflicting. Six drillings were made within a mile of the city and it is claimed by reliable men that three feet of coal were found beneath a considerable thickness of drift. No exploitation was attempted. It appears probable that the Mystic seam, if present at all in central Wayne county, lies over 300 feet beneath the general level of the surface.
The average dip of ten feet per mile to the southwest that the formations exhibit in northwestern Appanoose county is doubled from Jerome to Seymour, but appears to flatten out or even to become reversed southwest and west of the latter town. From Brazil westward to Piano an exceptionally strong dip or else a geological fault is also noted, coal being reached at a depth of two hundred feet at Piano. This dip practically ceases between Piano and Promise City. In Wright township the coal lies near the level of the creek bottoms and dips towards the south, with a smaller component in a westerly direction. The northern boundary of the Appanoose formation is to be found in Lucas county, not far north of the Wayne county line.
Some eflFort has been made to locate workable coal near Promise City. The following drilling was made by the Scandinavian Coal Company on the Hart land, a short distance west of that town.
Drilling West Of Promise City.
**Eet. Inches.
8. Shale, blue, arenaceous 15
7. Shale, blue, argillaceous 4
5. Shale, black, argillaceous 3 2
Wayne County
Total 257 1
Number 11 of the above section corresponds very well in position with the lower bench of the Mystic seam found farther east, the upper bench having been removed by pre-glacial erosion. Number 9 then falls into place as the 'bottom rock" of the Mystic district. The full thickness of the coal, twenty-six inches, is reported as found on Mr. Sharp's land, two and one-half miles farther west, and on the Lord place, east of Promise City, but suflScient roof is present only in places.
Some attempt was made to find coal in the northwestern seclion of the county, where practically the entire thickness of the tjTpical facies of the Des Moines is present. Coal seams, often thick, are abundant in these strata, but are seldom even moderately persistent when traced laterally. A drilling begin oncrhalf mile northeast of Humeston was abandoned after the remarkable thickness of 402 feet of drift had been penetrated.
All of the coal mined in WajTie county has been taken from the Mystic seam. The earliest authentic .record we have of annual output is that of the State Census of 1865, which gives a total of 9,230 bushels. The federal census cites a production of 155 tons for 1870, 6,000 for 1880 and 17,480 for 1890. Varia> tions in tonnage during recent years are as follows :
Yeab.
Tons.
Year.
Tons.
During the year ending June 30, 1908, the State Mine Inspectors report that 124,465 tons were produced, chiefly by the two shipping mines at Seymour, and that 471 men were employed.
268 Coal Deposits Of South Centkal Iowa
Watne County Mines'
Confidence. For nearly forty years local mines have beeu operated in the northeastern corner of the county; yet the total amount of eoal taken out is not large, as only local trade has been supplied. At one time and another shafts have been sunk on nearly every-section in the eastern third of Wright township. The mines at present open are located chiefly south of Confidence.
The present L. Frye mine (Wright Tp., Sec. 23, Sw. qr., Se. '4) has been worked for three years. The shaft, located on high ground, is 110 feet deep. A small steam engine is' used for hoisting. About fifteen acres were mined out from an old shaft one-fourth mile north. Below the thirty-inch hmestone "cap rock," the section at the new mine is:
7. Shale. bItutninouB. flsaile.
3. Clayey parting, contalnlne
much pyrlte.
I. Plre clay. Impure.
Figure eo. Coal aeam In Prye mine. Confidence.
On the same piece of land, just west of the Frye, is the J. Hayhurst bank, A strong dip to the southwest at this point lowers the Mystic coal fifteen feet between the two mines. At the Hayhurst bank the "cap rock" has increased in thickness to five and one-half feet and the coal to twenty-nine inches. On the south is the Jared bank (Sec. 26, Sw. qr.). The shaft is twentyeight feet deep and is on low ground. The section here is :
Feet, Inches.
4. "Slate" 1 8 "
3. Coal, Witt "mud band" 2 6
1. "Bottom rock" 5 6
Ah found In operation in August. 1907.
Wayne County 259
The A. H. Hayhurst bank is farther down the creek (Sec. 35, Xe. qr., Sw. 14). The shaft is thirty feet in depth and the section at its base is essentially the same as that at the Jared bank, although the cap -rock" is reduced to five feet. Below this mine is the E. A. Sipes bank, now operated by Mr. Edwards (Sec. 35, Se. qr., Se. 14). The seventy-foot shaft is located part way up the valley slope. The thickness of the Mystic seam is from twenty-six to twenty-eight inches. A short distance southeast is the Sims bank (South Fork Tp., Sec. 1, Ne. qr., Ne. I/4). The Mystic coal lies sixty feet below the surface at the shaft and is accompanied by the following strata.
Feet. Inches.
3. Coal, with "mud band" 2 5 .
1. "Bottom rock," about 6
Four miles west, on South Chariton river, is the Davis bank (South Fork Tp., Sec. 5, Se. qr., Ne. 14). A shaft low down in the valley reaches the coal at seventy-two feet, but has not been used for some time. There is a local dip to the northwest here. A section at this point shows :
Feet. Inches.
Soil 14 4
Limestone (the "flfty-foot limestone") 5 11
Shale, argillaceous 26 2
Limestone 1 2
Shale, calcareous V (the "seventeen-foot limestone") 10
Limestone, impure j 1 10
Shale, mixed 9 11
Limestone 2 5
Shale, unctuous 2 7
"Slate" 11
Coal, upper bench 1 3
Coal, lower bench 7
Bre clay 1 9
Total 70 2
This section corresponds very well with the generalized section of the Appanoose beds given in, the chapter on Appanoose county
28D Goal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
as typical for the Appanoose field. Some drilling done one-half mile west of Bethlehem failed, however, to reveal workable coal. Seymour. By far the greater part of the coal mined in Wayne comity is taken out by the two mines of the Numa Block Coal Company at Seymour. Mine No. 2 is situated on the north side of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway, one mile east of the Milwaukee depot at Seymour {Sec. 13, Ne. qr., Sw. 4). This mine, known as the "Big Jim," has produced more coal during recent years than any other in the Appanoose-Wayne coal field. Working full time it can easily produce 100,000 tons per year. It is equipped with an Ottumwa first-motion hoisting engine, steam dirt dump, Ottumwa box-car loader, and selfdumping cages. The remainder of the equipment is good. The shaft is 202 feet in depth. Mine No. 3, called the "Sunshine" mine, is in the southeastern part of Seymour about one-half mile from the Rock Island station. It loads a considerable output on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railway. The shaft is 240 feet deep, showing that the strong southwesterly dip seen in the mines is continued between Nos. 2 and 3. The lower part of the section in this district, as given by Keyes, is:
t-EET. INCHES.
0118 (expoeed). Clay, drab, shaly ("clod"). Shale, bituminous, fissile.
clay parting. 2. Fire clay.
Four miles southwest of Seymour, is the Carey Brothers mine (Monroe Tp., Sec. 3, Nw. qr., Nw. 14 -A- small double engine hoists 140 feet from the pit bottom to the surface. The mine supplies only a local trade and so has worked out only a small area during the four years of its existence. The strata accompanying the Mystic coal are :
Appanoose County
About two miles northwest of the Carey ie the Winger mine (Walnnt Tp., Sec. 29, Sw. qr., Ne. %). The shaft is 145 feet in depth. Hoistingisdonehya small single engine. The limestone rock" occasionally rests directly on the coal; elsewhere "slate" intervenes as shown in figare 62.
6. Shale, black, flaalle. grading Into 5 below.
FlKure S2, Bed of Winger mine. Harvard.
Between Sewal and Harvard is the Slack mine, now operated by Mr. Blue {Jackson Tp., Sec. 22, Se. qr., Se. 14). The shaft is 165 feet deep and hoisting is done by horsepower gin. In places in this mine the coal is absent, in others as much as twenty-six inches occurs. From four to eight inches of "slate" separates the "cap rock" from the coal.
A shaft has recently been sunk one and one-half miles east of Harvard (Sec. 14, Ne. qr., Nw. 4), where it is claimed as much as twenty-sis inches of coal is known to occur. The mine is idle at present, owing apparently to a weak roof and an tmreliabte coal seam. Sufficient work has not yet been done here to determine the exact nature of the coal bed.
Appanoose County
Appanoose and Wayne are unique among Iowa coal conntiea, inasmuch as they contain a coal bed which is continuous over a considerable area and yet forms part of the Des Moines stage. With the exception of the few places where erosion channels have
262 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
removed it, this coal, known as the Mystic seam because of its typical development at Mystic, appears to be present under the entire western half and more of Appanoose and adjoining portions of Wavne county on the west and the state of Missouri on the south. Moreover, it is not alone the Mystic coal which possesses the feature so anomalous for the Des Moines, of continuous and uniform deposition over an extensive area. The strata associated with the coal are remarkably similar at widely separated points, so that Bain* in his study of the county was led to distinguish the entire assemblage as the Appanoose foripation, a sub-stage of the Des Moines terrane. The appearance of persistent strata, including bands of limestone, is far different in character from the typical Des Moines facies as found in other parts of the Iowa field, and represents deeper sea conditions of deposition more nearly like those which governed the growth of the Missouri stage. The Appanoose formation lies in the upper portion of the Des Moines in a region where the latter possesses a greater thickness than is found in Lucas county, for example, where nearly the entire series from the base of the Missouri to the top of the Saint Louis is present. The Appanoose beds represent the transition stage from the shallow water conditions governing the deposition of the lower Des Moines to those of the upper Des Moines and of the Missouri. A somewhat similar assemblage of strata, with rather persistent limestones and coal horizons, has been traced through parts of Madison, Dallas and Guthrie counties and has been assigned to late Des Moines time. A conglomeratic member at the summit of the Appanoose formation serves to separate it to a limited extent from the beds that f ormerlv overlap it. The strata mentioned ns occurring in the more northerly counties are evidently also the result of a transition from the extremely unstable conditicm? of sedimentation prevalent throughout earlier Des Moines tiiiio to relatively more stable relationships of land and sea.
Several layers of limestone, shown in the sections given below, act as markers for the Mystic coal wherever it occurs. The names applied tothem locally— the floating rock," **fifty-:foot
Geology of Appariooae' , Iowa Gebl. Surv., Vol; V. pp. 363-438-; 'Des MoWes, 1896. The writer is indebted to this report for much Information In reward to the KeolOR-y of the referiort. AckntoiHodgmentfl are-due also to Mr. Johii'Verner. Mine Inifp<*<'- tor for tfie first district, for data concerning several mines and for courtesies e.xtended.
Appanoose County 263
limestone," seventeen-foot limestone" or little rock," the rock," and the bottom rock" — indicate succinctly their stratigraphic position with respect to the coal. While these rock bands are not of exactly the same thickness or at exactly the same distance above or below the coal in all sections of the field, the differences noted at widely separated points are minor ones. The Mystic seam itself is also remarkable in preserving unchanged certain characteristic features wherever it is found. It is split into two benches by a thin layer of clay known as the band," and usually also bears a second and thinner clay seam, termed the '*dutchman," below the first. While the coal bed varies somewhat in thickness from point to point, the variations are merely a matter of inches. Bain gives the following generalized section for this field.
Feet. Inches.
17. Limestone, gray, subcr y stall ine, the "floating rock" 2-4
16. Shale, argillaceous, color variable 12-30
15. Limestone, heavy ledges, the "fifty-foot limestone". . 4-10
14. Shale, argillaceous, blue and red 14
13. Shale, arenaceous, frequently sandstone 8
12. Shale, argillaceous, blue to gray 10
11. Limestone, somewhat variable in thickness, the
"seventeen-foot limestone" or "little rock" 1-3
10. Shale, sometimes gray, frequently bituminous and
pyritiferous 7
9. Limestone, sometimes gray and coarsely subcrystalline; sometimes fine-grained, bituminous, and grading into shales above and below; the "cap
rock" 2-4
8. Shale, usually bituminous and known as "slate," occasionally in part soft and clay-like, then known as "clod;" at times, heavy and homogeneous, nonfissile, in which form it is known as
"black bat" 1-3
7. Coal, upper bench, usually 1 8-10
6. Clay parting, "mud band" 2-3
5. Coal, lower bench, usually 8-10
4. Clay parting, the "dutchman" %
3. Coal, frequently not so pure 2-3
1. Limestone, the "bottom rock" 3 6
The deepest shaft in the county is that of the new Scandinavian mine at Piano. Owing to the considerable thickness of the drift here, the /'fifty-foot limestone" is not present.
264 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Shaft Record Of Scandinavian No. 2.
Keet. Inches.
6. Shale, argillaceouB, blue and brown 8
5. Limestone, fossiliferous 3
3. Shale and "cap rock" 8
Total 200 2
In the Cincinnati district, which is rather distant from the type area, the seventeen-foot limestone'* is often called the 'nineteen-foot limestone ' V and sometimes lies immediately beneath a thin ''blossom" of coal. The "cap rock'' may be as much as eight feet in thickness, but is very variable and may be altogether lacking. The "clod" is from six inches to a foot thick and is accompanied by six to eight inches of "slate." Especially toward the south the "cap rock" may rest directly on the coal. The coal is twenty-eight to thirty-four inches thick, occasionally slightly more. The underlying fire clay is from eighteen to twenty-four inches in thickness. The "bottom rock" is infrequently absent. ' ' Slips ' ' and erosion channels disturb the continuity of the coal bed at several points. East of Cincinnati, at Exline, and southeast, at Coal City, the Mystic coal shows local augmentation in thickness. Following is the record of a drilling made on the east line of the lease of the Thistle Number 2, a short distance east of Cincinnati. The Mystic coal is slightly below its normal thickness in this record.
Section East Of Cincinnati.
Feet. Inches.
Soil and drift 64
Shale, green 2 6
Limestone 3 2
: Shale, light-colored 1
Shale, argillaceous, gray 11 4
"Cap rock" 7
Shale, blue 1 6
"Slate," black 10
Coal 1 4
Clay parting 5
Coal 10
Fire clay 10
Total 88 4
Appanoose County 265
The Appanoose beds dip, in general, to the southwest at the rate of about ten feet per mile. This dip is far from universal, however, if limited areas be considered; for local anticlines and synclines disturb the synimetry of the inclination. Thus, although from Mystic to Jerome the dip is nearly normal, from Jerome to Seymour it is almost doubled. Also the coal at Piano lies nearly at the same elevation as that at Exline, Cincinnati and Seymour, and is surprisingly lower than that at Jerome or Brazil. In the southern half of the county the dip, however, veers to about ten feet per mile toward the south; while the western component is often absent or even reversed. Brazil, Numa, Cincinnati, and Exline lie on a broad low anticline which interrupts the general southwesterly dip. In the absence of a topographic map of the region and because of the lack of agreement between the datum planes of the profiles of the various railroads, absolute determination of the altitudes above sea level of the coal in various mining districts is rendered impossible. Owing to the general dips to the south and southwest, the lowermost beds of the Appanoose formation outcrop at tjie surface along a line that corresponds, roughly speaking, with the course of the Chariton river. North and east of this line the Mystic coal does not exist except, perhaps, in isolated outliers.
There is little doubt that workable basins of coal exist at levels stratigraphically lower than that of the Mystic seam, but it is not likely that there are other beds as continuous and persistent over large areas. Because of the presence of so reliable and easily mined a coal as the Mystic, the location and development of lower horizons is necessarily a matter for the somewhat distant future. In spite of the millions of tons of coal that have been taken from the Appanoose formation, only a narrow strip on each side of portions of the lines of railroad has been mined out. Great quantities of coal still remain untouched in the Mystic seam. Rumors of the presence of lower coals at Bathbun, Mystic, and Moravia have been circulated recently and are apparently authoritative, especially as regards the Rathbun district. Some attempts to locate new fields have been made in the eastern part of the county, in the typical phases of the Des Moines terrane. . A boring at Union ville was aban-
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
doned after 200 feet of drift had been penetrated. Four borings made npon the plain near Udell found coal at a depth of about 175 feet. There is a possibility that this is the Mystic seam, though direct proof of this is lacking. The Mystic outcrops and is mined at the mouth of Snort creek, not far westward. Fresh drillings are to be undertaken at Udell in the near future. Several drillings were made between Sedan and Dean. Mr. , Hanson of Dean reports that the following sequence was penetrated in a core boring headed near the Sedan station, about four feet above the level of the railroad tracks.
Boring At Sedan.
Thickness Depth
Feet. Inches. Feet. Inches.
37. Shale, dark, with limestones 16 118 10
36. "Slate," black 10 . 128 10
35. Shale, clayey, white 29 167 10
23. Shale, clayey, blue 2 . 238 10
20. "Conglomerate" 1 247 1
Appanoose County 267
2. Soapstoiie shale, white 17
Three other holes bored along the line of the Keokuk and Western railway between Sedan and Dean, showed essentially the same strata as far as they went, but were discontinued at 300 feet or less. A deeper hole one mile south of Sedan, near the Iowa Central railway, failed to find thick coal in the lower horizons. It will be noticed that in the above record no less than twelve coal horizons are shown. This mav be taken as an index of the possibilities of the typical Des Moines strata in Appanoose county, though it must not be forgotten that coal in these horizons is apt to be pockety.
In the Sedan record, the Saint Louis limestone was reached at an altitude of approximately 443 feet above tide, Cairo datum. Tliis indicates that an average dip of eight feet per mile is maintained from Ottumwa, where the highest Saint Louis outcrops lie at 680 feet A. T., southwest to Sedan. It is thought that the limestone was reached in a well at Centerville at 600 feet, an altitude corresponding very well with that of the same formation in the Sedan boring. Any of the strata lying between the Saint Louis and the drift may be safely considered to be possible coal bearers.
All the mines in the county work the Mystic seam. Owing to the slight depth at which the seam may be found in many places and to the lack of any necessity to prospect thoroughly lands about to be developed, a great number of shafts have been sunk and local mines are too numerous to mention. The presence of a firm limestone rock," of the thin '*mud band" in the center of the seam, of but little water, of an abundance of good clean coal at moderate depths, and of easy railroad communication render mining peculiarly easy and profitable. Although the coal averages but thirty inches in height, a large proportion of
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
the total present can be won by the longwall methods to which a majority of the mines have changed. . The amount of coal won per acre is, therefore, high in proportion to the thickness of the coal. The properties of the Mystic coal will be found described in another place in this volume. In point of production, the county has advanced steadily until it now ranks third in the Iowa field. It will continue to hold its high position for many years to come. In 1860 Appanoose produced 1,438 tons ; in 1870, 6,709 ; in 1880, 59,160 ; in 1890, 285,194. Statistics for more recent years are given by reports of the Iowa Geological Survey as follows :
Tear.
Tonnage.
Tear.
Tonnaoe.
During the year ending June 30, 1908, 1,107,806 tons were produced and 4,026 men were employed by ninety-one mines. Of these, sixty-two were railroad mines, fifteen shipping over the Keokuk and Western railway, twelve over the Chicago, Burling ton and Kansas City, nine over the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, twenty-four over the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul, two over the Iowa Central, and one over the Iowa and Saint Louis. Of the larger mines, thirty-three used the room and pillar method and forty-eight the longwall. There is no practical limit to the coal in sight ; only the inadequacy of the market and a scarcity of men limits operations.
In the following pages may be found mention of all shipping mines in operation in July, 1907, and of the principal local mines. Numbers in parentheses refer to the positions of certain mines on thfe accompanying map.
Appanoose County Mines.
Independence Township, Owing to a lack of railroad facilities rather than to the absence of workable coal, only small local banks exist in the extreme northwestern comer of the county. Aside from a slight decrease in the thickness of the lower bench,
Appanoose County
the coal mined is in all respects similar to the Mystic seam as typically developed, and lies only a few feet above the level of the major streams. Among the principal coal banks in operation may be mentioned the Fenton (Sec. 20, Sw. qr.), the Mosly (Sec. 30, Sw. qr.), the Phillips (Sec. 30, Se. qr.), and the new. Young mine near QriflSnville.
xv///fY
xv///y
Figure 63. Map showing shipping mines in central Appanoose county.
Moravia. Three miles east of Moravia a shallow shaft is naw being sunk. Small banks have been essayed in this area at successive intervals, but have led short lives because of the softness of the coal and the frequency of ''slips" and ''washouts.'* The seam present shows the usual thin clay parting, but is not so
270 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
thick as farther southwest and apparently lacks the overlying limestones characteristic of the Mystic coal. Nevertheless, it is possible that an outlier of the Appanoose beds exists here. A lower coal, about which no definite information could be obtained, is said to be present also.
Rosebrook, At Rosehrook, a new station on the Iowa Central, is the new mine (1) of the Sunny side Coal Company, with a shaft eighty-two feet in depth (Douglas Tp., Sec. 6, Nw. qr.). It has been worked only 150 feet east and west of the shaft, and apparently lies on the eastern border of the Appanoose formation. A local mine is worked by Wm. Henry from an eighteenfoot shaft on the same farm on which the Sunnyside is located. One-half mile south is another small bank.
Darby ville. The Unity Block Coal Company (2) operates a slope at Darbyville (Walnut Tp., Sec. 36, Se. qr.), but is not putting out much coal at present. Natural drawbacks on the east and an old mine on the west have retarded development. This mine loads on the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway. The Mystic coal lies a few feet below the level of the river at this point.
Rathbtm, The Star Coal Company mine at Rathbun (3) is located on a short spur from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway (Walnut Tp., Sec. 2, Se. qr., Sw. 4). This is one of the best equipped longwall mines in the county. In the northern portion of the Walnut creek coal field the Mystic coal comprises :
Inches.
Coal 16-18
clay 2-4
Coal 14
At Rathbun and other points on Walnut creek a lower horizon with coal from four to five feet in thickness is reported on good authority. Its depth could not be definitely ascertained, but appears to be about 100 feet greater than that of the coal now mined.
Clarkdale. The Mystic Block Number 5 (4) is located at Clarkdale (Walnut Tp., Sec. 15, Ne. qr., Se. /i), two miles east of Mystic. The shaft is seventy feet in depth. A substantial
Appanoose County 271
Cleveland Iron Works hoisting engine, mounted on fifteen-foot foundations, is in use.
The Interocean Coal Company operates its mine No. 6 (5) one and three-fourths miles east of the Mystic station (Sec. 15, Ne. qr., Nw. The shaft is seventy-five feet deep. A local dip of the coal bed to the southeast causes the north end of the workings to be left quite dry. Both the Interocean and the Mystic Block Number 5 load on the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway.
A short distance soirth of the last mentioned mine is the Elgin and Barret (6), a slope mine reached through the old workings of the Iowa Block Coal Company. The slope mouth is located on the south side of Walnut creek, so that cars must be carried over to the tipple on the north bank on a long trestle. Formerly coal was very extensively worked at this point.
The Beggs Coal Company has a fifty-foot shaft (7) a few rods west of the last mine mentioned and on the same short spur from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway. Hoisting is done by horse gin and only three or four acres have been mined over. In this district there is a local dip to the southeast, which amounts to about one foot in one hundred in the Beggs workings.
Mystic, One mile east of the Mystic station is the slope of the Winnifred Coal Company (8), situated on the north side of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul tracks. This mine is known as the *'Lady Mary" and has been intermittently worked for about fourteen years. The company intends to install tailrope haulage from the bottom of the slope to the tipple.
The Mystic Block Coal Company Number 12 (9) is on the reservoir switch" in the eastern section of Mystic. The slope and main roadway extends about one-half mile under the hill to the north. The coal lies a few feet below the level of the tracks. A shaft is to be sunk some time in the future and the slope abandoned. The output of Number 12 ranks among the best in the district. Between this mine and the ' ' Lady Mary ' is a wide pre-glacial channel, running off to the northwest dnd cutting out considerable coal.
Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
mmtsi
9, Lfmeetone, heavily bedded gray, foaBlUteroue 2
5. Sliale, bltumlnouB, flaslle.- 1 7. Coal 1
S. Coal, some pyrlte
near base 1
3. LlmestoDe, heavily bedded,
Peerless Number 6 (10) is a mine of considerable extent, entered by a drift located on a short spur running southeast from the main line near the Mystic station. Tail-rope haulage is employed and an Ottumwa box-car loader facilitates the handling of the product at the tipple. The strata here show a sUght dip to the north of about four inches in a hundred feet. Peerless Number 3, a slope just east of Number 6, is now shut down and its output will in future be pulled out through another opening not yet decided upon.
A railroad spur a mile and a half in length runs west from the main line at Mystic up the valley of a small creek, and on "ind near it are located a number of mines. The easternmost of these, on the Klondike switch, is the Mystic Block Number 29 (11), termed also the "Klondike mine." It has a shaft opening fifty feet deep, located in the northwestern part of Mystic, about one-fourth mile from the station. No work was done here from March to Jnly, 1907. Two Lee electric mining machines, which have been employed with success in some longwall mines, were formerly used here, but are not now in service because of there being too little face for two machines and too much for
Appanoose Codnty 27S
one, and because the purchase and transmission of electric power from another mine proved to be expensive.
One-fourth mile northwest of the mine last mentioned is the slope of Aeken Number 1 (12), situated on the north side of the spur previously mentioned. The slope has lately been re-timbered. Number 2 of the same company (13) opens by a twentyfive foot shaft a short distance west of Number 1. The output has been small, but is now increasing. Number 1 and Number. 2 really constitute a single mine, as the face is continuous between the workings of each and both can be acceptably ventilated by a fan placed at Number 2 air shaft.
Less than half a mile farther up the switch is mine Number 2 of the Peerless Coal Company (14). The product of the near-by Number 1 now goes out through Number 2 shaft and the two mines are ventilated as one. Number 1 workings are to move down to a new face while Number 2 mines at both its own face and the one formerly used by Number 1. Two Lee electric mining machines have been employed and another is to be installed.
At the end of the spur mentioned above as running west from Mystic are the three openings of the Mystic Coal Company. Number 3 (15) is a slope lying a short distance west of Number 2, which has a shaft opening. The workings of the two mines were recently connected, so that coal can now be taken out
274 COAL DEPOSirS OF SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA
through either opening. Mystic Number 1 (16) is a small slope on the north side of the railroad spur, between the other two openings of the same company. Its territory is limited by an erosion channel that cuts out considerable coal in a strip oriented northeast and southwest.
On the main line, about half way between Mystic and the Keokuk and Western crossing, is the drift of the Egypt Coal Company (17). The opening is located on the south side of the creek, so that a long trestle has been constructed on which to carry the coal across the stream to the tipple. As in other mines, some trouble is experienced in obtaining men, and as a result work is rather intermittent. Tail-rope haulage is employed on the trestle. The company controls coal rights sufficient to supply territory to the mine for many years to come.
A short distance west of the Egypt, on the opposite side of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul tracks, is Peerless Number 5 (18) also known as ''The Twins." Dirt is pulled out by an electric tail-rope system through a slope on the side of the railway track opposite the thirty-five foot hoisting shaft. A neat brick engine house contains a Corliss engine, tubular boil- "ers producing 125 horsepower, and a Siemens and Halske dynamo that supplies power for the tail-rope and the three Lee electric mining machines used in the workings.
The Keokuk and Western" or ''Baker slope" (19) is a small mine situated in the southwestern angle made by the crossing of the Keokuk and Western and the Chicago, Milwaukee and aint Paul railroads. It operates only during the fall and winter.
Diamond, The Mystic Block Number 22 (20) is a new mine one-fourth mUe west of the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railway, on the ' ' 22 switch. ' ' The shaft, which is seventy-five feet deep, has been in operation three years. The Mystic coal lies essentially level here. A double hoisting engine with a four-foot drum is utilized for hoisting. The tipple and other top works are well equipped.
The Mystic Block Number 21 (21), on the south side of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul tracks at Diamond, is a slope mine. It has not been in operation for over a year because
Appanoose County 275
of the difficulty experienced in housing miners for both it and Number 22.
About one mile southwest, on the south side of the main line, is the shaft, eighty feet in depth, of the Juckett" mine (22), leased by the Big Jo Coal Company. It employes few men but turns out a not inconsiderable output. Hoisting is effected by means of a Rochester engine. This mine, formerly operated by F. H. Juckett, changed hands in June, 1906.
Harkis, The Big Jo Number 1 lies on the south side of the tracks at Harkis, somewhat more than a mile southwest of the Juckett (Johns Tp., Sec. 35, Ne. qr.). The shaft is eighty feet deep and the tower forty feet high. There are separate buildings for the engine house, blacksmith shop, office, store room, fan house, and barn. A Rochester double hoisting engine is used. About 150 acres have been worked out. The coal seam exhibits a gentle dip to the southwest, and contains some black bat.'' In this district the upper limestones have been removed in places by pre-glacial erosion.
Jerome. One-fourth mile east of the Jerome station, on the north side of the main line tracks, is the shaft of the Consumers Coal Company. This mine works on half time during half of the year and produces considerable coal during the winter months. An Ottumwa geared hoisting engine is used. The tower is but eighteen feet high, but is soon to be raised and improved. The Mystic coal lies 125 feet below the surface at this point. About eighty acres have been mined out.
Piano, Mine Number 2 of the Scandinavian Coal Company is located on the south side of the Keokuk and Western tracks, a short distance west of the station at Piano. The shaft, a section of which is given on a previous page, is the deepest in the county, being 200 feet from the surface to the base of the coal. Owing to the great thickness of the drift, chiefly clay, considerable difficulty was experienced in timbering substantially the upper portion of the shaft. The Mystic coal is of essentially the same character here as at Mystic and Centerville, though very slightly thinner (twenty-eight inches). A modern equipment has been installed and 320 acres are under lease, north and south of the railroad; but as yet the property has not proved
276 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
very profitable owing to an inadequate demand for the coal and to the diflScnlty of securing men. South and east the bed is nearly level; it rises towards the north and somewhat toward the west also. No slips" or ''faults," or other checks on mining have been encountered. Hoisting is done with an Ottumwa first-motion engine.
Brazil. A number of mines are located between Brazil and Centerville, on the Keokuk and Western railway, now part of the Burlington system. A few yards north of the Brazil station is the Walnut Block mine (23), entered by a drift. The coal lies about six feet above the level of the railroad tracks and is twenty-eight inches in thickness. Mining has been carried about three-fourths mile under the hill to the south and west. The main roadway is now in course of improvement.
On the east side of the Keokuk and Western, three-eighths mile south of the Brazil station, is the Phoenix drift (24). The coal dips to the southeast as far (one-half mile) as work has been carried in that direction. On the north the so-called ' nineteen-foot rock" outcrops, while the coal may be seen in the small valleys of the neighborhood. The main road in the mine runs north, with side roads to the west. A sixty-horsepower Ottumwa engine furnishes power for the tail-rope employed.
The Centerville Block Number 5 (25) is an old slope mine, a short distance south of the Phoenix. This mine produces more coal than any other loading on the Burlington system in this county. The main road is one-half mile long and tail-rope haulage is in use. The coal is nearly level. A tramway crosses the railroad tracks to a covered way in which pit cars may be stored. Part of the product is dumped into engine chutes for locomotive consumption.
About one-fourth mile south of the slope last mentioned is the Tipton Co-operative drift (26). About forty acres have been mined out and little coal is left within the territory. Not much work is being done at present. The Mystic seam is here thirty inches thick, with a dip to the east. Under the low lying land the roof is too poor to allow of profitable exploitation.
The Peacock slope (27) is on the west side of the Keokuk and Western, about one-half mile south of the Brazil station. The
Appanoose County 277
slope is 100 feet long, with a drop of four inches to the yard. Eighteen acres of the 160-acre lease have been mined out. The equipment is light. At this point the Mystic coal dips, in general, to the east and is slightly undulatory.
Not far from the Peacock is the Oriental Number 1 slope (28). The slope mouth is on the east side of the Keokuk and Western tracks while the top works are on the west side, the two being connected by a way running under the railroad. Tail-rope haulage is employed. The workings have been carried in nearly 2,000 feet. The company has 320 acres imder control. The Mystic coal lies about forty feet beneath the level of the railroad tracks, and shows slight and variable dips.
LanesvUle. The Perfection Block mine (29) is on the east side of the Keokuk and Western, at Lanesville (Bellair Tp., Sec. 29, Se. qr., Se. 14). The shaft is seventy-two feet in depth. A large area of old holdings have been mined out here, but the company controls 160 acres of untouched land on the west.
About one mile southeast of the Perfection Block, on the south side of the Keokuk and Western tracks, is the shaft of the Sunshine Coal Company (30). Coal is hoisted 130 feet from the seam to the surface by a two-horse gin, but a more modem equipment will soon be installed. The dip is to the south.
Centerville. The Centerville Block Number 3 (31) is situated at the junction of the Keokuk and Western and the Iowa Central, loading on both lines. This is the old **Eelay mine" and has a shaft opening 107 feet in depth. The present workings are at a considerable distance from the shaft. Six Legg and Harrison machines and a Norwalk air-compressor assist in keeping up the output. In the *'Eelay mine" has been encountered one of the heaviest dips found in the county ; in a distance of 1,944 feet the coal rose thirty-six feet. Following is a section of the Mystic coal as it appears in this territory.
Xnche8.
Top coal 21
Clay parting 2
Bottom coal 11
The Centerville Block Number 9 (32) is about one-half mile north of Number 3, on the west side of the Iowa Central. The
278 Coal Deposits Of 80Dth Central Iowa
shaft is seventy-two feet deep, the upper twenty-two feet being drift. Six Harrison and Legg machines and a Norwalk aircompressor are in use in driving entries and turning rooms. A measured section at the bottom of the shaft showed;
5. Clay and pyrlte, the "Dutchman" 1
Figure BS. Fault In Centervllle Block No. 9. CentervUle.
On the. Keokuk and Western, in the southern part of Centerville, is the seventy-foot shaft of the Anchor Mine Number 1 (33). A steam hoist and fan are employed. It has proved difficult to properly ventilate the north workings. About forty acres have been mined out.
The Scandinavian Number 1 (34) is in the southeastern portion of Centervllle, on the south side of the Keokuk and Western railway. The coal lies about 100 feet below the level of the railroad. Under various names this mine has been worked twenty-five years and has exhausted 300 of the 340 acres controlled. Three rather large geological faults have been eo- ' countered. The first was found many years ago in driving south and east from the shaft, and it appears to have caused considerable displacement of the strata. The second is a trough fault which has lowered a section of the coal bed twenty-eight feet. The fault plane lies north and south and probably joins that of the
Appanoose County 279
first fault near the water works. A third fault, running southwest, and northeast, has a rather uncertain relationship. As the zone of disturbance is approached the coal is found to be badly broken and to rise sharply.
A large number of local shafts operate within and near the Centerville city limits to supply the local trade. They are small affairs, usually hoisting with horse and gin, and do but little work during the warmer months of the year. The chief producers are the Centerville Block Number 8, Citizens, White Oak, Woodlawn, North Hill, Koontz, Trio, Bock Valley, Star, Smith, Sears and Wright. The coal mined at these banks differs in no essential respect from the Mystic seam as typically developed elsewhere.
About one mile east of Centerville, on the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railway, is the Centerville Block Number 10 (35), known also as the Raven mine." Coal is reached at a depth of 130 feet. The drift is quite thick here, being ninety feet at the shaft, while the ' ' cap rock ' ' is only one foot in thickness and the bottom rock" is also thinner than usual and is underlain by sandstone. A short distance west of Number 10 and connected with it is the Centerville Block Number 1, the old Diamond mine" (36). The haul necessary here is more than a mile. Six Harrison and Legg machines and a Norwalk aircompressor are used in the workings. The tipple at Number 1 has recently been improved and revolving screens are used at both mines.
On the Keokuk and Western, a little over a mile southeast of Centerville, is the Dewey mine (37). This is one of the good producers of the district and hoists by means of a geared engine.
The Manufacturer's Coal and Coke Number 30 (38) lies on a short spur from the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railway, about one mile southwest of the Dewey. A neat mining camp of twenty-five houses is situated here. The Mystic coal is thirty-one inches thick at this point and lies in a shallow basin that dips from all directions toward the shaft. A short distance from the latter the north entry encountered a pre-glacial channel which had cut out the roof, but not the coal, for a distance of over 400 feet north and south. A drift-clay filling containing
280 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
leaf impressions and bearing water lies directly on the coal. The same channel was found also north of the west entries; while on the east it lay farther east the farther south the workings were carried. The channel appears, therefore, to have a curvilinear course and to bear off towards the southeast. An attempt will be made to penetrate it with an east entry.
The Outer mine (39) loads on the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railway, about one-half mile south of Centerville. The shaft is 136 feet in depth to the Mystic coal, which varies in thickness from thirty to thirty-five inches. 200 acres are under lease.
The Anchor Coal Company has worked out fifty acres from its mine Number 2 (40), one mile south of the Center and on the north side of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad. Coal of the usual character is found here at 155 feet.
Bellair, Anchor Number 3 (41) lies on the opposite side of the same railroad, at Bellair. Drift extends down to the **fiftyfoot rock,'' which was struck at a depth of ninety feet. The 'cap rock" is only six inches thick at the hoisting shaft, but shows three and one-half feet at the air-shaft. As a general rule in this mine the ''cap rock" is thin, but the ''slate" immediately above the coal is suflSciently tough to insure safety in mining. Above the firm ' ' slate ' ' is softer shale. About eighty acres have been mined out, most of the product going to Kansas and Nebraska.
Two miles west of Bellair is the Prairie Block mine (42). The shaft was sunk 160 feet to the Mystic seam in 1904 and later a small group of houses was constructed. A lease of 560 acres is owned by the company. The coal presents essentially the same features as at Centerville.
Numa. The Numa Block mine (43), one-fourth mile east of Numa, is the largest producer in the county, although work was checked this year by a fire that destroyed the top works in March, 1907. Thirty to thirty-two inches of coal lie 150 feet below the surface. ' ' Slips ' ' and ' ' black bat ' ' give a little trouble. Two hundred acres are under lease and more will be added.
Just west of Numa station is the Centerville Block Number 2 (44). This is an old mine from which about 300 acres have
Appanoose County 281
been worked out. Tail-rope haulage is employed. The shaft is 150 feet deep and the tower forty-five feet to the sheave wheels. The Mystic coal is here thirty-two inches in thickness.
The Walnut Grove mine (45) is immediately north of the cemetery north of Numa, where a gin-shaft sixty-four feet in depth is operated. Although the mine is a mile from the railroad, a portion of the product is hauled to Numa and shipped. The coal is thirty inches in thickness, and without perceptible dip. The '*cap rock" is exceptionally thick in places. Small slips'' and some black bat" have been encountered.
Exline. The Iowa Block mine is one-fourth mile east of the station at Exline (Caldwell Tp., Sec. 32, Ne. qr., Nw. 14*), on the north side of the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City railway. The Mystic coal is here 150 feet below the surface, is thirty-six inches thick, and exhibits a southerly dip with a small eastern component. Near the shaft small pre-glacial channels filled with clay, and slips" are numerous, but in the northwestern part of the workings are less plentiful. Both the channels and the fault planes are commonly oriented northeast and southwest. The throw of the faults is seldom greater than is necessary to bring the roof slate" down to the level of the 'Dutchman."
The old Royal slope, about two miles east of Exline (Sec. 34, Ne. qr., Sw. %), is resuming work after a long idleness. Water gives so much trouble it is doubtful if much of an output will be attained.
The two mines of the Exline Coal Company are situated about three-fourths mile southwest of Exline (Sec. 31, S. %)j on the east side of the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City railway. At Number 2, the mine nearest the Exline depot, the coal lies about 130 feet below the railroad tracks. A considerable territory is controlled by the company. A large so-called fault" which is at least eighty feet in width at a point about 600 feet northwest of the shaft is found at Number 2 mine. Numerous small 'faults" and one undetermined extent run northeast and southwest at a high angle to the first mentioned and still further limit the territory as it is at present known. Some, at least, of the.se features are due to true geological faults.
282 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
A local mine, the White Oak, operates about one mile northwest of Esline. A little of the product is carted to the railroad and shipped.
Cincinnati. Less than a mile east of Cincinnati (Pleasant Tp., Sec. 3, Se. qr.) are the three mines of the Thistle Coal Company. Mines Numbers X and 2 open on the north side of the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City by shafts 115 and 100 feet, respectively, in depth and about one-fourth mile apart. Number 3 shaft is 147 feet deep and lies on the south side of the railroad. All these mines have steam hoisting apparatus and are, in general, well equipped. The coal is about thirty-four inches thick in and bears the relationships to other strata shown in the section ven on a previous page. An old erosion channel, 100 feet wide and running southeast and northwest, has cnt out the coal on the east side of Number 2 workings. The company intends to tunnel through it to the east where the seam again makes its appearance at its former level. The channel ' apparently winds in a broad, sweeping curve; for it, or a very similar one, has removed the coal on the southeastern side of
Figure G7. FlsBure in s
Number 3 workings and was reached by the Appanoose while working south and by the old Streator (Sec. 9, Ne. qr., Se. %) while driving east. Mines which were working up from Mendota struck the south side of the channel where it again swings back to an irregularly east and west course. In the hollow of the curve, between the barren areas found by the Thistle and the southern mines, the coal bed reappears.
Appanoose County 283
In the southeastern comer of Cincinnati is the old Appanoose mine, now owned by the Mendota Coal and Mining Company. The Albert mine, about one mile southwest, on the west side of the railroad (Sec. 9, Ne. qr., Nw. %), is now operated as mine Xumber 2 of the same company. Number 1 shaft is 180 feet in depth ; Number 2, 102 feet. The seam exhibits no noticeable dip and is divided as follows :
Inches.
Top coal 18
Clay parting 2
Bottom coal 12
The ''cap rock'' is from two to eight feet ill thickness, the bottom rock" nothing to five feet, the fire clay between the latter and the coal two feet. Between the two mines is a ''washout" running southeast that has never been penetrated by tunnels.
A short distance north of Cincinnati (Sec. 4, Ne. qr., Ne. 14) is the shaft, 112 feet deep, of the Domestic Coal Company. A two-horse gin effects the hoisting. About half of the product is hauled to the railroad and shipped ; the rest is sold locally. A few small "slips" appear in the strata. The "cap rock'' is sometimes lacking, yet the "slate" next the coal remains tough and forms a fairly safe roof.
An equal distance west of Cincinnati (Sec. 4, Sw. qr., Ne. 14), the Armstrong mine now ships coal over a short spur from the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City railway. The coal dips to the south eighteen inches in 100 feet near the shaft and then continues at a uniform level. It lies 139 feet beneath the surface at the shaft. Here, also, the "cap rock" is lacking in places, but is present in others.
The Consolidated Block is a slope on the west side of the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City railway, one and one-half miles southwest of Cincinnati (Sec. 9, Se. qr., W. i). The coal bed is nearly level and averages thirty-two inches in thickness.
Half a mile southwest of the Consolidated Block, on South Shoal creek, is the mine of the Cincinnati Coal and Mining Company (Sec. 16, Nw. qr., Nw. %). This is a slope 300 feet long to the coal. The product is pulled over a long tramway to the railroad.
284 Coal Deposits Of South Central Iowa
Coal City. The top-works axid slope mouth of the Manufacturers Coal and Coke Number 10 are in Missouri; but the air shaft and slope bottom are on the state line and all the coal mined is in Iowa, near Coal City. Loading is done on a switch from the Iowa and Saint Louis railway, a part of the Burlington system. A gravity slope brings pit cars to the top of the tipple and returns empties. The Mystic coal often shows a thickness of forty-two inches in this district, the upper bench taking the increase. It seems probable that the Appanoose formation extends only a short distance north of the state boundary, for drillings made one mile northeast and one mile east of the slope just mentioned failed to locate the Mystic coal or the limestones characteristically accompanying it.
Keokuk County 286
Part Iii
Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
Keokuk County
Keokuk county lies on the eastern border of the main Iowa coal field and contains only about eighty-five square miles of coal measures, of which the greater part is connected on the west and south with the Mahaska and Jefferson county fields respectively. With the exception of the eastern tier of sections, Prairie and Washington townships are underlain by Des Moines strata. There is also a similar but smaller area extending from west to east across central Warren township, and another in the southwestern quarter of Benton. A projection from the Jefferson coimty field is found in the southernmost sections of Bichland township. Several small Des Moines outliers, each less than a square mile in extent, are scattered over the remainder of the county.
The relationships of the Des Moines to the underlying and overlying formations have been described elsewhere in this volume. SuflBce it to say here that the results of the periods of erosion which preceded and followed the deposition of the Coal Measures are particularly conspicuous in regions which are situated, as Keokuk is, on the attenuated margin of the Des Moines outcrop. Wherever Coal Measures are found within the limits of the county, they are of slight thickness and usually lie in depressions in the Saint Louis limestone. As a consequence, the coal basins are often limited laterally by limestone walls. Again, the unequal erosion which immediately preceded the deposition of the drift scoured deep valleys in even these Coal Measures that it did not completely remove ; so that in many cases we find coal seams cut into and seriously damaged by channels filled with unconsolidated clay and sand.
Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
In spite of the facts which conspire to reduce the value of Keokuk coal basins, the county achieved and maintained for many years, one of the leading places among Iowa coal fields. The Coal Measure strata present necessarily belong to the first group deposited upon the subsiding limestone surface, and it is this lower section of the Des Moines which has proved most productive in the southern part of Iowa. Conditions seem to have been particularly favorable to coal formation during the earliest stages of Pennsylvanian time, and thus it is that the thin layer of Upper Carboniferous rocks found in parts of Keokuk county contains some thick coals that have proven of great value. The What Cheer district has been the chief producer and it was not until the beginning of the present century that its standing as a large mining field began to be seriously impaired. At the present time only local mines, located chiefly near What Cheer, are in operation, and it seems probable that the county will never again regain its former prestige.
In 1860 Keokuk produced 472 tons of coal; in 1870, 3,400; in 1880, 49,350. The United States Census of 1890 registers an output of 455,162 tons, and places Keokuk second only to Mahaska among Iowa coal counties. The following statistics from reports of the Iowa Geological Survey show the gradual decline during recent years.
Teab.
Tons.
Teab.
T0K8.
The average price per ton at the mines in 1907 was about $2.29, a high figure.
The State Mine Inspectors report for the year ending June 30, 1908, a production of 11,900 tons from the five principal mines. Thirty-five men were employed. The mines cited below include those in operation in August, 1907. Data as to earlier operations have been taken from former reports of the Survey.*
Keyes: Coal Depoaita of Iowa, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 357-366 ; Des Moines.
Bain: Geology of Keokuk County, Idem, Vol. IV; pp. 255-311; 1895.
Keokuk County
What Cheer. For many years the What Cheer district was one of the most important producers in the state. Occupying as it did an important strategical position for marketing its output, the field was energetically developed and almost completely exhausted. In their haste to achieve quick results, however, the large companies operated in a rather wasteful and extravagant
Figure 68. Ideal cross section through the What Cheer district from Rock creek to the
North Skunk river.
a— Drift.
b — Coal Measures.
c — Saint Louis.
manner, taking only the best coal and leaving untouched areas which offered minor obstacles to profitable development. Thus it is that numerous small mines have done a good business while taking out coal left in larger workings and selling it to supply the large local demands. Several local mines are also now engaged in opening up small areas heretofore unleashed.
Only one coal horizon is known in the What Cheer field, although the elevation of its different basins varies within rather wide limits. The conditions under which the coal was deposited were much the same as those sketched for the region on the west in the chapter on Mahaska county. The size of individual basins is limited by that of the depression in which the coal swamps formed, and by subsequent erosion. In many places ridges of the underlying Saint Louis limestone project above the level of the beds mined and at other points the coals are abruptly cut off by Pennsylvanian erosion channels filled with consolidated sediments, or by pre-glacial channels filled with drift. In and around What Cheer are fifty or sixty square miles underlain by Coal Measures, but it is more than likely that all the coal which could be handled in a large way has already been removed. The region has been thoroughly prospected and a considerable portion of it proved barren. In several cases coal has not been worked because of the absence of a suitable cover
288 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
between the mineral and the surface drift. Where mining has been imdertaken, a slate" usually less than fifty feet in thickness, constitutes the sole representative of Coal Measures younger than the coal. There are undoubtedly many small basins of good coal left in this field and these will furnish supplies for small local mines for many years to come. The mines in operation in August, 1907, are briefly mentioned below. They hoist, in most cases, with horse and gin and do little work in summer.
In the southeastern corner of What Cheer (Sec. 10, Se. qr., Sw. ) the Karston Brothers ' shaft was sunk forty-two feet to the coal in 1906. The seam here varies rapidly in thickness, yet commonly shows from five to six and a half feet of coal. A fault ' ' has been encountered 100 yards north of the pit bottom and has not as yet been penetrated. This feature and old workings in adjacent territory greatly limit the fuel supply available at this point. Above the coal is a bare six feet of slate'' that is more compact than that in much of the district.
Near the plant of the Volunteer Brick and Tile Co. is a mine which supplies it with fuel (Sec. 10, Se. qr., Se. %). A steam hoisting outfit elevates the cars forty feet from the seam to the surface. The coal mined shows an average of four and a half feet in thickness, with a maximum variation of one foot. North of the shaft the margins of two closely related seams overlap. Prospecting now being done north of the mine shows a northerly dip of fourteen feet in seventy yards.
One-half mile north of the Volunteer, the shaft of Armstrong Brothers' mine (Sec. 10, Ne. qr., Se. 4), sunk in 1903, penetrated the following strata.
Feet. Inches.
Total 98
On the western edge of what Cheer (Sec. 9, Nw. qr., Se. V) is the new mine of the Creamery Coal Co. The coal has been removed on the north and east by older mines; while in other
Keokdk. Coumty 28B
directions the seam rapidly becomes attenuated. The available area is thus limited to a few acres. The shaft record is reported as:
Lee Brothers' mine is in the north-central part of section 3, one mile northeast of What Cheer. Five-foot coal is being worked here, in an area left in the midst of old workings. This company operates a steam hoist and hauls half of its product to the railroad for shipment. A section one-fourth mile west of the shaft ves:
Northwest of the Lee mine and about one mile east of the village of Coal Creek, is the Maxwell, a shaft mine which reaches a five-foot coal at a depth of about sixty feet. Onehalf mile west is the Ladd mine in the same or a closely related seam.
Delta. Delta itself lies in a region of Mississippian outcrop; but shales and sandstones of Des Moines age are found within a half mile due south and also a short distance north. Two miles north a small country mine takes a little coal from a thin seam. One and a half miles southeast of Delta (Warren
290 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
Tp., Sec. 14) is a small area of Coal Measures in which from four to five and one-half feet of coal has been found. The seam lies at an elevation of about 712 feet above eea level and is mined during the winters by slopes and shallow shafts which migrate perennially. The quality of the coal is good, but the quantity is limited.
Sigotirtiey. A group of three small Coal Measure outliers lying two miles northeast of Sigourney has furnished small quantities of coal. Up to 1897 some mining was carried on in the northwest quarter of section 25. Coal was taken from the central part of section 24 at a later period and perhaps some pillar and crop work may be done during the coming winter. (1907-8.) The shafts in this outlier have been from twenty-four to seventy-eight feet in depth and have seldom been operated for long periods. The coal bed is three to four and one-half feet thick, and has a weak and thin roof of "slate" or, over the best coal, sandstone. Some coal is still left in this vicinity, yet a high market price is essential to its profitable exploitation.
Several years ago an attempt was made to open a twentytwo inch seam included in a very small Coal Measure area four miles east of Sigourney.
Ftet. Isckeb.
Shale, black, flaaile.
North of Sigourney.
Richland. What is probably the northern extension of the Jefferson county Coal Measures occupies about nine square miles of territory south and west of Eichland. Coal has been mined for the local trade at several places in the southeast corner of Richland township (Sees. 31 and 32) and the last opening, the Snider, was clo.sed quite rec'ently. The coal is found in a single horizon lying about eighty feet below the uplands and occurs, apparently, in small pockets. Water and
Washington County
an inadequate roof usually limit the life of a mine to a single winter, so that numerous openings may be found on a single piece of land. Conamonly, less than ten feet of weak, gray shale intervenes between the coal and the overlying drift, rendering close timbering necessary. The coal bed varies between three and five feet in thickness.
Washington County
Aside from an extension of the main Iowa coal field occupying less than two square miles in the extreme southwestern comer, only a few small outliers of the Coal Measures are known to occur within the limits of Washington county. Before preglacial erosion had denuded the surface of the region, Des Moines strata undoubtedly occupied a larger area than at present, yet it is open to question whether the entire county was ever covered by the Pennsylvanian sea or whether sediments of this period were deposited in isolated basins. Four Pennsylvanian outliers, covering a few himdred acres each, rest upon Mississippian formations. One of these is in section 27 of Clay township, another in sections 4 and 5 of Brighton; while two others may be found in Highland, one in section 21 and the other in adjoining comers of sections 26, 27, 34 and 35.
Feet.
2. Sandstone, ferruginous, partially exposed ?
Figure 71. Coal near the old Lleblg mine. Verdi.
Although practically nothing has been mined for many years, at least two Coal Measure areas have proved slightly productive. The deposits northwest of Verdi are composed chiefly of coarse-grained, ferruginous sandstone, with a few feet of in-
292 Coal Deposits Of Sootheastebn Iowa
tercalated shales and the coal bed shown in the accompanying figure. Several diggings were at one time located near here (Brighton Tp., Sec. 5, Ne. qr., Ne. l). On Whiskey Eun (Highland Tp., Sec. 34, Ne. qr.) a thin coal seam occurs and has been mined a little. It varies in thickness between six and twentytwo inches, is covered only by drift and apparently rests on clay. A report that Coal Measure sandstone existed near Wassonville led to the sinking of an eighty-foot shaft at this point, but with the exception of some bituminous shales probably of Banderhook age, no coal beds were found.
The only collection of mining statistics in which mention is made of Washington county is contained' in the State Census for 1866, when a production of 4,000 bushels was reported and for 1868, when 160 bushels were produced. While additional Coal Measure outliers may be located in the future, the exploitation of any coals that they may contain is more likely to result in financial loss than in profit. Sums so far expended in prospecting and mining have been greater than those gained from the sale of the coal won.
Louisa County
Coal Measures that were at one period deposited over a large part of Louisa county, either in independent basins or in more or less continuous sheets, have been almost completely removed by the intense denudation which the region subsequently underwent. A few small outliers, covering 400 acres or less each, still remain, the largest being in the west bluflf of the Iowa river in adjoining comers of sections 16, 17 and 21 of Union township. It bears some dark shale, a grayish White sandstone, and a few inches of coal. Small areas showing similar strata were discovered in section 13 of Elm Grove township ; while twenty feet of Coal Measure sandstone were penetrated in wells in sections 20, 21 and 28, a short distance southwest. This sandstone has been found in various parts of the county, chiefly as narrow dikelike aggregations in crevices of the underlying Mississippian limestone.
The only recorded output of coal for the county is that of forty bushels for 1862. At least two of the outliers have yielded
Wapello County 298
minute quantities of fuel, but little hope for profitable exploitations can be held out for any portion of the county. In some cases money has been wasted in the exploration of bituminous shales of Kinderhook age and therefore barren. A few concealed outliers, which should be looked for principally in the western townships where erosion has been least active, may perhaps be found beneath a covering of drift, yet even should they contain coal the roof would be weak and the product mined of poor quality.
Wapello County
As is the case with most of the counties Ahat are traversed by the Des Moines river, Wapello has been a consistent producer of coal for a long period of time. Most of the coal mined lies at no great depth beneath the surface and the Coal Measures themselves are not thick, being, perhaps, only 250 feet at a maximum and in by far the greater part of the county considerably less. The Saint Louis limestone, which lies immediately beneath the coal-bearing rocks, outcrops in the valley of the. Des Moines from the northwestern comer of the county to the mouth of Sugar creek, below Ottumwa, and reappears once more about one mile below Eldon. In these sections of the valley the Des Moines stage is lacking under a strip of territory about one mile in width. In the valleys of the principal tributaries in the northwestern quarter of the county the limestone appears for a distance of several miles back from their points of union with the master. stream; in North Avery creek it may be found nearly as far west as the Monroe county line. Outcrops of the same formation have also been imported from Cedar creek, near the Mahaska boundary, and in the northern tier of sections of Competine township.
Mining in Wapello county has been confined almost entirely to the immediate neighborhood of the Des Moines river and its principal tributaries, for it is only in those districts that good outcrops of the Coal Measures are found. In the northeastern and southwestern portions of the county, the covering of .drift effectually conceals the indurated rocks ; yet there is little doubt that basins of workable coal do exist under the highlands away
294 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
from the Des Moines valley and that these will be exploited at some future period when the areas now known have become exhausted. "Wapello coal basins are, however, of limited extent, as are those in most of the Iowa field, seldom underlying more than a few hundred acres in continuous seams. Only thorough prospecting can, therefore, be successful, and for every drilling that penetrates thick coal several may be barren. The discovery of a seam of workable thickness in one prospect does not prove that a workable pocket has been found, for another
bove Ottumwa,
hole a few hundred feet distant may give quite different results. Coal is not entirely unknown in those areas where but little development has been undertaken. For example: a few small country banks have been opened in Green township, and near Ormanville two seams outcrop, the upper three feet thick and the lower eighteen inches. Prospecting on Cedar creek revealed some good coal, although north of it, near the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway, nothing came to light. A well in section 12 of Pleasant towuship penetrated 222 feet of Coal
Wapello County 296
Measures, including three and one-half feet of coal at a depth of 135 feet. The record of this well is :
Feet.
8. Shale, hlack, carbonaceous 7
5. "Soapstone" 10 to 15
3. "Soapstone" 10 to 14
1. Limestone (Saint Louis) alternating with thin layers of
blue "sandstone" 182
During the early history of coal mining in Iowa, Wapello ranked first among the counties in point of production for a number of years. As long ago as 1857 there were mines near Kirkville and Dahlonega, in the river bluffs four miles below Eddyville, and along Bear creek four miles west of Ottumwa. In 1860, Wapello's annual production was 17,062 tons, nearly three times that of Jefferson, the next in rank. Later on the chief mining districts were one mile south of Dudley, on Middle Avery creek, where a four-foot seam lay fifty feet above the Saint Louis limestone; at Happy Hollow (Center Tp., Sec. 8), in a five-foot coal; near Keb (Richland Tp., Sec. 33) where the coal was more than four feet thick, and especially at Alpine, two miles below Cliffland. In 1870 the output was 31,630 tons, but the coimty had fallen to fifth place as a producer. During the next decade Happy Hollow continued to produce, and for a number of years prior to 1890 extensive mines were operated just south of Barkville. In 1880, 67,555 tons were mined ; in 1890, 359,199. Production during recent years has failed to advance; statistics gathered by the Iowa and federal geological surveys are as follows :
Year.
Tons.
Teas.
Tons.
296 Coal Deposits Of Sootheastern Iowa
During the year ending June 30, 1908, Wapello tamed out 2M,214 tons of coal and ranked seventh among the coal counties. Twenty mines were in operation, employing a total of 559 men. According to the best available data, the county has produced about 8,700,000 tons during the period since mining first began. Since about 3,200 tons per acre are usually to be won from a four-foot seam in this area, over 2,700 acres have been deprived of at least their best coal. The coal remaining untouched and largely undiscovered may safely be taken to be many time that mined out.
ifm
y/
'Mm
m
Ik
m
H
Mb
fM
W
Om
J
Figure T3. Map showing mines In central Wapello c
.The progress of recent development to August, 1907, is sketched in the following pages. Considerable material has been taken from previous reports of this Survey."
Keyes: Cool Depotita of Iowa. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol, II. pp. S83-39J: Uolnea. 1894. Leonanfi Oeoloffv of Wapello Countti, Idem, Vol. XII, pp. 439-433 : I9I>:.
Wapello County 297
EddyvUle. Local mines have been operated since the earliest settlement of the region in the vicinity of Eddjrsrille in Wapello, Monroe, and Mahaska counties ; but the coal basing appear to be quite limited in Extent. The workings of one shipping mine, No. 9 of the Consolidation Coal Company, were situated chiefly in Wapello county, two and one-half miles east of the town ( Columbia Tp., Sec. 3), where a four-foot seam lies near the surface. Local mines are still worked intermittently in this district.
Kirkville. Until 1890 large shipping mines were operated just south of Kirkville by the Wapello Coal and Mining Company and subsequently local banks utilized the same seam. Only two small mines are now located in the vicinity. One mile south of Kirkville is the George Kiiight bank, where a new shaft was sunk early in 1907 near that of the old Davis Coal Company (Richland Tp., Sec. 18, Ne. qr.). The bed worked lies fifty-five feet below the surface, averages four feet in thickness, and is strongly undulatory with a general dip to the south. About ten feet of slate" capped by a thick sandstone overlies the coal. A mile and a quarter east of the Knight is the Waddle mine (Sec. 16, Nw. qr.). The shaft is 120 feet deep to a coal that runs quite uniformly about five and one-half feet in thickness. The bed possesses a good slate roof, and shows undulations equal in amplitude to the height of the coal. Three low seams were encountered in the new air shaft above the one worked. About twelve acres have been mined out at this point. Small mines* once operated about two miles south of the Waddle (Sec. 20, S. %, and Sec. 28, N. %) are no longer in existence. Prospecting near here yielded negative results.
Keb, For many years there was at Keb one of the largest mines in the county. Two coals are present, the upper having a quite uniform thickness of about four and a half feet and the lower averaging a few inches more. The distance between the two seams is about twenty feet, though it varies considerably and is in places only three to four feet. The upper seam has a clay parting one to six inches thick and lies about sixty feet beneath the surface.
Good coal has been found in some prospects between Keb and Butledge, but is cut out in many places by erosion channels.
298 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
About a mile southeast of Keb> near the center of section 2, the Standard Coal Company is supplying a local trade from a sixty-foot shaft sunk in 1904. Only two acres of the forty-acre lease have been mined out, aside from somei;hat was tapped about twenty years ago. An' upper seam is eighteen inches thick, while the bed worked lies forty-five feet lower and is four feet six inches thick. The latter is quite regular in occurrence, except where small rolls," six feet or less in width, sometimes cut the coal down to as little as one foot.
Rutledge. The Phillips Fuel Company has operated large mines north of Ottumwa, chiefly in section 12 of Center township, for twenty-five years. Three seams are recognized in this area, the lower two being workable in places. A general section of the strata is shown in figure 74, the record of the shaft of old Phillips No. 4. Prospecting carried on a short distance west of No. 4 showed that the coal beds became quite inconstant in that direction, but on the north the second seam is economically important.
Phillips Number 5 is one-fourth mile northeast of old Number 4, at Eutledge, a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway. At this point the second seam is worked, as its thickness is from thirty to forty-four inches and it is less ent into bv Carboniferous erosion channels than is the third. At the present time, however, a large barren area is giving con- ' siderable trouble in Number 5 workings and its width and orientation are being determined. There are 2,700 feet of tail rope on the main north entry. The shaft is 140 feet deep, its mouth being but a few feet above the level of the railroad tracks at the station. Hoisting is done by a first-motion Ottumwa double engine, cylinders 18x32 inches, supplied by five boilers having a total available horse-power of 375. The tipple is so arranged that lump and nut may be loaded in one car while another is receiving slack. It is said that thirty-five per cent of the coal mined is graded as slack.
Phillips No. 7 is about one mile southeast of Number 5 and works the seam formerly utilized at No. 4. In portions of No. 7 workings the second and third seams run close together and are mined as one; but in such situations the rock is Usually poor
Wapello Codnty 2K
and a weak roof often makes it necessary to leave np all or part of the higher coal. The third seam presents numerous irregularities, such aa old erosion channels running in all directions. The shaft of the mine is 110 feet in depth. The Phillips Fuel Company ships most of its product north, little being sold in Ottnniwa.
Pire clay and clay shale.
Sbale. darh. bltuminouB.
Coal.
PIre clay.
Sbale, light-colored.
i 74. SoUoii of shaft or PmUIpp No. 4. OMumwa.
Ottumwa. The Spring Hill mine is located within the city limits, near the northern boundary and on a tributary of Harrow's branch. There are two seams of coal, the upper three and one-half and the lower four feet thick. The lower seam is reached at a depth of forty feet and lies not far above the Saint Louis limestone. The latter outcrops along the creek less than three-quarters of a mile below the shaft.
300 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
The Black Diamond mine, now operated by the Bbseland Coal Company, is one and one-third miles northwest of the Spring Valley, near the plant of the Ottnmwa Brick and Construction Company. Two seams of coal have been mined, and usually where one thins out the other grows thicker. The upper averages forty inches and the lower four feet and more. A tramway 900 feet long carries the loaded cars from the sixtyfoot shaft to a short spur from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul railway, the motive power being by a tail-rope operated by a separate haulage engine. Hoisting is done by steam power. The mine has shipped large quantities of coal, but at present is turning out only a few tons per day and has nearly exhausted the available coal in its territory.
A short distance from the Black Diamond is the Clover Hill mine, operated by the Ottumwa Brick and Construction Company, which consumes about one-half the product. Some coal is shipped and the remainder is sold in the city. The top seam lies at a depth of thirty-two feet at the shaft and is two feet thick; while the coal worked is twenty-six feet lower and. varies from four and a half to six feet, with an average of five feet. The company reports that entries have been driven 2,000 feet east, 3,000 north, 1,000 south and 2,000 west and from them an area of about forty acres has been mined out. Sufficient coal remains to supply the mine for at least three years more. The bed shows a barely perceptible dip to the south. A tramway 2,600 feet long runs due south from the shaft to the railway spur mentioned above. The tipple has two chutes with hopper scales for local use and one with track scales for weighing the product shipped. A steam hoist is used. The sequence of strata near the shaft is :
Feet. Inches.
Total 43 8
Wapello County 301
South Ottumwa. Slightly more than a mile south of the southern corporation limit of Ottumwa, two mines are operating to supply the city trade. Two seams, only the lower of which is workable, are present and are separated by no great vertical interval. South of the mines is an area of coal land of unknown extent, but drilling done less than a mile east, west, and north showed that in those directions the seam is badly cut up by barren strips. Of the two mines, that nearest the city is the slope of the Star Coal Company (Tp. 71 N., E. 14 W., Sec. 2, Se. qr., Ne. V). The slope is 450 feet in length, with a twenty per cent grade. A short tramway extends north from the slope mouth to the wagon road and cars are hauled by tail-rope a distance of nearly half a mile from the interior of the mine to the tipple. The seam worked is from four to five feet in thickness. About twenty-five feet above it in the air shaft is a fourteen-inch coal. Southwest of the Star is the Dempster mine ( Sec. 1, Sw. qr., Sw. opened in 1906. The mine is now in course of development. The gin hoisting shaft penetrated the following strata, as reported by Mr. Dempster.
Feet. Inches.
4. "Slate" with thick rock band 36
3. Coal (thirteen Inches In air shaft) . 3
Total 93 1
One mile east (Keokuk Tp., Sec. 6, Sw. qr.), coal was formerly mined. A seam four and one-half feet thick lies 130 feet beneath the surface, while five feet above is an equally high seam. The Saint Louis limestone outcrops at a level fifty feet above this coal in the bed of the river at Ottumwa, two miles north, cutting off the Coal Measures in that direction.
Sugar Creek. Mining on a small scale has been undertaken at numerous points on Sugar creek and its tributaries, east of Ottumwa (Sees. 21 and 22),* and some is still taken out there, as well as in the river bluffs near the creek mouth, by strippings and by small local mines which lead a desultory life. At the
302 COAL DEPdSITS OF SOUTHEASTERN IOWA
old Colgan mine, about one mile below the debouchure of Sugar creek {Tp. 71, R. 13, Sec. 4, Ne. qr.), the following section was obtained.
FEcr. tNUBES.
7. Sandstone, massive, cross-bedded 50 to 60
4. Fire clay and areHlaceous sbale 15
2. Fire clay and black bale 1 to 10
7. Coal, rather slaty.. 6. Fire clay
4. Shale, gray, argillaceous S
Sbale, black, bituminous..
Coal
n Sugar creek. East of Oltumwa.
Bidivell. East of Bidwell station and about three miles west of Ottumwa (Center Tp., Sec. 20), the Bear creek mine shipped coal from a bed four and one-half feet in thickness. The seam outcrops in the valley and lies only about thirty feet above the Saint Louis limestone. This mine is not now in operation, but may possibly be reopened. At Bidwell, eight prospect holes were put down and apparently good coal was found. A prospect shaft was sunk one-half mile northwest of the station and the coal rights of the surrounding territory were purchased ; but the matter has been dropped, perhaps to be taken up again later. It is said that there are several hundred acres of coal here,
Wapello County 303
from four to five feet thick and about 118 feet below the lowlands. If this information is correct, development of this basin may be expected at no distant date. A drilling on the Sweeney farm, near the Bear creek mine, is reported to have penetrated the strata listed below. No workable coal was encountered in this particular boring and the depth to which the Coal Measures extend is surprising, though not at all improbable.
Drilling By Phillips Fuel Company.
Itcet.
10. "Slate," hard, blue 20
4. "Slate," black 10
Total 181
Willard. The Appanoose mine, which did a shipping business at Willard for many years (Polk Tp., Sec. 33, Nw. qr., Ne. i/4), is now definitely closed. The shaft was ninety feet in depth to a four-foot seam, with an upper rather bony coal about ten feet higher. The bed worked was strongly undulatory,. dropping forty feet in 1,800 south of the shaft and rising an equal amount in 2,200 toward the west. Contrary to the usual occurrence in such cases, the coal thickened toward the rise, while in descending toward the lower part of the basin on the east and south the seam ran out against an erosion channel filled with compact argillaceous material for a width of 350 yards or more. Two miles east of the mine, ten out of eleven prospect holes showed coal which was three and a half feet at a maximum. Sixty holes were drilled within a radius of two miles from the mine; coal was found in some of the tests, but appeared to be pockety and somewhat erratic in occurrence. Prospecting was also done between Willard and Blakesburg, but was not followed by exploitation. In Bear creek valley as a whole the coal presents
304 COaL deposits OF SOUTHEASTERN IOWA
the aspect of a succession of extensive seams greatly cut up by old erosion channels. Prospectors differ as to the material in these so-called ' faults ' and it is probable that both contemporaneous and pre-glacial water action has played a part. In the majority of cases, perhaps, drift replaces the coal.
One and a half miles northwest of Willard, on South Avery creek, local mines are intermittently worked. The Newell mine (Sec. 29, Nw. qr., Ne. %) opens by a fifty-foot shaft to a threefoot coal which outcrops in the bed of the stream. Hoisting is done by means of a steam equipment.
Eldon. Two miles east of Eldon (Sec. 25, W. %) are two local mines, those of C. D. Sharp and W. Mcintosh. These work a seam which is three feet six inches in thickness and lies about sixty feet below the surface. In Eldon itself are several small local banks, among which may be mentioned the Kern, Kelley, and Bums. The coal is reached by shallow shafts and shows only from twenty to thirty inches of coal. The roof of dark ''slate*' is usually adequate. Coal is also sometimes mined a bit over one mile west and northwest of town. An Eldon company recently drilled nearly fifty holes near Eldon, but are not yet prepared to publish the results. In most places they found at least a top seam of eighteen inches to three feet and a lower of six inches to two feet. Every boring penetrated one or more coals, of various thicknesses. It is said that some good coal land was located back from the railway but that near it nothing encountered justified exploitation.
Laddsdale. At Laddsdale, on the Davis county line, a shipping mine is operated by the Anchor Coal Co., also known as the Eldon Coal and Mining Company, on a short spur of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway (Tp. 71, R. 12, Sec. 32, Sw. qr., Sw. Vx). This is mine number 2 of this company. No. 1, which was situated one-fourth mile west, having been abandoned. The shaft is sixty-eight feet in depth and the altitude of its mouth is given by the company as 620 feet above sea level. The coal mined is of good quality for steaming purposes, being used in the railroad chutes at Eldon. Rolls in the roof and slips with a maximum displacement of eight feet are fairly common in the workings and the beds exhibit frequent changes of level. Entries
Wapello Counit 305
have been driven 3,000 feet northwest and southeast and 600 feet southwest and northeast. The old workings of Number 1 have now been headed, so that work will progress more rapidly in the future. Grades, are so arranged in the entries that one mule can haul ten-car trips. A number of prospect holes drilled in sections 31 and 32 of Washington township at distances of 150 to 200 feet apart reveal that inconstancy of individual strata and rapidity of change in the appearance of the coals which is so characteristic of the Des Moines beds in the southern part of the Iowa field. Following are two sample drill records from this area.
Laddsdale Sections.
A.
Thickness In Feet. Depth.
23. Clay shale, gray and blue 13 25
18. Clay shale, gray and blue 24 69
16. Shale, black, carbonaceous 73
14. "Rock" : . . 1% 78
13. Clay shale, gray and blue 14% 92J
11. Clay shale, gray and blue 6% 100%
9. "Rock," soft, blue 1% 104
4. Clay shale, blue and gray . 16% 135%
1. Clay shale, light blue 12 '152
B.
17. Clay shale, blue and gray 33% 63%
ft
306 Coal Deposits Of Sodtheasteijn Iowa
Thickness Ix Feet. Veftr.
15. Clay shale, gray and blue 6% 72
11. Clay shale, gray and blue 18 105
8. Shale, sandy, gray 5% 138%
7. Clay shale, blue and gray 19% 158
4. Clay shale, gray and blue 8 168%
Two beds of coal were encountered in several of the holes at approximately the same depth, namely at seventy-two and 103 feet respectively, but varied considerably in thiclcness. At about 135. feet another seam was found in some drillings, and at 158 feet still another. Besides the four mentioned, other seams were struck at diflFerent depths in* the various holes> no less than seven being penetrated in one boring and only three in one only 200 feet distant. If reservations be made for the irregularity of the beds, the following may be given as a summary of the coals in the territory of mine Number 2.
BED. THICfCNESS.
Feet. Inches.
Bottom seam 2 6
Jeffebson County
Since -Jefferson county lies on the eastern margin of the Iowa coal field and Mississippian limestone outcrops in the valleys of its principal streams, it is not to be expected that the Des Moines will show any great thickness within its borders. Coal Measures form the youngest of the indurated rocks under the greater part of the count's surface; yet their greatest thickness, where deposited in depressions in the irregular sur-
Jefferson County
face of the underlying Saint Louis, is probably little more than 200 feet. Their average is considerably less than this figure in all the townships, but is most in the southwestern section of the county, as shown in the accompanying plat prepared by IJdden.
PLAT OF ESTIMATED AVERAGE THICKNESS OF THE DES MOINES IN THE SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY (IN FEET).
Polk
Black Hawk
Penn
Walnut
LocuBt Grove SO
Fairfield
Buchanan
Lockridge
Defl Moines
Liberty
Cedar
Round Prairie
a.
It should be remembered that the figures given are estimates and that since both the upper and the lower limits of the formation conform to ancient erosion contours there are apt to be great local variations in its development. It is believed that the maximum development of the formation will not exceed three times the figures given, while at the same time it is known that excepting Fairfield and Locust Grove townships, the minimum limit is zero; that is, the Coal Measures have been entirely removed at some point in nearly all the townships."*
The Coal Measures have been removed from a small area in the northwestern corner of Polk township; from the greater
Udden : Geology Of Jefferson County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, pp. 355-436 ; Des Moinfs. 1902. Material has been taken from this report for the succeeding pages of this chapter without further acknowledgment, and also from Keyes: Coal Deposits of Iowa, Iowa Geol. Surv'.. Vol. n, pp. 393-402; 1894.
308 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
part of the region north of Wahiut creek, as far west as Veo; from the valleys of Skunk river, of Rocky branch, of Turkey creek, and of Rock creek; from the valley of Cedar creek, as far west as section 29 of Cedar township ; and from several small areas in various parts of the county where local elevations of the Saint Louis prevail. The most productive coal basins are located at the base of the Des Moines, near its contact with the Saint Louis. The points where mining has been undertaken hrfve in almost all cases been in the valleys of the numerous water courses; while the upland region is virtually unexplored by prospectors. Systematic search with the drill on the divides, especially on those that lie near known productive valleys, would undoubtedly result in the proving of workable basins heretofore unknown. The boring of merely a few holes would as undoubtedly result in failure; for Jefferson county coal appears to be extremely pockety" and barren areas are apparently numerous. It might be necessary, therefore, to continue the search over considerable territory before the coveted basins were found. Those townships in which the Coal Measures are thickest offer the greatest opportunity for locating coal in one or more of numerous horizons present ; yet the best horizon seems to be contained in the base of the formation, which can be reached by shallower drillings in those localities where the Coal Measures are more attenuated. Consideration must also be given to the fact that where the measures are thin, the roof over the coal is apt to be insujBScient for 'extensive mining.
Owing to the early settlement of the region and to the appearance of coal in outcrops in the deeper valleys, coal mining in Jefferson county began at an early date in the history of the state. In 1860 its production, 6,143 tons, was second only to that of Wapello, and it retained a high position as a producer throughout the following decade. In 1870 the output had not increased, being 5,300 tons, though the statistics for 1880 show an advance to 46,150 tons. Succeeding years witnessed a gradual decline d,ue to the closing of the larger mines at Perlee, until in 1890 only 8,123 tons were reported. According to reports of the Iowa and . United States Geological Surveys, recent production has been:
Jefferson County
S09
Tons.
Teab. Tons.
The present output is quite small, not more than 2,000 tons annually, and only a few mines are in operation, even during the winter months. A summary of present knowledge in regard to Jeflferson coal may be found in succeeding pages.
County Line, Coal is known to occur along Black creek and its tributaries, two miles south and southeast of County Line and further down the creek. Seams ranging from three feet to five feet six inches have been reported in sections 20, 29, 30 and 32 of Des Moines township as well as in portions of sections 28, 21 and 33. The coallies at shallow depths and usually possesses a shale roof, which is gray above and grades down-, ward through black, fissile slate'' into bony coal. Small mines have been operated at various points along the streams, yet there has been little apparent endeavor to locate coal by prospecting under the higher lands, where it may reasonably be expected to occur.
Ltbertyville. Near Lack creek, about three miles south of Libertyville, is a small area from which coal has been taken for many years. Mines in the southwest quarter of section 29 and the northeast of 31 have partially exhausted their territory and have been abandoned; but the J. C. Buchanan bank still works during the colder months of the year in the southeast quarter of section 30. The present shaft, sixty feet in depth, has been flooded by recent heavy rains, so that it may become necessary to excavate new openings for the next season's work. The seam worked is three feet thick, and is overlain with a black, calcareous and fossiliferous shale. The coal bed is not undulatory and dips gently to the west. A fourteen inch coal is reported to lie nine feet above the lower seam and to remain quite constant in thickne&s over considerable territory. The thicker basin is, however, more limited in extent; for Saint Louis limestone outcrops in the creek on the west
310 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
and drilling a short distance north and east of the Buchanan mine failed to locate the workable bed.
In the immediate vicinity of Libertyville, wells and, prospects have penetrated barren strata. Several years ago Mr. Albert Gardner operated a shaft forty feet deep near the bank of Cedar creek, three miles east of Libertyville (Liberty Tp., Sec. 15, Xe. qr., Ne. Vi). The seam mined lies eighteen feet below the creek bed. A general section of the Coal Measures based upon several explorations in tliis territory, is as follows:
General Section Op The Coal Measures In The Ne. Qr. Of Sec. 15.
Feet.
9. Limestone, concretionary 1-5
5. Sandstone, hard, gray ,. 0-6
Not far from the old shaft mentioned above, a slope with a fall of nine inches to the yard was recently opened on the land of Mr. Bishop. Since prospecting operations had shown a good seam of coal in this vicinity and the slope encountered a mere blossom," it was conjectured that an erosion "fault'' had removed the better part of the coal. Acting upon this supposition, the parties interested then sank a ninety foot shaft on the neighboring hill with the intention of directing the work from it toward the slope; but as the shaft passed through only a similar blossom," work was abandoned. A top seam of poor coal was seven inches thick in the shaft and twenty-two in the slope. Evidently only small basins have been located in this vicinity. On the north, the Saint Louis limestone outcrops in the lowlands of much of section 10 and the eastern part of section 9.
Fairfield. Essentially the only mining now conducted in Jefferson county is by a few coal banks on Cedar creek three miles due south of Fairfield, which supply the local country trade and haul some coal to Fairfield. As thev work during
Jefferson County 311
the winters only and have the simple horse-power equipment characteristic of mines of their class, their output is not large. The Bates and Spratt Coal Company have a mine a few rods south of Cedar Creek, just south of the bridge on the Fairfield- Birmingham wagon road (Liberty Tp., Sec. 24, No. qr., Se. V). The seam is variable in thickness, ranging from two to five feet, and contains three grades of coal which fire classified as such by the miners because of slight differences in practical heating and steam-producing qualities. The shaft is fortyseven feet deep and the coal lies at about the same elevation as the river bed. Prom five to twelve feet above the lower coal is a thin bed, fourteen to eighteen inches in thickness at this point. As .shown by tiie following section, measured onehalf mile northwest, and by other outcrops, it is a fairly persistent horizon.
Exposure Os Cedar Creek.
6. Sandstone, buff, soft and shaly 4
5. Shale, argillaceous, dark blue 10
' 3. Fire clay 4
Coal in a horizon slightly higher has also been found in this vicinity. A short distance above the Bates mine is the sixty-foot shaft of the Fairfield Coal Company (Sec. 24, Ne. qr., Sw. Vi). The coal at the two mines is essentially similar, and forms part of the very base of the Goal Measures. One-half
mih southwest {Sec. 24, Sw. qr., Ne. 1/4) a drift has been driven into four feet of coal in the right bank of a tributary of the Cedar. Above it is a black fissile shale about nine feet
312 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
thick and then a sandstone. Some explorations have been made in this territory and the elevations of the coal seams were found to be quite variable; changing as as forty feet in less than a quarter of a mile. Coal has been mined at several points within a mile below the Bates bank, in the valley of the Cedar.
A mine was formerly situated at the old Reed mill, near the Burlington railroad bridge across Cedar creek, two miles southwest of Fairfield (Sec. 3, Se. qr.). The sequence shown in the north bluff is :
Feet.
1. Coal (near the level of the creek bed) 3
In the northeast quarter of the same section, prospecting has recently been prosecuted on the land of Robert Ratcliff, north of the Libertyville road. Here the lower coal, the one formerly worked at the mill, has thinned to half its former height ; while the thickness of the top seam is increased to sixteen inches, and of the second seam to thirty inches. The coal in the upper beds is of good quality and may be developed at no distant date.
Another old mining district is located two miles west of Fairfield (Fairfield Tp., Sec. 27, Nw. qr., and Sec. 28, Ne. qr.). The principal coal seam occurs at depths varying from thirty to ten feet below the bottom of the streams, is from three to three and a half feet in thickness, and is overlain with a black shale containing large septaria. In this region, thin coals are frequent and some basins of workable extent and thickness probably remain undiscovered. Well records in both the southem quarters of section 28, Fairfield Tp., are said to show a thick seam of coal at about 160 feet below the upland level. One of the thin coals of this district is excellently well exposed in the north bank of the Cedar (Fairfield Tp., Sec. 32, Nw. qr.). This seam, which is here eighteen inches tliiek and thins lat-
Jefferson County 813
erally is shown in the lower part of the illustration (Fig. 77). Perlee. Perlee was at one time the center of the moat extensive mining undertaken in Jefferson county. Until early in the eighties, the Jefferson County Coal Company and the Washington Coal Company took out considerable coal; later companies possessed less capital and operated on a smaller scale, while what mining has been done within recent years has consisted in working out the crop coal and in pulling pillars in old workings. On the Courtney land in section 27, Penn township, coal was hoisted through a shaft forty feet deep for two
Figure 77. Eipoaure
bank of Cedar creek, section
years. The seam was four feet in thickness and the pocket still bears some good coal. Some coal also remains west of the Washington mines in section 32. Patches left unused by the Jefferson mines, a mile east of Perlee, were worked quite recently and the district in the immediate vicinity of Perlee is now pretty well exhausted. Most of the old coal banks have been located in sections 26, 27, 32, 33 and 34 in a seam which lies at about the level of South Walnut creek and but a short distance above the limestones underlying the Coal Meas-
314 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
ures. The latter formation is not of great thickness in Perm township, not much exceeding 100 feet at its maximum and being entirely lacking in much of the northern section. The Saint Louis appears in the valley of the lower parts of the various branches of Walntjt creek near the scene of former mining operations. The principal seam worked lies in a series of pockets in a narrow and irregular basin about three miles long and a mile or less wide, covering altogether less than one square mile in an-area trending northeast and southwest. Where utilized, the coal averaged three to four feet in thickness and was overlain with from six to eight feet of strong slate," graduating upward into a thick shale. In places, however, the roof has been cut out and replaced by drift, while locally the seam itself has been removed by pre-glacial erosion. Shafts sunk to the principal pockets ranged from forty to one hundred feet in depth. The sequence of strata is illustrated in the accompanying figure of the section at one of the shafts operated by the Washington Coal Company, whose mines were in sections 32 and 33.
The following section of the indurated rocks in one of the Jefferson shafts near the Perlee station (Penn Tp., Sec. 33, Ne. qr., Sw. /4), shows a general correspondence with those in the Washington territory.
Feet.
5. Shale, gray and clayey above, becoming black and fissile
below 13
3. Fire clay, grading downward into gray clay shales 14
2. Shale, highly bituminous and coaly in places 3
Brush Creek, For nearly fifty years mining has been intermittently prosecuted along Brush creek, in section 27 of Lockridge township. A considerable area near the center of the section has already been mined out. The seam worked is at a level slightly below that of the creek and is somewhat, though not seriously, disturbed bv horsebacks and faults of small throw. One of the latest mines to be operated in the district
Jefferson Cou.My
was that of the W. G-. Smith Coal CompaDy, the shaft of which penetrated the following strata:
2. "Slate." black ZO
1. Coal (thirty feet below level of creek) VA
:pi;i
2T,. Shale, black.
Figure J8, Section ot Bhaft at Washington mine. Perl
Oil the south side of the .shaft is a fault with a down-throw of five feet to the north; the fault plan.e dips north 32 degrees
816 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
and trends west 15 degrees 8. The Smith Coal Company was expanded into the Big Four Coal Company, a steam hoisting plantwas installed, and an effort made to develop the mine on a large scale; but after the burning of the shaft in 1906 operations were suspended. The quality of the coal was good, while the roof was firm in places, yet water entered in large quantities and gave considerable trouble. A shaft fifty feet deep was one-fourth mile northeast by Mr. Smith and was worked on a small scale. One room was opened under the creek bed and indications that the seam extended northward were verified when a shaft was excavated in section 22 (Se. qr., Se. V).
More than one coal horizon appears in this district, as shown by the section of the old McGregor shaft, west of the Big Four mine, which is given below (Sec. 27, Sw. qr., Nw. %).
Feet.
5. Shale and "slate," bituminous 25
4. Coal, with a thin seam of pyrite 4%
1. Hard black rock with shells (St. Louis ?) 1
Coal has also been mined in section 36 of Lockridge township, where a shaft twenty-five feet in depth reached a seam fortytwo inches in thickness. The latter consisted of eight inches of a tough cannel coal above, thirteen inches of ordinary bituminous coal, then three inches of fire clay, Mid below this eighteen inches of bituminous coal. After working a few seasons, the mine was abandoned because of water.
Henry County*
Not more than twenty square miles in Henry county are underlain with Coal Measures, and the deposits are extremely thin where present. The greater part of this area forms merely the attenuated edges of more important Des Moines outcrops
complete description of the Coal Measures of this county has already been published by Savage: Geology of Henry County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, pp. 284- 288; Des Moines, 1902.
Henry County 317
in Jefferson county on the west and Lee on the sonth, while the remaiDder lies in small isolated patches. Before the prolonged period of erosion which intervened between the last retirement of the waters of the sea from this region and the invasion of the Pleistocene ice sheets, it is probable that Des Moines strata covered Henrj' county to a depth of many feet. Before the deposition of the drift, however, stream action and surface wash had removed all but that portion of the Coal Measures which lay in a protected position in depressions of the underlying calcareous formations, or which was situated at a distance from the area of most energetic erosion.
Figure 79. An exposure of con! In epotlon 5 of SolE-m township. The coal bed la Immediately overlain by drift.
Coal Measures may be found along the western boundary of the county in a strip less than one mile wide and about fourteen miles long extending from the southwestern comer of Salem township to a point north of the Chicago, Burlington and Quiney railroad. A similar narrow strip lies east and west along the greater part of the southern border of the county; while a few small outliers are erratically placed in
318 Coal Deposits Of Houtheastern Iowa
various parts of the southern six townships. The strata constituting the outcrops consist chiefly of yellow and brown sandstones with intercalated shales; although a few coals have been discovered and will be mentioned more in detail below.
Before the advent of several lines of railroad caused cheap fuel to be brought to every door from neighboring counties and from other states, some mining was undertaken; but notliing has been done for a number of years. In 1862, 100 bushels was taken out; in 1866, 10,035 bushels; in 1868, 20,300 bushels; in 1875, 120 tons, and in 1885, 196 tons.
Rome. West of Rome, near the Skunk river, a coal that has been mined in the past outcrops in the sides of neighboring ravines. The following is the section as reported by Keyes.'
Figure BO. Outci
Salem. Four miles north of Salem, in section 5 of Salem township, rocks forming part of a small Coal Measure outlier outcrop at several places in a small ravine. Among these strata is a coal bed, as shown in the section given below.
3. Gravels and bowlder clay 3H
2. Layer of eott sandetone grading downward Into a narrow
band of shale i
1. Bed of Impure, earthy coal, rather soft and crumbling
A few rods farther down the stream there is an outcrop in which the coal is of better quality and is slightly thicker. The
Iowa Geol. Surv,. Vol. II, p, iHl ; Moines, 1S94.
Davis County 319
coal is harder and contains less earthy matter than that of the above section, but is immediately overlain by the bowlder clay. Twenty rods north of the latter exposure, the Saint Louis limestone appears twenty-five feet above the level of the coal. One mile to the north, the opposite side of this limestone ridge is reached and a bed of coal very similar to that described may be observed in a stream valley in the central portion of section 32, Tippecanoe township. The seam is overlain by ten inches of shale, capped by four feet of soft sandstone. The coal is three feet in thickness and was formerly drifted for a distance of two or three hundred feet into the hill.
Coal is exposed in the wagon road five miles directly east of Salem and has formerly been mined. The Coal Measure outlier of which it forms a part is, however, a small one and all the workable part of the seam appears to have been removed.
Davis County
Although containing strata which have proved in neighboring counties the most productive in the state, Davis has as yet produced but little coal. That this state of affairs is due to factors other than the absence of workable coal basins, there can be but little doubt. Most of the county is covered by an exceptionally heavy mantle of glacial drift that eflFectually masks outcrops, and in only a few places have streams cut down to the indurated rocks beneath. It is significant that where exposures of the Coal Measures have been laid bare, coal beds have in many cases been discovered and there is reason to think that numerous basins exist in unprospected portions of the region. It is not likely that these are of great lateral extent, for the only persistent seam in the Des Moines stage of southern Iowa, the Mystic coal, probably fails to reach as far east as Davis county and the other coals of the lower Measures are more or less pockety in nature. Extensive prospecting is the only means of locating good coals, and this will be least expensive where the overlying drift is most feebly developed. In this respect the valleys of the northern tier of townships are most favorably situated.
The Coal Measures attain considerable thickness within the limits of the county, and the basal Saint Louis limestone out-
COAL DEPOSITS OF SOUfHEASTERN IOWA
crops only in the northeastern comer of the county, near the Des Moines river. A few drillings have been continued to the limestone in other sections : At Laddsdale it was reached at 183 feet, near Carbon at 225 feet and at Bloomfield, as reported by Keyes,* at 230 feet. At Sedan, in Appanoose county, the Saint Louis lies 382 feet down, at an altitude of 443 feet above sea level. The very uneven surface of the Saint Louis renders the depth at which it may be encountered in even adjacent prospects rather variable, yet it has a fairly consistent dip to the southwest of about eight feet per mile from the outcrop mentioned above to the Missouri state line.
Davis has never been a large producer and mined as much coal in Civil War days as during many recent years. Federal Census reports show that 577 tons were mined in 1860, 1,080 in 1870, 5,500 in 1880 and 3,825 in 1890. Recent production is given by the Iowa Geological Survey as follows:
Tear.
Tons.
Year.
During the year ending June 30, 1908, an increase was noted, due largely to developments at Carbon. The output was then 4,364 tons and the number of men employed, thirty-three. Below is brief mention of mines in existence in August, 1907.
Carbon. The only shipping mine in the county is the drift of the Soap Creek Coal Company. The drift mouth is situated one-half mile west of the station at Carbon, coal being conveyed over the intervening distance on a long tramway. This is a new mine at which but little work has been done. The coal is about three-feet thick, including a two-inch clay parting which lies about four inches above its base. Beneath the coal is from two to three feet of fire clay, and above is a **soapstone" shale which forms rather a weak roof. The dip is to the south and west. A seam with a good roof, but only eighteen to twenty-six inches in thickness, outcrops fifteen feet below the one worked. Considerable prospecting has been done near Carbon and the
Coal Deposits of Iowa, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 424 ; Des Moines, 1894.
Davis County
parties interested report that the seam mined there underliesan area of ten square miles and that the lower coal mentioned above extends from three miles south of Carbon north into Wapello county. In one prospect seven feet of coal was found at a depth of 112 feet.
Two and one-half miles southwest of Carbon, in section 10 of Soap Creek township, is the small Wagner bank, operating in a twenty-two inch seam lying well above the creek level. Farther southwest is the Shanley drift in two feet of coal.
Three miles southeast of Carbon a four-foot coal underlies at least one square mile of territory. Other seams are also known. The old Dunn mine (Lick Creek Tp., Sec. 8, Nw. qr.), on the north bank of Soap creek, worked in five feet of coal about
Feet. Ikche8.
?Z?13 7. Drift 10
4. Shale, bituminous, with bands stone, graduating below into next 6
3. Shale, firm, black, fissile. . 3
1. Fire clay, gray, shaly in part 2
Figure 81. Bluff on Soap creek near old Brown Cannel mine. Carbon.
thirty-five feet above the creek level. The coal appears to thin out rapidly up the stream. A thick coal bed on the opposite side of Soap creek was once utilized by the Brown Cannel Coal Company. No mining is being done in this district at present.
322 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
Floris. Borings at Floris itself have revealed no coal, although one was carried to a depth of 210 feet. One-half mile northwest of the town, however, is an exposure of two coals on Soap creek (Lick Creek Tp., Sec. 15, Ne. qr.). The lower seam lies at the water level and is two feet thick. It is separated from the upper, which is three feet in thickness, by fourteen inches of shale and sandstone. These two beds coalesce to form a four to six-foot seam that has been worked a trifle at the old Howard shaft, situated not far from the outcrop. Pre-glacial depressions filled with drift probably interfere greatly with the continuity of the bed.
A number of quite small country banks, open only in winter, are operated along Salt creek, northeast of Floris. Two coal seams are commonly recognized here and lower coals are also present. The first seam is three feet and less in thickness and, because of its slight depth beneath the surface, often possesses insufficient cover. The second seam lies ,at the water level of Salt creek, about twenty-five feet below the first. It shows a thickness of from four to four and one-half feet, and is often
overlain by black shale and a band of compact sandstone that makes a fair roof where well developed.. The Hastinis bank (Salt Creek Tp., Sec. 8, Se. qr., Nw. V) and the, Clark, one-half mile west, work the second seam. The Dye mine (Sec. 8, Ne. qr., Nw. Vi), and the near-by Fite and Fayne banks, work the first seam.
Considerable mining has been done at Laddsdale, on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway just north of the Wapello-Davis county line. Some, at least, of the coals described in the chapter on Wapello county as found there probably extend southward into Davis county. There are rumors that a shipping mine will be opened south of the county line, if the railroad can be persuaded to bridge Soap creek.
Troy. One and one-half miles east of Troy, just over the line in Van Buren county, Mr. Lunsford intends to sink a shaft in the near future. The strata found here are briefly mentioned in the chapter on Van Buren county.
Lunsford, Until the recent caving of the shaft caused it to be abandoned, a local mine was operated in the valley of Fabius
Van Buren County 323
creek, one-fourth mile north of the Missouri line. The drift is 200 feet thick at this shaft. An eighteen-inch coal lies 226 feet beneath the surface and a seam thirty-eight inches thick was mined at 260 feet. Entries were driven eighty-five feet east, fifty feet west, 260 feet south, and 270 feet north. The coal thickened slightly to the north and west. The upper seam was found in a boring one and one-fourth miles northeast of the shaft, but no attempt was made to reach the thicker bed.
Van Buben County
Van Buren county lies on the eastern margin of the coal field and is quite generally underlain with Coal Measure strata. These deposits are commonly, however, rather attenuated and are far from continuous over the entire region, being absent in the immediate vicinity of the Des Moines river and lower Chequest creek and in the eastern portion of Harrisburg township. There are also numerous areas under the uplands where the drift rests locally upon the Saint Louis limestone in preglacial depressions. In some sections the Coal Measures may be characterized, therefore, as being merely outliers on the border of the main field. The coal basins so far discovered have been quite small and the mines have been located chiefly in the Des Moines valley and in the northern tier of townships. The mantle of drift in the southwestern half of the county has tended to completely conceal the indurated rocks and to provent the discovery and development of the coals which probably underlie limited areas in that region. A basin of unknown extent is soon to be opened near the Davis county boundary and Chequest creek, and coal has been mined near Farmington, along Bear creek, and in thin beds near Keosauqiia. Aside from these districts development has been confined to the region north of the Des Moines river.
In spite of the fact that most of the coal mined has always been used locally and that the coal basins utilized have not been of great extent, the early settlement of the county soon led to the development of outcropping coals. Thus in 1860 the annual production amounted to 4,252 tons, a sum exceeded only in Wapello and Jefferson counties. From this period to the
Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
present, the annual output has varied from 1,000 to 45,000 tons. The tonnage of recent years, according to statistics gathered by the Iowa Geological Survey, is as follows :
Yeab.
Tons.
Yeab.
Toira.
The State Mine Inspectors ' report shows for the year ending June 30, 1908, an output of 17,518 tons from eight mines. Sixtysix men were employed.
In the following pages of this chapter, the coal areas so far as known in August, 1907, are discussed in more detail.*
Business Corners. About a mile north of Douds, three horsegin mines supply the local trade and the railroad chutes at Douds and ship small quantities of coal to Keosauqua, Fairfield, Eldon, and other points. The coal of this district lies in pockets that differ but little in character, and averages about three and a half feet in thickness. A thin stratum of fire clay is found under the coals of the chief horizon ; while from four to twelve feet of black bituminous shale, with ixitercalated bands of impure limestone forms tiiie roofing material. Small basins appear to be quite numerous in the northwestern section of the county.
The present Eatcliff mine is entered by a shaft sixty feet deep adjacent to that of the former G. W. Findley bank (Village Tp., Sec. 14, Se. qr., Se. %). The thickness of the seam worked remains quite constant at three feet eight inches, except at the west line of the lease, where it was five feet at the point at which work ceased. About ten acres have been mined out in strips extending to the north and west lines of the lease. In running north from the old Ratcliflf shaft, a short distance south of the present mine (Sec. 23, Ne. qr.), the seam went to the rise until it dropped six feet along a fault plane, and then pitched downward at such a steep gradient that it was deemed advisable to sink a new shaft at the present location in order
Acknowledgments for material are due previous reports of this Survey — Keyes: Coal Depoaita of Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 429-434; Des Moines, 1894, and Gordon: Oeology of Van Buren County, Vol. IV. pp. 197-254. 1895.
Van Buren County 325
to avoid the heavy haul toward the south. On the south side of the old workings the roof was insecure; while west of the former shaft no coal was found in a well sixty-four feet in depth.
The mine of the Findley and Sons Coal Company is situated near the center of section 14, where the coal is found to vary from forty inches to four feet in thickness. The bed is cut out in places and the plan of mining is to follow around the edge of the barren strips instead of tunneling through them. The shaft is sixty-six feet in depth and the coal lies but slightly below the bed of a neighboring water course. Recent drilling revealed forty acres of good coal tributary to the shaft. Three six-inch coals with local thickenings are found above the bed worked. The A. M. Felmelee mine is a short distance northwest of the Findley (Sec. 14, Nw. qr., Se. A). The fifty-fopt shaft was Slink in 1906 to coal which shows from three to four feet in thickness. It was intended to work from this shaft about thirty acres, of which less than two have been mined out. The bed dips northeast. On south side of the territory the coal was deemed too soft and the roof too weak fqr profitable exploitation.
The sequence of strata in the northern portion of section 14, where mining operations . have been conducted in the past, is shown in .the following :
12. Shale, black, bituminous 11
5. Shale, gray, with limestone masses .4 to 6
1. Shale, blue, in well starting about twelve feet below the coal 22
326 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
The following section of the strata at the old Findley mine near Business Comers (Village Tp., Sec. 24, Ne. qr.) shows as close a correspondence with the preceding record as can be expected in so irregularly stratified a stage as the Des Moines.
Feet. Inches.
11. Sbale* blue, argillaceous 10
9. Shale, arenaceous, with plant remains 10
7. Shale, becoming more argillaceous below 3
5. Sandstone, with plant remains 1
3. Shale, black, fissile above, more compact below; the
basal portion containing lenticular masses of black, calcareous rock 5
2. Coal, sometimes partially cut out by the lenticular
masses 3 to 4
Prospecting in section 13 revealed a continuation of the coal at the Ratcliff mine and this may be developed at no distant date. Some coal has been taken out on the Hinkle land in section 10, southwest quarter, and a little mining is still prosecuted intermittently. In the northeast quarter of the same section a coal outcropping in a higher horizon than any yet considered occurs not far. below the plain level. An exposure in a branch at this point is :
Feet. Uccheb.
6. Shale, black, bituminous , 8
5. Limestone, black, compact MO
3. Shale, black, argillaceous 2
Van Buren County 327
A three-foot coal bed is known to be present south of the river, near Selma (Village Tp., Sec. 20), about seventy-five feet above the Saint Louis limestone. It has been worked in a small way. A small coal bank is located just south of the county line, on Lick creek (Lick Creek Tp., Sec. 6, Ne. qr.), where a shaft not quite fifty feet deep reaches a three-foot seam. Another coal horizon is present, but seldom bears workable coaJ. This coal is found also in section 5 and north on Lick creek in Jefferson county. Farther south (Sec. 17, Ne. qr.) the Mathias bank produces a little coal, but only a few rooms have been worked out. The section yielded by an opening on the hillside is :
Feet. Inches.
3. Shale, black, with limestone "bowlders" 2
In boring for coal at Birmingham, the following record was obtained, the location being at the station of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, altitude 758 feet above tide.
FEET. INCHES. 14. Soil 2
4. Limestone, black, bituminous 10
The seams encountered were not regarded as workable here: Coal has been mined for local use, however, about two miles southwest of Birmingham and also three miles south and west, where a slope is now being reopened by Mr. Buckmaster (Lick Creek Tp., Sec. 25, Nw. qr.). The coal at the latter bank is three
328 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
feet and less in thickness and is roofed by a black shale capped with impure sandstone. In the northeastern comer of the county, in Cedar township (Sees. 13, 14, 23 and 24), small quantities of coal were taken out for a number of years, though nothing beyond pulling pillars and some superficial drifting has been done recently. An exposure (Sec. 14, Nw. qr.) shows the following stratigraphical arrangement:
Feet. Inches.
6. Sandstone; ash-gray, irregularly indurated 1
5. Coal; with lenticules of sandstone 2
4. . Shale, black, .fissile, plcareous 10
Locally this coal thickens considerably, for most of the coal is irregular in occurrence. On the south, in section 23, three feet of coal is separated from the underlying Saint Louis by only three feet of fire clay. A top coal is often present, separated from the lower by a short vertical interval. Not . more than sixty acres have been worked out in .Cedar Township.
Bentqnsport. The.C. Manning bank is now doing a good business three-fourths mile northwest of Bentonsport in what is evidently a small outlier of Coal Measure strata (Sec. 35, Nw. qr.). A slope and entry have been driven in about 900 feet to a seam which bears from three to three and one-half feet of coal and lies about fifty feet. below the general level of the country. This coal does not extend far east of the wagon road through section 35, but in the south half of section 26 is an area of about 100 acres in which coal from eighteen to thirty-six inches thick appears to be quite generally present.
Northeast of Bentonsport, on a small branch of Honey creek (Harrisburg Tp., Sec. 20, Sw. qr.), is the A. E. Gardener bank. Two coals are found here, the upper being the one mined. It is two feet ten inches in thickness, free from impurities or irregularities, and roofed by five feet of heavy ''slate." About seven rooms have been worked out and the pillars brought back to the entries. The lower seam was reached in two borings eighty rods north 6f the mine, where it lies twenty feet below the upper
Van Buren County 329
and is four and one-half feet thick. East of the mine 150 yards the lower seam shows only one foot of coal; while the upper possesses no roof. Farther east, on Honey creek, the lower seam again thickens And has been mined by stripping.
The Whitmore bank is two and one-half miles south of the Gardener (Bonaparte Tp., Sec. 5, Ne. qr.). Horse and gin hoist the coal through a shallow shaft. Work was abandoned on the north side because of a miner 's ' ' fault. ' ' The sequence of strata at this mine is shown in figure 82. The fire clay under the lower coal is said to rest directly on the Saint Louis limestone.
FEET. iNcnES. 1". Drirt.
Sbate, dark blue. Coal.
Fire elay. - Shale, drab or brown. Shale, dark, flsalle. Coal.
""coal. Fire clay.
Mr. Whitmore worked out a basin seventy feet wide and of unknown elongation north and south in a small' outlier in section 3, Bonaparte township. The coal varied between thirty and fifty inches in thickness and had a safe roof of "slate" over the part worked only!
Coal areas of limited extent are present in the valley of Bear creek, on the soutH side of the river, near Bentonsport. These basins appear to be in depressions of the Saint Louis limestone, and to be soinewhat irregular in occurrence. The only mine now in operation is the small Bradford drift on' a tributary of Bear creek, at which point the average thickness of the coal is thirty mches, with pockets of greater height. The dip of the seam is to the northwest, and near the drift mouth the coal lies about seven feet below the level of the stream valley. The roof is a "slate" of satisfactory strength except where one pre-glacial erosion channel, four feet in width, occurs. One-fourth mile north of the mine the limestone outcrops well up in the creek valley, cut-
330 Coal Deposits Of' Southeastern Iowa
tiDg o£F the Coat Measures. Three small seams of coal are reported from the center of section 12, and coal also has been found in the upper part of the river bluffs below the debouchure of Bear creek. At the old Boyer mine {Henry Tp., Sec. 3, S. %), which has not been worked for five years, the following section occurs.
4. Sandstone, white, very compact, called "clod," aometimea
changing to black shale 6 to 12
a. Fire clay 3 to 4
Another coal bank is to be opened one mile west of the Boyer.
Farmington. Several coal basins of limited extent occupy depressions in the Saint Louis limestone in the vicinity of Farmington. Each coal bed is usually underlain by fire clay and sandstone, but this sandstone occasionally fails, and then the coal rests directly upon the limestone. In some eases the fire clay and sandstone occur at the center, but wedge out at the edges of the basin. The following represents the succession as shown by drill records in a coal district, number 4 being the only workable horizon.
IB. Shale, black '.6 to 10
16. Sandstone, gray, coarse-grained 1 S
H. Coal 1 2
Van Bur£N County 331
11. Fire clay and shale, bluish 5
The Cahill Coal Company is operating a seventy-eight acre lease one mile northeast of Farmington (Sec. 25, Sw. qr., Sw. %). A seam from three to five feet in height lies sixty-five feet below the surface at the shaft. This pocket has been worked for a long period of time and is now almost exhausted. Hoisting is done with horse and gin, as at all the mines of the district. The larger portion of the output is consumed locally, although some is shipped to neighboring towns. North of the Cahill is the Knott mine, which supplies a local trade from a steep slope 100 feet in length. Very little of the product is shipped. On the Mannhart land, a pocket of twenty acres of coal is known, varying in height from forty to fifty inches.
A short distance southeast of Farmington is the 135-acre lease of the Hessler Coal Company. The shaft is seventy-five feet deep, and is located near the tracks of the Kansas City railroad (Sec. 1, Ne. qr., center of S. The top of the seam worked is fairly level, but the surface of the underlying fire clay is imeven, causing the coal to exhibit changes in thickness from twenty-two to thirty-seven inches. Mr. Hessler reports that the entire lease is known to be underlain with coal and that it thins toward the north. A local trade is supplied. The bed worked and a seven-inch coal thirty feet higher outcrop in a neighboring creek and coal has been found as far west as the railroad. The interval between the two coals is bridged by slate" and a little fire clay. Five shafts have been sunk at various times to this basin.
The Blue Jacket mine is a local bank about one mile-west of the Des Moines river, near the Missouri line. Where worked the bed is four to five feet thick and coal is said to be present
Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
under a large part of the lease of 105 acres. The shaft is forty feet in depth.
Troy, In Van Buren county, one and one-half miles east of Troy, Mr. Lunsford reports that a coal area has been found by drilling and that a shaft will soon be sunk. A boring headed on low ground encountered twenty-two inches of slate" above an eight-inch coal at a depth of twenty-five feet, followed sandstone, **soapstone" and slate" to a depth of forty-five feet, where five feet of coal overlain by a hard, gray cap-rock was reached. Essentially the same strata were found in a hole drilled one-fourth mile distant. Years ago a small slope was worked in this district.
Lee County
The Coal Measures which covered Lee county at one period were, as a result of crustal movements, subjected to znore severe erosion than were those of the region lying within the main part of the Iowa coal field, and were in greater part washed away before the drift was laid down upon them. There are within the limits of the county today onlv remnants of Des Moines strata left in the form of isolated outliers: Many of these are. nevertheless, of rather large size. The main body of outliers is in the northern and western sections of Lee county and is ac offshoot from the Iowa field ; but there are near Keokuk a few very small areas which are structurally more closely related to
FiiTure 84. v Unconformity of Coal* Measures and Saint uis limestope. nora quarn*.
the Upper Carboniferous of the Illinois baiii. In all parts of the county these beds are greatly attenuated and consist chiefly of a compact brown sandstone which commonly forms . the basal member of the Des Moines in southeast em. Iowa. . In every case this stratum rests unconformably on Saint Louis . limQstouo.
331 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
r Gingto a lack of IlaIly coaltSieams of workable thickness and 5d the general absence of a good roof over those coals that do xist, Lee ,county h£i.s never been and never will be a great pro- Jducer. Considerable coal has been taken ont or local consumpT -idon, however and some is still mined during the winter months. The mines are seldom' permanent, often operating from new jppenings each season, and on account of the nature of the roof Jonly narrow work is attempted. As examples of the production for early years may be cited the annual output of 315 tons in 1860, 10,650 bushels in 1868, and 500 tons in 1880. The tonnage during recent years is negligible. Complete accounts of the rocpurrence of Coal Measures in Lee county have been published by Keyes* and have been drawn upon for material in the following detailed statement of the present status of the county as a jCoaI field.
,Gedar and Harrispyr Townships. With the exception of sections
28, 31, 32 and *3J, the western half of Cedar township is fdbably underlain by Coal Measures. Similar beds appear in southwestern Harrison, but in neither township has workable ,'coal been reported.
Van Bur en, Charles f on, and Des Moines Toivfiships. The [Harrison area is continued through Van Burep township as an flrregular strip parallel to the Des Moines river and occupying tlully one-half of the surface of the township. At Croton about Ifiteen feet of the basal sandstone caps the bluffs ; while farther north and west, near Farmington, in Van Buren county, con- ,siderable coal has been mined near the Lee county limits. A -narrow tongue of Coal Measures is continued into section 31 ,of Charleston township and into sections 1,' 6 and 7 of Des I Moines. In none of these three townships, however, has coal of economic importance yet been Iqcated.
Marion Township, Parts of two Pennsylvanian outliers occur in Marion township. One of these occupies the entire northeastern portion north of a line drawn at an average distance of one mile north of the Burlington railroad. A half mile east of Saint Paul some mining has been done in a desultory fashion in a thin seam that is extremely irregular in occur-
Coal Deposits of Iowa, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. 11, pp. 484-489; Des Moines, 1894. Geology of Lee County, Idem, Vol. Ill, pp. 305-408; 1895.
Lee County 335
rence. Another thin coal outcrops beneath several feet of black shale and light-colored clay less than a mile south, in the bed of a small ravine. In the south-central part of the township lies the north end of another outlier. In the south half of section 33 some mining has been conducted in a three-foot seam' of coal which will be mentioned later.
Plea-sant Ridge Township. Coal Measures may be found in practically all of this township 'except the southern tier of sections. The chief openings in this district have been made on Sutton creek, six miles northwest of Denmark, where coal has been mined by both strippings and drifts. One of the principal mines was the old Morris drift (Sec. 16, Ne. qr., Ne. Vi) from which some coal has been hauled to West Point during several winters. The seam was seldom as high as twenty-five inches. Almost nothing has been taken from this land for many years. Two miles east, a thin seam has been worked in a similar manner. An outcrop near the road in section 14 (Ne. qr., Nw. V4) shows the section in the accompanying figure.
Figure BB. Oulcrop norchweat of IJenmark.
This seam has an appreciable dip to the west and may possibly thicken in that direction. Coal may be present under mach of the land lying between the two creeks near which the outcrops just mentioned occur, yet the tenuity of the seam and the weakness of the roof over it would hardly justify development.
Franklin and West Point Townships. The southern extension of the outlier in southern Marion township covers the older indurated rocks of the greater part of Franklin township between the Keokuk and Northwestern railway and the valley of Sugar creek. On both sides of the creek in section 4, Frank-
336 Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
lin township, shafts and drifts as well as strippings have taken out considerable coal for local consumption. There are rumors that the seam may be reopened on a somewhat larger scale than before. The coal is from three to three and a half feet in thickness, dips to the west and south, and has a poor roof, as shown by the following section of an outcrop in the vicinity.
One mile southeast, a few openings have also been made. The limestone imderlying the Coal Measures is exposed in the creek bottom and bears the relationship to the coal bed revealed in the sequence given below.
Feet.
1. Limestone, coarse, fossiliferous (St. Louis) 2
Between Sugar creek and West Point is a small Coal Measure outlier covering about six square miles. Two miles southwest of West Point (Franklin Tp., Sec. 12), and in adjacent areas, some mining was imdertaken in a bed of coal which seldom exceeds one foot in thickness. More recently a lower seam, showing the thickest coal yet found in the county, was uncovered by a washout in the bed of a small stream. This coal lies four feet and more below the seam formerly mined and is about the same distance above the Saint Louis. It varies between three and four feet in thickness. In 1906, Mr. Peitz sank a shaft to this bed (Sec. 12, Se. qr., Nw. %) and now takes out considerable coal during the somewhat widely separated periods when the mine is working. He kindly furnished from memory the following shaft record.
Lee County 337
Feet.
Soil and drift . . 9
The strata below the lower coal have been exposed in a neighboring well.*
Feet.
Jackson and Montrose Toivnships, Separated from the outliers previously enumerated by a low anticline which brings the Keokuk and Burlington beds to the surface, there are in southeastern Lee county three small Coal Measure tracts, each about one square mile in extent. The most northerly of these is just west of Galland, in Montrose township, on the crest of the bluff. So far as known, it contains no coal. The other two outliers are immediately north and west, respectively, of Keokuk, on the summit of the bluflf s. Near Band Park, north of the city, a very little coal was taken out by means of drifts many years ago. The section in this vicinity is:
2. Sandstone, brown, coarse-grained 10
In the southwest comer of the city, above Nassau slough, operations have also been attempted on a small scale. The coal is of good quality, but lacking in quantity. The sequence of strata at fhe summit of the bluff is illustrated in figure 86.
Coal Deposits Of Southeastern Iowa
Drift
SandstODe, ferruglnouB. Irregularly bedded
Shale, dark. Qsslle, many small coacretlons
Coal, thickening ' northward.. .
Fire clay
Sandstone, variable In thickness. vUb Irregular bands of clay shale, restfng unconformably upon the next., ID
rlBure U Top of bluff
Des Moines County
Upper Carboniferous strata are very poorly developed in Des Moines county, the greater part of those which were originally deposited having been removed by erosion. Only those Coal Measure rocks which lay in deep channels carved in the more resistant surface of the Mississippian formations remain in place at the present time, and these are entirely confined to the southwestern comer of the coimty. The most extensive deposits of Coal Measures lie in two small outliers on either side of Long creek, about two miles north of Augusta, at which point a thick buff to brown sandstone rises in bold cliffs. No coal has been found associated with this outcrop. Another area of Des Moines beds occurs in the extreme southwestern part of the county, about three miles and more southwest of Danville station, where they constitute outliers which extend a short distance into the southeastern comer of Henry county. Shale and a thin seam of coal accompany" the sandstone in several parts of this area; but aside from the shale clays, nothing that can be considered of economic importance has been located. Coal Measures do not cover a total area of more than six square miles in Des Moines county.
De8 Moines Codnty
The relationships of the Des Moines beds to the drift and to the older indurated rocks are illustrated in the accompanying cross-section along Skunk river. In this sketch, the numbers represent the following formations: 1 is the Kioderhook; 2 and 3, the Lower Burlington ; 4, the Upper Burlington limestone; 5, the Montrose cherts; 6, the Keokuk; 7, the Warsaw shales ; 8, the Saint Louis limestone; 9, the Saint Louis maris; 10 and 11, the Coal Measures.*
It is probable that the Coal Measures are not quite so continuous or so extensively developed as shown in this section. They should appear only in the central and westem districts, as heretofore described. The general relationships of the various formations, however, are correctly portrayed.
Dta if oinei „
340 Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa
Part Iv.
Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa
Grundy County
A tongue of Lower Coal Measure strata projects eastward from the main Iowa coal field into the western half of Shiloh township and the northwestern comer of Melrose township of Grundy county, but no mining has been done within the limits of the district. The Eldora field, once quite productive, lies only a few miles west of the west county line and the absence of natural exposures in Grundy renders it probable that outliers of the Des Moines remain undiscovered beneath the upland surface; yet, nevertheless, it is not likely that extensive coal basins will ever be exploited in this region. The Coal Measures are probably thin where present, and the coal which they may possibly contain of poor quality. While prospecting operations would hardly yield legitimate returns, the incidental discovery of coal in well diggings may at some future time result in the development of coals of local importance.
Linn County
Of beds of Des Moines age that formerly covered a large part of Linn county only a few small outliers have survived the ravages of pre-glacial erosion. Of these Coal Measure areas, the best known lie between Cedar Bapids and Marion in sections 11 and 12 of Eapids township and consist chiy of beds of ferruginous sandstone similar to those found in the Carboniferous outliers of neighboring counties. On West Otter creek Coal Measure sandstone and some coal are reported from section 19 (Nw. qr.) of Otter Creek township, where black bituminous shale was reached at a depth of only six feet from the
Jackson Couhty 341
surface. The probabilities of finding workable coal seams in Linn coiinty are very slight.
Jones County
A thin deposit of sediments was probably laid down over nearly the whole of Jones county during the Pennsylvanian period, but has since been almost completely removed by preglacial erosion. Loose fragments of Coal Measure sandstone, derived from an undiscovered ledge in the neighborhood, were found in a ravine in Fairview township (Sec. 24, Se. qr.) and were associated with clays derived from Des Moines shales. A bed of pebbly, ferruginous sandstone, probably of similar age, occurs three miles northeast of Oxford Junction. There are probably other small outliers of Coal Measure strata concealed beneath the surface cover of drift and loess, but it is not likely that these contain coals of even local importance.
Jackson County
Although situated far from the main portion of the Iowa coal field and subjected to intense erosion after the formation of the* Des Moines stage, the territory embraced by Jackson county contains a few remnants of Coal Measure strata. Since no coal has been found associated with these, however, and the prospect for finding workable beds is exceedingly small, these deposits are of little importance as fuel producers. Many of these Carboniferous outliers occupy channels in the Niagara limestone and they consist chiefly of sandstones with some shale. They are found in Monmouth, Brandon, Maquoketa, and Fairfield townships in isolated basins' covering a few acres each. One of them, in section 13 of Maquoketa township, bears as much as fifty feet of coarse-grained sandstone. The largest individual basin is probably the crescent-shaped sandstone area on the south side of Beaver creek, south of Monmouth, which extends interruptedly for a distance of more than two miles in a southwest-northeast direction.
342 Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa
Poweshiek County
The outer border of the main body of Iowa Coal Measures traverses Poweshiek in a somewhat irregular line running .through or near Grinnell, Jacobs, Montezuma and Tilton. At any point south and west of this line it is possible that coal may exist, but north and east of it only the calcareous strata of the Mississippian formations outcrop.. Up to the present time almost no workable coal has been found within the limits of the county, a condition due in part to a considerable thickness of drift which has discouraged prospecting, and to the active mining in neighboring counties which has produced a like effect by lessening the urgency of the market. Nevertheless, it is entirely conceivable that good coal basins will be located at some future time when an increased price for fuel renders the necessity for its discovery more pressing. The What Cheer district in Keokuk county, for many years one of the largest producers in Iowa, is located but a short distance from Poweshiek county and lies on the edge of the main Iowa field under conditions corresponding with those existing in this region. Coal is also mined near New Sharon in Mahaska county, almost on the south Poweshiek line, and in Jasper county, at no great distance from the west line. One of the unfortunate features to be considered, however, is that the base of the Coal Measures is found above the water level of Skunk river in places and that the drift probably extends down to the same level in numerous instances, thus cutting completely through the coal bearing strata.
In the late sixties some mining was done near Buck creek and Skunk river, in the southern margin of the county, and a production of 100 bushels is recorded in state census reports taken in 1866 and 1868. Since that period a little work has been undertaken from time to time in a desultory fashion. The old Watson drift in section 36 of Sugar Creek township, near the Iowa Central bridge over the Skunk, was driven several hundred feet into the hill on the south bank of the river. Recently attempts to utilize it were renewed, the entry being lengthened toward the northwest ; but the bed dipped so strongly in the same direction that water entering the mine could not be easily
Johnson County 343
removed. Moreover, the coal was from fifteen to twenty inches thick only.
No coal has been reported from the many wells, some over 200 feet in depth, that have been sunk in southwestern Poweshiek, though in some at and near Searsboro and elsewhere thin seams were encountered. Prospecting for coal between New Sharon and Searsboro failed to show anything but thin coals. On what was formerly the Mclntyre farm, two and one-half miles south of Montezuma (Jackson Tp., Sec. 19), several prospect holes were sunk and the discovery of a four-foot coal was reported. No exploitation was attempted and apparently no other drillings were made in the neighborhood. If this report is correct, prospecting operations along the line of the Eock Island Eailroad south of Montezuma might prove profitable.
Iowa County
Although the What Cheer coal field, formerly one of the most productive in the state, lies at Ao great distance from Iowa county, the Coal Measures have been removed by pre-glacial erosion from most of the region now under consideration. Only a few independent outliers that cannot be considered of economic importance remain of once extensive deposits of Des Moines strata, and these contain practically no coal. The principal area of Pennsylvanian beds occurs in the northeastern part of the county, on the north side of the Iowa river valley. It embraces an elongated basin of coarse-grained, cross-bedded sandstone less than a mile in width and extending from Knapp creek in Johnson county westward to a point about three miles beyond the Iowa-Johnson boundary line.
Johnson County
Blocks of coal have been found in or immediately beneath the drift in Washington township and elsewhere in Johnson county ; while Coal Measure outliers are known at several points. There are, however, but two noteworthy areas of Des Moines strata. One covers a few hundred acres in sections 2 and 3 in the northem part of Iowa City, occupying an old valley that was more than eighty feet in depth and consisting of shale and sand-
Coal Deposits Of Kastkkx Iowa
stone with a coal "blossom" one-half to an inch in thickness. The second Coal Measure outlier is a narrow elongated body lying along the north side of the Iowa river valley from Knapp creek west into Iowa county. It contains sandstone with some sandy shale. It is extremely unlikely that coals of even local importance will be found in this county.
Figure 8 rapMly
,_,t ot Carbon 1 fert . .. a City. The heavy ledRea
the Sanders iiuarry
the right are Devonian limestones : the ... the left of the limestone are Upper Carseen a portion of the rooky ell (Is that marked
Cedar County
Although essentially no coal has been laid bare in Cedar county, a few isolated areas of Coal Measure sandstone are known. These are only a few acres each in extent and cannot be considered of economic importance except for building purposes. ' Two such areas exist on Clear creek, in sections 28 and 29 of Pioneer township. Others occur near Rock run in sections 21 and 22 of Center township; on Rock creek in section 25 of Rochester township; and in the northeast quarter of section ], near the town of Rochester. While the future may reveal other outliers, any coal that they may contain will be of slight significance.
Muscatine County 345
Clinton County
This county contains only a few scattered remnants 6f the Coal Measures and they are very limited in extent. Certain clays, silts, and sands in crevices and caverns of Niagara limestone are of Pennsylvanian age, as are also some outcrops of sandstone found in the northeast comer of Bloomfield township, on a small branch of Deep creek near Charlotte, and in sections 7 and 18 of Sharon township! A small outlier was explored by a well in Welton township (Sec. 33, Nw. qr.) where the following strata were penetrated.
Feet.
3. "Slate," with thin coals in lower part 17
Number 1 of the above is Niagara limestone, Number 2 a disintegrated Coal Measure sandstone grading upward into Number 3. Any coal bed found in this county will be of such limited lateral extent and lie so near the loose surface formation that it cannot be worked with profit.
Muscatine County
Muscatine contains the western portion of a large Coal Measure outlier that is in reality part of the Illinois coal field, from which it has been separated only by the recently formed valley of the Mississippi river. This Pennsylvanian tract possesses a width of from two to five miles and occupies much of the high-lying area reaching back from the border of the narrow valley of the Father of Waters. Its western extremity lies about three miles west of the city of Muscatine; its eastern is found in Scott county. In all, perhaps seventy-three square miles are covered by the Muscatine portion; although, because of the rapid rise of the underlying formations towards the north, it becomes greatly attenuated on the outer margin. As in the main section of the Iowa field, the materials of which the Des Moines strata of Muscatine county are composed consist chiefly of sandstones, shales, fire clays and coals, with local
816 Coal Deposits Op Eastern Iowa
developments of conglomerates, and with a few thin limestones, and tliese varieties grade laterally from one to another with remarkable suddenness. Unlike the Des Moines of the maia Iowa field, which in all eases rests upon Mississippian rocka, the Coal Measures of this area lie upon the Devonian.
Although coal has never been found in quantities of economic importance in this county, considerable amounts liave been taken out for local use. ThQ coal basins are of limited extent, contain coal of rather poor quality, and are usually quite low.
What mining is now done is confined to small country banks that are in operation only during the winter months to furnish fuel for the immediate neighborhood. Before the better basins were mined out and improved transportation facilities brought coal from other states into direct competition with the local product, the coal industry was of relatively greater importance. Production during the early days of the county's settlement has been recorded as follows: for 1860, 1,785 tons; for 1865, 49,089 bushels, for 1870, 2,492 tons. These figures compare favorably with the outputs of other sections of the state at the same periods.
Muscatine County 347
Murscatine. The Coal Measures of the county have been ably described by Professor Udden. In speaking of the occurrence of coal at the city of Muscatine, he writes:** ''In the northwest part of the city, near the adjoining corners of sections 26, 27, 34 and 35, a sandstone fiflfeen feet thick lies at an elevation of at least 125 feet above the river. Under the sandstone there is a small seam of coal, which appears in a creek southeast of the crossing of Logan and Cedar streets. In going up the main branch of Papoose creek the Coal Measures make their first appearance a short distance above the junction 'of Star and Cedar streets." At this point one foot of coal again appears under a considerable thickness of sandstone and has been worked on a small scale a short distance north.
Hall describes the following section from the mural escarpment fronting the river at West Hill.
Feet.
8. Thin-bedded sandstone, with shaly layers 19
7. Massive sandstone, with large concretions. . .' 10
6. Seam of coal or shaly coal, with under clay 4
5. Shaly sandstone, with shaly partings 8%
4. Thin-bedded sandstone, with shaly partings 5
3. Heavily bedded sandstone 6
The coal seam (number 6 of the section) is not very regular, but is divided into several smaller areas toward the river. To the west a short distance it becomes more regular and attains a thickness of thirty inches to three feet. A little farther westward it thins out entirely. From Muscatine east to Pine creek, coal, usually thin, hs been drifted from the river bluffs at various places. Keyes gives the section shown in figure 90 from the old Hoor mine, three miles east of Muscatine (Sweetland Tp., Sec. 30, Ne, qr.) and suggests the possibility of operating other mines here to advantage.
Wyoming Hill, Within recent years some coal has been taken from the Nettlebush mines near Wy6ming Hill (Sweetland Tp., Sec. 27, Ne. qr.). The seam is about twenty-two inches in thick-
*Geology of Muscatine County, Iowa GeoK Surv., Vol. IX, p. 304 ; Des Moines, 1899. This report has furnished considerable material for the present chapter. Coal Deposits of Iowa, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 477 ; Des Moines, 1894.
Coal Deposits Op Eastern Iowa
G. Drift 3
5. Shale, bluish, arBillaceoue 10
Fire clay
Hidden to river level..
KlBure 0- Cool at Hoor drift. EubI of Muscntlne,
ness and is reached by drifts from the side of a ravine, about 120 feet above the level of the river. The coal is said to be of good quality and to possess a fairly strong roof of soapstone and "slate."
Montpelier Tounship. Thin coal beds have occasionally been mined at several places in this township; but in no case can the coal deposits be considered of much importance. In the bluff not far west of the mouth of Pine creek, coal lias been taken from a bed lying 120 feet above the river. Above it is a black limestone, in part concretionary. At the point where the middle branch of Pine creek crosses the line between sections 7 and 8, a coal is found resting upon the Cedar Valley limestone and overlain by eight feet of shale capped with sandstone. At this same horizon coaly deposits_ are found at various places in the middle and east branches of Pine creek and on Lowrys run, Robinson creek and Montpelier ereek.
Scott County
The Muscatine Upper Carboniferous outlier extends eastward a little over seven miles into Scott county, where it exhibits its richest phase. In spite of the fact that only about twenty square miles, or less than one-fourth of the total area covered by the tract is situated in Scott, this county has been and is to-
Scott County 349
day a much more consistent producer than its neighbor on the west. Practically the whole of Buffalo township and much of Bockingham are underlain by Coal Measures; while the northem boundary of the outlier is found a short distance north of the south line of Blue Grass township. The characteristics of the Muscatine outlier in Scott county and its relationship to other forms are essentially the same as are those of its western extremity, already described. Several small Pennsylvanian outcrops have beeii recognized in other parts of Scott. ''Le Claire township includes a valuable outlier whose shales are worked at Island City, and another lies deeply buried beneath the drift in the northwestern part of the township. Carboniferous deposits are reported in well records near Eldridge. They outcrop near the western and northern limits of the county, in Cleona and Liberty townships. About Davenport there are no quarries which do not show pockets of Carboniferous sandstone or shale. So many are these outliers that it is not difficult to believe that well nigh the entire county once lay beneath the Carboniferous sea, and was covered with a continuous veneer of its offshore sDts."*
So far as coal deposits are concerned, the smaller outliers are of little significance. They conunonly represent merely surface irregularities of the old pre-Pennsylvanian land, such as channels, pits and crevices, which were filled with scourings from adjacent lands when the region was first depressed beneath the Upper Carboniferous sea. During the profound erosion which followed the re-emergence of the land from the waters, these deposits were protected and preserved by virtue of their position between compact rock walls.
Thin seams of coal are found in the outlier at Black Hawk and Island City; but it is only on Stillwater creek, west of BuflFalo, and near Jamestown, north of the same village, that systematic mining has been undertaken. Of late years production has tended to decrease, owing to the exhaustion of the main swamp ' ' ; yet a few new areas are being opened up and will continue to furnish coal for a limited number of years. Only a local trade is supplied, no railroad connections having been estab-
Norton: Geology of Scott County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 463; Des Moines,
Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa
lished. The local demand is, however, considerable, and some coal is hauled as far as Davenport. Competition of Illinois coals has always been a detrimental factor. Coal has been mined in Scott county nearly sixty years; a glimpse of the progress of , the industry may be obtained from the statistics quoted. In 1865, a production of 82,730 bushels is recorded by the state census. Federal census reports show that 17,325 tons were mined in 1870; 14,500 in 1880; and 9,446 in 1890. Figures given in the reports of the Iowa Geological Survey for later years are as follows :
Teab.
Tons.
Tear.
Tons
For the years ending June 30, 1906, 1907, and 1908, the State Mine Inspectors published these data.
Tons Men Numbeb Of
Teab. Produced. Employed. Mines.
Jamestown. Professor W. H. Norton visited the Jamestown
district in 1897 and shortly afterwards published the following
succinct description:* *'The seam worked by the Jamestown mines lies in a trough about two miles long and 200 yards wide, trending from northwest to southeast, and reached at a depth of about ninety or 100 feet from the surface. In the center of this swamp" as it is termed, the coal has a thickness of from four to six feet, but it thins as it rises to either side of the trough ; where it lies some ten feet higher than in the center. In the James mine (Buflfalo Tp., Sec. 3, Sw. qr., Sw. %) it is worked on each side for 100 yards from the central axis, and at this distance it is reduced to a thickness of two and one-half feet. The trough rises from each end gently toward the center. Thus, at the James mine, the dip is toward the northwest at the rate of eight feet in 300 yards. Slight faults, rolls, and pinch- . outs occur on each side of the axis, with the down throw on the swamp side, but nowhere do these seriously interfere with
Op. cit., p. 494 et aeg.
Scott Cockty 351
mining. The farthest point toward the northwest to which this seam has been traced is Blue Grass township, Sec. 33, Se. '/4, where coal two feet thick is said to have been found, but to be unworkable because no roof overlies it. At the Williams mine (Buffalo Tp., Sec. 11, Nw. qr.) the swamp sinks to the southeast. South of Jamestown there is an area where the coal is said to be in a comparatively flat and uniform seam. It has been mined on the farm of Mr. Charles Rowan, Buffalo Tp., Sec. 10, W. l, about eighty feet from the surface. Several seams, two and three inches thick, occur above the one mined. Wells show that the coal is underlain with fire clay sometimes to a depth, as is reported, of twenty-five or thirty feet, and at from 175 to 200 feet from the surface the drill passes into Devonian limestone. Towards the northwest coal is reported one and onehalf miles south of Blue Grass, Buffalo Tp., Sec. 8, Nw. qr., where a well record gives it a thickness of twenty-one inches at a depth of 114 feet from the surface."
Late in the summer of 1907 but one mine was working in the main trough described above, and tlie .small mining cnmji formerly at Jamestown had been almost completely removed. The James Buckmeyer mine, until recently worked by Frank Winfield, is taking coal from the eastern edge of the trough a short distance southeast of Jamestown, in section 11. The seam was found to terminate rather abruptly at each end of the "swamp"
362 Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa
and is now rapidly approaching complete exhaustion. At the Buckmeyer mine the seam is only two feet four inches in thickness and lies fifty-two feet below the surface at the shaft. The dip is toward the west and south. A small single engine is utilized for hoisting purposes. The sequence of strata in this area is shown by the following section of an old shaft near the present mine (Buffalo Tp., Sec. 11, Nw. qr.).
thickne;3S. depth.
4. Sandstone and shale 41% 101
w
The McCullough Brothers' mine is a slope to what is apparently a small separate basin, although other coal areas are found near it. The slope mouth is in the bottom of a hollow, a mile northwest of Buffalo (Sec. 16, Ne. qr., Sw. /4), and is very little above the level of the seam, since the latter lies nearly at the level of the floor of the small ravine in which the slope is situated. The coal varies in thickness between thirty inches and three feet. The bottom of the swamp" is located 100 feet west and ninety feet north of the slope mouth and is the focus towards which seam dips from all directions. South of the wagon road that crosses the center of section 16, Buffalo township, a little coal is taken out during the winter by Mr. Kaucher from a seam similar to the one worked by the McCullough Brothers. In this vicinity, a well record shows two coal horizons ( Sec' 16, Se. qr., Se. /4 ) .
Thickness. Depth.
8. So&stone '. 25 45
Scott County 353
Stillwater Creek, At one period, the district near Stillwater creek was an active producer for local trade. Mr. Webster has recently taken out some coal, yet the field is now practically deserted. The coal lies in small swamps," is from two to four and a half feet thick, and lies at varying depths below the stream levels. As is usual with Scott county basins, the dip differs radically at different points, the seams inclining towards the centers of the swamps. ' ' The roof commonly consists of a thin layer of bituminous, fissile slate," overlain by an argillaceous shale of lighter color. The under clay is hard and arenaceous, often approaching in constitution an arenaceous shale, or even a sandstone.
Island City. An outlier of Coal Measures at Island City, in Le Claire township, which occupies an area about one square mile in extent, contains small pockets of coal. It lies in a dianne cut in Niagara limestone, a little more than a mile wide where transected by the trench of the Mississippi, and more than 200 feet deep. The sequence of strata above and below the coal found is well illustrated in the following sections described by Professor Norton.
Record Of Well Of Mr. Sargent. Le Claire Tp.. Sec. 5. Se. Qr.
Curb, 700 Feet A. T.
Thickness Depth
Feet. Feet.
Old Exposure At Clay Pit Of Le Claire Brick And Tile Company,
Island City.
Thickness Depth
. Feet. Feet.
7. Loess and till, unmeasured
1. Shale, hlaclc, to bottom of pit 20 33
354 Coal Deposits Of Eastern Iowa
Cleona Township. In addition to several small unimportant Carboniferous outliers in Lincoln, Sheridan and Liberty townships, there are a number in Cleona township, in one of which a small pocket of coal has been discovered.
Well Record, Cleona Township, Sec. 4, Sw. Qr.
Thickness. Depth.
Feet. Feet.
Plymouth County 365
Part V
Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
Poc4Hontas County
Des Moines strata may probably be found under the drift and Cretaceous rocks of the southern part of Pocahontas county, but they are not thick and are considerably cut up by pre-Cretaceous erosion. Nevertheless, it is not at all impossible that coal basins of local importance may at some future time be located in this area. Prospect holes should be continued to the Mississippian limestones that underlie the Coal Measures. The Cretaceous itself contains a few lignites of slight economic importance.
Plymouth County
It has long been a question whether the Coal Measures of Des Moines age extend beneath the drift and Cretaceous rocks of the northwestern portion of the state and, if they do, whether they contain workable coal basins. Without doubt Des Moines rocks were originally deposited for a considerable distance west of Webster, Greene, and Guthrie counties ; but these may have been largely removed during the long interval of erosion previous to the Cretaceous period. Moreover, we cannot be certain that coal producing conditions prevailed over much of the region during Carboniferous time. Explorations so far made seem to indicate that only isolated outliers of the Coal Measures underlie the Cretaceous. Even should Carboniferous coal be located, only thorough prospecting can determine whether or not a workable basin be present. Several deep holes have been put down in the region— at Sioux City, Ponca (Nebraska), Hull, Sanborn, and Cherokee — with negative results, although they were sunk far below the level of any pos-
366 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
sible coal. Two drill records at Le Mars indicate that Cretaceous strata continue down to the basal gneiss, but a third hole penetrated a five-foot coal at 381 feet that may, perhaps, be part of an outlier-of Des Moines age. Analyses show it to be of better grade than the lignites found among Cretaceous strata. A complete discussion of the coal possibilities of the region has been published by Bain.*
CALHOUN jCOUNTY
The highest indurated rocks of this county belong to the Cretaceous system and contain in places thin beds of lignites that are of practically no economic value under present conditions. The eastern limit of Cretaceous strata lies along a north and south line situated about two miles west of the eastern bonndary of the county. East of this line the highest indurated rocks are of Des Moines age and may contain valuable basins of coal similar to those of the Fort Dodge field. In the greater part of the county it is necessary to drill through a considerable thickness of drift, as well as through the Cretaceous, before the bituminous coal horizons are reached, and this fact, together with the uncertainty of finding workable coal at any given point in the Des Moines strata and the uncertainty that a thick coal when found is of sufficient lateral extent, have deterred prospecting operations. Some prospecting has been done within the limits of the county; but the results obtained are too indefinite to be cited here.
Greene County
The highest indurated rocks in the two eastern tiers of townships of Greene county are of Lower Coal Measure age ; farther west the eastern edge of the Cretaceous intervenes between the drift and the Des Moines. Little deep drilling has been undertaken in the western area, yet such as has been done appears to show that the thickness of the Cretaceous is not great and that the considerable thickness of Coal Measures lying beneath it is a legitimate field for prospecting. According to Professor
Geology of Plymouth County, Iowa Gol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 361-365: Des Moines.
Greene County 367
T. H. Macbride bituminous coal has been reported by those sinking pipe for deep wells, in the following localities :
Tp. 85, R. 32, Sec. 28. Tp. 84, R. 32, Sees. 1, 7 and 18.
The seams ranged from twelve to twenty-two inches in thickness and the depths quoted are from 150 to 175 feet. Since Cretaceous sandstones outcrop at depths of about 100 feet in the neighborhood of these wells and well-drillers claim that holes 160 feet deep go sixty feet in yellow sand, the amount of Carboniferous deposits above the coal cannot be great. Deeper prospects might reveal coal horizons bearing thicker coals. In prospecting care should be taken not to mistake the thin and valueless lignites of the Cretaceous for Carboniferous bituminous coal. It is possible that this mistake may have been made m the case of the wells just cited.
Aside from the unexplored coal bearing series beneath the Cretaceous, the possibilities of the Des Moines outcrop in the eastern section of the county are as yet far from exhausted. The once prolific field near Angus and Rippy may be only one of several similar areas; for extensive prospecting has not been attempted in much of the county. Recent developments in Boone county show that exploration beneath the uplands, where no natural outcrops occur, may lead to the discovery of profitable basins. Drilling is now in progress between Dana and Grand Junction. Some drilling has been done near Jefferson, and Mr. Carpenter, of the Big Five Coal Company of Moingona, reports an apparently workable three-foot coal within four miles of that city.
Though at present not ranking as a large producer, Greene county stood higher in the list before the abandoning of the larger mines of the Angus district. The earliest recorded production of coal was 1,200 bushels in 1866. Little was done until about 1880, when 8,559 tons were mined. The year 1885 witnessed an increase to 89,587 tons and 1890 a decline to 51,438 tons. The lessened output for recent years is shown in the following table :
Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
During tlie year ending June 3D, 1908, six mines produml 22,226 tons and eniployed seventy-five men.
In the following page.s may he found brief mention of Greene county mining districts.
Grand Junction. An eighteen-inch coal is quite general in the vicinity of Grand Junction, but is mined at only one point. Just north of the town (Sec. 33, Sw. qr.. Sw. Vi) is the plant of the Goodwin Tile and Brick Company, where a shaft 140 feet in depth reaches the coal seam above mentioned. Beneath tlie coal is a considerable thickness of fire clay, only three feet of which is utilized. Above the coal are about two feet of black jack overlain by from twenty inches to twenty-five feet of blue argillaceous shale which, together with the fire clay, is used in making brick and tile and forms tlie principal product of the mine. The coal seam is strongly undulatory, with a maximum difference of twenty-five feet between the levels of the bottoms of the troughs and the crests of the rises. As a whole the bed
is regular in occurrence and free from obnoxious impurities. About twenty-three acres have been mined out during a long period of working, the fuel product being used chiefly in tiring the kiln at the clay plant.
Greene County 369
t
Prospecting is now being done on the E. S. Hillman land, one mile west and three miles north of Grand Junction. Workable coal is reported from all but one of the several holes bored, but more drilling remains to be done before definite statements can be issued.
Rippey. Formerly a four-foot coal was mined at a depth of 125 feet a short distance east of the Rippey railroad station, but nothing is now done at this point. The center of the mining industry of Greene county now lies three miles south of Rippey, where three mines supply an important local trade. A number of years ago extensive mining was in progress in this area, as numerous old dump heaps attest. The sequence of strata is shown in the following drill record furnished by Craig and Dawson of Fort Dodge (Washington Tp., Sec. 26, Nw. qr.).
fTIET. INCHES.
30. Shale, argiUaceous, light-colored 4
16. Sandstone, soft, and shale 6 8
8. Shale, dark, and sandstone 3
4. Shale, argillaceous, white 1 6
Hard bands 5
Shale, argillaceous, oily 4
360 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
The thick coal, number 15 of the above section, appears to lie at a higher level than that now mined in adjoining territory. It may tentatively be correlated with the lower vein'' of the Angus area farther east; while the coal now worked perhaps lies in the horizon of the ''middle vein" or the "niggerhead." Of the three mines now working south of Eippey, the Keystone is the most important (Sec. 27, Ne. qr., Ne. V4,) and is relatively well equipped. A part of its product is hauled to Rippey and Dawson for shipment, the remainder is sold locally. At eightysix feet the shaft reaches a coal that varies in the mine between three and six feet in thickness and is of good quality. No other seam is thought to exist under this land, as a well 230 feet deep on the same farm failed to penetrate thick coal.
A short distance northwest of the Keystone, the Buckeye Coal Company reaches coal lying at about the same level by means of a shaft 103 feet in depth (Sec. 22, Se. qr., Se. V4). The bed contains from four to five feet of coal overlain by four to twelve inches of black jack and underlain by a few feet of fire clay over a hard sandstone basement. In places the fire clay is filled with geodes bearing calcite crystals. The roof proper is a thick black shale, which, with the other beds, dips east of northeast. In the workings, which are east of the shaft, faults have occasionally changed the level of the coal one foot or less.
The shaft of the Snake Creek Coal Company is situated east of the Buckeye, on the same piece of land (Sec. 22, Se. qr., Se. /4). It is 141 feet deep, making the elevation of the coal seam much lower than at the Buckeye shaft, although the workings of the two mines are connected. The coal averages four and a half feet in this mine and dips to the northeast. About three rooms are affected by a large sandstone mass enclosing bits of coal, probably the result of Pennsylvanian erosion. The Snake Creek is the only plant in the district operating a steam hoist.
Angus, Some years ago Angus was the center of a very important coal industry extending over territory embracing portions of Boone, Dallas and Greene counties. Many large mines were operated and mining was vigorously prosecuted until a large portion of the field was exhausted. So little is now being
Carroll County 361
done in this region that it is difficult to ascertain the exact relationships of the various coals, but the following statement is probably approximately correct. Generally speaking, there are four coal horizons, though all of these seldom bear coal at any one point and rarely is more than one workable from a single shaft. The uppermost seam, known as the riding vein,'' is very erratic in its appearance and is twenty-two inches or less in thickness. The second bed is best developed westward toward the Coon river and is known from the bowlder" roof often overlying it as the **niggerhead." A characteristic section of it is :
Feet. Inches.
3. Coal, with streaks of black Jack 2 '
Below the niggerhead ' ' is the middle vein,'' also with considerable black jack, and below that tjie Mower vein.'' Each of the lower three seams may run as high in thickness as four or five feet.
The only mine now open in the Angus district, aside from the banks south of Rippey already mentioned, is that of the McElheny Coal Company (Tp. 82, R. 29, Sec. 36, Ne. qr., Ne.. 14). A local trade is supplied from a gin shaft seventy-five feet in depth. The bed mined is four to four and one-half feet in thickness, and is gently undulatory. Streaks of pyrites appear irregularly, but most commonly about six inches from the base of the coal. Both the ''middle" and the 'Mower" seams are said to be present here, separated by a variable, though slight, vertical interval that is bridged by a micaceous sandy shale and fire clay. The "lower" coal gives out on the south, where the higher seam overlaps it. The thickness of the "middle vein" varies greatly, often in short distances.
Carroll County
At only one point in Carroll county have rocks of Carboniferous age been found to outcrop and these are somewhat doubtfully referred to that system. Throughout the remainder of the comity the Coal Measures are covered not only by a great thick-
362 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
ness of drift — from 100 to 200 feet on an average and in places as much as 500 feet — but also by about 100 feet of the Cretaceous in the eastern portion of the county and by 200 feet or more of the same rocks in the western portion. Owing to the fact that the contact surface between the Cretaceous and the Des Moines is extremely irregular in level, the depth at which the latter may be reached cannot be exactly postulated for any given area. The Carboniferous outcrop referred to above lies about one mile southwest of Carrollton (Newton Tp., Sec. 1, Sw. qr., Ne. Vi), on Middle Coon river, and consists of an unknown thickness of gray, sandy shale covered by about three feet of brown fine-grained limestone.
The limestone outcrop greatly resembles certain rocks belonging to the Middle'' Coal Measures of Guthrie, Dallas and Madison counties, so that we may tentatively conclude that there are present in Carroll county several hundred feet of Des Momes strata that may possibly bear basins of thick coal and are therefore suitable for -exploration with the drill. Since the lower part of the Des Moines is the most productive in other parj:s of the state, it would be best to continue test holes not only, through the drift and Cretaceous, but also for some distance into the Coal Measures, thus making the expense of prospecting considerable. Even after thick coal has been penetrated in one prospect it would be necessary to drill on all sides of it in order to determine the lateral extent of the col basin found. The horizon of the coals mined farther east probably lies about 170 feet below water level at Coon Eapids. Whether or not prospecting in this county would yield results is an open question, but the strategical position of the region for marketing its fuel product would make the discovery of coal within its borders particularly remunerative. Prospecting should be undertaken only by companies prepared to expend a large amount of money and to weather many preliminary disappointments; for coal, if present, will not be in continuous beds over an extensive territory, but will be in more or less independent basins, as is the case in the mining counties on the east. For a more complete discussion than it is possible to give here, the reader is referred to that published by Bain.*
Geology of Carroll County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, pp. 97-101 ; Dea Moines, 1899.
Guthrie County 363
Guthrie County
The western three-fourths of Guthrie county is underlain by the Cretaceous, a system that in some parts of the United States carries heavy deposits of coal, but in Iowa bears only thin pockets of lignite. The surface rocks of Penn and the southeastern portion of Beaver townships belong to the Upper Pennsylvanian, or Missouri, a stage which is coal bearing to a hmited extent, but not at all in the lowest portion, which is all that is represented in Guthrie county. The Lower Pennsylvanian, or Des Moines, stage immediately underlies the drift in Richland, Cass, and eastern Jackson townships, and it is to this that we must look for important coal deposits. As will be mentioned farther on, many of the principal streams of the county
have cut down through the overlying formations so as to expose the Des Moines in the bottoms of their valleys. Neither the Cretaceous nor the Missouri is very thick in this region; so that to reach the Des Moines it would not be necessary to drill any great distance through overlying formations. The elevation above sea level of any given horizon in the Des Moines varies within only narrow limits in different parts of the county.
According to Bain* the Des Moines strata of Guthrie and neighboring counties fall naturally into four groups: (1) Shales, predominantly sandy, characteristically free from coal, with an occasional development, of arenaceous limestone. The thickness of this group varies from forty to 100 feet and decreases rapidly from Stuart north. (2) Shales, sandstones and limestones, with three coal horizons. This group is characterized by the great persistence of its individual members. (3) Sandstone and sandy shales with the Redfield coal at the base. (4) A lower series of shales, sandstones and thicker coal seams characteristic of the greater portion of the Des Moines formation.
The coals now being worked within the county may be all classed with group (2) and belong to one of the three coal horizons, termed in descending order, the Lonsdale, Panora and Marshall coals. All three horizons have been recognized at Panora: the Lonsdale as a thin bed in the top of the hills, the Panora as a seam twenty feet above the river, and the Marshall
Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, p. 443; Des Moines, 1897.
364 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
as the coal at present worked and lying thirty feet below the river. What is probably the representative of the Marshall horizon has been extensively worked by a group of mines at Fanslers, eight miles farther up the Middle Raccoon river. The coal here does not correspond well in its characteristics with the lower bed at Panora, yet stratigraphically it appears to occupy the same position. The coal mined north of Stuart on Deer creek is found only a short distance below the base of the Missouri and is either the Lonsdale or a seam not far below that horizon. The limestones and one of the sandstones belonging to group (2) are indeed remarkably persistent from outcrop to outcrop along the streams; but it seems probable that early geologists placed too much emphasis on the persistency of the coals. It is true that where coal is found it can often be readily assigned to one or another of the three horizons quoted, yet mining operations show that the continuity of the coal between two points apparently in the same horizon has its limits and that these limits are not always wide ones.
Almost no deep prospecting has been attempted in Guthrie and several reasons may be advanced for this state of affairs. As already indicated, it is necessary in order to reach the lower Coal Measures under much of the county to first drill through the barren Cretaceous or Missouri rocks. While the strata are not very thick beneath the valley .lowlands, the additional expense entailed has discouraged pro'specting. Then, too, even where the highest indurated rocks belong to the Des Moines the drift is often thick. This is especially the case in the otherwise attractive territory north and east of the Middle Raccoon river. To obtain the best results prospect holes should be carried into group (4), the lower division of the Des Moines; for it is in this that the heaviest coal beds may be expected. To locate such beds would demand drilling to depths of between 250 and 450 feet, according to the altitude of the surface at the head of the bore. A few of these coals have already been discovered in isolated prospects which will be given later; but the additional work necessary to prove a field has not been undertaken.
Guthrie has never ranked as a large producer. The mines have been, and are, small, local affairs, usually with horse-gin
Guthrie County 365
hoists. The life of individual shafts is in general not long, but as soon as one is abandoned, another is sunk in the same field, so that the total production of the county suffers little loss. In 1860 the output was 289 tons .with a value of $550.00. The production became 12,675 bushels in 1866 and 24,500 bushels in 1868. The production for later years has not varied between very wide limits. According to the reports of the Iowa Geological Survey, the figures for 1902-1907 are as follows :
Tear. ' - Tons.
The report of the State Mine Inspectors for the year ending June 30, 1908, is :
Number of mines 10
Amount of coal of aU kinds produced 13,143
Total number of employes 104
The value of the product is relatively high, as the average price per ton at the mines ($2.61 in 1907) is higher than in any other mining county in the state.
In the description of the various fields given below, geological data and accounts of former mining localities now abandoned or idle are freely drawn from former reports of this Survey by Keyes* and Bain.f Those interested in a fuller exposition of geological phenomena are referred to the author last named.
North Raccoon Drainage.
Jamaica. Near Jamaica, in the extreme northeastern corner of the county and on a small creek which joins the north branch of the Raccoon river in Dallas county, the Greenbriar Coal Company has operated for more than nineteen years. A seam which averages two feet four inches in thickness lies at a depth of about seventy feet. The longwall plan of working is employed,
*Coal Deposits of Iov:a, Iowa Gool. Ffurv., Vol. II, pp. 243-253; Des Moines, 1894. f Geology of Outhrie County, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 413-487; Des Moines,
Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
mining being done in the underlying fireclay. Natural ventilation is considered suflScient and hoisting is with horse and gin. Above the coal are forty-seven feet of black ''slate" which makes a fairly good roof. Three miles east of. here, near Dawson, in Dallas county, three workable coal horizons have been recognized and may be found described in their proper place in this volume.
N
Figure 93. Map showing mines In the Panora and Fanslers districts, Guthrie county.
Very probably the coal at the Grreenbriar lies in the same horizon as one of the beds at Dawson*. The coal near Rippey, in Greene county, and Angus, in Boone, may also possibly have some stratigraphic connection with it. The fact that a number of holes put down for gas and water in Richland township have passed through no coal should not discourage further prospecting.
Gdthbie County
1. Fire clay (exposed). Figure it. Coal bed at Oreenbrler mine, Jamaica. MIDDLE RACCOON VALLEy!
Bayard. Throughout most of its course in the county, the Middle Rawoon river has cut entirely through the overlying cover of Cretaceous rocks and exposed in the bottom of its valley the coal bearing strata of the Des Moines formation. Most of the Guthrie mines are situated along this stream at and above Panora. The highest point on the river at which Coal Measures outcrop is southwest of Bayard at the western edge of section 24, Orange township. Near here in the early days, drifts and slopes reached a seam eighteen inches thick, lying about two feet above the river. Later shafts were sunk to a lower bed twenty-eight feet below the water level. For a distance of about five miles down the river, drifts have been run in from both sides of the valley to the upper seam just mentioned. At the old Wales bank (Highland Tp., Sec. 33, Ne. qr.)', this bed lies twelve feet above the river and is sixteen to eighteen inches thick, while between it and the base of the Cretaceous are at least twenty-seven feet of Des Moines strata. Near here, on the opposite side of the river, the following section has been measured just above the water level.
5. IncobereDt reddUb eands 10
3. Black and gray calcareous shales 1
A dip in a northeasterly direction of ten inches in a hundred feet carries the top of the Coal Measures beneath the level of the
Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
Eaccoon beyond the point at which the road leading due south from Bayard crosses the stream, and they do not reappear for a distance of about two miles down the river. After they do again come to the surface they may be found in the bottom of the valley at all points lower down the Eaccoon.
Fanslers. No shining was being done in the district described above during the month of September, 1908, but near Fanslers a number of shafts were being made ready for the winter trade. All supply only a local trade and hoist coal by means of the primitive horse-gin. Longwall is the plan of work used. Mines have been operated in this district for a long period, but they change hands frequently and the location of the shafts is shifted every few years. They are idle in summer and each produces from 200 to 500 bushels a day in fall and winter. The location of the coal banks open in the early fall of 1908 is as follows :
Name Of Bank.
Location.
Depth Of
Shaft,
Feet.
Sipe Brothers
Middleton or Black Diamond
Scott
Mansell
Butler and Gibson
Renslow
Hughes & Son
Thomas
King
Clark
Coe
T. 80 N., R. 31 W.. Sec. 10, Sw. qr., Nw. %.
T. 80 N., R. T. 80 N., R. T. 80 N., R. T. 80 N., R. T. 80 N.. R. T. 80 N., R. T. 80 N.. R. T. 80 N., R. T. 81 N., R. T. 81 N.. R.
31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec. 31 W., Sec.
9, Se. 9. Sw.
9, Sw. 9, Nw.
4, Sw. 4. Nw. 4. Nw. 32, Sw 32, Sw.
qr., Se. . . . qr., Sw. . . .
qr., Sw. hi . .
qr., Nw. hi i .
qr., Nw. hi .
qr., Sw. %.. qr., Se. % . . . qr., Ne. % . . . . qr., Ne. hi . .
qr., Sw. hi - -
All the mines are working the same vein, in which practically all former mines have operated. A possible exception may have been the old Thomas bank (T. 80, E. 31, Sec. 6, Ne. qr.), which opened a pocket three feet thick. The thickness of the coal at the present mines is remarkably uniform: the Middleton and Sipe banks show about two feet while the others are content with a few inches less. A variation of more than two inches in any one mine is rare. The bed is quite constantly characterized by a so-called sulphur band," usually merely a streak of impure coal, or black jack, from a half to two inches thick, lying about six inches above the base of the coal. Often this streak is sufficiently carbonaceous to burn with more or less diflScultv, but in
Guthrie County 369
some mines it is replaced by hard calcareous or sandy rock containing lenses of iron pyrites which occasionally constitute the major part of the band. Calcite in transparent films along cleavage cracks and in thicker bands conmaonly horizontal in position is present in all parts of the seam, yet not in sufficient quantity to interfere with' the quality of the coal. Occasionally clay seams run through the coal in branching dendritic streaks in such number as to cause a disagreeably large yield of ash on burning, and in a few cases they are so abundant as to destroy the value of small portions of the bed. There is a general southerly dip which is rather erratic, being as much as ten feet in three hundred at the Sipe bank, but inconspicuous at others.
Above the coal is a four-inch layer of ' draw slate. ' ' This is a compact, calcareous rock which comes down with the coal on mining and is sometimes rendered hard and firm by great numbers of shells of brachiopods of the species characteristic of the Des Moines stage. Above the *draw slate" is a succession of shales, very carbonaceous at their base. Generally a thin coal bed, eighteen to twenty-two inches thick, is found about forty feet above the one worked. Although it does not appear to be universally present, its absence may often be accounted for by pre-glacial erosion. The seam has not been commercially important because of its poor roof and the softness of the coal. At the Mansell bank a seam not usually present in this region is reported. It is said to lie fourteen feet above the coal mined and to be three feet thick. It is the intention to run a slope up to it from the present workings. Two and a half miles above the Mansell, at the old Scott bank (T. 81, E. 31, Sec. 31, Se. qr., Sw. /4), two coals have also been reported, as shown in the following section.
Panora. Between Fanslers and Panora, a little mining has been intermittently attempted along the Middle Raccoon. About half way between the two points (Victory Tp., Sec. 24, Nw. qr., Se. 4) the old Clark mine at one time supplied a local trade. Farther south on the west side of the river (Sec. 25, Sw. qr., Xe. V4) a shaft was sunk twenty feet in 1892, to a bed eighteen
370 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
to twenty inches thidi. There was a clay bottom and a roof of thin, black, fossiliferons shale. Clay seams were frequent and rolls not uncommon. Still farther south, on the same side of the river (Cass Tp., Sec. 31, Nw. qr., Se. V), coal was taken by means of a shaft from a thin seam which lies fifteen feet above water level. The seam probably occupies the horizon of what has been termed the Panora coal.
7. Shale, light-colored, argillaceouB, Bandy in placa (exposed)
6. Clay ahale, dark, flaalle.
6. SaDdBtone. "caprock."
1. Coal, containing beanshaped pericarp! la pyrite, tour inpheB at material at the bottom.
Fire clay and clay chalet.
Coal. Fire clay.
Ftgura 95. Section of former Scott a
At the present time two mines are producing coal .'in the Panora district and both are located near the town. Qn the west side of the river, just north of the wagon bridge leading soutiiwest from town, is the Eeese shaft, now, after nearly twelve years of service, worked by the and Love Company. Twenty to twenty-five feet above the river is a thin coal, probably lying in the Panora horizon. The strata found in the Reese shaft afford a section from about this horizon down to that of the coal now mined, thirty feet below water level.
Reese Shaft Section.
Drift
ArglllaceouB Bhale, red .
Guthrie County 371
5. Sandstone, white to gray, with flakes of mica 30
4. Bituminous shale, fossiliferous, becoming a cannel coal
below 10
The fire clay forming the bottom in the mine is rather soft, so that its thickness of from eight to ten feet at this point tends to cause ' squeezes ' in the workings. The thickness of the coal at the present face is less than in the shaft section quoted, being quite uniformly sixteen inches. Clay seams in bands and branching streaks sometimes become so plentiful as to destroy the value of parts of the coal bed and in all places they give much trouble. The seam is fairly free from ''sulphur,'* however. Longwall is the plan of working, the present face being west and north of the shaft. The output is hoisted by means of horse and gin.
On the opposite side of the river, adjacent to the plant of the Pentycost Brick and Tile Company in the southern part of Panora, is the 0. K. mine. It is a shaft 100 feet deep with coal quite uniformly eighteen inches in thickness. Eight acres have been worked out longwall without revealing any particular dip. Mining is done here at the rate of about one acre a year, and, since anything but a very short haul pays poorly in such a thin bed, 'this shaft will probably be abandoned within another year. A horse and gin are found suflScient to hoist the coal for the merely local trade supplied. The fire clay bottom heaves slightly, but on this side of the river the sandstone lies only two feet below the coal and checks any serious trouble. A "sulphur band" very much like that in the Fansler coal previously described divides the coal bed proper from the clay. Above the bed is from two to. four inches of ''draw slate" which comes down with the coal. Above this is a black shale roof which requires little attention. The upper, or Panora, coal was not noticed in excavating either the hoisting or air shaft, but the horizon is represented in the neighboring clay pit by two feet of very carbonaceous shale. In former days some drifting was done into the Panora coal at favorable points in this district.
372 COAL dIbPOSITS OF WESTERN IOWA
Farther down the river, at the mouth of Bays branch, where a few small mines were once located, the following section of the Panora and its associated strata is exposed in a bluff.
Feet.
4. Limestone, impure, bituminous
3. Shale, black, carbonaceous
1. Shale, light-colored and variegated, exposed 10
Practically the same section was found directly opposite Panora.
Half way between Panora and the Dallas county line (T. 79, R. 30, Sees. 16 and 21) several small mines were operated during the nineties. The seam, where reached by the drifts and shallow shafts, was from twelve to twenty inches thick. Clay seams gave trouble locally. A coal of very pockety nature was occasionally encountered at a slightly lower level. Traces of old drifts and dump heaps may be seen farther down the river. Near the county line, two miles southwest of Linden, Dallas county, a seventeen-inch seam was at one time opened by several mines (T. 79, R. 30, Sees. 36 and 25). The coal was divided into three benches by two thin bands of soft argillaceous shale. A similar seam has been found a short distance east, in Guthrie county.
Brushy Fork Valley.
Aside from the lower mile of its course and one isolated area in Seeley township, Brushy Fork flows over Cretaceous rocks. These are in no place very thick, so that it would be unnecessary to drill to any great depth below the bottom of the valley before reaching the coal bearing strata of the Des Moines stage. About six miles southwest of Bayard (T. 80, R. 32, Sees. 5 and 6), the same low anticline which causes the Carboniferous to be brought to the surface along the Middle Raccoon river above Rocky Bluflf makes an exposure of the same rocks on Fork. Des Moines strata may be traced in the valley for a distance of a mile and a half or more, and in this territorv a thin
Guthrie County 373
seam has been mined now and then by means of shallow shafts. The coal corresponds in level to that mined on the Middle Raccoon sonth of Bayard.
Wichita Greek Valley.
For a distance of two and a half miles above the junction of- Brushy Fork and Wichita-creek, Carboniferous strata outcrop in the valley of the latter stream, but beyond that point finally disappear under the Cretaceous system. Coal is ' occasionally removed during the winter months at the upper end of the outcrop, about two miles below Guthrie Center. The bed is eighteen inches thick and lies about ninety feet below the surface. A bed perhaps representing the same horizon was found at a depth of 132 feet in a drilling made just south of the Raccoon, one mile west and a half mile north of the courthouse at Guthrie Center. This bed was said to be twenty inches thick, while a second seam four feet and five inches thick, with a roof of soft white clay, was found sixty-five feet below it. About five feet below the second seam a third bed, associated with black clay, was reported. The first forty feet of the boring passed through drift, the next forty-four feet through a soft sandstone, probably Cretaceous in age. While no records could be procured of the other borings which confirm these statements, the information was obtained from apparently reliable sources.
Raccoon Valley.
The South Raccoon proper has cut down to the Carboniferous rocks along its entire course ; above Dale City through the Cretaceous and below that village through the Missouri. Near Dale City, the following drilling made by John Lonsdale & Sons revealed several coals, the more important being at 264 and 318 feet.
Dale City Section.
FEfiT. INCHK8.
68. Shale, red, blue and brown 19
374 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
62. Shale, with Impure coal in alternate layers 1 10
59. Shale, dense, gray, with traces of coal 4 9
59. Shale, dense gray, with traces -of coal 4 9
45. Shale, blue. Mack at bottom 3
44. Limestone, gray, very hard
38. Shale and limestone in thin layers 3 4
33. Shale, gray, blue-black at bottom 6
31. Shale, blue fire clay at top 6
28. Sandstone, fine-grained 11
Guthrie County 375
11. Slate, bluish black '. 5 8
8. Shale, blue and gray fire clay at top 17 8
2. Shale, light and dark 17 5
Two miles below Dale City attempts have been made to mine the Lonsdale coal, but no systematic work has been inaugurated.
H
Beaver Creek Valley.
Coal Measures are exposed in the valleys of Beaver creek and its main tributaries as far west as section 33 of Beaver township, three miles above Glendon. A thin seam, probably the Marshall, was formerly exposed on Spring branch (Tp. 78, K: 31,' Sec. 3, lot 12). A lower bed, said to be two feet six inches thick, was once worked at a depth of 100 feet and a bed four feet six inches thick was reported sixty to seventy feet still lower. Farther up Spring branch and on Beaver creek west of Glendon, thin beds have been occasionally tapped by small drifts and shafts.
Deer Creek Valley.
A coal which is probably the Lonsdale has been mined along and near Deer creek at several points. Two horse-gin mines were being opened for an important local trade in September, 1908. The smaller of the two is located one mile west and one and a half miles north of Stuart (Penn Tp., Sec. 19, Se. qr., Ne. 1/4 ) , in the deep valley of Deer creek. The bed, worked longwall, is here from twenty-two to twenty-six inches thick. The circular face is about 500 feet in circumference. Under the coal is a hard, dry fire clay and above it three feet six inches of black, bituminous shale overlain by soapstone. The shaft is 110 feet deep.
376 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
A half mile or more north (Sec. 18, Se. qr., S. %), on the north branch of Deer creek, is the shaft of the Deer Creek Coal Company. The seam here is quite uniformly two feet in thickness and dips steadily about one foot in twelve to the south. The same face, about 2,000 feet of which has been opened, has been worked for ten or twelve years, but the present shaft, fifty-eight feet deep, has been in existence only two years. The coal is of good quality and yields a fair proportion of lump. The roof is sandstone in some parts of the mine and slate" in others. Where there is a slate" roof, the seam is usually rather dirty. This mine is being rapidly placed in condition to supply a large local trade. The same coal has been opened at other points in this vicinity. At the old Lonsdale mine, one-half mile west of the Deer Creek, the bed worked lay thirty feet below the base of the lowest Missouri limestone and was only twenty inches thick. Two thin clay bands separated the seam into three benches.
Stuart.
Near Stuart, thick seams have been somewhat doubtfully reported as found in drillings made for water. The following record of a boring made by the Stuart Prospecting Company on the Savage and Dosh farm should, however, be fairly accurate.
Stuart Section.
Feet. Inches.
33. Sand shale, light; pyrite bands 92
31. Limestone, fossiliferous 8
29. Limestone, fossiliferous 1 2
Audubon County 377
20. Shale, bine, red and brown 31
10. Red clay to brown clay 35 9
8. Brown clay shale to red and blue clay shale 14
2. Blue sand shale with water vein 29
t. Limestone, blue 1
Total 490 4
Audubon County
Cretaceous deposits underlie practically the whole of Audubon county beneath a heavy cover of drift. Little is definitely known of the deeper formations ; yet it is probable that the most productive facies of the Coal Measures, the Des Moines stage, may be/ound directly under the Cretaceous in the northern portion of the region ; while in the southern part rocks of Missourian age occupy that position. In the northeastern section of the county the Des Moines can probably be reached at a depth that does not prohibit prospecting, for strata of that age outcrop, along Middle Raccoon river in (Jutlirie county only five miles east of the Audubon boundary, and again near Carrolton six miles north of Audubon. Since the lower part of the Des Moines is usually the most productive, it would be advisable to continue prospect holes some distance into the lower Coal Measures. In the greater part of Audubon county workable coal horizons lie at such great depths that prospecting cannot be encouraged under present conditions of the Iowa fuel supply.
378 Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
Adair County
Under the drift of the greater part of Adair county are rocks of upper Coal Measure, or Missourian age; but in the western third of the region these are covered by Cretaceous strata of no great thickness. Only thin coal seams have ever been discovered in the Missouri, so that it is not a promising field for deep prospecting; while the Cretaceous of Iowa carries only lignites that are not of economic importance. Beneath the Missouri, however, are the more abundantly coal bearing beds of the Des Moines, presenting several hundred feet of strata that may contain at any point basins of coal of limited lateral extent. Throughout the greater part of the county the, depth to which prospecting would necessarily be carried in order to reach the bst coal horizons appears to be prohibitive under present conditions ; yet in the valleys of the nor|:Tiern and northeastern portions, the Des Moines can be found nearest the surface. Thin coals have been reported from the northeastern section and parties are now preparing to prospect it.
Thin coals, belonging probably to the Missouri stage, have been encountered at several points near Bridgewater. Mr. James Hendry reports the following record of a drilling made on the highland near his residence (Washington Tp., Sec. 8, Ne. qr., Sw. /4).
Feet.
Soil and drift .164
Sandstone 18
Rock, hard 1
Shale, fissile, dark .-. . ?
Coal 1%
The thicknesses of the coal and the roof slate" are in some doubt, although twenty-one inches is thought to be approximately correct for the former. Other drillings made on the lowland within one-half mile of the above prospect found the coal split into thin beds separated by layers of shale.
Near the residence of Henry Rose, two niles north of Bridgewater (Jackson Tp., Sec. 29, Ne. qr.), a coal two and one-half feet in thickness was claimed by the driller to have been penetrated at a depth of 290 feet in boring for water. A well sunk
Adair County 379
or Henry Hyda, about five miles east of Bridgewater (Summerset Tp., Sec. 31, Se. qr.), reached a thin coal seam at about 300 feet.
A number of prospects were made near Fontanelle with doubtfnl results. A number of residents emphatically state that good . coal five feet or more in thickness was encountered 380 feet the level of the railroad track, near the Fontanelle stawhile others just as emphatically declare that no coal found. The Craig and Dawsorf Coal Company of Fort 'J'ge drilled in the creek bottom, about one mile below Fonta- a ®' to a depth of 409 feet. The record of this prospect shows
'6S8 alternation of the Missouri shales and thin limestones If 'bottom of the hole, indicating that workable coal horizons, riOsent must be looked for at still greater depth. <3Dly coal mined recently within the limits of the county Was t-ken from a depth of about 260 feet, six miles directly south of Adair, in the northwestern corner of the region under consideration. A roof of bituminous shale covered a two-foot
Figure se. Coal bed
betj, A. local mine was operated more or less continuously aboxxt fifteen years until accumulating troubles with ventilaand other difficulties caused it to be closed. It may, per- , Oo again opened.
Coal Deposits Of Western Iowa
Cass County
Like many of its neighbors, Cass county offers few exposures of the indurated rocks beneath the drift, so that our knowledge of the stratigraphy of the region is limited. The Ci:etaceou8 is present except in the valley of the Nishnabotna river as far up as Atlantic and in the southeastern half of Noble township and the western portion of Edna. Wliere the Cretaceous is lacking, the beds immediately beneath the drift are Missourian. In a deep well drilled at Atlantic the top of the Missouri was reached at 125 feet and thebase of the Des Moines at 850 feet, showing that 725 feet of Coal Measures exist at that point While coal may possibly occur in any part of the Coal Measures, the thick seams are found in other parts of the state well toward the base, and it is not known that coal producing conditions prevailed as far west as Atlantic during even lower Coal Measure time. The chances for finding thick coals at practicable depths in Cass county are, therefore, not particularly bright.
The coal mined in counties south of Cass extends into the southern part of the county and has been mined to some extent north of Briscoe. This coal is discussed in another part of this volume in the chapter on the stratigraphy of the southwestern counties.
Introduction
Part Vi
C04L Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa*
The mines of the southwestern field, including Adams, Taylor and Page counties, are all in the Upper Coal Measures, the Missouri stage. The coal worked is the Nodaway seam although a bed six to fifteen inclies thick and known as the Linquist or Nyman coal has been worked in a very small way in Page county. The Nodaway seam is very persistent, both in its extent and its thickness. While its area is not fully determined the fact that it is mined at New Market and Henshaw in western Taylor county; at Nodaway, Carbon and Briscoe in western Adams, and at Clarinda, Shambaugh and Coin in Page county shows that it underlies a very considerable area. It is also worked extensively at many points down the Nodaway river in Missouri. Its thickness varies from sixteen to twenty inches and its quality is quite uniform over large areas. It is considered by Professor Calvin to be a submarine deposit. This conclusion is based on its large areal distribution, its practically unvarying thickness and other characteristics and the manner in which the coal is interstratified with marine sediments. The stratigraphic relationships are discussed at length by Dr. Geo. L. Smith in another part of this volume. The map accompanying Dr. Smith's report shows the line of outcrop of the Nodaway coal.
The following table shows the figures of coal production in this field during 1908.
County
Tons
Value
Average
price per
ton
Average
No. men
employed
Average
No. days
worked
Adams
Page J
Taylor
Notes on some of these mines were contributed by Dr. S W. Beyer, tlons were written by the Assistant State Geologist.
t'The Carboniferous Section of Southwestesn Iowa."
Tlie descrip-
382 Coal Deposits Of 80Uthwe8Tbrn Iowa
As to the possibilities of finding coal at greater depth in these regioDB it is not at all likely that any will be discovered except by prospecting very far below the bed worked. Even then it is problematical whether the strata which are most prodnctive farther east will be found to be coal bearing in this section of the state. A hole was drilled at Carbon in Adams county with a core drill to a depth of 873 feet but without finding a trace of coal. The strata penetrated were calcareous shale, limestone and sandstone. Other prospects are described in Dr. Smith's report.
Taylor County*
Coal has been worked in Taylor county for over forty years. The earliest mining, so far as known, was carried on near Henshaw in the bluffs of the East Nodaway river. Mines have been operated in this vicinity more or .less intermittently until quite recent years. These mines have never been of more than local importance and since there is no railroad within six or eight
Feit. Inchis.
Gravel and bowlders, with
but Uttle cl. S&Qd. . Q ravel. Shale, light-colored, with
calcareous nodules In
the lower part. Limestone, witb da;
partings. Shale, black. Llmerock, Impure. Coal. Fire clay.
miles the output has been marketed in the district where produced. Some coal has also been taken out a few miles farther south, east of Hawleyville, Page county. Figure 97, the section
Keyea: Coal Depoiita of Iowa. Iowa. Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 45T-41. IS94.
Taylor County 383
of a mine which was one of the important producers of the district will give an idea of the strata present. This mine was opened about 1887. Some of the openings were drifts in the bluffs while others were shafts of depths ranging from twenty to eighty feet.
At present mining in Taylor county is confined almost entirely to the vicinity of New Market. Mines were opened here for local use in 1883 and since then the district has gradually increased in importance until it is one of the leading producers in the southwestern counties. At present (1909) three mines are operated the year around while three others are worked during the winter.
About one mile east of New Market, on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, is mine number 1 of the Campbell Coal Company. The coal is reached by a shaft 150 feet deep. It is about eighteen inches thick and is fairly even and flat. The roof is composed of black or gray shale and 'cement or bastard" rock. It is generally fairly good, especially where formed by the black slate. The section is given by Dr. -Smith in his paper which will be found elsewhere. The mine does not make much water, except for the drip at the shaft. Mining is carried on here, as in other mines of the district, in the bottom, since this is fairly easy to remove. The system used is long wall and the coal works fairly easily. Owing to the thinness of the seam the roadways are blasted out of the bottom with dynamite and are gradually heightened by the falling of the roof during the summer. Haulage is effected below entirely by men as it is not practicable to make the roadways high enough for mules.
Ventilation is by furnace as in nearly all the mines of the Nodaway seam. These mines do not require much air and so are generally in better condition than is possible in larger mines. Natural ventilation usually suffices during the winter and is relied on entirely in some of the smaller mines. The Campbell mine is one of the farthest in of any working the Nodaway seam. The average miner will get out about two tons of coal per day. At present miners are paid 4i/ cents per bushel in summer and 5 cents in winter. Wheelers receive about 1% cents per bushel, or 25 to 37 cents per ton, for loading and
3M Coal Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa
puBhihg. The cars used will hold 800 to 1200 pounds. The capacity of the mine is from 400 to 600 bushels per day. Campbell Number 2 is used only as an air shaft. In time it may be used as a producer since the company owns twenty-five acres of coal contiguous to it.
About one-fourth of a mile east of tbe Campbell property is the mine of the Union Coal Company, formerly owned by Tomlinson and Pace, and originally opened by Benjamin Anderson. There have been three shafts sunk here, but only one of these is being used at present. The section at the most westerly of the Anderson shafts may be taken as typical of all the others in the vicinity. Numbers 2 to 6 are given in the cut.
Tcbt. Inches.
8ha1, black, bltumiDOiu, with DOdulee ol impure limestone.
BhaCt. New Market
Soil and drift clay 20
Sand and gravel 2
Clay, tough, dart gray
Shale, light gray 80
2 to G given In gure 9S.
Shale, bluish, with thin layers ol limestone 12
The mine is located on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and does a shipping business. Horse power is used for hoisting and in all essentials the mine is similar to the Campbell. The coal is 150 feet deep and one of the shafts is utilized for air and escape purposes.
One-fourth mile west of the Campbell mine is that of the New Market Coal Co. formerly owned by Wm. Browning, and also
Page County 335
located on the Burlington. The equipment of this mine is very simple and is similar to that of the others in the district The wal seam and associated strata show the features common to the district. The mine is 156 feet deep.
Besides these three shipping mines there are three small mmes about two miles east of New Market, north of the rail road, but without connections with it. These were put down bv Wm. Welsh, N. Easter and John Carmichael. They are operated only during the winter. The coal and the methods and equip ment used for working it are similar to those found elsewhere Some difficulty has been experienced here on account of water'
IS done in the New Market district either under the royalty plan or by purchase of coal rights. In the former case the amount paid is one cent per bushel while under the latter system about $30 per acre is charged. All the mines of the county are nonunion. It is quite difficult to get miners to work the mmes on account of the low vein. Otherwise a much larger production would be maintained.
Page County*
Professor White mentions the fact that coal was mined in Page county as early as 1866.t The bed worked, he states, was the same as that worked in Adams and Taylor counties, and was opened up near Clarinda. This has been the center of mininir m this county ever since. The principal mine in operation at present is that of Johnston and Company, about three miles west of town. This is a shaft mine, 185 feet deep, and is the only one in the district which uses steam power. It is equipped with a small vertical hoisting engine, with mine car and wagon scales and has storage capacity provided for 500 tons. Arrangements at top and bottom are very simple. The mine is quite dry, save for the drip at the shaft. The seam varies from sixteen to twenty inches with an average of about seventeen. It is fairly uniform in character and thickness, and the bottom is quite even. The long wall system of mining is employed here
lf??- S"".' of Itnoa, Iowa 0oI. Surv., Vol. 11 nn 4RS 4R laa
386 Coal Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa
as in all the mines of this district. The coal is undercut from twelve to twenty inches, the mining being done in the bottom shale. This is rather more diflScult to mine than is that at New Market. Nearly all the dirt is disposed of below. The height of the roadways is increased by taking up the bottom and this along with the other waste material is used to build pack walls for the protection of road-and air-ways.
All tramming is done by hand as the entries are too low for mules. Cars of ten bushels capacity are used. Only lump coal is produced. There are no facilities for grading or cleanhig the coal except by hand picking. The capacity of the mine whcD in full operation is about forty to fifty tons daily.
As with the New Market mines so here also the mines are nonunion. Miners are paid from 5Vj to 6 cents per bushel, wheelers receive 1% cents per bushel, day men at bottom receive $2.00 to $2.25 and those on top about $2.00 per day. The royalty paid varies from % to IV2 cents per bushel. The usual royalty is one cent. All of the coal is sold and consumed locally and most of it is hauled to Clarinda. The delivery charge is two cents per bushel. None of the Page-county mines have railroad connections.
The Van Arsdall, or Swisher and Maley, mine is located about two miles south of west of Clarinda. The present shaft is 146 feet deep and is equipped with horse hoist. The old shaft was 135 feet deep. The coal and the methods of securing it are similar to those of the Johnson mine. The full daily-capacity of tlie mine is from twenty-five to forty tons, depending on whether or not the horses are relayed on the gin. The coal stands storage fairly well. The storage capacity is somewhat less than that of the Johnson mine. Ventilation is effected by furnace as in all the mines of the Clarinda district.
The equipment of the mines in the Nodaway seam compares favorably with that of similar mines over the state. The safety devices in use conform in character to the requirements of the law arid the operators keep their mines in good working condition. Second openings have been made at all the larger mine? and are kept in available order. The natural conditions also
Page County
are conducive to the safety of the miners and hence serious or fatal accidents are of rare occurrence.
There are two other mines about two miles southwest of Clarinda, the Berry and the Wingert mines. The equipment and general conditions about the mines are about the .same here as at the Van Arsdall mine. The underclay is more difficult to cut in the Berry mine than in those mentioned previously.
Mining was carried on a number of years ago at the Shambaugh mill, about two miles southeast of Clarinda. Drifts were carried into the bluffs on the east side of the West Nodaway river (East River Tp., Sec. 7, Se. qr., Nw. Vi) and considerable coal was taken out. This locality has been abandoned for years.
feet; inches.
8. Limestone, in two layers, gray, compact 3
5. Limestone, Impure, fragmentary 1 6
2. Shale, light-colored, with calcareous nodules 1
Figure 99. BlufT at Shambaugh on West Nodaway river, Clarinda.
There has been considerable activity in the neighborhood 6i Shambaugh, six miles south of Clarinda. Some of tte openings here were slopes and some were shafts. Twenty-eight or thirty years ago Samuel Pinkerton, William Aiken, William McLean and others were operating the principal mines in the county. Later the seat of operations moved to Clarinda and in recent years Shambaugh has not been a producer.
About three years ago the Coin. Coal Company sank a shaft at Coin. is the deepest mine on the Nodaway seam which it reaches at 23,0 feet. Steam power is used for hoisting and a jet furnishes ventilation. This is the only mine in southwestern Iowa using this method of furnishing air.
388 Coal Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa
Northwest of Clarinda about ten miles, in the valley of the Middle Tarkio river, coal was mined a number of years ago on the land of Charles Linquist (Fremont Tp., Sec. 24, Nw. qr., Nw. % ) . The coal was first discovered at the base of a low hill near the river. Tunneling was attempted, but here the *'cap rock" was too badly weathered to form a good roof. A shaft was then sunk to the seam, which is from six to eighteen inches thick. Several thousand bushels were taken out, but owing to the unsatisfactory conditions it has not been exploited extensively. It is underlain by a fire clay and has as a roof a threefoot band of limestone with intercalated shaly partings. Above this come the materials of the drift. This is the Linquist coal, called also the Nyman, from the locality of that name near by. It lies 185 feet or more above the Nodaway vein.
Fremont County*
Fremont county occupies the southwest corner of Iowa and is underlain over its entire extent by the strata of the Missonri stage. A heavy mantle of drift and loess conceals the bed rod over most of the county and good exposures are confined to the bluffs of the Missouri river and to the vicinity of Hamburg and Riverton.
A phenomenon unique in Iowa geology, in the shape of a fault with an upthrow to the north of over 300 feet, brings some of the deeper strata of the Missouri stage to the surface in northwest Fremont county.f Along the bluffs of the Missouri river southeast of Bartlett (Scott Tp.', Sec. 14 and 23) a bed of coal outcrops which shows a thickness of ten to eighteen inches. This rests upon fire clay and has a roof of blue or gray shale. These features, together with its associations, ally it with the Nodaway coal and Dr. Smith, who has made an extensive study of this part of Iowa, has no hesitancy in declaring it to belong with that seam.
About four miles south of this outcrop, two miles south of Thurman, coal was found in a prospect shaft. It was fourteen inches thick and rested upon shale with a six-inch band of lime-
See on the greology of Fremont county Keyes: Coal Depoaita of Iowa, Iowa 0oL Surv., VoL II, p. 462, 1894. Udden: Geology of MiUa ana Fremont CountieB, lowt Geol. Surv., Vol. XIII. pp. 126-lg2. 1908.
tOn this fault see the chapter below by Dr. Smith.
Mills County 889
stone forming the cap rock. Dr. Smith identifies this with the Nyman coal, and as it presents the same features that are shown by the seam in Page county the correlation may be accepted as certain. Between this locality and the one north of Thurman, therefore, lies the fault which has caused this displacement and has brought the Nodaway coal above the level of the Nyman seam.
A seam of coal is seen in a creek valley about two miles east of Hamburg, in the southwest part of the county, at a locality known as McKissicks Grove. It is here less than a foot thick, is underlain by shale and has a soft limestone roof. It has also been penetrated in several wells and prospects, where a thickness of fifteen to twenty inches is reported a few feet below the base of the drift. This coal also is considered by Dr. Smith to be the Nyman coal.
Several attempts at exploration of these coal beds have been made, but nothing satisfactory seems to have been accomplished. The coal near Hamburg is said to be of good quality and its nearness to the surface makes exploitation easy. It is possible that some workable pockets may be found and utilized. Its thickness is locally equal to that of the coal mined in Page county to the east but since it lies above the general level of the eroded surface of the Coal Measures it must be discontinuous and hence exploration is bound to be attended with a great deal of uncertainty. The Nodaway coal seems to be of inferior quality and the steep dip of the strata away from the fault soon carries it far beneath the surface. Summing up all the conditions it does not seem probable that prospecting either of the beds will ever be attended with any degree of success.
Mills County
Mills county, like Fremont to the south, has a heavy deposit of loess and drift overlying the indurated rocks. These latter belong to the Missouri stage, with the exception of a little sandstone of Cretaceous age in the northeastern part of the county. Xo exposures of coal are known, and as has been stated before, the Nodaway coal soon disappears to great depth and is of inferior grade. The Nyman coal may he found under conditions
390 COAL DEPOSITS OF SOtlTHWESTERN IOWA
similar to those existing in Fremont but nothing is known of this.
Hontoomery County*
ilontgomen', like its neighboring counties, has a deep covering of drift over the uplands, and hence the rock exposures are contined to the water courses. These have, however, cut into the indurated rocks to a larger extent tlian is true farther west. A considerable portion of the county is covered hy Cretaceous sediments which now extend as long tongues or outliers over the uplands, but have been eroded from the stream valleys. Beneath all of these lie the strata of the Upper Coal Measures. These are known to carry one or two thin seams of coal, one of them the Nodaway vein. The relationships of the other seam, wliieh Lonsdale states was reported to be six inches tliick and about 100 feet above the Nodaway vein, do not seem to be very clear.
The Nodaway seam has been known and worked in the northeastern part of the county for many years. The principal opening in this region was the Westrope mine. {Douglas Tp., Sec. 1, Se. qr., Sw. 'A). The vein was at one time exposed
4. Shale, dark -colored. 2. Coal.
Figure 100. Coal bed at old Wtslrope mine.
in a small runnel opening into the West Nodaway. The coal has an average thickness of about nineteen inches. As early as 1857 slopes were driven into the hillsides and a considerable
Adams County 391
amount of coal removed. From 1875 to 1880 mining was here carried on quite extensively for this region. At one time as many as fifteen men were employed at the mine, the daily output being upwards of 400 bushels or nearly sixteen tons. Since 1881 no mining has been undertaken at this locality nor elsewhere within the county. It will be noticed that in the section given above the usual shale roof of the Nodaway vein is separated from the coal by a bed of limestone. This phenomenon seems to be more common in the northern part of the area occupied by the Nodaway coal than in Page and Taylor counties, although there are several phases, from heavy bedded limestone through thin limestones and shales to thick shales.
Adams County*
The Upper Coal Measures underlie all of Adams, but in the northwest one-third of the county they are overlain by the strata of the Cretaceous. There has been only one bed of coal found in the county% the Nodaway, and this is exposed and mined only in the west one-third. A short distance east of Carbon, probably not over one-fourth mile, the roof thins out and the coal becomes soft and worthless. It does not extend much farther. Carbon has always been the center of the greatest activity and Adams has, during most of the years for which figures are available, been the leading producer of southwestern. Iowa. As early as the days of the Civil War coal was being: mined in the banks of the Middle Nodaway near Carbon, and the industry has been prosecuted to the present day. It is probably making a conservative estimate to say that over 350,- 000 tons have been removed ; a very considerable quantity when it is recalled that the vein averages only sixteen inches in thickness, that there is not a railroad mine in the county and that, until two or three years ago no coal was ever shipped by rail from any of the mines in the county.
Mines have also been operated for about thirty years near Briscoe. Some of these shafts were from sixty to ninety feet deep. At the Plowman shaft (Lincoln Tp., Sec. 2, Nw. qr., Nw. %), a section of which is given below, the coal was found at twenty-six feet.
Keyes: Coal Deposits of Iowa. Iowa wcol. Surv.. Vol. II, pp. 445-450. 1894.
Coal Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa
Text. Inches.
s
7. Shale, grar. cUyer- 6. Limestone, graj'.
3 i. Shale, finely laminated
bituminous. I i 3. Fire clay.
8 -li-l 2. LlmeBtone, thin bedded-
FlKurc 101. Coal bed In Plowman shaft. Briscoe.
At present one mine is being .worked here, that of H. K. Demirjean. This is a shaft mine 119 feet deep and uses horse hoist. Ventilation is effected by furnace and an escape shaft five by six feet is provided. All the mines of this vicinity have shown about the same thickness of coal and a similar sequence of strata. The absence of the roof shale and the consequent juxtaposition of the coal and the cap rock is worthy of note.
The early mines of the Carbon district were located west of town, for the most part along the river. At present these are all abandoned and operations are being carried on by shafts located north and south of town. The accompanying section will give an idea of the strata encountered in this district.
4. Shale, bituminous, flssile
Flffurs 102. Vein at old Syfert and Jones mine. Carbon.
The mine of Jones, Smith and Tindall is located about onefourth mile south of the village. The shaft is 110 feet deep.
Adams County 303
five by nine feet in area and with two compartments. The cages are very simple and without safety devices. Horsepower is used for hoisting and a manilla rope is used instead of the customary wire rope. The plant is equipped with wagon scales but as the mine has been open only since April of the present year (1909) mine car scales have not yet been installed. An average output of 500 bushels per day can be maintained during the busy season, from September 1st to April 1st. Storage sheds of 4,000 bushels capacity will be provided. The coal has a uniform thickness of eighteen inches and lies fairly flat. It is essentially nonpyritic and can be stored for several months even during the summer season. At present most of the work being done is confined to entry driving. Twenty to twenty-five miners will be employed.
The shaft of J. F. Ruth, one-half mile northeast of Carbon, was opened in March of 1907. It is sixty-five feet deep to the coal and this and the equipment used for handling it are essentially the same as those of the Jones mine, except that the cages are supplied with covers and safety catches. Mine car scales are in use and storage capacity for 500 tons is provided. The mine is fully opened up and for the present season thirty men are employed. The capacity is about twenty tons per day although as much as forty tons is raised at times.
The mine of J. F. Wild is just being sunk. It is located on the north edge of town a third of a mile southwest of the Ruth mine. The shaft will be seventy feet to the coal and it is hoped to have the mine opened up ready for the winter's trade.
The Houck mine No. 2, near Carbon, was operated last winter by Wild and Barker, but a cave-in in the shaft has put an end to operations.
About five miles northwest of Carbon is the village of Eureka, north of which several mines have been operated. The earlier ones were slopes and the later ones shafts. A considerable amount of coal was removed but in recent years not much has been done here. At present the only mine which is open is the Dixon or Houck shaft, which is being operated by McKee Brothers during the present season. The shaft is thirty-five
394 Coal Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa
feet deep and during the winter season ten or more men are employed. The capacity of the mine is about twelve tons.
Coal from the Carbon mines finds a ready market in the vicinity while some is hauled by team to Corning and even as far as Massena, Red Oak and Lenox, distances of twenty and twenty-five miles.
A comparatively new field has been opened up within the last few years near Nodaway in the southwest corner of the county. As early as 1903 James Spargur operated a mine near here and at present two mines are being worked.
One mile northwest of town is the shaft of Daugherty and Son, 102 feet deep. It has been operated since 1905 and at present eight to twenty miners are employed. The coal here is similar to that at Carbon, but is somewhat lighter, especially where it thickens. A dip of four feet per 100 to the southwest aids the pushers in getting the cars to the shaft. Mine car and wagon scales are provided and hoisting is effected by a double engine which operates a single three-foot drum by friction clutch. Power is supplied by a vertical boiler. The shaft has but one compartment and at present the cage is without cover or catches, although these will be provided. No storage sheds are provided and the surplusage over local needs is shipped on the railroad, chiefly to Villisca and other nearby towns. This is not profitable, however, and is resorted to chiefly to keep the miners in steady employment. Last winter the shipments averaged a car per week. The proprietors own the coal rights to eighty acres adjacent to the shaft.
One-fourth mile northwest of the Daughery shaft is that of Frederick Weil. This is a double compartment opening five by ten feet in diameter and 124 feet deep and is operated by a one-horse gin. The coal here runs from fourteen to twenty-four inches, with an average of eighteen or less. Fourteen men are employed at present, but as many as twenty are used in the winter. This and the Daugherty mine are generally run all summer to supply the small demand. The daily capacity of the mine is about twenty tons, all of which is consumed locally.
Adams County 395
At both of these mines the succession of strata is the same. Overlying the clay is a black, somewhat fissile shale which grades laterally into a gray shale, called by the miners the bastard. It is slightly more crumbly than the black shale, but either one makes a good roof. The thickness varies from eighteen to thirty inches. Above it is the *'cap rock,'' a bed of limestone one or two feet thick. Below the coal is a **fire clay'' perhaps two feet thick and underlying this the bottom rock," about the same thickness.
Mining in the Adams county mines is comparatively safe and accidents are very rare, owing to the thin seam, the method of working the mines and the uniformly good roof.
The coal is mined exclusively by the long wall plan and work is done in the underclay. About four inches is taken out and the cut is made from twelve to eighteen inches deep. The coal is too soft to allow the use of powder. In most of the mines all the coal is taken out, even that around the shaft. Here cribbing is resorted to in order to support the roof. No mules are used in any of the mines as the roof is too low. Man-power is used for bringing the coal to the bottom. The cars used will hold from eight to fifteen bushels, their capacity depending on the height of the roadways and the ability of the pushers. In order to give the necessary height to the entries and the roadways two or three feet of the underclay is taken up, usually down to the bottom rock. Roadways are driven every forty feet off the entries and each miner, or in some cases two miners working together, cuts out twenty feet on either side of the road.
In the Carbon district miners are paid seven cents per bushel and hire or do their own wheeling. In the Nodaway mines the diggers receive six cents, or seven cents for cutting the rib, and wheelers are paid a cent a bushel. Coal sells for ten cents per bushel at the mines. Although it stands storage quite well it will lose about twenty-five per cent in weight. The operators work on the royalty plan and pay on the average one-half cent per bushel.
The equipment is very simple at all the mines, the Daugherty mine being the only one with steam hoisting apparatus. In
396 Coal Deposits Of Southwestern Iowa
former years the workings were extended only a short distance from the shaft or slope month and were then abandoned and new openings made. Recently, however, better methods have been instituted; separate air shafts and manways have been installed and the equipment has steadily improved. NTevertheless, it is not practicable to run entries more than about 300 yards as the distance becomes too great for men to push the coal. Ventilation is effected during the summer by means of stoves in the bottoms of the air shafts. Natural ventilation suffices during the winter. All the mines are dry except near the shaft. With the exception of those of the Nodaway district the mines are idle during the summer, but in winter they are taxed to their capacity, and indeed, beyond. At times as many as 175 men have been employed in and around the mines.
Fuel Values Of Iowa Goals
By
F. A. Wilder
Analyses Of Iowa Coals
By .
James H. Lees And A. W. Hixson
i
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
By Frank A. Wilder
With Analyses Of Iowa Coals
By Jambs H. Lees And A. W. Hixson
Contents
Page
Introduction 401
Description of mines and sampling methods.
Iowa No. 1, Wapello county 404
Iowa No. 2, Marion county 405
Iowa No. 3, Polk county 406
Iowa No. 4, Appanoose county 408
Iowa No. 5, Lucas county 409
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals 410
Iowa No. 1 412
Iowa No. 2 413
Iowa No. 3 414
Iowa No. 4 415
Iowa No. 5 416
Boiler tests of Iowa coals.
Iowa No. 1 417
Iowa No. 2 425
Iowa No. 3 : 432
Iowa No. 4 439
Iowa No. 4, briquettes 446
Iowa No. 5 453
Producer-gas test on Iowa coal. Iowa No. 2 : 458
Coking tests on Iowa coals.
Iowa No. 1 468
Iowa No. 2 469
Iowa No. 3 470
Iowa No. 4 471
Iowa No. 5 472
Briquetting test with Iowa coal. Iowa No. 4 473
Washing tests ith Iowa coal.
Iowa No. 1 474
Iowa No. 2 ; : , .474
Page
Iowa No. 3 : 475
Iowa No. 4 475
Iowa No. 5 475
Collection of samples 476
Laboratory methods 477
Preparation of sample 477
Moisture 478
Ash 478
Volatile combustible matter 479
Fixed carbon 479
Sulphur 479
Calorific value 480
Method of statement 481
Description of mines sampled 482
No. 1, High Bridge Coal Co.. High Bridge 482
No. 2, Ogden Coal Co., Ogden 482
No. 3, Willow Grove Coal Co., Angus 482
No. 4, Atwood Coal Co., Blyth 483
No. 5, Armstrong Bros. Coal Co,, What Cheer 483
No. 6, Crescent Coal Co., White City 483
No. 7, Phillips Fuel Co., Bear Creek 484
No. 8. Phillips Fuel Co., Rutledge 484
No. 9, Wapello Coal Co., Hiteman 484
No. 10. Campbell Coal Co., New Market 485
No. 11, Bolton-Hoover Coal Co., Bolton 485
No. 12, English Creek Coal Co., Hawkeye 486
No. 13, Colfax Consolidated Coal Co., Colfax 486
No. 14, Keystone Coal Co., Des Moines 486
No. 15 Bennett Bros. Coal Co., Des Moines 487
No. 16, Enterprise Coal Co., Enterprise 487
Chemical analyses of coals 488
Sample No. 1 488
Sample No. 2 488
Sample No. 3 489
Sample No. . 4 489
Sample No. 5 490
Sample No. 6 490
Sample No. 7 491
Sample No. 8 491
Sample No. 9 492
Sample No. 10 492
Sample No. 11 : 493
Sample No. 12 498
Sample No. 13 494
Sample No. 14 49<
Sample No. 15 ! 455
Sample No. 16 *95
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals
Introduction 401
Chapter Ii
The Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
The following chapter gives the results of chemical and physical tests, carefully made at large expense to the national government, to show the fuel value of Iowa coals ; and to determine how to handle them in order to obtain from them the greatest eflSciency.
The state of Iowa, with individuals and companies engaged in coal mining within the state, contributed in various ways to this fund of information with reference to the nature of Iowa coals.
To the engineer who wants to post himself on Iowa coals, the complete presentation of the tests as made in the following tables will be considered natural and necessary, though the casual student of the subject might get along with a more condensed statement.
Care was taken to make the tests typical, and though they actually stand for coals from certain mines, they probably represent rather correoftly the coals of the state and their behavior under various conditions, except where note is made to the contrary.
The tests were made under an act of congress approved in 1904, providing for the analysis and testing of the coals and lignites of the United States, in order to determine their fuel value and the methods that should be employed to obtain from them the greatest eflSciency.
The testing plant was established at St. Louis in connection with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and was under the supervision of the United States Geological Survey.
A very complete plant was established with all desirable apparatus and machinery for making both chemical and physical tests on coal and lignite.
26
A particularly valuable feature of the tests is found in the fact that coals from all portions of the United States were brought together and tested under identical conditions by disinterested persons.
For the first time, therefore, opportunity was given to compare the coals of America and to determine their relative value.
If the prices of coals are taken into calculation, and the fuel values used which are set forth on the following pages it will be found that there is no excuse for importing expensive eastern coals into the Mississippi Valley, except for domestic and metallurgical purposes.
Moreover the possibility of briquetting Iowa coal and putting it in an especially attractive form for domestic use, is plainly brought out.
The Iowa Geological Survey co-operated eflfectively with the National Survey in connection with these tests.
The state survey selected the mines from which the coal for testing should be taken, and in doing so, endeavored to select points that might be regarded as typical for the state, and points, moreover, which would long be producers.
It was felt that the tests should represent as large an area as possible, and that the results obtained should have weight for a considerable period of time ; in-as-much as the tests were expensive and could not readily be duplicated.
The Iowa Geological Survey selected and secured the donation of five cars of coal from as many important mines ; and secured from the railroads the free transportation of four cars of this coal from the mine to the testing plant. The State Survey paid the freight on the fifth .car.
The coals that were tested are presented in the table below, and on the following pages they will be referred to by the numbers here shown.
Introduction
Name Of
Bam Pus
Operator
Mine
Location
Grade Of Coal
Name Of
Bed
Iowa 1 . . . .
Anchor Coal Co., Ottumwa. Iowa
No. 2
Iaddadale, la.
Over H Inch screen.
Middle bed.
Iowa 2 . . . .
Mammoth Vein Coal Co., Hamilton. la.
No. 6
Liberty Twp., Marion Co., la.
Run of mine.
vein.
Iowa 3
Gibson Coal Mining Co.. Des Moines, la.
No. 4
Near Altoona, Polk Co., la.
Over % Inch screen.
Third vein.
Iowa 4
Centerville Block Coal Co., Centervllle, la.
No. 3
Appanoose Co., la.
Over 1% Inch screen.
Lower bed.
Iowa 5 . . . .
Inland Fuel Co.. Charlton, la.
No. 1
Charlton,
Lucas Co.. la.
Run of mine.
Lower bed.
Mr. Savage, at that time Assistant State Geologist, in company with Mr. Groves, who represented the United States Geological Survey, secured the mine samples, and supervised the loading of the cars. The report of Mr. Savage, made in Bulletin No. 2, Iowa Geological Survey, is quoted at this point :
From each of the mines from which a car of coal was shipped to be tested, two samples were taken for chemical analysis. These samples were obtained from points in the mine quite widely separated. They were cut from the full section of th working faces of the seam mined at the time the car was loaded, and were immediately sent to the St. Louis laboratory by mail in air-tight cans. The two coal samples that were collected at the mine for chemical analysis are referred to in the tables which follow as 'mine sample A" and **mine sample B" respectively.
As each car load of coal, sent to the plant for testing, was unloaded at St. Louis, a third sample was taken for chemical analysis which represented the coal actually contained in the car to be tested. This sample is designated in the following tables as the '*car sample".
As the coal was distributed to the testing divisions samples were taken at frequent intervals, quartered down, and analyzed. In this way at least six separate samples from each car of coal were obtained at tho plant, and two at the mine.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Quotations are freely made on the following pages from Professional Paper 48, of the United States Geological Survey, m which all the tests of the St. Louis plant are presented, and from which the tables showing results of tests are taken.
Description Of Mines And Sampling Methods
Iowa No. 1.
Operator. AnchoT Coal Company,. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Mine. — Mine No. 2, located at Laddsdale, Wapello county, Iowa, on Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
Coal bed. — In Wapello county the coal beds lie at no great depth below the surface. The middle bed in this mine is found at a depth of 58 feet, and what is called the third seam at a depth of 70 feet. The coal beds vary greatly in thickness in this region, but in the majority of places in which they are now worked they range from 3 to 5% feet.
Two sections were measured on each bed and the variations are shown in plate X. The detailed sections are as follows:
Sections of coal bed in mine No. 2 , Anchor Coal Company, Laddsdale, Iowa.
MIDDT.Fi BED.
Third Bed.
Bbction A.
Section C.
Sbction B.
8Bctiok D.
Ft, in.
Coal 2 11
Ft. in.
Coal 3 10
Ft. in. Coal 2 3
Ft. Hl Coal 4 5
Samples for chemical analysis. — Two samples for chemical analysis were obtained in this mine. Sample A is from the middle seam and sample B is from the third seam. These samples were taken at the points where sections A and B, noted above, were measured. The samples were obtained in the usual manner by making cuts across the face of the coal from roof to floor, so as to obtain coal from all parts of the bed. The samples were then crushed and quartered down until about a quart of crushed coal remained of each sample. The samples were then packed in airtight galvanized-iron cans and mailed to the laboratory at the testing plant.
Description Of Mines And Sampling Methods
Character of car sample. — Two grades of coal were loaded in the ear for testing. In one end of the car was placed coal that had been passed over a lI-inch screen and in the opposite end of the car was loaded the material that had passed through the same screen. These grades together were in the proper proportion to constitute run-of-mine coal. This coal is all from the middle bed. Tlie lower bed is not developed sufficiently to furnish much coal. The coal was loaded in an open coal car, which was shipped on October 17 and was received at the testing plant November 1,
Mining methods. — Mining is done on the room-and-pillar system. The coal is shot oflf the solid and hauled to the foot of the shaft by mules,
Iowa No. 2.
Operator, — Mammoth Vein Coal Company, Hamilton, Iowa.
Mine. — Mine No. 5, located in Liberty township, Marion county, Iowa, on the Wabash Bailroad.
Coal bed. — There are at least six well-defined coal beds in Marion county. These are nearly all well exposed in the bluffs of the Des Moines river. The coal beds of this county are among the most extensive of central Iowa. The seam worked in No. 5 mine is known locally as the Big Vein. The thickness and character of the bed are shown graphically in plate X, and also by detailed sections A and B. Section A was measured in the fifth west entry on the south side of the mine and section B was measured in the third west entry on the south side of the mine. The sections are as follows :
Sections of coal bed in mine No. 5, Mammoth Vein Coal Company, Marion Co., la.
Section A.
Ft. in.
Coal ,. . .2 11
Sulphur and shale 0 1
Coal 1 3
Sulphur and shale 0 6
Coal 2 %
Total 7 3
Section B.
Ft. in.
Coal , 1 3
Sulphur 0 2
Coal 3 11
Total 5 4
Samples for chemical analysis. — Two samples were cut in this mine for analysis. Sample A was obtained from the place where section A was measured and sample B from the place where section B was measured. These samples were obtained by making cuts from roof to floor, exclusive of the large partings, which are thrown out by the miner in loading the coal. These samples were carefully crushed and quartered down to about quart size and mailed to the chemical laboratory at the testing plant in airtight galvanized-iron cans.
Character of car sample, — The car for testing purposes was loaded with run-of-mine coal. Many large sulphur balls are found in this coal, but these were mostly picked out in loading the coal. The coal was loaded in a gondola car, which was shipped from the mine October 23 and received at the testing plant November 23, 1904.
Iowa No. 3.
Operator. —Gibson Coal Mining Company, Des Moines, Iowa.
Mine. — Mine Xo. 4, located near Altoona, Polk county, Iowa, on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
Coal bed. — Polk county has long been one of the most important coal-producing counties in the state. In this county three seams of coal are recognized. They are commonly called firsts" second," and third" seams. These are the workable seams, and they have associated with them other beds that are not of workable thickness. Mine No. 4 is on the third seam. Two sections of this coal are shown graphically in plate X. Section A was measured in the ninth north entry and section B was measured in the main west entry. These sections are as follows:
Sections of coal bed in mine No. Oihson Coal Mining Co., near Altoona, lovca.
Section A.
Ft. in. Coal 3 10
Section B.
Ft. in. Coal 4 7
Samples for chemical analysis. — Two samples were cut from working faces of the mine to furnish material for chemical analysis. Sample A was obtained at the place where section A was
Description Of Mines And Sampling Methods 407
Iowa No. 1
A C B D A B
1"?'." H HcOAL H 3'-'°" H
Itowa:no. 2
XOWAJNO. 4 IOWA IfO. ff
I Coal
t
Secllona at Iowa coal beds, from which coal (or the St. I*uls teats was taken.
measured and sample B at the place where section B was measured. These samples included all parts of the bed, and were obtained in the usual way, by cutting channels from roof to floor. The original bulk of the samples was reduced by crushing the pieces of coal to a uniform size and quartering down to about one-eighth of the original. These final samples contained about a quart and they were mailed in hermetically sealed galvanizediron cans to the chemical laborator5\
Character of car sample, — The coal for testing was run into the car over a bar screen with five-eighths inch bars set 1% inches apart. This constitutes lump coal and was selected, as run-ofmine coal is not shipped and the smaller sizes of coal and slack contain an abnormal amount of sulphur. The coal was loaded in an open coal car, which was shipped from the mine October 25 and received at the testing plant November 12, 1904.
Iowa No. 4.
Operators. — Centerville Block Coal Company, Centerville, Iowa; Scandinavian Coal Company, Centerville, Iowa; Anchor Coal Company, Centerville, Iowa.
Mines. — These operators combined to send a car of coal from their district, and decided upon the Centerville Block Coal Company's mine No. 3 to supply the coal. The Centerville Block Coal Company operates 6 mines, the Scandinavian Coal Company 2 mines, and the Anchor Coal Company 3 mines, making a total of ll mines for the district. Mine Xo. 3 of the Centerville Block Coal Company is located at Centerville, Appanoose county, Iowa, and is served by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific; Iowa Central ; and Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railways.
Coal hrd. — In the A])paii()()se county district the coal bed which is being mined has a wide geographical extent, covering nearly all of Appanoose county and ])arts of the adjoining counties of Iowa and Missouri. In the reports of the Iowa Geological Survey this coal bed is called the mystic coal. At Centerville it is found at a depth of 125 feet, rising gradually to the north and east- At the mine from which the sample was obtained the coal is reached at a depth of 110 feet. Sections of the coal bed are
Description Of Mines And Sampling Methods
shown graphically in plate X. Section A was measured in the first room oflf the sixth east entry, and section B in the first room off the sixth east entry off the main south entry. The sections are as follows:
Sections of coal bed in mine No, 3, CenterviJle Block Coal Co.y Centerville, Iowa.
Section A.
8Bcti0N B.
Ft. in. Coal 1 9
Ft. in. Coal 1 7
Fire clay 0 4 Fire clay 0 1
Coal 0 11 Coal 1 3
Total 3 0 Total 2 11
Samples for chemical analysis. — Two samples were obtained in this mine for chemical analysis. Sample A was obtained at the place where section A was measured and sample B at the place where section B was measured. The samples were obtained by making a cut from roof to floor, including everything except the fire-clay parting. These samples were crushed and quartered down to about one-eighth their original bulk and mailed to the chemical laboratory at the testing plant in sealed metal cylinders.
Character of car sample. — The coal shipped for testing consisted of about 35 tons of lump and about 4 tons of &ae coal. The lump coal was that which passed over a .bar screen with 1%-inch spaces, and the fine coal was that which passed through this screen. The slack, which was not included in the carload, was screened off through a five-eighths inch screen. The coal was loaded in a gondola car and shipped from the mine October 28 and was received at the testing plant November 14, 1904.
Iowa No. 5.
Operator. — Inland Fuel Company, Chariton, Lucas county, Iowa.
3//f>.— Inland No. 1, located in sees. 4, 5, 8, and 9, T. 72 N., R. 21 W., fifth principal meridian. At present the mine has no railroad connection.
Coal bed. — Two general coal horizons have been recognized in Lucas county, one near the surface and the other about 250 feet
below. The Inland Fnel Company is working on a coal bed at the lower horizon, and reaches the coal by a shaft 250 feet deep.
The thickness of the coal bed, as determined bv f onr measured sections, is 7 feet 4 inches, 7 feet 9 inches, 7 feet 7 inches, and 7 feet. Two of these sections are shown in plate X. The bed is irregular, being disturbed to some extent by horsebacks. The thick coal lies in local basins or swamps, and therefore does not extend for a great distance. The roof consists of black shale and the floor of about 3 inches of shale overlying sandy fire clay.
Samples for chemical analysis, — Two samples were taken in this mine for chemical analysis. Sample A was obtained in room 33, oflf the second north entry, and sample B was obtained in room 8, off the first east entry on the sputh side. They were obtained by making cuts across clean faces of the coal bed, from roof to floor. The coal so obtained was pulverized and quartered down until two quart samples were obtained, which were placed in galvanized-iron cans, sealed air-tight, and mailed to the chemical laboratory for analysis.
Character of car sample. — The carload sample for testing purposes consisted of run-of-mine coal. As the mine has recently been opened it has no railroad connection, and the coal had to be hauled 6 miles in wagons. The rehandling probably produced considerable slack, but since all coal was crushed at the plant before tests were made, this probably had little effect. The coal was loaded in a gondola car which was shipped from the mine October 31 and was received at the testing plant November 10,
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa Coals
Mr. Savage, in the report already referred to, summed up the results of analyses and heat unit tests as follows :
A careful comparison of the above tables shows that the average per cent of sulphur contained in the Iowa coal samples is 4.67, and the same figures represent the per cent of sulphur in the coals of Missouri. The average amount of ash present in the Missouri samples is a little less than that in the Iowa coal samples. The six samples of Illinois coal contained on the average a slightly smaller per cent of sulphur than the coal of Missouri and a somewhat larger percentage of ash. It would seem
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa Coals 411
that for domestic purposes the coal of these three states should rank about equal in value.
It will be noticed, also, that the calorific value of the Iowa coals compares very favorably with the coals of Missouri and Illinois, yielding on the average 6,144 calories and 11,066 British thermal units.
Results of steam tests show equivalent evaporation from and at 212 degrees as ranging from 7.02 to 7.50 pounds per pound of dry coal.
Xo thorough experiments were made on washing Iowa coals, but-small lots of each sample were washed preparatory to making a test of their coking qualities. In all cases the results showed a notable reduction of ash and of sulphur, and it seemed probable that washing could be done to advantage in many parts of the Iowa field.
Coking tests were made on all samples of Iowa coals, but with indifferent success. In some cases no coke was produced; in others coke of fair quality was made. In all cases the coke was high in sulphur, which, of course, would preclude its use in an iron furnace, but it might be used in other ways.
Xo gas-producer tests were made during the regular work on Iowa coal, but later a run was made on the coal from Marion county. The test was not entirely satisfactory, as the quality of the gas varied greatly from time to time, but no clinkers formed in the producer, and it is probable that better results could be obtained on a second trial of this coal. Its high percentage of sulphur was a detriment, but it is probable that this can be eliminated with more careful work.
The figures on page 466 show that to produce 1 electrical horsepower hour with this coal in the producer required 1.73 pounds of drj coal, whereas under the steam boiler it required 4.95 pounds to produce the same result, a gain in efficiency or the producer of 186 per cent. As this coal ran nearly 17 per cent of ash in the car sample, the great advantage of using it in the producer ])lant will be apparent, and these results seem to open the way to the much better utilization of Iowa coals.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa No. 1 Coal.
(Lump and fine coal from mine No. 2. Received from Anchor Coal ComiMLny,
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air drying — per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do
Ash do ... .
Ultimate- Hydrogen do ... .
Carbon do. . . .
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do
Ash do ... .
Calorific value determined, calories
Calorific value determined, B. T. U.
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis — calories
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis — B. T. U
Phosphorus in coke
Analysis corrected to sample as received : Proximate —
Moisture per cent..
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do. . . .
Ash do ... .
Mine
sample
No. 1
Mine
sample
No.S
Car
Sample from
boiler tesu
Sample
of coal
from
coke
test.
washed
coal
Coke sample, washed
coalf
lOO.OOi 100.00' 100.00
T
Ultimate- Hydrogen do ... .
Carbon do
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do
Ash do
Calorific value determined, calories 6,303, Calorific value determined, B. T. U. ' 11,345
Refuse from boiler test, laboratory No. 1358: Combustible, 13.12 per cent; ash. 86.88 per cent.
tSpecific gravity of the coke substance, 1.87 ; apparent specific gravity of the coke. 0.9.S : peroentaRe of poro.sity, 51 per cent.
J Derived from the determinations on the carload sample.
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa Coals
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa No. 2 Coal.
(Run-of-mine coal from mine No. 5. Received from Mammoth Vein Coal
Mine sample No. 1
Mine
sam-
Dle
No. 2
Car sample*
Car sam-
Sample from boiler tesfS
Sample from gasproducer test
S'mple of coal
from
coke
test v'sh'd
coal
Laboratory sample number
Lobs of moisture on air drying, per ent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do
Ash do. . . .
Ultimate —
Hydrogen do
Carbon do
Nitrogen do. . . .
Oxygen do
Sulphur do ... .
Calorific value determined, calories
Calorific value determined, B. T. U.
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis — calories
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis — B. T. U
Analysis corrected to sample as
received:
Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do
Ash do ... .
Ultimate —
Hydrogen do...
Carbon do. . .
Nitrogen do. . .
Oxygen do . . .
Sulphur do. . .
Ash do. ..
Calorific value determined, calories Calorific value determined, B. T. U.
14
. 'Represents 10 tons of coal.
tRepreaents 6 tons of coal.
Refuse from boiler teat, laboratory No. 1491: Combustible. 18.07 per cent; ash. 81.93 per cent.
IDerived from the determinations on the carload sample.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF IOWA NO. 3 COAL. (Lump coal from mine No. 4. Received from Gibson Coal Mining Co., AItoona.Ia.)
Mine
sample
No. a
Mine
sample
No. 2
Car sample*
Sample from
boiler test
Sample
of coal
from
coke
test,
washed
coal
Coke sample vasbed
coal I
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air drying — per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture Per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do
Ash do ... .
Ultimate —
Hydrogeil do
Carbon do ... .
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do
Ash do
10.67 1.80 42.18| 1.9o 40.691 38.55' 38.99, 36.311 38.53; 78.64
100.00, 100.00 lOO.OO! 100.00' 100.00
Calorific value determined, calories Calorific value determined, B. T. U. Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis— calories
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis — B. T. U
Phosphorus in coke
Analysis corrected to sample as
received :
Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do
Ash do ... .
Ultimate- Hydrogen do .
Carbon do.
Nitrogen do.
Oxygen do .
Sulphur do.
Ash do.
Calorific value determined, calories Calorific value determined. B. T. U.
Represents 12 tons of coal.
tRefuse from boiler test, laboratory No. 1393: Combustible, 27.11 per cent; asn,
jSpeciflc gravity of the coke substance, 1.88 ; apparent specific gravity of the coke, 0.81 ;. percentage of porosity, 57. ,
IDerived from the determinations on the carload sample.
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa Coals Chemical Analyses Of Iowa No. 4 Coal.
(Lump coal from mine No. 3. Received from Centerville Block Coal Company, Centerville. Iowa.)
Mine sample No. 1
Mine sample No. 2
Car sample*
Sample
from
boiler
test
Sample
of coal
from
coke
test
w'Bh*d
coal
Coke sample coalt
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air-drying —
per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do. . . .
Fixed carbon do
Ash do. . . .
Ultimate- Hydrogen do
Carbon do. . . .
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do. . . .
Ash do
Calorific value determined — calories
Calorific value determined — B.
T. U
Calorific value calculated from
ultimate analysis — calories . . . Calorific value calculated from
ultimate analysis — B. T. U
Phosphorus in coke
Analysis corrected to sample as received : Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed . carbon do ... .
Ash do
Ultimate- Hydrogen do
Carbon do
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do. . . .
Ash do
Calorific value determined— calories
Calorific value determined — B. T. U
34.79i 38.99 38.04 38.79
Sample of brl- Quett*8
from boiler
test
Mm
tRefime from the boiler test, laboratory No. 1381: Combustible, 19.25 per cent;
ash. &0.75 per cent. i*. ,
tSpecIflc gravity of the coke substance. 1.82 ; apparent specific gravity of the coke,
Refuse from the boiler test of the briquettes, laboratory No. 1486: Combustible,
23.82 oer cent: ash, 76.18 per cent.
Derived from the determinations on the carload sample.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF IOWA NO, 5 COAL. (Run-of-mine coal from mine No. 1. Received from Inland Fuel Company, Chariton, Iowa.)
I Mine I sample No. 1
Mine
sample
No. 2
Car Sample*
Sample from boiler test
Laooratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air drying — per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do
Ash do ... .
1433 ' 1423 ; 6.801 3.80'
Sample
of coal
from
coke test
washed
coal
T4i9"
Ultimate—
Hydrogen do
Carbon do
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do
Ash do
Calorific value determined — calories.
Calorific value determined — B. T. U. .
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis— calories
Calorific value calculated from ultimate analysis — H. T. U
Analysis corrected to sample as received: Proximate —
Moisture per cent. .
Volatile matter do
Fixed carbon do ... .
Ash do
Ultimate- Hydrogen do
Carbon do ... .
Nitrogen do
Oxygen do
Sulphur do ... .
Ash do
Calorific value determined — calories. Calorific value determined — B. T. U. .
t 5,583 t 10,049
Represents 7 tons of coal.
tRefuse from the boiler test, laboratory No. 1422: Combustible. 15.28 per cent: ash, 84.72 per cent.
{Derived from the determinations on the carload sample.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals
aOlLER TESTS ON IOWA GOALS
Fteffular and special ohservations on test of Iowa No. 1 coah November 3, 1904*
Beoula.B.
(Duration of trial, 10.017 hours.)
Steam pressure gage
LbB.
Temperatures
Outside
°F.
Boiler room
"F.
Total —
Flue
gases,
base of
stack
°F.
Calorimeter
Steam discharge
Lb§.
Water separated in 10 minutes
Lb§.
Draft pres'res
In hood,
in inches
of water
In furnace,
in inches
of water
Flue gases
COa.
Per ct.
Oi.
Per ct.
Co.
Peret.
532 - ' - 556rTi2;"""035
553 4.00' .029 562:
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Regular and special ohaervations on test of Iowa No. 1 coal November 1904.
Special.
Time
Height of water
In tank
Start, 7.43
Close, 5.44
In gage glass
Weight of coal burned
During period
Pound*
Total PoundB
Weight of water fed to boiler
During period
Pounda
Total Ponndi
Recobd Of Fubnace Conditions.
Time
Observation
Time
Observation
Boiler under a load during
Fire raked, 8 Inches thick.
night.
Fire sliced, 10 Inches thick.
Cleaned fire.
Fire raked, 10 inches thick.
Test started, fire 2 inches
Cleaning fire.
thick.
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick.
Fire raked, 7 Inches thick.
Fire raked, 6 inches thick.
Fire sliced, 9 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 10 inches thick.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Fire sliced, 9 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Fire raked.
Fire cleaned, 3 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Fire raked, 6 inches thick.
Fire cleaned, 3 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Test closed, fire 2 inches thick.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Refuse dark and heavy. Coal burned freely with long fiame. 99 firings during test.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals 419
Steam Test of Iowa No, 1 Coal
Conditions Of Boileb Trial.
Made by boiler division. United Statea Geological Survey.
At fuel-testing plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo.
Kind of boiler, Heine safety.
1*0 determine the economy of coal as a fuel.
Steam Jets not operated. Hughes apparatus operated.
Kind of fuel, Iowa No. 1.
Kind of furnace, hand fired.
State of the weather, cloudy.
Method of starting and stopping the test, alternate.
Type of boiler, water tube.
1. Date of trial, November 3, 1904.
2. Duration of trial hours. . 10.017
Dimensions And Pb0F0Bti0N8.
3. Orate surface square feet. . 40.56
3-1 'Width of grate feet.. 6.16
3.2 Length of grate ! do . . 6.58
4. Height of furnace inches.. 26.
5. Approximate width of air spaces in grate do. . . .5
6. Proportion of air space to whole grate surface per cent.. 44
6.1 Area of chimney square feet. . 7.67
6.2 Height of chimney above grate feet. . 113.25
6.3 Length of flue connecting to chimney do . . None
7. 'Waterheatlng surface square feet. . 2,031
7.1 Outside diameter of shell inches. . 42.94
7.2 length of shell (outside to outside of heads) feet. . 21.58
7.4 Diameter of tubes (outside— inside) [ Inches. . 3.5
7.6 Length of tubes exposed feet. . 17.87
' 8. Superheating surface Square feet. . None
9. Ratio of water-heating surface to grate surface 50.1:1
lO. Ratio of minimum draft area to grate surface 1 :9.1
Average Fbessubes.
Barometer ."ndT
11.1 Steam pressure by gage per square inch do
12. Force of draft between damper and boiler inches of water.
13. Force of draft in furnace do. . .
14. Force of draft or blast in ash pit do. . .
Absolute.
Avebaoe Temperatures.
15. Of external air ...degrees.. 60.5
18. Of feed water in tank do 57.4
19. Of feed water entering economizer do
20. Of feed water entering boiler do 195
21. Of escaping gases from boiler do 534
22. Of escaping gases from economizer do
Fuel.
23. Size and condition: Nut — small, SO per cent; slack, 20 per cent; dull.
24. Weight of wood used in lighting fire pounds. . None
25. Weight of coal as flred do 10,331
26. Percentage of moisture in coal 8.69
27. Total weight of dry coal consumed pounds. . 9,433
28. Total ash and refuse .do 1,875
29. Quality of ash and refuse: Clinker per cent. . 63
30. Total combustible consumed / 292
31. Percentage of ash and refuse .in dry coal 19.88
Proximate Analysis Of Coal.
Per cent Per cent of of coal combastible
33. Volatile matter 33.08 45.34
100.00 100.00 36. Sulphur, separately determined 6.39
Ultimate Analysis Of Dry Goal.
100.00 100.00 43. Moisture in sample of coal as received 8.69
Analysis Of Ash And Refuse.
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals 421
Fuel Peb Houb.
46. Dry coal consumed per hour pounds
47. Combustible consumed per hour '
48. Dry coal per square foot of grate surface per hour do. .
49. Combustible per square foot of water-heating surface ( ..do..
per hour . . do. .
Calobific Value Of Fuel.
50. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of dry coal,
R T. U 11,443
51. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of combustible,
B. T. U 14,320
52. Calorific value by analysis, per pound of dry coal, B. T. U 11,257
53. Calorific value by analysis, per pound of combustible, B. T. U. . 14,087
Quautt Of Steam.
54. Percentage of moisture in steam .651
55. Number of degrees of superheating ,
56. Quality of steam (dry steam=unity) per cent. . 99.5
WATEk.
57. Total weight of water fQ4 to boiler pounds. . 57,373
58. Equivalent water fed to boiler from and at 212*" do. . . . 68,675
59. Water actually evaporated, corrected for quality of steam. do. . . . 57,086
60. Factor of evaporation 1.197
61. Equivalent water evaporated into dry steam from and
at 212* pounds. . 68,332
Water Per Houb.
62. Water evaporated per hour, corrected for quality of
steam pounds.. 5,690
63. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212*" do. . . . 6,822
64. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212'' per square
foot of water-heating surface pounds. . 3.36
Hobsepoweb.
65. developed (34 pounds of water evaporated per
hour into dry steam from and at 212'1 horsepower) 197.7
66. Builders' rated horsepower 210
67. Percentage of builders' rated horsepower developed 94.16
Economic Bebults.
68. Water apparently evaporated under actual conditions per pound
of coal as fired. (Item 57-item 25) pounds. . 5.55
69. Equivalent evaporation from and at per pound of coal
70. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212' per pound of dry coal.
'Calculated from chemistry of ash.
71. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound 5 ..do 9.04
Etficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat value ( per cent. . 60.96 of 1 pound of combustible ( . . . .do. . . . *63.19
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grate (heat absorbed by the
boiler per. pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of
Cost Of Evaporation.
74. Cost of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
75. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water under observed
conditions $0.09
76. Cost of fuel used for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from
and at 212° $0.0756
Smoke Observations.
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 50.4
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter, .ounces
79. Volume of soot per hour obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches
Method Of Firing.
80. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Alternate
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 8
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during time
when fires are in normal condition minutes. . 6
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up minutes.. 30
Analysis Of The Dry Gases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do
HEAT BALANCE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEATING VALUE OF THE COMBUSTIBLE.
Total heat value of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,320
B. T. U. Per cent
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler= evaporation from and at 212°
per pound of combustible x 965.7 9,049 63.19
2. Loss due to moisture in coal per cent of moisture referred
to combustiblelOOx[ (212-0 +966+0.48 (7-212)] (t= temperature of air in the boiler room; T=that of the flue gases) 151 1.05
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
0UT5lOC,BOILLR-flOOM, AND
rceo-ATrR tcmpcwatures
O Zo 40 60 60 Oo
o o
WATER CONSUMPTION IN THOUSAND POUNDS to 20 li 30 3S 40 45 50 55
Coal Consumption In Thousand Pounds
Iz
Steam- Pressure Gauge
Smokc
Chart
Number
So 90 100 I 2 3 4 S
rx,VC 0*S,0RArT, ANO %C02 ,%M0ISTUW
71. Equivalent evaporation from and at per pound 5 xClo 9.04
Efficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat value ( per cent. . 60.96 of 1 pound of combustible ( . . . .do *63.19
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grate (heat absorbed by the
boiler per. pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of
Cost Of Evaporation.
74. Cost of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
75. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water under observed
conditions $0.09
76. Cost of fuel used for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from
and at 212* $0.0756
Smoke Obsebvations.
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 50.4
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter, .ounces
79. Volume of soot per hour obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches
Method Of Firing.
80. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Alternate
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 8
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during time
when fires are in normal condition minutes. . 6
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up minutes.. 30
Analysis Of The Dry Gases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do. . .
HEAT BALANCE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEATING VALUE OF THE COMBUSTIBLE.
Total heat value of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,320
B. T. U. Per cent.
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler evaporation from and at 212"
per pound of combustible x 965.7 9,049 ♦63.19
2. Loss due to moisture in coal per cent of moisture referred
to combu8tiblel00x[(212-t) +966+0.48 (7-212)] (t= temperature of air in the boiler room; T=that of the flue gases) 161 1.05
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Outsioc,Boilcr-Oom, And
rceo->wATrR tcmpcratures o ?o 40 60 eo oo
rUMNACC AND FLUC TEMPERATURES (DEGREES FAhR ) 600 1000 I40O laOO ;?00 ?600
WATEN C0N5UHPTION IN THOUSAND POUNDS S n iO lb 30 3S 40 45 50
Steam - Pncssurc Cauge
Smoke
Chart
Numbir
rtUt OAS,DRAFT, ANO % CO2 %M0ISTURC
Coal Consumption In Thousand Pounds
Iz
o o
H O
►
H
s:
H
8. Loss due to moisture formed by the burning of hydrogen per cent of hydrogen to combu8tible-100x9x[(212-t) + 966+0.48 (r-212)] 572 3.M
4. Loss due to heat carried away in the dry chimney
weight of gas per pound of combustible x 0.24 x (r—<) 2,442 17,05
5. Loss due to incomplete combustion of carbon=
CO per cent C in combustible
CO.+UOX iOO X10,150 107 .75
6. Loss due to unconsumed hydrogen and hydrocarbons, to heating the moisture in the air, to radiation, and unaccounted for. (Some of these losses may be separately itemized if data are obtained from which they may be calculated) 1,999 13.97
Bbacabks.
Dry coal per Indicated horsepower hour 3.91 pounds. Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour 4.82 pounds.
'Calculated from chemistry of nsli.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals
Regular and special observation on test of Iowa No, 2 coal, November 28, 1904,
Beoulab.
(Duration of trial, 9.917 hours.)
Steam pressure gage
Lba.
Temperatures
Calorimeter
Draft pres*reB
Flue gases
Time
Outside
Boiler room
°F.
Flue
gases.
baseoi
stack
°F.
Steam discharge
Lba.
Water separated
mio
minutes
Lba.
In hood.
In inches
of water
In furnace.
m
inches
of water
COa. Per ct.
Oa. Per ct.
Co.
Per ct .
as
' 0.14
"'4T5I
"4T07
iT033
"'"64
"Y.2
i""i2l
olo
'ii.8
,
"ii.8
' .0
"12.3
Total - Av
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Regular and special observations on test of Iowa No. 2 coal, November 28, 190-
SPECIAIm
Time
Height of water
Start, 7.29
Close, 5.24
In tank Jnehea
In gage giasB
Jnehew
Weight of coal burned
Daring period
Total Pounda
Weight of water fed to boiler
Daring period
Pounda
Total Pounda
Recobd Of Fubnace Conditions.
Time
Observation
Time
Obsenration
Fire sliced. 8 inches thick.
Boiler under light load dur-
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
ing night.
Cleaning fire.
Fire cleaned.
Fire cleaned. inches thick.
Test started, fire 2 inches
Fire raked. 7 inches thick.
thick.
Fire raked. 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Do.
Fire sliced. 8 inches thick.
Do.
Fire raked. 8 inches thick.
Do.
Do.
Fire sliced, 8 inches thick.
Fire sliced, 9 inches thick.
' 4.46 . . . .
Fire raked. 9 inches thick.
Fire raked. 10 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Fire raked. 8 inches thick.
Fire cleaned. 3 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Fire raked. 2 inches thick.
Fire cleaned, 3 inches thick.
' 5.24 . . . .
Test closed, fire 2 inches thick.
Fire raked. 6 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Do.
Do.
Clinker dark and heavy. Firing deadened the fire. Coal did not burn freely. 106 firings during test.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals 427
Steam Test of Iowa No, 2 Coal
Conditions Of Boiler Tbial.
Made by boiler divlsioiip United States Geological Survey.
At fuel-testing plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo.
Kind of boiler (commercial name), Heine Safety.
To determine the economy of coal as a fuel.
Steam jets not operated. Hughes apparatus operated.
Kind of fuel, Iowa No. 2.
Kind of furnace, hand fired.
State of the weather, cloudy.
Method of starting and stopping the test, alternate.
Type of boiler, water tube. 1. Date of trial, November 28, 1904.
2- Duration of trial hours. . 9.917
3-10 Dimensions and proportions of boiler same as given in test of coal No. 1.
Average Fre8Sube8.
XI. Baroxneter J !""'*""13:
11.1 Steam pressure by gage per square inch ' '
12. Force of draft between damper and boiler Inches of water.
Force of draft in furnace do . . .
Force of draft or blast in ash pit do . . .
Average Temperatures.
IS. Of external air degrees. . 48
IT- Of steam do 325.3
Of feed water in tank do 48
Of feed water entering economizer do
20- Of feed water entering boiler do 169
21. Of escaping gases from boiler .do 627
22. Of escaping gases from economizer do
Vxtel.
23. Size and condition: Nut — small, 50 per cent; slack, 50 per cent; very dirty.
24. Weight of wood used in lighting fire pounds. . None
25- Weight of coal as fired do 10,986
26. Percentage of moisture in coal 14.88
2T. Total weight of dry coal consumed pounds. . 9,351
28. Total ash and refuse do 1,629
29. Quality of ash and refuse, clinker per cent. . 58
30. ToUl combustible consumed ' t7 294
31. Percentage of ash and refuse in dry coal 17.44
Absolute. tCalculated from chemistry of ash.
Proximate Analysis Of* Coal.
Per cent Per cent of
of coal combustible
33. Volatile matter 35.35 51.17
100.00 100.00 36. Sulphur, separately determined 4.73
Ultimate Analysis Of Dby Coal.
100.00 100.00 43 Moisture in sample of coal as received 14.88
Analysis Of Ash And Befuse.
Fuel Pee Houb.
46. Dry coal consumed per hour pounds. . 944
47. Combustible consumed per hour ' ' ' '
48. Dry coal per square foot of grate surface per hour do. . . . 23.28
49. Combustible per square fbot of water-heating surface per
Calobisic Value Of Fuel.
50. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of dry coal,
B. T. U 11.497
51. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of combustible,
B. T. U 14,162
52. Calorific value by analysis per pound of dry coal, B. T. tJ. . . . 11,444
53. Calorific value by analysis per pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,097
Quality Of Steam.
54. Percentage of moisture in steam .913
55. Number of degrees of superheating None
56. Quality of steam (dry steam-unity) per cent. . 99.3
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals
Wateb.
Total weight of water fed to boiler pounds. . 55,030
ESquivalent water fed to boiler from and at 212° do 66,394
Water actually evaporated, corrected for quality of steam, .do 54,645
FYu:tor of evaporation , 1.2065
Equivalent water evaporated info dry steam from and at 212" pounds. . 65,929
Wateb Feb Houb.
Water evaporated per hour, corrected for quality of steam pounds . . 5,510
Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212'' do 6,648
Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212'' per square foot of water-heating surface pounds. . 3.27
Hobsepoweb.
Horsepower developed pounds of water evaporated per
hour into dry steam from and at 212''=1 horsepower)
Builders' rated horsepower
Percentage of builder's rated horsepower developed
Economic Besultb.
Water apparently evaporated under actual conditions per pound of coal as fired. (Item 57-item 25) pounds. .
Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of coal as fired. (Item Bl+item 25) pounds.
Equivalent evaporation U/xna and at 212° per pound of dry coal
Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound ( ..do... of combustible. (Item 61-i-item 30) ( . .do. . .
Efficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat j per cent. . value of 1 pound of combustible) ... .do. . . .
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grate (heat absorbed by the
boiler per pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of 1 pound of dry coal) per cent. .
Cost Of Evapobatioit.
74. Cost of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
75. Cost of fuel -for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water under observed
conditions
76. Cost of fuel used for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from and
at 212°
♦Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Smoke Obsebyations.
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 46.8
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter ounces. . .
79. Volume of soot per hour obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches
Method Of Fiwng.
80. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Alternate
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 8
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during time
when fires are in normal condition minutes. . 5.6
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up minutes 25
Analysis Of The Dby Oases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do. .
HEAT BAULNCE, OB DISTBIBUTION OF THE HEATING VALUE OF THE COMBUSTIBLE.
Total heat valjie of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,162
B. T. U. Per cent
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler=evaporation from and at 212°
per pound of combustible x 965.7 8,730 ♦61.64
2. Loss due to moisture in coal per cent of moisture referred
temperature of air in the boiler room; Tthat of the flue
gases 279 1.97
3. Loss due to moisture formed by the burning of hydrogen
=per cent of hydrogen to combu8tible-5-100x9x[(212~
4. Loss due to heat carried away in the dry chimney gases=
weight of gas per pound of combustible x 0.24 x (T-O 3,137 22.15
5. Loss due to incomplete combustion of carbon
CO per cent C in combustible
CO"-fCO' 100 X 10,150 85 .6-
6. Loss due to unconsumed hydrogen and hydrocarbons, to
heating the moisture in the air, to radiation, and unaccounted for. (Bome of these losses may be separately itemized if data are obtained from which they may be calculated) 1,281 9.03
Bemabkb.
Dry coal per indicated horsepower hour-4.01 pounds. Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour=4.95 pounds.
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
OUT5I0C, BOILER-ROOM, AND rEED-WATCR TCMPtRATURBS
o 20 40 60 eo too
FURNACE AND rtUC TEMPERATURES (DEGREES rAMR.) 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 26QO
WATER CONSOMPTIOH IN THOUSAND POUNOd lO 13 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Coau Consumption In Thousand Pounds
St Cam-
PRtSaURE CAUGE
SMOKe
Chart Number
rtUC-GASDPArT, AND % CO2 ,%M0ISTUR|
O
►
O
H
o
f o
o
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Regular and special ohservationa on teat of Iowa No, S coal November 8. 190.
Regular.
(Duration of trial, 10.033 hours.)
Steampresaure gage
Lba,
Temperatures
Calorimeter
Draft presses
Flue gases
Time
Outside
Boiler room
Flue
gases.
baseoi
suck
Steam discharge
LbB.
Water separated Id 10 min utes
LbB.
In hood.
in Inches
of water
nace.
in inches
of water
COa. Peret.
Os. Peret.
Co.
Peret.
83' 83' 75, 82,
50' 50| 48, 51' 60' 64| 66] 65, 66 6S
M ,60
' .35
1
i 12.0
,
;"'l3:o
""'o"o
"Tio ""'023
'"To
i 13.8
' 13.4
' 14.4
f
' "ii"?
Total Av.
' 71.8 ' 7.18
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals
Regular and special observations on test of Iowa No. 3 coal, November 8, 1904-
Continu€d.
Special.
Time
Start, 7.46
Height of water
In tank Inehea
In gage glass
Inehea
Weight of coal burned
During period
Pound*
Total Pounda
Weight of water fed to boiler
During period
Pounda
J.M
Close, 5.48
1,340 3,187 2,823 2,922 3,821 4,502 3,203 4,234 3,975 4,377 3,281 4,046 2,9a5 3,600 4,278 2,533
Total Pounda
1,340 4,527 7,a50 10,272 14,093 18,595 21,798 26.032' 30,007 84,384 62,574 55,107
RECORD or FURNACE CONDITIONS.
Time
Observation
Time
Boiler under a load during
night. Fire cleaned.
Test started, fire inches thick.
inches thick, inches thick, inches thick, inches thick.
Fire raked, Fire raked. Fire raked. 8 Fire sliced. 9
Fire raked, 10 inches thick.
Do. Cleaning fire.
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick. Fire raked. 6 inches thick. Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked. 9 inches thick.
Fire raked.
Fire raked. 10 inches thick.
Fire raked.
Cleaning fire.
Fire cleaned. 4 inches thick.
Fire raked. 6 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Do. Cleaning fire.
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick. Test closed. fire'lV inches thick.
Ash dark and heavy. Coal burned rapidly, with long flame. 88 firings during test.
Steam Teat of Iowa No, 3 Coal
Conditions Of Boileb Trial.
Made by boiler division, United States Geological Survey.
At fuel-testing plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo.
Kind of boiler, Heine safety.
To determine the economy of coal as a fuel.
Steam Jets not operated. Hughes apparatus operated.
Kind of fuel, Iowa No. 3.
Kind of furnace, hand fired.
State of weather, clear.
Method of starting and stopping the test, alternate.
Type of boiler, water tube.
1. Date of trial, November 8, 1904.
2. Duration of trial hours. . 10.033
3-10 Dimensions and proportions of boiler same as given in test of coal No. 1.
Average Pressures.
11 Barometer 1 of mercury.. 29.45
11.1 Steam pressure by gage per square inch ) "do I? 96
12. Force of draft between damper and boiler inches of water. . .58
13. Force of draft in furnace do .22
14. Force of draft or blast in ash pit do 0
Average Temperatures.
15. Of external air degrees. . 63.4
18. Of feed water in tank do 56.1
19. Of feed water entering economizer do
20. Of feed water entering boiler do 190
21. Of escaping gases from boiler do 578
22. Of escaping gases from economizer do
Fuel.
23. Size and condition: Nut — small, 70 per cent; slack, 30 per cent; dull.
24. Weight of wood used in lighting fire pounds. . None
25. Weight of coal as fired do 10,668
26. Percentage of moisture in coal 12.44
27. Total weight of dry coal consumed pounds. . 9,341
28. Total ash and refuse do 1,431
29. Quality of ash and refuse: Clinker. per cent. . 57
30. Total combustible consumed " t7 283
31. Percentage of ash and refuse in dry coal 15.32
Absolute. tCalculated from chemistry of ash.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Goals 435
Proximate Analysis Of Coal.
Per cent Per cent of of coaC combustible
33. Volatile matter ; 36.14 50.26
100 00 100.00 36. Sulphur, separately determined 6.07
Ultimate Analysis Of Dry Coal.
100.00 100.00 43. Moisture in sample of coal as received 12.44
Analysis Of Ash And Refuse.
Fuel Per Hour.
46. Dry coal consumed per hour pounds.. 931
47. Combustible consumed per hour j do
48. Dry coal per square foot of grate surface per hour do 22.96
49. Combustible per square foot of water-heating surface
per hour
C ..do.
Calorific Value Of I'Uel.
50. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of dry coal,
B. T. U 11,671
51. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of combustible,
B. T. U 14,210
52. Calorific value by analysis per pound of dry coal, B. T. U 11,605
53. Calorific value by analysis per pound of combustible, B. T. U. . 14,130
Quality Of Steam.
54. Percentage of moisture in steam .978
55. Number of degrees of superheating None
56. Quality of steam (dry 8team=unity) pr cent. . 99.25
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Wateb.
67. Total weight of water fed to boiler pounds. . 55,107
68. Equivalent water fed to boiler from and at 212*" do 66,035
69. Water actually evaporated, corrected for quality of steam, .do 54,694
60. Factor of evaporation 1,1983
61. Equivalent water evaporated into dry steam from and
at 212' pounds. . 65,540
Wateb Feb Houb.
62. Water evaporated per hour, corrected for quality of
steam pounds. . 5,451
63. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at do 6,532
64. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at per square
foot of water-heating surface pounds. . 3.22
H0B8Ep0Web.
65. Horsepower developed (34 pounds of water evaporated per
hour into dry steam from and at 212"*=! horsepower) 189.3
66. Builders' rated horsepower 210
67. Percentage of builders' rated horsepower developed 90.15
Economic Besults.
68. Water apparently evaporated under actual conditions per pound
69. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212'' per pound of coal as
70. Eiquivalent evaporation from and at 212'' per pound of dry
71. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound 5 S.29
of combustible. (Item 61item 30) ( . .do '9.00
Efficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat value ( per cent. . 56.34 of 1 pound of combustible) do 61.16
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grate (heat absorbed by the
boiler per pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of 1 pound of dry coal) per cent. . 58.09
Cost Of Evapobation.
74. Cost of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
76. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water .under observed conditions
76. Cost of fuel used for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from
and at 212* tOMi
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
OUTSIOC, BOILER-ROOM, AND rECO-WATCR TCMPCRATORES
o eo 40 60 ao wo
ruRNACe AND FLUC TCMPCRATURCS (DEGREES TAHR ) 600 iQOO 1400 1800 ?200 ?600
WATER CONSUMPTION IN THOUSAND POUNDS IP n 20 2i 30 3S 40 4i SO 55
COAL CONSUMPTION IN VhOUSANO POUNDS 4 6 8 i2 14 16 18 20
ez
Steam-
Smoke
Prcssure
Chart
Gauge
Number
% COj ,%MOlSTuRe
o
t
o
M O
s
Smoke Obsebvations.
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 34.8
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter, .ounces
79. Volume of soot per hoiir obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches
Method Of Firing.
80. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Spreading
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 8
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during time
when fires are in normal condition minutes.. 6.8
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up ; minutes.. 30
Analysis Of The Dry Gases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do. .
HEAT BALANCE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEATING VALUE OF THE COMBUSTIBLE.
Total heat value of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,210
B. T. U. Per cent.
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler='evaporation from and at 212''
per pound of combustible x 965.7 8,691 ♦61.16
2. Loss due to moisture in coal=per cent of moisture referred
to combustible-100x[ (212-0+966+0.48 (r-212)] temperature of air in the boiler room; r=that of the fine gases) 223 1.57
3. Loss due to moisture formed by the burning of hydrogen
=per cent of hydrogen to combustiblel00x9x [(212-
4. Loss due to heat carried away in the dry chimney gases-weight
of gas per pound of combustible x 0.24 x (7- 1) 3,222 22.67
5. Loss due to incomplete combustion of carbon= CO per cent C in combustible
6. Loss due to unconsumed hydrogen and hydrocarbons, to
heating the moisture in the air, to radiation, and unaccounted for. (Some of these losses may be separately itemized if data are obtained from which they may be calculated) 1.386 9.76
Remarks.
Dry coal per indicated horsepower hour =4. 03 pounds. Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour=4.97 pounds.
♦Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Boileb Tests On Iowa Coals
Regular and special ohservations on test of Iowa No. 4 coal, November 7, 190,
Begulab.
Steampressure
Lba,
Temperatures
Calorimeter
Draft pros* res
Flue gases
Time
Outside
Boiler room
Flue
gases.
base of
stack
°F.
Steam discharge
Lba.
Water separated in 10 minutes
In hood
in inches
of water
In furnace.
In Inches
of water
COa. Paret.
Oa. Parct.
CO. Par at.
'"'"49
,
Total Av. —
l,6a5
,1
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Regular and special observations on test of Iowa No. 4 CoaJ, November 7, 190
Continued.
Special.
Time
Height of water
In tank Inohea
In gage glass
Inches
Weight of coal burned
During period
Pounds
Total Pounds
Weight of water ted to boiler
During period
Pound*
Total Pounds
Start, 8
Am
Record Of Furnace Conditions.
Time
Observation
Time
Observation
Boiler under a load during
Fire, raked. 8 inches thick.
night.
Fire raked. 9 inches thick.
Pire cleaned.
Do.
Test started, fire 3 inches
Cleaning fire, diflicult to re-thick
.
move clinker.
Fire raked, 6 inches thick.
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick.
Fire sliced.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked. 8 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Do.
Fire cleaned. 4 inches thick.
Pire sliced.
Fire raked.
Cleaning fire.
Test closed, fire 3 inches
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick.
thick.
Fire raked. 6 inches thick.
Ash dark and heavy. Coal burned freely with long flame. 83 firings during test.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals 441
Steam Test of lotoa No. 4 Coal
Conditions Of Boileb Trial.
Made by boiler division. United State Geological Survey.
At fuel-testing plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo.
Kind of boiler, Heine safety.
To determine the economy of coal as a fuel.
Steam jets not operated. Hughes apparatus operated.
Kind of fuel, Iowa No. 4.
Kind of furnace, hand fired.
State of weather, clear.
Method of starting and stopping the test, alternate.
Type of boiler, water tube.
1. Date of trial November 7, 1904.
2. Duration of trial hours. . 10
3-10 Dimensions and proportions of boiler same as given in test of coal No. 1.
Avesage Pbessures.
11.1 Steam pressure by gage per square inch -
12. Fbrce of draft between damper and boiler inches of water. . .6
13. Force of draft in furnace do .193
14. Force of draft or blast in ash pit do 0
Average Temperatures.
15. Of external air degrees . . 60
18. Of feed water in tank do 60
19. Of feed water entering economizer do
20. Of feed water entering boiler do 181
21. Of escaping gases from boiler do 556
22. Of escaping gases from economizer do
Fuel.
23. Size and condition: Mine run— lump, 30 per cent; small, 50 per
cent; slack, 20 per cent; dull.
24. Weight of wood used in lighting flrje pounds.. None
25. Weight of coal as fired do 9,385
26. Percentage of moisture in coal 13.48
27. Total weight of dry coal consumed pounds.. 8,120
28. Total ash and refuse do 1,302
29. Quality of ash and refuse: Clinker per cent. . 59
31. Percentage of ash and refuse in dry coal 16.03
Absolute.
tCalculated from chemistry of ash.
PROXIMATE ANALTaiS OF
Percent Per cent of of coal combastible
33. Volatile matter 34.09 47.77
100.00 100.00 3G. Sulphur separately determined 5.04
Ultimate Analysis Of Dbt Coal.
100.00 100.00 43. Moisture in sample of coal as received 13.48
Analysis Of Ash And Refuse.
Fuel Per Hour.
46. Dry coal consumed per hour pounds. . 812
48. Dry coal per square foot of grate surface per hour do 20.02
49. Combustible per square foot of water-heating surface
Calorific Value Of Fuel.
50. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of dry coal,
B. T. U 11,678
51. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of combustible,
B. T. U 14.157
52. Calorific value by analysis per pound of dry coal, B. T. U 11,545
53. Calorific value by analysis per pound of combustible, B. T. U 13,996
Quality Of Steam.
54. Percentage of moisture in steam 1.27
55. Number of degrees of superheating w None
56. Quality of steam (dry steam=unity) .per cent. . 99.03
Calculated liom chemlstr>' of ash.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals 443
Water.
57. Total weight of water fed to boiler., t pounds. . 48.765
58. Ekiuivalent water fed to boiler from and at 212" do 58,289
59. Water actually evaporated, corrected for quality of steam, .do 48,292
60. Factor of evaporation 1.1953
61. Equivalent water evaporated into dry steam from and
at pounds. . 57,723
Water Per Hour.
62. Water evaporated per hour, corrected for quality of
steam pounds. . 4,829
63. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212*" do 5,772
64. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212° per square
foot of water-heating surface pounds. . 2.84
Horsepower.
65. Horsepower developed (34V pounds of water evaporated per
hour into dry steam from and at 212=1 horsepower) 167.3
66. Builders' rated horsepower 210
67. Percentage of builders' rated horsepower developed 79.7
Economic Results.
68. Water apparently evaporated under actual conditions per pound
of coal aa fired. (Item 57-item 25) , . pounds. . 5.196
69. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212*" per pound of coal as
70. ESquivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of dry coal.
71. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of
Efficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat value
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grate (heat absorbed by the
boiler per pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of 1
COST or EVAPORATION.
74. Cost of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
75. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water under observed
conditions $0.0962
76. Cost of fuel used for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from
and at 212" $0.0813
'Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Smoke Ob8Esvati0Ns.
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 41
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter ounces
79. Volume of soot per hour obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches
Method Of Fibing.
80. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Spreading
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 8
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during time
when fires are in normal condition minutes.. 7.2
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up minutes . . 46
Analysis Of The Dbt Gases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do. .
HEAT BALANCE, OB DISTBIBUTION OF THE HEATING VALUE OF THE COMBUSTIBLE.
Total heat value of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,157
B. T. U. Per cent
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler evaporation from and at
212' per pound of combustible x 965.7 8,643 61.05
2. Loss due to moisture in coal=per cent of moisture referred
to combu8table-100x[(212-t) +966+0.48 (T-212)] (t= temperature of air in the boiler room; T=that of the flue gases) 242 1.71
3. Loss due to moisture formed by the burning of hydrogen=
per cent of hydrogen to combustible-100x9x[(212-t) +
4. Loss due to heat carried away in the dry chimney gases
weight of gas per pound of combustlblex0.24x (T-t) 2,906 20.53
5. Loss due to incomplete combustion of carbon=
CO per cent C in combustible CO.+COX Too X 10,150 101 .71
6. Loss due to unconsumed hydrogen and hydrocarbons, to
heating the moisture in the air, to radiation, and unaccounted for. (Some of these losses may be separately itemized if data are obtained from which they may be calculated) 1,659 11.72
Bemabks.
Dry coal per indicated horsepower hour=3.98 pounds. Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour=4.91 pounds.
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
OUTSIDE. BOILER-ROOM, AND rtCO- WATCH TCMIeWA'ruRKS
o 20 40 60 ao oo
600 iQoo 1*00 'eoo_ ezoo eboo_
Water Consomption Ih Thousand Pounds
Coal Consumption In Thousand Pounds
STEAM- PWtSSURC OAUOE
Chart
Number
FLUE OAS,OP*rT, AND % CO ,%MOiSTuRE
60 90 100. I g 34S I.?. 4 6 8 I e 4.6..|
o
Fuel Value Of Iowa Goals
Regular and special observations on test of Jotoa No, 4 coal (large hriquettes),
November 26, 1904.
Regulab.
(Duration of trial, 10.033 hours.)
Steam
Temperatures
Calorimeter
Draft pros 'res
Flue gases
Mano-
Time
pressure
Flue
meter, pres-
Tern-
In hood,
In furnace
gage
Out-
Boiler
sure
tureof steam
m
in
COa.
Oi.
Co.
side
room
base of
per
inches
Inches
stack
square
of
of
incb
water
water
Lbs.
op
°F.
Lb8.
°F.
P9ret.
Peret.
Peret.
84 ' 100 '
'IHo'
32.0' 32.0' 36.0' 36.0' 38.5, 38.0,
0.22; .28' .11' .20'
"I'.r — —
'1275" ;
""J
Total — Av.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals
Reffular and special ohservatioiM on test of lotoa No. 4 coal (large briquettes),
November 26, 1904 — Continued.
8Pbcial.
Time
Height of water
In tank Inehe9
In gage glass
Jnehe9
Weight of coal burned
Durini
Pounda
Total Pound*
Weight of water fed to boiler
Daring period
Pound*
Total Pounds
Start, 7.44
o.lo
Close, 5.46
Becobd Of Fubnace Conditions.
Fire banked under boiler during night.
Fire cleaned.
Test started, fire 3 inches thick.
Fire raked, 6 inches thick.
Fire raked, 9 Inches thick.
Fire raked.
Fire raked, 10 inches thick.
Fire raked, 12 inches thick.
Fire sliced.
Fire raked, 10 inches thick. Do.
Fire sliced.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Fire cleaned.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 10 inches thick. Do.
Fire raked, 12 inches thick.
'12.48 .
1
1
I
1
i
k
Fire raked, 11 Incehs thick. Fire sliced.
Do. Fire raked, 11 inches thick. Cleaning fire. Fire cleaned.
Fire raked, 3 inches thick. Fire raked, 8 inches thick. Fire raked. 9 inches thick. Fire raked, 12 inches thick.
Do. Fire sliced and raked, 10
inches thick. Fire raked, 10 inches thick. Fire raked, 7 inches thick. Cleaning fire.
Fire cleaned, 2% inches thick. Fire raked, 4 inches thick. Test closed, fire 3 inches
thick.
Refuse dark and heavy. Briquettes fell apart in fire; burned with long flame.
Conditions Of Boileb Tbial.
Made by boiler division, United States Geological Survey.
At fuel-testing plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St Mo.
Kind of boiler, Heine safety.
To determine the economy of coal as a fuel.
Steam jets not operated. Hughes apparatus operated.
Kind of furnace, hand fired.
State of the weather, clear.
Method of starting and stopping the test, alternate.
Type of boiler, water tube.
1. Date of trial. November 26, 1904.
2. Duration of trial hours. . 10.033
3-10 Dimensions and proportions of boiler same as given in test of coal No. 1.
Average Pressures.
"do 112 91
12. Force of draft between damper and boiler inches of water. . .59
13. Force of draft in furnace do .22
14. Force of draft or blast in ajsh pit do 0
Average Temperatures.
15. Of external air ! . degrees. . 38.8
18. Of feed water-in tank do 57.6
19. Of feed water entering economizer do
20. Of feed water entering boiler do
21. Of escaping gases from boiler do 628
22. Of escaping gases from economizer do
Fuel.
23. Size and condition: Large briquettes.
24. Weight of wood used in lighting fire pounds. . None
25. Weight of coal as fired do 9,900
26. Percentage of moisture in coal 13.24
27. Total weight of dry coal consumed pounds. . 8,589
28. Total ash and refuse do 1,186
29. Quality of ash and refuse: Clinker per cent.. 58
31. Percentage of ash and refuse in dry coal 13.82
Absolute.
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Boiler T£8T8 On Iowa Coals 449
Pboximate Analtbis Of Coal.
Per cent Per cent of of coal combustible
33. Volatile matter 36.50 49.1
100.00 100.00 36. Sulphur, separately determined. . ; 3.9
Ultimate Aivaltsis Of Dbt Coal.
100.00 100.00 43. Moisture in sample of coal as received 13.24
Analysis Of Ash And Befube.
Fuel Feb Hour.
46. Dry coal consumed per hour pounds.. 856
47. Combustible consumed per hour ' '
48. Dry coal per square foot of grate surface per hour do 21.11
49. Combustible per square foot of water-heating surface
per hour
Calorific Value Of Fuel.
50. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of dry coal,
B. T. U 12,546
51. Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of combustible,
H. T. U 14,641
52. Calorific value by analysis per pound of dry coal, B. T. U 12,749
53. Calorific value by analysis per pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,878
Quality Of Steam.
54. Percentage of moisture in steam .84
55. Number of degrees of superheating None
56. Quality of steam (dry steam=unity) per cent. . 99.36 '
Calculated from chemlatry of ash.
Wates.
57. Total weight of water fed to boiler pounds.. 53,558
68. Equivalent water fed to boiler from and at 212' do 64,270
59. Water actually evaporated, corrected for quality of steam, .do 53,215
61. Eiquivalent water evaporated into dry steam from and
at 212' pounds. . 63,858
Wateb Per Hour.
62. Water evaporated per hour, corrected for quality of
steam pounds. . 5,304
63. Eiquivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212° do 6,385
64. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212° per square
foot of water-heating surface pounds. . 3.13
Horsepower.
65. Horsepower developed (34% pounds of water evaporated per hour
into dry steam frotn and at 212°= 1 horsepower) 184.5
66. Builders* rated horsepower 210
67. Percentage of builders* rated horsepower developed 87.86
Economic Results.
68. Water apparently evaporated under actual conditions per pound
of coal as flred. (Item 57-item 25) pounds. . 5.41
69. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of coal as
70. Eiquivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of dry coal.
71. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of (..do 8.62
combustible. Item 61-5'ltem 30) j..do 9.02
Efficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat value ( per cent. . 56.85 of 1 pound of combustible) ( do 59.49
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grate (heat absorbed by the
boiler per pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of
Cost Of Evaporation.
74. Cost Of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
75. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water under observed
conditions $0.0924
76. Cost of fuel used for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from and
at 212° 10.0778
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
ruRMACE AND PLUS TEMPCRATURES (DEGREES TAhR. ) 600 lOOO 1400 1800 Z200 2600
OUTSIOC, BOILER-ROOM, AND FEED- "WATER TCMRCWATuRES 0 20 40 60 60 00
o
o
WATER CONSUMPTION IN THOUSAND POUNDS 'O n 20 li 30 3S 40 45 SO 55
Coal Consumption In Thousand Pounds 2 4 6 6 12 14 16 Ib 20
Steam - Pressure Gauge
Smoke
Chart
Number
FLUE GASORAr T, AND % COj ,%M0IST0R£
3"
O
P
p
p
?
er ji
S
o
a
Smoke Obsebvatioi78.
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 27.3
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter, .ounces..
79. Volume of soot per hour obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches
METHOD or FIBING.
80. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Alternate
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 10
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during the
time when fires are in normal condition minutes..
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up / minutes.. 20
Analysis Of The Dbt Gases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do. . .
M
HEAT BAIANCE. Oft DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEATING VALUE OF THE COMBUSTIBU.
Total heat value of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,641
B. T. U. Per cent
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler-evaporation from and at
212* per pound of combustible x 965.7 8,710 *59.49
2. Loss due to moisture in coalper cent of moisture referred
to combustible-5-100x[(212-t) +966+0.48 (r-212)] (t= temperature of air in the boiler room, T-that of the fine gases) 235 1.61
3. Loss due to moisture formed by the burning of hydrogen
per. cent of hydrogen to combustible-5-100x9x[(212-*) +
4. Loss due to heat carried away in the dry chimney gases
weight of gas per pound of combustiblex0.24x (T-t) 3,621 24.73
5. Loss due to incomplete combustion of carbon
CO per cent C in combustible ,„
Co.+Cox 100 Xo'150 65 .46
6. Loss due to unconsumed hydrogen and hydrocarbons, to
heating the moisture in the air, to radiation, and unaccounted for. (Some of these losses may be separately itemized if data are obtained from which they may be calculated) 1,344 9.17
Bemabks.
Dry coal per indicated horsepower hour=3.80 pounds. Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour=4.70 pounds.
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals
Regular and special observations on test of Iowa No, 5 coal, November 14, 1904.
Bsoulab.
(Duration of trial 9.983 hours.)
Time
Steampressure gage
Lb9,
Temperatures
Outside
o.
Boiler room
Flue
gases,
base of
stack
°F.
Calorimeter
Steam discharge
Lb9.
Water separated iu 10 minutes
Lb9,
Draft pres* res
In hood,
in Inches
of water
In fur nace,
m Inches
of water
Flue gases
COa.
Peret.
Oi.
Pwrei.
Co
Perei.
Total At.
Ijio
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Regular and special observations on test of Jotoa No. 5 cocrt, November H, 190—
Continued.
Speciai*.
Time
Helgbt of water
In tank Inches
In gage glass
Inches
Weight of coal burned
During period
Pounds
Total Pound*
Weight of water fed to boiler
During period
Pounds
Totil Poiitidf
Start. 7.32
Close, 5.31
Record Of Furnace Conditions.
Time
' Observation
Time
Observation
Boiler under a light load dur-
Fire sliced, 8 inches thick.
ing night.
?ire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire cleaned.
Do.
Test started, Are 3 Inches
Fire sliced, 9 inches thick.
thick.
Fire raked. 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 5 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 6 inches thick.
Fire raked, 9 inches thick.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Fire sliced, 10 inches thick.
Fire raked, 8 inches thick.
Fire raked, 10 inches thick.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Do.
Fire sliced, 8 inches thick.
Fire sliced, 10 inches thick.
Fire raked, 9 inches thick.
Fire raked, 9 inches thick.
1 u
Cleaning fire.
Do.
Fire cleaned, 4 inches thick.
Cleaning fire.
Test closed, fire 3 inches
Fire cleaned. 3 inches thick.
thick.
Fire raked, 7 inches thick.
Do.
Clinker dark and heavy. 94 firings during test.
Boiler Tests On Iowa Coals 466
Steam Test of Iowa No. 6 Coal
Conditions Of Boileb Tblal.
Made by boiler division. United States Geological Survey.
At fuel-testing plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo.
Kind of boiler, Heine safety.
To determine the economy of coij as a fuel.
Steam jets not operated. Hughes -apparatus operated.
Kind of fuel. Iowa No. 5.
Kind of furnace, hand fired.
State of weather, clear.
Method of starting, and stopping the test, alternate.
Type of boiler, water tube.
1. Date of trial November 14, 1904.
2. Duration of trial hours. . 9.983
3*10 Dimensions and proportions of boiler same as given in test of eoal No. 1.
Avebaqe Pressures.
Barometer l"'" ."' .TpoT/s
11.1 Steam pressure by gage per square inch ] "do
12. Force of draft between damper and boiler inches of water
13. Force of draft in furnace do, .
14. Force of draft or blast in ash pit do . .
Average Temperatures.
15. Of external air degrees. . 42.4
18. Of feed water in tank do 51.4
19. Of feed water entering economizer do
20. Of feed water entering boiler do 177
21. Of escaping gases from boiler do. . . . 530
22. Of escaping gases from economizer do
Fuel.
23. Size and condition: Nut, medium bright — small, 65 per cent; slack 35
per cent.
24. Weight of wood used in lighting fire pounds. . None
25. Weight of coal as fired do 11,200
26. Percentage of moisture in coal.* 16.01
27. Total weight of dry coal consumed pounds.. 9,407
28. Total ash and refuse do. . . . 1,328
29. Quality of ash and refuse, clinker per cent. . 57
30. Total combustible consumed j ' ♦7''!
31. Percentage of ash and refuse in dry coal 14.12
'Absolute.
'Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Proximate Analysis Of Coal.
Percent Per cent of
of coal combuetible
33. Volatile matter 31.76 44.99
36. Sulphur, separately determined
Ultimate Analysis Of Dby Coal.
43. Moisture in sample of coal as received,
Analysis Of Ash And Befx7Se.
Fuel Per Hour.
Dry coal consumed per hour pounds
Combustible consumed per hour ' ' -
Dry coal per square foot of grate surface per hour do. .
Combustible per square foot of water-heating surface ( ..do. per hour : . . .
Calobifig Value Of Fitel.
do..
Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of dry coal, B. T. U 11.963
Calorific value by oxygen calorimeter per pound of combustible, B. T. U. 14,233
Calorific value by analysis per pound of dry coal, B. T. U 11,848
Calorific value by analysis per pound of combustible, B. T. U. . 14,096
Quality Of Steam.
54. Percentage of moisture in steam 1
55. Number of degrees of superheating None
56. Quality of steam (dry Bteam= unity) per cent. . 99.24
Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Boil£R Tests On Iowa Coals 457
Water.
57. Total weight of water fed to boiler pounds. . 59.083
58. Equivalent water fed to boiler from and at 212'' do 71,065
59. Water actually evaporated, corrected for quality of 9team. .do. . . . 58,632
60. Factor of evaporation. '. 1.2028
61. Equivalent water evaporated into dry steam from and
at 212* pounds. . 70,523
Wateb Feb Houb.
62. Water evaporated per hour, corrected for quality of
steam pounds. . 5,873
63. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212° do 7,064
64. Equivalent evaporation per hour from and at 212* per square
foot of water-heating surface pounds. . 3.48
Hobsefoweb.
65. Horsepower developed (34Mt pounds of water evaporated per
hour into dry steam from and at 212" horsepower) 204.75
66. Builders' rated horsepower 210
67. Percentage of builders' rated horsepower developed 97.5
Economic Besui.Ts.
68. Water apparently evaporated under actual conditions per pound
of coal as fired. (Item 57-item 25) pounds. . 5.28
69. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212* per pound of coal
70. Ekiuivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of dry coal.
71. Equivalent evaporation from and at 212° per pound of ( . .do. . . . 8.73
Efficiency.
per pound of combustible divided by the heat value ( per cent. . 59.23 of 1 pound of combustible) ... .do ♦62.10
73. Efficiency of boiler, including the grat (heat absorbed by the
boiler per pound of dry coal divided by the heat value of
Cost Of Evaporation.
74. Cost of coal per ton of 2,000 pounds delivered in boiler room
75. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water under observed
conditions $0.0947
76. Cost of fuel for evaporating 1,000 pounds of water from and
at 212° $0.0798
Smoke Obsebvation8. '
77. Percentage of smoke as observed 49.5
78. Weight of soot per hour obtained from smoke meter. . . .ounces. .
79. Volume of soot per hour obtained from smoke
meter cubic inches. .
'Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Method Of Fibino.
S J. Kind of firing (spreading, alternate or coking) Alternate
81. Average thickness of fire inches. . 9
82. Average intervals between firing for each furnace during time
when fires are in normal condition minutes. . 6.3
83. Average intervals between times of leveling or breaking
up do 22
Analysis Of The Dby Oases.
87. Hydrogen and hydrocarbons do. .
Heat Balance, Ob Distbibution Of The Heating Value Of The Combdstibu.
Total heat value of 1 pound of combustible, B. T. U 14,233
B. T. U. Per cent
1. Heat absorbed by the boiler evaporation from and at 212*
per pound of combustible x 965.7 8,846 62.1
2. Loss due to moisture in ooal=per cent of moisture referred
to combuBtible-100x[ (212-0+966+0.48 (r-212)] (t= temperature of air in the boiler room; T=that of the flue gases) 290 2.03
3. Loss due to moisture formed by the burning of hydrogen
per cent of hydrogen to combustible-100x9x[ (212-0 +
4. Loss due to heat carried away in the dry chimney gases==
weight of gas per pound of combustible x 0.24 x (T-t) 2,709 19.03
5. Loss due to incomplete combustion of carbon
. CO per cent C in combustible , ..,
Cotfcox 100 Xj'50 272 1.91
6. Loss due to unconsumed hydrogen and hydrocarbons, to
heating the moisture in the air, to radiation, and unaccounted for. (Some of these losses may be separately itemized if data are obtained from which they may be calculated) 1,472 10.41
Bemabks.
Dry coal per indicated horsepower hour=3.77 pounds. Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour=4.66 pounds.
'Calculated from chemistry of ash.
Producer. Gas Tests
The general results of tests of gas producer and cas pnonr/i using Iowa No. 2 coal are shown in the f oUowincr tables :
0UT5I0C BOILER-nOOM, AND 40 60 80 100
rURNACe AND fLUe TEMPERATURES (DEGREES fAHR. ) 600 1000 1400 1800 2200 2600
WATER CONdunPTlON IN THOUSAND POUNDS IP 13 20 Zi 30 3S 40 45 SO 55
COAL CONSUMPTION IN THOUSAND POUNDS 2 4 8 lO 12 14 16 i9 20
Stcam- Pressure Gauge
Smokc
Chart
Number
FLUt OASORAF f, ANO % COj ,% MOISTURE
o
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m o
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a
H H
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
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Peoducer-Gas Tests
ffiu
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Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
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Producer-Gas Tests
Gas Analyses.
Time
Ot. I CO.
January 30. t January 31.
Hs
Ch4
B.T.U.
Producer-Gas Test On Iowa No. 2. Coal.
1. Duration of test, in hours
AVERAGE TEMFE3ATUBE, 'f.
Outside Poweb Charged Against Producer Plant.
3. Total steam used by producer pounds. .
4. Steam used by producer per hour do
5. Equivalent in pounds of coal per hour
6. EquivaTent in pounds of dry coal per hour
7. Ekiuivalent in pounds of combustible per hour
8. Average horsepower required to drive auxiliary machinery. .
9. Total water used in scrubber and tar extracted. .cubic feet. .
10. Cubic feet of water per hour per horsepower of producer
plant .'
11. Cubic feet of water per 1,000 cubic feet bf gas produced
Goal Consumed In Producer.
12. Total coal consumed pounds. .
13. Moisture in coal per cent. .
14. Total dry coal consumed pounds. .
16. Refuse from dry coal per cent. .
16. Total refuse from coal pounds. .
17. Total combustible consumed do
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Coal Feb Houb.
18. Coal consumed in producer pounds
19. Dry coal consumed In producer do. .
20. Combustible consumed in producer do. .
21. Ekiuivalent coal used by producer plant do. .
22. Equivalent dry coal used by producer plant do..
23. Equivalent combustible used by producer* plant do. .
Coal Consumed Feb 8Quabe Foot Ov Fuel Bed Fee Houb.
24. Coal as fired pounds. . 9.43
Bbitish Thebmal Units Fbom Coal.
27. Per pound of coal as fired . . .
29. P6r pound of combustible..
30. From coal as fired, per hour,
31. Prom dry coal, per hour. . .
32. From combustible, per hour.
Gab Fboduced, Cubic Feet.
(Gas at 62* F. and 14.7 pounds pressure.)
35. Per pound coal consumed in producer 48.S
36. Per pound dry coal consumed in producer 58.1
37. Per pound combustible consumed in producer 77.2
38. Per pound equivalent coal used by producer plant 43
39. Per pound equivalent dry coal used by producer plant 51.6
40. Per pound equivalent combustible used by producer plant.. 68.5
Bbitish Thebmal Units Fbom 8Tandabd Gas.
42. Per pound dry coal burned in producer
A\'Eba6E H0B8Epoweb Develofed.
44. Electrical horsepower available for outside purposes
45. Electrical horsepower developed at switch board
46. Brake horsepower available for outside purposes
47. Brake horsepower developed at engine
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Coal Per Horsepowee Per Hour
Coal as fired
Dry coal
Combait-
48. Pounds consumed in producer per electrical
horsepower available for outside purposes.
49. Pounds consumed in producer per electrical
horsepower developed at switch board
50. Pounds consumed in producer per brake
horsepower* available for outside purposes
51. Pounds consumed in producer per brake
horsepower* developed at engine
52. Equivalent ' pounds used by producer plant
per electrical horsepower available for outside purposes
53. Equivalent pounds used by producer plant
per electrical horsepower developed at switch board
54. Equivalent pounds used by producer plant
per brake horsepower* available for outside purposes
55. Equivalent pounds used by producer plant
per brake horsepower* developed at engine
Average Composition Of Coal And Oas.
Coal: Per cent
Moisture 16.69
Volatile matter 31.42
Fixed carbon 31.19
Ash 20.70
l.Oi
Sulphur
This coal was very high in sulphur (5.50 per (jent), but did not clinker in the producer. The results were, however, not so satisfactory as might be expected. There is no doubt that better records, can be made from this coal in a second test. The lack of uniformity in the gas made it difficult to adjust the engine to meet the changes.
Fifty gallons of black tar were extracted.
Based on an assumed efficiency of 85 per cent for generator and belt.
Producer-Gas Tests
Gas Engine.
The report covers the records taken from 10 :45 a. m, January 30 to 12:05 a. m. January 31, a period of 13:33 hours. After 12 :05 a. m, January 31 it was impossible to carry full load on the engine.
Right cylinder. M. E. P.. 58; Max., 280: Rel..24:I. H. P.. 98.2
Center cylinder. M. E. P., 50; Max., 260; Left cylinder. M. E. P.. 60; Max.. 290;
Rel..26;I.H. P., 94.8 Rel..24; I. H. P.. 80.8
Figure 103. Indicator diagrams taken January 30. 1905, during gas-engine test on
Iowa No. 2 coal. Revolutions per minute, 204.1.
The results of tests made on the gas engine are given below:
Report Of Gas-Engine Test On Iowa No. 2. Coal.
Coal: General number, Iowa No. 2; special number, G. P. 22. Car initials and number, 43574, Wabash.
Duration of teat, in hours 13.33
Cubic feet gaa per hour, by meter 17,820
Cubic feet standard gas per hour (i. e., 62"* F., 14.7 pounds pressure) . . 17,560
Fuel Valuk Of Iowa Coals
Maximum pressure:
First cylinder 272
Second cylinder 282
Third cylinder 272
Pressure at release:
First cylinder 24
Second cylinder 26
Third cylinder 24
Mean effective pressure:
First cylinder 58
Second cylinder 59
Third cylinder 54
Indicated horsepower:
First cylinder 93
Second cylinder 95
Third cylinder 87.05
Total indicated horsepower 276.05
Mechanical efficiency (engine and generator combined) per cent.. 71.8
Cubic feet standard gas per hour per indicated horsepower v 63.9
Cubic feet standard gas per hour per electrical horsepower 88.9
Coking Tests On Iowa Coals
Iowa No. 1.
Lump and fine coal from mine No. 2, Anchor Coal Company, Laddsdale, Iowa.
In this test, as in all those on Iowa coals, the charge was of washed coal (page 474). The charge weighed 9,500 pounds, and after turning 46 hours yielded 4,828 pounds of coke and 572 pounds of breeze and ash. The coke was brittle, with cracks lengthwise and crosswise through it. It was also high in sulphur and ash.
Analysis of Iowa No. 1 coal.
Character of coal
Chemical laborat'ry number
Moisture
Perct.
Volatile matter
Perct.
Fixed carbon
Perct,
Ash
Perct.
Sulphur
Perct.
Remarks
Washed
Used for coking teat.
COKING TEBT8 ON IOWA COALS Coking teat ond coke production.
Vben
la
h
h
Per ct. of ylia
Teet amber
f
a
—
"
-H"
Phytical and chcjnicai properties of coke produced.
foot
Wpi
"
£
S
s
f
I!
si
nil
n..
a
The coke produced with this washed coal showed cracks lengthways and cro8swaj-s. It was very brittle and broke up into small pieces in handling. These pieces seemed to be fairly hard and of good cell structure. The ash, sulphur, and phosphorus are high, making the coke untit for blast furnace and foundry purposes, and the smallness of the pieces would make it undesirable for use in lead or zinc works.
lUWA NO. 2.
Run-of-mine coal from mine No. 5, Mammoth Vein Coal Company, Hamilton, Iowa.
The charge in tliis test consi.sted of 10,0()() pounds of washed coal (page 474), which was burned for fi4 hours. The coke (3,- 866 pounds, with 1,153 pounds of breeze and ash) was all in small pieces sintered together and with no bond.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Analysis of Iowa No. 2 coal.
Character oC coal
Chemical laboratory number
Moisture
Peret.
Volatile
matter
Peret.
Fixed carbon
Perct.
Ash Peret.
Sulph'r
Peret.
Remarks
Washed
Used for coking test.
Coking teat and coke production.
Test number
When charged
When drawn
Time
m oven
Houre
Coal ch'ged
Lb:
Total
coke
made
Breeze
aod ash
Lbe. ' L6f.
49 (washed) Nov. 86, 5 p. m_. Nov. 29, 9 a. m.
80Bi 1,U9
This charge made some coke, all in small pieces, sintered together, which broke up in drawing so that ash and breeze formed one-fourth of the total product. This coke could be used only for domestic purposes and would not be very desirable, even for such use, on account of its high ash and sulphur. The smallsized pieces of this coke would make a poor fuel at lead or zinc furnaces.
Iowa No. 3.
Lump coal from mine No. 4, Gibson Coal Mining Company, Altoona, Iowa.
The charge in this test consisted of 8,000 pounds of washed coal (page 475), which was burned for 43 hours. It yielded 3,- 336 pounds of fine-fingered, brittle coke that was high in sulphur and ash, and 585 pounds of breeze and ash.
Analysis of Iowa No. 3 coal.
Character of coal
Chemical
laboratory
number
Moisture
Peret.
Volatile matter
Perct.
Fixed carbon
Peret.
Ash Peret.
Sulphur
Peret.
Remarks
Washed
Used for coking test.
Coking Tests On Iowa Coals
Coking teat and coke production.
a
o
S
s
o o
o
s
Per ct. of yield
Test number
When charged
When drawn
a
rf
S8
Time How
i4
n
a
s
Bree and
NoY. 10, 9. a. m-. 188,000
efl5 8,n8,88S 88610.8 80.0
1 i
Physical and chemical properties of coke produced.
Grams in 1 Pounds
Percent-
Compressive strength per cubic inch (one-fourth ultimate strength) Lbl.
g
1 cubic
In 1 cubic
age by
Chemical analysis
inch
foot
volume
d
Test aumlMr
Q
%
o
M
o
O
Height of furnace c supported without ( ing
m
o
Co
Chemical Uboraton ber
Moisture Percent
Volatile maner Percent .
Fixed carbon
Ash Percent
1 Sulphur 1 Percent
Phosphorus Percent
U.ia2.l8
This coal made a brittle, fine-fingered coke, in small pieces, vrhich broke up easily, although they were hard. The cell structrare was high and the ash and sulphur very high, which would exclude any of this coke from metallurgical use.
Iowa No. 4.
Lump coal from mine No. 3, Centerville Block Coal Company, Centerville, Iowa.
The coke produced in this test was of the same general character as that obtained from Iowa No. 3, except that it was not quite so high in either sulphur or ash. The charge consisted of 8,000 pounds of washed cojil (page 475), which was burned for 40 hours, producing 3,722 pounds of coke and 426 pounds of breeze and ash.
Analysis of Iowa No. 4 coal.
of coal
Chemical Uboratory number
Moisture
Peret.
Volatile matter
Peret.
Fixed carbon
Perct.
Ash Per ct.
Sulphur
Perct.
Remarks
Used for coking test.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
Coking test and coke production.
When charged
When drawn
a
o
d
d m o
Ok
o3
Large coke LbB.
Medium coke
LbB.
Total coke made Lbe.
m
M
nS
Per ct. of Tleld
Test number
Medium
Total
Breeze and aiih
Nov. 9, 9 a. m..
1 i
Physical and chemical properties of coke produced.
Grams in
Pounds
Percent-
s
1 cubic
in 1 cubic
age by
Chemical analysis
inch
foot
volume
ts o
d
a©-
o
'
Test num-
-
s
u
d
ber
s
g
o
s
a
<t%
u
' b
Compree cubic 1 ultimate
X3 O
s
d
Chemlca ber
Q
Q
o
M O
Go
Mois Perc
Voia Perc
S2 Sj
The coke from this coal showed the same stnicture as the other Iowa cokes. Tt was fine fingered, very brittle, and broke up into small pieces. The cell structure was high, ash and phosphorus normal, but sulphur very high. Lead and zinc works could use it, but it is not very desirable even for them on account of the small size of the coke.
Iowa No. 5.
Run-of-mine <?oal from Inland mine No. 1, Inland Fuel Company, Chariton, Iowa.
The result of this test, made on 9,000 pounds of washed coal (page 475), and burned for 66 hours, was a mixture of unbumed coal, charred coke, and ash.
Analysis of Iowa No. 5 coal.
Character of coal
Chemical laboratory number
Moisture
Perct.
Volatile matter
Perct.
Fixed carbon
Perct.
Ash Perct.
Sulphur
Perct.
Remarks
Washed
Used for coking test.
Briquetting Test With Iowa Coal
Coking test.
Test number
When charged
When drawn
Time
in oven
Coal ch'ged
Lb9.
Remarks
Not. 14, 8 p. m..
Nov. 17, 0 a. m
coke.
Though this washed coal started off very well in a hot oven, all that was gotten out of it was unbumed coal mixed with pieces of charred coal and ashes. There was no sign of fusing and the coal was manifestly noncoking.
All of the Iowa coals tested are too high in sulphur to produce blast-fumace coke, and as the sulphur occurs largely as gypsnin it can not be removed by washing. The ash is also high in relation to the fixed carbon.
Bkiouetting Test With Iowa Coal
Iowa No. 4. — One ton of this coal was briquetted with 7 per cent of pitch E.* The briquettes were well pressed, of a grayish color, but on cooling crumbled decidedly. They weighed 6.73 pounds each. As they did not contain an excess of pitch, 7 tons more of this coal were briquetted with 8 per. cent of pitch E, in order to have a sufficient quantity for a steam test. The resultant briquettes were bluish black in color, but were not quite hard enough, although fairly strong, and would stand considerable rough treatment in transportation. In burning they held together until consumed. They weighed, on an average, 6.77 pounds each. The eggettes made from this same mixture were stronger than the briquettes, had a polished surface, but \eere very brown in color. In the cook stove they burned satisfactorily, crumbling little until consumed.
The steaming test made of these briquettes gave considerably better results than the original coal, indicating that the coal has been much improved by briquetting. The results of the boiler tests of both the coal and briquettes are given in the table below :
♦Pitch E shows the following composition.
Proximate analysis; moisture, 1.02; volatile matter, 54.11; fixed carbon, 44. 04; ash, 0.83; sulphur, 0.66.
, Ultimate analysis; Hydrogen, 4:22; carbon, 91.J50; nitrogen, 1.00; oxygen, 1.99; sulphur, 0.66.
Analyst, Mr. E. E. Somermeier, St. Louis Testing Station. See Prof. Paper No. 48, p. 1397, U. S. Geological Survey. See also Bull. 343, p. 52. U. S. Geological Survey.
Fuel Value Of Iowa Coals
ReauUa of steam test of Iowa No, 4 coal and briquettes.
Chemical composition
Duration of trial
Total coal consumed Lb§.
Horsepower developed by boiler
Dry coal burned per square foot of grate surface per hour Lb$.
Equivalent evaporation from and at 212 F. per lb. of dry coal Lb$.
Dry coal per Indicated horsepower hour LbB,
Dry coal per electrical horsepower hour
Fuel
Fixed carbon Percent
Volatile matter Per cent
Moisture Percent
Ash Percent
Briquettes —
Is.M
Ib4.6
Coal, mine run
Washing Tests With Iowa Coals.
Iowa No. 1.
Lump and fine coal from mine No. 2, Anchor Coal Company, Laddsdale, Iowa.
About 5 tons of this coal were washed for a coking test, but the coal was not tried in a raw condition, and consequently the coking test affords no clue to the improvement made by washing. The change is shown by the chemical analyses :
Analyses showing effect of washing Iowa No. 1 coal.
Car sample
Washed cqalfor coking
Aflh
Sulphur
Iowa No. 2.
Eun-of-mine coal from mine No. 5, Mammoth Vein Coal Company, Hamilton, Iowa.
About 51/2 tons of coal were washed for a coking test. The reduction of impurities effected by washing was npt great, as shown by the following analyses :
Analyses showing effect of washing Iowa No. 2 coal.
Ash
Sulphur
Car
Sample
Washed
coal for
Washing Tests With Iowa Coals
Iowa No. 3.
Lump coal from mine No. 4, Gibson Coal Mining Company, Altoona, Iowa.
About 41/2 tons of this coal were washed for a coking test. The improvement in the quality of the coal effected by washing is shown in the following analyses :
Analyses shovHng effect of washing Iowa No. 3 coal.
Car sample
Washed
coal for
cokln g
Ash — Sulphur
Iowa No. 4.
Lump coal from mine No. 3, Centerville Block Coal Company, Centerville, Iowa.
A charge consisting of about tons of this coal was washed for coking purposes. The results were not so satisfactory as those obtained on other samples from this state. The analyses are given below:
Analyses showing effect of washing Iowa No. 4 coal.
Car sample
Washed coal for coking
Ash — Sulphur
Iowa No. 5.
Run-of-mine coal from mine No. 1, Inland Fiiel Company, Chariton, Iowa.
A charge consisting of nearly 5 tons of this coal was washed for a coking test, but the coal did not coke, although the washing was fairly successful in reducing the impurities, as shown by the following analyses:
Analyses shouHng effect of washing Iowa No. 5 coal.
Car
sample
Washed coal for coking
Ash
Sulphur
Analyses Of Iowa Coals
By James H. Lees And A. W. Hixson.
Collection Of Samples
While the present volume was in preparation it was thought well to compile as complete a list of analyses of Iowa coals as possible. It soon became apparent, however, that these analyses were not comparable with one another since they were made by different persons and under widely varying conditions. Hence it seemed desirable that a series of samples should be collected and analyzed under conditions as nearly uniform as could be secured. The Assistant State Geologist collected such a series and the analyses have been made by Professor A. W. Hixson, of the department of Mining at the State University of Iowa.
Sixteen mines were sampled, selected as representative of the important mining districts of the state. Practically the same method of mine sampling was used as was employed by the United States Geological Survey in collecting the samples which were analyzed at its coal-testing station at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904. The method was about as follows: The room or entry' selected for sampling was one from which coal was being mined at tlie time the sample was taken and thus a fresh face was assured. A portion of the face was cleaned to remove powder smoke or coal which had been exposed to the air for any considerable period of time. A strip was then cut across the seam from floor to roof and about three inches wide and one inch deep. All bony streaks or sulphur bands over one-fourth inch thick were thrown out. The coal cut down in this way was collected, as it fell, upon a rubber cloth to avoid any danger of mixture with dirt or moisture on the floor. Immediately upon arrival above ground the sample was
Preparation Of The Sample 477
broken up, on a clean hard surface, into fragments one-half inch or less in diameter. It was then thoroughly mixed and quartered, alternate quarters rejected and the remaining quarters mixed and further pulverized and again quartered, until about a quart remained. This was put into a clean can with a tight fitting lid which was driven down solid and the joint sealed by wrapping with tire-tape, so that it would be air-tight. In short every effort was made to the end that the sample should represent as closely as might be the commercial output of the mine and that the original characteristics of the coal should be preserved until it was analyzed.
A slip of paper giving the number of the sample together with the name and location of the mine was enclosed in the can to render identification certain. The sample number was also marked on the outside of the can. The sample was later shipped by express to the laboratory at Iowa City.
The following papers by Marlus R. Campbell give an outline of methods of mine sampling. Commercial Value of Coal-Mine Sampling: Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng.. Vol. 36, pp. 1053-1065. The Value of Coal-Mine Sampling: Economic Geology, Vol. II, No. 1, pp. 48-57, 1907.
Laeobatoby Methods
The methods followed in the analytical work were essentially those adopted in the report of the committee on coal analysis of the American Chemical Society and those employed in the chemical laboratory of the coal testing plant of the United States Gteological Survey at the Louisiana PurcTiase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904.
The analytical work consisted of the proximate analysis of the coal samples with the determination of sulphur and calorific value in addition.
Pbepabation Of The Sample
When the sample arrived at the laboratory it was immediately given a serial number for identification purposes in the laboratory. The number and description on the tag were compared with the number and description on the slip of paper within the can to make sure they agreed. They were then entered in a book for permanent record together with any notes concerning
the condition of sample when it arrived. The coal was then out upon a well cleaned bucking board, crushed, mixed and quartered down to one pint. One-half of this was spread out upon a shallow tinned iron tray ten inches in diameter, weighed, and then set aside for air drying. The other half was run through a coffee mill aid a portion of this was placed in a tightly stoppered bottle for the moisture determination. The crushing and quartering down of the sample were done as quickly as possible to prevent loss of moisture. The coal was air dried for ninety-six hours and then weighed. The time at which the weighing was done together with the temperature and humidity of the air was recorded. The air dried sample was then crushed and quartered down to 150 grams. The final crushing was to 100 mesh. This sample was then placed in a tightly stoppered bottle and used for determinations other than moisture. All samples, were mixed on a rolling cloth before weighing out for each determination to insure a perfectly homogeneous sample. All determinations were made in duplicate.
Moisture
One gram of the coarsely ground fresh coal was dried in a weighed porcelain crucible at C. for one hour, in a double walled bath heated by electricity. The crucible and contents were then cooled in a dessicator and weighed covered. Moisture in the air dried sample was determined in like manner. It was found that the moisture determination in the finely ground fresh sample was not reliable since a considerable amount of moisture was lost in grinding and for this reason the sample used for the moisture determination was ground in a coffee mill.
Ash
The portion of powdered coal used for the determination of moisture in the air dried sample was burned at first over a Bunsen burner with a very low flame until all of the volatile matter was expelled. The final burning was done in a case gasoline muffle furnace, the temperature being kept at that of low redness. Burning was continued until the ash was burned to constant weight.
igfote — For convenience the followlngr equivalents are grlven: 1 gram=15.48 grains, 1 cm. (centimeter) =0.394 inch, 1 cc. (cubic centimeter) =.061 cubic inch. lOOC. Is the equivalent of 212°P., the boiling point of water.
Preparation Of The Sample 479
Volatile Combustible Matter
One gram of the air dried sample was weighed into a previously ignited and weighed platinum crucible with a tightly fitting cover. This was heated for seven minutes over the full flame of a Bunsen burner, then cooled and weighed. The crucible was supported on a pipe clay triangle resting upon a tripod, the bottom of the crucible being 7 cm. from the top of the burner. The burner when burning freely gave a flame from 17 to 20 cm. high. The flame was protected from air currents by an asbestos chimney surrounding the burner. The volatile combustible matter was foimd by subtracting the per cent of moisture from the loss found here.
Fixed Carbon.
It is the diflference between the sum of the other constituents determined and 100. Sulphur which goes partly into the volatile combustible matter and partly into the coke was not considered here. Fixed carbon may also be found by subtracting the per cent of ash from the per cent of residue left after expelling the volatile matter.
This was determined by the Escka method. One gram of the finely powdered air dried coal was weighed in a platinum dish of 100 cc. capacit5 To this was added 1.5 grams of an intimate mixture of 1 part dry sodium carbonate and 2 parts magnesium oxide. The coal and the mixture were well mixed together with a glass rod. The contents of the dish were then heated over a Bunsen burner very gently until all of the volatile matter was expelled. This required about thirty minutes. Then the heat was increased until all traces of carbon disappeared. To prevent any sulphur from the gas contaminating the determination the platinum dish was fitted into a hole in a piece of asbestos board.
After all traces of carbon were removed the contents of dish were transferred to a numbered beaker and digested with 75 oc. of water for thirty minutes. The solution was then filtered, and the residue was washed twice by decantation with 50 cc. of boiling
water. The residue was then transferred to the filter paper and again washed with hot water until the filtrate gave only a slight opalescence with nitric acid and silver nitrate. The filtrate at this point amounted to about 200 cc.
10 cc. of saturated bromine water and 3 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid were then added to the solution. The solution was boiled slowly until all of the bromine was expelled. Then the sulphur was precipitated by adding to the boiling solution 10 cc. of a ten per cent solution of barium chloride. This was added drop by drop and the solution stirred vigorously. The precipitate was allowed to stand two hours at a temperature slightly below boiling. The barium sulphate was then filtered off and was washed with hot water until free from chlorides.
The filter with the moist precipitate was transferred to a weighed porcelain crucible which was heated over a low flame until the paper was burned off. The heat was then raised until the precipitate became a dull red and the heating continued until the carbon was burned out. The crucible and precipitate were then cooled in a dessicator and weighed.
Blank determinations were made, using all of the reagents in the same quantities and the determination was carried out exactly as with the coal. Any barium sulphate found was subtracted from that obtained in the coal determination. The true weight of bariima sulphate multiplied by 0.1373 gave the weight of sulphur.
Calorific Value
This was determined with a Parr Standard Calorimeter, which was installed in a room as free as possible from fluctuations in temperature. The apparatus was carefully standardized, the water equivalent being determined by different methods. The correction components used for the chemical, iron wire fuse, and for the varj'ing compositions of the different coals w6re those determined by Prof. S. W. Parr of the State University of Illinois.
The thermometers used were standardized by the Bureau of Standards in Washington, D. C.
Method Of Statement 481
One gram of the powdered air dried coal was weighed into the bomb of the calorimeter. To this was added one gram of accelerator (Potassium Chlorate) and 15 grams of perfectly dry and pure sodium peroxide. The false cap was then put in position and screwed firmly in place and the ingredients mixed by shaking the bomb thoroughly. The material was then shaken to the bottom of the bomb, the false top removed, the ignition device inserted and firmly screwed in place. The bomb now complete was put in place into the can which contained exactly two liters of distilled water. The lid was then placed on the calorimeter tub, pulley attached and the thermometer inserted so that the bulb was half way to the bottom. The water was stirred by metal wings attached to the bomb which was revolved bv a belt from a small motor.
The motor was started and apparatus allowed to run for five minutes before ignition in order that the rate of change of temperature might be noted by taking reading each minute. At the end of the fifth minute the charge in the bomb was ignited by closing a switch which allowed an electric current of four and one-half amperes to quickly fuse a 34 gauge iron wire, four inches long, which extended into the charge in the bomb. The temperature was read at the end of each minute until the maximum was reached, then for five minutes to obtain the rate of change of temperature due to radiation.
The apparatus was then taken apart, each piece dried thoroughly, and prepared for a new charge. The room temperature was taken during each determination.
The calorific value was then calculated by multiplying the number of British Thermal Units corresponding to one degree increase in temperature by the total rise of temperature obtained after the correction factors had been subtracted. 'The calorific value was also calculated in calories.
METflOD OF STATEMENT
All of the analyses were made upon the air dried samples. The results on the sample as received were calculated by correcting the analyses for loss of moisture in air drying. The results of the actual analyses on the air dried sample and those corrected to sample as received follow in the tables.
DESCRIPTION OF MINES SAMPLED Sample No. 1
Operator. — High Bridge Coal Company, Madrid.
Mine. — High Bridge mine, High Bridge, Dallas county, on Boone division Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Eailroad.
Sample collected. — May 12, 1909.
Description. — The sample was collected from the face of the west entry, about 1,300 feet from the shaft. The coal is here 3 feet 11 inches thick. It has a clay roof and about three inches of black shale on the floor. This is imderlain by gray fire clay. The present capacity of the mine is 300 tons daily. See page 89.
Sample No. 2
Operator. — Ogden Coal Company, Ogden*.
Mine. — Ogden No. 1, two miles nori;h of Ogden, Boone coiuitT, on switch from main line Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad.
Sample collected. — May 14, 1909.
Description. — The sample was taken from the fourth northeast entry. The coal is here 4 feet 4 inches thick and is free from sulphur bands or balls as well as from rock. It is the lower vein" of the Boone county mines and averages 4Y2 to 51/2 feet. The upper vein" is about fifty feet above and is about 3V-> feet thick.
The shaft is 275 feet deep. It was completed in August of 1907. The mine now has an output of 400 tons, of three grades, lump, range and steam. The railroad company uses 125 toBS daily. About 200 men are employed in the mine. Electric haulage is being installed. The same company is sinking a second shaft two miles south of Ogden. See page 74.
Sample No. 3
Operator. — Willow Grove Coal Company (Henry McElheny), Angus.
Mine. — Willow Grove mine, on northwest border of Angns in Greene county. No railroad connections.
Sample collected. — May 14, 1909.
Description. — This sample was taken from the fourth eastsouth entry. The seam is here 4 feet 2 inches thick. The coal
♦The Fort DcKlge, Des Moines and Southern lUiilroad Company (electric) has since purchased a controlling Interest In the property. (July,1909.)
Description Of Mines Sampled 483
breaks with angular fracture and shows bright clean faces. Thin films of lime or gypsum occur along joints and stratification planes. The vein worked is called the lower vein. Its thickness ranges from 4 to 5V2 feet. The middle vein'* is separated from the lower by a sandstone roof 31/2 to 20 feet thick, with an average of 14 feet. Owing to the character of the roof the mine is very wet. See page 361.
Sample No* 4
Operator. — Atwood Coal Company, What Cheer.
Mine. — Blyth mine, three miles northwest of Rose Hill, Mahaska county, on long switch from Knoxville branch Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
Sample collected. — May 18, 1909.
Description. — The mine was sampled in the fifth north entry on the west side of the mine, 840 feet from the shaft. The vein dips steeply in this entry. It shows a thickness of 5 feet 1 inch where sampled. The coal is very clean looking, without sulphur bands or rock. Only one vein is present. The mine has been running four years, the first two as a country mine, and at present employs 100 men. See page 202.
Sample No. 0
Operator. — Armstrong Brothers Coal Company, What Cheer.
Mine. — Armstrong, one mile east of What Cheer, Keokuk county. No railroad connections.
Sample collected. — May 19, 1909.
Description. — The sample was taken from the first north entry off the west main entry. The coal here showed a thickness of 4 feet 2 inches and was clean and free from impurities. See page 288.
Sample No. 6
Operator. — Crescent Coal Company, Oskaloosa.
Mine. — Crescent No. 5, White City, Mahaska county, on Buxton branch Chicago and North-Western Railroad.
Sample collected. — May 19, 1909.
Description. — This sample was cut from the first room on the eighth north entry on the east side of the mine, about one mile from the shaft. The coal was 7 feet 8 inches thick, with about
g4 ANALYSES OF IOWA COALS
8 inches of slaty coal near the roof. It was dipping steeply
a-way from the entry. .
The shaft is seventy-two feet deep. The mine is equipped with tail-rope haulage on the main entry about one-half mile in, to the main parting. See page 216.
Sample Nom 7
Operator. -Phillips Fuel Company, Ottumwa. Mine —Bear Creek mine, at- Bear Creek, Wapello county, four miles southwest of Ottumwa, on Chicago, Milwaukee and St
Paul Railroad.
Sample collected.— M&J 20, 1909.
Description.— The sample is from the first south entry. Here the coal is 4 feet 6 mches thick and is in the main clean and free from rock except near the roof, where some bowlders occur. One of these near the place of sampling measured ten inches m
The mine was opened in the fall of 1908. At the time it was sampled fort miners were employed and tail-rope haulagejas already installed in the main entry. Hoisting is done by a double engine, geared to the drum. The shaft is forty-six feet deep. See page 302.
Sample No. 8
Operofor.-PhiUips Fuel Company, Ottumwa.
Mie.-Rutledge No. 5, at Rutledge, Wapello county, on Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad.
Sample collected.— May 20, 1909. . i,
Description.-TU mine was sampled in the seventeenth west entry on the north side of the shaft, about one mile from the bottom The seam is here 3 feet 10 inches thick and is free from rock although there are some sulphur concretions. The average thickness of the bed is 42 inches. See page 298.
Sample No. O
Operafor.-Wapello Coal Company, Hiteman. Mine —Wapello No. 4, three miles northwest of Hiteman, Monroe county, on branch from main line Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy Railroad. Sample collected.— Uay 21, 1909.
Description Of Mines Sampled 486
Description. The sample is from the seventeenth room oflf the tenth west entry off the sixteenth north entry. The vein measured where sampled 5 feet 4 inches and is free from sulphur and rock. The average thickness is about 5i/ feet.
The mine uses tail-rope haulage for about a mile underground and the entries run in one-half mile farther. The output is about 900 tons daily. See page 242.
Sample No* 10
Operator. — Campbell Coal Company, New Market.
3/ine.— Campbell No. 1, nearly one mile east of New Market, Taylor county, on Keokuk, Shenandoah and Red Oak division Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.
Sample collected. — May 22, 1909.
Description. — The sample was collected from the second west entry off the second north entry. The bed was 16 inches thick where sampled. It varies from 16 to 20 inches in different parts of its extent. In some places it shows thin streaks of sulphur or clay one-eighth to one-half inch thick. The coal is brittle and breaks easily with angular fracture. The mine is on the rightof-way and is served by a short siding. See page 383.
Sample No. 11
Operator. — Bolton-Hoover Coal Company, Oskaloosa.
Mine. — Bolton No. 2, Bolton, Mahaska county, on long switch from Oskaloosa and Tracy line Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.
Sample collected. — June 15, 1909.
Description. — The sample is from the first room on the fifth north entry, about 1,200 feet in from the mouth of the slope and seventy feet below the surface. The face was here 5 feet 3 inches in height. It showed a few thin sulphur streaks, some up to li/ inches in thickness, and a few bowlders. The mine has a daily capacity of 400 tons. The coal is hauled out of the mine and overland to the top works, about 1,200 feet distant, by rope. The top works are located on the railroad, at the old slope. The haulage engine is located here also and serves both slopes. The tail-rope runs on the surface nearly one-fourth mile beyond the mouth of the slope and enters the mine through an old drill hole. See page 205.
Sample No. 18
Operator. — English Creek Coal Company, Oskaloosa.
Mine, — Hawkeye mine at Hawkeye, about two miles east of Knoxville; Marion county, on Washington and Knoxville line Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
Sample collected. — June 16, 1909.
Description. — The sample is from room five, thirteenth entry east. The coal here showed a face of 6 feet, with some thin streaks of sulphur and occasional bowlders. The mine employs 125 men. See page 192.
Sample No. 13
Operator. — Colfax Consolidated Coal Company, Colfax.
Mine. — Mine No. 8, four miles southeast of Colfax, on Colfax Northern Railroad. '
Sample collected. — June 17, 1909.
Description. — The sample was cut from the end of the main west entry, 1,700 feet west from the shaft. The seam was here 5 feet 7 inches thick and presented a clean face except for a half inch sulphur band one foot from the bottom.
The shaft is 164 feet deep and penetrates the ''first vein," one to two feet thick, eighty feet from the surface. The mine employs 400 men and has an output of 800-900 tons per day. See page 159.
Sample No. 14
Operator. — Keystone Coal Mining Company, Des Moines.
Mine. — Keystone mine, Des Moines, Polk county, at west city limits, on Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad.
Sample collected. — June 21, 1909.
Description. — The sample was taken from the face of the second north entry, where the vein has just risen from a swamp on to the top of a hill. Where sampled the vein measured 4 feet 2 inches. In the swamp it was 7 feet thick. It will vary from 3 feet 8 inches to 7 feet in different parts of the mine. Some thin sulphur streaks were present in the face, but no rock or thick sulphur bands.
The shaft is 165 feet deep. It was sunk in July of 1908. The mine is not yet well opened up, but already has an output of
Description Of Mines Sampled 487
seventy-five to eighty tons daily and employs twenty-three men. See page 114.
Sample No. 15
Operator. — Bennett Bros. Coal Company, Des Moines.
Mine. — Bennett mine, Des Moines, Polk county, south side Raccoon river. No railroad connections.
Sample collected. — June 21, 1909.
Description. — The mine was sampled at the end of the fourth west entry off the first south entry. The vein here measured 4 feet 6 inches. Its average .thickness is 4 feet 4 inches, with occasional portions up to 5 or 6 feet. The coal is clean, without rock or sulphur bands, and breaks into angular fragments.
The mine is 125 feet deep and employs 100 men who put out 100-300 tons daily. The mine has been running six years and supplies a large local trade. See page 120.
Sample No. 16
Operator.— Enterprise Coal Company, Des Moines.
Mine. — Mine No. 2, Enterprise, Polk county, on St. Paul and Des Moines Railroad.
Sample collected. — June 22, 1909.
Description. — The sample was cut from the break-through near the face of the second west entry off the first south entry. The coal was 5 feet thick here, and carried a two-inch sulphur band one foot from the top. Clay slips are present in places. This mine is considered to be in the second vein and is the only one now working this horizon with the possible exception of the Bennett mine. A daily output of 400 tons is maintained. See page 143.
Analyses Of Iowa Coals
Chemical Analyses Of Coals
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. i, rom High Bridge Mine of the High Bridge Coal Company, High Bridge, Dallas Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent. .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value. Calories. . .
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent, per cent, per cent, per cent.
per cent. B. T. U. Calories
lOO.W
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. 2, from the Ogden Mine of the Ogdcn Coal Co., Two Miles North of Ogden, Boone Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent..
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value, Calories . . .
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
a3.43
Chemical Analyses Of Coals
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. S, from Willow Orove Coal Company,
Angus, Greene Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent. .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value. Calories...
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. from the Blyth Mine of the Atwood
Coal Company, Rose Hill, Mahaska Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cenl
Fixed carbon, per cent..
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value, Calories...
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent, per cent, per cent, per cent.
per cent. B. T. U. Calories
Analyses Of Iowa Goals
Chemical Analysts of Mine Sample No. 5, from Mine of Armstrong Brothert,
What Cheer, Keokuk Co., loioa.
Laboratory saniDle number
Loss of moisture on air drylnR. per cent
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
Der cent . . .
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate — Moisture, ner cent
Volatile matter, per cent Fixed carbon, per cent. . Ash. ner cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U. . . . Calorific value. Calories. . .
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. 6. from Crescent Mine No. 5, of the
Crescent Coal Co., White City, Mahaska Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
A&
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent . .
Ash Der cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value. Calories. . .
Chemical Analyses Of Coals
Chemical Analysis ot Mine Sample No. 7, from Bear Creek Mine of the Phillips
Fuel Company, Ottumioa, Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Lobs of moisture on air drylns. per cent
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
Analysis of airrled sample: Proximate — Moisture, oer cent
Volatile matter, per cent Fxed carbon, ner cent. .
per cent
per cent
Ash. per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. u..:
Calories
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value, Calories. . .
Chemdcai analysis of Mine Sample No. 8, From Rutledge No. 5 Mine of the
Phillips Fuel Company, Ottumwa, lovoa.
laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent . .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent.
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value. Calories...
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U '
Calories
' 5.76
Analyses Of Iowa Coals
Chemicca Analffsis of Mine Sample No, 9, from Mine No. 4 of the Wapello Coal
Company, Hiteman, Monroe Co,, lotoa.
Laboratory sample number Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent. .
Ash, per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent.
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value, Calories. . .
B. T. U
Calories
CTimical Analysis of Mine Sample No. 10, from Mine No, 1 of Camphell Coal Co.,
New Market Taylor Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent . .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T, U
Calorific value, Calories...
Analysis corrected to sample as received :
per cent, per cent, per cent, per cent.
per cent
Calories
Chemical Analyses Of Coals
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No, 11, from Mine No, 2 of the Bolton-Hoover
Coal Company, Bolton, Mahaska Co., Iowa,
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent. .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value, Calories...
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. 12, from Hawkey e Mine of the English Creek Coal Mining Company, Hawkeye, near Knoxville, Marion Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile-matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent. .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value. Calories . . .
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent, per cent, per cent, per cent.
per cent. B. T. U. Calories
Analyses Of Iowa Goals
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No, 13, from Mine No. 8 of the Colfax Consolidated Coal Company, near Colfax, Jasper Co,, lotoa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drylnR, oer cent
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
Analysis of alr-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent..
Ash, per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. tJ
Calorific value. Calories. . .
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. H, from Mine of the Keystone Coal Mining Company, Third Vein, Des Moines, Polk Co., lovoa.
Tjaboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air
drying, per cent
ttv
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Analysis of air-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent..
Ash, per cent
lOO.OO
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value, Calories. . .
Chemical Analyses Of Coals
Chemical andlyais of Mine Sample No. 15, from Mine of the Bennett Bros, CoaX
Company, Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture' on air
drying, per cent
Analysis of alr-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent
Fixed carbon, per cent. .
Ash, per cent
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U. . . . Calorific value. Calories. . .
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Chemical Analysis of Mine Sample No. 16, from Ifine No. 2 of the Enterprise Coal Company, Second Vein, Enterprise, Polk Co., Joioa.
Laboratory sample number
Loss of moisture on air drying, per cent
Analysis corrected to sample as received:
per cent
Analysis of alr-dried sample: Proximate —
Moisture, per cent
Volatile matter, per cent Fxed carbon, per cent. . Ash. per cent
per cent ; .
per cent
per cent
per cent
B. T. U
Calories
Sulphur, per cent
Calorific value, B. T. U
Calorific value. Calories...
The analyses on the following pages for which G. E. Patrick is given as authority are taken from Iowa Geological Survey, volume II, pp. 504-509, 1894. Samuel Calvin, Geologist.
Those given on authority of Rush Emery are taken from Geologj' of Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 361-395. 1870. C. A. White, State Geologist.
Those given on authority of G. Hinrichs are quoted from First and Second Annual Report of the State Geologist, pp. 222-224, 1868. C. A. White, State Geologist.
Those for whom J. D. Whitney is given as authority are taken from Geology of Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 403-414. 1858. James Hall State Geologist.
Where the Iowa State College is quoted as authority the analyses are given in Volume XVII of Iowa Geological Sur\'ey, pp. 170 flF, 529, 530, or, in the various county reports published by the present Survey,
Those analyses given on authority of N. W. Lord are found in U. S. G. S., Bull. No. 261, pp. 41-43, and Professional Paper No. 48, pp. 221-225, 270. The analyses were made at the fuel testing plant at St. Louis in 1904.
The analysis given by D. D. Owen is found in Geol. Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, p. 53, 1839.
Those credited to the State University are here published for the first time.
Analyses credited to George W. Prentiss are from the laboratory of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railway, West Milwaukee, Wis. With the exception of the analyses from Foster, Moravia and F. W. Cox, Excelsior, sulphur was not determined but one-half is assigned to volatile combustible and one-half to fixed carbon.
It should be noted that the high moisture content of the mine samples analyzed at the St. Louis Testing Station is due in part at least to the fact that these samples were put immediately upon being gathered into air-tight tin flasks and thus retained all their moisture when received at the chemical laboratory. The same is true of the mine samples analyzed at the State University. In the case of the car samples the coal would naturally lose several per cent of moisture by evaporation before it was delivered to the boiler. It is probable, therefore, that the analyses of these car samples correspond in general to most of the analyses from other sources.
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa Coals
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''The moisture in Iowa coals varies (for the coals tested) from 4.03 to 17.47, the average being 8.08. This moisture is high, as compared with that in coals of other states.
''Eliminating moisture from our comparisons, in volatile matter the Iowa coals are rich, varying from 36.94 to 48.69, with an average of 41.49.
"The fixed carbon ranges from 44.86 to 54.91, with an average of 49:62, slightly lower than that of many coals from other states.
"Total combustibles are high, running from 84.88 to 95.91, with an average of 91.11.
"Ash is low, being from 4.09 to 15.12, with an average of 8.89.
"Sulphur is high, from 2.27 to 7.41, with an average of 3.72.
"The coals high in sulphur are also high in ash."
Concurrentlv with the work of Mr. Weaklv, Messrs Austin and Peshak, under the direction of Professor G. W. Bissell, determined the calorific powers of samples of coal from twenty or more mines from the same district, fourteen of the samples being the same as used by Mr. Weakly.
The following table exhibits the results of the work of Messrs. Austin and Peshak :
Calorific Power Of Iowa Coals.
Peb Pound Of Dby Fuel.
B. T. U.
Slack coal, Marquisville, Iowa 10574
Lumsden Coal and Mining Company 12097
Saylor Coal Company, Marquisville 8583
Des Moines Coal and Mining Company, Marquisville 12041
Whitebreast Fuel Company, Hilton, Iowa 12396
Whitebreaat Fuel Company, Pekay, Iowa 13050
Hocking Valley Coal Company, Mine No. 1 12037
Hocking Valley Coal Company, Mine No. 2 12560
Lumsden Coal Company, Bloomfleld, Iowa 13204
Humboldt Electric Company, cannel coal, Kalo, Iowa 10451
Humboldt Electric Company, mine coal, Kalo, Iowa 10922
Centerville Block Coal Company 12681
Eldon Coal and Mining Company, Laddsdale 13141
Consolidation Coal Company, Buxton, No. 10 12030
Consolidation Coal Company, Buxton, No. 11 10585
Chemical Analyses Of Iowa Coals 619
Lodwick Brothers Coal Company, Mystic 12780
Carbon Coal Company, Willard 12245
Crowe Coal Mining Company, Boone 12729
Boone Electric Light Company 9205
Corey Coal Company, Lehigh 12431
Piatt Pressed and Fire Brick Company, Van Meter 11941
Jasper County Coal and Mining Company, Colfax 12134
Empire Coal Company 10881
A. A, Conway Coal Company 10132
An average of 64 analyses by the State Geologist gives the following chemical composition:
♦Moisture 8.57
Fixed carbon 45.42
Volatile matter 39.24
Ash 6.77
Analyses of coal from 16 mines in Des Moines river district give:
Fixed carbon 45.60
Volatile matter 38.14
Ash 8.18
Sulphur 3.42
or on the basis of oven dried samples,
tFlxed carbon 49.62
Volatile matter 41.49
Ash 8.89
Sulphur 3.72
Average of Iowa coals :§
m
Moisture , 13.16
Carbon, volatile 33.36
Carbon, fixed 39.69
Ash 13.76
Sulphur 4.65
Calorific value 10,019 to 11,027
Steam boiler economy. Kent, p. 74.
tP. M. Weakly, the Iowa Engineer, June, 1902.
Slowa State College Eng. Exp. Station. j
History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
By James H. Lees
Goal Statistigs
By S. W. Beyer
Contents
Page
History of coal mining 521
Introduction 525
Van Buren county 526
Scott county 528
Muscatine county .' 531
Lee county 532
Jefferson county 532
Davis county 533
Appanoose county 534
Wayne county 540
Wapello county 540
Monroe county 545
Lucas county 550
Keokuk county , 555
Mahaska county 556
Marion county 561
Jasper county 563
Polk county 566
Dallas county 571
Guthrie county 573
Story county 575
Boone county 575
Greene county 580
Hardin county 580
Webster county 581
Taylor county 584
Page county 585
Adams county , 586
Coal Stotistics.
Introduction 591
Production of coal In Iowa, 1840-1908 591
Production of coal by counties, 1883 to 1908 593
Production of coal by years, 1875 to 1908 596
Ten leading producing states In 1908 597
Introduction 526
Chapter Iii
HISTORY OF COAL MINING IN lOW V
By James H. Lees.
Various sources have been utilized in the preparation of the following notes. A large part of the information has been gained by interviews and correspondence with the men who have been instrumental in the development of the industry, or from those who have seen its growth. The reports of the present Survey, as well as those of previous ones, have been used, as have also other publications of various kinds. No claim is made for the completeness of the history; only such salient facts are given as could be gathered together in the time at the writer disposal. The accompanying data and tables on the production of coal in Iowa, prepared by Dr. S. W. Beyer, will be found useful in illustrating the growth of the state's most important mineral industry.
So far as can be learned the first mining of any consequence in Iowa was done about 1840. The early settlers in many cases knew of the existence of coal beds but wood was so plentiful and offered so many advantages in the way of convenience and cleanliness that there was no inducement for using the less cleanly supply of fuel stored underground. In many cases coal was considered merely as a curiosity to be laid on the mantel. At about the date mentioned, however, the demand for coal had become great enough so that mines were opened in the eastern part of the state and within the next twenty years the industry had gained a foothold, although still a somewhat precarious one, over practically all the productive area of the state.
626 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
m
Van Buren County. Mr. Jacob P. Alfrey of Farmington, Van Buren county, who was the first white child born in Iowa, is authority for the statement that the first mine opened up in the vicinity of Farmington was' operated by Lem Brattain in 1840. He ran the mine for a few years and then sold out to Samuel Kiiight who conducted the business until 1848 or 1850. During most of the period of Mr. Knight's operations there was no railroad into Farmington and hence his market was chiefly local. Some coal, however, was hauled as far as Keokuk by team. The steamboats which came up the Des Moines also used large quantities. The coal was of excellent quality and much desired for steam purposes. Mr. Kiiight finally sold his mine to the New York Coal Company who operated here for about twenty years. This firm worked the mine on quite an extensive scale for those days. From forty to fifty men were employed and the mine was connected by a switch with the Des Moines Valley railroad, which has since become part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific. In those days miners were paid about five cents per bushel for mining and the coal sold at the mine for from $2.00 to $2.50 per ton. During the fiscal year of 1854- '55 about 100,000 bushels of coal were raised in the Farmington district. This had an average value at the mines of six and one-fourth cents per bushel. At the Mississippi river markets it retailed at eighteen to twenty cents per bushel, or $4.50 to $5.00 per ton.
About the same tinje, during the later 40 's, coal was taken from' mines owned by Senator Eliab Doud, near the present town of Douds. The mines were managed by Mr. Van Side, who was an intelligent and enterprising mine operator, and coal was supplied to the steamers running up the Des Moines river.
In 1856 Alexander Findlay opened up the first mine in the Douds district to be operated on a large scale. This was a slope mine located northeast of Douds. It was run for several years and later shafts were sunk in the same vicinity. Before this time there had been a number of small openings in the hillsides, the first of which were opened about 1846 or '48. They were operated only during the winter months to supply the local demand. Alex. Findlay 's business was carried on by his son Hugh, who after the exhaustion of the old mines at Business
Van Buren County 627
Comers sank a shaft in 1892, about a mile and a half to the northwest: This was operated to supply the railroad chutes at Douds until it caught fire three years ago. Since then another shaft has been sunk. The Findlays have also done some mining near Cedar creek, three miles north of Birmingham. Mines have been run in this vicinity ever since.
When Dr. D. D. Owen made his studies in Iowa in 1849 he found quite a number of banks opened in various parts of the county. He states that the coal esteemed the best by the blacksmiths in the neighborhood of Bentonsport was that from Jackson's bank.
Worthen mentions several mines as being in operation when he visited Van Buren county in 1857. Among these were the Cox and the Martin banks north and northwest of Hillsboro, and several along the Des Moines river near lowaville, a town which has since gone by the names of Independent and Selma. He states that one of the Hillsboro mines was working a sevenfoot vein divided by ten inches of slate. According to this author the best coal came from Business Comers and lowaville and was mined from the ' second seam. ' '
Another mine near Farmington was opened in 1844 by Mr. Slaughter. Ten years later- James Alf rey opened up the Alf rey mine which has been operated more or less up to the present time. At present there are five mines working in this district and about thirty men are employed.
In 1892 the Ratcliflfe Coal Co. opened a mine one mile north of Douds and operated it about four years. They then abandoned this and worked one over at Business Corners, about a mile southeast. After working this out they returned to their former location and sank a new shaft adjacent to the old one. This is still in operation and is at present supplying coal to the localchutes of the Rock Island at Douds.
The Felmlee Coal Co. opened a shaft mine near the Findlay mine about four years ago and ship some coal from their mine.
When C. A. White inspected this region in 1868 he found that the McHugh mine at Independent had been running a long time and that there were other mines in the same locality which were supplying a local trade. In addition there were local mines in
628 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
operation near Keosauqua viiich had been worked for many years previously. There were also several mines near Bentonsport. The Farmington mines had been operated extensively to supply Keokuk and other markets.
It will be seen that coal has been mined in nearly all parts of Van Buren county, but as this shares with the other marginal areas of the Lower Coal Measures the pockety character of the coal basins the county has not been able to keep to the front in the keen competition of recent years. After the Civil war the price of coal and the wages paid were about the same as at present. About ten cents per bushel or $2.50 per ton was the selling price at the mine and if a certain amount was sold a tax was laid'on the output. Near Fairfield wages were sometimes as high as $2.00 per ton, owing to a bad vein, but near Douds the price was about $1,00, as at present. After the panic of '93, however, prices dropped until coal was mined for three and onehalf to less than three cents per bushel, or ninety to seventy-five cents per ton, and sold as low as $1.25 per ton. In the Farmington district the current wage for mining is eighty-five cents and the selling price $3.00 per ton, delivered.
Miners at Douds are chiefly American and British. All of the Van Buren mines have been very simply equipped. Mule haulage and gin hoist has been the extent to which they have gone with one or two exceptions. In this they resemble most of the mines of the eastern coal counties. The beds are too local in extent and the market too limited to warrant much expenditure of labor or capital. As in other localities also much of the early supply of coal was obtained by stripping as well as by drifts. Shaft mines are shallow, ranging from thirty to seventy feet in depth.
Scott Cov/nty. About the same time that operations began in Van Buren county the pioneers of Scott county were beginning to use coal. So far as is known to the writer the first notice of coal in Scott county of scientific nature is by Owen in his report on the Geology of Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. He visited Scott in 1839 and mentions an outcrop of coal along Duck creek (Tp. 78, E. 4 E., Sec. 27, N. 1/2), of which he gives an analysis. No mention is made of any mines in the region at that time. The
Scott County 529
first bank to be opened up was by Mr. Wright in 1840. This mine was located near Jamestown a few miles north of Buffalo. These two places have been the centers of all the mining done in Scott county. Mr. Wright ran his mine until after the war when it was leased by Hiram Hall, who operated it four or five years. The property was then bought by Robert Williams who worked it for some time. Coal is still being mined on this property.
Mr. Williams started the first mining operations at Jamestown about 1848, by opening a mine on his property. This was run intermittently until 1855, and from that time until the present mining has been carried on steadily. In 1854 John Murray began taking coal from his land and carried on work until 1903. The year after Murray opened his mine John James began mining near Jamestown in a basin which extends about two miles in a northeast-southwest direction. The basin is, however, very narrow, only about fifty yards wide before it begins to rise to the sides, with a total of 200 yards. Coal in the swamp" is five feet thick, and thins on higher ground to two and one-half or three feet or even less, where worked. About 1860 John Morris came to Jamestown and began operating the James mines, which he managed for twenty years. With his coming systematic mining really had its origin. He opened drifts from the creek valley and later was the first man to sink shafts. The coal was raised from these by horse power. The daily output by 1868 was from 1,200 to 1,500 bushels, upon which Mr. James received a rovaltv of a cent a bushel. This coal sold for fifteen cents a bushel although the usual price has been from eight to ten cents, of which the miner received from five to six cents, depending on the selling price. In the winter of 1856- '57, however, coal was hauled to Davenport and sold for fifty to sixty cents per bushel, owing to a coal famine. A few years later, after the war, the price had dropped to twenty cents. In ante-bellum davs farmers drove to Jamestown distances of fifty or sixty miles to obtain coal. Oftentimes there would be a line of seventy-five or 100 teams waiting at the mines for a load and many of these would wait two or three days for their supply. The mines were kept working at their full capacity all through the
Ro History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
season and miners would put out from fifty to 100 bushels per day. From 1870-73 there were 200 to 300 men at work in these mines.
After Morris left the district Mr. James began operating the mines himself. These are still in operation, although not extensively. Work is confined chiefly to taking out what coal was left during earlier operations. About the time that Morris left some of the mines put in hoisting engines. At present none of the operations are extensive enough to employ anything but horse gins.
While John Morris was opening up the James mines Eobert Williams was also beginning more extensive operations on his land and by 1870 he had two shafts at work and was employing fifty or sixty men. Mines have been run on the Williams property ever since.
There were also a number of mines worked on the Durham estate between 1858 and 1898. The bed here was quite extensive, underlying probably 150 acres. It was quite level and ran from two feet eight inches to three feet four inches in thickness. There were also a number of other banks near Buffalo and Jamestown which were operated from the fifties until comparatively recent years. One of the most important of these was the bank of Charles G. Eowan, who began mining southwest of Jamestown in 1869 and operated until 1904, when he retired. Since then his mines have been operated under lease. The coal runs from two and one-half to three and one-half feet, and is of excellent quality for fuel.
Among the more important of the later operators has been Thomas Webster, who came to Scott county from the east twenty years ago and mined near Buffalo from that time until he retired about two years ago. He has opened one drift and four shafts. The later shafts were equipped with steam pumps although hoisting was by horse power. The coal is rather soft but is bright and does not carry much sulphur. Mr. AVebster's sons, Robert and Ralph, are now operating a shaft two miles below Buffalo which they opened in the fall of 1908. It is fifty-five feet deep and reaches a vein three to four feet and locally five feet thick. The prospects for mining are better near Buffalo than at
Muscatine County 631
Jamestown as the coal in sight near the latter place is nearly worked out. There are still several mines operating near Jamestown, however, but all on land which has been worked for many years.
Mining in the Scott county field has always been rather haphazard. There has not been much system about prospecting and in a field of such nature as this one only systematic work can yield the best, results. In the Buffalo district mining is done by shooting but at Jamestown pick work and wedging is the rule as the coal is so seamy that it will not stand blasting. During the first thirty years of mining operations the openings were all slopes or drifts, but since then most of the coal has been removed from shafts. As the Coal Measures are thin these shafts are never very deep, varying from forty to 125 feet. The miners push their cars to the shaft and cage them, as the roadways are too low for mules. Mining is prosecuted on the room and pillar plan. None of the mines have railroad connections and hence the market is of necessity limited in extent. Some years ago Mr. Webster shipped coal as far as Muscatine, Fulton, Durant, etc., but of late years the territory is more restricted, not extending beyond Davenport.
Muscatine County. Although the Coal Measure outlier which has been mined so long in Scott county occupies a larger area in Muscatine, not much coal has been mined within the last named county. Only one vein is of workable thickness and this is of inferior quality. Operations have been going on for over fifty years, however, in the vicinity of Muscatine. The localities which have been most extensively worked are AVest Hill in Muscatine and the Hoor property about three miles east of town. The former of these,, like most of the other openings along the bluffs, ceased to be productive long ago, and the latter was abandoned on the death of the owner, about 1892. It was a drift mine and was worked for a number of years, so that the entries were driven into the hill about 1,000 feet along a three-foot vein. A number of other small banks were operated in the eastern part of the county, and about 1895 a few drifts were opened about five miles east of Muscatine, near the edge of the outlier. A few thousand bushels of coal were removed from these for purely local trade.
532 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Lee Comity. Lee county is another of those lying on the border of the Coal Measures within wliich coal mining has been carried on in a desultory manner for many years. A number of small outliers occur in different parts of the county and coal has been taken from these since the early 50 's. When Worthen made his survey of the Des Moines valley in 1856 he noted that coal had already been opened up along the Skunk river in the northern part of the county. The seam worked was ten to fourteen inches thick. In later years considerable coal was taken out by drifting and stripping. One of the oldest and best known localities was the Norris mine Ui which the coal was said to be twenty-four to thirty inches thick. Another mine which was of considerable local importance was the Hardwick mine, five miles west of West Point. The vein here mined was three to three and one-half feet thick and was reached at first by shaft and later by drift. This mine at one time furnished abundant supplies for the local market but no work has been carried on here for a number of years.
Jefferson County. Jefferson county coal was exploited earlier possibly, than that of any other district in the state and White states that **many years before any railroad had reached Iowa Fairfield coal was carried in wagons to the Mississippi river towns, and was in high repute among blacksmiths. As early as the time of Dr. Owen's reconnaissance up the Des Moines river in 1849 coal of excellent quality was being mined on Walnut and Cedar creeks, near Fairfield in Jefferson county. A few years later, in 1856, when Worthen examined the district, the Huntsinger coal bank, two miles south of Fairfield, and the Richardson bank, two miles west of the same town, were in operation. Worthen further states that the lower coal seam was opened in nearly every township in the county.
By the time that White was making his survey of Iowa the Burlington and Missouri River railroad had been built through Fairfield and two mines, the Heron and the Richardson, were shipping coal over it to Burlington. At the same time Brown and Company were working a four-foot bed of coal at Coalport, ten miles east of Fairfield and were shipping a large part of their output to Burlington and intermediate points. As the
Davis County 533
mines were nearly a mile north' of the railroad the coal was brought to it over a wooden sidetrack. Coal was mined by this company for nearly thirty-five years preceding 1894.
The most important mines in Jefferson county were located at Perlee, about seven miles northeast of Fairfield. The Jefferson County Coal Company operated several mines here between 1870 and 1884. The first of these was a shaft mine sunk to three to three and one-half feet of coal and used mules for underground haulage and steam hoist. During the last year or two it was worked a single rope with steam power was used to bring the coal to the bottom of the shaft. About 100 acres were mined out. Another mine was sunk about 1888 but does not seem to have been operated long, and the district is apparently worked out. The Washington (oal Company also operated a shaft mine which penetrated two seams of coal about three feet six inches thick. The coal was considered to be of very good quality and the middle eighteen inches is said to have been used for gas making with good results.
A two-horse gin was used for hoisting and mules were Ased below in the main entries. As the seam was too thin to allow the mules to get to the face the cars were handled by men between the miners and the entries. The entries were blasted out to make height for the mules. The mine was worked out and abandoned about 1882. Both these mines furnished large quantities of coal to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. The Jefferson County mine supplied the locomotives with an average of eighty tons a day for fourteen years.
Quite a number of local mines have been operated in various parts of the county from the earliest days until the present but in recent years the output has been very small.
Davis County. Davis has never been ranked among the large producers of coal, but for at least forty years, more or less work has been carried on in the northeastern corner of the county, chiefly for local trade. White mentions the fact that when his party was studying the coal fields about 1866 there were a number of mines along Soap creek. The first report of the State Mine Inspectors states that in 1881 there were eleven mines in operation giving employment to eighty-five men. About 1890
534 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Ely Dye burned some coal f ronThis drift about three miles southwest of Eldon with the object of testing its coking quality. The coke obtained was quite clean and firm and possessed excellent heating qualities, although it was somewhat soft. It was used by a brewery and iron works at Ottumwa.
Appfinoose Cpwnty. Probably no county in Iowa has supported so many coal mines at one time as has Appanoose. When Bain made his survey of this county in 1894 he found over eighty mines in operation at that time. The wide extent and ready accessibility of the Mystic seam make its exploitation easy and so while extensive operations do not seem to have been begun here quite as early as in some other counties mining soon assumed large proportions and the county has consistently held high rank as a producer. There are several centers of mining operations, of which Mystic, Centerville, Brazil and Cincinnati are the leaders. The Mystic field seems to have been the first to be developed. The earliest mine opened here was that of A. M. Elgin who began operations in 1857 on Little Walnnt creek, a mile and a half north of the city. From that time to this there have been operations close by although the mine has never had any railroad connections. Drifts have been driven and entries worked for some time and then abandoned and new ones opened up. The hills have been honeycombed and entries are still being opened. The first large mine at Mystic was opened in 1858 by Isaac Fuller and furnished most of the coal for Centerville for a number of years. In 1881 it was made a shipping mine. It has since been exhausted.
There was not a great deal of activity in the Mystic district until the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad was built through in 1887. Then mining began on a large scale and has been prosecuted vigorously since. The first railroad mine was a slope opened by Wm. and Alex. Orr and Pat Colgan in 1887, and was soon sold to the Eailroad compan3 Sixty miners were employed. Quite a number of mines were opened very shortly, among which were the Lone Star drift and the Seddon slope (both owned by Seddon Brothers), the Lee Brothers' mine, and the Silknetter slopes. All these were operated by mule power. In 1889 the Lodwick Brothers Coal Company opened a slope
Appanoose County 636
and a drift, both of which had railroad connections. This firm has been operating here ever since and at present is operating six mines at Mystic, Clarkdale and Diamond. A large nmnber of mines have been opened, both in the inmiediate vicinity of Mystic and in all directions from it; at Forbush and Clarkdale to the east, at Bathbun and Darbyville to the north and at Diamond and Piano to the west. Local operators have not been the only ones to appreciate the value of this field, as is testified by the Iowa Coal Company of Chicago, who opened a large slope mine in 1893, by the Brown and Bowers Coal Company of Kansas City, who drove a drift mine in 1895, the Kansas City mine, opened in 1889 by Missouri' Williams and James Seddon and the Big Jo Block Coal Conipany of Chicago, who operate the Jucket mine opened in 1894 by F. H. Juckett. Along with the Lodwick Brothers the Lee Brothers have been among the important miners. They were among the pioneers and have operated a large number of mines, both those which they have themselves opened as well as several which they have acquired. At present three mines are under their control. One of these was first opened by Mr. Philips in 1865 as a local mine and was .reopened as a railroad mine in 1891 by Milbum Brothers. Lee Brothers also manufacture the Lee electric mining machine, one of their own invention. While all the coal is raised from the Mystic seam there is another bed 180 feet below which so far has not been developed. The vein has been worked at Ottumwa and Willard, in Wapello county. At the latter place L. L. Lodwick formerly operated a mine which reached this coal at ninety feet. The Milwaukee Railroad uses 1,000 tons of coal a day from Mystic, and of this Lodwick Brothers furnish 375 tons.
Mining at Mystic is done on the long wall plan and the miners work in the underclay. At present all the coal is taken out by pick work. Machines were in use for eight or ten years and two years ago ten or twelve were being operated but at present (1909) none are in service. They were of the Lee longwall type. The miners have never taken kindly to their use, mainly from extreme conservatism, and when the wage scale was made in 1908 a board of three miners and three operators was chosen to discuss *the machine wage scale for loaders. As they could
536 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
not agree the arbitration board was called in and in May, 1909, raised the scale nine cents at Centerville and ten cents at Mystic. All the operators in the county who were using machines immediately took them out, as the margin of profit was too slight. The decision has really worked an injury to the miners. Men who were making $2.50 to $4.00 per day working after the macliines are now obliged to pick coal and in many cases cannot make over $1.00 per day.
In the Centerville district the first shaft was sunk bv Wm. Henderson about one-half mile from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy depot. This was opened about 1868 and was operated by horse power. The next year Ben Kindig opened a shallow shaft in the west part of town and supplied a local trade for several years. There were several other shafts opened in the next two or three years and in 1872 the Watson Coal Company opened the first mine in the district which was equipped with steam hoist. The mine was located on land owned by A. R. Henderson and Dr. Patterson and the royalty paid was twelve and one-half cents per ton. In 1875 Alexander Dargavell, who has been one of the most influential operators in the development of this field, formed a company, with W. J. Phillips and W. W. Oliver, and sank a horse power shaft east of town. This mine is still running in a small way. Four years later the Centerville Coal Company opened a shaft and equipped it with steam hoist. This opening is still being worked but is very much improved and enlarged compared with its original condition. Coal has been mined for many years in this locality at Relay for AVhite mentions the mine at the Talbot mill, on Cooper creek, and this is said to have been operated about fifty years ago. In 1881 Messrs. Dargavell, Oliver and C. W. Lane formed the Diamond Coal Company and sank a shaft on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad three-fourths mile east of the depot. In 1894 Mr. Dargavell and others organized the Centerville Block Coal Company which took over the three mines mentioned above as well as others. The company have also sunk shafts of their own and are now the largest operators in the district. Diamond shaft No. 1 is still operated, by the Centerville Block Coal Company, and is one of the best equipped mines on the Mystic seam.
Appanoose County 537
It was the fourth mine in the district to be equipped with steam hoist. Tail rope haulage was later installed underground and until recently machines were employed for cutting the coal.
About a year after the organization of the Diamond Coal Company the Scandinavian Coal Company was formed. A mine was sunk and equipped with steam hoist. The company have since sunk another shaft and are doing an important business. There are a large number of Swedes in the neighborhood of Centerville and they have formed several co-operative companies in recent years. A number of other companies have opened mines in the neighborhood of Centerville so that today it is one of the leading mining districts. in the state.
While at Mystic the coal in many of the ravines and most of the mines are slopes or drifts yet at Centerville the coal is so deep that nearly all of the mines reach it by shafts. The shafts at Mystic are from twenty. to eighty feet deep while some of those to the west at Piano and Jerome are 200 feet deep. Quite a number of mining machines have been used in the mines
. of the Centerville Block Coal Co. for nearly twenty years, but they were taken out after the decision of the arbitration board. The types used were chiefly the Harrison puncher and the Legg chain machine. Machines have not proved very profitable as the air had to be carried so far and the maintenance expense was so great. There is no electric haulage in Appanoose county mines, nor indeed in any mines of the southern counties. There were some mines using it but they have out of business for some time. There is some tail-rope haulage and this is best adapted to the service. Except in those cases where electric or rope systems have been employed there has not been much change in carrying methods for some time. Cars ordinarily used hold one ton and are of the same size as those used for a number of years. Prior to 1876 the Iowa mines were worked largely on the single entry system. The Whitebreast Fuel Company was the first in the southern part of the state to introduce the
double entry plan, about 1876 or 77. This plan is now generally used but has been improved on in some cases by the adoption of the panel system. This keeps the air on the face better and does away with the possibility of squeezes. It may also simplify the haulage and allow more work from the mules.
538 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Mining began at Brazil many years ago before the railroad was built through. One of the mines was opened on the land of Mr. Stickler and another was opened by John Gordon one-half mile east of Brazil. After the railroad came this mine was opened up again by Lane Brothers. The first railroad mine was opened by J. A. Brazil west of the station about thirty-four years ago and is still being operated. About the same time the Philby Coal Company opened amine and two or three years later Thomas Philips and ten or twelve miners opened a mine a little north of the depot. This is now abandoned. In 1881 the Tipton Coal Company composed of Thomas Philips, Joseph Turner and Wm. Davis, opened a mine which is still in operation, although the firm name has been changed to the Phoenix Coal Company. Mr. Turner, together with James Campbell, is still interested in the mine. At the same time James and Thomas Lee, of Centerville, who later operated some of the Mystic mines, opened a mine near the Tipton mine. It is now run by the Centerville Block Coal Co. Twenty-five years ago Messrs. Campbell and Philips opened another mine under the name of the Tipton Coal Co. This mine was exhausted last year.
A number of other mines have been opened near Brazil and a large industry has been built up. All of the mines are drifts with the' exception of the Lane mine. All of the coal raised is used for domestic purposes except that required by the railroad locomotives. Railroad engineers prefer the coal from the Appanoose mines to that which is supplied from the Missouri .mines across the line, as it is softer and cleaner. However, the Missouri coal, while it contains more stone, is mined more cheaply and is used on the engines to a considerable* extent.
One of the most important centers on the Mystic vein is located at Cincinnati. As compared with the other districts this is rather young. Mines were opened here a short time prior to 1890. F. H. Ketchum and B. H. Johnson organized the Mendota Coal Company and were the first operators in this district. Mr. Johnson was one of the most able coal men in the district. ' He is now engaged in mining operations at Centralia, Washington. The Mendota Coal Co. now operate three mines, the last one of which they bought a year and a half ago. David Dinning
Appanoose County 539
was the next oldest operator. During early operations in Appanoose county he was a miner and worked for the Diamond Coal Company. Later he with his brother-in-law, David Steele, organized the Thistle Coal Company. Mr. Dinning is now mayor of Cincinnati and vice-president of the State Operators' Association.
The mines at Mendota, just across the line in Missouri, were opened about twenty-five years ago, a short time before the beginning of operations at Cincinnati. There are still three or four mines in operation there. At Exline there have been three mines opened within the past five years. They are worked largely on the co-operative plan. The only work done here before this was in a small drift at Drakes switch, which is still worked occasionally in a small way. At Coal City on the state line is one railroad mine owned by the Manufacturers Coal and Coke Company, who opened it four years ago. In addition there are three or four local mines which have been operated fifteen years or more. The Manufacturers Coal and Coke Co. was originally organized to build the Iowa and St. Louis Railroad, by John W. Gates and other eastern capitalists. They opened a number of mines along the road. Later they sold the road to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy but they still own under the corporate name given above mines at Coal City and Centerville. The company also owns property in West Virginia.
In addition to the above named places coal has been mined ever since the first settlement of the county at a place known as Hilltown in the southeastern corner of the county on the old Keokuk and Western Railroad. At present there are no extensive operations here.
Operations in the Appanoose field are not so remunerative as are those in some other districts. The thinness of the coal and the consequent necessity of removing the underclay are in part responsible for this state of affairs and the character of the coal also has an influence in the same direction. A shooting coal will yield about thirty per cent of fine coal which costs nothing except the handling and which can be sold for steam purposes. The Mystic coal, however, since it is mined for the most part on the longwall system and with little or no powder, yields only
540 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
about ten per cent of slack, and most of this has been used for steam for the machines. Hence there is no profit from this source and since the slack contains considerable clav and other impurities its value is still further impaired. The Mystic coal formerly sold for twenty-five to forty cents per ton morethan other coals, but it now sells for the same price. It is only the extreme uniformity of the seam and its regularity of occurrence which enables the Mystic coal to compete in the markets with coal from those fields which have thicker deposits.
Wayne Coiinty. Although the Mystic seam is known to extend into Wayne county it has never been exploited to anything like the extent in this county that it has been to the east. The chief centers of activity have been Confidence, Promise City, and Seymour, all in the eastern part of the county. Coal was mined in the vicinity of Confidence for local purposes forty or fifty years ago, but no work has ever been done on a large scale. Mr. L. Frye has been the principal operator in this locality for the past thirty years and has opened several mines in the district. Mines were opened at Kniffin as much as thirty years ago and about 1884 operations were begun at Seymour by the Occidental Coal Company and Mr. Thatcher. The latter sold out in 1885 to H. W. McNeill of Oskaloosa. The mine of the former company was transferred to the Chicago Coal Company about 1890. From this time the principal operators were the Chicago Coal Company and the Seymour Coal Company until about 1902 the Numa Block Coal Company superseded them and has since been the largest producer in the county and indeed one of the leaders in the Mystic field. In recent years a few small mines have opwated in the vicinity of Seymour, Harvard and Confidence.
Wapello County, Coal has been mined in thte vicinity of the Des Moines river almost from the earliest settlement of the county. The high bluffs bordering the valley and the deep ravines opening into it revealed the rich stores of fuel to the hardy pioneers and they soon availed themselves of the opportunities thus presented. The county soon acquired a position among the leaders in the mining industry and has always held a high rank although superseded in late years by others whose production has shown larger growth. The earliest operations on a com-
Wapello County 541
mercial scale seem to have been conducted in the northwestern part of the county in the neighborhood of Eddyville and Kirkville. Near the former place mines were opened in Mahaska and Monroe counties as well as in Wapello. Worthen describes several coal banks as being in operation in '1857, among which were the Cooper mine near Dahlonega, the Eoberts mine opposite and the McCready bank on Bear creek, four miles west of Ottumwa. It is worthy of note that while a number of mines have been operated on Bear creek still more extensive work is being prosecuted here today than ever before.
Ten years later when White visited Wapello county he found that the centers of activity had moved somewhat. One of the principal operators then was C. Dudley and Company who worked a four-foot vein south of the present station of Dudley and shipped over the Burlington and Missouri Eiver railroad, now the main line of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. Another mine which played quite an important part in the development of the county was that of Henry Shock and Company, at Happy Hollow, three miles below Chillicothe. This mine also furnished a large amount of coal for shipment over the Burlington. In 1868, C. 0. Godfrey of Hannibal, Missouri, and James Brown, an enterprising operator, formed the firm of Brown and Godfrev. Thev opened a drift mine four miles northwest of Ottumwa in a four-foot vein of coal about 100 feet above the St. Louis limestone. Coal was shipped from this mine over the Des Moines Valley railroad. Several other mines were in operation near Kirkville and Eddyville. At this time a large mine was being operated by the Alpine Coal Company at Alpine, two miles below CliiTland, on the Des Moines Valley railroad, under the direction of C. J. Love. The bed was from four to five feet thick and furnished large quantities of excellent coal for the Keokuk market. White states that up to the time of his studies about 1,000,000 bushels of coal had been mined here, a larger output, probably, than that of any other mine in the state at that time.
In 1871 the Union Coal and Mining Company was organized by Messrs. Brown and Godfrey together with a number of Boston men of capital, who were interested in the Burlington and
542 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Missouri Eiver Railroad. Mr. Godfrey was chosen president and Mr. Brown manager. About a year afterwards these two men organized the Watson Coal Company of Centerville. W. J. Ladd of Boston was the first superintendent of the Union company and was soon succeeded by William Haven who held the position until 1874. At this time Samuel A. Flagler took charge and held the position until the company was dissolved. This company took over the Shock and the Brown and Godfrey mines and operated them on a large scale. In 1872 they employed 300 men, who took out 77,000 tons. These mines were single openings ventilated by furnace whose draft was up an air shaft 400 or 500 feet from the entrance and which furnished air in a continuous current from entrance to exit. The fact that the furnace required attention would be manifested by two or three men coming out sick.
The product of the mines was taken on pit cars down tram tracks to the railroad and the empties were drawn back by mules. No screens were used ; the coal went to the market and to the railroads in the same condition in which it was mined — run of mine. The coal was largely undermined, and was frequently rib-or center-cut, so that a very small quantity of powder was used in proportion to that now required ( ?). Payment for mining and sales were made by the bushel and Mr. Haven claims the credit of being the first to introduce the plan of making settlements on the tonnage basis. Payments ranged from four to four and one-half cents per bushel and the unscreened coal sold for $2.25 to $2.50 per ton at the mine. The freight rates to Council Bluffs were made on the basis of $45 for a ten-ton car, but were reduced a few years later when W. B. Strong was General Freight Agent of the B. & M. R. to $35 per car. In 1870 the coal carrying equipment 6f the Burlington was 138 ten-ton cars, which was added to by the Union Coal and Mining Company furnishing 150 additional twelve-ton ears. The shipment from the mines of this company, in connection with the team trade, was seventyfive to 150 tons daily.
An interesting development occurred at the Happy Hollow mine. After the vein had been worked into the hill 200 or 300 feet it began to pinch out. While sinking a well for company
Wapello County 643
use Mr. Brown encountered a six-inch vein of coal and the idea
occurred to him to see what had become of it. So he sank a pit inside the mine and struck a six-foot bed of coal only twelve or fifteen, feet below the one worked. The development of this necessitated a very steep grade to the pit mouth and so Mr. Ladd purchased a small mine locomotive, the first one used in the state. A competent engineer from the railroad was employed to make the trial trip, but on going down the grade the boiler flues were uncovered and on reaching the bottom the engineer had to draw his fires and the engine was pulled out by ropes. After this it was used for outside work. The opening of this lower vein stimulated prospecting in other mines and it was not long until unknown riches of mineral wealth were discovered and utilized. About 1876 the company sank another mine near the first. For a number of years this company was the largest operator in the county, but finally abandoned the field.
In 1879 0. M. Ladd opened the mines at Laddsdale in the southeastern part of the county. The camp is located in Davis county but the workings are chiefly in Wapello. The property is now owned by the Anchor Coal Company of Ottumwa.
In 1880 the Phillips Coal and Mining Company was organized and opened a mine two miles northwest of Ottumwa. This mine has been abandoned for a number of years, but the company, under the present name of the Phillips Fuel Company, have worked a total of six shafts in the neighborhood, near Phillips, or Eutledge. The same company are opening up a new mine on Bear creek. The year after the opening of the Eutledge mine the Wapello Coal Company began work at Kirkville and operated several extensive mines here. At one time they employed 435 men in their mines numbers 1 and 3. The vein was five to five one-half feet thick. Four or five slopes and shafts have been operated here but the last were abandoned in 1890 and the company moved to Monroe county and opened mines at Hiteman.
One, of the large operators in Iowa has been the AVhitebreast Fuel Company of Illinois. This company opened mines near Kirkville in 1887 and named the station Carver. These mines were worked on a large scale and a big tonnage was taken out for three years. The property was then bought by the Wapello
544 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Coal Co., which worked it for two years and then abandoned it in 1892. Although the Union Coal Co. had supposedly exhausted its field the Whitebreast company in 1891 opened up a mine almost adjoining the Union property and operated it extensively for ten years. It was then sold to the Illinois and Iowa Fuel Co. and was worked out three years ago. This mine was located at Keb and was known as Whitebreast No. 22. It was one of the largest in the district, employing as many as 225 men and producing 1,000 tons or more per day. It was connected with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy by a long spur and the entire output was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. Other mines have at different times been worked in the neighborhood of Ottumwa, some near Willard, and three or four local mines have been in operation at Eldon in the southeast comer of the county, since 1887. Thev are all comparatively shallow, ranging from sixteen to sixty feet in depth.
As the early mines were all drifts, along the Des Moines river drainage, they gave rise to the theory that the coal would run out under the hills and that none need be expected under the upland's. It was many years before this theory was exploded although when the early geologists were studying the coal prospects of the Des Moines valley they predicted that in time to come the uplands would be found to be as plentifully underlain with coal beds as was the area in immediate proximity to the river. Later developments have abundantly demonstrated the truth of this prediction as the mines at ftutledge, for example, bear testimony. These deeper shafts away from the river have shown that here the coal beds are as extensive and as thick as those bordering the valley, and that they are present in their original entirety while those exposed by the streams have by this very exposure been partly eroded and carried away.
In the early days of mining activity coal was much cheaper than at present and wages paid were small. In the early 70 's, when commercial mining really had its initiation, lump coal was delivered in Ottumwa for seven to eight cents per bushel, and brought five cents at the mine. Now coal sells for thirteen cents. Along with the increase in the jmce received for coal has come a corresponding rise in the wages paid. In-
Monroe Countt 545
stead of seventy cents per ton paid the miners of the early day ninety-five cents is now paid for lump coal. The inside day men who then were paid $1.75 per day now receive $2.56. The increases have followed the general advance in wages and in all lines of industry although the strong union organization has doubtless been effective in this direction as well as in others.
In the matter of equipment the Wapello county mines have ranked' well with those of other districts. Tail-rope haulage has been installed in the larger mines, such as those at Whitebreast No. 22, the Phillips mines. Consolidation No. 9, near Eddyville, and others. Fan ventilation, steam hoist and safety appliances have added to the eflSciency and economy of operation as well as to the safety of the employes.
Monroe County. Although Monroe has had fewer mines in operation than a number of leading counties, yet she has for many years held the supremacy as a producer and her average output per mine is probably larger than that of any other county in the state. The coal industry in Monroe county dates from the early sixties. White in his brief sketch of the geology of the county published in 1868 states that small mines had already been opened along Bluff, Miller and Avery creeks and that the Cedar mines west of Albia were producing coal. None of the mines at that time were scarcely more than country banks and operated chiefly during the winter season to supply the local demand. The first biennial report of the State Mine Inspector covering the years 1880 and 1881 contains some interesting statistics. Herein it is asserted that some thirty mines are in operation in Monroe county employing 638 men. The deepest shaft is reported to be 150 feet and was located near* Albia. The total production for 1881 is stated in the report for 1883-85 to be 98,143 tons. The U. S. Census reports, however, give the output for 1880 as nearly double this amount, namely 181,288 tons. At that time there were few shipping mines in the county and Monroe ranked below several counties which since have been far surpassed.
One of the first operators along the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was L. L. McBride, who began operations on
546 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Avery creek west of Fredericks about 1870. He opened a drift and later sank a shaft and finally sold out to the Union Coal and Mining Company in 1872. After working out the mine the company made no further attempts to develop the field althougli extensive operations by J. G. Evans in later years showed that it would have been wise to do so.
In 1872 or 73 a shaft was sunk on South Cedar creek just west of Albia on the north .side of the Burlington by Mr. Rodifer. He introduced the idea of screening his coal, a source of much trouble in subsequent time. His screen was four feet long with one and one-half inch spaces between the bars. This mine was followed by extensive development in the South Cedar creek basin, which attracted the attention of the Wapello Coal Company. After prospecting this company opened up an important territory at Hiteman.
When the State Mine Inspector made his first report, in 1880, the principal mine in Monroe county was that of the Albia Coal Company. It was located three miles west of Albia, on the ChL cago, Burlington and Quincy railroad and was a shaft mine using steam hoist. One hundred and sixty miners were employed and the mine had a capacity of 400 tons of screened coal daily. This mine was opened by Henry Miller and others in 1870. Another mine which was opened about the same time as the Albia was the Great Western, but it was abandoned after being worked a few years. One of the important mines of this district was the Iowa and Wisconsin, opened as early as 1885 and well equipped. A large business was done for ten years or more. Near by was the mine of the Chicago and Iowa toal Company, which was one of the pioneer mines of the county and was equipped with good machinery and safety appliances. While the Albia field was the first to be developed on a large scale it has not been exploited extensively for some years past. Most of the large operations have been north and south and west, a number of miles away. One of the more important of the early camps was near Avery, where the Avery Coal and Mining Company, the Smoky Hollow Coal Company and the Eureka Coal Company conducted extensive operations as early as 1880. The first two of these concerns used small engines for
Monroe County 547
hauling their output to the main line of the Burlington at Avery. Even in the early 80 a large part of the coal mined in Monroe was shipped over the various railroads — the Burlington, the Iowa Central and others. The Eureka mine was bought in 1885 by the Union Coal Company of Ottumwa. This firm had already been operating mines in this vicinity for years. The Smoky Hollow Coal Company is still operating mines, Nos. 6 and 7 being the only ones worked now. As many as 450 men have been employed by this company at one time.
In the same general district as these mines the Chisholm mine, near the village of the same name, was opened some time prior to 1887. It was operated under various managements until finally in 1892 it was bought by the Whitebreast Fuel Company and was put upon an excellent basis with modem equipment. The mine was operated until about 1898.
One of the earliest portions of northeastern Monroe, or indeed of any part of the county to be opened up, was Coalfield on the Iowa Central. Some years previous to 1873 Thomas Haight had been operating the Black Diamond drift. At the time this was one of the banner mines of the state and had a daily capacity of twenty cars. At this time ten tons was a maximum load for a railroad car. In 1873 or 74 the McNeill Brothers, W. A. and H. W., began mining at Millers creek, near Coalfield, but as the coal there was too thin for profitable mining, they removed to the Muchakinock valley in 1875. This was the first of the operations of these men who have since been among the foremost in the mining industry. The coal veins at Coalfield run not over four feet in thickness, but the quality, for domestic purposes, is scarcely excelled by any coals in the state.
Another important district is that about Hocking, Selection and Hilton. The chief company operating near Hocking is the Hocking Coal Company. This company has operated three mines. Shaft number 1 was put down and operations begun in 1899 while shaft number 2 was sunk during 1900. Both shafts are located on a low terrace along Coal creek, and are 180 and 208 feet in depth respectively. The company did a large amount of preliminary drilling so that the character and limits of the coal basin were pretty well understood. Mine number 1 was
5i8 HISTORY OF COAL MINING IN IOWA
abandoned about 1905 and number 3 was opened at the same j
time. These mines have been thoroughly equipped and have !
always ranked well in every respect. ]
At Hilton, a short distance south of Hocking, was mine number 10 of the Whitebreast Fuel Company. This mine was opened late in 1900 and speedily became one of the most important producers in the state. The surface equipment was excellent. Steel framework and. corrugated iron sheathing were used exclusively in the buildings. The steel tipple was forty by sixty feet and was able to handle the output of 1,200 tons daily. Hoisting was accomplished by a pair of first-motion enpnes and the mine was ventilated by a force fan fourteen feet in diameter. The entire equipment and management were on the same excellent and substantial basis that characterized all the operations of this company. The mine was operated about five years and then on account of unfavorable market conditions and for other reasons it was abandoned.
A little farther south a shaft mine was opened in 1888 at Foster, on the Milwaukee railroad, by the Soap Creek Coal Company, in which the Phillips Brothers of Ottumwa were interested. The mine was thoroughly equipped with steam hoisting machinery and ventilating fan and it was operated for a long time, in fact it is still being worked, though from other shafts. It is now owned by the Phillips Fuel Company. A slope which was opened by the same firm a year or two after the shaft was mined longwall.
The Deep Vein Coal Company opened a shaft 208 feet deep at Foster in 1893 and operated on a large scale for a number of years. Mine No. 2 was opened about 1900. At one time over 200 men were employed by this company.
During the last few years the largest operators in Wapello and indeed in the state, have been the Consolidation Coal Company at Buxton and the Wapello Coal Company at Hiteman. The latter concern came to Hiteman in 1890 after abandoning their mines at Kirkville and have operated six mines to the west and northwest of the camp. The company own their own railroad running from the mines five or six miles to the main line of the Burlington at Tower 307, and operate their own loco-
Monboe County 649
motive. Mine number 1 was operated thirteen years. After it had been in operation only two or three years it had a capacity of 800 tons of lump coal per day and gave employment to 360 men and boys. Number 2 was opened in January, 1897, and was brought to a capacity of 400 tons per day within six months. The mine was abandoned in 1901, as it was never very profitable. The equipment at these mines was of the very best and it has always been the policy of this company to place and keep their mines on the highest plane of efficiency and then to work them to their limit. Mines numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 are now in operation. Number 6 was opened up late in 1908. Former Senator L. H. Waterman is the manager for the company, a position which he has held for nearly twenty years. Next to the Consolidation Coal Company this company are the largest operators in the state.
The first biennial report of the State Mine Inspector, printed in 1881, states that unimportant openings had been made along Bluff creek and that a local supply was obtained during the winter months from these country banks. It was not until 1901 that the district became a real factor in the coal production of the county and in 1902 the basin became a most important mining community in the state. In 1900 and 1901 the Consolidation Coal Company founded the town of Buxton on the extension of the Muchakinock branch of the Chicago and North-Westem Railway and opened mine number 10 about two miles south of the town. Number 10 is 119 feet through the coal. The early history of the Consolidation company belongs with that of Mahaska county and will be given below. In May of 1901 number 11 was begmi and it was opened in 1902. It is about a mile south of nimiber 10. This is the deepest shaft the company have sunk here. It reaches the coal at 207 feet. Number 12, 182 feet deep, was begun in March of 1903, number 13, 100 feet deep, in July of 1903, number 14, 133 feet deep, in May of 1905, and number 15, 189 feet deep, was begun in October of 1908. All these mines reach the same vein, which is four and one-half feet thick. Mine number 14 is in Mahaska county. The mines of this company have all been equipped and managed in the best possible manner and they quickly brought Monroe into the lead among Iowa
530 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
coal producing coimties. Mine number 10 is equipped with a steel tower which is said to be the highest in the state. It meassures sixty-nine feet to the top. The hoisting arrangement is able to raise each minute four cars with 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of coal when running full capacity. All the mines of this company have electric haulage. That on thie main entries is by the rack rail system and much of the gathering from rooms is by the third rail and trolley systems. Mines numbers 11 and 13 have been abandoned during the past two years. Mr. B. C. Buxton has been the manager of these mines for many years and has kept them at the highest possible stage of efficiency and economical operation.
Wages in the Monroe fields have advanced considerably during the past twenty years. At that time day men were receiving $2.10 for eleven hours work, whereas at the present time they are paid $2.56 for an eight-hour day. Prices of coal have increased accordingly. The increases are due chiefly to the general advance in wages in all lines of industr} The Buxton mines are worked almost entirely by colored miners, due to labor trouble a number of years ago before the present management took possession. The mines have been union since 1900. The miners are paid only for screened coal and so they will naturally use their powder to the best advantage in shooting the coal. In the early days coal was sold on the railroads by the car. The first track scales were put in at Albia and coal was then sold by weight.
Lucas Cotmty. Lucas county formerly contained the largest and deepest mines in the state. It was in this county where the first and almost only successful experiments in regard to the nature and capabilities of Iowa coal were carried on extensively. These investigations were made by the Whitebreast Coal Company, which operated largely in this county. The experiments were made with special reference to the determination of the adaptabilities of the various varieties of coal, their coking properties and the utilization of slack and coal dust. In regard to the latter, briquettes were manufactured in various ways, but it was found that with the methods used the coal dust could not be economically compressed and cemented for commercial purposes.
Lu0A8 County -
When St. John examined this region in 1867 he found a number of banks working the upper veins of coal in the northeast part of the county along the branches of Cedar creek, farther west along the Little Whitebreast and Whitebreast creeks and on English creek. These were all small affairs, however, and the first development of any consequence was undertaken by William Haven who in June of 1874 made a lease of lands belonging to Col. Byron O. Carr of Galesburg, HI. These lands were eight miles west of Chariton on Whitebreast creek. After a year of endeavor Mr. Haven associated with himself Wesley Jones, J. C. Osgood, Louis R. Fix of Burlington and T. J. Potter, who were to furnish a limited amount of capital for prospecting purposes. These men organized the Whitebreast Fuel Company of which Mr. Osgood was president, and prospecting was carried on for some time. But after sinking a drill hole 138 feet it was decided to sink a five-foot shaft instead. It was the intention to use this for an air shaft if coal was found. This was the largest air shaft then known in Iowa. After many trials, troubles and tribulations, on January 16, 1878, five feet four inches of coal was passed through and thus began the career of the Whitebreast field, a field from which a greater tonnage has been raised in shorter time than from any other field in the state. The shaft was 250 feet deep and an eighty-horsepower engine was used for hoisting the coal. Tail-rope haulage was installed in 1882. Electricity was used for lighting the mine, the first installation in the state. When the Mine Inspector made Ms first report in 1880, 405 men and fifty-two mules were employed and were raising 640 tons per day. The quality of the coal was considered superior to that of any other then produced and it acquired a great reputation and an extensive market. Whitebreast number 1 was the first mine to adopt the plan of shot firing once a day. This avoided the danger of explosions when the men were in the mine and also kept the air pure for the men and mules.
In 1884 and 85 about 125 diamond drill holes were put down north and east of the Whitebreast mines. Conditions were unfavorable, however, and development in mine number three, the one farthest east, was so diflScult that the Whitebreast company
652 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
abandoned Lucas county in 1891; after working ont as much coal as possible from mines nmnbers 1 and 2, near Lucas.
In 1877 or 78, when the success of the original Whitebreast field became apparent, a shaft was one-half mile east of Whitebreast nmnber 1, by Daniel Eikenberry, a prominent Inmber merchant of Chariton. The shaft was five feet in diameter and sixty or seventy feet deeper than the Whitebreast shaft, bnt it failed to show any favorable development and so was abandoned. Li 1879 a number of miners employed by the Whitebreast company, together with some capitalists of Chariton, S. H. Mallory, D. Q. Story, D. M. Thompson and others, formed the Chariton Co-operative Coal Company and sank a shaft three-fourths mile north of the Eikenberry hole and northwest of the Whitebreast shaft. This shaft struck the lower vein at 330 feet, the greatest depth af any shaft in the state at the time. The co-operative feature was not very successful and a reorganization was soon effected by which the miners were eUminated from participation. The results were disastrous, however, for. the reason that the otherwise capable business men, having no knowledge of mining methods could not properly oversee the work. As a consequence robbing of pillars and mining of coal too near the bottom of the shaft led to its partial caving in and put a stop to all operations in the imniediate locality. This mine was well equipped ; hoisting was effected by first-motion engines attached to a seven-foot drum and ventilation was afforded by a fourteen-foot exhaust fan. A great amount of water gave much trouble, although after a time pumps were installed which handled it effectively.
The opening of the Whitebreast field seriously interfered with the business 6f the Union Coal and Mining Company of Ottumwa and hence this company under the direction of its president, J. C. Peasley of Burlington, began an investigation into conditions in the neighborhood of the Whitebreast field. In 1877 they opened up negotiations with Mr. Knotts and finally acquired the Ladow shaft, which was seventy or seventy-five feet deep and reached an upper vein two feet thick. This they enlarged and deepened to 300 feet where the lower bed, over five feet in thickness, was penetrated. Under the direction of
Luoas County 663
S. A. Flagler the main entries were driven a few hundred feet north and south, chiefly south. Owing, however, to the great quantities of water which came through, the sandstone roof it became necessary to abandon the enterprise after expending several thousand dollars in development.
The mine continued in this condition until in 1899 Hon. H, L. Byers, associated with several practical mining men, among whom were George Ramsay of Oskaloosa and Messrs. Shuler and Bates of Illinois, obtained possession of it. They cleaned and re-timbered the old shaft, pumped out the water and used it as an air shaft in connection with the main shaft which they sank about 300 feet west of it. They ran about a year and then transferred the property to S. W. White of What Cheer, afterwards of White City, and others. About a year later the mine again changed hands and Mr. Beed of Illinois and Mr. Byers managed it for two months, after which Mr. Moody of Kansas City secured part ownership. These men are the present owners but work has been discontinued since late in 1907 and the workings are filled with water.
There was one other important mine in the county ; that of the Farmers Co-operative Coal Company at Zero on the eastern edge of the county. About 1878 a number of land owners organized this company and sank a shaft to the lower coal. After several changes in ownership the mine was finally operated under lease by the Whitebreast Fuel Company. Owing to the presence of numerous bowlders in the coal and to the great amount of water which entered the mine through the sandstone roof the mine was abandoned over twenty years ago. It has always been the experience in Lucas county that where the coal had a shale roof operations were successful, but where the roof was sandstone water has driven out the operators.
After 1891 Lucas county dropped from high rank to a low position as there was no further development of the lower veins until Mr. Haven resumed operations in the coal industry. He had sold his interest in the Whitebreast mines to Mr. Osgood in 1883 with the pledge not to engage in mining along the Burlington line for ten years. Upon being released from this pledge he associated with himself certain Ottumwa men in 1896 and began
654 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
diamond drilling and taking options on extensive tracts of possible coal lands on Little Whitebreast creek. This work resulted in the discovery of a field of 1,200 to 1,600 acres about three and one-half miles northeast of Chariton and again brought Lucas county to the notice of coal operators in the Iowa field. Among the first results was the return of the Whitebreast company who after considerable prospecting west of Lucas opened up a field known as Cleveland number 4, in the spring of 1899. The drilling was done with a one-inch core drill which was too small to show the presence of bony coal in th6 bed. The handling of this added to the expense of operation and cut it out of the domestic market, so that the mine was closed April 1, 1908. The mine had a steel tipple, motor haulage and excellent safety devices and had a daily capacity of 1,000 tons.
In the summer of 1901 Mr. Haven and others began sinking the shaft of the Inland Fuel Company and soon after sank an air shaft, both of standard size. Work has been confined principally to entry driving, so that at present nearly two and onefourth miles of entries are open. No rock has been encountered and the mine is practically dry, as the only water which enters is what comes down the shaft from a thin vein of sandstone inunediately above the seventy feet of roof shale. A Number 7 Cameron pump working one hour a day empties the sumps.
The persons who were interested in the Inland mine concluded that before bringing the coal into the market they would prospect extensively in north Lucas county. With this end in view they have had diamond drills in operation over five years and as a result five separate basins of coal five to eight feet thick and aggregating over 10,000 acres have been located. So far, however, nothing has been done towards the development of these pending the time of more complete ownership. In the meantime mine number 1 has been developed so that it can on short notice be brought to a production of 1,000 tons daily. The quality of the coal is excellent, as is shown elsewhere in this report, and in spite of the fact that it must be hauled five miles by team and thus must be sold at a considerably higher price than is charged for coal shipped into Chariton it is the coal almost exclusively used whenever it is obtainable.
Keokuk County 666
Keokuk County. Although in recent years Keokuk county has dropped out of the list of important producers yet during the 80 and early 90 it ranked as one of the most important coal districts in the state. At the time of White's survey Keokuk was of no prominence as a producer, but when the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern, now a part of the* Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, built in to What Cheer, a number of large mines were opened and a large output began. One of the earliest and largest operators was the Starr Coal Company. Their mine was equipped with steam hoist and railroad track scales and employed over 200 men. The capacity of the first mine was about 1,000 tons per day. This company operated three mines and in 1883 consolidated with a number of smaller operators in the district. In 1884 the Chicago and North- Western Railroad Company built a branch line from Belle Plaine through What Cheer to Muchakinock and thus gave ' the district an outlet to the north. At this time there were twenty mines in the county, eleven of them at What Cheer. In 1886 and '87 the mines of the Starr Coal Company and the Granger Coal Company were acquired by the What Cheer Coal Company. At the time of the consolidation over 1,100 miners and laborers were employed in the mines concerned. Mines were operated by this company in the vicinity of What Cheer and to the north of it until 1899. They were equipped with the best machinery; Harrison mining machines were in use, and fans were used for ventilation. The company operated a total of twelve shafts of which number seven were acquired at the consolidation and five were sunk subsequently.
Another of the large operators was the Crescent Coal Company. This company took over two mines in 1885 and worked them for a number of years. In 1894, after these had been exhausted, two mines were sunk northwest of What Cheer. Number 4 was for several years the best producer in the county, but was abandoned in 1901.
Among the local mines have been a number of quite important producers. Thomas Thompson has been operating near What Cheer since 1893 and the Pioneer Coal Co. operated in the vicinity of Thomburg and What Cheer from 1889 to 1897. A number
566 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
of mines have also been worked in the neighborhood of Delta, Sigoumey and Biehland. At present there are only a few local mines in the county and these are all located near What Cheer.
Mahaska Cov/nty. This was one of the first counties in which coal was known although for some years not much use was made of it. As early as 1843 the farmers knew of the presence of coal but none was used for some time except by the blacksmiths, who found it convenient for their forges. When Owen made his trip up the Des Moines in 1847 Mr, Morgan was working a four-foot bed in the bluffs of Muchakinock creek three miles above Eddyville. It was not long after this that Robert Seevers opened a bank east of Oskaloosa, for he came here in 1853 and began ming soon after. John and James Burdess also opened a mine near Beacon in 1862. The Seever mine was opened in a valley three or four feet below the bed of the creek and struck a four-foot bed of coal. This, like all the early mines, was a drift where the coal had been exposed by erosion. These mines were begun before there was any railroad in the vicinity and hence their trade was local. Later other mines were opened around Eddyville, Pekay, etc., and showed that the coal lay in basins. There was a thin vein of cannel coal found near Oskaloosa and a heavy vein near Given, which runs out into the Des Moines river. A wide has been located running northeast-southwest under Oskaloosa, and several mines have run into it from both sides.
By 1867, at the time of Whitens investigations, a number of mines had been opened up. In the north part of the county a four-foot bed of coal was being mined, along Spring creek near Oskaloosa were a number of banks and at Oskaloosa Station, now Beacon, on the Des Moines Valley railroad, two and a half miles from the city, the thickest coal bed then known in the state was being worked. This seam measured from five to nearly eight feet of good and solid coal. The principal operators were Messrs. Eoberts and Co. and the Iowa Coal Co. of Keokuk. Their mines had car tracks laid from the station platform of the railroad directly into the rooms so that the mules pulled the loaded cars from the face to the station, where the coal was dumped into cars for shipment. White further states that these
Mahaska Coonty 667
mines shipped daily 2,500 bushels of coal besides a considerable quantity of coke, of good qimlity, which they have lately conunenced preparing for shipment.'
Several other openings had been made at this time, near Given, where the Iowa Coal Co. had mines, and all along Muchakinock creek down to Eddyville were small drifts. In conclusion White makes the prediction that ''There is no reasonable doubt that the whole ridge between the creek before named (Muchakinock) and the Des Moines river is underlaid by at least one good bed of coal, and indeed it is quite as conclusive that the higher lands of the greater part of the county are so imderlaid. ' While this has proven to be true Muchakinook valley has been from the earliest times the seat of the greatest activity in the county.
The next move in the development of the coal fields was made by Messrs. W. A. and H. W. McNeill, of Oskaloosa. These men, after abandoning their mines in Monroe county, moved to the Muchakinock valley in the spring of 1875. They incorporated under the name of the Iowa Central Coal Co., opened up a sixfoot vein five miles south of Oskaloosa and ran in a siding from the Iowa Central railroad, which had built up the valley in 1873. A year or two later the firm reorganized under the name of the Consolidation Coal Co. and absorbed another mine which was being operated in the valley by Messrs. Huggings and Bonifield of Ottumwa, also the Black Diamond mines of Coalfield, Monroe county, and a mine just west of Beacon known as the Eureka mine which had been opened by Mr. Evans of Beacon. The consolidation made this company the largest in the county. In 1878 they had 400 men in their employ.
This company continued the operation of the. above mines until 1880, at which time the Chicago and North- Western Bailroad Co. bought it. I'he mines were operated by this company under the management of J. E. Buxton until their exhaustion in 1890 when the camp was moved to Monroe county. The headquarters were at the camp of Muchakinock where the stores and offices were located and around which were the early mines. Nine mines were worked here, of which number 9 was the first to have electric haulage. The rack rail system was used. About
568 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
a year before the North-Westem assumed control the previous management had trouble with the union and shipped in colored miners. These have been employed by the company ever siDce. The white miners were chiefly Hungarians and Swedes.
That the question of car supply is not one of recent origin is shown by an experience of the original Consolidation Coal Co. In 1875 the output of the Black Diamond mines, 100 tons per day, was considered somewhat phenomenal and was about the largest in the state. But a few years later the question of supplying empties to the different mines arose and the railway, in order to determine the needs of the different mines, advised the owners that each mine, in its turn, would be furnished all the empties it could load in ten hours. When the turn of the Consolidation company came they tried to convince the train dispatcher that he was not giving them a large enough supply. In spite of his assurance to the contrary they were compelled to stop loading at three o'clock after having loaded their quota of 100 cars with lump coal. Cars of that day had a capacity of ten tons.
While the McNeills were operating so extensively a nmnber of other mines were being opened in different parts of the county. Chief among these were the Acme and the Standard, both within the ' corporate limits of Oskaloosa. After the sale of the Consolidation the Messrs. McNeill, together with Ezekiel Clark of Iowa City and J. K. Graves of Dubuque, organized the Western Union Fuel Co. and bought both of the above mines, which they worked for a few years, until their exhaustion.
In the meantime the McNeill Brothers had, in 1884, organized the American Coal Co. and had taken over two mines at Evans, on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, the old Des Moines Valley. These mines had been opened by Evan Evans of Beacon and Wesley Redhead of Des Moines and had a combined daily output of 100 tons. On account of its not being properly cleaned the dealers had refused to handle the coal with the result that the mines were practically idle. By properly cleaning the coal the new management were able to convince the Railroad Co. and the trade that the quality was really high, and after closing one of the mines they pushed the other up to
Mahaska County 659
a capacity of 1,000 tons per day. This mine and others in the vicinity were operated by the McNeills until with the sale of the American Coal Co. in 1901 to Messrs. W. T. Phillips of Oskaloosa and Harry Bnrkes of Montreal, Canada, they dropped out of the mining industry in Iowa.
During these years John Bnrdess, who had been one of the pioneer operators, was still carrying on the work near Oskaloosa. He operated until 1888 when his mine was purchased by the Oskaloosa Coal Co. The Iowa Coal Co. also continued operatmg in the Muchakinock valley until into the 80 when the Beacon Coal Co. acquired their property. During the early years of mining activity in the Muchakinock valley Beacon was the largest mining town in Iowa but by 1885 its importance had so decreased that there were only a few mines at work in a very small way.
About 1875 or 76 the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Co. opened up a mine at Excelsior, about three miles south of Oskaloosa. Three mines were operated, under the name of the Excelsior Coal Co., and reached a capacity of 1,500 to 1,600 tons a day. Finally the supply was exhausted and the plant was moved to Carbonado, three miles east of Oskaloosa, in 1890. At these new mines self-dumping cages and quick methods of loading box cars were installed. They were operated until 1898 when the coal became exhausted and the company abandoned mining operations in the county.
The Oskaloosa Coal and Mining Company was organized in 1888 and operated four mines near Oskaloosa. These are all worked out and the company ceased operations in 1905. It ranked among the largest producers of the county.
Several mines were opened in 1890, among them that of W. A. Hoover, at Carbonado, on a switch from the Iowa Central. A double hoisting engine raised coal from a six-foot vein, but as the field was limited the mine closed after two years of work. Another mine which was opened in the same year was the Garfield mine of Geo. Ramsay and Sons. This had connections with the Rock Island and Iowa Central railroads at Beacon, and soon reached a capacity of 600 to 1,000 tons. Tail-rope haulage was used underground. The same firm also opened two mines near
660 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Knoxville Junction, or Evans, one of which is still in operation.
In 1892 the Whitebreast Fuel Co. opened its mine No. 28, at Pekay and rapidly brought it to the front rank. Five feet of coal was found at a depth of ninety-six feet and 275 men were employed to furnish an output of 700 tons and more daily. The mine was worked until 1906 when it was abandoned. At present this company operates no mines in Iowa.
In 1895, the Lost Creek Coal Co. established a camp at Lost Creek and sank a mine, with a private road from the camp to the Iowa Central and Burlington and Western, now the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, railroads. The company operated three mines which were very important producers. Within a year from the beginning of operations 215 men were employed. The mines were abandoned about 1-906.
The extension of the Chicago and North-Westem railroad across the Des Moines river and into the Buxton district in 1900 gave a great impetus to mining in the southwestern part of the county. W. S. White and other What Cheer operators transferred the Crescent Coal Co. from What Cheer to Oskaloosa and opened extensive mines at White City. The Eex Fuel Co., also composed of What Cheer men, located near Bussey. Mines were opened at Lakonta near Buxton and at Eveland. Other mines have been opened west of Oskaloosa by the Garfield Coal Co., the Bolton-Hoover Coal Co., and others, and numerous mines, of greater or less importance, have been opened in nearly all parts of the county.
Mahaska early took a prominent place among the coal counties and for many years held first rank. From 1883 to 1900 she consistently yielded over 1,000,000 tons annually and was the only county to reach this mark. In 1901 Polk and Monroe surpassed her and she has since declined to fourth place although in 1908 she was one of the few leaders to show an increased output over the preceding year.
During the period of Mahaska greatest activity the price paid for mining coal did not vary greatly from seventy-five cents per ton, for lump coal. The size of screens was, in early years, determined by the miners and operators at each mine. Later screens with a space of one and one-fourth inches between bars
Marion County 561
have been the standard. The men were paid once a month, generally on the Saturdays nearest the twentieth of the month. At present the practice of semi-monthly payments is in conmion use.
Marion County. It has long been realized that the coal beds of Marion county were among the most extensive in the state. But in spite of this the county has never ranked very high as a producer. Only once previous to 1902 did the output exceed 200,000 tons and never has it approached very close to 400,000 tons. This is due not to the lack or poor quality of the coal nor to the difficulty of securing it, but to the comparative lack of transportation facilities. The largest producers today, the Mammoth Vein Coal Co., are served by a switch over seven miles long, and with this exception the two southern tiers of townships do not have a railroad save along the northern and eastern borders. However, coal has been mined in a small way for over sixty years and in recent years some quite important mines have been opened within the county. When Owen was in Iowa he noted that in section 16, Liberty township, was a fivefoot bed of good coal, which could be used for working cast steel. This is in the same locality as the beds since exploited so extensively by the company mentioned above. Nine years after, in 1856, Worthen found a small bank working in a bed of coal up to seven feet thick, on the south bank of the Des Moines river in Polk township. This was at a village called Coalport and here the first mines of any consequence were opened, for in these days when steamers passed up the river this village was one of the most important coaling stations between Eddyville and Des Moines. With the cessation of navigation, however, these mines, which had before been operated at a profit, were closed down, and now only a few old buildings mark the site of the once prosperous village. It is not even given a place on the modem maps.
After this very little was done until the late 60 's. Then when White came into Marion county in 1867 he found quite a number of banks opened up near Otley, Pella, Knoxville, Marysville and elsewhere. He noted that a mile above Marysville Jacob Kline
662 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
had opened a mine in which the coal had a thickness of ten feet, although it was seen to be divided by a thin clay parting three feet from the top. This is evidently the Mammoth Vein. Almost every tributary of the Des Moines had exposed beds of coal in its banks and many of these were being utilized for a local trade. The beds exposed along English creek were being vigorously exploited and the successors of these pioneers today are finding the deposits no less valuable.
When the State Mine Inspector made his first report, in 1881, he found that the chief mines then in operation were Flagler No. 5, owned by the Union Coal and Mining Co., the Oak Hill
mine, also near Flagler, and the mine of J. T. James and Co. of Knoxville. The Union Coal and Mining Co. opened up mines near Flagler about 1870. The mines were connected with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad and were among the most important in the county. Number 5 was a drift, opened in coal so high that mules of ordinary size were employed for haulage. Railroad scales were used for weighing the screened coal. Forty miners were employed and 130 tons per day were raised. In 1887 the company installed new mine cars with a capacity of one ton. The mine was worked until about 1888. The Oak Hill mine was also a drift in coal eight and nine feet thick and had a capacity of 125 tons daily. Mine cars holding 1,000 pounds were used.
About 1883 the Red Rock Coal and Mining Co. bought 4,000 acres of land near Dunreath and prepared to install one of the largest mining plants in the state. But the land was bought without thorough prospecting, on the old theory that the coal lay in extensive beds and that an exposure in the bluflFs indicated a widespread deposit. Hence the enterprise never materialized.
The Whitebreast Fuel Co, also operated two mines in this vicinity. One of these was located at Flagler. It was a slope known as No. 11, and employed the tail-rope system of haulage. The other mine. No. 7, was a shallow shaft, located at Swan, in the northwest corner of the county. The equipment was of the highest order in accordance with the practice of the company It was operated only two or three years and was closed in 1888.
Jasper 663
During this time, however, it was an important producer and as many as 285 men were employed. Number 11 was abandoned about 1892, as the coal, which was in a lenticular basin and was fourteen feet thick centrally, thinned in all directions until it became too much attenuated for profitable mining. Both mines shipped all their output over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad.
Other important mines in the county were the Black Swan, at Swan, operated by Thomas Beck of Des Moines ; the Black Diamond at Dunreath ; the Otley mines of the Marion County Coal and Mining Co., and the Morgan Valley mine of the Midland Coal and Mining Co. These were all shipping mines and in addition local mines were operated in every township of the county.
By 1898 the scene of greatest activity had moved to the vicinity of Hamilton and Bussey. For a long time there had been mines in the vicinity and by 1891 J. A. Powers was operating the Bussey mine. He carried on extensive prospecting in Liberty township and finally the Mammoth Vein Coal Co. was organized about 1903 and succeeded the 0. K. Coal Co., which had been operating in the region. Mr. Powers is president of the new company. Eleven mines have been worked near Marysville and are connected by a long switch with the Wabash railroad at l?racy, seven miles distant. Mr. Powers also owns a mine at HamDton which was opened in 1902 but was discontinued for some years. It is now being prepared for reopening with a new shaft by which coal will be removed from the old workings. The Mammoth Vein Coal Co. are at present the largest operators in the county and one of the largest in the state. The English Creek Coal Co. which sank their mine near Flagler in 1906 are also among the important producers of the county.
Jasper County. The presence of coal became known 'to the pioneers of Jasper county in 1847 when it was discovered cropping out in the valley of Coal creek on the farm of Hugh Patterson. It was found also near Vandalia soon afterwards. About eight miles west of Newton on Skunk river, coal was mined in a fairly extensive way at Slaughter's coal bank in 1857 when Whitney studied the geology of Central Iowa. The bed was about four
5e4 HISTORY OF COAL BONINO IN IOWA
feet thick and the coal was not thought to be of very high quality, although in later years it acquired a high reputation. The slope was operated until 1895. Earlier than this Owen had mentioned the use of coal for blacksmithing purposes from a three-foot seam near the Skunk river.
While mining was carried on from early years in a desultory sort of way it was not until the 70 's that work really began on a commercial scale. The first shipping mine in the county was the Watson No. 1, opened four miles east of Colfax and three miles south of the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific railroad, with which it was connected by a long switch. John Aberheardt was president of the company and James Miller superintendent The mine had a large output and was sold after a number of years to C. F. Godfrey and Co. Two years after the opening of Watson No. 1, the Couch mine of the Jasper County Coal and Railway Co., three miles south of Newton, was put in operation and shipped over the Monroe branch of the Bock Island. When the State Mine Inspector made his first report this mine was the largest in the county. Its main entries had been driven in 2,000 feet and seventy tons per day were being brought out. Steam power was used for hauling coal out of the slope. D. S. Couch, part owner and superintendent, was interested in Jasper county mines for a number of years. In 1881 he bought an extensive tract of land three miles above Colfax on the South Skunk river, ran a switch known as the Northern Railroad out from the town, and opened up an extensive slope. Soon after this several other mines were opened here by the Standard Fuel Co., the Vulcan Coal Co., the Black Heath Mining Co., and others, and the Chicago Great Western Railroad Co. built a switch from their line at Valeria to provide a northern outlet for these mines. From 1887 to 1893 the Jasper County Coal and Railway Co. operated several quite important mines at a camp named Draper, a few miles east of Monroe. These were among the few mines in the county which were worked longwall. After 1893 they were worked in a small way by Robert Marshall, until 1897. From 1881 to 1900 the Jasper County Coal and Railway Co., later the Jasper County Coal Co., operated a number of mines on the property north of Colfax which Mr. Couch,
Jasper County 666
its former superintendent, had bought. Then, after extensive prospecting it located shaft No. 5 three miles south of Colfax and built in a line of railroad to connect with the Iowa Northern at Colfax. As the company had acquired the branch of the Chicago Great Western from Valeria it now had connections with both the Bock Island and the Great Western, which opened np a splendid market to the north and east. In 1900 the company sank shaft No. 6, which was equipped with the latest and most approved machinery, including a Christy box car loader. Two hundred and seventy men were employed at this mine. Mine number 5 was abandoned the same year after mining out fifty to sixty acres of coal.
At the same time the Colfax Coal Mining Co., organized in 1899, had sunk a shaft sixty feet deep two miles east of the Jasper county mines and the railroad, now the Colfax Northern, was continued to their mine. This field, southeast of Colfax, soon proved to be the most productive area of Jasper county and has been developed more vigorously than any other part of the comity. With its exploitation Jasper county emerged from the comparative quiescence of the few years precedijig and again became an important producer.
In 1902 the Colfax Consolidated Coal Co. was organized by a consolidation of the two companies above mentioned. This concern has since operated three mines in this field ; mine No. 6 of the Jasper County Coal Co., No. 1 of the Colfax Coal Co., which is now No. 7 of the present company; and Nd. 8, which was opened in 1905. This is one of the largest and best mines in the state, is equipped with electric lighting and haulage in the main entry and has an installation of the most modem*machinery. The camp of Seevers, which was built originally by the Colfax Coal and Mining Co., is located between Numbers 7 and 8 and furnishes accommodations for a number of the miners.
One of the earliest operators in the county was William Snooks, who opened a shaft near Newton in 1886 and has operated here continuously ever since to supply the local trade. Newton is the oldest district in the county and has produced a great deal of coal during its history.
566 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
The Warrick Brothers operate a slope near Colfax and have been supplying a local trade since 1903. The Diamond Coal Co. has been supplying the Industrial School at Mitchellville since 1905. There have been a large number of other operators who supply a local trade.
During the last twenty years wages have advanced somewhat, in line with the general trend of business. In the 80 's the price of mining was seventy-five cents per ton in summer and eightyseven and one-half cents in winter. At present ninety-five cents is paid in the Oskaloosa district and $1.00 in the Des Moines district. Formerly the operators could sell to the railroad at fifty cents above the mining price but they cannot do so now. Although selling prices have advanced in recent years coal is sold at closer margins than formerly due to the increased costs of mining.
Polk County. The discovery of coal in this county is credited to the soldiers stationed at Fort Des Moines. The exact date of the discovery does not seem to have been recorded, but it was about 1840. The soldiers dug coal from the vein still exposed in the river bank near the Center street dam, and also near Barlow Granger *s, south of the Coon. The coal was used first by the blacksmiths at the Fort. In 1843 Captain Allen and A. N. Hays opened a coal shaft and stone quarry on the banks of the Des Moines, but the coal was in very slight demand as wood was plentiful. One of the earliest transactions in the coal industry occurred in April, 1847, when A. D. Jones presented a bill for eighty-eight bushels of coal furnished the county clerk. The bill was refused, however. What recourse Mr. Jones had is not stated.
There was very little coal used in the county until 1865. It was gathered here and there along the bluffs in wheelbarrows and dumped into wagons. Thirty bushels were called a load, without weighing. Mr. Wesley Redhead, realizing the need of intelligent prospecting and development, organized a coal company in November of 1864 and began the first systematic mining, in August of the next year Mr. Redhead, in company with a number of other men whose names are well known in local history, organized the Des Moines Coal Company and opened
Polk County 567
Up a slope north of town on the west side of the river. This was operated a number of years until the pocket became exhausted. Then in January of 1873 Mr. Bedhead, who had bought out the mterests of the other members of the firm, began prospecting on his land west of South Park near the south end of the West Seventh street bridge. Mr. Redhead was convinced that coal occurred below the upper vein which was being worked, and having employed John Gibson as foreman, he began drilling. After penetrating three thin beds of coal and a dense limestone layer a five-foot bed of coal was reached on June 2d at a depth of 150 feet. The Black Diamond mine was at once sunk and equipped with the best machinery available, including a boiler and two horizontal engines. Forty men were employed m a short time, and a branch was run from the Indianola railroad. In 1867, when the Chicago, Bock Island and Pacific railroad was built to Des Moines, the Des Moines Coal Company was producing one or two cars per day, but by 1876 twenty car loads per day were being furnished and 150 men were employed. The name of the company was changed in 1874 to the Pioneer Coal Company and the mine was given the same name. It was one of the most important in the district and worked out a large area.
Two years after the Des Moines Coal Company began work the Watson Coal Company was organized and sank a shaft on East Fifteenth street by the Bock Island tracks. A number of the officers and directors of this company were from the east- The same company operated mines at Centerville. It was one of the largest operators in Polk county, and from June 1, 1875, to , June 1, 1876, mined 1,113,967 bushels which were sold for $100,257.
In the autumn of 1867 Messrs. A. T. Bawson and Vincent sank a shaft near the old Des Moines Coal Company's workings, and the next spring Thomas and Joseph Beck opened a shaft near Mercy Hospital. After operating for a year they sold it to T. D. Yeoman and Dr. Howe, who ran it for a year. During this time Thomas Beck opened the Eclipse mine on the south side. The Eclipse Coal Company was organized October 1, 1873, with T. D. Yeoman as general manager and Thomas Beck as mine superintendent.
668 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
The Eureka shaft, also on the south side, was opened by Messrs. Story and Davis in 1871 and a few years later the Eureka Coal Co., of which Norman HasMns was president, took possession and installed new machinery. This mine was worked for over twenty years. In 1874 Messrs Clark and Sypher sank a mine, later known as the Polk County, on the Indianola railroad a mile and a half from the Courthouse, and in 1875 it was bought by John Gibson. He operated it for several years and later sold it to Wesley Bedhead, then he commenced working east of the Capitol. A number of other mines were worked in the 70 *s, most of them on the south side, with two or three on the east side and as many north of town. Only a few small drifts were worked east of the Capitol previous to 1870. By 1876 about 500 men were employed in ihe mines and 150,000 tons were produced annually, about one-half of which was shipped. Nine to ten cents per bushel was received for export coal and thirteen to fourteen cents for that sold locally. Some of the larger mines employed steam hoist and mule haulage was in general use underground. About 1870 the office of County Inspector of Mines was established in Polk county and Mr. Beadle was appointed the first inspector. He occupied the position for two years and was succeeded by Daniel Bees. The office was continued for about three years and then seems to have been abolished.
Ta 1879 George Garver and John Walters began mining m east Des Moines and sank two shafts within a short time. These were Giant numbers 1 and 2, located at Sixteenth and Walker and Twentieth and Grand respectively. They were among the largest of the early mines on the east side, a locality which was to play a very important part in the mining industry of the county. In a few years Mr. Garver with other men had opened several other mines in different parts of town, among them the Garver mine, the Des Moines Coal Company mine and others. In later years Mr. Garver sons, Henry F. and C. M., have been associated with him and at present are the active members of the Enterprise Coal Company. During the early 80 's most of the mines were working the first or second*' veins. Only a few had sunk to the third,'* among them the Eureka and
Polk County 569
Giant number 1. Prospecting was done with ohnm drills. Few of the mines had advanced beyond the furnace method of ventilation. The Pioneer, the Eclipse and the Giant mines were among the first to install fans. Miners were paid $1.25 per ton for their coal, drivers received $1.75 per day and common laborers $1.50 to $1.60.
It was not until about 1885 that the industry began to extend much beyond the corporation limits. About this time the Walnut Creek Coal and Mining Company opened a mine four miles west of Des Moines on a narrow gauge railroad running north from town, the Altoona Coal and Mining Company sank a shaft at Altoona on the Bock Island, and the Wabash Coal Company and Bunnell s Coal Company began work at Hastie and Bunnells respectively on the line of the Wabash railroad. At that time the Altoona mine was the deepest in the county, reaching a four-foot vein of fairly hard coal at 211 feet. A year or two later the Polk City Coal Co. opened a small 238 feet deep at Polk City to supply the local trade. This was one of the few mines in the county that was worked on the longwall plan. On the south side the Coon Valley, opened in 1879, and later the Manbeck mine, both superintended by Thomas Beck, were doing an extensive shipping and local business. Mr. Beck has been an active operator in this field for over forty years. From this time on mines were opened in all directions. About 1890 the Bloomfield Coal Company began work just north of Des Moines and the Maple Grove Coal and Mining Company was organized and opened a mine northeast of town.
By 1893 there were twenty-three mines in operation. Of these twenty were shipping mines and eighteen were using steam hoist while all but two were using mule haulage underground. The two exceptions were the J. M. Christy and the Eureka Coal Companies, which used tail-ropes below. The financial stringency of that year affected the industry to a considerable extent, as the local demand, both industrial and domestic, was materially reduced and consequently outside markets had to be sought and coal sold at a lower price. Instead of the operators receiving $1.75 to $2.00 per ton at the mines they were forced to sell to the railroads at $1.25 to $1.50. Of necessity the prices paid
570 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
for mining were diminished accordingly. Nevertheless there were several important producers opened about this time, among them the West Eiverside Nos. 1 and 2, Keystone Nos. 1 and 2 and Gibson number 2, the latter located four miles east of the Capitol. Other operators who began about this time and who are still prominent are the Flint Brick, Eagle, Saylor and Evans. At the same time the Merchant mine was opened up at Commerce and was worked longwall.
During the closing years of the last century the larger mines of the county were located some distance from the center of population along the different lines of railway. To the east, on the Eock Island, were the Christy, employing 235 men ; the Carbondale, five miles east of Des Moines, employing 225 men ; the Gibson No. 2, east of the Carbondale and giving employment to 100 men. To the north, on the Chicago and North- Western, were the Des Moines Coal and Mining Company mine at Marquisville, at which 275 men were working, and the Saylor No. 1, at Saylor, one of the best equipped mines in the state. Northeast of town on the Chicago Great Western railroad was the Maple Grove number 2, where 90 men were employed. The numerous local mines of the county have always ranked high in their equipment and their output, as they supply a large domestic and steam trade and compare in size with many of the shipping mines. Some of the mines were equipped to handle a daily output of 1,000 tons. In the biennial periofl ending June 30, 1901, there were employed in and about the mines 1,770 men, who were paid wages amounting to $2,007,360. During this same period there were produced 1,800,000 tons of coal. It can be readily seen from these statements what a large growth the mining industry enjoyed in the quarter of a century subsequent to 1876. During more recent years a number of very important mines have been opened. The Des Moines Coal and Mining Company opened up two large mines at Enterprise in the northem part of the county, the first in 1903 and the second in 1907. The mine at Marquisville was abandoned after a serious fire had stopped operations, and the company assumed the name of the Enterprise Coal Company. The Evans mine has been worked by the Norwood Coal and Mining Company for the past eight
Dallas County 571
years, and the Smith-Lowe Coal Company have operated the old Carbondale mines during the same period. The Gibson Coal Company abandoned its mines east of Des Moines and opened Nmnber 4, two miles west of Altoona, in 1902. This was worked out and abandoned a year or so ago and a new mine has been developed near Clive, west of Des Moines. The Maple Grove Coal Company has changed its name to the Maple Block Coal Company and has opened mine number 2 northeast of Des Moines. There are also a number of new mines which are described elsewhere in this volume.
In the matter of equipment the mines of the county take rank second to none. This will apply to the local as well as to the shipping mines. Of late years all have had steam hoist and fan ventilation, with one or two exceptions, and the top works are modem and adequate for the heavy demands made on them. With the exception of the Commerce and Polk City mines all have been worked room and pillar. Machine mining hfis never been in general use. Machines were installed at Runnells and at Morgan Valley, just over the line in Marion county, sixteen or seventeen years ago, but were not very successful. Another attempt was made to put them to service at Carbondale about twelve years ago with the same results. They are being used at present in a few mines within the county. Electric haulage has had a similar experience. Few plants have been extensive enough to make its installation advisable or its operation profitable.
Dallas Cotmty. Although Dallas has not until very recent years yielded a large output of coal, she has during most of her history been a consistent producer and has contributed a not inconsiderable quota to the state's total. For over forty years coal has been mined from the banks and bluffs of her streams and in a number of cases deep prospecting has revealed the presence of greater and better stores of fuel. By 1867, at the time of St. John's work in western Iowa, coal was being removed from a bank just below Redfield on the lands of J. W. Redfield. The coal was nearly three feet thick and was of fair quality. Some coal was also furnished for blacksmith use from the Marshall coal near Van Meter, but the bed did not exceed six inches
672 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
in thickness. Two miles above Bedfield the Panora coal was being utilized to some extent at the Parker and Piatt mines, although this vein also did not exceed six inches in thickness. A few miles north of these mines, along the middle Baccoon, the Lonsdale coal, here eighteen inches thick, was being mined in a small way by stripping. North of Adel a few miles a thin bed of coal had been worked for a number of years, and on Walnut creek, in the eastern part of the county, the Marshall coal had been opened to some extent. These examples show that the value and extent of the coal beds were already appreciated although nothing seems to have been known of deeper veins.
By 1878 the Chicago and Van Meter Coal Coippany had sunk a shaft to a three-foot vein at a depth of '256 feet. In 1879 the engine house burned down and entirely new machinery was installed. Steam hoist was used and machines driven by compressed air were employed for cutting the coal. This was the first deep mine in the county and for some time was the only one of consequence. It was opened by Messrs. Boag and Van Meter, but Messrs. J. L. Piatt and J. M. Thompson acquired it soon after. At first both room and pillar and longwall methods of mining were used, but by 1883 the longwall method obtained all through the mine as it proved to be more profitable in the thinner veins of western Iowa. In 1879 fifty men were employed and 1,000 bushels were raised per day. Lump coal sold at nine cents per bushel and nut for eight cents. The Chicago, Bock Island and Pacific Bailroad used twenty-four tons daily and the remainder of the output was shipped westward or sold locally.
About 1893 the Piatt Pressed and Fire Brick Company was established and the plant built close by the Van Meter mine. The two were worked in co-operation and the clay for the plant was taken from between the first and second veins of coal. In later years the entire output of the mine was used at the brick plant. The mine was abandoned in 1902.
During these early years Calwell's slope at Bedfield was employing sixteen men and 350 bushels were being mined per day from a three and one-half foot bed of coal. Quite a number of shafts were in operation around Bedfield in the 80 's and some coal was being mined near Bayard and Linden. In 1870 Frank
Guthrie County 573
West of New York had begun prospecting in Des Moines township and finally sank a forty-foot shaft in section 14, not far from the location of the leading mines of Dallas county today. In 1886 a new field was opened up at Dawson, in the extreme northwest part of the county. Here the Dawson Coal Co. sank a seventy-six foot shaft a few hundred yards from the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. This reached an upper vein and the company at once sank a larger shaft to a lower four-foot vein at 160 feet. Steam hoist, fan ventilation and self-dumping cages were used, ninety miners were employed and most of the coal was sold to the railroads. The mine was an important producer until 1901.
About 1901 the Carpenter Coal Co. sank a mine between Madrid and Woodward, one and one-half miles south of the Milwaukee railway. This plant was equipped with electric mining apparatus, modem machinery and had good shipping facilities for reaching a northwestern market. It immediately assumed a position in the front rank of producers in central Iowa.
At this same time the Beese Brothers Coal Co. sank two shafts in the neighborhood of Madrid and equipped them with steam power. From this time on Madrid assumed an increasing importance as a mining center, although Hutchinson Brothers, the Dawson Coal Co., operated an important mine two miles west of Dawson. In the fall of 1906 the Carpenter Brothers, under the name of the Scandia Coal Co., opened a large mine at Scandia, and the High Bridge Coal Co. recently sank a shaft at High Bridge, both in the north part of the county. With the entrance of these operators into the field Dallas again assumed an position. In 1907 her production rose from 5,500 tons of the previous year to 70,000 tons and in 1908 this was raised to 174,600 tons. New territory is being constantly prospected and new deposits revealed and it seems safe to prophesy a splendid future for Dallas county's coal industry.
Guthrie Coimty. Coal was early mined over the entire eastern part of this county to supply the local demand. As early as 1867 there were banks opened in the bluffs of the Middle Raccoon from its entrance into the county to Fanslers and Panora in
J
574 HISTORY OF COAL BilNING IN IOWA
the eastern part. The Marshall coal was opened up in the southeast part of the county along South Baccoon, on Deer creek, on Beaver creek and on Long branch. The Marshall mines on Long branch and the Lonsdale mine on Deer creek were among the most important then in operation and gave their names to the horizons mined. The Marshall coal was of excellent quality, free from impurities and bright and brittle. The Lonsdale was also a good domestic coal and proved a boon to the dwellers of the prairies.
In 1885 there were twenty-three mines operating along the Middle and South Baccoon rivers and their tributaries in the eastern part of the county. All were purely local. Among the most important was the Clipper mine owned by Marchant and Winters and located near Fanslers. It was 126 feet deep and pierced a two-foot vein which was worked longwall. A feature unusual among the small mines was the use of storage sheds, which equalized the demand on the miners and insured a supply adequate to the demand. Several of the mines near Fanslers were from sixty to eighty feet deep. Those farther to the east were generally shallow shafts or drifts. A mine which supplied an important trade at Panora was that of D. D. Bees, 100 feet deep, working an eighteen-inch vein. About 1891 W. D. Simon opened the Greenbriar mine near Jamaica. It was sixty-eight feet deep to a coal bed two feet four inches thick, and was the only mine in the county worked room and pillar. Steam hoist was utilized for some time and was the only installation of the kind in the county. At this time coal was selling for $2.50 to $3.00 per ton at the mine and the miners received six cents per bushel. The mines have always had a brisk trade in the winter and owing to the lack of storage facilities have often not been able to keep up with the demand as the coal was especially adapted for domestic use.
All the mines above mentioned are still in operation and of late years a number of others have been located near Yale in tjie same field as the Jamaica mines and near Bayard and Bagley. In consequence of these developments the industry has assumed quite an importance, although the output is not large as compared with some of the other counties and the county has never had a shipping mine.
Boone County 575
Story County. Story has never been an important producer of coal and at only a few points, chiefly in the northern part of the comity, have serious attempts been made to obtain it. One of the earliest of these was three miles southeast of Collins, near the southwestern part of the county. Here the Collins Fuel Co. in the sunmier of 1885 sank a shaft 150 feet to a three and onehalf foot vein of coal. This was of excellent quality and the demand always exceeded the supply. The mine was last operated in 1896 by Marshall and Crowe of Boone county. Prospecting proved that the bed had a considerable extent to the south and east. Desultory attempts were made to develop the coal resources of the county near McCallsburg in the northern part of the county and near Gilbert, on the western edge of the county on Squaw creek. About 1899 two local mines were worked at the latter locality by the Zenorsville Coal Co. and Hutchinson Brothers. At the former place a three-foot vein was found and operations were carried on in a crude way for several winters.
The most important operations in the county were carried on at Summit, midway between Gilbert and Story City* In 1892 and *93 the North Star Coal and Mining Co. put down a shaft 135 feet deep to a four and one-half foot bed of excellent coal. The mine was equipped with modem top-works, a steam fan was used and the room and pillar plan was pursued in mining the coal. The creep of the underlying fire clay caused considerable trouble and it was not possible to win more than sixty per cent of the coal. A large local trade was supplied and in addition a considerable amount of the output was shipped over the Chicago and North- Western railroad, a spur from which was extended to the mine. Work was carried on here until about 1898. Another mine which was opened at Summit was that of Benson Brothers, the Story County Coal Co. This was opened about 1898 and also had an excellent equipment and shipping facilities over the North- Western. It was abandoned and the plant moved to Boone county in 1901.
Boone Cownty, As in the case of all the counties in which erosion has laid bare the indurated rocks and revealed the beds of coal, the fuel supplies of Boone county were early discovered and soon utilized. As early as 1849, Owen noted that the black-
676 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
smiths of the county were obtaining coal from a bed on Honey creek south of Boone. However, it was some years before mining for export was initiated. After the advent of the Chicago and North-Westem Eailroad in 1866 mining operations were pursued with vigor and Boone now ranks among the leaders in its coal output.
The first shipping mine was a slope opened in 1867 by T. N. Canfield and C. S. Taylor just west of Boonesboro. A few years later they sank a shaft 242 feet deep. Coal was hauled to the railroad, three miles, for several years. In 1874 the company was reorganized and built a spur to the main line of the North- Westem at Boone. Eventually the property was purchased and operated by the Eailroad Co. The mine was in active operation for nearly thirty years. In the same year that this mine was opened the Moingona Coal Co. opened a mine at Moingona with Wm. Blythe as superintendent. Six mines were operated by this company and for some years their output amounted to 800 or 900 tons per day. After the North-Westem Bailroad was completed to Council Bluffs the company shipped most of its product there and sold it to the Union Pacific, but when the mines at Carbon, Wyoming, were opened the Moingona company was obliged to seek new markets. For a number of years Moingona was one of the largest camps in the state and was the scene of great mining activity, but for ten years very little work has been done there.
In 1874 the Northwestern Coal and Mining Co. was organized, with Hon. J. F. Duncombe of Fort Dodge as president and Gen. G. M. Dodge as one of the shareholders. This company did an important shipping business from its mine west of Moingona for a number of years. The field has been recently exhausted.
One of the earliest mines in the county was opened about forty years ago at Hahntown by the W. D. Johnson Coal Co. This was a slope near the river bed but some time after a shaft was sunk from the top of the hill to the same vein, the "lower'' vein. The company has been operating continuously to the present time. In the early days of mining the upper vein was considered too poor in quality to be worth mining and operators all looked for the lower one. It is about 230 or 240 feet below the upland
Boone County 577
and averages four feet in thickness. At about the same time Arnold and Shepard sank a shaft to the same vein at Shepardtown and worked here for ten years. D. C. Wilbur was also one of the pioneer operators and worked several shallow shafts on the river bottoms two and one-half miles east of Boonesboro thirty years or more ago. He teamed his coal to the top of the hill and sold it locally or to the Boone trade. Another of the early operators was the firm of Birmingham and Keating, who worked the lower vein at Incline across the river from the Wilbur mines. The firm is still operating near Boone under the name of the Birmingham Coal Co.
A few years before these mines opened, about 1875 or earlier, Messrs. George Bogers and William Crowe began operations in a small way. Several shallow shafts were sunk along the river and the firm has since become one of the leading operators of the county. Mr. Crowe has retired within recent years but Mr. Bogers has continued at work. Recently the mine being operated was flooded with water and closed. Twenty-five years ago Samuel McBimie began operating in the upper vein in Mormon Hollow near Boonesboro. Later he sank mines in the lower vein at Incline. He is out of the coal business at present and is a justice of the peace. One of the largest operators in the county was the Clyde Coal Co., which sank its first shaft at Incline, west of Moingona, in 1885. At first water caused a great deal of trouble ]ut this was overcome and operations were conducted on a large scale. Both veins were worked. Mining machines of the Ingersoll punching type were installed and an incline was built across the river from the flats. Up this incline railroad oars were pulled from the mine to the railway by a large engine and cable. The Clyde Coal Co. was the only operator in the district to install mining machines. They have not proved very successful as the mines tend to squeeze and there is not enough room to operate them. Then, too, the roof is not strong enough for their use. Operations were carried on for about fifteen years, by which time the field was exhausted. The manager of the company was Hamilton Brown, who has since gone into railroad promotion enterprises, including the Newton and North-
678 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
western and several roads near Chicago. The superintendent was 0. M. Carpenter, who was later interested in the Carpenter Coal Co. and the Scandia Coal Co., of Dallas county, now owned by the Saylor Coal Co. of Des Moines.
Seventeen years ago the Zimbelman Coal Co., composed of George, Lafayette and Alfred Zimbelman, was organized and sank a shaft 220 feet deep to the upper vein. This mine is still in operation and has modem equipment. As many as 100 men have been employed here. The year before this mine was opened Heaps Brothers, James and Andrew, began work and at that time their mine was the farthest on the prairie of any of the mines in the region. The firm has been operating ever since, although both the brothers are dead. James Crowe went into the firm five years ago but was killed at the mine.
Two years ago John and Samuel Smiley and George Heaps opened a mine near Boone. Mr. Heaps has since left the firm and together with Robert Kennedy, former superintendent of the Frazer mines, and P. and W. Benson, has organized the Boone Block Coal Co., which is engaged in sinking a shaft on north Marion street, just inside the corporation limits of Boone. The shaft is to be 243 feet deep to the upper vein, which is here about three feet thick. It is the farthest on the prairie of any of the mines of this district. It has always been supposed that the upper vein thinned out under the prairie and that thousand and drift went down nearly to the lower vein. But nine holes drilled in the vicinity of the shaft showed a good vein of coal. The hole nearest which the shaft is being sunk showed :
Feet. Total.
Drift 140 140
Shale 10 180
Sandstone 9 189
Hard rock with flinty streaks 1 190
Shale, white, solid, hard, sandy 40 230
Slate, black 10 240
Coal 3 243
In the Boone district the upper vein is always worked longwall while the lower bed is mined on the room and pillar plan.
J
Boone County 679
Another district which was one of importance wds that of Squaw creek valley, which has already been discussed in connection with Story county. In the vicinity of Zenorsville several mines were sunk and a good deal of coal furnished for the local trade as far back as 1870. This coal was considered to be the best in the state. It was very pure, and rather soft. The principal mine was that of Hutchinson Brothers. James and John Hutchinson operated a slope mine on the room and pillar plan and in the winter employed over forty men, although the mine was almost idle in summer. John Clemmons operated a slope* and a shaft near the Hutchinson.
Thirty years, ago Angus was one of the most important coal camps in the state. A number of large mines were located near here, in Boone, Greene and Dallas counties, although the leading ones were in Boone. The Bock Island Bailroad built in from the south and J. J. Hill bought land and put in a railroad, th6 Fort Dodge- Angus line of the Minneapolis and St. Louis, to take out coal. At that time 2,000 miners were employed and Angus had a population of 3,000. But after a few years the miners struck for more wages, others were brought in, violence ensued and after nine months of this difficulty Hill sold his land, took up his switches, several miles in length, and the town became dead. At present there are only about 300 inhabitants and little remains to indicate the former prosperity except the numerous and switch grades, which are still in evidence over the prairie.
About the earliest miners here were the Climax Coal Company who came in 1878 and operated three shafts. These were well equipped, were ventilated by exhaust fan and used steam power for hoisting the coal. Mine No. 1 had a capacity of 300 tons daily. Another mine which operated on the Boone county side was that of the Eagle Coal Co., owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Eailroad, which began in 1883 and had connections with the Milwaukee and the Des Moines and Fort Dodge, now the Minneapolis and Saint Louis, railroads. A blower was used for ventilating the mine. It was worked out and abandoned about 1887. Since then only small mines have operated.
580 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
The recent developments in the Madrid district are affecting Boone as well as Dallas county and extensive operations may be looked for there in the near future. The same may be said of the Ogden field, where the finding of an excellent bed of coal three to five feet thick at a depth of 270 feet is already stimnlating prospecting. Deeper coals are being located than were known before arid western Boone and eastern Greene as well as northern Dallas counties may be expected to reap the benefits within a short time.
Another important district is at Frazer, where the Boone Coal and Mining Co. have operated a total of six mines since 1895. These have been well equipped and have had a large output.
Greene Cownty. The principal mines of Greene county centered around Angus although one of some importance was located at Bippey and a smaller one at Grand Junction. The leading operator at Angus was the Keystone Coal Co., which opened three mines, the first in 1878. This one was worked for ten years. Mine No. 2 was worked for some time until an inflow of water stopped operations. Number 3 was opened in 1887 and was 100 feet deep to a vein of coal four to five feet thick. From this level a slope was driven up to a higher bed a few feet above. The mine was splendidly equipped, employed fan ventilation and used three Legg machines, also a drilling machine supplied with power by a lOO-horsepower air compressor. It was worked out in 1889. The Standard mine was also a large producer for five years but was closed in 1887. John McKay was superintendent at both mines.
Several smaller mines have been operated in the vicinity for thirty years. The district had a sudden rise to prominence, enjoyed a phenomenal growth and then seemed to decline as rapidly and as completely as it developed.
Hardin County. The early settlers of northern Iowa were not slow to realize the usefulness of such bodies of coal as they discovered in the bluffs and stream valleys and hence it is not surprising to know that in Hardin coal was being used by the turning of the last century to its latter half . Abram Grimsley, the first blacksmith in Hardin county, is credited with obtaining his supply of coal from the bed of the Iowa river near Eldora as
WEBSTER OOUinT 681
early as 1851. Prior to 1854 S. B. Moran had been prospectrag and mining on a small scale near Eldora and soon afterthat date James Bnckner and Edwin Fuller began mining here. As soon as knowledge of the mines spread people came by team from Cedar Bapids, Independence, Waverly and elsewhere, distances of 100 or 125 miles, to obtain coal, as there were no railroads in that part of the state at the time. All of these early mines were drifts and were not commonly kept open more than one season to obtain a winter's supply. During the summer they would cave in and other openings would be made elsewhere.
Near Steamboat Bock coal was mined in 1857 from a drift in a vein four feet six inches thick. The entries were carried in 780 feet. One miner would pick and wheel to the drift mouth eighty-five to 125 bushels per day, for which he was paid four cents per bushel. The coal was used for fuel and for blacksmithing. Prospecting at that time was carried on by means of a spring pole and a two and one-half inch drill, operated by two men.
When "White visited this region in 1867 he found that considerable mining had been done to supply the local demand and that, for the three years preceding, the Eldora Coal Co. had been shipping coal of er the Central railroad of Iowa and the Dubuque and Sioux City railroad. The bed being mined was four feet thick.
Most of the openings in the county have been near the line between Clay and Eldora townships. These have been called collectively the ChaflSn mines and were wrought out about 1880, although a little work was carried on desultorily for ten years longer. During the period of most vigorous exploitation the ChaflBn mine proper produced annually over 4,000 tons. In the late 80 the principal mine was that of Bennett and Blair near Eldora, where fifteen miners found employment during the winter. Fourteen hundred tons of coal were produced per year. Since 1890 only one or two small mines have been opened for local use.
Webster County, Coal was known in Webster previous to 1860 as it had been discovered prior to that time by Mr. Gleason and other early settlers. Mining was initiated in the late sixties
582 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
and the first shipping mine was opened in 1870 by a company of whicli J. L. Piatt was president and in which Hon. J. F. Duncombe was interested. This mine was located on Holaday creek, several miles below Fort Dodge, and about three miles from the Illinois Central,' then the Dubuque and Sioux City railroad, which had been built through only a short time previously. The company built a tramway to the railroad and the cars were drawn by mules. Later the track was widened and steam power was substituted for the mules. In the latter part of the same year, Duncombe and Richards sank the first shaft at the locality which has since been known as Coalville. Two miles of railroad were built to connect with the Illinois Central and coal was hauled out by the company's private engine. Large shipments of coal were made from these two mines and after operating them for a few years the company sold them to the Fort Dodge Coal Company. This firm prospected most of the lands in and around Coalville and mined there for seventeen years. Seven large mines were worked and a large output was maintained. As early as 1880 machines were being used by this company and were giving good satisfaction. Fans were at the same time used in some of the' shaft mines to aflFord ventilation.
About the same time that the Fort Dodge Coal Co. began operations the Craig Coal Co. opened a number of mines at Kalo, opposite the river from Coalville. All of these early mines were drifts and relied on natural ventilation. In 1880 the Minneapolis and Saint Loiiis railroad was built down the river and gave the mines an outlet to the north. By 1883 these two companies were operating six mines and were putting out 600 tons daily. The Fort Dodge Coal Co. was employing 350 miners who dug thirty cars of coal each day. Other early producers were Collins Brothers, who operated a large shipping mine for ten years, and the Standard Coal Co., whose mines were for a time the largest producers at Kalo. Steam power was used for hoisting. At first the Collins mine was operated to supply the local trade, but in 1886, when the Mason City and Fort Dodge railroad, now a part of the Chicago Great Western system, was built near their mine, steam power was installed and a large tonnage was marketed. As many as 100 men were employed.
Webstjsb County 583
In 1895 the Pleasant Valley Coal Co. sank a shaft 105 feet at Coalville and furnished it with the best equipment possible. One hundred men were employed and large quantities of coal were shipped from a six-foot bed of coal. The vein was mined out several years ago.
The next important producer to locate in this district was the Gleason Coal Co., which sank its first shaft in 1899. Two hundred thousand tons were taken from this mine before it was abandoned in 1907. A well equipped power house was built and steam hoist was used. In 1908 the company began sinking mine No. 2, the only mine now operating in the Coalville district, a district which has been a consistent and heavy producer of coal during a period of nearly forty years. This new mine is located only about 600 feet from the first Buncombe mine and it gives promise of being a much better producer as the coal is better and thicker than in the old mine.
A great deal of coal has been taken from the Lehigh district, about seven miles southeast of Coalville. The first operator of importance in this field was Hon. W. C. Wilson of Webster City, who in 1871 opened a mine here and subsequently formed the Crooked Creek Coal and Railroad Co. This company built and still operates its own line of railroad over which its coal is hauled. Originally this was run from Judd on the Illinois Central to the mines, but now it extends to Webster City. The first mine was a slope, worked longwall and ventilated by furnace. About 1885 two slopes and in 1894 two other mines were opened.
In addition to these mines W. C. Beem opened Black Diamond Xo. 1 about 1880 and No. 2 about 1886. Both were located on Crooked creek near Lehigh and were good producers for quite a number of years. The Messrs. Corey have operated quite a number of mines since 1885 and were working as late as 1903. The Webster County Coal and Land Co. was organized about 1899 and operated a mine near Lehigh until 1902. A large number of local and shipping mines have supplied the market with abundant fuel although within recent years the number has been considerably reduced.
In early days miners were paid ninety cents per ton for screened coal. During the* last ten years about seventy cents
684 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
has been the ruling figure for run of mine. The price obtained for coal during this period has varied from $1.25 to $2.50 per ton, according to the quality of the coal and industrial conditions.
Taylor Coimty. Although the coal beds of soutliwestem Iowa are very thin their regularity and wide extent are factors which have aided in their exploitation and their distance from other fields has insured them a ready market. So far as known the first mining in the county was on the land of J. B. Foster, about two miles south of Henshaw in the bluffs of the East Nodaway. Mr. Foster had been working here for some years before White visited the region in 1866. Although the bed was only eighteen inches thick it was mined profitably as it was of good quality and was in large demand, especially by the blacksmiths. From this time on there were a number of openings made from time to time in the vicinity and also a few miles farther south, near Hawleyville. In the early 80 one of the principal operators was Gomer Beynon, whose shaft was a mile south of the Foster bank. He opened his second shaft in 1887. During this period a number of mines were opened and a considerable amount of coal was taken out. At first this was the principal locality in the county but later New Market became more prominent.
The first shaft to be sunk in the latter field was opened by John Lindsay in 1883. Unfortunately Mr. Lindsay found mining unprofitable and he soon met with financial embarrassment. The next year W. Harvey Drennen sank a shaft, but did not operate it long. In the next few years several local mines were put down. These were first worked room and pillar but later operations have all been on the semi-longwall or longwall system.
The first shipping mine was opened in 1885 by Benjamin Anderson east of New Market, on the Humeston and Shenandoah railroad, now part of the Burlington system. This shaft was 130 feet deep and the mine was worked longwall. Twenty miners were employed and for some years this was the largest mine in the county. In 1886 Boderick Campbell came to New Market and leased the Lindsay mine which he operated one year. After working another local shaft for some time he and his sons opened a mine one mile east of New Market in 1897,
Page County 586
beside the railroad right of way. At first this was a local mine but later shipping oonneotions were made and an outside market has been supplied/ The mine is still in operation and is one of the largest producers in Ihe county. In 1901 Campbell No. 2 was sunk, but so far has been used only as an air shaft. Within the next three years following the opening of his first mine Mr. Anderson had sunk two others, one of which is still in operation, although No. 1 was abandoned some years ago. About 1898 William Browning opened* a shipping mine west of the Campbell. These three are the only shipping mines in the county but several locals have been opened from time to time.
When mining first began in the New Market district seven cents per bushel was paid for mining while twelve and one-half cents was received in the market. A few years later the miner received five cents for his labor and the coal sold for ten cents per bushel. Within the last twelve years four to five and onehalf cents has been paid for mining while the operator has received from seven to eleven cents per bushel for his product. The mines of this district range in depth from sixty-five to 150 feet and are all equipped with horse hoist. Although there have been at least twenty shafts sunk in the vicinity of New Market, not over 140 acres have been mined out since operations began. These mines like those of the neighboring counties are and always have been non-union.
Page Coimty, Coal was mined in Page county in the late 50 and early 60 's, twenty or twenty-five years before the railroad went through in 1881. The first work was done at Pinhook, southeast of Clarinda, on the Nodaway river, in the neighborhood of the old Shambaugh mill. Coal was hauled from here in wagons to Omaha and Council Bluffs and Nebraska City. Twenty-five cents per bushel was charged at the mine and on the market sixty cents was received. Numerous drifts were opened here and also at other localities south of Clarinda. One of the largest of these was worked by Thomas Proser and was operated by a shaft and two slopes. It was one of the few mines in the Nodaway seam to be worked on the room and pillar plan.
By 1880 there were several mines opened near Shambaugh, five miles south of Clarinda. These were nearly all shafts and
686 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
were worked on the longwall plan. In an attempt to discover deeper coal Samuel Pinkerton drilled a hole in the bottom of his shaft, which was 110 feet deep, until he reached a depth of 400 feet but without success. None of these mines supplied more than a local trade and most of them were not worked more than two or three seasons. Wages and selling prices did not vary much from those in force today. Five to six cents per bushel were paid the miners and the operator received nine to ten cents for his coal. Practically nothing has been done at Shambaugh since 1901.
In the early years all the mines near Clarinda were located east of the town. Within the last six years, however, several shafts have been sunk west and southwest of the city and are supplying an important local trade. One of the first of these was that of Johnston and Co., which is still in operation and is the only one which uses steam hoist. The Van Arsdal mine is another which is still open. These mines gave a great impetus to the mining industry of the county and raised its production from 1,850 tons during the fiscal year 1901-1902 to 9,674 tons for the next year.
Within the last three years the Coin Coal Co. has sunk a deep shaft at Coin and has equipped it with steam hoist and jet ven-: tilation. A large local trade keeps the mine employed at its full capacity.
Adams County. Adams has been the most important coal producer of southwestern Iowa if not the pioneer in the industry. Forty-five years or more ago coal was being mined in the banks of the Middle Nodaway by stripping or openings. Carbon has been the center of the industry for many years although during the early 60 the village of Quincy, two miles east of Carbon, was the largest and most important town in the county. Here were situated the offices of the county government and a large business was carried on. But with the advent of the railroad Coming assumed the leading position and later became the county seat. Since then Quincy hag declined in importance until today it is practically without economic significance.
Two miles west from Quincy on the banks of the Nodaway the first coal was mined. John Houck was one of the first min-
Adams County 687
ers and has operated ever since until recent years. He obtained coal by stripping. When White was in southwestern Iowa in 1866 Messrs. Bamett and Smith were mining coal here and were sinking a shaft in search of deeper beds of coal. Whether they succeeded is not stated, but in view of later developments, it is not at all likely. Other pioneers were Messrs. Wirt, W. Rush and H. Bimby. The first of these worked a bank four miles down the river from Carbon at least forty years ago, and Mr. Bush was one of the first operators to sink a shaft to the coal seam. This was near the outcrop, but since then operations have been carried farther away from the river until now they are all on the east side of Carbon. A little later, about thirty years ago, came Mr. Jones, and he and his son Martin have operated shafts continuously until the present day. The younger Mr. Jones is at present developing a new mine 110 feet deep on the south edge of Carbon. In the late 70 Thomas Gabbie, who had operated the first longwall mine in the Centerville district, came to Carbon and opened a shaft. He and his brother John worked mines in the neighborhood until the close of the last century. When the Mine Inspector made his first tour of the state in 1880 and 81 there were thirteen mines in the county, all near Carbon with one exception, and 176 men were employed. Among later operators have been J. F. Wild, who has run mines here since 1889, and J. F. Euth, who has opened four mines in the past thirteen years, and whose father, William Ruth, preceded him as an operator in this field. These two, with Mr. Jones, are the only men at present working mines in the vicinity.
In the neighborhood of Briscoe, in the northwest comer of the county, mines have been worked for thirty-five years. Some of the pioneers in this field were Joseph Briscoe and George Plowman, whose mines were among the largest in the field. Mines have been opened up from time to time although at present but one operator is located here, H. K. Demirjean.
Between Briscoe and Carbon, at Eureka, several mines have been opened in the last fifteen or twenty years. James and William Hartshorn and Henry Hudspeth opened mines in the early 90 's and work has been continued there until the present. Mc-
588 History Of Coal Mining In Iowa
Kee Brothers are now working the Dixon shaft near Sitreka. Southwest of Carbon is another center of mining, at Hoyt, where operations have been carried on during the last eight or nine years. Only small mines are opened.
Within the last three years two mines have been opened up near Nodaway and have become thfe largest producers of the county. The shaft of Daugherty and Son is the only one in the county which has ever had steam hoisting equipmit. That of Frederick Weil is as large a mine but has horse hoist.
Several small mines have been opened in southern Cass county near Briscoe by Royal Hudspeth, Andrew Bennett and others. They were operated during the late 70 and the 80 *s, but nothing has been done here for a good many years.
Production Of Goal In Iowa
Coal Statistics*
BY 8. W. BEnrER.
Iowa was probably the second state west of the Mississippi river to open a coal mine, Missouri alone preceding her. The United States Census report for 1840 credits Missouri with a production of about 10,000 tons and gives loWa's output as 400 tons. According to the Mineral Resources for 1907 the production in Iowa since 1840 has Keen as follows :
Production Of Coal In Iowa 1840-1908
In Short Tons
Yean
Tonnage
Years
Tonnage
Yean
Tonnage
1R58
Data for the years preceding 1883 are very meager. The Federal Census for 1850 reports 359 miners under the head of
Data obtained largely from the Federal Census reports and the publications of the United states Oeoloslcal Survey.
trades and professions but gives no other facts relative to the mining industry in Iowa. The Federal Census for 1860 reports sixty-nine mines, capitalized at $34,900, in operation, employing 174 men and producing 41,920 tons of coal valued at $92,180. Incidentally it is stated that the value of the output for 1850 was $4,000 which does not check with the figures given in the table above.
In the census for 1870 the first statistics by counties are to be found. According to this report the leading coal producing counties were:
Polk 45,600
Boone 42.143
Mahaaka 32,550
Webster 32,400
Wapello 31,630
Jasper 20.720
Scott , 17,325
Monroe 15,410
Lesser amounts were produced by the remainder of the producing counties of today. The total production for the state was 263,487 tons valued at $874,334. It is interesting and instructive to note that Scott ranked seventh in 1870, producing a larger tonnage than for any year, with the single exception of 1906, since county statistics are available. It is probable that the earliest producing counties are faithfully indicated by the above list. The statistical history of the industry by counties and for the state as a whole is shown in the tables appended herewith. The first table gives the total production by counties from 1883 to 1908 and the second table gives the total tonnage, average price per ton, average number of days worked and the average number of men employed for the state as a whole for the years 1875 to 1908 inclusive.
PftODUCTlON OF COAL IN IOWA FROM 1883 TO 1908 503
Table I— Production Of Coal In Iowa From 1883 To 1908
Counties
Adams
Appanoose
Boone
Dallas
Davis
Greene
Jasper
Jefferson
Keokuk
Lucas
Mahaska
Marion
Monroe
Page
Polk
Scott
Taylor
Van Buren
Wapello
Warren
Wayne
Webster
Other counties and small
Total output
Counties
Adams
Appanoose
Boone
Dallas
Davis . .
Greene
Jasper
Jefferson
Keokuk
Lucas
Mahaska
Marion
Monroe
Page
Polk
Scott
Taylor
Van Buren
Wapello
Warren
Wayne
Webster
Other counties and small mines
Total output
'Combined output, tlncluded in small mines.
t 284,560 153,229 33,466
t
t 367,852
t
t
t 409,725 151,659 48,710
T
t 309,467
t
t 411,984 139,820 t
t 388,590
t
Goal Statistics
Table I— Continited
Counties
Appanoose
Boone
Greene
Jasper
Jefferson
Keokuk
Lucas
Mahaska
Marion
Monroe
Page
Polk
Scott
Taylor
Van Buren. ;
Wapello
Warren
Wayne
Webster
Other counties and small mines
Total
t 489,920 172,070 13,461
t
l,419,930l
lll,145i
t 271,731
t
t 667,271 241,522 10,201
t
t 395,647
t
Counties
Adams
Appanoose
Boone
Dallas
Davis
Greene
Jasper
Jefferson
Keokuk
Lucas
Mahaska
Marion
Monroe i .
Page
Polk
Scott
Taylor
Van Buren
Wapello
Warren
Wayne
Webster
Other counties and small mines
Total
Oombined output.
t Included in small mines.
Production Of Coal In Iowa From 1883 To 1908
TABLE I— Continued
Counties
Adams
Appanoose
Boone
Dallas
Dayis
Greene
Jasper
Jefferson
Keokuk
Lucas
Mabaska
Marion
Monroe
Page
Polk
t 18,301
t
Taylor
Van Buren
Wapello
Warren
Wayne
Webster
O t b e r counties and small mines
Total
Coal Statistics
Table Ii
Years
Short Tons
Average
price per
ton
Average
No. of
days
worked
Average No. men employed
.
9.G72
In 1908 Iowa ranked ninth in total production and eighth in value of output. She ranked second in both production and value of output of the states west of the Mississippi river. Missouri was apparently the first state west of the Mississippi river to produce coal on a commercial scale and held first place from 1840 to 1873. In 1874 Iowa took the lead and retained it until passed by Colorado in 1900. The ten leading producers of bituminous coal for 1908 are as follows :
Ten Leading Producing States In 1908
Ten Leading Pboduoing States In 1908
State
Short Tons
Percent age of total
Percent- Value age of total
Whole Uolted States
iz.soo.ooo
Iz. 000.000
/
Ii .500.000
/
/
to. 500.000
/
9.Soo.00O
/
/
8.S00.000
J
/
7.S0O.000
/
J
/
/
f
6f. 000.000
/
S.Soo.Ooo
/
s.000.000
h-'
Figure 104. Diagram showing value of coal production from 1897 to 1908.
598 General Section Of The Des Moines Stage Of Iowa
Chapter Iv
General Section Of The Des Moines Stage
Of Iowa
By James H. Lees.
It has been already emphasized in preceding pages of this report that the strata of the Des Moines stage present such rapid variations that a close correlation of beds and horizons as developed in different areas of the Des Moines Measures is impossible. Hence it will be understood that the accompanying general section of the Des Moines stage or Lower Coal Measures is intended to represent in very broad outline only the succession of these beds as they are exposed in central Iowa. It is without question true that only in rare cases are beds which are developed in one locality to be identified with those which occur at other places some distance away. Thus the Chariton conglomerate of Appanoose county cannot be considered as belonging to the same beds as the fragmentary limestones and ripplemarked sandstones of similar age in Dallas and Guthrie counties. But the presence of these beds in these widely separated localities shows that the same conditions which were prevalent in what is now southeastern Iowa were also active to the northwest and possibly elsewhere within the area now covered by the sediments of this period. The same situation holds good for the coals of the time. While the individual beds are in most cases quite local and limited in extent yet they usually lie in somewhat definite horizons. This indicates that while the coal swamps were relatively small they were fairly abundant at a given time and the conditions which favored the accumulation of the plant remains were widespread. This is of necessity true since plant growth and the factors which favor the preservation and purity of vegetable remains as coal are dependent upon
General Section Of The Des Moines Stage Of Iowa 599
climatic and crustal conditions. These conditions are more or less uniform over extensive territories and for considerable periods of time. As an instance of this the peat bogs of northern Iowa and other regions may be cited. These speak of conditions which have been stable for thousands of years, ever since the retreat of the last glacier from the surface of the United States. These bogs also serve to illustrate the situation of the beds of coal — basins of variable size and extent separated by considerable stretches of barren territory.
The beds of the Des Moines stage are usually divided in a broad way into three general divisions. These, as indicated in the section, are, from above downward, the Pleasanton, the Appanoose, with its equivalent beds farther northwest, and the Cherokee. Of these three the lower division, the Cherokee, is the most important, in Iowa as well as in Missouri and Kansas. This is true not only as regards areal extent, but still more markedly from an economic standpoint, since it is said that from eighty to ninety per cent of the coal mined in the Western Interior coal field comes from this member of the Lower Coal Measures. It will be seen from the section that shales are the preponderating element in this division, while sandstones are also quite important. Coal beds and fire clays play a minor part,, although economically the former are exceedingly important. All these beds are wonderfully irregular in distribution. They thicken and thin with amazing rapidity and grade from one to another horizontally as well as vertically in away to puzzle the most experienced of drillers as well as of geologists. The beds of coal vary in thickness up to seven feet with an average of about four feet. Their areal extent is usually not above a few hundred acres and many of them are much below this maximum. Many of them lie in depressions in the Saint Louis limestone and their limits are determined by this formation. The Cherokee beds form the eastern line of outcrop of the Lower Coal Measures from Van Buren to Webster counties. Their maximum thickness will probably average 500 feet, although over most of their area they are considerably thinner. The numerous outliers of Des Moines beds which are scattered over the eastern part of Iowa probably belong with the lower phase. For the most part
600 General Section Of The Des Moines Stage Of Iowa
these are related to the Iowa coal field, although a few, notably the large area in Muscatine and Scott counties, are extensions of the Illinois field.
The Appanoose formation is typically developed in Appanoose and neighboring counties, as well as across the state line in Missouri. The beds composing this division are much more regular in structure than those underlying them, and the coals, while thinner, are more continuous and dependable. The most important of these coals is the Mystic seam, which underlies an area of about 1,500 square miles in the two states. Although only about thirty inches thick on the average its persistency enables it to be economically and profitably mined while other coals as thick but occurring under less favorable conditions are of necessity left to supply more urgent needs.
Accompanying this coal seam, are several relatively thin limestone beds marked, like the coal, by great continuity and uniformity of character. Some shales and a conglomerate are also present. As has already been indicated there are in several counties along the western exposure of the Lower Coal Measures, beds which correspond stratigraphically to these just described. If the correlation made in the accompanying section is correct the correspondence of strata is quite close and indicates more widespread uniformity of conditions than prevailed during Cherokee times. None of the coals of these western counties, however, rank in importance with the Mystic seam.
The upper division of the Des Moines, the Pleasanton, is not of great importance in Iowa. While in Kansas these beds attain a thickness of about 200 feet and carry some important coal seams, they thin to the north and in Iowa are characteristically barren of coal and scarcely distinguishable from the next lower division. They thin rapidly in Guthrie county and probably do not extend beyond the northern limit of this county.
It is not to be understood that these three divisions are sharplyset oflf one from the other, for they are for the most part conformable each to each and hence there are no clear dividing lines. The divisions are made because each phase exhibits certain wellmarked features which set it oflf in a general way from the others.
General Section Of The De8 Moines Stage Of Iowa 601
In the section certain counties are given with each number of the series to indicate where these members are best developed. They also indicate the correlation of beds which seems most probable. Of course the lower beds or their equivalents will pass under the next succeeding ones to the west and may be penetrated here by deep drillings. As coal prospecting is carried to deeper and deeper levels in the western portions of the coal field, those horizons which have proved so productive in the eastern counties are being reached and proven to be rich in their coal content. Naturally the Coal Measures thicken westward from their eastern outcrop and this thickening is maintained at least as far west as the margin of the Missouri and Cretaceous strata where these overlie the Des Moines beds. The thicknesses given for the various members represent their maximum nd minimum development in the various parts of their exposures. The total thickness of the Des Moines stage is probably about one-half the maximum here given, or 750 feet. However, in few localities where the entire body of sediments has been penetrated is this maximum approached. Most of these show about 500-600 feet as belonging to this stage.
Attention is again called to the fact that the correlations here given are general and tentative. Only the important coal horizons are noted although many drill holes and other sections show from four to eight, ten or even twelve seams in vertical series. The succession of strata indicated is such as would be encountered in crossing the coal field from west to east rather than in penetrating the series from above downward at any given locality, although the correspondence would doubtless hold good to a fair extent even in the latter case.
32. Sandstone, sandy shales and shales, with occasional limestone bands, one quite persistent, a little above the middle of the bed. These beds appear to thicken toward the sonth and west (equivalent of Pleasanton shales of Missouri and Kansas) 30 to 100
81. Coal, the Lonsdale seam, sometimes divided by one or two
clay partings 1 to 2H
Warren, Guthrie, Dallas, Madison. (Nos. 31 to 23 constitute the equivalent of the Appanoose formation of southem Iowa and the Henrietta formation of Missouri. The Appanoose formation is marked by great persistence of the strata.)
e02 GENERAL SECTION OF THE D£8 MOINES STAGE OF IOWA
30. Sliale, variegated, in placee arenaceous, with very persistent seams of limestone and sandstone, a few inches to several
feet in thickness 25 to 100
Warren, Dallas, Madison, Guthrie.
29. Coal, in places split up by thin beds of shale, fire clay,
etc 1 to 3
Guthrie, Warren, Madison.
Warren, Guthrie.
27. Chariton conglomerate, in several beds altematingly coarse and fine in character, the former more typical. Pebbles are chiefly limestone, with coal fragments and fossils, embedded in a matrix in part arenaceous, in part magnesiocalcareous
15 to 25
Appanoose, Monroe. In Guthrie county one of the limestones of No. 26 shows rolled pebbles and the sandstones are ripple-marked, showing conditions similar to those which formed the Chariton conglomerate of the southeast.
26. Shales and limestones. In Appanoose county the shales are variable in color, gray to black, some arenaceous, bituminous or pyritiferous, in beds one to thirty feet thick; the limestones are gray, subcrystalllne, in beds one to ten feet thick. In Dallas are two beds of sandstone, one to twenty feet thick and three or four persistent bands of limestone, some fragmentary and fossiliferous, one to four feet thick. In Guthrie there are thin limestone beds with shales and
a heavy bed of sandstone 50 to 100
Appanoose, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Warren.
25. Coal, in Appanoose county the Mystic seam, one and onehalf to three feet thick, usually divided by one or two clay partings two to six inches thick; in Dallas and Guthrie
the Marshall seam, six to twenty inches thick to 3
Appanoose, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Warren, Madison, perhaps represented in Polk by one of the thin seams above the "first vein."
Appanoose, Guthrie, Madison, Polk.
23. Limestone, ''bottom-rock," in Appanoose county one to five feet thick; in Dallas and Guthrie two beds alternating
with heavy beds of shale, average 15 to 35
Appanoose, Dallas, Gtthrie, Warren.
22. Shales, sandstones, limestones; shales diversified, red, blue, gray, some fossiliferous bands, some transitional from sandstone, some sandstones heavily bedded. Limestone
sometimes forming a "cap rock" 25 to 130
Warren, Dallas, Polk, Guthrie, Boone.
Qeneral Section Of Thk Des Moines Staqe Of Iowa 603
21. Coal, in Dallas and Quthrie, the Redfleld seam; in Polk
probably one of the thin upper seams 1 to 5
Warren, Dallas, Polk, Guthrie, Greene. Perhaps present iA Boone as the upper horizon.
Polk, Guthrie, Boone. The numbers below and also probably those from 22 to 20 correspond in general position and character to the Cherokee shales of Kansas.
19. Shales and sandstones alternating, the shale beds from two to twenty-five feet thick, the sandstones from two to five. Spme calcareous layers and true limestones locally developed. Several thin veins of coal accompanied by beds
of fire clay are present locally 25 to 150
Appanoose, Monroe, Wapello, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Webster Boone.
18. Coal, doubtless represented in different counties by various seams. "First vein" of Polk county. Perhaps "upper vein" of Boone county where it is sometimes bipartite Ito 6
Appanoose, Warren, Guthrie, Dallas, Greene, Webster. The coal beds of Webster county are local. They may belong in this part of the Des Moines stage.
Polk, Warren, Webster, Boone.
16. Shales, black, light-colored, etc., limestone, in thin layers,
sandstone 25 to 80
Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Webster, Boone.
16. Coal, "second vein" of Polk county 2 to 5
Dallas, Guthrie, Webster, perhaps lower vein of Boone.
Polk, Guthrie, Dallas, Webster, Boone.
13. Shales, black to gray, sandstone; thin bands of limestone 20 to 70
12. Coal, "third vein" of Polk county, in places separated by bands of pyrite or shale. Probably deeper beds of Dallas and Guthrie. Perhaps represented in Webster county 3 to 8
Polk, Dallas, Webster.
10. Shale, vari-colored ; sandstone, ferruginous, etc., limestone
locally developed 5 to 50
Jefferson, Hardin, Polk, Wapello, Guthrie, Webster.
9. Shales, variegated, in places arenaceous; fire clay; in places some relatively thin seams of coal in the shales; local
layers of limestone and sandstone 25 to 180
Warren, Appanoose, Mahaska, Jefferson, Monroe, Polk, Jasper.
604 General Section Of The Des Moines Stage Of Iowa
8. "Cap rock/' an arenaceous limestone, locally developed. 0 to 2 Jasper, Wapello.
7. Coal, in places a number of seams from a few inches to two feet thick, separated by a few to many feet of shale and sandstone of the overlying and underlying members. .1 to 4 Wapello, Jefferson, Marshall, Warren, Jasper, Mahaska, Monroe, Appanoose.
6. Shales, black, gray, blue, etc. In some places sandstone layers are intercalated and locally a thin limestone bed
is present 10 to 130
Appanoose, Wapello, Jefferson, Keokuk, Van Buren, Monroe, Warren.
5. "Cap rock," developed in places 1 to 2
Jasper, Wapello, Keokuk, Marion.
4. Coal; in places two or more seams are present, divided by several feet of shale. In places rests directly on St. LouIb
limestone 1 to 7
Keokuk, Van Buren, Jefferson, Mahaska, Wapello, Monroe, Appanoose.
3. Fire clay, in places rests directly on St. Louis limestone.
In places absent 2 to 15
Van Buren, Keokuk, Wapello, Mahaska, Monroe.
2. Shales, of various colors, in places arenaceous. Locally true sandstones are developed as intercalated layers. In places
all are absent 10 to 100
Van Buren, Wapello, Appanoose.
1. Sandstone, in places a gradation from arenaceous shales,
not always present 0 to 25
Van Buren, Keokuk, Appanoose, Wapello.
The Carboniferous Section Of
Southwestern Iowa
By
George L. Smith, M. D.
The Carboniferous Section of Southwestern Iowa
By George L. Smith, M. D.
Contents
Page
Introduction 609
Area 609
General relations of strata 610
Previous geological work 612
General character of the Missouri stage 618
Stratigraphy of the Missouri stage 621
One hundred and two river drainage 621
Nodaway river drainage 622
Tarklo river drainage 630
Nlshnabotna river drainage 636
Missouri river bluifs 641
Coal seams 653
Altitude and thickness 654
Paleontology 655
Acknowledgments 657
'N-kl'J. 'A/£Z'Jt 'A/Zl'J. 'hfUU 'hiOl'JL
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Chapter V
The Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern
Iowa
Introduction
It is important from a scientific as well as an economic standpoint that an accurate and complete section of the Carboniferous of southwestern Iowa be made. Moreover recent investigation has shown that instead of being simple in its structure, deformations important and unusual for Iowa exist in this portion of the state.
Many prominent geologists have been workers in this field and have come to different conclusions as to the thickness and succession of the strata. Tbere also has been in the last few years a great development of the coal mining industry and more than three hundred men are now employed in mines opened in the Nodaway coal seam in Adams, Page, and Taylor counties.
In the interest of this industry and for the guidance of prospectors in search of coal the stratigraphy and extent of this coal field should, as far as possible, be accurately worked out and published. To this end, in the preparation of this paper every effort has been made to avoid inaccuracies, and while minor changes may have to be made, it is believed that as a whole the results arrived at will be found to be substantially correct. All the critically important exposures have been examined in company with Professor Calvin, and the correlations arrived at by stratigraphy in nearly all instances have been confirmed by. paleontological evidence.
Area
The area covered by this report includes the six counties, Adams, Montgomery, Mills, Fremont, Page, and Taylor, situated in the southwestern comer of the state. It is bounded on
610 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
the south by the state of Missouri and on the west by the Missouri river. It extends east from the Missouri river an average of seventy-five miles and north of the south boundary of the state forty miles, and contains approximately 3,000 square miles. It is drained by several considerable streams flowing to the southwest, all being tributary to the Missouri river. Commencing at the eastern boundary of the area and proceeding to the west we have the East and West Forks of the One Hundred and Two river, the many different branches of the Nodaway river, the two Tarkio creeks, the East Nishnabotna river, the West Nishnabotna river with its branches Walnut and Silver creeks, and Keg creek. Outside of the level river bottom lands the surface is quite undulating, the river valleys being excavated to the depth of one or two hundred feet.
General Relations Of Strata
In only a few instances have the stratified rocks influenced the topography of the country, since the stream erosion has been wholly in the Pleistocene, which is of considerable thickness. In many places on the divides between the streams it reaches to the depth of 200 feet.
The superficial loess is only a few feet in thickness in the eastem portion of the district, but this increases to the west until it reaches over one hundred feet in the Missouri river bluffs. In fact, there are exposures of twice that thickness, a great part of which, however, is caused by landslides in the steep face of the bluffs. In the bluffs of the Missouri river exposures of the drift are rare, and are not more than two or three feet in thickness. This great thickness of the loess does not reach much east of the West Nishnabotna river, where it becomes much reduced. Eastward of this river the drift deposits are often one to two hundred feet thick on the divides between the streams and in many cases reach below the water level in the adjacent rivers.
In the field work the want of a topographic map has often been felt, as the correlation of different exposures but a few miles apart was rendered difficult by not knowing the exact elevation of each. This difficulty is further increased in places by the heavy dip and faulting of the strata.
General Relations Of Strata 611
Lying unconformably on the Carboniferous in the northeast comer of Mills, nearly the whole of Montgomery, and the northwestern part of Adams counties are outliers of Cretaceous sandstones and shales, some of which reach the thickness of at least one hundred feet. Being composed of soft and incoherent materials they do not usually modify the topography.
The Missouri of southwestern Iowa is composed of shales, limestones and limited amounts of sandstone. The shales, which comprise much the greater part of the strata, are generally calcareous, so much so that even those in immediate contact with the coals effervesce readily with acid. The limestones occur in layers from an inch or two in thickness to ledges twenty feet thick. Usually the limestones are highly fossiliferous. In all the Coal Measures exposures of Adams, Montgomery, Page, and Taylor counties not a single sandstone is to be found. Deep drillings also show a total absence of sandstone in the Missouri in these counties. The only sandstone known in the Missouri of Pagie county is in the Johnston coal mine shaft west of Clarinda, where there are in the shales eighty feet above the Nodaway coal two thin sandstones a few inches thick, divided by a foot of shale. In Fremont county at the summit of the Carboniferous of Iowa there is found a conspicuous sandstone that is of great service in correlation. In the Missouri a large amount of the strata is diflScult to classify, as it is often hard to state whether a certain rock is a limestone or a shale. Different observers are much governed by the personal equation. By the older geologists strata of this description were called marls, by more recent observers impure limestones or calcareous shales. In nearly all instances in weathering they break down into clay and should be classified as calcareous shales. Likewise it is often difficult to state whether a rock is a shaly sandstone or a sandy shale. In Broadhead's sections many sandstones are given which the writer would without hesitation pronounce to be sandy shales. In the Missouri the different strata are very persistent, especially along the strike, for miles showing but little change, and hence correlations can be made with confidence. Natural outcrops are few and are confined to the vicinity of the streams. This requires that wide correlations be made and many local
612 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
dips complicate the situation. Paleontology affords much aid but the same fossils are found throughout the whole series of strata and the main dependence must be upon stratigraphy.
Previous Geological Work
Nearly forty years ago C. A. White surveyed this part of Iowa and his Report of 1870 has been of much use in giving sections of outcrops that at the present time are much obscured. Reports have been published by the present Iowa Geological Survey on Montgomery county by E. H. Lonsdale, Page county by S. Calvin, and Mills and Fremont counties by J. A. Udden. These have been of much service and have been freely laid under contribution.
In considering the stratigraphy of a region it is indispensable that some standard classification be used and the General Section given by C. E. Keyes in his paper **Coal Measures of the Western Interior Basin, ' Volume 7, Proceedings Iowa Academy of Science, will be used with slight modifications. This section is believed to be the most accurate and satisfactory of any heretofore published on the Upper Coal Measure section from Elansas City to Omaha. The paper by J. E. Todd, **Some Variant Conclusions in Iowa Geology," Volume 13, Proceedings Iowa Academy of Science, describing the remarkable displacement of strata at Lake Wabonsie in Fremont county, is of great value in calling attention to an unusual feature of Iowa geology not foun4 elsewhere in the state. Recent examinations of the exposures at Lake Wabonsie and in the vicinity of Thurman confirm the views of Todd and show that a short distance south of the Wilson section of White a fault of about 300 feet throw with an uplift to the north is present. In the same paper is given a general section of the Carboniferous as seen in natural outcrops in southwestern Iowa on the Missouri river, which agrees well with sections made from exposures examined farther east. This section of Todd's will be regarded as a type in the diflferent correlations. Of the greatest aid and without which it would have been almost impossible to write this report has been the ''Geology of Northwestern Missouri," in Part 2, Geological Survey of Missouri, ''Iron Ores and Coal Fields," 1872, by. G. C. Broad-
General Character Of The Missouri 8Taqe 613
head. In this report the author gives a section of the Upper Carboniferous from Kansas City to City Bluffs, now Burlington Junction, following the Missouri and Nodaway rivers, also a section of the strata of Atchison county, Missouri. It has been possible from exposures in Iowa to connect the City Bluffs beds with the Atchison county group, and complete the Missouri section to the summit of the Carboniferous in that state. This section by Broadhead is one of the earliest published and should be given full recognition by succeeding geologists. Many references will be made to this section and wherever it can be made applicable his geographic names will be used. Broadhead 's section goes into much detail and many beds given in it are probably of only local importance. It is also possible there is some duplication of strata. Like nearly all sections made from exposures of the strata it shows much excess in thickness over what is found in core drillings. Broadhead gives the total thickness of the Upper Coal Measures in northwestern Missouri as being 1,317 feet, while in Iowa within a few miles of the south line of the state core drillings and outcrops show a thickness of about 950 feet, the Iowa section reaching fully as high as the section in Missouri.
In Iowa the ai'ea between the Westerville limestone, the uppermost of the Bethany limestones exposed on Grand river in Decatur county, and the Forbes limestone exposed on the East Fork river at Bedford is so deeply covered by the Pleistocene that it is almost devoid of exposures of the stratified rocks. On this account it would be impossible to make the connection between these two limestones without the aid of Broadhead 's section and the records of deep core drillings.
General Character Of The Missouri Stage
In the six southwest counties of Iowa there is exposed in natural outcrop 400 feet of the Missouri, leaving 550 feet which is known only by deep core drilling. The Des Moines was penetrated 129 feet in the Clarinda drill hole, leaving an unknown amount beneath the bottom of the drilling. Deep core drill holes have been put down at Carbon, Clarinda, Coin, College Springs and Hamburg. The records of those at Clarinda, Coin, and College
Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Springs are available and will be correlated with the general section. At Glenwood two wells 2,000 feet deep have been drilled by the state of Iowa. This drilling was done by the cable rig method and the records of the two wells are not in agreement. Professor W. H. Norton gives the record of the first well in Volume VI, Iowa Geological Reports, and summarizes the formations as follows:
Thickness In Feet.
Pleistocene 175
Missouri 670
Des Moines 390
Mississippian 230
Devonian 135
Silurian 400
The first stratified rocks found beneath the Pleistocene at Glenwood are evidently the Plattsmouth limestones.
The general section of Keyes for the Missouri is as follows and will be correlated with Broadhead's section in parallel columns.
KBYB8* OBNERAL 8BGTI0N OF THE MISSOURI CORRELATED WITH BROADHBAD*8 GENBRAL SECTION FROM KANSAS CITY TO CITY BLUFFo. TOGETHER
With The Atchison County Group
Keyes.
Thickness
In Feet.
Atchison shales 600
Forbes limestone 30
Platte 'shales 150
Plattsmouth limestones 30
Lawrence shales 300
Stanton limestones 35
Parkville shales 100
lola limestone 50
Thayer shales 75
Bethany limestones 100
Broadhead.
Numbeb8.
Thick5Es8 In Text,
Atchison county group. 180
City Bluifs beds 105
Nodaway coal
Limestones and shales. 67
Forbes limestone 15
Shales, thin limestones and sandstones 179
Limestone 38
Shales, thin limestones
and sandstones 235
Limestone 18
Shales and sandstones. 121
Plattsburg limestone.. 18
Sandstone, thin limestones and shales... 83
Limestone 30
Shales with two limestones 40
Limestones with interbedded shales 126
Total 1400
Total 1265
. General Character Of The Missouri Staqe 615
Broadhead was unable to make the connection between the City Bluffs beds and the Atchison county group and supposed there was an interval of fifty feet between them. Becent investigation in Iowa shows that the Atchison county group comes immediately on the City Bluffs beds with little if any hiatus. Keyes states that according to deep drilling north of St. Joseph the iola limestone fails, bringing the Thayer and Parkville shales into contact with each other. The Clarinda drilling corroborates this and Broadhead 's name Parkville" will be used for the united shales. On the Missouri river the Lawrence shales are divided near the middle by an important limestone, Broadhead 's number 121, to which Keyes has given the name **Iatan." Tlie shale member beneath the limestone he has named ' The Weston Shale" and the one above ''The Andrew Shale." These names, often used by Broadhead, will be adopted here. Broadhead repeatedly speaks of the Plattsburg limestone and as it is the Mis* souri river section instead of the Kansas section under consideration his name will be used instead of ' ' Stanton ' ' as being the most appropriate.
Keyes* section modified to meet the conditions found in Iowa is as follows :
Atchison shales. Forbes limestone. Platte shales. Plattsmouth limestones. Andrew shale, latan limestone. Weston shale. Plattsburg limestone. Parkville shale. Bethany limestones.
Todd's general section of the Carboniferous of southwestern Iowa as exposed on the Missouri river gives more detail and as it is believed to be accurate it will be given and correlated with Keyes' general section.
M6
Carboniferous Section Of Sottthwestern Iowa
Todd'S Missouri River Section.
THXGIOrESS IN FEET.
Atchison shales, 307 feet.
r 16. Shales with two limestones two and
four feet thick 19
14. Shales with a thin limestone 39
12. Shales with five thin limestones and
four sandstones 185
11. Shales, limestones, and coal 12
10. Shales with three limestones 30
Forbes limestone
Platte shales, 69 feet.
Plattsmouth limestone, 39 feet. .
Andrew shales, 26 feet.
8. Shales with two thin limestones 12
6. Shales with three or four limestones 46
Total 460
The horizon of the Nyman coal is in the upper part of No. 14 and the coal in No. 11 is the Nodaway coal. The Platte shales contain a large amount of limestone and the deep drilling in Page county shows that these limestones amount to at least onethird of the total thickness of this member. One layer often rivals the Forbes limestone in magnitude. It will be noted that the Plattsmouth limestone is divided by sandstone and shale, and is thus a double limestone as is shown in all the deep drilling in Page county. It is equivalent to numbers 150-151-152 of Broadhead 's section. Keyes suggests that eventually the Atchison shales may have possibly the same formational rank as the Des Moines.
Above the Nodaway coal in the Carboniferous of Iowa a great change in the character of the strata takes place. Below this coal, in the Missouri, nearly one-half of the section is composed of thick heavy limestone, which occurs in layers up to thirty feet in thickness. The shales, except those of the thick Andrew shales, are usually thin and calcareous. In the Clarinda drilling not a single sandstone was found in the Missouri. The Carboniferous above the Nodaway coal reaches a thickness of 300 feet but has less than fifteen feet of regular and persistent limestone
General Character Of The Missouri Stage 617
layers. The City Bluffs beds immediately overlying the cap rock of the Nodaway coal are at least 200 feet thick, but are composed wholly of shales. Even the Tarkio limestones are interbedded with shales that amount to three-fourths of their total thickness.
The Atchison shales of Keyes should be divided into subordinate formations for facility of description. The Braddyville limestones, City Bluffs beds, and Tarkio limestones are terms used in the Iowa and Missouri Geological Reports and these will be used here, their limits fixed and the terms definitely correlated with each other.
The following names will be used for the different formations
of the Atchison shales.
Thickness In Feet.
McKissicks Grove shales 75
Tarkio limestones 25
City Bluffs shales 210
Braddyville limestones 50
Several years ago a core drilling was done at Clarinda in search of coal seams below the Nodaway coal, which is mined at that place. The core has been preserved and was examined and measured by A. G. Leonard and Geo. L. Smith and the record published in Volume XII, Iowa (Geological Survey.
/
Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Record Of The Curinda Diamond Drilx. Hole In The Northeast
Part Of Town Correlated With The General Section
(Se. % Of Sec. 30. Twp. 69 N., R Xxxvi W.)
Thickness Depth
Nodaway coal.
Braddyyllle 42 feet...
Forbes UmeBtone, 18 feet.
Platte shale, 86 feet.
Plattsmouth limestone, 40 feet
Andrew shales, 172 feet.
Drift 43
Shale, blue 5
Limestone 4
Shale, black 1
Coal 1%
Fire clay
Shale, gray, calcareous
and foBsiliferous... 17
Shale, dark 2
Limestone 2%
Shale, calcareous 1
Limestone 6
Shale, calcareous. ... 12-3
Limestone 3
Shale 6
Coal 1-3
r 93. Shale 2
r 82. Limestone 7
Sl, Shale, blue 1
fusulinas 22
blue 22
69. Shale, dark blue, calcareous in part 16
Bboad- Nos.
latan limestone, 16 feet. . . 68. Limestone 16
GENBRAL GHAaAGTER OF THE MISSOURI 8TAQE
Thi0Knbs8
Weston shales, 76 feet.
r 67. Shale, bl%pk and
green
argillaceous
Plattsburg limestone, 19 feet
Parkyille shales, 22 feet. .
f Westerville limestone.
o
a
De Kalb limestone, Winterset
limestone
Barlham limestone. .
Fragmental limestone.
61. ' Shale, gray and black 4
Depth Vebt.
Broad- Hbad'8 Nob.
eso
Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Nos.
D68 Moines, 129 feet,
U.
. Shale, gray 4
Sandstone, micaoeons 7
Shale, sandy 26
Sandstone 1
Shale 5
Coal 1
Shale 1
Limestone, argillaceous 3
Shale 1
Sandstone 4
Shale, black 1
Sandstone. sandy shale, fine, micaceous 19
Shale 9
Limestone 1
Shale 4
Limestone 6
Shale 6
Limestone 2
Shale, black 3
Coal 1-3
Sandstone 7
Limestone 6 2-3
Shale 3
Limestone 2
Shale 9
In this section the Bethany limestones with their interbedded shales reach a thickness of 165 feet. The same limestones in Decatnr county, according to H. F. Bain, have a thickness of 171 feet. The coal No. 34 is also found beneath the Earlham limestone in both Madison and Decatnr counties. The base of the Missouri is placed at No. 26, below which there is a change in the strata that can not be adequately described or shown in a published section. To the depth of 711 feet no sandstones or even arenaceous shales are shown, while in the lower part of the record they become an important part of it. The shales become arenaceous and bituminous and are different in appearance from those higher in the record. Much less limestone is shown and that which does occur is darker in color and more argillaceous than the upper limestones. Anyone conversant with the Carboniferous of Iowa would at once place all below No. 26 in the Des Moines.
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 621
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage
No core drilling in sonthwestem Iowa has been deep enough to pass through the whole thickness of the Des Moines. The record shows a thickness of 129 feet, leaving an unknown amount beneath the bottom of the drill hole. As all of the outcrops of the Carboniferous in southwestern Iowa are confined to the immediate valleys of the streams the different exposures will be traced on each from the south boundary of the state northward, beginning in the eastern part of the territory under considerar tion. The different outcrops in each valley will be described and at least one representative section will be given and correlated with the general section.
One Hundred And Two River Drainage.
At Bedford on the East Fork of the One Hundred and Two river a twenty-foot ledge of limestone has been quarried, but at the present time the quarry is abandoned and the quarry pit is filled with water. Only a few of the upper layers can now be seen. In the opinion of Professor Calvin this limestone is to be referred to the Forbes limestone. It is in the line of strike of this limestone in the state of Missouri and without doubt may be correlated with it.
West of Hopkins, Missouri, the Nodaway coal has been mined on the One Hundred and Two river within a few miles of the Iowa state line. Broadhead states that in Missouri the One Hundred and Two river is the eastern limit of the Nodaway coal. In Iowa the West Fork river is probably the eastern limit of the coal to at least a short distance north of New Market.
Commencing one-half mile east of New Market and extending to a short distance east of the West Fork river is an important coal mining locality that for many years has done a large shipping trade in the well known New Market coal. This coal is mined from the Nodaway coal seam, the only coal bed in southwestern Iowa which is workable at the present time.
622 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Nodaway Coal At The Campbell Mines One Mile East Of New Market
Feet. Inches.
6. Limestone, light blue, in two layers 3
6. Shale, gray, nonlamlnated. with nodules of impure
limestone 2 6
3. Shale, light gray, laminated 1 6
In the roof and bottom shales of the coal the following fossils have been found: Enteletes hemiplicata, Dielasma bovidens Productus semireticvlatus, Ambocelia planoconvexa, Derbya crassa, Allorisma granosum, Aviculopecten, Pinna, and many plant remains.
No. 2 is called a sandstone by the miners bnt samples collected in the mines show it to be limestone. The dip of the strata at the New Market mines is to the southeast. The coal seam reaches a short distance east of the West Fork river and there ends beneath the superficial deposits. The Nodaway coal probably does not continue far north of New Market until its line of outcrop passes over to the valley of the East Nodaway river. .
Nodaway River Drainage.
On the Nodaway river about ten miles south of the Iowa state line, near Burlington Junction, Missouri, is the exposure of the City Bluflfs beds to which Broadhead often refers. This excellent outcrop of the shales between the Nodaway coal and the Tarkio limestones is the most extensive known and is the type locality of the City Bluffs shales. The following section is from Calvin.
Section Near Burlington Junction, Missouri
Feet. Inches.
19. Shale, yellowish green, calcareous 3
18. Shale, marly, concretionary 2
17. Shale, bluish green, not calcareous 3
16. Shale, yellowish, calcareous, concretionary 1 6
14. Sandstone, calcareous, ferruginous 6
J
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 623
13. Shale, sandy, with septarlan nodules In the upper
part 10
12. Limestone, Impure, with obscure Impressions of
fossils 2
10. Limestone, Impure, in thin bands alternating with sandy shale which carries septarlan nodules near
the bottom; fossiUferous 5
8. Thin layer showing cone-ln-cone at top and bottom,
structureless In the middle 7
7. Shale, gray, with occasional large septarlan nodules 25
6. Calcareous band, fossiUferous 4
5. Shale, dark, with some calcareous bands, fossiUferous near top; down to level of water m river. . 25
4. Shale below level of river 30
Total 127
On the Nodaway river at Braddyville, a short distance from the sonth boundary of the state, is an ontcrop of a series of limestones and shales well known as the Braddyville limestones. Between the Forbes limestone and the Nodaway coal in the state of Missouri Broadhead gives a sequence of sixty-seven feet of limestones and shales. This interval is not well seen in the outcrop in Iowa but core drillings show a thickness of forty to sixty feet of these limestones with their interbedded shales. At the present time a large part of the outcrop is much obscured and Professor Calvin was unable to give as full a section as earlier observers. Broadhead gives a section that does not correspond with either White or Calvin, whose sections agree with each other except in some minor details. White's section giving layers both above and below that of Calvin's is used.
White'S Braddyville Section ,
Feet. Inches.
7. Tellowlsh shaly marl with occasional layers of Impure limestone 5 6
6. Layer of compact limestone 6
5. Dark-colored carbonaceous shale passing upward
Into light blue clayey shale 2 6
4. Layer of compact, bluish, impure limestone 6
624 Carbomferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
3. Bluish carbonaceous shale with thin calcareous
seams 4
2. Hard, bluish. Impure limestone 2 6
1. Bluish concretionary and shaly limestone 1 6
Total 17
This section is equivalent to numbers 99-103 of the Clarinda drill record. While the Braddyville section does not cover the whole interval between the Forbes limestone and the Nodaway coal, which at Clarinda is forty-two feet, at College Springs forty-five and one-half feet, and at Coin fifty-three feet, it is thought this series of limestones and shales should be raised to the rank of a formation. A complete exposure of these limestones and shales outcrops at Lake Wabonsie in Fremont county, but the term Wabonsie is preoccupied by the Wabaunsee of the Kansas geologists. It is therefore proposed that the limestones and shales between the Forbes limestone and the Nodaway coal be known by the name often used in the past, the Braddyville limestones.
The strata at Braddyville are at the crest of an anticline that has an amplitude of about twenty-five feet and cuts out the Nodaway coal at that place. The dip south into the state of Missouri is quite rapid and brings in the Nodaway coal within two miles of the state line. To the north the dip is but little more than the slope of the Nodaway river in the opposite direction so that the Nodaway coal appears low in the bank of the river at Shambaugh five miles north. The direction of this anticline is east of north and follows the course of the East Nodaway river. Exposures of the Braddyville limestone are found one mile north of Hawleyville and at Henshaw, where a dip of thirty-five feet in a quarter of a mile brings in the Nodaway coal at the same level as the limestone. This anticline is often spoken of as the Hawleyville anticline. Farther north in Adams county on the same stream the Nodaway coal is being mined northwest of the town o€ Nodaway. A short distance above this place the Braddyville limestone appears in the banks of the river and continues at intervals nearly to Coming above which place no outcrops are found on the East Nodaway river. At Shambaugh, five miles north of Braddyville, the Nodaway coal has been mined for many years. (Figure A, plate XX.)
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f I
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T.-
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i:
/e£0 OAK
ZTATK LtNm
OJtADoyyt't't
o ►
Q
Snambai/0
a
y/LL/SCA
P
AfiT/CLIfie
a
s
d26 CARBONIFEROUS SECTION OF SOUTHWESTERN IOWA
One mile southeast of Clarinda in the east bank of the Nodaway river is an excellent exposure of the Nodaway coal which may be regarded as the type section of this coal.
Nodaway Coal One Mile Southeast Of Ciarinda
Inches.
7. Yellowish Impure limestone in one or two layers. . . 2
5. Gray shale, calcareous, nonlaminated and nonjointed; fossiliferous 2
1. Gray shale, down to water's edge 8
Total 22 3
At the sonth end of the exposure the black, shale No. 4 wedges out and the gray shale No. 5 immediately overlies the coal. The gray, nonlaminated and non jointed shale No. 5 is universally present in the roof shales of the Nodaway coal and by it and the contained fossils this coal horizon may be recognized with certainty. In Volume 2, ''Coal Report, Iowa Geological Survey, this shale is classified as an impure limestone. It frequently has imbedded in it thin discontinuous layers and nodules of impure limestone that are called cement rock by the miners. The dip at Clarinda is on the west limb of the Hawleyville anticline and is very heavy to the west, amounting to sixty-five feet within two miles west of the Nodaway river.
Two miles west of Clarinda the coal is mined at the Johnston mine at the depth of 180 feet. Several mines are being actively worked in the vicinity of Clarinda and a large amount of coal is annually placed on the market. From Clarinda to Villisca no exposures of stratified rocks are known. No development of the Nodaway coal has been attempted in this distance, although the coal has been found two miles southwest of Hepburn at a depth of 130 feet. There has been an uprise of the strata in the vicinity of Villisca causing the Nodaway coal to be eroded at that place. A few feet of limestones and shales outcrop one
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 627
mile east of the town, not sufficient for exact correlation, but without doubt they are to be referred to the Braddyville limestones. Eight miles north of Villisca the Nodaway coal sets in high in the hills along the Middle Nodaway river and continues on both sides of the valley nearly to Mount Etna above which place no exposures are known on this river.
At Carbon and in its vicinity a large mining industry has been in existence for nearly fifty years and the different openings in the coal are nearly innumerable. In an early day the coal was mined by drifts driven in from the outcrop, but at the present time shafts only are used. The coal seam at Carbon being the Nodaway coal differs from the type section near Clarinda only in having a bottom rock of limestone five feet in thickness.
Nodaway Coal At Carbon
Feet. Inches.
5. Shale, black, bituminous 6
Total 33
No exposures are known on the West Nodaway river above its mouth until Grant is reached, where there is an outcrop of limestone that in the opinion of Professor Calvin is the Forbes limestone. Less than one-half mile north of the northeast comer of Montgomery county is a better exposure of this limestone at the Fox quarry.
Fox Quarry
Feet. Inches.
12. Broken limestone, shales and residual clay 2
10. Limestone, light gray to buff, two ledges 3 6
8. Limestone, gray to brown 7
6. Shale, gray above, in lower portion bitiuninous 1 6
0Arb0Nifeb0U8 Section Of Southwestern Iowa
2. Shale, lower part carbonaceouB -2
X Limeatone
Total 25
Nnmbers 6-10 are the Forbes limestone and numbers 1-5 are to be correlated with the Platte shales. Along the river for several miles above this place the same limestones are exposed at intervals.
One mile sonth of the Fox quarry on Williams branch the Nodaway coal was mined many years ago. Three miles east of the last named locality the coal is now being mined by shafts at Briscoe.
Several years ago parties at College Springs had core drilling done near that place in search of coal. Through the courtesy of the driller, Jesse Stump of Coin, the record of the drilling was secured.
Rbgord Of Corb Drillinq Southbast Of Coll.E2Gb Springs.
Corner Of Sbc. 17, Amity Tp.. Page County, Iowa
PleiBtocene, 60 feet.
City Bluffs beds, 47 feet.
Kodaway coal.
Sou 6
White sand 2
Yellow sand 4
Clay and gravel 4
Blue clay 26
Yellow clay 2
Bowlders and gravel 7
Yellow clay 5
Blue clay 6
Limestone
Shale 7
Limestone
Shale 3
Limestone
Shale 8
Calcareous shale 1
Shale
Limestone 1
Shale 28
Coal and shale in streaks 1
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Staqe
BraddyrlUe limestones, 45 feet
Forbes limestone, 9 feet 2 Inches
Platte shales, 73 feet.
Plattsmonth limestone, 26% feet
36. Limestone with shale partings 3
r28. Shale 2
17. Limestone with shale partings... 3
14. Limestone with shale partings... 4
2. Limestone with shale partings 2
Total 260
Inches.
According to the record the limestone cap rock over the Nodaway coal is absent, which is nnusnal for this coal. Samples of the core from immediately above the coal prove it to be the gray calcareous non-laminated shale invariably found in the roof shales of the Nodaway coal. In this shale core were noted Aviculopecten and Euomphalus rugosus, usual fossils of this horizon. The bottom of the drilling evidently reaches into the Plattsmouth limestones.
630 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Tarkio River Drainage.
A short distance north of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad bridge over Tarkio creek at Coin the Tarkio limestones are exposed on the east side of the creek well above the water level in the stream. The outcrop is much weathered and is obscured by landslides so that the succession of the strata cannot be well made out at this place. On the creek one-fourth mile above this outcrop a core drilling was done by the Black Diamond Coal Co. of Coin. In the record the terminology of the driller is unchanged.
DRILL HOLE ONE MILE NORTHEAST OF COIN, ONE-POURTH MILE UP THE CREEK ABOVE THE PALMER EXPOSURE OF TARKIO LIMESTONE
Feet. Inches.
20. Gray limestone, impure, shaly 9 6
18. Limestone, impure, shaly 6
. 11. Gray limestone, iiUpure, shaly 3 4
9. Limestone, impure, shaly 2
Total 223 5
At the time of the survey of Page county by Professor Calvin it was impossible to make the comiection between the Nodaway coal and the Tarkio limestones, biit the putting down of core drill holes and the sinking of shafts attending the development
Rtbatigraphy Of The Missouri Stage
iS31
of the Nodaway coal at Coin renders it possible to fill the interval and complete the section. Number 22 in the drilling lies immediately below the lowest layer of the Tarkio limestones seen on the creek only a short distance away. The thick bed of shale that occupies the interval between the Nodaway coal and the Tarkio limestones reaches a thickness of 212 feet. This great body of shale, well known to the miners of southwestern Iowa as the shale,'* should be raised to the rank of a formation and given a geographic name. Broadhead repeatedly speaks of the City Bluffs beds and gives a section of nearly one hundred feet of these shales near Burlington Junction, Missouri. Therefore it is proposed that the shale formation between the bottom shale of the Nodaway coal and the lowest layer of the Tarkio limestones be known by the old name of Broadhead 's, the City Bluffs shale. It is evident that the Nodaway coal should be included in the overlying shales rather than in the Braddyville limestones. Two miles north of this locality a coal eight inches thick has been stripped low in the banks of the creek. This coal can be no other than number 14 in the drill record. It is also without doubt the same coal seam found in the Larrabee drilling northeast of Norwich. On a small creek just south of Coin a deep core drilling was carried to the depth of 450 feet in consequence of a rumor that a thick coal seam was to be found 150 feet below the Nodaway coal. The record is given below and correlated with the general section.
CORE DRIULiINa IN SOUTH PART OP COIN
Pleistocene, 32% feet 51. Surface clay
Feet.
City Bluffs shales, 200 feet
f 50. Gray shale 3
37. Gray limestone, cap rock 1
Inches.
Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
nsT. iNCHn.
Braddyville limestones, 53 feet
Forbes limestones, IZyit feet
Platte shales, Biyji feet.
Plattsmouth limestones, 38 feet
Andrew shales, 27 feet,
r34.
Gray shale ..; 10
Gray limestone 7
Black shale 2
Limestone 1
Calcareous shale
Limestone'
Calcareous shale
Soft limestone, shaly 4
Light shale 4
Soft limestone, shaly 5
Gray shale 10
Limestone 1
Light gray shale 4
Limestone 13
Black shale 5
Limestone 3
Gray shale 3
Light shale 13
Limestone 4
Gray shale 26
Gray limestone 12
White limestone 6
Black shale
Gray shale ' 1
White limestone 1
Black shale 2
Blue-black shale 3
Limestone 12
Calcareous shale 4
Gray shale 10
Limestone 9
Gray shale 22
Black shale 4
Limestone 1
Total 450
Since the discovery of coal at Coin several years ago a couple of shafts have been sunk and an important local trade supplied. The shafts are 230 feet deep and the coal is of much better thickness and quality than at its nearest outcrop at Shambaugh ten miles east.
During the past summer a new air shaft has been sunk at one of the mines and the excavated material from the shaft affords an excellent opportunity for the study of the paleontology of the City Bluffs shale. In the shales above the cap rock of the coal the most conspicuous feature is the great profusion of Bryozoa in the more calcareous shales. Rhombopora lepidodendroides, and the fan bryozoa Septopora hiserialis, and Polypora
STRATIGRAPHY OF THE MlflSOURI STAGE 633
crcbssa, are especially numerous. Avioulopectens are frequent throughout the whole thickness of the shales. Among the other fossils noted were Productus sermretiaalatus, P, cora, P. costatits, P. nehrascensis, Chonetes grcmiUifera, Athyris siibtUita, Ambocelia planoconveooa, Derbya crassa, Spiriferma kentuckiensis, Enteletes hemiplicata, Dielasma hovidens, Allorisma subcuneatum, Nucula ventricosa, Pleurotomaria perhumerosa, P. tabulata, Bellerophon carbonarius, B. nodocarinatus, B. percarinatus, B. montfortianus, Euomphalv rugost, Soleniscus brevis, Lophophyllum proliferv/m, Fistidipora nodvlifera and a small trilobite. The roof and bottom shales of the coal contain great numbers of plant remains, stems and leaves being abundant. Among the plants seen were Neuropteris, very common, Calamites, common and Pecopteris. In the roof shales were found Derbya crassa, Ambocelia planoconvexa, Allorisma subcuneatum, Aviculopectens and a Pinna, Bellerophon carbonarius and Euomphalus rugosus. In the Tarkio limestones at the old Palmer quarry were found Productits semireticvlatus , P. cora, P. pertenuis, P. longispvnus, Athyris subtUita, Enteletes hemiplicata, Chonetes glabra, Derbya crassa, Myalina subquadrata, M. swaUovi, M, perattenuata, Naticopsis altonensis. The gray shales above the Cjap rock of the coal contain a great number of large septaria. One bed six feet thick was passed through in sinking the shafts at Coin. Probably some of the limestone layers in the drill records are of this character. The soft impure limestones are calcareous shales as is well shown in the outcrops of this shale bed. It will be noted that no sandstones are found in the City Bluffs shale at Coin.
Nodaway Coal. At Coin
Feet. Inches.
Limestone, cap rock, very hard, pinkish and crystalline 1 6
' Shale, yellow 1
Shale, gray, nonlaminated ,.,, 2 6
Shale, black, bituminous, laminated 8
Coal 20
Shale, gray 10
Total ..; 17 4
Deep drilling south of Coin shows a rise of strata and the Tarkio limestones are absent in that direction. North of Coin
634 Oarboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
the strata rise and the Tarkio limestones are frequently exposed in the hillsides of the creek.
Two miles northeast of Norwich many quarries in the limestones have been worked in past years. The following composite section by Professor Calvin of the different exposures in this vicinity may be taken as the type section of the Tarkio limestones.
Tarkio Limestones Northeast Of Norwich
Feet. Inches.
5. Limestone, blue, hard and fine-gralned . 1 4
Total 27
The following fossils have been noted in the Tarkio limestones northeast of Norwich : Fusulina cylindrica, Rhombopora lepidodendroides, Productus semiretictUatus, P. cora, Enteletes hemiplicata, Chonetes granidifera, Athyris subtilita, AUorisnKi subcuneatum, Myalina subquadrata, and a Pleurotomaria. The two lower soft impure limestones are not constant, as they often pass into a very calcareous shale. The layers do not wedge out but gradually grade into a shale. In tiiis vicinity an upper thin coal seam has been worked by stripping, but its relation to the underlying limestone is not well shown. Two miles sontheast of Nyman at the old Linquist mine both coal and limestoBe are well exposed in the same hillside.
Coal. At Linquist Mine
FEET. nrgsES.
Total 46
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 636
In the cap rock, No. 8, Spirifer cameratus is abundant. The previous reports of the Iowa Geological Survey have named the coal, No. 7, the Linguist coal. This coal, the highest in the Carboniferous of Iowa, should be given a geographic name. In this locality the coal is generally known as the Nyman coal, which is believed to be the most appropriate name for it.
The extent of the Nyman coal on TarMo creek is from east of Norwich thence north twelve miles to a short distance into Montgomery county. The Tarkio limestones are exposed at frequent intervals in the valley of Tarkio creek until within two miles of Stanton where they disappear high in the hillsides.
Nishnabotna River Drainage
No exposures of stratified rocks are known on the East Nishnabotna river above its mouth until the vicinity of Essex is reached. Two miles southeast of this place on Eocky branch is an excellent exposure of the Tarkio limestones. (Figure B, plate XX.)
TARKIO limestone's NEAR ESSEX
Feet. Inches.
1. Limestone, shaly, soft, impure 1 6
Total 15
The dip at this place is very heavy to the west.
Two miles north of Essex, in the hills on the west side of the East Nishnabotna river, the Tarkio limestones have been quarried on an extensive scale years ago. The face of the old quarry extends for upwards of one-half mile. At the present time the outcrop is much obscured and no detailed section can be given. From this last locality north to the northern boundary of Page county several outcrops of the limestone are to be found in the hills on the west side of the river. One mile south of the north county line at Franklin Grove the Nyman coal has been discovered in digging wells. The coal, however, is less than six inches in thickness.
636 CARBONIF£BOnS SECTION OF SOUTHWESTERN IOWA.
From Coburg to Stennett the Carboniferous is deeply covered by the Cretaceous, which in places reaches a thickness of nearly one hundred feet. Carboniferous strata consisting of only single layers of limestone a foot or two thick, insufficient for correlation, are found at Coburg and one mile south of Bed Oak.
The Forbes limestone and the basal portion of the Braddyville limestones with a few feet of the Platte shales are well exposed on both sides of the East Nishnabotna river at Stennett.
Limbstonbs And Shales At Stbnnett
Inches.
11. Limestone, gray, Qne-textured 1 8
10. Sbale, buff to gray, argillaceous 3 6
9. Limestone, variable, earthy below 6
7. Limestone, blue above, cherty 6
8. Shale, black, bituminous 3
Total 87 10
Numbers 1-4 belong with the Platte shales, numbers 5-9 are the Forbes limestones above No. 9 is the lower part of the Braddyville limestones. A drift has been driven in the black shale No. 3 in search of coal, but without results. The different outcrops near Stennett for a distance of two miles have a heavy dip to the north. The line of disturbance if extended in a direction north of east through Jones Point on the Missouri river in Nebraska and south of the Wilson section at Lake Wabonsie in Fremont county would pass a short distance south of Stennett. The fault near Lake Wabonsie has, probably, in its eastward extension, become an anticline and the dip to the north at Stennett would indicate that the line of disturbance lies not far to the south of this place. The following fossils have been noted in the limestones at Stennett : Fusulina cylindrica in great profusion, Fenestella, plates and spines of Archaeocidaris, Spirifer cameratus, Meekella striatocostata, Orthis pecosi, Chonetes ver-
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 637
fieuiliana, C. grcmiUifera, Athyris subtUita, Prod/actv semireticlatus, P. cora, P. costatits, Derhya crassa, Enteletes hemipli-' cata, RetictUaria perplexa, Allorisma subcwieatwn, Chaenomya mmnehaha, Macrodon tenuistriattts , Bellerophon carhonarius, B. percarinatus and a Plenrotomaria.
No exposures of the Carboniferous are known on either Walnut creek or the West Nishnabotna river in Fremont county. The eastern half of this county is probably underlain immediately below heavy deposits of the Pleistocene by the City Bluffs shale, which being composed of soft and easily eroded material does not show in outcrops.
In the southwest comer of Montgomery county on Walnut creek at Climax is an exposure of limestones and shales much obscured at the present time. The following section is from Lonsdale.
Limestones And Shales At Climax
6. Limefltone, hard, drab, fine-textured 1
6. Limestone and shale, marly 8
4. Shale, argillaceous, gray 2
3. Limestone, bluish, dull, earthy 1
2. Shale, argillaceous, gray 1
1. Limestone, blue, hard, dimension stone 1 6
Total 9 6
These limestones and shales can-be referred to the Tarkio limestones, as they are in the line of strike of that formation and are only four miles distant from the exposures of these limestones on* the East Nishnabotna river north of Essex. On Walnut creek five miles southwest of Stennett and in a line with the exposures at Grant, Stennett, and the Wilson section is an exposure of a nine-foot ledge of a very cherty limestone that without doubt is to be referred to the Forbes limestone. One mile south of Malvern on Silver creek the Forbes limestone is found as shown by the following section from Udden.
638 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Forbes Umbstone One Mile South Of Malvern
Inches.
5. Limestone, grayifih yellow, cherty 6
4. Limestone, grayish blue, compact 9
2. Limestone, yellow, fragmental 2
1. Limestone, below water level of creek 3
Total 14 3
This outcrop is now much obscured, only number 5 being visible. Udden correctly correlates these limestones with the lower main limestone at the Wilson section.
Two miles south of Eiverton on Mill creek is a critical exposure, as it is thought to be at the very summit of the Carboniferous in Iowa.
McKISSICKS GROVE SHALES ON MILL CREEK
Feet.
6. Limestone in five layers with shale partings. The upper layer, six inches thick, is a white and very hard limestone composed of fragments of shells and crinoid plates arranged in a horizontal position. Xhe two lower layers, ten and four inches in thickness, are very dark, almost black limestones. They contain numerous round lumps
of calcareous matter one-fourth inch in diameter 3
4. Shale, calcareous, weathered yellow 3
3. Shale, blue, contains several thin bands of sandstone; not
well exposed 9
2. Sandstone, blue, indurated, micaceous 2
Total 35
Parties long resident in this vicinity report a seam of coal twenty feet below the sandstone. The following fossils were found in the limestone: Fusulina cylindrica, Productus coral Spirifer cameratus, Chonetes granulifera, C. glabra, Avkulopecten providencensis, Myalina swallovi and Bellerophon marcotmnus.
On a small creek in McKissicks Grove two miles northeast of Hamburg and about the same distance north of the south boundary of the state is one of the most extensive and important
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 639
exposures in southwestern Iowa, showing the succession of strata above the Tarkio limestones to the last of the Carboniferous in Iowa. The different outcrops are seen on following the creek from the lower bridge on the bottom land to the forks of the creek and then up the north branch of the creek. The cap rock of the coal is also exposed under an old bridge on the south branch of the creek.
LIMESTONES AND SHALES AT McKISSICKS GROVE
Feet. Inches.
15. Limestone, very dark, containing nodules about
one-half inch in diameter 1
14. Shale, blue, sandy and micaceous, with several thin
bands of sandstone 7
13. Sandstone, micaceous, blue weathering to yellow. . . 3
11. Limestone, compact, gray, with many specimens of
Productua 8emireticulatu9 1
4. Shale, blue, weathering to yellow 8
3. Limestone in two or three heavy ledges crowded with very large specimens of Fuauliha cylindrica,
no other fossils recognized 4
2. Shale with occasional individuals of Productua
semireticulatus 12
Total 86 3
Numbers 1-7 represent the Tarkio limestone, No. 9 is the Nyman coal and the upper part of the section is equivalent to the Mill creek section.
McKissicks Grove is a locality well known in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri and has had much of historical interest in the early settlement of the country and during the civil war. The term Atchison could well be applied to the strata above the Tarkio limestones, but Broadhead's Atchison county group extends eighty feet below these limestones. Besides,
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Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 641
Keyes has used the name Atchison to include all of the Missouri above the Forbes limestone to the Cottonwood limestone. The term McKissicks Grove shales can well be applied to the beds of the Missouri above the Tarkio limestones to the close of the Carboniferous as found in Iowa.
Sandstone And Shale On School Grounds At Hamburg
Feet.
1. Shale, divided near the middle by a hard band three inches
thick 20
Total 23
The sandstone does not resemble the sandstone at McKissicks Grove, as it is of much coarser grain and contains but little mica. The underlying shale carries nodules of pyrite and many broken fragments of Aviculopectens, and has the appearance of some portions of the City Bluffs shale.
Nearly twenty years ago a core drilling one thousand feet deep was done a short distance north of Hamburg on the west side of the Nishnabotna river. The core has been lost and no record of the drilling has been preserved, but parties who were interested in the drilling state that the superficial deposits were seventy feet deep, and at ninety feet a seam of coal one foot thick was found, XJdden gives the elevation of the surface where the drilling began at 998 feet A. T. The elevation of the base of the shales at the school grounds is approximately 935 feet, and the dip at this point, being strong to the north, would bring the shale down on the coal. The sandstone and shale at Hamburg can be correlated with the sandstone and shale at McKissicks Grove. According to the best information no other coal seams were found in this drilling.
Missouri River Bluffs.
Broadhead's Atchison county group will be given and correlated with the section found in Iowa. It will be noted Broadhead numbers the section from above downwards.
642 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
FEET. INCHESL 1. Bluff 250
2. Drift, thickness unknown beneath the bluff
4. Sandstone and shales. Sandstone at top, upper
three feet irregularly bedded and micaceous, green; below eight or ten feet, soft, brown; then thirty-five feet of shales and sandstone; red shales in upper part, thick bedded shales at bottom 47
5. Drab limestone, weathers brown 10
6. Shaly limestone, contains fossils. 3 2
7. Blue concretionary limestone traversed by calc-spar
veins 1 4
8. Sandy shales or dark brown clay 2
12. Dark blue shaly limestone 1 6
13. Red and green shales with nodules of limestone 1 6
14. Limestone, upper part nodular, weathers brown,
abounds in Fusulina 4
15. Blue and drab argillaceous shale 2S
17. Blue fossiliferous shale 10
21. Blue argillaceous shale, 6 to 13 feet 6
22. Fine-grained blue limestone 1
24. Buff ochery decomposing limestone 10
Total 417
Below Xo. 14, which is tlie base of the Tarkio limestone, the section has a thickness of eighty feet. This added to one hundred and twenty-five feet of City Bluffs shale, exposed near Burlington Junction, gives a thickness of two hundred and five feet, about the normal thickness of this shale formation.
In this section Broadhead gives fifty feet of sandstones and shales above the Nyman coal No. 9 without any limestones corresponding to numbers 15 and 16 of the McKissicks Grove section. He gives a section at Halls bridge on the Nishnabotna
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 643
river only a few miles south of the Iowa state line showing two limestones that are equivalent to these limestones.
Section At Halls Bridge, Missouri.
Feet.
2. Hard silico-ferruginous limestone, weathers brown 1
3. Sandstone, greenish drab, fine grained, slightly micaceous.. 3
4. Coarse grained, brown and green silico-micaceous limestone 1
5. Soft brown and buff sandstone 4
6. Shales, the upper half sandy, the lower argillaceous 16
7. Shales with nodules of brown and ferruginous limestone.
No. 7 of general section 2
Total 27
Broadhead also gives a section in the Missouri river bluffs at the state line :
Feet. Inches.
1. Ochery and blue banded clay shales in thin laminae
. No. 5 of general section . . . 2
2. Dark limestone, weathers brown 10
6. Ochery sandy shales. No. 10 of general section 2
7. Ochery and blue sandy shales 17
Total 24 3
In the Missouri river bluffs north of Hamburg but few outcrops of stratified rocks are seen until within a couple of miles of Thurman. Three miles east of Nebraska City Junction is an exposure of sandstone above a few feet of shale, and a short distance south of Kiiox on a small stream that comes down out of the bluffs at this place is an outcrop of a three-foot ledge of limestone underlain by a sandstone that is not well exposed. Commencing two miles south of Thurman and extending north to the Mills county line is a series of exposures, the most important in southwestern Iowa, and one that affords a solution of the seeming inconsistencies found in the structure of the Carboniferous in this part of the state. Udden gives a composite section of the different exposures found two miles south of Thurman.
644 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Sex2Tion In The Bluffs Two Miles South Of Thurman
Feet.
6. Bluish gray sandstone of fine texture
4. Dark gray limestone cut by straight and vertical joints into I large blocks and containing numerous spheroidal calcareous lumps about one-fourth inch in diameter 3
2. Grayish blue sandstone of fine texture, in straight layers
below and ripple marked above 3
Total 18%
This section in the opinion of Professor Calvin is at the very close of the Carboniferous in Iowa, nothing similar, to it being found in the Missouri in the rest of the state. All the other strata of the Missouri in Iowa were deposited under deep sea conditions, while these are shore deposits, unfossiliferous, ripple marked. The limestone is composed of an aggregation of rounded nodules of calcareous matter, which indicates a shallowing of the Carboniferous sea together with the prevalence of beach conditions. The limestone is similar in structure to the upper limestone at McKissicks Grove in containing nodules of calcareous matter, and they, without doubt, are equivalent to each other. The limestone and sandstone in this section are exposed at intervals along the bluff road to within a half mile of Thurman. One-fourth mile east of the town on Plum creek is an exposure which shows:
Feet.
4. Shale, thickness undetermined, the slope above being sodded
over
. 3. Impure limestone, broken into blocks
Total 10%
At this place all the beds are dipping strongly to the northwest. On the slope above the exposure are loose blocks of sandstone from some higher ledges. These beds belong immediately below the limestone and sandstone found on the bluff road less than one-half mile away. It is believed the limestone* and sand-
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 645
stone south of Thurman belong to the close of the Carboniferous in Iowa, and are equivalent to the exposure on Mill creek, and the upper part of the McKissicks Grove section. In addition there is the further evidence of the finding of a coal seam fourteen inches thick in a shaft sunk on the farm of E. Baylor. The coal is about twenty feet below the outcrop near by and ten feet below the bluff road.
Shaft On Baylor Farm Two Miles South Of Thurman
Inches.
Total 29 8
West of the bluff road a point well was driven eighty feet deep without encountering rock of any kind.
This coal is without doubt the Nyman coal and the correlation becomes very positive. In the exposure near Thurman on Plum creek the coal is represented by the carbonaceous streak under the limestone.
Along the foot of the bluffs north of Thurman before reaching the Wilson section of White are two old quarries about one-half mile distant from each other. At the present time both are so covered by wash from the bluff above that not a single undisturbed layer can be seen. In the quarry farther north the rubbish shows slabs of a rough irregularly bedded blue limestone containing many specimens of Productus cora.
The following fossils, have been observed in the McKissicks Grove shales at McKissicks Grove and Thurman: Fusulina cylindrica, Rhombopora lepidodendroides, Fenestella, plates and stems of crinoids, Productus cora, P. longispinus, P. semireticU' latus, Chonetes granulifera, C. glabra, Athyris subtilita, Pugnax uta, Hustedia mormoni, Allorisma subcuneatum, Edmondia nebrascensis, Myalina sivallovi, Aviculopectens and Bellerophon carbonarius.
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 647
On the bluff road two miles north of Thurman is the Wilson
section of White where a situation is met which is unparalleled by any similar condition to be found in the state of Iowa. A displacement in the strata has taken place between this point and Thurman with the uplift to the north of an amount of at least 300 feet. White and Udden have both given sections of the Wilson exposure, but the base of the outcrop at present is covered by talus, and as White's section includes several numbers that now are not visible it will be used.
Wilson Section Of White
Fekt. Inches.
29. Yellowish gray, Impure limestone in thin layers 2
28. Limestone in two layers with a three inch parting. . 2 6
26. Black carhonaceous shale 1 9
24. Black carbonaceous shale 1
23. Bluish marly shale with numerous fossils 1 6
21. Light bluish, fossiliferous, shaly clay 2
20. Compact bluish limestone, with shaly partings 4
19. Marly clay with calcareous concretions 6 ;
17. Light yellowish, indurated marl 6
15. Light yellowish, indurated marl 4
14. Yellowish siliceous limestone with flinty concretions 2 6
13. Yellowish marly shale with concretions of impure
limestone 3
10. Gray limestone in thick layers 3
8. Yellowish siliceous limestone 1 6
7. Compact gray limestone with marly partings 16
5. Compact layer of limestone 9
3. Compact bluish limestone 2
1.. Fine grained, micaceous sandstone 1
; Total 81 10
648 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Numbers 1-6 belong with the Platte shale ; numbers 7-10 are the Forbes limestone; numbers 11-21 are equivalent to the Braddyville limestones and the coal No. 22 is the Nodaway coal.
One mile north of the Wilson section on Indian creek a drift has been driven in on the coal in hopes that it might prove workable, but the enterprise has been abandoned.
Nodaway Coal In Indian Creek
Feet. Inches.
G. Yellow shale 1
4. Gray nonlaminated, nonjointed shale 1 4
2. Gray shale, similar to No. 4 1 6
Total 11 8
The dull gray nonlaminated shale invariably found in th roof shales of the Nodaway coal is here divided by the black shale No. 3, and according" to Professor Calvin bears the same fossils that are found in the shales over that coal. The correlation of Wliite is accepted and no doubt is entertained that the coal in the Wilson section is identical with the Nodaway coal.
To Todd is due the credit of calling attention to the deformation of the Carboniferous strata that takes place between the Wilson section and Thurman, and causes the Forbes limestone at the Wilson section and the limestone and sandstone in the upper part of the McKissicks Grove shales at Thurman, to appear at the same elevation above the bottom lands of the Missouri river. The strata in the vicinity, of Thurman as far north as Plum creek all have a slight dip to the north. As far as can be , seen there is no disturbance or heavy dip of strata in the abandoned and wash covered quarries between Thurman and the Wilson section, which leads to the conclusion that the displacement of strata of about 300 feet with the uplift to the north takes place just south of the Wilson section and is due to a fault of
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage
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that amount with downthrow to the south. According to Todd, at Jones Point on the west side of the Missouri river in Nebraska, seven miles southwest of and in plain view of the Wilson section, is found a very heavydip to the south of the Carboniferous series in which' over 100 feet of strata disappear beneath the Missouri river in less than one mile. A continuation of the line of displacement from Jones Point to the Wilson section would pass south of the exposures of the Forbes limestone at Malvern, Stennett and Grant, and would thus give an explanation of the appearance of the limestone at those places.
To the north of Wabonsie creek the lower limestones of the Wilson section are exposed at frequent intervals in the foot of the bluffs to the old abandoned quarries east of Haynies.
Udden's Section No. 4 may be correlated with the lower part of the Wilson section as given by White. At both localities these strata represent the upper members of the Platte shales.
650 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Platte Shales One Mile Southeast Haynies
Feet. Ixches.
3. Arenaceous and micaceous silt, yellow above and
bluish green below 6
2. Greenish or bluish gray limestone 2
Total 15 3
The sandstone No. 1 of the Wilson section is equivalent to No. 3 of the above.
On Keg creek near Glenwood and at Henton in the Missouri river bluffs are limited, exposures of limestones and shales difficult of correlation, but their horizon is probably in the Platte shales. In the face of the bluff one-fourth of a mile south of the railroad bridge over the Missouri river at Nebraska City, Nebraska, less than one-half mile from the Iowa side of the river, is an exposure often referred to by geologists since, the first observations of Meek and Havden, and of Marcou, fifty rears ago.
SECTION OP BLUFF xVT XK BR ASK A CITY
Fket.
12. Thin bedded limestone, impure, with shaly partings, some
crinoid stems 4
11. Yellow, very arenaceous shale 4
9. Heavy layer of limestone 2
8. Thin seam of very carbonaceous matter, with plant impressions
7. Blue laminated and nonlaminated shale, micaceous and
arenaceous in places. In part of the exposure divided by a thin band of more indurated shale, yellowish in color. Ten feet above the base of the shale is a thin band of limestone 40
6. Limestone with Pugnax uta 2
2. Limestone, in two layers. 1
1. Shale, exposed in bed of small intermittent creek
Total .' 664
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 651
The lower part of the thick shale No. 7 is covered by a railroad embankment, but is known to occur as stated. Numbers 1-6 are exposed in the creek bed near the brick yard office.
This section corresponds very closely to that at McKissicks Grove, twelve miles southeast of this place, and without doubt they are equivalent. The lower limestones are fossiliferous, but the beds above them are verv different from the same strata found in Iowa. In the shale pit Professor Calvin was unable to find a single marine fossil. The thick shale No. 7 throughout its whole thickness contains many plant remains. Some of the layers are well laminated, with vertical joints, while other portions seems to be but a mass of slickensided shale. Many of the layers are ripple maiked and all of the beds above the lower limestones have been formed under shallow water conditions. The wliole oxp:sure resembles the Des Moines in many features.
A deep boring at the brick yard office began with No. 6 of the section and extended to the depth of 863 feet. The record of the drilling was furnished by C. A. Ingersoll, the driller. Drilling was done by the cable rig method. The terminology of the' driller is unchanged.
Record Of Xk Bra Ska City Drilijxo
FEET. TOTAI Soli 4 4
Lime : 4 8
Shale 25 33
Lime 2 35
Red shale 5 40
Blue shale 15 55
Red shale 5 60
Blue shale 22 82
Lime 5 87
Blue shale 32 119
Red rock 6 125
Sand stone 2 127
Blue shale 73 200
Lime 9 209
Black shale 6 215
Lime — blue . . . 5
white 30
blue 15—50 265
Black shale with oil 2 267
White lime 15 282
Blue shale 8 290
652 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Feet. Totm
White lime 45 335
Blue Bhale 2 337
Lime 17 354
Blue shale 2 356
Black shale 9 365
Lime 15 380
Sand rock with mineral water, artesian 35 415
Blue shale 20 435
White lime 20 455
Red rock 3 458
Black shale 10 4S5
Lime 25 493
Blue shale 15 508
Sand stone with artesian mineral water 12 520
Black shale 10 530
White lime , 40 670
Red rock 5 675
Lime, bottom sandy with water 40 615
Blue shale 2 617
White lime 60 677
Shale and lime 5 682
Shale 3 685
Limey shale 5 690
Lime 10 700
Black shale 10 710
Limey sand 15 725
Lime , 25 750
Blue lime '. 10 760
Limey shale 25 785
Sand rock, very hard 8 793
Lime 20 813
Sand rock, very hard 5 818
Lime 5 823
Shale 10 833
Lime 10 843
Shale, blue 20 863
The limestone and black shale at the depth of 215 feet probably represent the cap rock and horizon of the Nodaway coal. The heavy bed of shale above 200 feet is the City Bluffs shale. No further attempts at correlation will be made, although it is evident the bottom of the drilling must be near the base of the Missouri.
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 653
Coal Seams.
Some practical conclusions on the area and availability of the coal seams of southwestern Iowa are of importance to miners and prospectors in the future development of the mining industry in this part of the state. The Nyman coal at the old Linquist mine ' " a thickness of ten to fifteen inches, and was of very good quality but difficulties attending a large amount of water and a bad roof caused its abandonment several years ago. At McBassicks Grove Udden reports a thickness of fourteen inches, which is greater than the average ; the outcroppings usually show a thickness of six or eight inches. The drilling at Hamburg gives a thickness of one foot. In the bluff at Nebraska City it is but a mere carbonaceous streak. From Hamburg to Thurman, if correlations are correct, it should be found in the bluffs at a level not far different from the bluff road. In Baylor's shaft south of Thurman it is fourteen inches thick. On Plum creek near Thurman it is reduced to a mere streak hardly recognizable. Over most of its area the Nyman coal has been eroded in the valleys of the streams and will be found only in patches of limited extent. Although the Nyman coal is a well defined horizon in the Carboniferous of southwestern Iowa, its average thickness will probably not exceed six inches and with tlie exception of local basins of greater thickness it cannot be regarded as workable. It is believed that at the present time attempts to develop it will prove unsuccessful.
All the coal mines in this part of the state are now working in the Nodaway coal, the areal extent of which exceeds that of any other coal seam in Iowa. According to Broadhead it becomes thinner to the south in the state of Missouri and in places is much damaged by clay seams, as it is at Shambaugh, Iowa. The Nodaway coal is not of very high grade as it carries a large percentage of ash. It does not generally show much pyrite, and usually bums without clinker. The quality improves from the south toward the north, and the coal in Adams county is of superior quality to that in Taylor and Page counties. It is not in much request as a domestic coal, but is regarded as being a good steam coal. The coal is firm and hard and, always being mined by the longwall method, is free from slack ; it stocks well
654 Carboniferous Section Of Southwestern Iowa
and does not disintegrate on exposure to the weather. The coal varies in thickness from a minimum of six inches to a maximum of three feet. Its usual and average thickness is about sixteen inches, and it is rarely altogether absent from its horizon. The Nodaway coal is exceptional in not having an under bed of fire clay. It is, however, usually underlain by a gray shale, that often causes the mining of the coal to be attended with considerable difficulty. The coal seam holds its thickness well in passing west of its outcrops on the Nodaway river and is of greater thickness at Coin than at its nearest outcrop, ten miles away, at Shambaugh. Many years ago a drilling was done at Biverton on the hill and it is reported that a coal seam one foot thick was penetrated at the depth of 400 feet. The surface where the drilling started is at least 100 feet higher than the McKissicks Grove shales on Mill creek two miles south of Biverton. The horizon of 'the Nodaway coal is about 300 feet lower than the outcrop on Mill creek and the coal of the Biverton drilling is probably the Nodaway seam. If the records are correct the Nodaway coal is absent in the drillings at Hamburg and Nebraska City. From Hamburg to Thurman the coal is upwards of 300 feet deep and is probably too thin to be workable. North of the fault at the Wilson section it is too poor and thin to be available. Drilling at Tabor has found the coal at the depth of 260 feet, but it is not of workable thickness.
The mine at Coin is only seven miles east of the west line of Page county and it is thought the coal will be of sufficient thickness to be workable that far west. In Montgomery county the northern limit of the coal is south of the line of disturbance passing northeast from the Wilson section. The area east of these boundaries to the eastern outcrop of the coal in Adams and Taylor counties is believed to be underlain by the Nodaway coal which in the valleys can be reached by shafts less than 300 feet deep.
Altitude And Thickness.
The altitude of the Nodaway coal at New Market is 980 feet A. T., or fifteen feet higher than the same coal at Clarinda. The altitude of the Nodaway coal at Clarinda is 965 feet A. T., at
Stratigraphy Of The Missouri Stage 656
Shambaugh 950 feet A. T. and at Coin 790 feet A. T. The dip of tte coal from Shambaugh west to Coin, ten miles, is at the rate of sixteen feet to the mile. The dip from Clarinda southwest to Coin, thirteen miles, is thirteen and one-half feet to the mile. The altitude of the Tarkio limestones at Coin is 1,025 feet A. T., and at MeKissicks Grove the same limestones have an elevation of 920 feet A. T. The dip west from Coin to MeKissicks Grove, twenty miles, is about five feet to the mile. The altitude of the sandstone in the bluflf at Hamburg is approximately 960 feet A. T. Near Thurman the same sandstone is at an elevation of about 970 feet A. T. At Nebraska City the sandy shale in the bluff is .at an elevation of 960 feet A. T., making the sandstone practically horizontal for a distance of sixteen miles.
General Section Of The Carboniferoits In Southwestern Iowa
Feet.
MeKissicks Grove shales 75
Tarkio limestones 25
City Bluffs shale 210
Braddyville limestones 45
Forbes limestone 18
Platte shales 86
Plattsmouth limestones 40
Andrew shales 172
latan limestone 16
Weston shales 76
Plattsburg limestone 19
Parkville shales ; 22
Bethany limestones 165
Thickness of Missouri in Iowa 969
Des Moines in Clarinda drilling 129
Total 1.098
In round nmnbers 1,100 feet.
Paleontology.
In the study of the paleontology' of southwestern Iowa certain features in the distribution of the different species become apparent. While the greater number of forms range throughout the whole of the section, certain horizons are characterized by a fauna that is of value in correlation.
656 Carboniferous- Section Of Southwestern Iowa
Fusulina cylindrica is common in all the limestones of the Missouri, and in the Forbes limestone and upper layer of the Tarkio limestones becomes especially abundant. There seem to be at least three different varietal forms of Fusulina. In the Forbes limestone a large portion of the Fusulinas are of a different form from the usual type, being of a robust, nearly globular variety. In the Tarkio limestones in Page county none of the globular variety are seen, and only the forms usually figured are found. In the Tarkio limestones at McKissicks Grove the prevailing forms are of a much elongated and curved variety. The different Bryozoa are abundant throughout the section in the calcareous shales. It is probable careful study would show that certain species are confined to particular horizons. Crinoidal remains are frequent in all the different strata. Disjointed stems and plates are all that have been found. A careful search has failed to discover a single perfect calyx. The spines and plates of Archaeocidaris are rather frequent in the Forbes limestone. The different species of Productus do not seem to be good horizon markers. Of the three species of Chonetes C. vememli' ana has been found only in the Forbes limestone where it is a long eared form with deep mesial sinus. C granvlifera and C. glabra range in abundance through the whole section. Spirifer ca/meratus is abundant in the cap rock of the Nyman coal and in the limestone in the upper part of the McKissicks Grove shales. It is frequently of the elongate eared form. Meekella striatocostata has been seen only in the Forbes limestone. Ambocelia planoconvexa is quite abundant in any of the weathered shales. Athyris subtilita, Derbya crassa and Dielasma bovidens range throughout the section and are valueless for correlation. Orthis pecosi and Reticularia perplexa seem to be confined to the Forbes limestone and Platte shales. Spiriferina kentttckiensis and Productus nebracensis have been noticed only in the City Bluffs shale. P. pertenuis has been found only in the Tarkio limestones. Euomphalus rugosus has a great vertical range and is very abundant in the roof shales of the Nodaway coal. Betterophon carbonarius ranges through all the section. The City Bluffs shale contains numerous specimens of at least four species of Bellerophon. The only horizon in which Naticopsis altonensis
Acknowledgments 667
has been noted is the blue ledge of the Tarkio limestones. Pleurotofnaria perhumerosa is very abundant in the City Bluffs shale. A single specimen of P. tabidaia was found in these shales. In Page coimty the lower layers of the Tarkio limestone seem to be an important Myalina horizon as at least three, perhaps four different species are found in abundance.
Acknowledgments
Information has been received in many different ways and from many sources during the last fifteen years, while the writer has been studying the Carboniferous of Iowa. Much is due Professor Calvin for encouragement and advice in the field.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
Compiled By
James H. Lees
Bibliography Of Iowa Goals 661
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
Compiled By Jambs H. Lbbs. '
Adair county, coal In.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Oeol. Sorv., Vol. II, pp. 441-448. 1894.
Adams county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Oeol. Sunr., Vol. II, pp. 445-450. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept State Geol., p. 67 1868. in Oeol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 342-344. 1870.
ApiMUioose county, coal in.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Sunr., Vol. V, pp. 409-434. 1895.
C. R. Keyea, in Iowa Geol. Sunr., Vol. II, pp. 406-424. 1894.
C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept State Geol., p. 40. 1868.
Armstrong, S. C.
Coal production in Iowa in 1883-84. TJ. S. Geol. Sunr., Min. Res. of U. S., 1883-1884, pp. 12, 45-46.
Aahbumer, Chas. A.
Coal production of Iowa in 1885. U. S. Geol. Sunr., Min. Res. of U. S., 1885, pp. 11, 30.
in 1886, IMd., 1886, pp. 225 ff. 266-268.
in 1887. IMd., 1887; pp. 169, 171, 187, 245-253.
in 1888. IWd., 1888, pp. 169, 206. 262-269.
Atkinson, J. J.
Gases of coal mines. First Ann. Rept State Mine Insp., 1880-81, pp. 108-118. 1882.
Bain, H. Foster.
Coal in Appanoose county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. V, pp. 409-434. 1895.
In Carroll county. IMd., Vol. IX., p. 97. 1898.
In Decatur county. IMd., Vol. VIII, pp. 294-299. 1897.
In Guthrie county. IWd., Vol. VII, pp. 469-475. 1896.
In Keokuk county. lUd,, Vol. IV, pp. 245-301. 1894. In Mahaska county. Ibid,, Vol. IV, pp. 351-366. 1894. In Plymouth county. Ihid., Vol. VIII, pp. 361-365. 1897. In Polk county. Ibid., Vol. VII, pp. 352-366. 1896.
In Washington county. Ibid., Vol. V, p. 162. 1895.
Explanation of certain irregularities encountered in working coal seams in Iowa. Mon. Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 6, pp. 4-7. 1893. Machine coal mining in Iowa. Min. Ind., Vol. IV, 1895, pp. 195-200. Peculiarities of the Mystic coal seam. Am. Geol., Vol. XIII, pp. 407-411.
662 Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
Structure of the Mystic coal basin. Iowa Acad. Sci., Vol. I, pt 4, p. 33.
Western interior coal field. U. S. Geol. Surv.. 22nd Ann. Rept. 1900-1901, pt. Ill, pp. 339-366.
Tilton, J. L., and.
Coal in Madison county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 537-539. 1896.
Beyer, S. W.
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, p. 529.
Coal in Boone county. Ibid., Vol. V, pp. 205-220. 1895.
In Hardin county. lUd., Vol. X, p. 289. 1899.
In Marshall county. Ibid., Vol. VII, pp. 257-258. 1896.
In Story county. Ibid., Vol. IX, pp. 216-219. 1898.
-and Young, L. E. Coal in Monroe county. IMd., Vol. XIII, pp.
Binks, Thomas.
Coal mines of southern Iowa. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Third Rept, 1885-87, pp. 18-80. 1888.
IMd., Fourth Rept, 1887-89, pp. 8-61. 1889.
Ibid., Fifth Rept., 1889-91, pp. 5-51. 1891.
Bissell, G. W.
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, pp. 170 ff. 1906.
Boiler tests of Iowa coals at St Louis testing station, 1904. L. P. Breckenridge, in Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt II, pp. 529-576, 947 ff.
Boone county, coal in.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. V, pp. 205-220. 1895.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 225-236. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 124. 1852. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 259. 1870.
Boonesboro, coal at.
C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 142. 1868.
Breckenridge, L. P.
Boiler tests of Iowa coals at St. Louis testing station, 1904. Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. II, pp. 529-576, 947 ff.
Briquetting Iowa coals.
James E. Mills, in Bull. No. 343, U. S. Geol. Surv., p. 52. 1908. Table only.
Briquetting tests of Iowa coals at St. Louis testing station. 1904. J. H. Pratt in Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt III, pp. 1427, 1443 ff.
Bushnell, J. P.
Coal fields of Iowa. In "Iowa Resources and Industries," pp. 72, 74. Dcs Moines, 1885.
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Calvin, Samuel.
Coal in Page county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XI, pp. 450-453. 1900. Geological formations of Iowa. Stone, Vol. XXV, 1902, pp. 118-124. Geology and Geological Resources of Iowa. Mines and Minerals, Vol. XXII, 1902, pp. 560-561.
Campbell, James A.
Coal mines in eastern Iowa. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Twelfth Rept.
Ihid., Thirteenth Rept., 1905-'06, pp. 60-68. 1906.
Coal mines in southern Iowa. Ihid.y Seventh Rept., 1893-*95, pp. 7-33.
Ibid., Eighth Rept., 1895-'97, pp. 5-22. 1897.
Ibid., Ninth Rept., 1897-'99, pp. 7-16. 1899.
Ibid., Tenth Rept., 1899-1901, pp. 9-21. 1901.
Campbell, M. R.
Classification of coals collected for tests at St Louis testing station,.
1904. Prof. Paper No. 48. U. S. Geol. Surv.. pt. I, pp. 156 ff. Description of samples collected for tests at St. Louis testing station,
Oanty, John W.
Coal mines in eastern Iowa. Sixth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1891- 93, pp. 40-59. 1893.
Carboniferous in central Iowa.
C. R. Keyes, in Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., Vol. 2, p. 284. 1891.
Carroll county, coal in.
H. P. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 97. 1898.
Cass county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 440-441. 1894.
Central Iowa, Carboniferous in.
C. R. Keyes, in Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 2, p. 284. 1891.
Character and stratigraphlcal peculiarities of the southwestern Iowa coal field.
C. R. Keyes, in Eng. and Min. Jour., Vol. LXXIII, p. 661. 1902.
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, p. 529. 1906. G. W. Bissell in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, pp. 170 ft. 1906. Rush Emery, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 357-397. 1870. G. Hinrichs, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 205-232, 248-268. 1868. N. W. Lord, in Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. I. pp. 221-225, 270. 1906:
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839.
G. E. Patrick, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 504-509. 1894.
Chemical analyses and general character of Iowa coals.
J. D. Whitney, Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 397-415. 1858.
Coal, briquetting of.
James E. Mills, in Bull. 343, U. S. Geol. Surv., p. 52. 1909.
664 Bibliography Of Iowa Goals
Coal, chemical analyses of.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, p. 529. 1906.
G. W. Blssell, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, pp. 170 ff. 1906.
Rush Emery, In Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 357-397. 1870.
GuBtav Hinrichs, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 205-232, 248-268.
N. W. Lord, in Prof. Paper 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. I, pp. 221-225, 270.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839. G. E. Patrick, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 504-509. 1894. J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 397-415. 1858.
Coal, Trans-Mississippian, structure and geological position of.
C. R. Keyes, in Eng. and Min. Jour., Vol. LXV, pp. 253-254, 280-281. 1898. Vol. LXIX, pp. 528-529. 1900.
Coal at Boonesboro.
C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., 142. 1868. At Des Moines.
C. White, Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 167, 176. 1868. At Port Dodge.
C. A. White, Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 140. 1868.
Coal deposits of Iowa.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, 1894.
In U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. of U. S., 1892, pp. 398-404.
Coal fields of Iowa.
J. P. Bushnell, Comm. of Immigration for Iowa, in Iowa Resources and
Industries, pp. 72, 74. Des Moines, 1885. James MacFarlane, in "The Coal Regions of America," pp. 446-463. New
York, 1875.
Chiefly summary of Hall's and White's reports.
Coal fields of Iowa and Missouri.
David D. Owen, in Proc. Amer. Assoc., Vol. 5, 1851, pp. 119-131. Reviewed by H. S. Williams in Bull. .80, U. S. Geol. Surv., p. 143. 1891.
Coal horizons in Iowa.
O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 273-283. 1870.
Coal in drift.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 97. Vol. II, p. 236. 1870.
Coal in Iowa.
A. R. Fulton, in "Iowa; The Home for Immigrants," p. 21, Des Bloines,
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839.
In Geol. Surv. of Wis., la. and Minn., p. 97. 1852.
In Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Vol. V, p. 127. 1851.
N. Howe Parker, in "Iowa as it is in 1855," pp. 39-43. Chicago, 1855.
The Iowa Handbook for 1857, pp. 32-35. Boston, 1857.
H. S. Reed, in "The Leading Industries of the West," pp. 7, 13. Chicago,
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 258-263. 1870. History of Dallas county, p. 125. Des Moines, 1879.
Bibliography Of Iowa Goals 665
Coal in Raccoon valley.
O. H. St. John, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 175-190. 1868.
Coal in United States, distribution of.
C. W. Hayes, in U. S. Geo!. Surv., 22nd Ann. Rept., 1900-1901, pt. Ill, p. 12.
Coal in Adair county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 441443. 1894.
In Adams county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 445-450. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 67. 1868. In Geol. Iowa, Vol. I. pp. 342-344. 1870.
In Appanoose county.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. V, pp. 409-434. 1895. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 406-424. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 40. 1868. History of Appanoose county, p. 338. Chicago, 1878.
In Boone county.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, pp. 205-220. 1895.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 223-236. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 124. 1852. C. A. White, In Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 259. 1870.
In Carroll county.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 97. 1898.
In Cass county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 440-441. 1894.
In Dallas county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 253-267. 1894. A, G. Leonard, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 92-101. 1897. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 18 ft, 45. 1870. History of Dallas county, pp. 281-284. Des Moines, 1879.
In Davis county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. I!, pp. 424-429. 1894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 271. 1870.
In Decatur county.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 294-299. 1897. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 462-463. 1894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 326. 1870.
In Des Moines county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp 483-484. 1894. Ihid., Vol. Ill, pp. 483-485. 1893.
In Greene county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 219-225. 1894. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 134-137. 1870.
666 Bibliography Of Iqwa Coals
In Guthrie county.
H. F. Blain, in Iowa GeoL Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 469-47$. 1896. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 242-253. 1894.
0. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 105 ff. 128. 1870.
In Hamilton county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 211-214. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 25, 1868. in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 257. 1870.
In Hardin county.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. X, p. 289. 1899. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 214-218. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 22. 1868.
in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 258. 1870.
J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 269-271. 1858.
In Henry county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 480-483. 1894. T. E. Savage, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 298, 1901. A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 211, 218. 1858.
In Humboldt county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 196. 1894.
In Jasper county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 294-300. 1894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 262. 1870. J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 272. 1858.
1. A. Williams, In Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XV, pp. 335-348. 1904. History of Jasper county, p. 438. Chicago, 1878.
In Jefferson county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 393-402. 1894. J. A. Udden, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 433. 1901. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 94. 1868.
in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 273. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 233-237. 1858.
In Keokuk county.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, pp. 295-301. 1894. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 356-366. 1894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 267. 1870.
In Lee county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 484-489. 1894. Ibid,, Vol III, pp. 369-375. 1893.
In Lucas county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 366-374. 1894. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 81 ff, 94. 1870.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals 667
In Madison county.
C. R. Keyea, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 304-306. 1894. J. L. Tilton & H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol VII, pp. 537-539.
C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 72- 1868. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 313-316. 1870.
In Mahaska county. H. Foster Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv.. Vol. IV, pp. 351-366. 1894.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 340-356. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 114. 1852. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 91. 1868. in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 265. 1870.
In Marion county.
C. R. Keyes, In Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 317-340. 1894.
B. L. Miller, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XI, pp. 169-182. 1900.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 115-117. 1852.
C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 100-107. 1868. In Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 263. 1870.
In Marshall county. S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 257-258. 1896. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 237-239. 1894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 260. 1870. J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 269. 1858.
In Monroe county. S. W. Beyer and L. E. Young, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XIII, pp. 380-415
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 374-383. 1894. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 93. 1868. in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 267. 1870.
In Montgomery county. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II. pp. 443-445. 1894.
E. H. Lonsdale, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, p. 446. 1894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 366. 1870.
In Muscatine county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 475-478. 1894. J. A. Udden, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 367. 1898. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 274. 1870. J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 277. 1858.
In Page county. Samuel Calvin, in Iowa Geoi. Surv., Vol. XI, pp. 450-453. 1900. ,
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 453-456. 1894. C. A. White, First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 50, 1868.
Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 352. 1870.
History of Page county, p. 332. Des Moines, 1880.
In Plymouth county. H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 361-365. 1898.
668 Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
In Polk county.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 362-366. 1896. J. M. DUon, in Centennial History of Polk county, pp. 143-152. D4 Moines, 1876.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 267-294. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 121-123, 129. 1852. Will Porter, in Annals of Polk county, pp. 363, 901. 1898.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 261. 1870.
History of Polk county, pp. 273-276, 707. bes Moines, 1880.
In Poweshiek county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 301-304. 1894.
In Scott county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 470-475. 1894. Wm. H. Norton, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, pp. 494-496. 1898.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. la., Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 274. 1870.
In Story county
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, pp. 216-219. 1898. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 236. 1894.
In Taylor county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 457461. 1894. C. A. White, First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 47, 1868. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 347. 1870.
In Van Buren county.
C. H. Gordon, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, pp. 239-244. 1894.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 429-434. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 106-111. 1852. C. A, White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p 112. 1868. in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 271. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 222-226, 229. 1858.
In Wapello county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 383-393. 1894. A. G. Leonard, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, pp. 477-489. 1901. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 108-111. 1868.
in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 268-270. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 250-254, 256. 1858.
In Warren county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 306-317. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 130. 1852. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 50 fl, 74. 1870.
J. L. Tilton, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. V, pp. 342-350. 1896.
In Washington county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 478-480. 1894.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 273. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 240, 246. 1858.
In Wayne county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 402-406. 1894.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals 669
In Webster county.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 197-211. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Oeol. Surv. WiB., la. and Minn., p. 127. 1852. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 255. 1870.
P. A. Wilder, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, pp. 167-173. 1901.
Coal industry, extent of.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 521-528. 1894.
Coal industry of Iowa, growth of.
C. R. Keyes, in Mon. Rev. la. Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 12,
pp. 5-7. 1893.
Coal measures of central Iowa.
Charles R. Keyes, in Am. Geol., Vol. II, pp. 396-404. 1888.
Coal measures of Iowa.
James Hall, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 120-141. 1858. Discusses general character of rocks.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 97 ft. 1852. C. A. White, in Geol. Iow8[, Vol. I, pp. 236-284. 1870.
Discusses general characters of rocluBi, with their beds of coal. Park C. Wilson, in First Ann. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1880-'81, pp. 81-93. 1882.
record of drillings in.
Park C. Wilson, in Blen. Rept. State Mine Insp., First Rept, 1881-'83,
pp. 57-74. 1883. Ibid., Sec. Rept, 1883-'85, pp. 110-116. 1885.
Coal mines of Iowa.
Park C. Wilson, in First Ann. Rept State Mine Insp., 1880-'81, pp. 6-79.
in First Bien. Rept State Mine Insp., 1881-'88, pp. 12-41. 1888.
lUd,, Sec. Rept, 1883-'85, pp. 19-62. 1885.
Coal mines of eastern Iowa.
J. A. Smith, in Bien. Rept State Mine Insp., Third Rept, 1885-'87,
pp. 87-99. 1888. James Gildroy, JUd„ Fourth Rept, 1887-'89, pp. 70-114. 1889.
IlHd,, Fifth Rept, 1889-'91, pp. 62-80. 1891.
John W. Canty, IMd,, Sixth Rept., 1891-'93, pp. 40-59. 1893. J. W. Miller, Ibid., Seventh Rept., 1893-'95, pp. 41-55. 1895.
Ibid., Eighth Rept, 1895-'97, pp. 27-38. 1897.
John Vomer, Ibid., Ninth Rept, 1897-'99, pp. 23-30. 1899.
Ibid., Tenth Rept, 1899-1901, pp. 31-47. 1901.
Edward Sweeney, Ibid., Eleventh Rept., 1901-'03, pp. 51-60. 1908.' James A. Campbell, Ibid., Twelfth Rept., 1903-'05, pp. 71-79. 1906.
Ibid., Thirteenth Rept., 1905-'06, pp. 60-68. 1906.
R. T. Rhys, Ibid., Fourteenth ftept., 1906-'08, pp. 74-82. 1908.
670 Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
Coal mines of north-central Iowa.
J. E. Stout, in Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Third Rept., 1885-'87, pp. 124-160. 1888.
7 IMd., Fourth Rept., 1887-'.89, pp. 119-143, 1889.
M. G. Thomas, JWd., Fifth Rept., 1889-'91, pp. 96-116. 1891.
Ibid., Sixth Rept, 1891-'93, pp. 71-90. 1893.
Ibid., Seventh Rept., 1893-'95, pp. 69-94. 1895.
Ibid., Eighth Rept, 1895-'97, pp. 53-59. 1897.
James W. WUer, Ibid,, Ninth Rept, 1897/99, pp. 4456. 189.
Ibid., Tenth Rept, 1899-1901, pp. 69-93. 1901. .
Ibid., Eleventh Rept., 1901-'03, pp. 69-80. 1903.
Edward Sweeney, Ibid., Twelfth Rept., 1903-'65, pp. 85-98. 1905.
Ibid., Thirteenth Rept, 1905-'06, pp. 75-86. 1906.
Ibid., Fourteenth Rept., 1906-'08, pp. 89-97. 1908.
t
Coal mines of southern Iowa.
Thomas Binks, in Bien. Rept. State Mine Inisp., Third Rept., 1885-*87. pp. 18-80. 1888. ! .
Ibid., Fourth Repi., 1887-'89, ' p. 8-6l. 1889.
JWd., Fifth Rept.,' 18S9-'9l/ pp.* 5-5i: 1891.
John Verner, Ibid., SixtH Rept.', l89i-*93, pp. 4-35. 189i.
James A. Campbell, Ibid., Seventh Rept, 1893-'95, pp. 7-33. 1895.
Ibid., Eight Rept, 1895-'97. pp. 5-22; 1897.
— Ibid., Ninth' Rept, l97-'99,' pp; Y-16. 1899.'
Ibid., Tenth Rept, 1899-1901, pp. 9-21. 1901.
John Verner, Ibid., Eleventh Rept., 1901-'03,> pp. 15-39. 1903.
Ibid., Twelfth Rept., 1903-'05, pp. 15-55. 1905. . .
— r- ifttv Thirtentlti ,Rep.t,, 19p6-:06 pp.- 13-37, 1906..
Ibid., Fourteenth Rept., 1906-'08, pp. 9-11, 25-49. 1908.
Coal mining, wBJSte in.
C. R. Keyes, In Iowa Geol. Surv., Vdl. H, pp. 511-520.' 1894.
Coal production in Iowa in 1870.
Ninth census U. S., 1870, Vol', oii industry ahd Wealth, pp! 761, 767, 775. (Tables only.)
' In 1880.
Frederick Priiiie, Jr., in Tenth Census S., 1880. Vol. on Mining Industries, pp. 6ld, 650, 681 ff. Gives maps of proiiuction. Census of Iowa, 188ip/pp. 94-7. (Tables oiily.)
Albert WiUcps, Jr., U.S. Qeol, gurv., Jkjip Jles. U.9., 1882, pp. 4 It. .55-56., Describes 9Pal Measprp, brief ly. ,
Describes Coal Measures briefly.
In 1885.
Chas. A. Ashburner, Ibid., 1885, pp. 11, 30.
In 1886.
Ibid., 1886, pp. 225 ff, 266-268.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF lOWA COALS 671
In 1887. Ihid., 1887, pp. 169, 171, 187, 245-253.
In 1888. — Ibid., 1888, pp. 169, 206, 262-269.
In 1889.
John H. Jones, in Eleventh Census U. S., %S20j Min. Tnd., pp. 345 ff, Discusses labor, expenses, etc.
In 1889-1890.
E. W. Parker, in U. 8. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S-, 1889-1890, pp. 147, 170, 215-217.
In :L891. Ibid., 1891. pp. 179 ff, 233-243.
In J892L. ,
Ibid., 1892, pp. 265, et sc.,, 390-398. . .
W. B. Phillips, in Min. Ind., Vol. J, 4892, pp.. 76-79. (Tables .only.)
In 1893. E. W. Parker, U. S. Geol. Sunr., Min. Res. U. S., 1893, pp. 189 et aeq.,
H. S. Fleming, in Min. Ind., Vol. II, 1893, p. 217 (Tables only.)
In 18H. E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., 16th Ann. Rept., 1894-1895, pt. IV.
pp. 7 ff, 112-121.
Includes papers on Iowa Coal Fields, H. F. Bain, and on Coal liiining
in Iowa, 'O. A. Davis.
Frederick Hobart, in Min. Ind., Vol. Ill, 194, p. 130. (Tables only.)
In 1895. E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., 17th Ann. Rep., 1895-1896, pt. Ill,
pp. 421-429.
Mineral Industry, Vol. IV, 1895, p. 125. (Tables only.) Onsus of Iowa, 1895, p. 708. (Tables only.)
In 1896.
E. W. Parker in U. S. Geol. Surv., 18th Ann. Rept, 1896-1897, pt. V,
pp. 354 ff, 515-524. . .
Discusses cost of coal at various centers. .
The Mineral Industry, Vol. V, 1896, p. 139- (Tables only.)
In 1897.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., 19th Ann. Rept, 1897-189,8, pt. VI, pp,.278, 419-429, , .
Analyzes rates paid for ipining . col. ,.,
The Mineral Industry, Vol VI, 1898, p. 161. (Tables onJy.>
In 1898. E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., 20th Ann. Rept., 1898-1899, pt VI,
pp. 300 ff, 417-420. ' ' ' ' ., .
Discusses labor conditions and niachine minlni;. '
The Mineral Industry, Vol. VII, 1899, pp. 161, 164"
672 Biblioqraphy Of Iowa Coals
In 1899.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol, Surv., 2l8t Ann. Rept., 1899-1900, pt. VI,
pp. 325 ff, 446-449. The Mineral Industry, Vol. VIII, 1900, p. 113. (Tables only.)
In 1900.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1900, pp. 276, 383-387. The Mineral Industry, Vol. IX, 1901, p. 136. (Tables only.)
In 1901.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1901, pp. 287 et seq
The Mineral Industry, Vol. X, 1902, p. 125. (Tables only.)
In 1902.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1902, pp. 293 ff, 374-377.
Gives output from 1840, labor statistics, etc. In Twelfth Census of U. S., 1900. Special Report on Mines
and Quarries, 1902, pp. 677, 680, 686.
Discusses capitalization, production, etc. The Mineral Industry, Vol. XI, 1903, p. 134. (Tables only.)
In 1903.
B. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1903, pp. 353 fl,
461-465. (Chiefly tables.) Samuel Sanford, in Min. Ind., Vol. XII, 1904, p. 48. (Tables only.)
In 1904.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1904, pp. 385 fl,
Gives brief sketch of coal fields. Frederick Hobart, in Min. Ind., Vol. XIII, 1905, p. 73. (Tables only.)
In 1905.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. (3eol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1905, pp. 459 fl, 59599.
Includes shipments by railroads, analyses, etc. Frederick Hobart, in Min. Ind., Vol. XIV, 1906. pp. 80, 88.
In 1906.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1906, pp. 671 11,
Sketches labor conditions, etc. Ftoyd W. Parsons, In Min. Ind., Vol. XV, 1907, pp. 124, 133.
In 1907.
E. W. Parker, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. of U. S., 1907, pp. 13 IE.
121-125. Discusses market conditions, etc. James H. Lees, in Min. Ind., Vol. XVI, 1908, p. 192.
In 1908.
B. W. Parker, in U. S. Qeol. Surv., Min. Res. of U. S., 1908, pp. 117-120. James H. Lees, in Eng. ft Min. Jour., Vol. 87, p. 87. 1909. Also in Min. Ind., 1908, Vol. XVII, 1909, pp. 138-189.
filBLIOGRAPHY OF IOWA COALS 673
Coal region of Iowa, geology of.
C. R. Keyea, In Iowa Oeol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 99-193. 1894.
Coal seams, explanation of certain irregularities encountered in.
H. F. Bain, in Mon. Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 6, pp. 4-7. 1893.
Coal supplies of Polk county.
Floyd Davis, in Eng. ft Min. Jour., Vol. 59, p. 149. 1895.
Coals of Iowa.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. I, pp. 93, 110, 123. 1893. lUd,, Vol. II, 1894.
Discusses geology of coal region, character of coal beds, mining, composition of coals, etc.
Coals west of the Mississippi river, names of.
C. R. Keyes, in la. Acad. Sci., Vol. VIII, pp. 128-137.
Coking tests of Iowa coals at St. Louis testing station, 1904.
F. W. Stammler, in Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1340-1344.
Composition of Iowa coals.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 491-503. 1894.
Dallas county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 253-267. 1894. A. G. Leonard, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 92-101. 1897. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 18 fT, 45. 1870. History of Dallas county, pp. 281-284. Des Moines, 1879.
Davis, F*loyd.
Coal Supplies of Polk county, Eng. ft Min. Jour., Vol. 59, p. 149. 1*896.
Davis county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 424-429. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 271. 1870.
Decatur county, coal in.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, pp. 294-299. 1897. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 462-463. 1894.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 326. 1870.
Des Moines, coal at.
C. A. White, Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 167, 176. 1868.
Des Moines county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 483-484. 1894. Ihid., Vol. Ill, pp. 483-486. 1893.
Distribution of coal in United States.
C. W. Hayes, in U. S. Geol. Surv., 22d Ann. Rept., 1900-1901, pt. Ill, p. 12.
Dixon, J. M.
Coal in Polk county. Centennial History of Polk county, pp. 143-152.
Des Moines, 1876.
674 Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
Drift, coal In.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 97; Ibid., Vol. II, p. 236. 1870.
Dust explosions.
John Verner, in Tenth Bien. Rept. State' Mine Insp., 1899-1901, pp. bZ4L
in Fourteenth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1906-*68, pp. 20-25.
Emery, Rush.
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals. Geol. Iowa. Vol. II, pp. 357-397. 1870.
Explanation of Certain Irregularities Encountered in Working Coal Seams in Iowa. H. F. Bain, in Mon. Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 6, pp. 4-7. 1893.
Explosions in mines.
John Verner, in Ninth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1897-*99, pp. 33- 37, 1899.
Fernald, Robert H.
Producer-gas tests of Iowa coals, U. S. Geol. Surv., Bull. 316, 1906, pt II,
pp. 441 fr. (Table only.) Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1122-1182.
Fleming, H. S.
Coal production in Iowa in 1893. Min. Ind., Vol. II, 1893, p. 217.
Fort Dodge, coal at.
C. A. White, Second Ann. Rept State Geol., p. 140. 1868.
Fuel supply of Iowa.
C. R. Keyes, in Mon. Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11. 1893.
Fulton, A. R.
Coal in Iowa. In "Iowa, the Home for Immigrants," p. 21. Des Moines,
Gases met with in mines.
J. J. Atkinson, in First Ann. Rept State Mine Insp., 1880-'81, pp. 108-
118. 1882. Park C. Wilson, in Sec. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1883-'85, pp 64-70.
Geological Formations of Iowa.
Samuel Calvin, in Stone, Vol. XXV, 1902, pp. 118-124.
Geology and Geological Resources of Iowa.
Samuel Calvin, in Mines and Minerals, Vol. XXII, 1902, pp. 560-561.
Geology of Des Moines valley.
A. H. Worthen, Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 147-182. 1858.
Eiblioqbaphv Of Iowa Goals 675
Qildroy, James.
mines in eastern Iowa. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Fourth Rept.
/Md., Fifth Kept, 1889-'91, pp. 62-80. 1891.
Mine ventilation, F*ifth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1S89-'91/ pp. 85-92.
Gordon, C. H.
Coal in Van Buren county, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, pp. 239-244. 1904.
Greene county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Jowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 219-225. 1894. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa., Vol. II, pp 134, 137. 1870.
Growth of Iowa's. coal industry.
C. R. Keyes, in Mon. Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 12, pp. 5-7. 1893.
Guthrie county, coal in.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 469-475. 1896. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 242-253. 1894. O. H. St. John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 105 fT, 128. 1870.
Hall, James.
Coal Measures of Iowa. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 120-141. 1858.
Hamilton county, coal in.
C. K. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 211-214. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 25, 1868. In Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 257. 1870.
Hardin county, coal in.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. X, p. 289. 1899. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 214-218. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 22, 1868.
in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 258. 1870.
J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 269-271. 1858.
Hayes, C. W.
Distribution of coal in United States. U. S. Geol. Surv., 22d Ann. Rept., 1900-1901, pt III, p. 12.
Henry county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 480-483. 1894. T. E. Savage, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 298. 1901. A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 211, 218. 1858.
Hinrichs, Gustav. Chemical analyses of Iowa coals. Second Ann. Rept State Geol., pp. 205-232, 248-268. 1868.
Hobart, Frederick.
Coal production in Iowa in 1894. Min. Ind., Vol. Ill, 1894, p. 130.
In 1904, Ihid,, Vol. XIII, 1905, p. 73. (Tables only.)
In 1905, 7&W., Vol. XIV, 1906, pp. 80, 88.
Humboldt county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 196. 1894.
676 Biblioqrapht Of Iowa Coals
Hygiene of coal mines.
Raymond, R. W., in Sec. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1883-'85, pp. 86- 109. 1885.
Iowa coal.
Joseph Sharp, in Fourteenth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1906-'08. p. 115. 1908.
Briquetting of.
James E. Uilla, in Bull. No. 343, U. S. Geol. Surv., p. 52.
Composition of.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 49103. 1894. Producer gas tests of.
Robert H. Fernald, in Bull. 316, U. S. Geol. Surv., 1906. pt. II, pp. 441 fl.
(Tables only.) In Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1122-1132.
Tests made at St. Louis testing station, 1904.
M. R. Campbell and others in Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv.
Iowa coal beds.
C. k. Keyes, in Mon. Rev. Iowa Weather and Crop Service, Vol. IV, No. 1, pp. 3-5. 1893.
Iowa coal-field.
C. A. White, Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 163-165. 1868.
Iowa division of Illinois coal-field.
R. C. Taylor, in "Statistics of Goal," 1855, p. 581. Chiefly quoted from Owen's Report of 1852.
Iowa*s pioneer coal operators.
M. G. Thomas, in Eighth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1895-'97, pp.
Jasper county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 294-300. 1894.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 262. 1870.
J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 272. 1858.
I. A. Williams, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XV, pp. 335-348. 1904.
History of Jasper county, p. 348. Chicago, 1878.
Jefferson county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. 11, pp. 393-402. 1894. J. A. Udden, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 433. 1901. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 94. 1868.
In Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 273, 1870.
A. H. Worthen, Ui Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 233-237. 1858.
Jones, John H.
Coal production in Iowa in 1889. Eleventh Census U. S., 1890, MIn. Ind., pp. 345 ff, 376-378.
Keokuk county, coal in.
H. F. Kain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, pp. 295-301. 1894. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 356-366. li894. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 267. 1870.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals 677
Keyes, C. R.
Carboniferous in central Iowa. Bull. Qeol. Soc. Am., Vol. II, p. 284.
Character and stratigraphical peculiarities of the southwestern Iowa
coal fields. Ens..& Min. Jour., Vol. LXXIII, p. 661. 1902. Coal deposits of Iowa. Iowa Geol. Surv. Vol. II. 1894.
U. s. Geol. Surv., Min. Res. U. S., 1892, pp. 398-404.
Coal Measures of central Iowa. Am. Geol., Vol. II, pp. 396-404. 1888. Coal mining, waste in, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 511-520. 1894. Coal regions of Iowa, geology of. IlHd., pp. 99-193. 1894. Coal in. Adair county. JWd., pp. 441-443. 1894.
In Adams county.. Ibid., pp. 445-450.
In Appanoose county. IHd,, pp. 406-424.
In Boone county. IMd., pp. 225-236.
In Cass county. Ibid., pp. 440-441.
In Dallas county. Ibid., pp. 253-267.
In. Davis county. Ibid., pp. 424429.-
In Decatur county. Ibid., pp. 462-463.
In Des Moines county. Ibid., pp. 483-484. Vol. Ill, pp. 483-485.
In Greene county. Ibid., pp. 219-225.
In Guthrie county. Ibid., pp. 242-263.
In Hamilton county. Ibid., pp. 211-214.
In Hardin county. Ibid., pp. 214-218.
In Henry county. Ibid., pp. 480-483.
In Humboldt county. Ibid., p. 196.
In Jasper county. Ibid., pp. 294-300.
In Jefferson county. Ibid., pp. 393-403.
In Keokuk county. Ibid., pp. 356-366,
In Lee county. Ibid., pp. 484-489. Vol. Ill, pp. 369-375. 1893.
In Lucas county. Ibid., pp. 366-374.
In Madison county. Ibid., pp. 304-306.
In Mahaska county. Ibid., pp. 340-356.
In Marion county. Ibid., pp. 317-340.
In Marshall county. Ibid., pp. 237-239.
In Monroe county. Ibid., pp. 374-383.
In Montgomery county. Ibid., pp. 443-445.
In Muscatine county. Ibid., pp. 475-478.
In Page county. Ibid., pp. 453-456.
In Polk county. Ibid., pp. 267-294.
In Poweshiek county. Ibid., pp. 301-304.
In Scott county. Ibid., pp. 470-475.
In Story county. Ibid., p. 236.
In Taylor county. Ibid., pp. 457-461.
In Van Buren county. Ibid., pp. 429-434.
In Wapello county. Ibid., pp. 383-393.
In Warren county. Ibid., pp. 306-317.
In Washington county. Ibid., pp. 478-480.
In Wayne county. Ibid., pp. 402-406.
680 Bibliography Of Iowa Goals
Monroe county, coal in.
S. W. Beyer and L. E. Young, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XIII, pp. 380-
415. 1902. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 374-383. 1894. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 93. 1868. in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 267. 1870.
Montgomery county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 443-445. 1894. E. H. Lonsdale, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IV, p. 446. 194. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 366. 1870.
Muscatine county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 475-478. 1894. J. A. Udden, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 367. 1898. C. A. White, in' Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 274. 1870. J. D. Whitney, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 277. 1858.
Mystic coal basin, structure of.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Acad. Sci., Vol. I. pt. 4, p. 33. 1893.
Mystic coal seam, peculiarities of.
H. F. Bain, in Am." Geol., Vol. XIII, pp. 407-411. 1894.
Norton, Wm. H.
Coal in Scott county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX pp. 494-496. 1898.
Owen, D. D.
Chemical analysis of Iowa Coals. Geol. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 18il9. Coal fields of Iowa and Missouri. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., Vol. 5,
pp. 119-131. 1851. I.
Coal in Iowa. Geol. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839.
— Proc. Amer. Assoc' Adv. Sci., Vol. V," p. 127. 1851.
Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 97. 1852.
Coal In Boone county. Ibid., p. 124.
In Mahaska county. Ibid., p. 114.
In Marion county. Ibid., pp. 115-117.
In Polk county. Ibid., pp. 121-123, 129.
In Scott county. Geol. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839.
In Van Buren county. Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 106-111.
In Warren county. Ibid., p. 130.
In Webster county. Ibid., p: 127.
Coal Measures of Iowa. Ibid., pp. 97 ft.
Page county, coal in.
Samuel Calvin, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XI, pp. 450-453. 1900. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 453-456. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 50. 1868.
In Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 352. 1870.
History of Page county, p. 332. Des Moines, 1880.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals 681
Parkei B. W.
Coal production In Iowa in 1889-18SiO. U. S. Geol. Surv., Mln. ReB. U. S.
18'89-1890, pp. 147, 170, 215-217. '
In 1891. 7Md., 1891. pp. 179 ff,. 233-243.
In 1892. Ibid,, 1892. pp. 265 et aeg., 390-398.
In 1893. Ibid., 1893, pp. 189 fl. 285-294.
In 1894. U. S. Geol. Surv., 16th Ann. Rept, 1894-1895,
pt. IV. pp. 7 fl, 112-121. In 1895. Ibid., 17th Ann. Rept, 1895-1896. pt. Ill,, pp.
In 1896. Ibid., 18th Ann. Rept., 1896-1897, pt. V, pp. 354
fl, 515-524. In 1897. Ibid., 18th Ann. Rept., 1897-1898, pt. VI, pp.
278 a; 419-429. In 1898. Ibid., 20th Ann. Rept., 1898-1899, pt. VI, pp.
300 ff, 417-420. In 1899. Ibid., 2l8t Ann. Rept., 1899-1900, pt. VI, pp.
325 ff, 446449. . . In 1900, U. S. Geol. Surv.. Min. Res. U. S., 1900, pp.
- — in 1901. Ibid., 1901,. pp. 287 et seq., 379-383.
- In 1902. Ibid., 1902, pp.' 293 ff, 374-377.
Twelfth Census of U. S., 1900, Spec. Rept. on Mines and Quarries, pp. 677, 680, 686. 1902. In 1903. U. S. Geol. Surv., Mln. TT. S., 1903, pp.
In 1904. ♦ Ibid.,' 104, pp. 385 ff. 480-485.
In 1905. Ibid., 1905, pp. 459 .ff, 592-599.
' In 1906. Ibid., 1906, pp. 571 ff, 671-675.
In 1907. Ibid., 1907, pp. 13 ff, 121-125.
In 1908. Ibid., 1908, pp. 27 ff, 117-120.
Parlier, X. Howe.
' Coal in Iowa. In "lova as it is in 1855," pp. 39-43. Chicago. Coal in Iowa. In Iov,a Handbook for 1857, pp. 32-35. Boston.
Parsons, Floyd W.
Coal production in Iowa in 1906. Min. Ind.. Vol. XV, 1907, pp. 124-133.
Patrick, G. E.
Chemical analyses of Iowa coals. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 504- 509. 1894.
Phillips, Wm. B.
Coal production in Iowa in 1892. Min. Ind., Vol. I, 1892, pp. 76-79.
Polk county, coal in.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 352-366. 1896. J. M. Dixon, in Centennial History of Polk county, pp. 143-152. Des Moines. 1876.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 267-294. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 121-123, 129. 1852.
682 Bibliography Of Iowa Goals
Will Porter, in "Annals of Polk county," pp. 363, 901. 1898.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 261. 1870.
History of Polk county, pp. 273-276, 707. Des Moines, 1880.
Polk county, coal supplies of.
Floyd Davis, in Eng. ft Min. Jour., Vol. 59, p. 149. 1895.
Porter, Will.
Coal in Polk county, in "Annals of Polk county," pp. 363, 901. 1898.
Poweshiek county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 301-304. 1894.
Pratt, Joseph Hyde.
Briquetting tests of Iowa coals at St. Louis testing station, 1904. Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1427, 1443 ff.
Prime, Frederick, Jr.
Coal production in Iowa in 1870. Ninth Census U. S., 1870, VoL on
Industry and Wealth, pp. 761, 767, 775. In 1880. Tenth Census U. S., 1880, Vol. on Mining
Industries, pp. 616, 650, 681 ff.
Producer-gas tests of Iowa coals.
Robert H. Femald, in Hull. 316, U. S. Geol. Surv., 1906, pt. II, pp. 441 ff.
Table only. In Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt III, pp.
Raccoon valley, coal in.
0. H. St John, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 175-190. 1868.
Raymond, R. W.
. Hygiene of coal mines. Sec. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1883-'85, pp. 86-109. 1885.
Reed, H. S.
Coal in Iowa. "The Leading Industries of the West," pp. 7, 13. Chicago, 1883.
Rhys, R. T.
Coal mines in eastern Iowa. Fourteenth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp 1906-'08, pp. 74-82. 1908.
St. John, O. H.
Coal horizons in Iowa. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 273-283. 1870.
Coal in Raccoon valley. Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 175-190.
Coal in Dallas county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 18 ff, 45. 1870.
In Greene county. Ihid,, pp. 134, 137.
In Guthrie county. Ihid., pp. 105 ff, 128.
In Lucas county. Ibid., pp. 81 ff, 94.
In Warren county. Ibid,, pp. 50 ff, 74.
San ford, Samuel.
Coal production in Iowa in 1903. Min. Ind., Vol. XII, 1904, p. 48. Tables only.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals 683
Savage, T. E.
Coal in Henry county, Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 298. 1901. Report of tests of Iowa coals made at St. Louis testing station, 1904, Ihid., Bull. No. 2, pp. 22-38, 1905.
Scott county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 470-475. 1894. Wm. H. Norton, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, pp. 494-496. 1898.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Iowa, Wis. and 111., p. 53. 1839. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 274. 1870.
Sharp, Joseph.
Iowa coal. Fourteenth Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1906-'08, p. 115.
Smith, J. A.
Coal mines in eastern Iowa. Third Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., 1885-'87, pp. 87-99. 1888.
Southwestern Iowa coal fields, character and stratigraphical peculiarities of. C. R. Keyes, in Eng. ft Min. Jour., Vol. LXXIII, p. 661. 1902.
Stammler, F. W.
Coking tests of Iowa coals at St. Louis testing station, 1904.
Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1340-1344. 1906.
Story county, coal in.
S. W. Beyer, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, pp. 216-219. 1898. C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 236. 1894.
Stout, J. E.
Coal mines in north-central Iowa. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Third Rept. 1885-'87, pp. 124-160. 1888.
JWd., Fourth Rept., 1887-'89, pp. 119-143. 1889.
Sweeney, Edward.
Coal mines in eastern Iowa. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Eleventh
Rept, 1901-*03, pp. 51-60. 1903. Coal mines in north-central Iowa. Twelfth Rept., 1903-'05, pp.
Ibid., Thirteenth Rept, 1905-'06, pp. 75-86. 1906.
Ibid., Fourteenth Rept, 1906-'08, pp. 89-97. 1908.
Taylor, R. C.
Iowa division of Illinois coal field. Statistics of Coal, 1855, p. 481.
Taylor county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 457-461. 1894. C. A. White, in First Ann. Rept State Geol., p. 47. 1868. In Geol. Vol. I, p. 347. 1870.
Tests of Iowa coals made at St. Louis testing station, 1904.
M. R. Campbell and others, in Prof. Paper No. 48, U. S. Geol. Surv., 1906. T. E. Savage, in la. Geol. Surv., Bull. No. 2, pp. 22-38. 1905.
684 BIfiLIOGBAPHY OF IOWA COALS
Thomas, M. G. . . -
Coal mines in northentcal Iowa. Bien. Kept. State Mine Insp., Fifth
Rept, 1889-'ei, pp.. 96-116. 1891.
Ihid,, Sixth Kept, 1891-'93, pp. - 71-90. 1893.
Ihid., Seventh Kept., 1893-'95, pp. 69-94. 1895.
Ibid., Eighth Kept, 1895-'97, pp. 53-59. 1897.
Iowa's pioneer coal operators. Eighth Bien. Kept. State Mine Insp.,
Tilton, John L.
Coal in Warren county. Iowa Qeol. Surv., Vol. V, pp. 342-350. 1895. and Bain, H. P.
Coal in Madison county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, pp. 537-539. 1896.
Udden, J. A.
Coal in Jefferson county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, p. 433. 1901. Coal in Muscatine county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 367. 1898.
Upper Carboniferous of Southwestern Iowa.
E. H. Lonsdale, in Iowa Acad. Sci., Vol. II, p. 197. 1894.
Van Buren county, coal in.
C. H. Gordon, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. ly. pp. 239-244. 1894.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv.. Vol. II, pp. 429-434. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., pp. 106-111. 1852. C. A. White, In Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 112. 1868. in Geol. Iowa, Vol. 11,- p. 271. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 222-226. 229. 1858.
Verner, John.
Coal mines in eastern Iowa. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Ninth Rept..
/did.. Tenth Rept. 1899-1901, pp. 31-47. 1901.
Coal mines in southern Iowa, Ibid., Sixth Rept., 1891-*93,' pp. 4-35. 1893.
— Ibid., Eleventh Rept., 1901-'03, pp. 15-39. 1903.
Ibid., Twelfth Rept., 1903-'05, pp. 15-55. 1905.
; Ibid., Thirteenth. Rept, 1905-'06. pp. 13-37! 1906.
Ibid., Fourteenth Rept., 1906-08, pp. 9-11, 25-49. 1908.
Dust explosions. Bien. Rept. State Mine Insp., Tenth Rept., 1899-1901,
pp. 53-61. 1901.
Ibid., Fourteenth Rept., 1906-'08, pp. 20-25. 1908.
Explosions in mines. Ibid., Ninth Rept., 1897-'99, pp. 33-37. 1899.
Wapello county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv.. Vol. II, pp. 383-393. 1894.
A. G. Leonard, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, pp. 477-489. 1901.
C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 108-111. 1868.
In Geol. Iowa, Vol.- II, piJl 268, 270. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 250-254, 256. 1858.
Warren county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol.. Surv,, Vol. If, pp. 306-317. 1894. . D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 130. 1852. O. H. St John, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 50 ff, 74. 1870. J. L. Tilton, in Iowa Geol. Surv.,* Vol. V, pp. 342-350. 1896.
Bibliography Of Iowa Coals 685
Washing tests of Iowa coals at St Louis testing station, 1904.
John H. Wick in Prof. Paper No. 48. U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1469, 1470. 1906.
Washington county, coal in.
H. F. Bain, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. V. p. 162. 1896.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 478-480. 1894.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 273. 1870.
A. H. Worthen, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 240, 246. 1858.
Wayne county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 402-406. 1894.
Webster county, coal in.
C. R. Keyes, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. II, pp. 197-211. 1894.
D. D. Owen, in Geol. Surv. Wis., la. and Minn., p. 127. 1852. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 235. 1870.
F. A. Wilder, in Iowa Geol. Surv.,* Vol. XII, pp. 167-173. 1901.
Western interior foal field.
H. Foster Bain, in U. S. Geol. Surv.. 22d Ann. Rept., 1900-1901, pt. Ill, pp. 339-366.
White. C. A.
Coal at Boonesboro. Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 142. 1868.
At Des Moines. Jhid., pp. 167, 176.
At Ft. Dodge, Ibid., p. 140.
In drift, Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 97; Vol. II. p. 236. 1870.
In Iowa. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 258-263. 1870.
In Adams county. First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 67. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 342-344. 1870.
In Appanoose county. First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 40. 1868.
In Boone county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 259. 1870.
In Davis county. Ibid., p. 271.
In Decatur county. Ibid., Vol. I, p. 326. 1870.
In Hamilton county. First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 25. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 257. 1870.
In Hardin county. First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 22. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. 2, p. 258. 1870.
In Jasper county. Geol. Iowa. Vol* II, p. 262, 1870.
In Jefferson county. Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 94. 1868.
Idem. Qeol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 273. 1870.
In Keokuk county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 267. 1870.
In Madison county. First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 72. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 31-316. 1870.' In Mahaska county. Second Ann. Rept: State Geol., p. 91. 1868.
Idem. Geol. I6wa; Vol. II, p. 265." 1870.
In Marlon county. Second Ann. ReiJt. State Geol,, pp. 100-107.
1868.' Idm. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II. p. 263. 1870. In Marshall county. Geol. Iowa, Vdl. II, p. 260. 1870. In Monroe county. Second Ann. Rept. State Geo]., p. 93. 1868. Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 267. 1870.
686 Bibliography Of Iowa Coals
In Montgomery county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 366. 1870.
In Muscatine county. Qcol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 274. 1870.
In Page county. First Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 50. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 352. , 1870.
In Polk county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 261. 1870.
In Scott county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 274. 1870.
In Taylor county. First Ann. Rept State Geol., p. 47. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 347. 1870.
In Van Buren county. Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., p. 112. 1868.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, p. 271. 1870.
In Wapello county. Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 108-111.
Idem. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 268, 270. 1870. In Washington county. Ibid., p. 273.
In Webster county. JMd., p. 255.
Coal Measures of Iowa. JMd., Vol. I. pp. 236-284. 1870.
Iowa coal field. Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 163-165. 1868.
Whitney, J. D.
Chemical analyses and general character of Iowa coals. Geol. Iowa,
Vol. I, pp. 397-415. 1858. Coal in Jasper county. Jhid., p. 272.
In Hardin county. Jhid., pp. 269-271.
In Marshall county. Ibid., p. 269.
In Muscatine county. Ibid., p. 277.
Wick, John.D.
Washing tests of Iowa coals at St. Louis testing station, 1904. Prof. Paper No. 48. U. S. Geol. Surv., pt. Ill, pp. 1469, 1470.
Wilder. Frank A.
Coal in Webster county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XII, pp. 167-173. 1901.
Williams, Albert, Jr.
Coal production in Iowa in 1882. U. S. Geol. Surv.. Min. Res. U. S., 1882. pp. 4 n, 55-56.
Williams, H. S.
Review of "Coal Fields of Iowa and Missouri," by D. D. Owen. Bull. 80, U. S. Geol. Surv., p. 143. 1891.
Williams, I. A.
Coal in Jasper county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XV, pp. 335-348. 1904.
Wilson, Park C.
Coal Measures of Iowa. Bien/ Rept. State Mine Insp.. First Rept., 18%0>
1881, pp. 81-93. 1882. Coal mines of Iowa. Ibid,, First Rept, 1880-'81, pp. 6-79. 1882.
Ibid., First Bien. Rept, 1881-'83, pp. 12-41. 1883.
Ibid., Sec. Rept, 1883-'85, pp. 19-62. 1885.
Gases met with in mines. Ibid., Sec. Rept., 1883-'85, pp. 64-70. 1885. Mine economy. Ibid., First Rept, 1881-'83, pp. 42-46. 1883.
Bibliography Of Iowa Goals 687
Mine ventilation. IlHd,, First Rapt, 1880-'81, pp. 97-107. 1882. Record of drillings in Coal Measures. Ihid,, 1881-'83, pp. 67-74. 1883. IMd., Sec. Rept, 1883-'85, pp. 110-116. 1885.
Worthen, A. H.
Coal in Henry county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, pp. 211, 218. 1868.
In Jefferson county. JMd., pp. 233-237.
In Van Buren county. Ibid., pp. 222-226, 229.
In Wapello county. JMd., pp. 250-254, 256.
In Washington county. Ibid., pp. 240, 246.
Geology of Des Moines valley. Ibid,, pp. 147-182.
Young, L. B., Beyer, S. W., and.
Coal in Monroe county. Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XIII, pp. 380-415. 1902.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
By
S. W. Beyer
PEAT DEPOSITS INfclOWA
By S. W. Beter.
Contents
Pagb
Introduction 693
Peat defined 694
Properties of peat 694
Occurrence 695
Mode of accumulation 696
Peat plants 696
Rate of growth of peat 697
Composition of Iowa peat 697
Heat value of Iowa peat 698
Methods of preparing peat for the. market —
Cut peat 698
Machine peat 698
Briquetted peat 699
Uses of peat —
As a fuel 700
Minor uses of peat 700
Uses of Iowa peat —
As a fuel : 700
For other purposes 701
Table showing location, acreage, depth and drainage of Iowa peat bogs . . . 702
Table showing location and description of samples of Iowa peat 704
Table showing chemical and calorimetric analyses of Iowa peat 725
Introduction 693
Peat And Peat Deposits In Iowa
Introduction. During the summer of 1905 the Iowa Geological Survey detailed Mr. L. H. Wood to locate and determine the area and thickness of the leading peat swamps in Iowa. On the basis of Mr. Wood's notes, Mr. T. E. Savage, then Assistant State Geologist, prepared *'A Preliminary Report on the Peat Besources of Iowa'' which appeared early in 1906 as Bulletin 2 of the Survey. Several of the county reports published before the appearance of the bulletin casually mentioned the peat deposits within their borders, and all of those published since having to do with counties within the peat area mention and some describe their peat resources.
Several attempts have been made to utilize Iowa peat, notably near Dows in Franklin county and at Goose Lake near Fertile in Worth county. Both plants have not yet passed the experimental stage. Interest in the possibilities of the state's resources in peat has been stimulated greatly by the preliminary work of the Survey, and hence the reason for the present more extended inquiry.
During portions of the summers of 1907 and 1908 Mr. W. F. Coover, assisted by Mr. F. A. Knowles during 1908, mapped and sampled the more important bogs in the state. The work of sampling was made difficult because of the protracted wet weather during the field seasons. Bogs containing less than forty acres were not sampled, as a rule, and no samples were saved in those where the vegetable debris averaged less than three feet in thickness. A two-inch common auger was used both for testing depth and securing samples. Irf general, all of the borings of a hole were mixed and constituted but a single sample. Where considerable changes in character and quality of material were noted an additional sample was sometimes taken. The samples were numbered and shipped to headquarters for further study and analysis.
Peat Defined. Ordinary vegetable matter according to standard authorities is composed of two compounds, cellulose (CH,o O5) or vegetable fiber, and lignin (C38H24O20) or ordinary wood fiber. Nitrogen in small quantities is generally associated with the two preceding.
Both cellulose and lignin are unstable under atmospheric conditions and tend to break down to much more simple compounds, chief of which are members of the marsh gas series, carbonic acid gas and water. In air the destruction of vegetable matter is almost complete, leaving behind only the inorganic residue, similar in character to the ash residue which remains after burning wood. In fact, slow oxidation in air under natural conditions produces results practically parallel to those produced by rapid oxidation through burning. In the case of plant remains which accumulate under water, the process of simplification is interfered with and only a partial chemical breaking down is the result. The principal changes which take place are a relative logs in oxygen and hydrogen and an increase in carbon. The resultant partially decayed plant debris is known as peat. From the above it is that the physical constitution and chemical composition must be highly variable. Physically peat varies from a highly fibrous, heterogeneous lace work of almost unchanged plant remains to a fiberless, homogeneous, structureless muck or mud. In the first the original plants are easily identified, while in the latter the organic origin can be determined only through the assistance of the compound microscope.
In composition the variation is important but less easily marked. The carbon percentage ranges from about forty to over sixty. In color Iowa peat ranges from a light brown through various shades of brown to almost jet black in the nonfibrous varieties. The latter often show shades of gray and blue due to the presence of clay and remains of fresh water shells.
Properties of Peat, Peat when freshly removed from the bog holds from seventy-five to eighty-five or even ninety per cent of water. Even air dried peat retains from ten to twenty-five per cent of water, the amount varying with climatic conditions and the purity and physical constitution of the peat. In general, the freer from impurities and more fibrous the peat, the more water
Occurrence 695
retained. It was early observed that animal organisms imbedded in peat were preserved indefinitely. It is due to this antiseptic property that peat itself is preserved from decay.
Occurrence. Most of the peat deposits in Iowa occur in shallow depressions, but occasional peat deposits may be found on gently sloping hillsides, marking a line of seeping springs. The latter are usually of too small extent to be commercially considered. The first type only receives attention in this paper. Various terms have been and are being applied to peat deposits in Iowa. Perhaps the most common are bog, marsh and swamp. The late Professor N. S. Shaler used the term morass in his published writings for similar deposits. Professor C. A. Davis in his report on the Michigan* Peat Deposits uses the above terms for certain specific types of undrained areas. He defines a bog ''as an area of wet, porous land on which the soil is made up principally of decayed and decaying vegetable matter, so loosely consolidated, and containing so much water, that the surface shakes and trembles as one walks over it. The vegetation upon the surface is variable, but it is characteristically either some species of moss or of sedge, or grass, or a combination of two or more of these with shrubs and even small trees. ' ' A marsh he states '*has a firm soil that is not easily shaken when walked upon, although it may be soft and very wet, even submerged, and the vegetation upon it is principally grass-like, that is, with long narrow leaves, and weak, short-lived aerial stems. Shrubs may occur upon marshes, and where they are present not infrequently form thickets. A swamp as described by Davis ''has trees and shrubby plants as the most important part of the vegetation, the soil being, as in the case of the marsh, firm, but wet, even, at times, to flooding. ' It is apparent even to casual observers that there can be no sharp line of separation according to Davis' definitions between the bog, the marsh, and the swamp.
In many cases two or even all of the above types may be represented in the same basin. Practically all of the Iowa peat accumulations worthy of mention belong to the bog type. Swamps as defined by Professor Davis are unknown in Iowa, at least in the peat producing district. All of the peat bogs of
Annual Report, Geological Survey of Mlchigran, 1906, pp. 108, et seq.
commercial importance are confined to the Wisconsin drift sheet, and by far the most important bogs are within the Altamont morainal belt on the east side of the Wisconsin lobe. The bogs vary greatly in area and depth. They range in area up to 1,500 acres and in depth to more than thirty-five feet. The deepest bogs tested are in those morainal tracts where the surface is most broken. Away from the morainal belt the basins become shallower and the peat thinner and as a general rule poorer in quaUty.
Mode of Accumulation. In many of the shallower basins water plants grow directly from the bottom and peat is accumulated through the successive generations of plants. Most of the bogs in the interior of the Wisconsin drift lobe are of this type. In the deeper bogs the filling is done by the growth of plants from the edges and to-some extent from plants which grow on top of the water. The plant border extends itself as a mat over the surface of the water and eventually covers the entire surface of the lake or pond with a floating vegetable mat. Bear Lake in Wumebago county is an example of a lake being slowly transformed into a bog by the extension of the border mat. Sample holes put down at some distance from the open water disclosed a heavy fibrous layer underlain by a very soft peaty mud. The usual sequence in the deeper bogs is a brown, highly fibrous layer or surface mat resting on a non-fibrous to slightly fibrous brownish black mud or muck. In many instances this sequence is repeated, and below the peat mud is a second brown fibrous horizon followed by a second layer of peaty mud. Marly to clayey layers are not infrequently interspersed with the purer peat.
Peat Plants. Professor L. H. Pammel has prepared a list of the leading plants which contribute to the production of Iowa peat deposits. Suffice it to say that while in high latitudes and high altitudes the club mosses, Sphagnums and Hypnums contribute very largely toward the accumulation of peat, grasses and sedges are much more important in Iowa peat bogs. Mosses are present occasionally, but play a secondary role. Michigan and Wisconsin bogs support heavy growths of timber in many cases, but Iowa bogs are remarkably free from the growth of trees and shrubs.
Composition Of Iowa Peat 697
Rate of Growth. The rate of accumulation is variable, but must be extremely slow, especially where the smaller plants predominate and there is but little increase through wash. In Iowa, as the chief deposits are in the Wisconsin drift, the filling has probably been going on since the retreat of that ice sheet. The deepest bogs probably exceed thirty-five feet but little. Assuming the minimum time estimate since the disappearance of the Wisconsin ice and the maximum thickness of bog, the maximum rate of accumulation would be about one foot of peat in about two hundred years. The average rate is undoubtedly much less.
Composition of Iowa Peat. Both chemical and calorimetric analyses were made of the peat samples collected. Chemically, Iowa peat runs high in ash and comparatively low in the combustible elements. The leading impurities are quartz sand, and clay, and lime carbonate derived from the remains of small fresh water molluscs.
The Goose Lake peat bog near Fertile in Worth county may be considered fairly representative of the best grade of Iowa peat bogs. An average sample of the air-dried machine peat put upon the market by the Fertile Peat and Clay Company gave the following composition :
Moisture 9.59 per cent
Volatile carbons 27.50 per cent
Fixed carbon 39.17 per cent
Ash 23.74 per cent
Total 100.00 per cent
An analysis of ash from the above sample gave the following results :
SUica 10.98 per cent
Ferric oxide and alumina 8.42 per cent
Lime 2.87 per cent
Magnesia 0.60 per cent
22.87 per cent Total ash 23.74 per cent
In this particular case the leading impurity is clay with some lime. On account of the prevailingly high percentages of ash, the heat values run correspondingly low.
The high percentage of ash in Iowa peat as compared with Michigan, Ontario and Maine peat, as well as the increase in ash toward the southwest in the Iowa field, is believed to be due largely to wind blown silt and clay. The prairie character of the Iowa bogs would interfere less with wind work than the timbered areas to the north and east.
The Heat Value of loiva Peat. Davis in his work on Michigan peat shows that, in general, the heat value of peat varies inversely as the amount of ash present, but that there are many exceptions to the rule. The same rule applies to Iowa peat. A casual inspection of the analyses appended herewith is convincing and the dependence of heat value to ash is obvious. The range is from about 8,400 British Thermal Units down to peats so low in combustible matter that the charge fails to explode in the calorimeter. The average Iowa peat has about one-half the heat value of the average Iowa coal.
Methods Of Preparing Peat For The Market
Cut Peat, In Western Europe peat has long been used as a fuel by the conmion people. The method earliest employed and still used extensively was to cut the peat into rectangular blocks which were ricked up on or near the bog and permitted to air dry. This method involves no treatment whatever, and the product is known as cut peat. Only the fibrous varieties can be used in this way. On account of the bulkiness of the product and loss in handling, the use of cut peat is limited to the immediate vicinity of the bog. The cut peat retains from twenty to forty per cent of moisture.
Machine Peat. The essential features in the production of machine peat are that the peat is treated either in the bog or after its removal from the bog, with or without the addition of water, and then moulded by hand or by machinery. The simplest
possible method is where the peat after being cut loose is worked into a pulp by the tramping of men or animals. Then it is moulded into blocks of convenient size and shape and dried in air. Machine peat generally means the use of machinery, and id those plants considered up-to-date, the removal from the pit, the reduction to a peat pulp, and the final moulding into blocks are
Briquetted Peat 659
all done by machinery. A considerable number of excavators, conveyors, tempering and moulding machines have been invented and are in use in western and northern Europe. Some of these have been imported, modified, and are in use on the North American continent. The leading foreign types take the names of their inventors, and are the Schlickeysen,* R. Dolberg, A. Heinen, L. Lucht, A. Anrep, Svedala, and Akerman. In all of the above the peat is reduced to a pulp by passing through a machine resembling either the disintegrater or the pug mill, or both, used in preparing clay in ordinary brick plants. The peat plant near Fertile in Worth county has installed a Heinen machine.
In all of the above machines the peat pulp issues as a continuous bar, is received on pallets, is cut into convenient lengths and removed to the drying field or drier. As a rule artificial heat is not used in the drying of machine peat. The air dried machine peat retains from fifteen to thirty per cent of moisture.
Briquetted Peat. In both cut peat and machine peat the low density and consequent bulkiness and low fuel value of the product, its high moisture content and friable character not only render transportation and repeated handling unprofitable but practically prohibit them. To overcome these diflSculties, a number of briquetting machines have been devised and put into use. The fundamental processes in briquetting consist of first removing a poriion of the water from the peat, after which it is passed through a disintegrator, screened, thoroughly dried in a rotary or plate drier, and then put through the briquette machine. A plunger working in a die subjects each briquette momentarily to a pressure of from 15,000 to 30,000 pounds per square inch. The resultant product possesses nearly the density of bituminous coal and is but slowly affected by the weathering agencies.
Attempts have been made to briquette peat direct from the pit, but without success. No mechanical device has yet been found by which the water can be removed directly.
-
Peat and Lignite, their Manufacture in EJurope ; by E. Nystrom. Canada Department of Mines, Mines Branch, pp. 58-84 ; Ottawa, 1908.
Uses Of Peat
As a Fuel. The principal use of peat has been and is as a fuel.' It may be used direct as cut peat, machine peat, or briquettes, or may be transformed into coke, half coke, producer gas, or powder before burning. The latter two methods deserve most consideration at present for Iowa peat. Producer gas has been used much more extensively in western Europe than in the United States, and especially is this true of producer gas generated from peat. The gas obtained from peat compares very favorably in quality and heat value with that obtained from coal. Nystrom* reports that peat used as a powder and containing seventeen per cent of water gave nearly the same energy as the same weight of Newcastle coal. Peat as a source of producer gas must be of interest to north central Iowa where other fuel is scarce.
In the production of producer gas from peat, tar and ammonium sulphate may be recovered as by-products.
Minor Uses of Peat. On account of its high absorbent power it is used as stable litter, as a deodorizer and disinfectant, as an antiseptic and absorbent in surgery. It is also used as a fertilizer for lands deficient in humus. Fibrous peat is used as a packing material, for paving and building block, and artificial lumber, and for the manufacture of paper, and even woven into cloth.
Uses Of Iowa Peat
As a Fuel. From a casual inspection of the table of chemical analyses it is obvious that a great majority of the samples of Iowa peat analyzed carry upwards to twenty-five per cent of ash. According to Davis in his report on Michigan peat bogs, peat carrying more than twenty or twenty-five per cent of ash is too low grade to be considered commercially. Samples carrying up to thirty or thirty-five per cent bum readily and may be considered a serviceable fuel where other fuels are scarce. Such low grade fuel could not be shipped far from the bog in competition with Iowa and Illinois coals. It is possible that ways and means may be found to transform the peat into power through the producer gas engine and transmit it electrically to points where needed, or into a gas and pipe it from the bog to the consumer.
Peat & Ligmlte, Etc. ; Canada Dept. Mines, pp. 171 and 172, and 198 et seq.; Ottawa.
Use For Other Purposes
Davis reports that a ton of peat carrying twenty to twenty-five per cent of moisture treated by the Ziegler process yields 6,650 cubic feet of gas, while the best English cannel coals yield scarcely twice as much gas. The cost per thousand feet is decidedly in favor of the peat. The peat coke is far superior to the gas coke on account of its freedom from sulphur and other objectionable impurities.
The ordinary gas producers now on the market in the United States are not adapted for the use of peat. Several of the large manufacturers of producers are at work on the problem and a producer which will successfully use peat is confidently expected ' in the near future.
The peat machined at Fertile and Dows kindles readily, bums without clinkers, and gives fair satisfaction for domestic purposes.
For Other Purposes. A sample of peat from the Fertile plant was sent to the Pilgrim Paper Company, Capac, Michigan, for examination, but was pronounced unsuited for the manufacture of paper pulp. The brown, highly fibrous layer found in the majority of Iowa bogs ought to furnish material ' sufficiently fibrous for a paper pulp. This superficial layer varies from two or three feet up to eight or ten feet in thickness. On account of its high absorptive capacity, it ought to find a ready sale for litter and packing material as straw and excelsior become scarcer.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
Table I
Shows location by county, township, and section; acreage, average depth, and character of drainage of the more important Iowa peat bogs. The last column contains sample numbers representing each bog and corresponding to sample numbers in two tables following.
County
Township
Section
o
U
St-
Character of Drainage
Sample Nm.
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Ferro Gordo
Ferro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo..,—
Clay
Clay
Dickinson
Emmet
Franklin
Franklin
Franklin Franklin Franklin Franklin
Franklin Franklin Hamilton Hancock
Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock
Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Hancock Kossuth Kossuth Kossuth
Clear Lake
Union I
Grant ,,
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grimes
Grimes
Lake
Lake
Mt. Vernon
Union
Union
Union I
Grimes j
Union
Freeman c—
Freeman
Richland
Iowa Lake.
Lee
Lee 1
Morion y
Oakland j
Morgan
Morgan
Oakland
Oakland
Scott
Scott
Crystal
Britt
Concord
Crystal
Crystal
Garfield
Garfield
Garfield
German
Grerman
Garfield j
German
Madison
Madison
Twin Lake
Twin Lake
Twin Lake
Twin Lakei
Greenwood
Ramsay
Sherman
' 86
5& 8
St & 35
2& 8
11
So
To
89ft 88
To
U
o
S
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Poor to Fair..
Good
Good
Fair
Fair
Poor -
Fair
Good
Good
Fair Poor
Fair
Good
Good
Poor
Good
Good
Fair
Fair
Poor to Fair
Poor
Poor
Fair
GoodT'IIimri" Fair
Fair
Poor
Poor
Fair :.
Fair
Poor
Poor
Fair
o04, 5Mtt
50O. 595
6O5-607
6I0P, 6tlP
'Several areas of thin peat, Iowa Lake perhaps the most important.
Location And Charaotbr Of Peat Bogs
Table I— Coxtihusd
County
Township
Section
§
u a
Character of Drainage
Sample Nos.
Palo Alto.. WehBter —
Webster
Wlnnebaso
Winnebago
Winnebago
Winnebago
Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago
Winnebago
Winnebago Winnebago Winnebago
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Worth
Swea
lost Island-
Burnside
Clay
Lost Grove.-
Dayton
Lost Groye..
Center
Norway —
Center
Center
— i
Center
Mt. Valley —
King
Linden
Linden
Logan
Logan
Mt. Valley
Mt. Valley
Mt. Valley
Mt. VaUey
Norway
Center
Norway
Norway
Norway
Bristol
Bristol
Bristol
Fertile
Fertile
Bartland
Ehirtland
Silver Lake.. Silver Lake.. Silver Lake-. Silver Lake..
Belmond
Belmond
Belmond
Blaine
Grant -
Iowa
Iowa 1
Iowa
Wall Lake..
-J
-J
U
Si
Isa 84
8ft 4
Wall Lake..
14 ft 15 84, 85, 80,
15 ft 88 14, 15, 88, 88
88ft 88
84ft 85
87ft 98
87ft 88
7ft 8
85ft 80
7ft 8
6ft 81
80O
— I
Good ..
Fair to Poor. Poor -.,
Fair
Poor to Fair,
Poor to Fair
Poor
Fair
Fair
Poor to Fair. Poor to Fair. Poor to Fair. Poor to Eir.
Poor
Poor
Fair
Fair
Fair
Poor
Poor to Fair..
Fair
Fair
Good
Poor
Poor
Fair
Poor
Poor
Poor
Good
Fair
Good
Good
Good
Poor Good Fair
Good ..
Olwf R0, Soft
Peat Deposits In Iowa
Table Ii
Contains laboratory number, detailed location, and detailed description for each peat sample studied.
Lab.No,
DetailedLocatUm of Sample
Deacription of Section
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 28. Near west end of bog
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
4 ft brownish black. Ism
fibrous. 8 ft. sand and peat
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 28. Near pit of Iowa Peat Plant
3.6 ft brown, fibrous. 4 ft brown and black mingled.
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 28. 200 yds. Se. sample No.
6.6 ft brown, fibrous. 6 ft. brownish black, bat slightly fibrous.
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 28. 200 yds. S. of east of sample No. 362
6.6 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black, nonfibrous. 1.6 ft. brown, fibrous
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 27. 320 yds. S. of east of sample No. 363
8 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black, nonfibrous. Blue clay below.
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 3. 300 yds. from Ne. corner
6.6 ft. brown, fibrous. A thin layer of non4ibroai below.
Franklin
Lee Twp., Sec. 18. On north line
2.6 ft brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brownish black, non fibrous.
Franklin
Lee Twp., Sec. 18. On Sec. line, 126 yds. from edge of bog
8 ft brown, fibrous. 2 ft brownish black, nonfibrous. 6 ft. brown, fibrous.
68
Franlin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 11. On Sec. line (Sees. 11 and 12)
8 ft. brown, fibrous.
9 ft brownish black, nonfibrous.
Thin clay seam at 14 it
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 11. Near south end of bog
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 7.6 ft. brownish black, nonfibrous. Gravel below.
BYanklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 12. East of sample No. 369
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 7.6 ft brownish black, nonfibrous.
Location Amd Desckiption Of Samples
TABLE II — Continued
IajlI.No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 1. 400 yds. E. Sec. line
7.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black, nonfibrous.
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 1. South side of hog
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 4.5 ft. brownish black, nonfibrous.
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 1. Near eaat line section
7 ft. brown, fibrous.
8 ft. brownish filack, nonfibrous.
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 36, Se. hi. 125 yds. from east edge of bog
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brownish black, nonfibrous. Clay parting at 8 ft.
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 36. 125 yds. W. of sample No.
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 2.5 ft. brownish black.
Franklin
Morgan Twp., Sec. 11. On road 500 yds. south of corner
2.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black.
Wall Tiake Twp., Sec. 12. % mi. S. north line, along ditch
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black.
Blaine Twp., Sec. 27. Near Nw. corner Sw. quarter
2.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brownish black.
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 11. Southeast corner
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black. 3.5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 11. 300 yds. W. of north of sample No. 369
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brownish black.
Franklin
Oakland Twp., Sec. 11. 125 yds. west of sample No. 370
8 ft. brownish black.
Blaine Twp., Sec. 35. 225 yds. south of middle N. line
2.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black.
Blaine Twp., Sec. 35. Near center Nw. % of Ne. %
2 ft. brown, fibrous.
3 ft. brownish black.
Blaine Twp., Sec. 35. 140 yds. Sw. sample No. 373, along fence
2 ft brown, fibrous. 1.5 ft. brownish black.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE II — Continued
Lab, No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Franklin
Scott Twp.. Sec. 33. North section line roaa
2 ft. brown, flbroiis. 5.5 ft. brownish black.
Franklin
Scott Twp., Sec. 33. 100 yds. from middle east edge of bog
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brownish black. 1 ft. bluish peaty mud.
Franklin
Scott Twp., Sec. 33. Near middle south side of bog
2 ft. brown, fibrous.
3 ft. brownish black.
1 ft. marly layer.
2 ft. brown, fibrous.
Franklin
Scott Twp., Sec. 29. Near Nw. corner at bridge
Belmond Twp., Sec. 35. 100 yds. north of road on south line
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 35. 400 yds. north of road, east side bog
2 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. peat and grit.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 35. 100 yds. directly west of sample No. 380
4 ft. brownish black peat
Belmond Twp., Sec. 35. 150 yds. Ne. from sample No. 381
Belmond Twp., Sec. 36. Ne. corner Ne. % of Sw.
2 ft. brown, fibrous. 2.5 ft. brownish black.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 35. West of sample No. 379
2 ft. brown, fibrous.
3 ft. brownish black.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 35. On road south end of bog
2 ft. brown, fibrous. 2.5 ft. brownish black.
Iowa Twp. line, Sees. 15 and 22. About 200 yds. E. of Sw. corner
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft brownish black.
1 ft. peaty clay.
2 ft. brownish black. 1 ft. brown, fibrous.
Iowa Twp.. Sec. 23. Near Nw. corner Ne. % of Nw. %
5 ft. dark brown.
4.5 ft. marly peat, on gravel.
Location And Description Of Samples
Tasle Ii — Gontintteo
Lab. No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Iowa Twp., Sec. 23. 150 yds. south of sample No.
5 ft brownish black, almost
non-fibrous. 1.5 ft. peaty marl. 13.5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Iowa Twp., Sec. 23." 176 yds. due east sample No.
2.5 ft. brownish black. 9.5 ft. peaty marl.
Iowa Twp., between Sees. 9 and 16. At bridge
5.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. peaty clay.
Iowa Twp., Sec. 23. Near middle north side of
Nw. %.
2.5 ft. brownish black. 11 ft. peaty grit and clay to clayey peat.
Iowa Twp., between Sees. 8 and 17. Near west edge of bog
2 ft brown, fibrous, to black peat mud.
Iowa Twp., between Sees, d and 16. 60 yds. east of sample No. 389
5.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. peaty clay.
Lake Twp., on E. line Sec. 1. Lake at bridge near south edge of bog
3.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 9.5 ft. brownish black. Sand and gravel below.
Lake Twp., Sec. 1. About middle of bog
5.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 14 ft. brownish black. Grades downward into black peaty mud.
Lake Twp., Sec. 1. Near north edge of bog
4.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 13.5 ft. brown black, very sticky below.
Lake Twp., Sec. 1. Along dredge ditch near north edge of bog
4.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 7 ft. brownish black. Gravel and sand below.
Lake Twp.. Sec. 1. Along ditch 150 yds. south of sample No. 396
6 ft. brown, fibrous. 18 ft. brownish black. Bottom not reached.
Hancock
Twin Lakes Twp., Sec. 29. Near south edge, 300 yds. from E. end of bog
4 ft brown, fibrous. 6.5 ft. brownish black. 2.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. peaty marl and clay.
Hancock
Twin Lakes Twp., Sec. 29. Due north sample No. 398, near edge
2 ft. brown, fibrous. 22 ft. brownish black, variable. Bottom not reached.
PEAT DEPOSITS IN IOWA TABLE II — Continued
Lab. No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Hancock
Twin Jjakes Twp., line Sees. 29 and 32. Near east edge of bog
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2.5 ft. brownish black. 11.5 ft. reddish brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 2. 150 yds. from west line of section
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
6 ft brownish black. 2 ft. reddish brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp.. Sec. 2. 75 yds. N. of sample No. 401 and at center of
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown, non-fibrous. 6 ft. lighter brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 3. Near east edge bog on Nw.
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown, less fibrous. 7 ft. lighter brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 3. Along drain at middle of bog. North of sample No. 403
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 5 ft. brown, non-fibroua 12 ft. lighter brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 3. North of sample No. 404 near north edge
8 ft. brownish black, beconing
clayey below. 13 ft. light brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., line Sees. 19 and 20. Bridge near S. edge of bog
9 ft. brown, fibrous, becoming marly below. 8 ft light brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., north of sample No. 405 near middle of bog
3 ft brown, fibrous, grading into 7 ft. brownish black, marly below.
13 ft. light brown to grayish peat
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp., Sec. 34. Sw. hi, near Ne. corner
5.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown, non-fibrous. 1.5 ft. reddish brown. 8 ft. grayish brown, clayey.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 28. Se. % of Nw. %
3 ft. brown, fibroua 1 ft. brownish black. Gravel and sand below.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 28. Se. % of Nw. %
3 ft brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black.
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 28. Due east of sample No. 410
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 5.5 ft br6welsh black. 5.5 ft reddish brown. 7.5 ft. grayish brown, in*"'
Location And Description Of Samples
Table Ii — Contxnuxd
Lab, No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Hancock
Twin Lakes Twp., Sec. 11. Sw. % south, middle of bog
4 ft brown, coarsely fibrous Gravel below.
Hancock
Twin I.Akes Twp., Sec. 11. Sw. yi near center of bog
5 ft. brown, coarsely fibrous. 8 ft. brownish black.
2 ft. grayish brown.
6 ft. reddish brown.
Sand below.
Hancock
Twin Lakes Twp., Sec. 11. Sw. %. North of middle
5 ft. brown, coarsely fibrous. 5 ft. brownish black. .5 ft. grayish to reddish brown.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 33. E. % of Sw. %. Near east edge of bog
2 ft. brown, coarsely fibrous. 7 ft. brownish black. Clayey peat below.
Hancock
German Twp.. Sec. 33. E. % of Sw. %. Near west edge
2.5 ft. brown, coarsely fibrous.
15.5 ft. brownish black to reddish gray below.
Bored into a piece of wood at 18 ft. and could go no deeper.
Hancock
German Twp., on line between Sees. 4 and 9, and 100 yds. east of edge of bog
3.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 9. Along ditch 400 yds. S. sample No. 416
5.5 ft. brown, coarsely fibrous.
Hancock
German Twp., on line between Sees. 4 and 9 at middle of bog
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 9.5 ft. brownish black. 15.5 ft. red to grayish
brown. Bottom not
reached.
Hancock
German Twp., on line between Sees. 4 and 9. 120 yds. from W. edge
Hancock
German and Garfield Twp. line. Sees. 4 and 33 respectively. 100 yds. from island on east side
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black.
Hancock
German and Garfield Twp. line. West of sample No. 420, near middle of bog
7 ft brown, fibrous. 1.5 ft. brownish black.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE II— Continued
Llib.No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winnebago
Center Twp.. Sec. 15. Sw. % of Ne. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 4.5 ft. dark brown. Clayey peat at bottom.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 13. Northeast corner of Nw. % of Nw. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. dark brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 14. Center of Se. % of Ne. %
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. dark brown. 4 ft. reddish brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 35. Near north line of Sec. west of dredge ditch
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. fine, brown, fibrous. 4 ft. dark brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 34. 175 yds. east % section line
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
6 ft. brown, slightly fibrous. 10 ft. light brown.
2 ft. reddish brown. 1 ft. light brown. Did not reach bottom.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 34. 200 yds. east of center
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
4 ft. brown, slightly fibrous.
Worth
Bristol Twp., Sec. 17. Sw. of Sw. 225 yas. north of Sw. corner
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 26. Nw. % of Se. %
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown. 10 ft. reddish brown. Did not reach bottom.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 35. Se. % of Se. %. Center of north line
7 ft brown, fibrous. 10 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 35. S. side 125 yds. Nw. from bridge over dredge ditch
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 7 ft. brown.
Winnebago
1
Mt. Valley Twp.. Sec. 2. Ne. % of Nw. %. B. of dredge ditch, 250 yds. south of road
6 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 2. Nw. % of Sw. %, 200 yds. from road
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 6 ft, brown. 4 ft. light gray.
Description And Location Of Samples
TABLE II— Continued
Lab. No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 2. Se. % of Nw. %. 100 yds. W. of north and south % section line
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. black. 4 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 2. Sw. % of Ne. %, 175 yds. E. of north and south % section line
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 6 ft. brown. 6 ft. reddish brown. 3 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 25. Ne. of Ne. M, near W. line
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft black.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 24. Sw. hi of Se. hi near center
11 ft. brown, fibrous. 6 ft. dark brown. 2 ft. reddish brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 24. Se. % of Se. %, 100 yds. S. of Ne. corner
4 ft. brown.
Worth
Bristol Twp., Sec. 20. 300 yds. Nw. from road along dredge ditch
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brown.
Worth
Bristol Twp., Sec. 28. S. side Sec. 150 yds. from road, and 250 yds. from W. line
9 ft. dark brown (somewhat fibrous clayey peat underlying above).
Worth
Bristol Twp., Sec. 28. 200 yds. due N. of No. 519
5 ft. dark brown, somewhat
fibrous. 4 ft. dark brown. 2 ft. reddish brown.
' 531
Worth
Bristol Twp., Sec. 27. 125 yds. Nw. of center of Sw. 14
5 ft. dark brown, somewhat
fibrous. 7 ft. dark brown.
Worth
Bristol Twp., Sec. 20. Sw. %, near middle
9 ft brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 14. Se. hi of Sw. %, near Nw. comer
9 ft. brown, fibrous.
6 ft. dark brown.
7 ft. reddish brown.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 14. Se. M of Sw. hi* near Nw. corner
6.5 ft. dark brown, slightly fibrous.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 24. Nw. hi of Se. hi. 200 yds. Ne. from Sw. comer
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. dark brown.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE II — Continued
tab. No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winne&tgo
Center Twp., Sec. 24. Center Nw. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous.
7 ft. brown, slightly fibroin.
Worth
Hartland Twp.. Sec. 29. Ne. M of Nw. %, near Ne. corner
9 ft brown, fibrous.
Wimiebago
Linden Twp., Sec. 22. Near middle north line
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
2 ft. brown, slightly fibrous.
6 ft. black.
Winnebago
Linden Twp., Sec. 14. 100 yds. S. of center of Sw. % of Sw.
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Linden Twp., Sec. 14. Se. corner of Sw. % of Sw.
4.5 ft. brown, fibrous, changing to black.
Winnebago
King Twp., Sec. 22. Center of Sw. % of Ne.
5 ft brown, fibrous.
3 ft. dark brown.
4 ft. black.
Winnebago
Linden Twp., Sec. 29. Center of Nw. % of Se. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. dark brown. 2 ft. black.
Winnebago
Logan Twp., Sec. 24. 150 yds. Ne. from Sw. corner of Sw, % of Sw.
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 15 ft. brown.
Did not reach bottom of peat.
Winnebago
Logan Twp., Sec. 24. Center of Sw. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. black. Gravel bottom.
Winnebago
Logan Twp., Sec. 23. i50 yds, Sw. of center
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. black.
Winnebago
Logan Twp., Sec. 23. 200 yds. Nw. of center
6 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft black.
Winnebago
Logan Twp., Sec. 23. Nw. %, 200 yds. from road
fibrous. Gravel bottom.
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 2. Near Sec. line, 100 yds. from W. edge of bog
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
9 ft. brown.
Peat mud continues.
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 2. On hi Sec. line east side of bog near section line
5 ft brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown, gradually be* coming poorer.
Description And Location Of Samples
TABLE II— Continued
Lab. No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 33.
Nw. of Nw. %
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 33. 300 yds. E. and 300 yds. S. of Nw. comer
24 ft. brown, fibrous peat, changing to slightly fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt Valley Twp., Sec. 33. 250 yds. N. and 50 yds. E. of No. 575
7 ft. dark brown, fibrous. 7 ft. brown, slightly fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 32. Nw. of Nw. %, 100 yds. west and 150 yds. S. of Ne. corner
11 ft brown, fibrous, changing to slightly fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 29.
Se. of Se. %, 150 yds.
from road and midway
between quarter and
. section lines
15 ft. brown, fibrous, changing to slightly fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 29. 125 yds. N. of sample No. 553
24 ft brown, fibrous, changing to slightly fibrous.
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 14. Ne. near north edge of bog
6 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. black.
Hancock
Garfleld Twp., Sec. 23. 200 yds. S. and 100 E. of Nw. corner
5 ft brown, fibrous.
Hancock
Garfleld Twp., Sec. 23. 300 yds. south of No. 576
9 ft. brown, fibrous.
3 ft. brown, somewhat
fibrous. A peat mud continues 14 ft.
Hancock
Garfield Twp., Sec. 23. 300 yds. south of No. 577
m
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft fine, brown, somewhat fibrous.
Hancock
Garfleld Twp., Sec. 23. Near center of Sw. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft brown.
Hancock
Garfleld Twp., Sec. 18. On quarter section line
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. black.
Hancock
Garfleld Twp., Sec. 18. 175 yds. directly W. of No.
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
#
Peat Deposits In Iowa
Tablb Ii— Cjontinukd
Lab. No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 19. 100 yds. S. and 100 yds. W. of Ne. corner Ne. % of Sw. %
14 ft brown, fibrous, gradually changing to less fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 19. Nw. % of Sw. hi, 76 yds. S. of center
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 19. 220 yds. from S. line and 125 yds. from W. edge of bog
9 ft. brown, fibrous, changing to slightly fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 19
7 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., on line between Sees. 29 and 30. near south side
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 29. Center Nw. % of Sw. %
.7 ft. brown, fibrous, gradually changing to less fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 29. Near middle north line of Sw. hi of Sw. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous, gradually changing to less fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Lake Twp., Sec. 29. South side at center of neck of bog where it Crosses road
6 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Mt. Vernon Twp., section line between ' 5 and 8 near middle
6 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Mt. Vernon Twp. 225 yds. 6 ft. brown, fibrous, due west of No. 592
Cerro Gordo
Mt. Vernon Twp., Sec. 8. 300 yds. Se. of No. 593
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo .
Clear Lake Twp., Sec. 35. Near center Sw. % of Sw. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous, gradually changing to less fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp., Sec. 2. Near center Nw. hi of Nw. hi
8 ft. brown, fibrous. Peat mud continues to a greater depth.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp.. Sec. 2. 175 yds. Ne. No. 599
Description And Location Of Samples
TABLE II— Continued
Lab. No,
'.nty
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp., Sec. 2. 150 yds. Se. of Nw. corner of Ne. M
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
On Union-Clear Lake Twp. line, between sections 2 and 35. 200 yds. west of middle
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp. 200 yds. W. of center of Sec. 12 1
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp. Sw. % of Nw. Vi of Sec. 12
5 ft. brown, fibrous, low grade.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp.. Sec. 11. Se. % of Se. ii, near center
7 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp., Sec. 12. Sw. hi of Sw. %, near center
7 ft. brown, fibrous. Low grade peat continues down to 12 ft.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp. Center of neck of' bog on north line, 220 yds. from road on east line
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp. Near center of Se. quarter
8 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp. On % Sec. line near road on east
6 ft. brown, fibrous, underlaid with blue clay.
Kossuth
Ramsay Twp., Sec. 26.
4 ft. brown, fibrous, changing to black peaty mud.
Kossuth
Rnmsav Twp.. Sec. 26. North side near center of bog
9 R ft. brown, fibrous. ?.5 ft. black peaty mud. Pe-'tv mud continues below 8 ft.
Kossuth
Ramsay Twp., Sec. 35. 250 yds. Nw. of center of section and at center of bog
2 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. black peaty mud.
Kossuth
Greenwood Twp., Sec. 11. Ne. corner of bog, 100 yds. west on % Sec. line
5 ft brown, fibrous, grading downward into black peaty mud.
Kossuth
Greenwood Twp., Sec. 11.
6 ft. brown, fibrous. Rrad-
No. 624 I peaty mud.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
Table Ii — Continued
Lab. No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Kossuth
Greenwood Twp., Sec. 11. At center of bog
6.5 ft. brown, fibrous, grading downward into black peaty mud.
Kossuth
Sherman Twp., Sec. 14. Sw. comer, 50 yds. N. and 276 yds. E. of Sec. line
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. black peaty mud.
Kossuth
Sherman Twp., Sec. 23. 150 yds. Nw. of center of Sec.
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. black peaty mud.
Kossuth
Sherman Twp., Sec. 26. 325 yds. west from E. line and 200 yds. N. of U, line
4 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. dark brown.
Kossuth
Sherman Twp., Sec. 26. On east line near middle
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Kossuth
Sherman Twp., Sec. 25. Middle of neck of bog in Sw. %
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Kossuth
Sherman Twp., Sec. 26. Near bridge on north line road
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Clay
Freeman Twp., Sec. 23. 250 yds. Nw. center of Sec.
4 ft. brown, fibrous. Becomes darker below.
Clay
Freeman Twp., Sec. 23. Center of Nw.
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Clay
Freeman Twp., Sec. 11. Near middle on S. line
4 ft. brown, fibrous. Very soft below.
Palo Alto
Lost Island Twp., Sec. 11. 125 yds. from N. edge of bog
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Palo Alto
Lost Island Twp., Sec. 11. 200 yds. E. of sample No. 643P
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Palo Alto
Lost Island Twp., Sec. 11. Se. %, 440 yds. S. of lake and 150 yds. from road
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Dickinson
Richland Twp., Sec. 17. Ne. % of Se. hi near center of bog
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLES TABLE II — Continued
Lab. No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Belmond Twp., Sec. 17. 300 yds. S. of Ne. corner
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Hancock
Twin Lake Twp., Sec. 32. On E. and W. Sec. line and 100 yds. from edge of bog
Hancock
Twin Jjake Twp., Sec. 32. 100 yds. N. of S. line of Sec. and 125 yds. from E. edge of bog
Hancock
German and Garfield Twp. line. 150 yds. E. of W. ditch
8.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brownish black. 6 ft. reddish brown.
Hancock
German it Garfield Twp. line. On west ditch
8.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2.5 ft. brownish black. 6 ft. lighter brown.
Worth
Fertile Twp.. Sec. 19. Se. near S. line
6 ft. brown, fibrous. 14 ft. brownish black.
Worth
Fertile Twp.. Sec. 19. 150 yds. E. of N. of sample No. 424
10 ft. brown, fibrous, darker below. 1 ft. marly peat. 5 ft brownish black.
Worth
Fertile Twp., Sec. 19. 200 yds. E. of N. of sample No. 425
12 ft. brown, fibrous, darker below. 4 ft. marly peat. 3 ft. brownish peat, hard.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp.. on line of Sees. 13 and 14. At south bridge
25 ft. brown, fibrous, becoming darker and leas fibrous below.
Did not reach bottom.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp.. Sec. 25. Near middle south line
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 7 ft. brownish black. 5 ft. soft, non-fibrous peaty mud.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp.. on line Sees. 13 and 14. At north bridge
Same as sample No. 427. Reached grit at 19 ft.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 16. Near north edge on east line
4.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft brownish black.
Belmond Twp.. Sec. 16. 375 yds. S. of sample No. 469
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 5.5 ft. brownish black.
PEAT DEPOSITS IN IOWA TABLE II — Cowmnvmo
Lab, No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Belmond Twp., on line Sees. 7 and 8, 150 yds. from S. edge bog
3.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 8.5 ft. light brown.
.5 ft. peaty mud. 5.5 ft. reddish brown. Did not reach bottom.
Belmond Twp., on llnej 4 ft. brown, fibrous. Sees. 7 and 8; middle of 7 ft. brown peat, bog, N. of sample No. Gravel below.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 7. Ne. M near road
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 5. 100 yds. S. of middle line and 100 yds. from E. side of bog
4 ft. brown, fibrous. 1.5 ft. brownish black.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 5. Middle of bog west of sample No. 474
'4 ft; brown, fibrous. 3 ft brownish black.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 5. Near west edge of bog in line with No. 474 and 476
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 1.5 ft. brownish black.
Iowa Twp., Sec. 23
The peaty marl from tne lower portion of No. 388
Cerro Gordo
Grimes Twp., Sec. 3. Along drain and due N. sample No. 404
3.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 8 ft. brownish black, grading into gray.. 13 ft. reddish brown.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp., Sec. 34, W H
5.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown. 1.5 ft. reddish brown. 8 ft. grayish brown, marly.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 33. 100 yds. due west of sample No. 414
2.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 5.5 ft. brownish black. 5 ft. grayish brown, marly. 7 ft. reddish brown.
Worth Silver Lake Twp., Sec. 22.
1 600 yds. W. of E. line and 150 yds. N. of bridge
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft brownish black. 6 ft. brown to light brown below.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp., Sec. 10. 100 yds. E. and 200 S. of Nw. corner of Se. % of Se. %
fibrous above. No. 486 is lower part only
Location And Ee8Gripti0N Of Samples
Table Ii— Contiwukd
Lab. No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winnebago
Norway Twp., Sec. 35. Nw.
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., Sec. 35. Same bog as sample No.
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4.5 ft. brownish black.
Worth
Bristol Twp.. Sec. 6. Sw. comer of Nw.
7.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.25 ft. brownish black.
Worth
Bristol Twp.. Sec. 6. About 150 yds. N. of sample No. 489
darker and finer below.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 4. Sw. corner Nw. % of Ne. %
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brownish black.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp.. Sec. 10 Upper portion sample No.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp., Sec. 22. 3 ft. brown, fibrous. 600 yds, W. of B. line 2 ft. brownish black, and 150 yds, Nw. ofj 6 ft. brown, lighter below, bridge i
Winnebago
On Twp. line Norway and Center, Sec. 33, Norway and Sec. 4. Center Twp. At center of neck
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
6 ft. reddish brown.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp., Sec. 10. About 250 yds. Se. of No. 486
5.5 ft. brownish black. 4 ft. grayish brown. 3 ft. reddish brown. 7 ft. grayish brown, marly. Bottom not reached.
Worth
Silver Lake Twp.. Sec. 22. 250 yds. Nw. of No. 493
4 ft. brown, fibrous. 1.5 ft. brownish black. 3.5 ft. light brown.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., on line between Sees. 22 and 23. 100 yds. from S. edge of bog
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 3.5 ft. brownish black.
4 ft. light brown.
Winnebago
Winnebago
Winnebago
%
Center Twp.. Sec. 29. 150 yds. from Sw. comer
Center Twp., on line Secs.i 10 and 11. 300 yds. S. of road
Center Twp., Sec. 4. 150 yds. Nw. of sample No.
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black. 2 ft. brown, non-fibrous.
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black.
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
6 ft. brownish black.
7 ft. reddish brown.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE II— Continued
Lab, No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 10. 125 yds. E. of road and 100 yds. from ditch
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 4.5 ft. brownish black.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 29. 150 yds. due east from sample No. 498
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brownish black.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., on line between Sees. 17 and 18. Middle of bog
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black.
Winnebago
Center Twp., Sec. 14. Center Nw. % of Nw. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 6 ft. dark brown. 9 ft. reddish brown. Bottom not reached.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., Sec. 35. Center Nw. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
4 ft. brown, non-fibrous. 8 ft. brownish black to reddish below.
6 ft grayish brown, marly.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., Sec. 35. Sw. %. E. of sample No. 488 and 160 yds. from east edge
6.5 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brownish black.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., on line between Sees. 22 and 23. 150 yds. from north side of sections
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brownish black. 3.6 ft. reddish brown.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., on road between Sees. 14 and 16. 100 yds. N. of middle line
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brownish black.
4 ft. brown, non-fibrous. 2 ft reddish brown.
5 ft. grayish, peaty marl.
Winnebago
Norway Twp., on line Sees. 7 and 8. Middle of bog
3 ft. brown, fibrous. 2 ft. brownish black.
4 ft grayish brown, marly
Winnebago
Norway Twp. Same as sample No. 609
Same as No. 509. lower part of section.
Hancock
Madison Twp., Sec. 16. Se. % of Sw. % near Nw. comer .
4 ft. brown, fibroua
Hancock
Madison Twp., Sec. 20. Near Ne. comer
Webster
Clay Twp., Sec. 36. 150 yds. S. of middle of W. line of Ne. of Ne. %
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Location And Description Of Samples
TABLET II-CofTTiitJED
Lab, No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Webster
Burnside Twp., Sec. 31. 200 yds. Sw. of center of section
2 ft. brown, 'fibrous.
Webster
Lost Grove Twp., on section line Sees. 13 and 24. near middle
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 6. Middle of W. side of Ne. % of Se. %
8 ft. brown, fibrous. Gray, marly peat below.
55S
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 6. Near Ne. corner
8 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 22. 100 yds. Sw. from Ne. corner Nw. % of Nw. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brownish black.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 22. Center Ne. % of Ne. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Center Nw. U, of Nw. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 6 ft. brown.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Middle N. line of Sw.
% of Nw. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous.
6 ft brown.
Clayey, sandy peat below.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Se. comer Sw. M of Nw.
8 ft. brown, fibrous. Peat continued down 25 ft. but too soft to sample.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Center Ne. % of Nw. %
9 ft. brown, fibrous. 9 ft. brown, non-fibrous. Peat continues dowz; more than 30 ft.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 8. Center Se. % of Se. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft brownish black. Darker below.
Winnebago
Mt Valley Twp., Sec. 8. 100 yds. Nw. of Se. corner of Sw. % of Se. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft brownish black.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 16. Center Se. of Sw. %
8 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 16 100 yds. Nw. from Se. comer of Nw. % of Sw.
7 ft brown, fibrous.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE II — CovTHfOED
Lab. No.
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp.. Sec. 16. 150 yds. Sw. from sample No. 568
7 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Center Se. M of Sw. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Center Nw. hi ot Se. U,
7 ft. brown, fibrous
6 ft. brown, non-flbrooB.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. 200 yds. N. Sec. line
7 ft. brown, fibrous.
Winnebago
Mt. Valley Twp., Sec. 17. Center Sw. % of Se. %
13 ft. brown, fibrous, becoming leas fibrous below.
Hancock
Garfield Twp., Sec. 10. Center Ne. of Se. U,
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brownish black.
Hancock
Concord Twp., Sec. 5. 100 yds. Sw. from Ne. corner of Nw. % of Ne. %
8 ft. brown, fibrous. 1 ft. brown, non-fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., line between Sees. 34 and 35, near middle
9 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 25. 200 yds. south sample No.
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 25. 300 yds. E. of center of section
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
4 ft. brown, non-fibrous.
5 ft. reddish brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec, 25. 150 yds. B. from center of section
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
3 ft. brown, non-fibrous.
4 ft. marly peat
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 25. 400 yds. S. and 200 yds. W. of Ne. corner of Nw, %
4 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft brownish black.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 15. 200 yds. S. and 200 yds. W. of Ne. corner of section
5 ft brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brown, non-fibrous. 2 ft. reddish brown.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 15. 250 yds. W. of sample No.
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 22. Center Nw. U, of Sw. %
7 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brown, non-fibrous.
Location And Description Of Samples
TABLE II — ConrrnaJKD
Lab. No,
County
Detailed Location of Samp le
Description of Section
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 22. 250 yds. S. from sample No.
5 ft brown, fibrous. 1 ft brown, non-flbrous.
Cerro Gordo
Grant Twp., Sec. 31. 00 yds. E. from center of section
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 3 ft. brown, non-fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Union Twp., Sec. 20. 200 yds. S. of Ne. corner of Se. %
6 ft brown, fibrous.
Cerro Gordo
Clear Lake Twp., Sec. 26. 400 yds. N. of center of Se. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous. 4 ft. brown, non-flbrous.
Emmet
Iowa Lake Twp., Sec. 34. Center Nw. of Se. %
3 ft. brown, fibrous.
Emmet
Iowa Lake Twp., Sec. 34. Center Sw. % of Ne. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Emmet
Iowa Lake Twp., Sec. 34. Center of Sw. %
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Emmet
Iowa Lake Twp., Sec. 34. Center Nw. % of Nw. %
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
KOBBUth
Swea Twp., Sec. 4. Center Nw. % of Ne. %
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Lake Twp., Sec. 1. 500 yds. from Sec. line and 125 yds. from N. side of bog
4 ft. brown, fibrous. Thin sand seam below.
Lake Twp., Sec. 1. 125 yds. from S. edge of bog along ditch
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 4. Sw. on N. line 100 yds. W. of ditch
4 ft brown, fibrous.
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 4, Sw.
Same as No. 644, taken below 4 ft down to 6.5. Brownish black peat
Hancock
German Twp., Sec. 9. 200 yds. S. of Sec. line on ditch
Peat Deposits In Iowa
Table Ii —
Lab.No,
County
Detailed Location of Sample
Description of Section
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 23. On N. and S. Sec. line, 150 yds. from S. side of bog
Hancock
Madison Twp., Sec. 19. 200 yds. east of middle, S. line of Sw. of Nw.
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Webster
Clay Twp., Sec. 36. On N. line 250 yds. W. of the middle
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Webster
Bumside Twp., Sec. 31. Near middle south line
2 ft brown, fibrous.
Belmond Twp., Sec. 17. On east line, 300 yds. S. of corner
5 ft. brown, fibrous.
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 35. Center Ne.
4 ft. brown, fibrous.
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 25. 200 yds. NNe. from Sw. comer
Hancock
Crystal Twp., Sec. 25. 250 yds. S. of Nw. corner
4 ft brown, fibrous.
Analyses Of Peats
Table Iii
Gives laboratory number, proximate chemical analyses of air dried samples, and calorimetric analyses of Iowa peats.
Laboratory Number
Proximate Analysis
Moisture
Volatile and Combustible Matter
Fixed Carbon
Ash
Calorimetric Analysis in B. T. Us.
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE III— Continued
Proximate
Analysis
Calorime'
trie AnaU
B. T. Us,
Laboratory Number
Moisture
VolatiU and Combustible Matter
Fixed Carbon
Ash
iO.45
"— -
'
m
4.S51
r
Analyses Of Peats
TABLE III— Continued
Proximate
Analysis
Calorimetric Analysis in B. T, Us.
Laboratory Number
Moisture
Volatile and Combustible Matter
Fixed Carbon
Ash
5.a3
sas
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE III— Continued
Laboratory Number
Proximate Analysis
Moisture
Volatile and Combustible Ma
Ash
Calorimetric Analysis in B. T, Us.
49
Analyses Of Peats
TABLE III— Continued
Laboratory Number
Proocimate Analysis
Moisture
Volatile and Combustible Matter
Fixed Carbon
Ash
Calorimetrie Analysis in B. T. Us.
6a3 -
ri6 -
ri7 .
'5517
"6140
Peat Deposits In Iowa
TABLE III— Continued
Proximate
Analysis
Calorimetric Analysis in B. T, Us.
Laboratory Number
Moisture
Volatile and Combustible Matter
Fixed Carbon
Ash
Bibliography Of Iowa Peat 781
Bibliography Of Iowa Peat
Compiled By Jambs H. Lees.
Adair county, ancient peat bed in.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I. p. 339. 1870.
Buchanan county, peat in.
S. Calvin, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, p. 247. 1897.
Beyer, S. W.
Briquetting of peat. la. Geol. Surv., Vol. XVIII, p. 28. 1907.
Calvin, S.
Fuel value of peat. la. Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII, p. 3. 1906. Peat in Buchanan county. Ibid.. Vol. VIII, p. 247. 1897. Peat in Cerro Gordo county. Ibid., Vol. VII, p. 192. 1896. Peat in Chickasaw county. Ibid., Vol. XIII, p. 289. 1902. Peat in Pleistocene deposits of Iowa. Bull Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 20, pp. 133- 152. 1909.
Cerro Gordo county, peat in.
S. Calvin, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol. VII, p. 192. 1896.
Chemical analyses of peat.
Rush Emery, in Geol, Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 397-402. 1870.
I. A. Williams, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVI, p. 505. 1905.
Chickasaw county, peat in.
S. Calvin, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol. XIII, p. 289. 1902.
Davenport, ancient peat bed near.
W. H. Pratt, in Proc. Davenpiort Acad. Sci., Vol. I, pp. 96-99. 1876. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 119. 1870.
Emery, Rush.
Chemical analyses of peat. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 397-402. 1870. Forest bed in northeastern Iowa.
W J McGee, in U. S. Geol. Surv., Eleventh Ann. Rept., pp 486-496. 1889-90.
Franklin county, peat In.
I. A. Williams, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVI, pp. 495, 504. 1905.
Fnilton, A. R.
Peat in Iowa. Iowa: The Home for Immigrants, p. 24. Des Moines, 1870.
Humboldt county, peat in.
T. H. Macbride, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 145. 1898.
Iowa City, ancient peat bed near.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 120. 1870.
Keyes, C. R.
Peat, formation of. la. Geol. Surv., Vol. II, p. 50. 1894.
Macbrlde, T. H.
Peat In Humboldt county. la. Geol. Surv., Vol. IX, p. 145. IF'S. Pre-Kansan peat bed. la. Acad. Sci., Vol. IV, pp. 63-66. 1806.
McGee, W J.
Forest bed in northeastern Iowa. U. S. Geol. Surv., Eleve.ith Ann. Rept, pp. 486-496. 1889-90.
Peat, briquetting of.
S. W. Beyer, In Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVIII, p. 28. 1907.
Peat, chemical analyses of.
, Rush Emery, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 397-402. 1870. I. A. Williams, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol. XVI, p. 505. 1905.
Peat, formation of.
C. R. Keyes, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol II, p. 50. 1894.
Peat, fuel value of.
S. Calvin, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. XVII. p. 3. 1906.
Peat bed, ancient, in Adair county.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 339. 1870.
ft
, near Davenport.
W. H. Pratt, in Proc. Davenport Acad. Sci., Vol. I, pp. 96-99. 1876. C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 119. 1870.
, near Iowa City.
C. A. White, in Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 120. 1870.
Peat bed, buried.
T. E. Savage, in Iowa Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, pp. 103-109. 1903.
Peat bed, pre-Kansan.
T. H. Macbride, in la. Acad. Sci., Vol. IV, pp. 63-66. 1896.
Peat in Iowa.
A. R. Fulton, in Iowa: The Home For Immigrants, p. 24. Des Moines, 1870. C. A. White, in Second Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 121-135. 1868.
in Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 275-288. 1870.
.History of Dallas county, p. 126. Des Moines, 1879. Also in several other
county histories. History of Davis county, p. 130. Des Moines, 1882. Also in several other
county histories.
Peat in Pleistocene deposits of Iowa.
S. Calvin, in Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 20, pp. 133-152. 1909.
Peat in Buchanan county.
S. Calvin, in Iowa Geol. Surv., Vol. VIII, p. 247. 1897.
. Peat in Cerro Gordo county.
S. Calvin, Ibid., Vol. VII, p. 192. 1896.
Peat in Chickasaw county.
S. Calvin, Ibid., Vol. XIII, p. 289. 1902.
Peat in Franklin county.
I. A. Williams, Ibid., Vol. XVI, pp. 495. 504. 1905.
Peat in Humboldt county.
T. H. Macbride, Ibid., Vol. IX, p. 145. 1898.
Bibliography Of Iowa Peat 733
Peat in Worth county.
I. A. WllUamB, Ibld. Vol. X, p. 376. 1899.
Peat resources of Iowa.
T. E. Savage, Ibid., Bull. 2, pp. 6'21. 1905.
Pratt. W. H.
Peat bed, ancient, near Davenport. Proc. Davenport Acad. Sci., Vol. I, pp. 96-99. 1876.
Pre-Kansan peat bed.
T. H. Macbride, in Iowa Acad. Sci., Vol. IV, pp. 68-66. 1896.
Savage, T. E.
Buried peat bed. la. Acad. Sci., Vol. XI, pp. 103-109. 1903. Peat resources of Iowa. la. Qeol. Surv., Bull. 2, pp. 5-21. 1905.
Wbite, C. A.
Peat bed, ancient, in Adair county. Geol. Iowa, Vol. I, p. 339. 1870.
near Iowa City. Ibid., p. 120.
near Davenport Ibid., p. 119.
Peat in Iowa. Sec. Ann. Rept. State Geol., pp. 121-135. 1868. Peat in Iowa. Geol. Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 275-288. 1870.
Williams, I. A.
Chemical analysis of peat. la. Geol. Surv., Vol. XVI, p. 505. 1905. Peat in Franklin county. Ibid., Vol. XVI, pp. 495-504. 1905. Peat in Worth county. Ibid., Vol. X, p. 375. 1899.
Worth county, peat in.
I. A. Williams, in la. Geol. Surv., Vol. X, p. 375. 1899.
Flora Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
By
L. H. Pammel
Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
By L. H. Pammel
Contents
Paop
Introduction 739
Quaking aspen bog 742
Willow bog A 744
Marsh and Sedge bogs 745
Rush bogs 747
Moss bogs : 747
Drainage and the character of plants. 748
Iowa and Wisconsin bogs compared 748
Table giving distribution of bog plants 750
Remarks on characteristic bog plants 763
Comparison of Iowa peat bogs and those of other places 773
Shrubs in Iowa bogs 775
Introduced plants in bogs 775
Bibliography 776
Introduction 739
Chapter Vii
Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
The subject of plants that occur in peat bogs has been discussed in a considerable niunber of papers both in Europe and America. The most exhaustive and best of recent articles is that by Charles A. Davis on Peat in Michigan." Some of the earlier important publications in the same line were by Shaler on the Fresh Water Morasses of the United States,* by Lesquereux on the Dismal Swamp," and by Kearney on the same swamp/
Many of the geological text books refer to the formation of peat by sphagnmn mosses ; but, as stated by Davis, few geologists have heretofore realized the importance of other plants in the formation of peat. Winchell is, however, an exception to these and, as early as 1860, recognized the fact that many other aquatic plants take part in peat making.
Few American botanists have made so detailed a study of the peat flora as has Pavis. Of the more important contributions on the subject from botanists in our own country, mention may be made of the papers by Cowles,* Coulter,' MacMillan,' Whitford," Kearney,* Atkinson," Mills," Pieters," Transeau,", Harshberger," Olsson-Seffer," and Weld." A number of European investigators have made quite exhaustive studies of peat bog floras ; of these we may mention Schimper," Friih," KoUer," Eiseln," Sendtner," Fischer-Benzon," Weber," Christ," Drude," and Jens Holmboe, the Scandinavian, who has given an excellent review of the work done in this line by Blytt, Nathorst, Bekstad, Gunnar, Anderson, Sernander, Schulz, and others.
On the subject of bog flora in Iowa, the writer," has contributed two notes ; there are also notes by Cratty," and Jjy Shimek."
Davis in his paper on Peat makes three classifications of peat formations. The first according to the form of land surface upon
740 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
which they have been formed. A second classification given by him is based on the development of the deposit. The third classification given by Davis is based on the kinds of plants found in the bog. He records the following types in Michigan.
(2) Tamarack swamps, marshes and bogs.
(6) Heath (Blueberry, Cranberry and Cassandra) swamps,
marshes or bogs.
(7) Grass and Sedge marshes and bogs.
(8) Rush marshes (Cat-tail and Bullrush marshes belong
A classification of the Iowa bogs in the area studied by the writer would include the following:
It is clear, however, that all of these bogs contain a mixed vegetation of many aquatic or semi-aquatic and even dry land plants.
Transeau, who has made a study of the bog plants of North America, after eliminating those which are merely local, numbers the following fifteen plants : Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata). Tall Sedge (Dulichium arundhmceum) , Cowberry {Potentilla pahistris), Scheuchzeria palustris, Tall Cotton Grass {Eriophorum viridi-carinatum). Sundew (Drosera rotundifolio) Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea) , Small Cranberry (Vaccifiturn oxy coccus), Creeping Snowberry {Chiogenes Wild Rosemary {Andromeda polifolia), Leather-leaf (Chamaedaphne calyciUata), Labrador Tea {Ledum groenlandicum) Laurel {Kalmia latifolia). Swamp Birch {Betula punila), Bni Tamarack {Larix laricina). In commenting upon this list, Harshberger finds that ten, only, are present in Europe in simi-
Introduction 741
lar habitats. The Dviichium, Sarracenia purpurea, and Kalmia are endemic. The larch and birch are represented in the Old World by closely related species. From the evidence, it is apparent that these plants originated as circumpolar species during pre-glacial times. In Northern Europe, they have found a succession of species. In the lower parts of the bogs, occur traces of an artic flora. The Scotch pine and white birch are also found in the lower layers. In a Wisconsin bog, the writer found a white ash {Fraamus americcma) ; occasionally some wood has been found in Iowa bogs, this evidently being of post-glacial origin. In a study of the peat flora of the western Wisconsin drift area, but few plants were found to be common to the list given by Transeau. These are Menyanthes, Dulichium, Potentilla, Scheuchzeria, and Eriophorum. In addition. to these the peat bogs of Wisconsin have Drosera, Sarracenia, Chiogenes, Betvla pu- mUa, and Larix. While true bogs may be confined .to the Northem Hemisphere, Darwin, however, discovered in the Southern Hemisphere, a bog formation of Astelia pumila, a species of rush. Harshberger mentions the formation of peat bogs on Boan Mountain in North Carolina, Slide Mountain in the Catskills, Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks, Mt. Mansfield in Vermont, Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, Mt. Katahdin in Maine, and Sierra de Ajusco in Mexico. These are by no means all of the same origin. The writer has found peat bogs of small extent in the Uintah Mountains at 13,000 feet elevation. The bogforming species were a dwarf birch, Betula glanduiosa, Eriophonim, Carex, and species of Hyptium. No sphagnum was found in any of these moimtains.
Louis A Weld** has given us a picture of the formation of a peat bog and moraine lake in the Huron River Valley of Michigan. He recognizes five zones as follows : (1) Potamogeton zone represented chiefly by the P. lucius; (2) Nuphar zone, the Nuphar advent giving character to the zone, the Nymphaea odorata being sparingly or recently introduced, and Ceratophyllum demersum and Chara being present; (3) Carex and Sphagnum zone, Carex with six species predominating; the flora of this zone is varied, there being about thirty species such as Dulichium, Eleocharis, Carex fiUformi'S, Potentilla palustris, Eupa-
742 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
torium perfoliatum, etc. ; (4) Cassandra zone, advance of shrubs of which Cassandra {Chamaedaphne) is most conspicuous, and with this, the Sphagnums are active in raising the marsh; also Glyceria nervata, Aspidium noveboracense, Sarracenia purpurea, Drosera, Pogonia, etc.; (5) Forest zone, the only tree enduring these conditions being the Tamarack, which advances into the Cassandra zone. Peat does not decompose very readily; it owes its antiseptic properties to the presence of ulmic and humic acids. Hilgard states, in his work on Soils, that the acid reaction is due to ulmic acid which is readily soluble in caustic and carbonated alkalies, and forms insoluble salts with the earths and metals: the other part, ulmin, is insoluble in these but through oxidation becomes soluble.
The antiseptic property present during the early stage of peat formation stops the action of bacteria and thus we have a chemical process suggested at this point.
The Iowa peat bogs in the Wisconsin drift area are very different in character than those given for Wisconsin. The Menyanthes, Comarum, Eriophorum, Dulichium land Scheuchzeria are the typical plants mentioned by Transeau.
Elm and Black Ash bogs, as well as Tamarack swamps. Cedar swamps, Spruce Heath swamps, marshes, and bogs, Alder marshes and Sphagnum bogs are entirely absent in the region under consideration. The bogs of this region by no means have the same origin. Generally speaking trees and woody plants form only a small part of the bog flora.
The Ouakino Aspen Bog
The bogs of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties may be compared with some very typical swamps in Wright and Hamilton counties. Both of these counties are in the Wisconsin drift area, and the swamps are in a more advanced stage than in the north and east. These swamps have materially changed since the surrounding country has been brought into cultivation. That these swamps were once lakes, receiving the water from the surrounding country, admits of no doubt. The old beach line is plainly evident. In the larger of these lakes the outer beach was covered with trees and shrubs. Of this arboreal vegetation
The Quaking Aspen B0Q8
we may mention Quercus macrocarpa, Ulmus fidva, U. americana, FraxiMus pennsylvanica, var. viridis and Titia americana. There are a few shrubs, — Corylus americana, Rhus glabra, R. toxicodendron and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. The smaller lakes are not surrounded hy timber or shrubs. The outer beach line, which consists of a sandy gl-avel and humus, contains Oenothera sernUata, Ceanothits americanus, Onosmodium occidentale, Verbena stricta, V. bracteosa, Lithospermum canescens, L. angustifolium, Castilleia sessUifiora, Solidago rigida, 8. nemoralis.
FlKUre lOt. LaTKer Blue Pl&K (frt* versicolor L.). a characteristic boc plant ot lomu
Poa praterisis is abundantly naturalized. The second beach is thickly covered with Scirpus atrovirens, Glyceria nervata, Thaiictrum revolutum, Jwicus tenuis, Verbena hastata, and Eordeum jubatum. Formerly Cypripedium candidum was common. The third beach is thickly covered with Carex, Iris versicolor, Lathyrus pdlustris, Eleocharis palustris, Etitoriunt perfoliatum, E. purpureum, and Asclepias incarnata. The fourth beach is mostly made tip of Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex, Lobelia kahnii.
744 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Bromus kalmti, and Scutellaria galericulata. This beach is followed by abundant growth of Phragmites communis, Scirpus validus, Typha latifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata and Zizania aquatica. Formerly the center of the swamp was a lake in which Nymphaea adv'ena and Castalia tuherosa abounded, but owing to drying of the lakes these have in most instances disappeared. During the spring and early summer months there is an abundance of water in the small depressions, containing diatoms, des-
I In central Iowa. Photo
mids and other fresh water alg. The willows, especially Salix discolor and rostrata, and S. Candida form an integral part of the flora. The Quaking Aspen occurs in the somewhat higher situations of the bog.
TflE WILLOW BOO
Throughout the Wisconsin and lowan drift area, willow bogs are frequent but they form only a small part of the peat bog flora. In the lowan drift or in the driftless area in northeastern
Marsh And Sedge Bogs 746
Iowa in Clayton, Allamakee, and Winneshiek counties, the most important species are the Beaked Willow (Salix rostrata) ; 8. discolor are usually found along small runs or ditches which have been cut through these marshes or along roadsides. The Myrtle Willow {8. pedicellaris) and 8. Candida, when occurring, are widely scattered over the bog and are therefore a much more integral part of the bog flora than are the other species.
Marsh And Sedge Bogs
The peat bog near Fertile contains many of the same plants found in the bogs east of Hanlontown. The most conspicuous is the Carex filiformis which is a prevailing and predominant species. Much of the peat is derived from this plant. Associated with this Carex mat there is an abundance of Water Marigold {Bidens trichosperma), Marsh Marigold {Caltha palustris), Parnassia carolmaia, Swamp Thistle {Cirsium muticum) Lobfelia {Lobelia kalmii), Lousewort (Pedicvlaris lanceolata), Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii). Fowl Meadow Grass {Glyceria nervata). Spike Kush {Eleocharis palittris). Fringed Gentian {Gentiana Boneset {Eupatorium perfoliatum), 8aooifraga pennsyU vanica, White Bellflower {Campanula aparinoides) j Galium trifidum, Purple Boneset {Eupatorium purpureum), Poison Hemlock {Cicuta hvlhifera and C, macvlata), Water Parsnip {8ium Timothy {Muhlenbergia racemosa) Greater Do( {Rumex britannica). Meadow Rue {Thalictrum purpuras- Dulichium {Dulichiu/in arundinaceum) , False Dragon Head {Physostegia virginiana), Skullcap {8cutellaria galericuiata and 8. lateriflora), Ladies Tresses {8piranthes cernua), Goldenrod {8olidago riddellii). Aster {Aster junceurs) Bromegrass {Bromus kalmii and B. ciliatv), Buckbean {Menyanthes trifoliata), Cottongrass {Eriophorum viridicarinatum) , St. John's Wort {Hypericum virginicum), Beech Fern {Aspidium thelypteris) , Fragrant Orchis {Edbenaria leucophaea), and an abundance of Blue Joint Grass {Calamagrostis canadensis and C, inexpansa). Many other plants occur and no doubt partake in the formation of the peat. Of recent introductions mention may be made of Smaller Ragweed {Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Smartweed {Polygonum pennsylvanicum and P. lapathi folium), Sunflower {Heli-
716 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
anthus grosseserratus), Bluegrass {Poa pratensi), Red Top (Agrostis (dba), Boot Jack {Bidens frondosa). Aster (Aster salicifolvus, A. novae-angliae, A. novi-belgii), Solidago serotma. When the drainage has been carried on to a much further extent as in some of the bogs io Winnebago and Hancock counties, it may become densely covered with Bidens cemua. One
cure 108. Indies' TreBBSB (Sptranthea oemua (L.) Rtcbard.). a bog plant of nOTtbeni
whole bog, acres of it, was a golden yellow by the growth of this plant. With it occurred a little of the Cicuta bulbtfera.
Although the plants of the various bogs of this type are by no means the same, the most typical plant is the Carex filiformis which was commonly found in the bogs of Hamilton, Wright, Worth, Winnebago, Cerro Gordo, and Emmet counties. The fol-
Mq8S Bogs 747
lowing plants also occur in all of these bogs : Cicuta btUbifera, Pedicularis Icmceolata, Gentia/na crinita, Scutellaria gdlericulata, Gentiana andrewsii, Campamda aparinoides, Bidens beckii, Menyanthes trifoliata, Hypericum virginicum, Glyceria canadensis, Galium trifidum, Loosestrife {Lythrum dlatum).
The bogs of Worth, Cerro Gordo, and Winnebago counties had in addition Cirsium muticum and Saxifraga pennsylva/nica, Salix pedicellaris, and eastward the 8. Candida,
Rush Bogs
These bogs are somewhat limited in extent. The whole of the bog near Fertile had been so sufficiently drained that little of the Greater Rush (Scirpus validus) occurred; however, in numerous small bogs in Hamilton, Winnebago, and Wright counties, this rush formed an important part of the flora. Associated with this rush is the Wild Rice {Zizania aquatica) which is abundant in Winnebago, Emmet, and Hamilton counties. In these bogs the water is from a few inches to a foot or more in depth and often it 'gives away like a regular sphagnum bog, forming a well matted system of roots. The Greater Reed Grass {Phragmites communis) is abundant. The Yellow Water Lily {Nymphaea and White Water Lily {Castalia tuber osa) are abundant, occasionally also Pickerel-weed (Pontederia cordata) and Crowfoot {Ranunculus delphinifoliu and R. aqutilis var. Saggitaria, Eleocharis palustris and the E. acicularis growing in mud, and Cicuta bulbifera. The Zizcmia, Phragmites, Scirpus validus, Nymphaea and Castalia are characteristic.
Moss Boos
There are none of the typical moss bogs found in this state. The moss found in this state belongs to the genus Hypnum. Sphagnum has not been found anywhere in the bogs of northern Iowa.
748 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
DRAINAGE AND THE CHAKAGTER OF FLANtTS
Drainage of the peat bogs has been attempted in many places in Iowa and in such places a large number of introduced plants have made their appearance. The Small Ragweed (Ambrosia Goosefoot (Chenopodium album) j Old Witch Grass (Pwnicum capillare), Pennsylvania Smartweed {Polygonum pennsylvanicum), Pigweed {Amarantus retroflexus). Five-finger (Potentilla monspeliensis) , Milkweed {Asclepias syriaca), Boot Jack {Bidens frondosa) and B. discoidea, are representative types. These plants originally did not constitute a part of the bog flora, except in dry years when they appeared. These are seldom found in the sedge mat where the Marigold {Bidens trichosperma) and Swamp Thistle {Cirsium muticum) Myrtle-leaved Willow {Salix pedicellaris) and Lobelia kalmii grow in abundance.
The Iowa And Wisconsin Boos Compared
Peat bogs like those found in northern Iowa are common in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Many of the Wisconsin bogs do not have shrubs. The Carex filiformis, Cirsium muticum, Sacdfraga pennsylvanica, Parnassia parviflora, Pedicularis lanceolata, Coltha palustris, Valeriana edulis, Salix rostrata, S. discolor are the most characteristic features, with an abundant growth of Symplocarpus foetidus and Comus stolonifera. In other bogs the Sphagnum, Drosera rotundifolia, Sarracenia purpurea, Bychospora alba, Calopogon pulchellus knd Pogonia ophioglossoides are characteristic. A third type is characterized in westem Wisconsin by Larix laricina, Cornvs stolonifera, Smiladna bifolia, Symplocarpus foetidus; northward with Black Spruce, Balsam Fir, and Arbor Vitse. Another type is characterized hy the presence of Swamp Ash and Elm. The best comparison may be obtained from the accompanying table for different areas id Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.
In various bogs both in Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as Iowa, occur plants that are really not typical bog plants ; in some instances the species may be a bog plant in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, and yet does not occur in bogs in this state.
The Iowa And Wisconsin Bogs Compared 749
Two of the best illustrations of this character are the Common High Bush Cranberry {Viburnum oculus) and the Pyrus arbutifolia which in this state are common upon the limestone rocks along the Yellow river in Allamakee county and along with it such plants as the Balsam Fir {Abies balsamea) and Aconitum. The two species of Dogwood {Cornus amomum and C, paniculata) though occasionally occurring in bogs associated with willows are really not bog plants. The Hop {Humidus lupulus) is abundant in some of the peat bogs along streams in Wisconsin and the Allium tricoccum or Onion is one of the most abundant plants in peat bogs in proximity to the willows in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Lady Slipper {Cypripedium parviflorum var. Popvlus grandidentata, Ribes floridum, the Virginia Creeper {Psedera quinquefolia) , and the Soft Maple {Acer saccharum) are to be regarded as accidental plants rather than a true constituent of the bog flora. The Orchid {Liparis liliifolia) reported from Michigan is likewise more commonly found on higher ground. These plants probably represent later stages of the development of the bog.
For the sake of convenience, I have followed the nomenclature of the Robinson-Fernald edition of Gray's Manual. Miss Harriette Kellogg has compared for me the names used in this work and has arranged the bibliography.
Flora Of Nobthbrh Iowa Peat Boos
Name of Pij.nt.
u
&
¥
a
If
Is
s g
s
E
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Hypnum flultans ? No Inilt
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
BljulBetum avenue L
+
+
+
Onoclea eeDelbllls L
+
+
+
+
GBmunda cinnamomea L. .
Ophlogloasum vulgatum L.
L;copodlum Inundatum L.
+
+
Chamiecyparla thyoldes
Thuja occldeaUllB L
+
+
+
+
+
+
JunlpeniB cobununla L. vat
Typhacete
Typha latlfolla L
SparKanlum simplex Huds.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Sparganlum eurycarpum
+
Sparganlum minimum Fries '. . .
+
+
PotamoKeton natana L
Fotamogeton amerlcanua C. ft S
The Iowa And Wisconsin Boos Compared
Name ow Plast.
it P
a P
a
w5 s s
et:
1 ' 1 1 i?
z
Ec
a""
Potanoogeton heterophyUua
+
t
+
+
+
+
—
Fotamogeton ilUnoensiB
Potamogeton perfollatua L Potamogoton ZMtoritoliua
+
+
+
+
+
Potamogeton prslongus
+
,
+
+
'+"
::n
Saglttarta arUoUa Nutt... Saglttaria Utifolia Willd.. Sagittarla beterophylla
+
+
Lophotocarpus caly clous
AllBma plantago-aquatica
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Elodea canadenala MIcbi. .
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Briaothua aaccharoldea
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
t
+
+
+
+
+
Zlzanla aquatica L
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
CalamagroBtla candensla
CalamagroatU Inexpanaa
Clnna arucdlnacea L
+
+
Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Name of Plant.
a ti
S
5
S
EragrostlB bypnoldes
Scolochloa feslucacea
-K
Glycerla canadensis
+
+
+
BromuB kalmll Gray
Bromua clUatua L
Cyperua dlardrus Torr. . . . Cyperus eseulentus L
CyperuB Btrlgoaua L
Dullchlum arundlnaceum
+
Eleocharia intermedia
Scirpus valldufl Vabl
SclrpuB atrovirena Muhl . . Scirpus fluvlatllia (Torr.)
Ii+.
+
+ j +
+
+
Sclrpua atrocinctua
+
Scirpua aubterminalla
Erlophorum anguatlfollum
+
t' + l-t
+
+
,
The Iowa And Wisconsin Bogs Compared
Name of Plant.
s
o
to
iJo
o
O
o
o
t5
Cm
o
o be
o So
la
-J
Pi
o
o
a
O
U
Ait
Rynchospora cymosa Ell. . .
Carex verrucosa Muhl
Carex trisperma Dewey...
Carex limosa L
Carex canescens L
Carex strlcta Lam
Carex pauciflora . . . Carex rlparla W. Curtis. . .
Carex flliformis L
Carex vulpinoidea . . Carex oligosperma Michx. . Carex tenella (Schkuhr.). Carex leptalea Wahlenb...
Carex lupulina Muhl
Carex grail Carey
Bailey
Aracese
Kunth
Calla palustris L
Symplocarpus foetidus
AcoruB calamus L
Lemnacese
Schleid
Lemna trisulca L
Eriocaulaceffi
Eriocaulon articulatum
Pontederiace®
Pontederia cordata L
Mac M
Juncacese
Juncus nodosus L
Juncus torreyl Coville
Juncus effUBUs L
Liliacese
Allium tricoccum Ait
Lilium canadense L
Lilium philadelphicum L.
var. andinum
Maianthemum canadense
+
+
-f + +
+
+
+
+
H-
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-f
+
-f —
Flora Of Northern Iowa Pjbat Bogs
Name of Plaitt.
s
o O
to
So :>0
o
Si
o
I?
o o he
g .
3 o o
S A
.d
o
.d o
s
e
O
QQ ci
O
Iridacece
Iris versicolor L
Orchldace®
Cypripedium candldum
Muhl
Cypripedium hirsutum
Mill
Cypripedium acaule Ait. . Habenaria leucophaea
Sw
R. Br
Habemaria dilatata
Pogonia ophioglossoides
R. Br
Arethusa bulbosa L
Richard
Richard
Oakes
Piperacese .
Saururus cernuus L
Salix lucida Muhl
Salix cordata Muhl
Salix discolor Muhl
Salix petiolaris Sm
Salix rostrata Richards . . .
Salix Candida Fluegge
Salix pedicellaris Pursh...
Salix sericea Marsh
Populus tremuloides Michx.
Myricacese
Mjrrlca gale L
Betulacese
Betula pumila L
Betula nigra Ti
Betula lutea Michx. f
Betula lenta L
Urticaceae
Ulmus americana L
Humulus lupulus L
Sw
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
The Iowa And Wisconsin Bogs Compared
Name of Flakt.
o
o
5 u
to
u
©5
o o Pi
o
o
Era
:s g IS
g
S3
O
o
a
o
o
o
a
a o
Polygonacen
Rnmez britannlca L
Rumex itenicarioldes L. . . Polygonum lapatblfoUum
Polygonnm pennsylTani-cum
L
Polygonum ampbibium L. Polygonum ampbibium var.
sel
Polygonum mublenbergll
Polygonum bydroplper L. .
Polygonum acre HBK
Polygonum hydroiiiperoles
'... i .. . Polygonum sagittatum L>. . Polygonum arifolium L. . .
Amarantbacese
Acnida tamarlscina
Caryopbyllacee
Stellarla longlfolia Mubl..
Ceratopbyllum demersum
Nympbaacee
Nymphsa advent Alt
Woodvllle ft Wood
Green
Brasenia scbreberi Gmel..
Ranunculaces
Ranunculus aquatllis L.
var. capillaceus DC
Ranunculus cymbalaria
Pursb
Ranunculus delpblnlfolius
Torr
Ranunculus sceleratus L.. Ranunculus septentrionails
Poir.
Ranunculus pennsyivanlcns
L. t '.
Tbalictrum revolutum DC. Anemone canadensis L. . . .
Caltba paiustrls L
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Namk of Plant.
52
S
A
Ij
s
s
z
S
a
+
+
R a d i c u 1 a DUturitiumaquatlca (L.) Brllton A
Radlcula paluetris
+
+ i + j + +
Cardamlne bulbosa
+
t
+
Droaera longlfolla L
+
+
+
t!±lt
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Potentilla monspelleiiBlB L.
Potentllla rlvalls Nutt. var.
millegrana Eng. & Wat-
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Potentllla paluatrla
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Roaa carollaa L
i
J- 1. ' .
The Iowa And Wisconsin Bogs Compared
t
Name of Plant.
Whetilerwood, Cerro Oordo Co
Fertile, Worth Co.
Lake MillB, Winnebago Co.
Forest City, Winnebago Co.
Armstrong, Emmet Co.
Belmond, Wright Co.
Jewell Junction, Hamilton Co.
La Crosse, Wisconsin.
.a o
S3
.a o
B
t.
Dismal Swamp, Virginia.
a
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Trifolium repens L
Trifolium pratense L
Trifolium hybridum L
Lathy r us palustris L
Lathyrus venosus Muhl...
ApioB tuberosa Moench
+
+
Ozalis comiculata L
Polygala incamata L
Polygala sanguinea L
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Callitriche palustris L
Callitriche autumnalis L. .
ATiaoardiaceffi t - r
+
+
+
+
Rhus yemiz L
Rhus toxicodendron L
Aauifoliaces
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Acer rubrum L . .
Acer saccharinum L
"+'
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Impatiens biflora Walt
+
Rhamnus ainifolia L'Her. .
+
Vitace
+
+
+
Vitis vulpina L
Yitis rotundifolia Michx. .
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Hypericum virginicum L. .
Hypericum petiolatum Walt
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Viola cucullata Ait
Viola nephrophylla Green.
+
Viola blanda Willd
,
+
+
Viola renifolia Gray
Viola conpersa Reichenb.
+
Lythracece
J.
Lythrum alatum Pursh...
'+"
"+'
+
"+'
'+'
'+'
'+'
+
Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Name of Plant.
Ly thrum llneare L
Melastomacese
Rhexia ciliosa Michx
Rhexia virginica L
Rhexia mariana L
Onagracese
Ludvigia alternifolia L... Ludvigia polycarpa Short
& Peter
Ell
Epilobium coloratum Muhl. Epilobium densum Raf . . . .
Haloragidacese
MyriophyHum verticallatum
L. var. pectinatuxm
Wallr.
Proserpinaca palustris L..
Hippuris vulgaris L
Umbelliferse
Cicuta maculata L
Cicuta bulbifera L
Cicuta curtissii Coulter &
Rose
ville
Slum clcutffifolium
Coulter ft Rose
Angelica atropurpurea L. .
Cornacese
Cornus stolonifera Michx. .
Cornus amomum Mill
Cornus paniculata L'Her. .
Cornus canadensis L
Nyssa aquatlca L
Nyssa silvatica Marsh, var.
Ericaceae
Clethra alnifolia L
Pyrola asarlfolia Michx.. Ledum groenlandicum
Oeder
Kalmia latifolia L
Kalmia polifolia Wang. . . Leucothoe axillaris (Lam.)
D. Don
Andromeda polifolia L
+
'+'
+
The Iowa And Wisconsin Boqs Compared
Wheelerwood, Cerro Gordo Co.
Fertile. Worth CJo.
o
a§
o a
Forest City, Winnebago Co.
ArmstTong, Ehnmet Co.
Belmond, Wright Co.
Jewell Junction, Hamilton Co.
La CroBse, Wisconsin.
pd o
§
e
o
Dismal Swamp, Virginia.
o
M
o
Andromeda glaucophylla Link
+
+
1
+
!
Gaultheria Drocumbens L.
I I
Gaylussacia baccata
+
Yaccinium corymbosum L. Yaccinium macrocarpon Ait
+
+
m
Yaccinium oxycoccus L. . . Primulaceffi , . . . ,
'
+
+
+
+
+
+
Lysimachia thyrsiflora L. bteironema lanceolatum (Walt.) Gray.
+
Oleaces
FrazinuB americana L
FrazinuB carolinana Mill ,
+
+
Fraxinus nigra Marsh
Chionanthus virginica L. .
+
r
Gentiana crinita Froel
Gentiana quinquefolia L. .
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Gentiana andrewsii Griseb.
+
+
Menyanthes trifoliata L. . .
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Aclepiadacee
+
Aclepias incamata L
Aclepias syriaca L
+
Aclepias lanceolata Walt. .
Convolvnlacefle
+
+
+
'+"
CuBCuta gronovii Willd... CuBcuta obtuBlflora Hbk..
+
Phlox glaberrima L
Hydrophyllacffi
+
+
+
+
+
Ellisia nyctelea L
+
1
7eo
Flora Of Northern Iowa P£At Bogs
Name of Plaint.
o So
op Km $ U
o
o O
Sua
08
- o
o d.a
O bfl
aT:
d
"S a Ik
d
.d
B
.d
d o
Oq
d o
M Ip*
O
Verbena urtlcsfolia L. . . .
Verbena hastata L
Teucrium canadense L. . . .
Teucrium occidentale
Gray
Scutellaria lateriflora L. . . Scutellaria galericulata L. Physostegia virglniana
Stachys palustris L
Stachys tenuifolia Willd.
nald
Lycopus virginicuB L
Lycopufl uniflorus Michx. . Lycopus rubelluB, Moench. Lycopus americanus, Muhl Mentha arvensis L. var.
Mentha spicata L
Mentha piperita L
Solanaces
Solanum nigrum L
Solanum dulcamara L . . . .
Scrophulariaces
Chelone glabra L
Mimulus ringens L.
Limosella aquatica L. var.
Bamh. . .'
Veronica americana
Schwein
Veronica virginlcum L
Veronica anagallisaquatica
L
Gerardia paupercula
Gerardia aspera Dougl
Pedicularis lanceolata
Michx
Lentibulariacese
Utricularia vulgaria L
Utricularia biflora Lam . . .
Utricularia minor L
Utricularia intermedia
Hajme
Plantaglnaces
+
-f
-f
+
+
+
+
+
The Iowa And Wisconbin Bogs Compared
NA.MB OF Plant.
U g5
it
la
P
r
a
Plantago rugelU Dene
+
—
+
+
1 ' 1 i
Inicera oblongifolla
+
Linniea borealla L. var. americana (Forbes)
I ! 1 1
Viburnum oculus L. vfU".
' 1 1
j j
Campanulacete
Campanula aparlnoides
+
Lobelia slptallltlca L
+
+
+
+
+
Vernonia noYeboracensls
+
Eupatorlum perfollatum L.
Eupatorlum purpureum L.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
"+"
SoUdago serotlna Alt
+
Aster novae-angllae L
+
+
+
+
+
+
—
+
+
+
+
Hellantbus groBseiierratuB Martens
Flora Of Nortbeen Iowa Peat Boos
Name of Plaht.
s If
s
t
+
+
+
+
Bldebs frondoaa L
BIdens connata Mubl
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
BIdens trlchoaperma
Helenium autumnale L
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
i;;:;:c:il + j — i._.l +
Seneclo aureus L
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Taraxacum offlclnale
+
+
+
+
Prenanthes racemosa
Remarks On Characteri8Ti0 Bog Plants 763
REMARKS ON SOMfl OF TBE CHARACTERISTIC BOG PLANTS
Aspidium thelypteris. This fern is common in the tamarack bogs, also in the drier sedge bogs of Wisconsin, Michigan, and in northeastern Iowa, as far weist as Worth and Winnebago connties. It is infrequent or rare westward. This species, then, may be called a typical peat bog fern. The allied A. cristatum does not occur in the peat bogs of northern Iowa, although it is not uncommon in the tamarack bogs of western Wisconsin in Trempleau county and some parts of La Crosse county.
Osmunda cinnamomea L., the Cinnamon Fern, is common in the bogs in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, but does not occur, so far as I know, anywhere in the bogs of Allamakee, Clayton, Cerro Gordo, Worth and Winnebago counties. The same may be said of the Royal Fern (0. regalis).
Ophioglossum vulgatum L., though reported both in northern and southern Michigan hag not been reported from western Wisconsin or eastern Minnesota, nor from any of the bogs of jiorthem Iowa.
Lycopodium inwndatum has been reported from Michigan and is more abundant in bogs eastward but especially northward.
Larix laricina (Du Roi), Koch., the Tamarack, has not been reported from any point in the state of Iowa, although there is a small grove in Houston county across the line in Minnesota and isolated groves in Wisconsin near La Crosse. This is practically the only conifer found in the bogs of that region. Further northward in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, the Black Spruce, the Balsam Fir, and Arbor Vitae occur and eastward in the Dismal Swamp country and as far north as Massachusetts the White Cedar is also a predominant species of the peat bog flora. Strange as it may seem the Balsam Fir, although native to Allamakee county in Iowa is found on cold, wet, limestone rocks, the rocks being covered with Hypnum and other mosses. Nowhere in the state does the Juniper occur and yet in parts of Wisconsin and Michigan there are certain types of bogs in which the Juniper is a common species.
Salix ccmdida Fl., the White Bog Willow, is one of the most interesting of the willows in Iowa. It is not nearly so widely distributed as some of the other species but is characteristic of
764 Flora Of Northern Iowa Feat Boos
some of the bogs in Worth, Cerro Gordo Mid Clayton counties and is likewise abundant in the tamarack and sphagnnm bogs of western Wisconsin and soathem Minnesota. It does not occur in Hamilton or Emmet coanties nor in the bogs near Forest City or in Wright county.
Salix pedicellaris Pursh, This willow, like the preceding, grows in many of the bogs in Cerro Gordo, Winnebago, Worth
FlKure 109. Hoary Willow (BoUx cofMtlda Ftueeee). a, bOK plant of Worth anaitj.
and Emmet counties, always growing where there is a large sapply of water, like the preceding species.
Salix lucida Muhl., the Shining Willow, is less widely distril)- ted than the preceding species ; in this state it occurs in a few bogs in Buchanan county and in Linn county, according to Lazell, and occasionally eastward. It is fairly abundant in the sphagnum bogs in the vicinity of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
BEH&HK8 ON CHARACrERISTIC BOG PLANTS 765
Salix rostrata Eiehards, the Beaked Willow, is nearly as widely distributed as the Salix discolor (Muhl.) or the Glancous Willow. These willows are common throughout northern Iowa, especially in bogs near springs and where excavations have been made or ditches run through the bogs. They are adapted to somewhat drier conditions than the willows mentioned previ-
m, no FlK. Ill
FlBura 110. Bog Willow (Solfs pedtdtlarlt Pursh.). Drawn by Ada Hayden.
Figure 111. Beaked Willow iSaHx rotlrata Richards). Drawn by Ada Hayden.
ously. These willows are characteristic of some bogs as far south as Boone and Story counties but rarer southward.
Populus tremuloides Michx., the Quaking Asp, is rather frequent on the islands and high grounds adjacent to the peat bogs near Lake Mills, Forest City, Fertile, and other places in northem Iowa. It is a typical constituent of the bog near Wheeler-
766 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
wood, being associated with 8. discolor and S. rostrata. Davis also mentioned its occurraice in the bogs of southern Michigan and along with it he also mentions the PopiUtts grahdidentata which though common in northern Iowa, especially northeastward, does not occur in bogs.
Rumex britannica L., the Great Water Dock, is easily recognized during midsummer and late fall by its long fruiting panicles above the sedges and other smaller plants. This dock was common in all the bogs in the counties mentioned above and it is also common eastward in Butler, Chickasaw, Clayton counties in Iowa, and La Crosse county in Wisconsin.
Of the grasses perhaps the most interesting and abundant in the Iowa bogs are Glyceria nervata, Calamagrostis inexpansa, Bromus kalmii, Zizania aqimtica, Phragmites communis, Glyceria fluitans and G. grandis. These species are common in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan as well as Iowa.
Glyceria nervata (Wild.) Trin., the Fowl Meadow Grass, is abundant in moist meadows throughout the region and much more abundant than the two preceding species and is much more important in the formation of peat.
Glyceria fluitans (L.) E. Br., like the Reed Grass, is found in shallow water and although abundant in many places is not so important in the formation of peat as Wild Rice or Reed Grass. It is common throughout the region and extends much farther southward. Along with it we also found frequently, in conditions that do not bespeak of peat, the Glyceria grandis Wats.
Zizania aquatica L. Wild Rice was once quite common in the bogs throughout northern Iowa land may still be found in shallow water under much more moist conditions than the willows or thistle, in Cerro Gordo, Hamilton, Emmet, Worth, Wright, and Winnebago counties. Where this plant occurs the bog assumes the character of a quaking bog.
Phragmites communis Trin. This Reed Grass grows in situations similar to Wild Rice, often where water stands through the entire season. It has long rootstocks running under the surface of the ground for considerable distances and these form an important constituent of the peat.
Bemakk8 On Characteristic Bog Plants 767
Of the sedges in bogs the most important in northem Iowa is the Carex filiformis, along with C. stricta, C. trisperma, and other species. These constitute perhaps the most important bog sedges in this state. These species likewise constitute an important part of the bog flora of Michigan and Wisconsin.
Carex filiformis L. This Sedge is the most important of the bog plants, forming extensive mats which give away as one walks over them. This species has long, tough, narrow leaves, tapering to a thread-like point and forming a horizontal rhizome which
768 Flora Of Northern Iowa Feat Bugs
during the spring, when there is an abundance of moisture, is partially aquatic. These rhizomes increase in length by bearmg a terminal bud at the end. The method of formation, along with that of other sedges, has been described by Davis.* This sedge was found in Cerro Gordo, Worth, Winnebago, Wright, Hamilton, and Emmet counties, also in northeastern Iowa and western Wisconsin. Other species of sedges grow in the same manner and produce similar mats. The species occurring in northern Iowa are given under the table.
Photograph by Cha
Dulichium arundinai-eum, common every"where in bogs and moist places in Wisconsin, is confined particularly in this state to the peat bog regions, although there are small peat bogs in the vicinity of Ames where this species is not present. It reaches its greatest development from Cerro Gordo county eastward.
Scirpus vididus, typical everywhere in bogs, especially where there is standing water in this state, is quite as characteristic in Wisconsin and Minnesota as it is in Iowa. We have only to mention here two other sedges with grass-like leaves, the EUo-
Remarks On Characteristic Bog Plants 769
charts acicularis, which is confined more especially to the mtiddy flats where there is a considerable mixture of grass and trees, while the E. palustris is more widely distributed.
The Cotton Grass is represented in Iowa by two species, while there are four eastward. Eynchospora is not represented in' the peat bogs although abundant in the sphagnum bogs of Wisconsin.
Some members of the family Liliacese are entirely absent from the state. The Wild Turk's-cap {lAlvwm canadense) and L. philadelphicum occur less frequently in these bos than in the Wisconsin bogs. In that state there occur not only these lilies, but also the Allium tricoccum and the Smilctcina and Maianthimum.
The Wisconsin bogs have three Cypripediums, and three or four Habenarias. The H. psychodes is entirely absent from the bogs of northern Iowa, though occurring, according to Mr. Lazell, in Linn county. The Pogonia and Calopogon are abundant and characteristic of sphagnum bogs of Wisconsin and Michigan but do not generally occur in Iowa though reported from Linn county by Mr. Lazell. Of the Smartweed Family the Rumex britaimica is characteristic of all the bogs in Wisconsin, Michigan and northern Iowa but in Hamilton county is not as abundant. The Polygonum acre is conunon in all of our Iowa bogs while the Shoe-string or Tan Weed occurs under somewhat drier conditions. The Polygonum amphibium is abundant not only in Wisconsin but in northern Iowa and Michigan. Two species of Polygonum, P. sagittatum and P. arifolium, are not recorded for the bogs of northern Iowa, although abundant for the bogs of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. The former is found occasionally in Iowa as in Linn county where it has been reported by Mr. Lazell.
One may look upon certain members of the Rose Family as characteristic of the bogs and of these plants mention may be made of the Chokeberry {Pyms arhutifolia) conmion in the bogs northward and in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, occurring on limestone rocks in Iowa. The Shrubby Cinquefoil {Potentilla fruticosa) is common in some bogs in Wisconsin, Michigan, and
Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Minnesota, but not in Iowa, although occasionally found in Winneshiek county, according to Shimek.
Figure 114. Tickseed Sunflower iBidena trichoaperma (Michx.) Britton)
Ada Hayden.
Drawn by
Poteniilla palustris. The Marsh Cinquefoil is common throughout the region in Iowa from Winnebago, Emmet, and Worth counties, extending to Cerro Gordo county, and is abundant in the bogs of southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and Michigan. This is one of the most typical Iowa bog plants and
Bbmarks On Charactebi8Tic Bog Plants 771
ie fairly abtmdant. The same may be aaid of the Sphagnnm bogs of Wisconsin. It is rather interesting to note that it does not occur on the higher bogs where the Cirsium muticimi, Valeriana edulis, Castilleja coccinea occur in western Wisconsin.
Flpire IIG. Water Uarigold (Bidana behH Torr.). Drawn bjr Ad& Haydn.
Spiraea salidfolia, the Meadow Sweet, is common in some bogs of northeastern Iowa, hut does not reach as far south as Hamilton county, or for that matter is not common ih any of the bogs in Cerro Gordo, Worth, and Winnebago counties.
Sacdfraga pennsylvanica. This Saxifrage is common in the drier bogs of weetem Wisconsin and also occurs in the bogs of
772 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Cerro Gordo, Worth, and Winnebago eoonties, along with Lobelia kalmii, Epilobium molle, and Cicuta bulbifera. It also oein Linn county (Lazell).
Drawn by Ada Haydeo.
Sarracenia purpurea, Drosera rotundifoUa, Rhus remix and Nemopantkus mucronata, though characteristic of the Sphfignum bogs of Wisconsin and Minnesota, are not represented in this state.
Bidens trichoserma, the Marsh Marigold, occurs in nearly all peat bogs in many of the northern counties of the state, notably in Cerro Gordo, Winnebago, Worth and Hamilton counties. It i.s
Iowa Peat Bogs And Others 778
SO characteristic that without the presence of any other plant one is certain that peat occurs. It does not, however, occur in Emmet county. This same plant is common in the peat bogs of Wisconsin and southern Minnesota.
Cirsium muticum Michx,, the Swamp Thistle, is characteristic of the type of bog occurring in Cerro Gordo county, near Wheelerwood, also near Fertile and near Lake Mills in Winnebago county, but it does not occur in Emmet, Hamilton, and Wright counties. It also occurs in the drier bogs of southern Minnesota and near La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Bidens cernua L.* This plant is rather common in many of the peat bogs, more abundant where they have been drained than in other situations. In one case more than 160 acres were a mass of golden yellow. Otherwise it usually occurs on higher and drier ground. The B. cormata is also of frequent occurrence near brooks and in moist soil.
Eupatorium perfoliatum L. The common Boneset is one of
the most characteristic plants of all the bogs. , This is true not
only of the drier bogs in Wisconsin but of those throughout northern Iowa. The E. purpurewm L. is another characteristic
bog plant in all the bogs considered in Iowa and Wisconsin,
though somewhat more rare in the Sphagnum and Tamarack
bogs.
Aster jv/nceiMs Ait. The Marsh Aster is characteristic of the larger bogs in Worth and Winnebago counties and is likewise characteristic of the bogs in Wisconsin.
Solidago riddelli Frank. The species is rather common in central and northern Iowa and abundant in the peat bogs of northern Iowa.
A Comparison Of Iowa Peat Bogs And Those Of
Other Plages
In a general survey as given in the table of plants from these different regions it is evident that a large number of the more typical of the peat bog plants of the more northern region are replaced by plants of a totally different character. For instance, the peat bogs of the higher and drier types such as we find in Wisconsin, are almost characteristic of the peat bogs of
774 FLORA OF NORTHEBN leWA PEAT BOGS
northern Iowa, with the exception of the abundance of ScUia: Candida and S. pedicellaris which do not occur in these bogs although they are abundant in the moist bogs adjacent to the other bogs. The species of wiUow foond in Wisconsin in the bogs are much the same as in Iowa with the exception of the Shining Willow which occurs in a few bogs in the lowan drift
figure 117. Pondweed (Polamogelo* epMhydrua Baf.). Drawn by Ada Hayden.
area in Buchanan, Linn, and Black Hawk counties. The absence of sphagnum and most of the orchids and ferns with the exception of the Aspidium thelypteris is another distinctive feature of the Iowa peat bog flora.
The algal and bacterial flora as well as many other aquatic plants like Scirpus vaiidus and Zizania aquatica are typical for all the regions of northern Iowa and western Wisconsin and so need not be considered in this oonnection.
Introduced Plants In Bogs 776
Shrubs In Iowa Bogs
It is rather remarkable that so fw of the shrubs have developed in the peat bogs of northern Iowa. The Cornus stolonifera which is so abundant on the edges and borders of tamarack bogs and other peat bogs of Wisconsin is confined to upland banks near lakes and streams in Emmet and the northern Iowa counties. Occasionally two species of Dogwood are found in the drained bogs of this state, namely the Cornus panicvlata and C. amomum. In the Dismal Swamp region these are represented by Nyssa and members of the Heath Family. It is rather remarkable to note the absence of heaths in the bogs particularly of northern Iowa; not a single species is represented and yet near La Crosse, Wisconsin, we have one species each of Kalmia, Galussaccia and Gaultheria and one species of the Cranberry {Vaccinium macrocarpon) . These same species occur in the peat bogs of Michigan and there is an increase in other species, like Clethra, Andromeda, and Ledum.
Inteoduged Plants In Bogs
Drainage of the peat bogs has been attempted in many places in Iowa and in such places a large number of introduced plants have made their appearance. The Small Ragweed (Ambrosia art emisiif olio) y Goosefo'ot (Chenopodium album) Old Witch Grass (Panicum capillar e), Pennsylvania Smartweed (Polygonum pennsylvanicum) Pigweed (Amara/ntus retro fleayus) j Five-finger (Potentilla monspeliensis) j Milkweed (Asclepias Boot Jack (Bidens frondosa) and B. discoidea, are representative types. These plants originally did not constitute a part of the bog flora, except in dry years, when they appeared. These are seldom found in the sedge mat where the Marigold (Bidens beckii). Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum), Myrtleleaved Willow (Salix pedicellaris) and Lobelia kalmii grow in abundance.
776 Flora Of Northern Iowa Peat Bogs
Bibliograpby
1. DaviB, Charles A Peat: Essays on its Origin, Uses, and Distribution
in Michigan. From Kept. State Bd. Geol. Sur. Michigan, 1906. 95-395. pi. ISSL /. 2-2o. Lansing, 1907.
2. Shaler, N. S. Fresh Water Morasses of the United States. Rept
U. S. Geol. Sur. 10. 1890,
3. Lesquereux, L Torfbildung im grosses Dismal Swamp. Zeitsch.
der deutsch. Geol. Gesellsch. 4. 1852.
4. Kearney, T. H Report on the Botanical Survey of the Great Dis-mal
Swamp Region. Cent. U. S. Nat. Herbarium 5: 321-585.
5. Cowles, H. C The Physiographic Ecology of Chicago and Vicinity
. Bot. Gaz. 31: 73-108.
6. Coulter, S. M An Ecological. Comparison of. Some Typical Swamp
Areas. Rept. Mo. Bot. Gar. 15: 39-72. pi. 1-24.
7. MacMillan, Conway On the Occurrence of Sphagnum Atolls in Central
Minnesota. Minn. Bot. Studies. Geol. and Nat Hist. Sur. of Minn. Bull. 9: 13. 9. Whitford, H. N The Genetic Development of the Forests of Northem Michigan. Bot. Qaz. 31: 289-325.
10. Atkinson, G. F Elementary Botany. 444. New York. 1898.
11. Mills, W. M A Physiographic and Ecological Study of the Lake
Eagle Region, Indiana. Ann. Rept Dept GeoL and Nat Resources of Ind. 28: (1906).
12. Pieters, A. J Plants of Lake St Clair. Bull. Mich. Fish Com.
13. Transeau, E. N On the Geographic Distribution and Ecological Re-
lation pf the Bog Plant Societies of Northern North America. Bot Gaz. 36: 401-420. S m.
14. Harshberger. J. W Bogs, their Nature and Origin. Plant World. 12:
15. Olsson-Seffer, Pehr Examination of Organic Remains in Post-glacial
Deposits. Am. Nat 37: 785-797.
16. Weld, Louis A Botanical Survey of the Huron River Valley. II.
A Peat Bog and Moraine Lake. Bot. Gaz. 37:
17. Schimper, A. F. W Plant Geography upon a Physiological Basis.
Trans, by W. R. Fisher. Rev. and Bd. by P. Groom and I. B. Balfour. 839. Oxford. 1903.
18. Fruh, J. and Schroeter, C.Die Moore der SchweK mit Berucksichtigung der
Gesamten Moorfrage. Beitr. Geol. Schweiz. Goetsch. Ser. 3. Bern. 1904.
19. Roller, T Die Torf Industrie. Wein. 1898.
20. Eiseln, J. C Handbuch, oder Anleitung zur Kenntniss des
Torfwesens. Berlin. 1802.
Bibliography 777
21. Sendtner, O Die VegetationsYerhaltnisse Sud-BayeniB. Munch.
22. FlBcher-Benzon, R Die Moore der Proyinz Schleswig-Holstein. Ab-
handl. d. naturw. Vereins zur Hamburg. 11.
23. Weber, C. A Ueber die Vegetation dee Moores von Augsumal
bei Heydekrug. Mitth. d. Yereina zur Forderung d. Moorcultur im Deutschen Reiche. 9. 1894.
24. Christ, H ; .Das Pflanzenleben der Schweiz. Basel. 1879.
26. Drude, O Bericht uber die Fortschritte in der Geographie
der Pflanzen. 1901-1904. Geographisches Jahr* buch 28: 214-219. 1905. Reviewed by Harshberger, see N. 14.
26. Pammel, L. H A Comparative Study of the Vegetation of Swamp,
Clay, and Sandstone Areas in Western Wisconsin, Southeastern Minnesota, Northeastern, Central, and Southern Iowa. Proc. Dav. Acad. Sci 10: Old LAke Vegetation in Hamilton County, Iowa. PL World. 2: 42-46.
27. Cratty, R. I Flora of E2mmet County, Iowa. Proc. la. Acad.
Sci. 11: 201-251.
28. Shimek, B Flora of Winneshiek County, Iowa. la. 0eol. Sur.
Index
For lists of coal mines see under analyses and mines.
Aberheardt, John, mentioned, 564 Abies haUameii, 749, 750 Acer ruhrum, 757 aaccharinumf 757 acKcharunif 749 Ackworth, Warren county, mines near,
Acnida tamarisciwi, 755 Aconitum, 749 Acoriw calamus, 753 Adair, Adair county, mines near, 379 Adair county, coal in, 378 Adams county, analyses of coal from,
coal in, 391
history of coal mining in, 586 methods of mining in, 395 Adel, Dallas county, coal near, 92 Affrostis ttlha, 746, 751 Aiken, William, cited, 387 Akerman, cited, 699 Alhaugh prospect, Decatur county, 251 Albia, Monroe county, mines near, 239,
508, 546 Albion, Marshall county, coal near, 84 Alfrey, Jacob P., cited, 526 Alisma plantagoHiquatica, 751 Allamakee county, plants of, 745, 749,
Allen, Captain, mentioned, 566 Allium iricoccum, 749, 753, 769 Allorism granosum, 622
subcuneatum 633, 634, 637, 645 Alnus incana, 754 Alopecurus geniculatus, 751 Alpine, Wapello county, mines at, 515,
Altamont morainal belt, bogs in, 696 Altoona, Polk county, coal near, 142,
406, 510, 568 tests of coal from, 406, 414, 432,
470, 475 Amarantus retroflexus, 748, 775 Amhocelia planoconvexa, 622, 633, 656 Ambrosia artemisiifolia, 745, 748, 775
Analyses of coal, methods of, 477
method of statement, 481 Analyses of Iowa coals, 410, 476, 488,
Analyses of coal from Adams county,
Hinton mine, 497
Plowman shaft, 497
Rawson mine, 497
Rees mine, 497
Wyles mine, 497 Analyses of coal from Appanoose county, 497
Anchor Coal Co., 499
Appanoose mine, 498
Centenrille Block Coal Co., .415, 498
Diamond mine, 497
Lodwick Brothers Coal Co., 499
Moravia, 499
Scandinavian mine, 497
Thistle mine, 498
Whitebreast Fuel Co,, 498
Analyses of coal from Boone county, Angus mine, 499 Boone Coal & Mining Co., 499 coal from Boone Street Railway
power plant, 499 Crowe Coal Co., 499 Dalby mine, 499 Heaps & Crowe, 499 Johnson Coal Company, 499 Northwestern mine, 499 Ogden Coal Company, 488, 499 Rogers Coal Co., 499
Analyses of coal from Dallas county, Des Moines Coal Co.. 500 High Bridge Coal Co., 488, 500 Keeler mine, 500
Piatt Pressed & Fire Brick Co., 500 Redfield mine, 500 Tabor mine, 500 Tudor mine, 500
Analyses of coal from Davis county, Bloomfield, 501 Dye mine, 500 Lumsden Coal Co., 501, 518 Sickles mine, 500
Index
Analyses of coal from Decatur county,
Sharp's prospect, 501 Analyses of coal from Greene county,
Bussey mine, 501
Kennedy mine, 501
Willow Grove Coal Co., 489, 501.
Analyses of coal from Guthrie county, Eclipse mine, 501 Lonsdale mine, 502 Marshall mine, 501 Reese mine, *501 Suggett mine, 501 Wasson mine, 502
Analyses of coal from Hamilton county, 502 Silver mine, 502 Stockdale mine, 502
Analyses of coal from Hardin county, Buckner mine, 502 Chaffln mine, 502 Fuller mine, 502
Analyses of coal from Jasper county, Colfax Consolidated Coal Co., 494,
Jasper mine, 503 Jasper County Coal ft Mining Co.,
Slaughter bank, 503 Snook mine, 503
Analyses of coal from Jefferson county, 503 Coalport mine, 503 Read mine, 503 Richardson mine, 503 Shaw bank, 503 Toung ft Stubbs mine. 503
Analyses of coal from Keokuk county, Armstrong Brothers, 490, 504 Crescent Coal Co., 504 Pioneer mine, 504 What Cheer mine, 504
Analyses of coal from Lucas colinty, Cleveland* mine, 504 Inland Fuel Co., 416, 504 Lucas mine, 504
Analyses of coal from Madison county, Clark mine, 505
Analyses of coal from Mahaska county, American Coal Company, 506 American mine, 505 Atwood Coal Company, 489, 506 Bolton-Hoover Coal Co., 493, 506 Burns mine, 505 Burtis mine, 505 Carey mine, 505 Cox, F. W.. mine. 506 Crescent Coal Co., 490. 506 Excelsior Coal Co., 506
Analyses of coal— Continued.
Garretson ft Seever mine, 505
Given mine, 506
Griffith mine, 505
Haddon bank, 505
Iowa Coal Co., 506
Nichol mine, 505
Roberts ft Co., 506
Whitebreast Fuel Co., 506 Analyses of coal from Marion county.
Bousquet mine, 507
Bussing mine, 507
Clemen mine, 507
Empire Coal Co., 519
English Creek Coal Co., 493. 508
Mammoth Vein Coal Co.. 413. 508
Nossaman bank, 507
O'Neal bank, 507
Roberts and Fisher bank, 507
Sherwood mine. 507
Sherwood. Newman ft Ferren mine.
Tanser mine. 507
Analyses of coal from Monroe county, Barber mine. 509 Buchanan mine, 509 Chicago and Iowa mine. 508 Consolidation Coal Co., 509 Deep Vein mine. 509 Enterprise mine. 508 Hocking Coal Co.. 509 Iowa and Wisconsin mine. 508 Miller mine, 509 Perry mine, 509 Soap Creek Coal Co., 509 Smoky Hollow mine, 509 Wapello Coal Company. 492, 609 Whitebreast Fuel Co., 509
Analyses of coal from Polk county. 510 Bennett Bros. Coal Co., 495,- 511 Christy mine, 510 Des Moines CoaJ and Mining Co.,
Enterprise Coal Co., 495. 511 Flint Brick Company, 510 Gibson Coal Mining Co., 414. 510. Keystone Coal Mining Co., 494. 511 Manbeck mine, 510 Marquisville. 510 Norwood Coal Co.. 510 Redhead mine, 510
Analyses of coaJ from Poweshiek county, 511 Smith ft Barrowman mine, 511
Analyses of coal from Scott county. Duck creek, 512 Friedley mine. 512 Friedley ft Hoyt .mine. 511 Hanlon ft Blackwell mine. 511 Havlll coal bank. 511
Index
Analyses of coal from Taylor county,
Adams shaft, 512
Anderson mine, 512
Campbell Coal Company, 492, 512 Analyses of coal from Van Buren county, 512
Business Corners mine, 513
Carmine bank, 513
Carter mine, 5i3
Cox coal bank, 512
Crail bank, 512
Manhard bank, 513
New York Coal Co., 513
Rodefer bank, 513
Slaughter bank, 512 Analyses of coal from Wapello county,
Allen mine, 514
Alpine Coal Co., 515
Anchor Coal Company, 412, 515
Brigg mine, 513
Brown and Godfrey mine, 513, 515
Carbon Coal Co., 515
Dudley mine, 514
Eldon mine, 513
Eldon Coal & Mining Co., 515
Evans mine, 514
Heacock mine, 514
Inskeep mine, 514
Marshall mine, 514
Phillips Fuel Company, 491, 515
Roseland Coal Co., 515
Shock, Henry, ft Co., 515
Whitebreast No. 22, 513
Wylie mine, 513 Analyses of coal from Warren county,
Bennum mine, 516
Dillard mine, 516 Analyses of coal from Wayne county,
Frey mine, 516 Analyses of coal from Webster county,
Cannel coal, 517
Carlson mine, 517
Colburn mine, 517
Collins mine, 517
Corey mine, 517
Craig Cannel mine, 517
Crooked Creek mine, 517
Rees mine, 517
Tyson seam, 517 Analyses of peat, 697, 725 Anchor Coal Co., coal of, analyses of, 412, 515
boiler tests on, 417
coking tests on, 468
washing tests on, 474 Andrews. Polk county, drilling near,
Andromeda, 775 Andromeda glaucophylla, 759
polifoUa, 740, 758 Anemone canadensis, 755
Angelica atropurpurea, 758 Angus, Boone county, mines at, 77, 499,
Angus, Greene county, coal at, 360, 482,
Ankeny, Polk county, coal near, 132 Anrep, A., mentioned, 699 Anticline at Stennett, 636 Apios tuberosa, IWl
Appanoose county, analyses of coal from, 415, 497
coal in, 261, 408
coal production in, 268
history of mining in, 534
mines of, 268
tests oi coal from, 408, 415, 439, 446, 471, 473, 475 Appanoose formation, 261, 599-601 Arbor Vitae, 748, 763 Archaeocidaris, 636, 656 Arethusa huthosa, 754 Armstrong, Chas. A., cited, 601 Armstrong, S. C, cited, 661 Armstrong, Emmet county, plants near,
Aaclepias incarnata, 743, 759
lanceolata, 759
syriaca, 748, 759, 775 Ash in coal, determination of, 478 Ash in Iowa coals, 410, 518 Ashbumer, C. A., cited, 661 Ashley, G. H., cited, 40 Aspidium cristatum, 750, 763
noveboracense, 742
tnelypieris, 745, 750, 763, 774 Astelia pumila, 741 Aster, 745, 746 Aster junceus, 745, 761, 773
tongifolius, 761
novae-angliae, 746, 761
novi-belgii, 746
prenanthcides, 761
puniceus, 761
salicifolius, 746, 761 . umbellatus, 761
vimineus, 761 Atchison county group, 641 Atchison shales, 617 AthyHs subtilita, 633, 684, 637, 645,
Atkinson, G. F., cited, 776 Atkinson, J. J., cited, 661 Audubon county. Coal Measures in, 377 Austin, Mr., cited, 518 ,
Avery, Monroe county, coal near, 509,
Avery creek, Monroe county, mines on,
Aviculopecten, 622, 629, 633, 641, 645 Aviculopecten providencensis, 638
Index
Bain, H. Foster, cited, 150. 167, 209,
534, 620, 661 Balsam Fir, 748, 749, 763 Bamett, Mr., mentioned, 587 Bartlett, Fremont county, coal near,
Bartonia virginicaj 759 Bates, Mr., mentioned, 553 Bayard, Guthrie county, coal near, 367 Baylor shaft, 645, 653 Beacon, Mahaska county, coal at, 205,
Beadle, Mr., mentioned, 568 Beaked Willow, 745, 765
Beftr creek, Wapello county, mines on,
Beaver creek, Guthrie county, coal on,
Beck, Joseph, mentioned, 567
Beck, Thomas, mentioned, 563, 567, 569
Bedford, Forbes limestone at, 621
Beech Fern, 745
Beem, W. C, mentioned, 583
Belial r, Appanoose county, mines near,
BelJerophon carhonarius, 633, 637, 645, marcouanus, 638 montfortianus, 633 nodocarinatua, 633 percarinatus, 633, 637
Belmond, plants near, 750
Bennett, Andrew, mentioned, 588
Benson Bros., mentioned, 575, 578
Bentonsport, Van Buren county, mines near, 328, 513, 527
Berchemia sccmdens, 757
Berula erecta, 768
Berwick, olk county, mines at, 138
Betula gJandulosa, 741 tenia, 754 lutea, 754 nigra, 754 pumila, 740, 741, 764
Beyer, S. W.. cited, 60. 61, 79, 84, 230, 381. 525, 662, 731 Mineral production In Iowa for 1908. 3
peat deposits In Iowa, 693 statistics of coal, 591
Beynon, Gomer, mentioned, 584
Bibliography of Iowa coal, 661 of Iowa peat, 731
tt
Bidena beckii, 747, 762, 771, 775 cemua, 746, 762, 773 connata, 762, 773 coronata, 762 discoidea, 748, 762, 775 frondosa, 746, 748, 762, 775 trichosperma, 745, 748, 762, 770. Bidwell, Wapello county, mines near,
302, 484 Big coal," in Webster county, 39, 40 Big shale," in Page county. 631 Big Vein, Marlon county, 405 Big Whitebreast creek, Lucas county,
mines on, 222 Biggs prospect, Decatur county, 252 Binks, Thomas, cited, 662 Birmingham, Van Buren county, coal
near, 327, 527 Bissell, G. W., cited, 518, 662 "Black Jack" coal in Boone county, 60 Black Spruce, 748, 763 Bloomfield, Davis county, coal near,
501, 518 Blue Joint Grass, 745 Bluegrass, 746
Blyth, Mahaska county, coal near, 506 Blythe, Wm., mentioned, 576 Boag, Mr., mentioned, 572 Boehmeria cylindrica, 754 Bog plants in Europe, 740 in North America, 740 Bogs, classification of, 740
definition of, 695 Boiler tests on Iowa coals, 417 Bolton. Mahaska county, mines at, 205,
486, 506 BoJtonia asteroides, 761 Bondurant, Polk county, coal near, 147 Boneset, 745, 773 Boone, Boone county, coal near, 66,
499, 619 Boone county, analyses of coal from, 488, '499 coal in, 58, 60, 482 coal production in, 59 history of coal mining in, 575 Boonesboro. Boone county, coal near,
66, 499, 576 Boot Jack. 746, 748, 775 "Bowlders" in Iowa coal, 41, 68, 186,
196, 197, 199, 214 Braddyville, Page county, strata at,
Braddyville limestones, 623 Braaenia achreheri, 755 Brazil, Appanoose county, mines near,
276. 638 Breckenridge, L. P., cited, 662 Bridgewater, Adair county, coal near,
Index
Briquetted peat, 699 Briquettlng Iowa coal, 402 Briquetting tests with Iowa coals, 473 Briscoe, Adams county, mines near,
391, 497, 587, 588, 628 Briscoe, Joseph, mentioned, 587 Broadhead, G. C, cited, 613, 615, 623
section by, 614, 641. Bromegrass, 745 Bromus ciliatus, 745, 753
kaJmii, 744, 745, 752, 766 Brown, Hamilton, mentioned, 577 Brown, James, mentioned, 541, 543 Brush creek, Jefferson county, mines
on, 314 Brushy fork, Guthrie county, mines on,
Bryozoa, 656 Buckbean, 740, 745 Buckner, James, mentioned, 581 Buffalo, Scott county, coal near, 352,
Bulger creek, Dallas county, coal on, 96
Burdess, John, mentioned, 559
Bureau of Standards, cited, 480
Burkes, Harry, mentioned, 559
Burlington Junction, Missouri, strata at, 622
Bushnell, J. P., cited, 662
Business Corners, Van Buren county, mines near, 324, 513, 526
Bussey, Marion county, mines near, 196, 560
Buxton, B. C, mentioned, 550
Buxton, J. E., mentioned, 557
Buxton, Monroe county, mines at, 213, 232, 509; 518, 549
Byers, H. L., mentioned, 553
Cainsville, Missouri, drillings at, 253
CalamagroBtU canadensis, 743, 745, 751 inexpansa, 745, 751, 766
Calamites, 633
Calhoun county. Coal Measures in, 356
Calla palustris, 753
CaJlitricTie autumnalia, 757
paJuatris, 757 Calloway, W.. cited, 32 Calopogon, 769
Calopogon pulchellus, 748, 754
Calorific value of coal, determination of, 480 of Iowa coals, 411, 518
Caltha palustria, 745, 748, 755
Calvin, Samuel, acknowledgments, 657
administrative report, xi
cited, 381, 385, 609, 612, 621, 623,
Calypso bulhosa, 754
Cambridge, Story county, coal near, 79
Camp creek valley, Polk county, coal
in, 147 Campanula apariwHdes, 746, 747, 761 Campbell, James A., cited, 663 Campbell, M. R., cited, 30, 477, 663 Campbell, Roderick, mentioned, 584 Canfield, T. N., mentioned, 576 "Cannel" seam, in Webster county, 39,
Canty, John W., cited, 663 Car supply, case of, 558 Carbon. Adams county, mines at, 391,
497, 587, 627 Carbon, Davis county, mines near, 320 Carbonado. Mahaska county, mines at,
208, 559 Carbondale, Polk county, mines at, 124,
Carboniferous of southwestern Iowa,
general section of, 655 Cardamine bulbosa, 756 Carex, 741, 743
grayii, 753
leptdlea, 753
limosa, 753
lupulinti, 753
oligoaperma, 753
pauci flora, 753
riparia, 753
roatrata, 753
atricta, 753, 767
triaperma, 753, 767
verrucoaa, 763
vulpinoidea, 753 Carney, Polk county, coal-near, 132 Carpenter. Mr., cited, 357 Carpenter Bros., mentioned. 573 Carpenter, O. M., mentioned, 578 Carr, Col. Byron O., mentioned, 551 Carroll county. Coal Measures In, 861 Carson. J. F.. drillings on land of, 227 Carver, Wapello county, mines at, 543 Cass county, coal in, 380 Cassandra. 742 Caatalia, 747
odorata, 755
tuheroaa. 744, 747, 755 Caatilteia aeaailiflora, 743 Caatilleja coccinea, 760, 771
Index
Cattail, 744
Ceanothus americanus, 743
Cedar, 763
Cedar county. Coal Measures in, 344
Cedar creek, Lucas county, mines on,
Cedar creek, Mahaska county, mines
on, 212 Centerville, Appanoose county, mines
at, 277, 408, 497. 518 tests of coal from, 408, 416, 439,
446. 471, 473, 475 Centerville Block Coal Co., briquettes
from, boiler tests on, 446 coal of, analyses of, 415, 498
boiler tests on, 439
briquetting tests on, 473
coking tests on, 471
washing tests on, 475 Cepjialanthus occidentaHs, 761 CercUophyllum demeraum, 741, 755 Cerro Gordo county, bogs of, 742, 746,
747. 768 Chaenomya minnehaha, 637 Chamaecyparis thyoides 750 Chamaedaphne, 742
calyculata, 740. 759 Chariton, Lucas county, mines near,
222, 504 tests of coal from, 409, 416, 453,
472, 475 'Chariton conglomerate, 598, 602 Chelone glabra, 760 Chenopodium allmm, 748, 775 Cherokee formation, 599, 603 Cherry creek, Jasper county, mines on,
Chicago, Milwaukee ft St. Paul Railroad Co.. analyses by, 496 ff. Chillicothe. Wapello county, mines at,
Chiogenes, 741
'hiapidula, 740, 759 Chionanthus virginica, 759 Chisholm. Monroe county, mines near,
Chokeberry. 769
Chonetes glabra, 633, 638. 645. 656 granulifera, 633. 634, 637. 638, 645,
verneuiliana, 637. 656 Christ. H.. cited, 777 Chryaosplenium americanum, 756
tetrandrum, 756 acuta bulbifera, 745-747, 758, 772 curtisaii, 758
maculata, 745. 758
Cincinnati. Appanoose county, mines
near, 282, 498, 538
Mystic coal at, 264
Cinna arundinacea, 751
Cinnamon Fern, 763
Ciraium muticum, 745, 747, 748, 762,
771-773, 775 City Bluffs shales, 622, 631
paleontology of, 632 Clarinda, Page county, drilling at, 617 mines near. 385, 585 Nodaway coal at, 626 Clark, Mr., mentioned, 568 Clark, Ezekiel, mentioned, 558 Clarkdale, Appanoose county, mines at,
Clarke county, coal in, 217 Clay production in 1908, 9, 10. 13 "Clay slips" in Iowa coal, 144 Clayton county, plants of, 745 Cleona township, Scott county, coal in,
Clethra, 775 Clethra alnifolia, 758 Cleveland, Lucas county, mine near,
220, 504 Climax. Montgomery county, strata at,
Clinton county. Coal Measures in, 345 Cleve, Polk county, coal near, 112, 671 Coal, analyses of, see Analyses.
calorific value, determination, 480 compared with peat, 700, 701 cost of, 526, 528, 529, 542, 569, 584,
depth of profitable mining, 31 Iowa, bibliography of, 661 leading producers of. in 1908, 9,
methods of analysis, 477 output and price of. 1875-1908, 596 production of, 1840-1908, 691 production of by 6ounties, 1883-
1908. 592, 593-595 production of. in 1908. 6, 7, 9 production of, from Nodaway seam. 381
Coal, see also Iowa coal.
Coal beds in Iowa, arrangement and character of. 25, 598 thickness of, 31 in Appanoose county, 408 in Boone county. 60 in Lucas county, 218, 409 in Marion county, 405 in Polk county. 152, 406 in Red Rock quarry, 186 in Scott county, 349 in Wapello county, 294, 404 In Warren county, 169 in What Cheer field. 287
Coal deposits of Iowa, 25
Coal in Polk county, altitude of, 150
Index
Coal Measures, see Des Moines stage
and Miwouri stage Coal mining in Iowa, history of, 525 Coal production in Appanoose county, in Boone county, 59 in Dallas county, 86 in Davis county, 320 ill Greene county, 357 in Guthrie county, 365 in Hamilton county, 56 in Hardin county, 57 in Jasper county, 155 in Jefferson county, 308 in Keokuk county, 286 in Lee county, 334 . in Lucas county, 219 in Mahaska county, 199 in Marion county, 183 in Monroe county, 229 in Muscatine county, 346 in Polk county, 100 in Scott county, 350 in Story county, 78 in Van Buren county, 323 in Wapello county, 295 in Warren county, 171 in Wayne county, 257 in Wehster county, 37 Coal samples for analysis, collection of, 404, 406, 409, 410, 412, 476 preparation of, 477 Coal seams of Missouri stage, 653 Coal statistics, 6, 591 CoaJ testing plant at St. Louis, 401. Coal tests, character of car sample,
405, 406. 408, 409, 410 Coal City, Appanoose county, mines at,
Coal creek, Mahaska county, mines on,
Coal creek, Marlon county, mines on,
Coalfield. Monroe county, mines near,
236, 547 Coalport, Jefferson county, mines at,
Coalport. Marion county, mines at, 192,
507. 561 Coalville. Webster county, mines near,
39. 517. 582 Coin. Page county, drilling at, 630, 631 mine at, 387. 632, 656 Nodaway coal at, 633 Coking tests on Iowa coals, 411, 468 Colburn seam In Webster county, 37,
Colfax, Jasper county, coal near, 158,
503, 519, 564 College Springs, Page county, drilling at, 628
Collins, Story county, mines near, 83,
Comarun, 742 Commerce, Polk county, mines near,
117, 570 Confidence, Wayne county, mines at,
258, 516, 540 Conglomerate in Appanoose formation,
Consolidation Coal Company, prospecting by, 225, 230. Coover. W. P.. mentioned, 693 Covii irifoHa, 755 Comus amomum, 749, 758, 775 canadensis, 758 paniculata, 749, 758, 775 stolonifera, 748, 758, 775 Corydon, Wayne county, borings at,
CoryJus americana, 743 Cotton Grass, 745, 769 Couch, D. S., mentioned, 564 Coulter, S. M., cited, 776 County Inspector of Mines in Polk
county, 568 County Line, Jefferson county, mines
near, 309 Cowberry, 740 Cowles, H. C. cited, 776 Craig and Dawson Coal Co., drilling
by, 62, 359, 379
Cranberry, 749, 775
Cratty, R. I., cited, 777
Creeping Sno wherry. 740
Cretaceous in southwestern Iowa, 611
Crickett, Mahaska county, mines at,
Crinoids, 656
Crooked creek. Webster county, mines
on. 583 Crowe, James, mentioned, 578 Crowe, William, mentioned, 577 Crowfoot, 747 Cuscuta gronoviiy 759
obtusiflora 759 Cut peat, 698 Cyperus aristatus, 752
diandrus, 752
eaculentus, 752
feral, 752
8trigo8U8, 752 Cypripedium, 769 Cypripedium acaule, 754
candidum, 743, 754
hirautum, 754
parviflorum, 749
Dale City section, Guthrie county, 373
Index
Dallas county, analyseB of coal from 488, 500
coal In, 85, 482
coal production in, 86
history of coal mining in, 571 Darbyville, Appanoose county, mines
at, 270 Dargavell, Alexander, mentioned, 536 Darwin, Charles, cited, 741 Davis, Mr., mentioned, 568 Davis, Charles A., cited, 695, 700, 768,
Davis, Floyd, cited, 673 Davis, Wm., mentioned, 538 Davis county, analyses of coal from,
coal in. 319
coal production of, 320
history of mining in, 533 Dawson, Dallas county, mines near, 90,
500, 573 De Soto, Dallas county, section at, 97 Decatur county, analyses of coal from,
coal in, 246 Decodon verticillatus, 757 Deer creek, Guthrie county, mines on,
375, 502 Delta, Keokuk county, mines near, 289 Denmark, Lee county, mines near, 335 Derhya craasa, 622, 633, 637, 656 Des Moines, coal near, 106, 510 Des Moines county. Coal Measures in,
Des Moines-Fourmile divide, Polk
county, mines on, 131 Des Moines stage, divisions of, 599
general section of, 598
thickness of, 601
in southwestern Iowa, 620
in Boone county, 58
in Dallas county, 85
in Davis county, 319
in Guthrie county, 363
in Hardin county, 56
in Jasper county, 153
in Jefferson county, 306
in Keokuk county, 285
in Mahaska county, 198
in Marion county, 182
in Monroe county, 228
in Muscatine county, 6ib
in Polk county, 149
in Scott county, 349
in Story county. 77
in Webster county, 35 Des Moines valley in Boone county, coal in, 62
in Dallas county, coal in, 87
In Polk county, coal In, 103, 121
in Webster county, coal in, 37
Diamond, Appanoose county, mines at,
Diamond Coal Co., drilling by, 630 Dielasma hovidens, 622, 633, 656 Dinning, David, mentioned, 538 Dip in Iowa coal, 256, 265, 267, 367 Dismal Swamp, Virginia, plants of, 750 Dixon, J. M., cited, 673 Dodge, Gen. G. M., mentioned, 576 Dogwood, 749, 775 Dolberg, R., mentioned, 699 Douds, Van Buren county, mines near,
324, 526 Drainage of bogs, effect of, 746, 748 Drakes switch, Appanoose county,
mines at, 539 Draper, Jasper county, mines at, 164,
Drift in southwestern Iowa, 610 Drosera, 741, 742 longifolin, 756
rotundifolia, 740. 748, 766, 772 Drude. O., cited, 777. Duck creek, Scott county, coal on, 512,
Dudley, Wapello county, mines at, 514,
Dulichium, 741, 742, 745 Dulichium arundinaceum, 740, 745, 752,
Duncombe, Hon. J. F., mentioned, 576,
Dunreath, Marion county, mining at,
185, 562 Durfee, Mahaska county, mines at, 212
£
Barle Bros., boring by, in Warren
county, 175 East Des Moines, mines near, 123 Echinochloa crusgdlH, 751 Eddyville, Wapello county, mines at.
297. 513, 514, 556 Edmondia nehraacenais, 645 Eiseln, J. C, cited, 776 Eldon, Wapello county, mines near,
304,544 Eldora, Hardin county, coal near, 57,
Eleochari8, 741
acicularis, 747. 752. 768 intermedia, 752 palu9tri8, 743, 745, 747, 752, 769 ElHsia nyctelea, 759 Elm. 748
Elodea canadensis, 751 Emery. Rush, cited, 495 ff, 674, 731 Emmet county, plants of, 746, 747, 768 English creek. Lucas county, coal on,
Index
English creek, Marion county, mines
on, 191 Enteletes hemiplicatc, 622, 633, 634, 637 Enterprise, Polk county, mines at, 143,
487, 510 Epilohium coloratum, 758 densum, 758 molle, 772 Equisetum arvense, 750
lluviaiile, 750 Eragrostis hypnoides, 752 Erechtites hieracifolia, 762 Erianthus sacchar aides, 751 Erigeron philadelphicus, 761 Eriocaulon articulatum, 753 Eriophorum, 741
angustifolium, 752 caUitrix, 752 graciJe, 752 virginicum, 752 tnrWi-carinaitim, 740, 745 Erosion, effect of, on coal beds, 27 Escka method of determining sulphur,
Essex, strata at, 635 Euomphalus rugosus, 629, 633, 656 Eupatorium perfoHatuniy 742, 743, 745, 761, 773 purpureum, 743. 745, 761, 773 Eureka, Adams county, mines near,
393, 497, 587 Europe, bog plants in, 740
use of peat in, 698 Evans, Mr., mentioned, 557 Evans, Evan, mentioned, 558 Evans, J. G., mentioned, 546 Evans, Mahaska county, mines near,
204, 505, 560 Iceland, Mahaska county, mines at,
212, 214 EiVerest, Marion county, mines near, 194, 405, 507 tests of coal from, 405, 413, 425, 460, 467. 469, 474 Excelsior, Mahaska county, mines at,
506, 559 Exline, Appanoose county, mines near,
F
Fairfield, Jefferson county, mines at, 310, 503, 532
False Dragon Head, 745
Fanslers, Guthrie county, mines near, 368, 501, 574
Farmington, Van Buren county, mines near. 330, 512, 513, 526
Fault at Thurman, Fremont county, 388. 612, 647. 648
"Faults" in Iowa coal beds, 29, 111,
Fenestella, 636, 645 Fern, 763, 774
Fernald, Robert H., cited, 674 Fertile, Worth county, peat bog near,
' peat plant at, 20, 699 plants near, 750 Fir, 763
Fischer-Benzon, R., cited, 777 Fisher. C. A., cited, 31 Fistulipora noduHfera, 633 Five-finger, 748, 775 Fix, Louis R., mentioned, 551 Fixed carbon, determination of, 479
in Iowa coals, 518 Flagler, Samuel A., mentioned, 542, 553 Flagler, Marion county, mines at, 191,
486, 508, 562 Fleming, Robert H., cited, 674 Flora of northern Iowa peat bogs, 739 Floris, Davis county, coal near, 322 Fontanelle, Adair county, coal near,
Forbes limestone, 627, 636, 637 Forbush. Appanoose county, coal near,
Ford sandstone in Polk county, 131 Forest City, Winnebago county, plants
near, 750 Fort Des Moines, Polk county, coal
near, 122 Fort Dodge, Webster county, mines
near, 37, 517 Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern
R. R. Co., mentioned. 74 Foster, J. R., mentioned, 584 Foster, Monroe county, mines near, 245,
509, 548 Fourmile creek valley, Polk county,
coal in, 138 Fowl Meadow Grass. 745, 766 Fox quarry, Cass county, section at,
Fragrant Orchis, 745 Franklin Grove, Page county, Nyman
coal at, 635 Franklin township, Lee county, mines
in, 335 Fraser, Boone county, coal near, 62,
499, 580 Fraxinus americana, 741, 759 carolinana, 759 nigra, 759 pennsylvanicay 743 Fremont county, coal in, 388
fault in. 388 Fringed Gentian. 745 Fnih. J., and Schroeter, C, cited, 776 Fuel value of Iowa coals, 401
Index
Fuller, Edwin, mentioned, 581 Fulton, A. R., cited, 674, 731 FusuUna cylindrica, 634, 636, 638, 645,
G
Gabble, John, mentioned, 587 Gabble, Thomas, mentioned, 687 Oalium claytoni, 761
tinctorium, 761
trifidum, 745, 747, 761 GaluBsaccia, 775 Garver, George, mentioned, 568 Garver, Henry F. and G. M., mentioned, 668 Gas producer tests on Iowa coals, 411 Gates, John W., mentioned, 539 Gaultheria, 775 Oaultheria procumhens, 759 Oaylussacia baccata, 769 Oelsemium sempervirens, 759 Gentian, 745 Oentiana andrewsii, 745, 747, 759
quinquefoliaf 759 Oerardia aapera, 760
paupercula, 760 Oeum macrophyllum, 756
strictum, 756 Gibson, John, mentioned, 567, 568 Gibson Coal Mining Co., coal of, analyses of, 414, 510
boiler tests on, 432
coking tests on, 470
washing tests on, 475 Gildroy, James, cited, 676 Given, Mahaska county, coal at, 210,
Glaucous Willow, 764 Gleason, Mr., mentioned, 581 Glendon, Guthrie county, coal near,
Glenwood, Mills county, wells at, 614 Olyceria canadensis, 747, 752
fluitans, 752, 766
grandis, 752, 766
nervata, 742, 743, 745, 752, 766 Godfrey, C. F., mentioned, 664 Godfrey, C. O.. mentioned, 541 Goldenrod, 745 Goose Lake, Worth county, analysis of
peat from. 697 Goosefoot. 748, 775 Gordon, C. H., cited, 675 Gosport, Marion county, coal near, 190 Grand Junction, Greene county, coal
at, 358 Granger. Barlow, mentioned, 566 Grant, Montgomery county, strata at,
Grasses in bogs, 766 Gravel, production of, for 1908, 16 Graves, J. K., mentioned, 558 Great Water Dock, 745, 766 Greater Reed Grass, 747 Greater Rush, 747
Greene county, analyses of coal from, 489. 501
coal in, 356, 482
history of coal mining in, 580
production of coal in, 357 Grimsley, Abram, mentioned, 580 Groves, J. W., work of, on coal terms,
Grundy county. Coal Measures in, 340 Guthrie county, analyses of coal from,
coal in, 363
history of coal mining in, 573
production of coal, 365 Gypsum, production of, for 1908, 17
Habenaria, 769 Uahenaria dilatata, 754
hyperhorea, 754
leucophaea, 745, 754
psycodes, 754, 769 Hahntown, Boone county, mines at, 576 Haight, Thomas, mentioned, 547 Hall, James, cited, 675 Halls Bridge, Missouri, section at, 643 Hamburg, Fremont county, coal near, 389, 653
strata at, 641 Hamilton, Marion county, mines Bear,
196, 508, 563 Hamilton county, analyses of coal from.
bogs of, 742, 747, 768
coal in, 54
coal production in, 56 Hancock county, plants of, 746
"Hanging Rock." Dallas county, 94 Hanlontown, Worth county, bogs near.
Happy Hollow, Wapello county, mines
at, 541, 542 Hardin county, analyses of coal from. coal in, 56
coal production in, 57 history of coal mining in, 5S0
Harkis, Appanoose county, mines near.
Harper seam In Webster county. 49 Harshberger, J. W.. dted. 740, 741, 776 Hartshorn Bros., mentioned, 687
Index
Harvard. Wayne county, drilling near,
mines at, 261, 540 Harvey, Marion county, coal at, 194 Haskins, Norman, mentioned, 568 Hastie, Polk county, mining near, 127,
Haven, William, mentioned, 220, 225,
542, 551, 553, 554 Hawkeye, Marion county, coal near,
Hawkeye Portland Cement Co., 19
coal under land of, 194 Hawleyville, Page county, mines near,
382, 584 strata at, 624 Hawleyville anticline, 624 Hayes, C. W.. cited, 675 Haynies, Mills county, strata near, 650 Hays, A. N., mentioned, 566 Heaps, George, mentioned, 578 Heaps Bros., mentioned, 578 Heat value of peat, 698 Heath, 775
Heinen, A., mentioned, 699 Helenium autumnale, 762 Helianthus groaseserratus, 745, 761 Hendry, James, cited, 378 Henrietta formation, 601 Henry county, coal in, 316 Henshaw, Taylor county, mines near,
382, 584 strata at, 624 Hepburn, Page county, Nodaway coal
at. 626 Heteranthera dubia, 753 Hierochloe odorata, 751 High Bridge, Dallas county, mines at,
89, 482. 500 High Bush Cranberry, 749 Hllgard, cited, 742 Hill, J. J., mentioned, 579 Hillsboro, Van Buren county, mines
near, 512, 527 Hilltown, Appanoose county, mines at,
Hilton, Monroe county, mines at, 241,
509, 548 Hinds, Henry, Coal deposits of Iowa, 21 Hlnrichs, d., cited, 496 ff, 675 Hippuria vulgaris, 758 History of coal mining in Iowa, 525 Hiteman, Monroe county, mines at, 242,
Hixson, A. W., analyses of Iowa coals
by, 476 Hoary Willow, 764 Hobart, Frederick, cited, 675
Hocking, Monroe county, mines near, 239, 509, 518, 547
Holaday creek, Webster county, mines
on, 39, 582 Honey creek, Boone county, coal on,
Hop, 749 Hopkins, Missouri, Nodaway coal at,
Hordeum juhatum, 743 "Horsebacks" in coal beds, 27, 41 Houck, John, mentioned, 586 Howe, Dr., mentioned, 567 Hoyt, Adams county, mines near, 588 'Hudspeth, Henry, mentioned, 587 Hudspeth, Royal, mentioned, 588 Hulme, Dr., cited, 149, 154 Humboldt county, coal in, 33 Humulua lupulus, 749, 754 Hustedia mormoni, 645 Hutchinson Brothers, mentioned, 573 Hypericum petiolatum, 757 virginicum, 745, 747, 757 Hypnum, 741, 747, 763 Huitans, 750
Ilex glabra, 757
verticillata, 757 Ilysanthes duhia, 760 Impatiens &i/foro, 757 Incline, Boone county, mines at, 577 Independent, Van Buren county, mines
near, 513, 527
Ingersoll, C. A., cited, 651
Inland Fuel Co., coal of, analyses of, 416, 504 boiler tests on, 453 coking tests on, 472 washing tests of, 475
Iowa coal, analyses of, 410, 476, 488, see also Analyses ash in, 410
average analysis of, 510 bibliography of, 661 boiler tests on, 417 briquetting of, 402 briquetting tests with, 473 calorific value of, 411, 518 coking tests on, 411, 468 fixed carbon In, 518 fuel value of, 401 gas engine test on, 467 gas producer tests on, 411 moisture in, 518 producer-gas tests on, 458 sulphur in, 410 volatile matter in, 518 washing of, 411 washing tests on, 474
Index
Iowa coal field, area of, 30
stratigraphy of, 26
supply of, 30 Iowa county, Coal Measures in, 343 Iowa Geological Survey, work of, in
testing coals, 402 Iowa peat, bibliography of, 731
composition of, 697
heat value of, 698
machining of, 699, 701
occurrence of, 695
use of, 700 Iowa peat bogs, claBsification of, 740
comparison of, 773
flora of, 739
location of. 702 ff. Iowa Portland Cement Co., plant of, 19 Iowa State College, cited, 496 ff. lowan drift area, plants of, 744, 774 lowaviUe, Van Buren county, mines
near, 527 Iris versicolor, 743, 754 Iron, production of, in 1908, 20 Island City, Scott county, coal at, 353
Jackson county, Coal Measures in, 341 Jamestown, Scott county, coal near,
350, 529 Jamaica, Guthrie county, mines near,
365, 574 Jasper county, analyses of coal from, 494, 503 coal in, 153, 486 coal production in, 155 history of coal mining in, Jefferson county, analyses of coal from, coal in, 306 coal production of, 308 history of mining in, 532
Jerome, Appanoose county, mines near,
Jewell Junction, plants near, 750 Johnson, B. H., mentioned, 538 Johnson county, Coal Measures in, 343 Jones, A. D., mentioned, 566 Jones, John H., cited, 676 Jones, Martin, mentioned, 587 Jones, Wesley, mentioned, 551 Jones county. Coal Measures in, 341
Juncus efftLSus, 753 nodosus, 753 tenuis, 743 torreyi, 753
Juniperus communis, 750
Jussiaea decurrens, 758
K
Kalmia, 741. 775
latifolia, 740, 758 polifolia, 758 Kalo, Webster county, mines near, 39,
517, 518, 582 Kearney, T. H., cited, 776 Keb, Wapello county, mines at, 297,
513, 544 Kellogg, Harriette, cited, 749 Kennedy, Robt., mentioned, 578 Keokuk, Lee county, coal near, 337 Keokuk county, analyses of coal from 490, 504 coal deposits of, 285 coal production in, 286 history of coal mining in, 555 Keosauqua, Van Buren county, mines
near, 528 Ketchum, F. H., mentioned, 538 Keyes, C. R., cited, 190, 296, 318, 320, 334, 339, 347, 365, 382, 385, 388. 390, 391, 612, 641, 677, 731 section by, 614, 615 King, Charlotte M., cited, 744 Klrkville, Wapello county, nUnes at,
297, 543 Kniffln. Wayne county, mines at, 540 Knotts, Mr., mentioned, 552 Knowles, F. A., cited, 693 Knox, Fremont county, strata at, 643 Knoxville, Marion county, mines near.
190, 507 Knoxville Junction, Mahaska county,
mines near, 560 Koller, T., cited, 776
La Crosse, Wisconsin, plants near, 750
Labrador Tea, 740
Lacona, Warren county, mines near.
Ladd, O. M., mentioned, 543 Ladd, W. J., mentioned, 542 Laddsdale, Davis county, coal near,
Laddsdale, Wapello county; mines at,
304, 404, 513, 515, 518 tests of coal from, 404, 412, 417.
468, 474 Ladies' Tresses. 745, 746 Lady Slipper, 749 Lake Mills. Winnebago county, plants
near, 750 Lake Wabonsie, Fremont county, fault
at. 612 Lakonta. Mahaska county, mines at,
Lane. C. W., mentioned 536
Index
Lanesville, Appanoose county, mines
near, 277 Larix, 741
lancina, 740, 748, 750, 763 Lathyrus palustris, 743, 757
venosus, 757 Laurel, 740
Lazell, Mr., cited, 764 ff. Lead and Zinc, production of, in 1908,
Leather-leaf, 740
Ledum groenlandicum, 740, 758, 775 Lee county, coal in, 332
coal production of, 334
history of mining in, 532 Leersia oryzoides, 751 Lees, James H.. Bibliography of Iowa coals, 661
bibliography of Iowa peat, 731
cited. 678
collection of coal samples by, 476
general section of Des Moines stage, 598
history of coal mining by, 525
section by, 247 Lehigh. Webster county, mines near,
49. 517, 519. 583 Lehigh Portland Cement Co., 19 Leighton. Mahaska county, coal near,
Lemna trisulca, 753 Leon, Decatur county, drillings at, 247 Leonard. A. G., cited, 296, 617, 678 Lesquereux. L.. cited,. 776 Leucothoe axillaris, 758 Levey, Polk county, mines near, 128 Llbertyville, Jefferson county, mines
near. 309 Lilium canadenae, 753, 769
philadelphicum, 753, 769 Limestone, production of, in 1908, 14 Limestones in Appanoose formation. 262. 600
In Carroll county. 362 Limoaella aquatica, 760
Linden, Dallas county, coal near, 500
Linn county,. Coal Measures in, 340
Linnaea horealis, 761
Linnburg, Webster county, coal near,
Linquist coal, 381, 388, 389 mine, 634, 653
Liparis HlifoUa, 749 loeselii, 754
Lithospermum angustifolium, 743 caneacens, 743
Little Whitebreast creek, Lucas county,
mines on. 224 Lobelia, 745
Lohelia cardinalia, 761
dortmanna, 761
kalmii, 743, 745, 748, 761, 772. 775
aiphilitica, 761 Lockman, Monroe county, mines near,
Loess in southwestern Iowa, 610 Long Branch, Guthrie county, coal
near, 501 Lonicera ohlongifolia, 761
aempervirena, 761 Lonsdale, E. H., cited, 390, 612. 678 Lonsdale, John, ft Sons, drilling by, in
Guthrie county, 373 Lonsdale coal, 363, 375, 572 Loosestrife, 747 Lophophyllum proliferum, 633 Lophotocarpua calycinua, 751 Lord. N. W., cited, 496 ff, 678 Lost Creek, Mahaska county, mines at.
211, 560 Louisa county, coal in. 292 Louse wort, 745 Love, C. J., mentioned, 541 Lovilia, Monroe county, coal near, 230 Lower Coal Measures, character of, 598
see Des Moines stage "Lower" vein in Boone county, 61 Lucas, Lucas county, mines near. 220.
Lucas county, analyses of coal from. 416, 504
coal in, 218. 409
coal production in, 219
history of coal mining in, 550
tests of coal from, 409, 416, 453, 472, 475 Lucht, L., mentioned, 699 Ludvigia alternifoUa, 758
paluatria, 758
polycarpa, 758 Lunsford, Davis county, mine near, 322 Lycopodium inundatum, 750, 763 Lycopua americana, 760
ruhellua, 760
uniflorua, 760
virginicua, 760 Lynnville, Jasper county, coal near,
Lyonia liguatrina, 759
marina, 759
nitida, 759 Lyaimachia thyraiflora, 759 Lythrum alatum, 747, 757
lineare, 758
M
Machine peat, 698
Machines, use of, in mining, 535. 571,
Index
Macrodon tenuiatriatua, 637 Madison county, analyses of coal from,
coal in, 167 Madrid, Boone county, coal near, 673,
prospecting near, 74 Mahaska county, analyses of coal from, 489, 490, 493, 605
coal in, 198, 483
coal production in, 199
history of coal mining in, 556 Maianthimum, 769
catKidense, 763 Mallory, S. H., mentioned, 552 Malvern, Mills county, strata at, 637 Mammoth Vein Coal Co., coal of, analyses of, 413, 508
boiler tests on, 425
coking tests on, 469
gas engine test on, 467
producer-gas tests on, 460
washing tests on, 474 Marigold, 775
Marion county, analyses of coal from, 413, 493, 507
coal bed in, 405
coal production in, 184
history of coal mining in, 561
mines of, 181, 405, 486
tests of coal from, 405, 413, 425. 460, 467, 469, 474 Marquisville. Polk county, mines near,
135, 510, 518 Marsh, definition of, 695 Marsh and sedge bogs, plants of. 745 Marsh Aster, 773 Marsh Clnquefoil, 770 Marsh Marigold, 745, 748. 772 Marshall coal, 363, 571 Marshall county, coal in, 83 Marysville, Marion county, mines near,
196. 507, 563 Mason City, cement plant at. 19
tile plants at, 9 Maxwell. Story county, coal at. 81 Macbride, T. H., cited, 357. 732 MacFarlane. James, cited, 678 MacMillan. Conway, cited, 776 McBirnie. Samuel, mentioned. 577 McBride, L. L., mentioned, 545 McCallsburg. Story county, coal near,
McElhaney, J. A., cited. 80 McGee, W. J., cited. 732 McKay. John, mentioned, 580 McKissicks fSrove. Fremont county, coal near. 389, 653
strata at, 639 McKissicks Grove shales, 638
fossils in, 645
McLean, William, cited, 387 McNeill, H. W. and W. A., mentioned,
557, 647 Meadow Rue, 745 Meadow Sweet, 771- Meekella atriatocostata, 636, 656 Mendota, Appanoose county, mines at,
Mentha arvenais, 760 piperita, 760 spicata, 760 Menyanthes tHfoliata, 740, 741, 744.
745, 747, 759 Metz, Jasper county, coal at, 16L Michigan bogs, plants of, 748, 750 Middle Raccoon valley, in Dallas
county, coal in, 93 in Guthrie county, mines in, 367 Middle River valley, Warren county,
coal in, 175 Milford, Boone county, coal near, 66 Milkweed, 748, 775 Miller, B. L., cited, 184, 679 Miller, Henry, mentioned, 546 Miller, James, mentioned, 564 Miller, James W., cited. 679 Mills. James E., cited, 679 Mills, W. M., cited, 776 Mills county, coal in, 389 MIlo, Warren county, mines near, 180 Mimulus rigens, 760
Minburn, Dallas county, coal near, 92
Mineral production in Iowa for 1908, 3, 4
Mineral waters, production of, in 1908,
Minerva creek, Marshall county, mine on, 84
Miners, wages paid, 383, 386, 395, 526, 528, 545, 550. 560, 566, 569, 581. 583, 585, 586
Mines, equipment of, 528, 535, 537, 545. 551, 555, 571, 585 inspector of, in Polk county, 568
Mines sampled, description of, 404, 482
Mines in Adams county — .
Daugherty and Son shaft, 394, 588
Demirjean mine, 392, 587
Dixon shaft, 393, 588
Houck mine, 393
Jones. Smith and TIndall mine.
392, 587 McKee Brothers shaft,. 393, 588 Plowman shaft, 391 Ruth, J. P.. mine, 393, 587 Spargur mine, 394 Weil shaft. 394, 588 Wild. J. F., mine, 393. 587 Wild and Barker mine, 393
Index
Mines in Appanoose county, 268 Acken slope, 273 Albert mine, 283 Anchor Coal Co. mines, 278, 280,
404, 408 Appanoose mine, 283 Armstrong mine, 283 Baker slope, 274 Beggs Coal Co. mine, 271 Big Jo Coal Co. mine, 275 Brown and Bowers Coal Co. mine,
Campbell, James, mine, 538 Center Coal Co. mine, 280 Centerville Block Coal Co. mines,
276, 277, 279, 408, 536 Centerville Coal Co. mine, 536 Cincinnati Coal and Mining Co.
mine, 283 Citizens mine, 279 Consolidated Block slope, 283 Consumers Coal Co. mine, 275 Dewey mine, 279 Diamond Coal Co. mine, 536 Domestic Coal Co. mine, 283 Egypt Coal Co. mine, 274 Elgin, A. M., mine, 534 Elgin and Barret slope, 271 Ezline Coal Co. mine, 281 Fenton mine, 269 Fuller, Isaac, mine, 534 Gordon, John, mine, 538 Henderson, Wm.. mine, 536 Henry, Wm., mine, 270 Interocean Coal Co. mine, 271 Iowa Block Coal Co. mine, 271, 281 Iowa Coal Co. mine, 535 Juckett, F. H., mine, 275, 535 Keokuk and Western slope, 274 Kindig, Ben, mine, 536 Klondike mine, 272 Koontz mine, 279 "Lady Mary" mine, 271 LAne Brothers mine, 538 Lee Brothers mine, 534, 538 Lodwick Brothers Coal Co. mines,
270-272, 274. 534 Lone Star drift. 534 Manufacturers Coal and Coke Co.
mines. 279. 284. 539 Mendota Coal & Mining Co. mines,
283. 538 Milbum Brothers mine, 535 Mosly mine. 269 Mystic Block Coal Co. mines, 270-
272. 274 Mystic Coal Co. mines, 273 North Hill mine. 279 Numa Block Coal Co. mine. 280 Oriental Coal Co. mine. 277 Orr and Colgan mine, 534
Mines in Appanoose county — Continued Peacock slope, 276 Peerless Coal Co. mines, 272-274 Perfection Block Coal Co. mine,
Philby Coal Co. mine, 538 Phillips mine, 269, 535 Phoenix Coal Co. mine, 276, 538 Prairie Block Coal Co. mine, 280 Rock Valley mine, 279 Royal slope, 281 Scandinavian Coal Co. mines, 276,
278, 408, 537 Sears mine, 279 Seddon slope, 634, 535 Seddon Brothers mine, 534 Silknetter slopes, 534 Smith mine, 279 Star mine, 279 Star Coal Co. mine, 270 ' Stickler mine, 538 Sunnyside Coal Co. mine, 270 Sunshine Coal Co. shaft, 277 Thistle Coal Co. mines, 282, 539 Tipton Coal Co., mine, 538 Tipton Co-operative drift, 276 Trio mine, 279 . Unity Block Coal Co. mine, 270 Walnut Block mine, 276 Walnut Grove mine, 281 Watson Coal Co. mine, 536 White Oak mine, 279, 282 Williams and Seddon mine, 535 Winnifred Coal Co. slope,' 271 Woodlawn mine, 279 Wright mine, 279 Young mine, 269 Mines in Boone county —
Arnold and Shepard mine, 577 Big Five Coal Co. mine, 70 Birmingham, John, mine, 71, 577 Birmingham and Keating mine,
Black Diamond mine, 69 Boone Block Coal Co. mine, 578 Boone Coal and Mining Co. mine,
63, 580 Clemmons, John, mine, 579 Climax Coal Co. mine, 579 Clyde Coal Co. mines, 577 Coal VaPey Coal Co. mine. 71 Driscoll Brothers mine. 72 Eagle Coal Co. mines. 69, 579 Hutchinson Bros, mine, 76. 579 Johnson Coal Co. mines, 67. 576 Moingona Coal Co. mine, 576 Pestotnik slope, 70 Rogers and Crowe mines. 577 Rogers Coal Co. shaft, 67 Smiley and Heans shaft. 68. 578 Wilbur. D. C. mine, 577
Index
Mines in Boone county— Continaed.
Wisecup bank, 73
Zimbelman Coal Co. mine, 578 Mines in Dallas county — Bott, Thomas, bank, 96
Calwell slope, 572
Carpenter Coal Co. mine, 573
Chicago Coal Co. mine, 90
Chicago & Van Meter Coal Co. mine, 99, 572
Dawson Coal Co. mine, 573
High Bridge Coal Co. mine, 89, 482. 573
Hutchinson Bros. Coal Co. mine,
Keeler bank, 93
Leeper mine, 95
Parker mine, 572
Piatt mine, 572
Reese Bros. Coal Co. mine, 573
Scandia Coal Co. mine, 89, 573
Topping mine, 93 Mines in Davis county —
Brown Cannel Coal Co. mine, 321
Clark bank, 322
Dunn mine, 321
Dye mine, 322, 534
Fayne bank, 322
Fite mine, 322
Hastings bank, 322
Howard shaft, 322
Shanley drift, 321
Soap Creek Coal Co. mine, 320
Wagner bank, 321 Mines in Greene county —
Buckeye Coal Co. mine, 360
Goodwin Tile and Brick Co. mine,
Keystone Coal Co. mine, 360, 580
McElheny Coal Co. mine, 361. 482
Snake Creek Coal Co. mine, 360
Standard mine. 580
Willow Grove Coal Co. mine, 361, Mines in Guthrie county —
Black Diamond bank, 368
Butler and Gibson bank, 368
Clark bank, 368. 369
Clipper mine, 574
Coe bank. 368
Deer Creek Coal Co. mine, 376
Greenbriar Coal Co. mine, 365, 574
Hughes & Son bank, 368
King bank, 368
Lonsdale mine, 376, 574
Lord and Love Co. mine, 370
Mansell bank, 368
Marchant and Winters mine. 574
Marshall mine. 574
Middleton bank, 368
O. K. mine, 371
Mines in Guthrie county— Continued.
Rees, D. D., mine, 370, 574
Renslow bank, 368
Scott bank, 368
Simon, W. D., mine, 574
Sipe Brothers bank, 368
Thomas bank, 368
Wales bank, 367 Mines in Hamilton county —
Brockshink mine, 55
Lewis, Robert, mine, 55
Silvers mine, 55
Stockdale drifts, 56 Mines in Hardin county —
Bennett & Blair mine, 581
Chaffin mines, 581
Eldora mines, 57
Eldora Coal Co. mine, 581 Mines in Jasper county —
Adams mine, 157
Black Heath Mining Co. mine, 564
Black Oak mine, 166
Burris and Davis shaft, 158
Calvert, Chas., mine, 163
Carson Bros. Coal Co. mine, 162
Cavitt mine, 163
Cook shaft, 158
Colfax Coal & Mining Co. mine, 565
Colfax Consolidated Coal Co. mines, 159, 486. 565
Diagonal Coal Co. mine, 157
Diamond Coal Co. mine, 566
French Bros, mine, 162
Gray slope, 165
Jasper County Coal Co. mines, 564
Jasper County Coal Mining Co. mines, 156, 164
Jasper County Coal and Railway Co. mine, 564
Lister mine. 162
Marshall, Wm., mine, 164
Marshall. Robert, mine. 564
McAllaster bank, 162
McConoghey mine, 165
Norris. drift. 163
Pulver slope, 163
Shaw mine. 164
Sheeler Bros, shaft. 165
Slaughter bank. 159. 563
Standard Fuel Co. mine, 56'
Valeria Coal Co. mine, 157
Vulcan Coal Co. mine, 564
Warrick Brothers slope, 157. 566
Watson mine. 564
Western Coal Co. mine. 135
White mine, 163 Mines in JefiPerson county —
Bates and Spratt Coal Co. mine,
Big Four Coal Co. mine, 316
Bishop mine. 310
Index
Mines in Jefferson county— Coniinaed. Brown and Co. mines, 532 Buchanan, J. C, bank, 309 Fairfield Coal Co. mine, 311 Gardner, Albert, mine, 310 Heron mine, 532 Huntsinger bank, 532 Jefferson County Coal Co. mine,
313, 533 McGregor shaft, 316 Ratcliff, Robert, mine, 312 Richardson bank, 532 Smith, W. G., Coal Co. shaft, 314 Washington Coal Co. -mine, 313,
Mines in Keokuk county —
Armstrong Bros, mine, 288, 483 Creamery Coal Co. mine, 288 Crescent Coal Co. mine, 555 Granger Coal Co. mine, 555 Karston Brothers' shaft, 288 Lee Brothers mine, 289 Maxwell shaft, 289 Pioneer Coal Co. mine, 555 Snider mine, 290 Starr Coal Co. mine, 555 Volunteer Brick and Tile Co. mine,
What Cheer Coal Co. mine, 555 Mines in Lee county — Hardwick mine, 532 Morris mine, 335 Norris mine, 532 Peitz mine, 336 Mines in Lucas county — Big Hill mine. 221 Chariton Co-operative Coal Co.
mine, 552 Dungan, W. S., mine, 224 Eikenberry, Daniel, mine, 552 Farmers Co-operative Coal Co.
mine. 553 Inland Fuel Co. mine, 228, 225, 409,
Ladow shaft. 552 Union Coal and Mining Co. mine,
Whitebreast Fuel Co. mines, 220,
221. 551. 553, 554 Mines in Madison county. 167 Mines in Mahaska county — Acme mine. 558 American Coal Co. mine. 558 Atwood Coal Co. mine. 202, 483 Barrowman and Oakley mine, 208 Beacon Coal Co. mine, 559 Black Diamon< mine, 557 Boggs mine. 209 Bolton-Hoover Coal Co. mine, 205,
485. 56a Burdess Brothers mine, 556
Mines in Mahaska county— Continued. Clean Coal Co. mine, 204 Colter mine, 207 Consolidation Coal Co. mines, 208,
213, 557 Crawford Coal Co. mine, 214 Crescent Coal Co. mine, 216, 483,
Crickett Coal Co. mine, 215 Cunningham mine, 208 Davis mine, 211 Duffus mine, 201 Eureka mine, 557 Eveland mine, 214 Excelsior Coal Co. mine 559 Garfield Coal Co. mine, 204, 205,
559, 560 Gott Brothers mine, 211 Gray bank, 211 Greenridge Coal Co. mine, 215 Hoover, W. A., mine, 559 Huggins and Bonifleld mine, 557 Iowa Central Coal Co. mine, 557 Iowa Coal Co. mine, 556, 559 Kennebec mine, 209 Lester Butler Coal Co. mine, 204 Lost Creek Coal Co. mine, 560 Morgan mine, 556 National Union Coal Co. mine, 210 Oskaloosa Coal and Mining Co.,
Plum mine, 209 Raven mine, 207 Ream bank. 207
Rex Fuel Co. mines, 212, 560 Roberts and Co. mine, 556 Rogers Coal and Mining Co. mine,
Schultz mine, 208 Seevers, Robert, mine, 556 Standard mine, 558 Toy and Deaver mine, 206 Wassenchove mine, 207 Western Fuel Co. slope, 211 Western Union Fuel Co. mine, 558 Whitebreast Fuel Co. mine, 560 Williams mine.. 201 Williams Brothers mine, 201 Mines in Marion county — Avery mine, 196 Black Diamond mine, 186 Black Swan mine, 563 Buwalda mine. 188 Campbell & Guthrie Coal Co. mine,
Dieleman Coal Co. mine, 188 English Creek Coal Co. mine, 192,
486, 563 Feagan drift, 196 Hawkeye mine. 192 Hayes bank, 191
Index
Mines in Marion county — Continued. Hollingsworth and Rlckabaugh
slope, 188 James, J. T., ft Co. mine, 562 Kline, Jacob, miue, 561 KnoxTllle Fuel Co. mine, 191 Le Grande coal bank, 186 Lone Star slope, 194 Mammoth Vein Coal Co. mines,
194, 405, 563 Marlon County Coal ft Mining Co.
mine, 563 Midland Coal ft Mining Co. mine,
Miller bank, 191 New Dunfeath Coal Co. mine, 186 O. K. Coal Co. mines, 197, 563 Oak Hill mine, 562 Olive, V. R., bank, 194 Otley Coal Co. mine, 188 Red Rock Coal and Mining Co.,
Southeastern Coal Co. mine, 196 Success mine, 186 Union Coal and Mining Co. mine,
Vriezelaar mine, 188 Whitebreast Coal Co. mines, 191,
York Coal Co. mine, 197 Yukon mine, 188 Mines in Monroe county —
Albia Coal Co. mine, 239, 546 Avery Coal and Mining Co. mie,
Black Diamond mine, 547 Boden slope, 236 Central Coal Co. mines, 237 Chicago and Iowa Coal Co. mine,
Chisholm mine, 547 Coalfield Fuel Co. mine, 236 Consolidation Coal Co. mines, 232,
Deep Vein Coal Co. mine, 548 Eureka Coal Co. mine, 546 Great Western mine, 546 Hocking Coal Co. mines, 239, 547 Illinois and Iowa Fuel Co. mine,
Iowa and Wisconsin mine, 546 Phillips Fuel Co. mine, 245, 548 Smoky HolIoW Coal Co. mines, 238,
Soap Creek Coal Co. mine, 548 Star mine, 239 Union Coal Co. mine, 547 Wapello Coal Co. mines, 242, 484,
White Ash Coal Co. mines, 239 Whitebreast Fuel Co. mines, 241,
Mines in Montgomery county —
Westrope mine, 390 Mines in Muscatine county — Hoor mine, 347, 531 Nettlebush mines, 347 Mines in Page county — Berry mine, 387 Coin Coal Co. mine, 387, 586 Johnson and Co. mine, 385, 586.
Proser, Thomas, mine, 585 Swisher and Maley mine, 386 Van Arsdall mine, 386, 586 Wingert mine, 387 Mines in Polk county —
Altoona Coal and Mining Co. mine,
Anderson Coal Co. mine, 132 Avon Coal Co. mine, 128, 129 Beck Coal Co. mine, 122 Bennett Bros. Coal Co. mine, 120.
Black Diamond mine, 567 Bloomfield Coal Co. mine, 133, 569 Blount-Evans Coal Co. mine, 106,
Carbondale mines, 570, 571 Christy, J. M., mine, 569, 576 Clifton mine, 121 Coaldale Fuel Co. mine, 116 Coon Valley mine, 569 Delaware Coal Co. mine, 138 Des Moines Coal Co. mine. 135,
Des Moines Coal ft Mining Co.
miife, 570 Eagle Coal Co. mines, 108, 570 Eclipse Coal Co. mine, 567 Economy Coal Co. mine, 142 Enterprise Coal Co. mines, 143,
487. 570 Eureka Coal Co. mine, 568, 569 Evans Coal Co. mine, 570 Flint Brick and Coal Co. mines.
109, 570 Giant mine, 568 Gibson Coal Co. mines, 112, 142,
406, 570, 571 Glenwood Coal Co. mine, 123 Hollingsworth Coal Co. shaft, 118 Hulme, Dr., mine, 117 Iowa mine, 119
Iowa Coal ft Mining Co. mine, 127 Johns Coal Co. mine, 120 Keystone Coal Co. mine, 114, 486 Keystone mine, 570 Klondike mine, 139 Madison Coal Co. mine. 107 Manbeck mine, 128, 569 Maple Block Coal Co. mine, 140,
Index
Mines in Polk county — Continued.
Maple Grove Coal and Mining Co.
mine, 569, 570 Merchant Coal Co. mine, 570 Midway Coal Co. mine, 120 Norwood Coal and Mining Co.
mine, 570 Norwood-White mine, 139 Oak Park mine, 110 Pioneer Coal Co. mine, 567 Polk City Coal Co. mine, 569 RunnellB Coal Co. mine, 569 Saylor Coal Co. mine, 132, 570 Smith-Lowe Coal Co. mines, 571 Swanwood Coal Co. mine, 136 Valley Union Coal Co. mine, 117 Wabash Coal Co. mine, 127, 569 Walnut Creek Coal Co. mine, 115,
Watson Coal Co. mine, 567 West Riverside Coal Co. mine, 106,
Mines in Poweshiek county, 342
Mines in Scott county —
Buckmeyer, James, mine, 351 Durham mines, 530 Hall, Hiram, mine, 529 James, John, mine, 350, 529 Kaucher mine, 352 McCullough Brothers' mine, 352 McHugh mine, 527 Morris, John, mine, 529 Murray, John, mine, 529 Rowan, Charles G., mine, 351, 530 Webster, Thomas, mine, 353, 530 Williams, Robert, mines, 529 Wright mine, 529
Mines in* Story county, 78
Collins Fuel Co. mine, 83, 575 Hutchinson Bros, mine, 575 Marshal] & Crowe mine, 575 North Star Coal & Mining Co.
mine, 575 Story County Coal Co. mine, 575 Zenorsville Coal Co. mine, 575
Mines in Taylor county —
Anderson, Benjamin, mine, 384,
Browning, William, mine, 384, 585 Campbell Coal Co. mines, 383, 485,
Carmichael mine, 385 Drennen. W. Harvey, mine, 584 Easter, N., mine, 385 Lindsay, John, mine, 584 New Market Coal Co. mine, 384 Tomlinson and Pace mine, 384 Union Coal Co. mine, 384 Welsh, Wm., mine, 385
Mines in Van Buren county — Alfrey, James, mine, 527 Blue Jacket mine, 331 Boyer mine, 330
Bradford drift, 329 Brattain, Lem, mine, 526 Buckmaster mine, 327 Cahill Coal Co. mine, 331 Cox bank, 527 Doud, Eliab, mine, 526 Felmelee, A. M., mine, 325, 527 Findlay, Alexander, mine, 526 Findlay ft Sons Coal Co. mine, 325,
Gardener, a. R., bank, 328 Hessler Coal Co. mine, 331 Jackson bank, 527 Knight, Samuel, mine, 526 Knott mine, 331 Manning, C, bank, 328 Martin bank, 527 Mathias bank, 327 New York Coal Co. mine, 526 RatclifT Coal Co. mine, 324, 527 Slaughter mine, 527 Whitmore bank, 329
Mines in Wapello county- Alpine Coal Co. mine, 541 Anchor Coal Co. mines, 304, 404,
Appanoose mine, 303 Bear creek mine, 302, 484, 515 Black Diamond mine, 300 Brown and Godfrey mine, 541 Burns mine, 304 Colgan mine, 302 Consolidation Coal Co. mine, 297 Clover Hill mine, 300 Dempster mine, 301 Dudley, C, and Co. mine, 541 Eldon Coal and Mining Co. mine,
Kelley mine, 304 Kern mine, 304 Knight, George, bank, 297 McCready bank, 541 Mcintosh, W., mine, 304 Newell mine, 304 Ottumwa Brick Co. mine, 300 Phillips Coal and Mining Co. mine,
Phillips Fuel Co. mines, 298, 484,
Roberts mine, 541 Roseland Coal Co. mine, 300 Sharp, C. D., mine, 304 Shock, Henry, ft Co. mine, 541 Spring Hill mine, 299 Standard Coal Co. mine, 298 Star Coal Co. mine, 301
Index
Mines In Wapello county— Continued.
Union Coal and Mining Co. mines,
Waddle mine, 297
*Wapello Coal Co. mines, 297, 543
Watson Coal Co. mine, 542
Whitebreast Fuel Co. mines, 543 Mines in Warren county —
Bayles bank, 180
Buchanan mine, 176
Gross, John, mine, 175
Hartshorn & Son Coal Co. mine,
Hawkeye mine, 174
Heinen drift, 180
Hollingsworth bank, 180
Jones mine. 181
Locust Grove Coal Co. mine, 177
Mitchell, Joe, mine, 180
Myers & Farrel shaft, 175
Overton mine, 176
Red Diamond slope, 178 Mines In Wayne county, 258
Carey Brothers mine, 260
Chicago Coal Co. mine, 540
Davis bank, 259
Edwards mine, 259
Frye, L., mine, 258, 540
Hayhurst bank, 258
Hayhurst, A. H., bank, 259
Jared bank, 258
McNeill, H. W., mine, 540
Numa Block Coal Co. mine, 260,
Occidental Coal Co. mine, 540
Seymour Coal Co. mine, 540
Sims bank, 259
Sipes, E. A., bank, 259
Slack mine, 261
Thatcher mine, 540
Winger mine, 261 Mines in Webster county —
Black Diamond mine, 583
Collins Bros, mine, 582
Corey mines, 583
Craig Coal Co. mine, 582
Craig and Dawson Coal Co., 45. 46
Crooked Creek Railroad and Coal Co. mine, 49, 50, 583
Fort Dodge Coal Co. mines, 582
Foster mine, 45
Gleason Coal Co. mine, 43, 583
Hewitt bank, 45
Irvine slope, 44
Johnson mine, 44
Martin, J. E., mine, 42
McClure Coal Co. mine, 50
Minn and Scott mine. 42
Pleasant Valley Coal Co. mine, 583
Rogers and Collins mine, 41
Standard Coal Co. mine, 582
Mines in Webster county — Continued. Stratford Coal Co. mine, 51 Sunnyside Coal Co. mine, 51 Webster County Coal and Land Co. mines, 583 Mining, cost of, 539, 542, 544, 550, 560,
Mining, methods of, 383, 386, 395, 531,
533, 535, 537, 539, 542, 569, 571 Minnesota bogs, plants of, 748, 749 Mississippian limestone, see Saint
Louis limestone. Missouri, early mining in, 591 Missouri Iron Co., work of, 20 Missouri river bluffs, strata in, 641 Missouri stage, altitude of, 654 paleontology of, 655 section of, 614 stratigraphy of, 621 thickness of, 613, 654 in Adair county, 378 in Adams county, 391 in Fremont county, 388 Missouri stage of southwestern Iowa,
character of, 381, 611, 613, 616 Mitella nuda, 756 Moingona, Boone county, coal near, 70,
Moisture in coal, determination, 478
in Iowa coals, 518 Monroe, Jasper county, mines near, 164 Monroe county, analyses of coal from. 492. 508 coal in, 228, 484 coal production of, 229 history of coal mining in, 545 mines in, 229 Montgomery county, coal in, 390 Moody, Mr., mentioned, 553 Moran, S. B., mentioned, 581 . Moravia, Appanoose county, mines
near, 269, 499 Morgan Valley, Marion county, mines
at, 185, 563 Mormon Hollow, Boone county, mines
at, 577 Mormon Ridge, Marshall county, mines
near, 84 Moss bogs in Iowa, 747 Muchakinock, Mahaska county, mines
at, 208 Muchakinock creek, Mahaska county,
mines on, 199, 556, 557 Muhlenhergia racemosa, 745, 751 Muscatine, Muscatine county, coal near,
347, 512, 531 Muscatine county, coal in, 345
history of mining in, 531 Myalina perattenuata, 633 633, 634. swallovi, 633. 638, 645
Index
Myrica gale, 754 Myriophyllum verticillatum, 758 Myrtle-leaved Willow, 745, 748, 775 Mystic, Appanoose county, mines at,
271, 499, 519, 534 Mystic coal, character of, 26, 261, 408,
coals below, 265
ease of mining, 267
section of, 263
in Appanoose county, 261, 534
in Wayne county, 254
Najas flexilis, 751 Naticopaia aitonensis, 633, 656 Nebraska City, strata at, 650 Nemopanthus mucranata, 757, 772 Neuropteris, 633
New Market, Taylor county, mines near, 383, 485, 512, 584 Nodaway coal at, 621 New Sharon, Mahaska county, coal
near, 201 Newton, Jasper county, mines near,
161, 503. 563 Nishnabotna river, strata on, 635 Nodaway, Adams county, mines at, 394,
588, 624 Nodaway coal, altitude of, 654
character of, 381, 388, 390, 653 at Briscoe, Adams county, 628 at Carbon, Adams county, 627 at Clarinda, Page county, 626 at Coin, Page county, 633 at Hepburn, Page county, 626 at Hopkins, Missouri, 621 at New Market, Taylor county, 621 in Fremont county, 648 Nodaway river, strata on, 622 North America, bog plants of, 740 North Des Moines district, coal in, 106 North Raccoon valley, in Dallas county, coal in, 90 in Guthrie county, mines in, 365 North river valley, Warren county,
coal in, 174 Northbranch, Madison county, coal
near, 505 Northern Iowa peat bogs, flora of, 739 Northwestern Coal & Mining Co., mentioned, 576 Northwestern States Portland Cement
Co., plant of, 19 Norton, W. H.. cited, 349, 350, 353, 680
section by, 614 Norwich, Page county, strata at, 634 Norwoodville, Polk county, mines at,
Numa, Appanoose county, mines near,
Nuphar advencL, 741 Nyman, Page county, coal near, 634 Nyman coal, 381, 388, 389, 635, 646
character of, 653 Nymphaea advent, 744, 747, 755
odorata, 741 Nyssa, 775 Nyasa aquatica, 758
ailvatica, 758 Nystrom, E., mentioned, 699
O
Oenothera aerrulata, 743
Ogden, Boone county, coal near, 74,
482, 499, 580 Old Witch Grass, 748, 775 Olivet. Mahaska county, coal at, 203 Olliver. W. W.. mentioned, 536 Olsson-Seffer, Pehr, cited, 776 One Hundred and Two river, strata
on, 621 Onion, 749
OnocJea aenaihilia, 750 Onoamodiwn occidentale, 743 Ophiogloaaum vulgatum, 750, 763 Orchid. 749, 774 Orthia pecoai, 636, 656 Osgood, J. C, mentioned, 551, 553 Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, coal at,
207, 505, 556 Oskaloosa Station. Mahaska county,
mines at, 556 Oamunda cinnamomea, 750, 763
regalia, 750, 763 Oswalt, Jasper county, coal near, 156 Otho, Webster county, coal near, 39,
Otley, Marion county, mines near, 188,
507, 563 Ottumwa, Wapello county, mines at,
299, 513-515 Owen. D. D., cited, 59. 496, 527, 528,
532, 556, 561, 564, 575 Oxalia comiculata, 757 Oxypolia rigidior, 758
Page county, coal in, 385
history of coal mining in, 585 Paleontology of Missouri stage of
southwestern Iowa. 655 Palmer quarry, 633 Pammel, L. H., cited, 696. 741. 777 Flora of northern Iowa peat bogs,
Panicum capillare, 748, 775 Panora, Guthrie county, mines near,
Index
Panora coal, 363, 370, 371, 572 Panther creek, Dallas county, coal in,
Park Avenue, Polk county, coal near,
Parker, E. W., cited, 681 Parker, N. Howe, cited. 681 Pamaaaia carolinana, 745
parviflora, 748, 756 Parr, S. W., cited, 480 Parsons, Floyd W., cited, 681 Patrick, G. E., cited, 495 ff, 681 Patterson, Hugh, mentioned, 563 Peasley, J. C, mentioned, 552 Peat, accumulation of, 696
analyses of, 697, 725
bibliography of, 731
briquetting, 699
comiJosition of, 694
cut, 698
definition of, 694
formation of, 694
gas from, 700, 701
heat value of, 698
impurities in, 697
machined, 698
occurrence of, 695
paper from, 701
preparation of, 698
production of, in 1908, 20
properties of, 694, 742
rate of growth of, 697
uses of, 700
utilization of, 693 Peat, see also Iowa peat Peat bog near Fertile, 745
near Hanlontown, 745 Peat bogs, area of, 696
description of, 704
drainage of, 746, 748, 775
introduced plants in, 775
location and size of, 702
sampling of, 693
zones in, 741 Peat coke, quality of, 701 Peat deposits in Iowa, 693 Peat formations, classification of. 739 Peat machinery, 699 Peat plant near Fertile, 699 Peat plants, 696 Pecopteris, 633 Pedicularia lanceolata, 745, 747, 748,
Pekay, Mahaska county, mines at, 211,
506, 560 Pella, Marion county, mines near, 188 Peltandra virginica, 753 Pennsylvania Smartweed, 748, 775 Penthorum sedoides, 756 Perlee, JefiPerson county, mines at, 313, 503, 533
Persea puhescens, 756 Peshak, Mr., cited, 518 Phalaria 751 Phillips, Thomas, mentioned, 538 Phillips, Wm. B., cited, 681 Phillips, W. J., mentioned, 636 Phillips, W. T., mentioned, 559 Phillips, Lucas county, mines near,
Phlox glaberrima, 759 Phragmites communis, 744, 747, 752,
Phyaostegia virginiana, 746, 760 Picea mariana, 750 Pickerel-weed, 747 I'meters, A. J., cited, 776 Pigweed, 748, 775 Pilgrim Paper Co., cited, 701 Pine creek, Muscatine county, coal
near, 348 Pinhook, Page county, mines at, 585 Pinkerton, Samuel, mentioned, 387,
Pinna, 622, 633 Pitch used in briquettes, 473 Pitcher Plant, 740 Piano, Appanoose county, mines near,
Plantago rugelii, 761 Plants of marsh and sedge bogs, 745
of quaking aspen bog, 742
of rush bogs, 747 Piatt, J. L., mentioned, 572, 582 Piatt Pressed ft Fire Brick Co., 572 Platte shales, 616, 650 Plattsmouth limestone, 616 Pleasanton formation, 599-601 Pleurotomaria, 634, 637 Pleurotomaria perhumerosa, 633, 657
tahulata, 633, 657 Plowman, George, mentioned, 587 Plymouth county, coal In, 355 Poa pratenais, 743, 746
triflora, 752 Pocahontas county. Coal Measures in,
Pogonia, 742. 769
ophiogloasoidest 748, 754 Poison Hemlock, 745 Polk City, Polk county, mines at, 103,
Polk county, analyses of coal from, 414, 494, 610
altitude of coal in, 150
coal In. 99, 152, 406, 486
coal production in, 100
history of coal mining in, 666
tests of coal from, 406, 414, 432, 470. 475 Polygala incamata, 757
aanguinea, 757
Index
Polugonum acre, 755, 769
amphilnum, 755, 769
hydropiper, 755
hydropiperaides, 755
muhlenhergii, 755
penfuylvanicum, 745, 748. 755, 775
sagittatum, 755, 769 Polypora cra98d, 633 Pondweed, 774 Pofiteiferta cordatOy 747, 753 Popii7iM iramftcfenlaa, 749, 766
tremuloides, 754, 765 Porter, Will, cited, 682 Portland cement, production of, in
1908, 19 Poston, R. C, drillings by, In Wayne
county, 254 Potamogeton, 741
americanus, 750
amplifoliu8, 750
ephihydrua, 774
foliosus, 751
natans, 750
pectinatus, 751
perfoliatua, 751
praelongus, 751
zoterii/oKu, 751 Potentilla, 741
anserina, 756
fruticoaa, 756, 769
mon9peZtefWt, 748, 756, 775
poIiw/rU, 740, 741, 756, 770
paradoxa, 756
Hvoli*, 756
tomentosa, 756 Potter, T. J., mentioned, 551 Pottery production in 1908. 13 Powers, J. A%, mentioned, 563 Poweshiek county, analyses of coal from, 511
coal in, 342 Prairie City, Jasper county, mine near,
Pratt, Joseph Hyde, cited, 682 Pratt, W. H., cited, 733 Prenanthes racemosa, 762 Prentiss, Geo. N., cited, 496 ff. Pretty seam, in Webster county, 49 Prhne, Frederick, Jr., cited, 682 Producer-gas, efficiency of, 411
tests of. on Iowa coals, 458 ProductuB cora, 633, 634. 637, 638, 645
coatatus, 633, 637
longiapinus, 633, 645
nebraacenaia, 633, 656
Continued .
pertenuia, 633, 656
aemireticulatua, 622, 633, 634, 637, Promise City, coal near, 256 Proaerpinaca paluatria, 758 Paedera quinquefolia, 749, 757 Pugnax uta, 645 Purple Boneset, 745 PyroUi aaarifolia, 758 Pyrua americana 756
arbutifolia, 749, 756, 769
Q
Quaking Aspen, 744, 765 . Quaking aspen bog, plants of, 742 Quarry products for 1908, 13 Quercua macrocarpa, 743 Quincy. Adams county, mine near, 497,
R
Raccoon valley in Dallas county, coal in, 98
in Guthrie county, coal in, 373
in Polk county, coal in, 117 Radicula aquatica, 756
naaturitium-aqiLatica, 756
pdluatria, 756 Ramsay, George, mentioned, 553 Ramsay, Geo., and Sons, mentioned,
Ranunculua <iquatiHa, 747, 755
cymhalaria, 755
delphinifoliua, 747. 755
pennaylvanicua, 755
aceleratua, 755
aeptentrionalia, 755 Rathbun, Appanoose county, mines at,
Rawson, A. T., mentioned, 567 Raymond, R. W., cited, 682 Red Rock, Marion county, coal near,
Red Rock quarry, Marion county, coal
bed at, 186 Red Top, 746
Redflold, J. W., mentioned, 571 Redfleld. Dallas county, coal near, 93,
500, 572 Redhead. Wesley, mentioned, 558, 566,
Reed. Mr., mentioned. 553 Reed. H. S., cited, 682 Reed Grass. 766 Rees. Daniel, mentioned, 568 Reticularia perpJexa, 637, 656 Rhamnua alnifolia, 757
Index
Rhexia ciliosat 758
mariana, 758
virginica, 758 Rhombopora lepidodendroides, 632, 634,
Rhus glabra, 743
toxicodendron, 743, 757
vernix, 757, 772 Rhys, R. T., cited, 682 Rihe8 floridum, 749, 756
lacuatre, 756
prostratum, 756 Riccia fluitana, 750 Richards, Mr., mentioned, 582 Richland, Keokuk county, mine near,
Rimhy, H., mentioned, 587 Ringgold county, coal in, 245 Rippey, Greene county, coal at, 359,
Riverton, Fremont county, drilling at,
strata near, 638 Rodifer, Mr., mentioned, 546 Rogers, George, mentioned, 577 Rome, Henry county, mines near, 318 R08a Carolina 756 Rose, 769 Rose Hill, Mahaska county, coal near,
202, 483. 505 Rosebrook, Appanoose county, mines
at, 270 Ross Junction. Polk county, mining
near, 127 Royal Commission on coal supplies of
Great Britain, cited, 32 Royal Fern, 763 Rubua triflorua, 756 Rumex britannica, 745, 755, 766, 769
peraicarioidea, 755 Runnells, Polk county, mines near,
130, 569 Rush, W., mentioned, 587 Rush bogs, plants of, 747 Rutledge, Wapello county, mines at,
298, 484, 515 Rynchospora, 769 Rynclioapora alba, 748, 752
cymoaa, 753
S
Sabatia lanceolata, 759 Saglttarla, 747 Sagittaria arifoHa, 751
graminea, 751
heierophylla, 751
latifolia, 751 St. John, O. H., cited, 222, 682
mentioned, 551, 571
St. John's Wort, 745 St. Louis, testing plant at, 401' Saint Louis limestone in Boone county,
In Marion county, 182
in Monroe county, 228
in Polk county, 149
in Story county, 77
in Wapello county, 293
in Webster county, 36 Saint Paul, Lee county, coal near, 334 Salem, Henry county, coal near, 318 Salix Candida, 744, 745, 747, 754. 763,
cordata, 754
diacolor, 744. 745, 748, 754. 765
lucida, 754, 764
pedicellaria, 745, 747, 748, 754, 764, 774, 775
petiolaria, 754
roatrata, 744, 745, 748, 754, 765
aericea, 754 Sand and gravel, production of, for
1908, 16 Sand-lime brick, production of. In 1908, 19
Sandyville, Warren county mines near,
Sanford, Samuel, cited, 682
Sarracenia nava, 756
purpurea, 740. 741. 742, 748, 756,
Santiago, Polk county, coal near, 149
Saururua cemuua, 754
Savage. T. E., cited, 316, 410, 683. 693, work of, on coal tests, 403
Saxifraga 745, 747, 748, 756, 771
Saxifrage, 771
Saylor, Polk county, mines at, 135
Scandinavian Coal Company, drilling by, in Wayne county, 256
Scheuchzeria, 741 paluatria, 740, 751
Schimper, A. F. W., cited, 776
Schlickeysen, mentioned, 699
Schroeter, C, cited, 776
Scirpua americantu, 752 atrocinctua, 752 atrovirena, 743, 752 cyperinua, 752 Huviatilia, 752 Uneatua, 752 aubterminalia, 752 validua, 744, 747, 752, 768. 774
Scolocliloa featucacea, 752
Index
Scott county, analyses of coal from, 511 coal in, 348
coal production of, 350 history of mining in, 528 prospecting in, 531 Scutellaria galericulata, 744, 745, 747, lateriflora, 745, 760 Searsboro, Poweshiek county, mine
near, 511 Sedan, boring at, 266 Sedge bogs, plants of, 745 Sedges in bogs, 767 Selma, Van Buren county, mines near,
327, 513, 527 Sendtner, O., cited, 777 Senecio aureus, 762
palustris, 762 Septaria in Missouri stage, 633 Septopora biserialis, 632 Sevastopol, Polk county, mine at, 122 Severs, Jasper county, mines near, 159,
486, 565 Sejrmour, Wayne county, mines at, 260,
Shaler, N. S., cited, 695, 776 Shambaugh, Page county, mines near, 387, 585, 624. 653 strata at, 624 Shambaugh mill. Page county, mines
near, 387, 585 Sharp, £3d, prospect drilling of, Decatur county, 247 Sharp, Joseph, cited, 683
Shepardtown, Boone county, mine at,
Shimek, B., cited, 777 Shining Willow, 764. 774 Shoe-String. 769
Shot firing, electric system of, 216 Shrubby Clnquefoil, 769 Shrubs in peat bogs, 775 Shuler, Mr., mentioned, 553 Sigoumey. Keokuk county, mines near,
8ium cicutaefolium, 745, 758
Skullcap, 745
Skunk river anticline, in Story county,
Skunk river valley, Polk county, coal
in, 143 "Slips" in Iowa coal beds, 29 Small Cranberry, 740 Smaller Ragweed, 745, 748, 775 Smartweed, 745, 769 Smilacina, 769
hifolia, 748
tHfolia, 753 Smiley Bros., mentioned, 578 Smith, Mr., mentioned. 587
Smith, Dr. Geo. L., Carboniferous section of southwestern Iowa, 609
cited, 381, 383, 388. 389, 617 Smith, J. A., cited, 683 Snooks, William, mentioned, 565 Soap creek, Davis county, mines on,
"Soft" coal in Webster county, 39 Soft Maple. 749 Solanum dulcamara, 760
nigrum, 760 Soleniscus hrevis, 633 Solidago canadensis, 761
nemoralis, 743
Hddellii, 745, 761, 773
rigida, 743
serotina, 746. 761 Somermeier. B. E., cited, 473 South Avery creek, Monroe county,
mines on, 237 South Des Moines district, coal in, 121 South Lizard valley, in Webster county, coal in, 53 South Ottumwa, Wapello county, mines
near, 301 South Raccoon valley, in Dallas county, coal in, 95 Southwestern Iowa, Carboniferous section of, 609
paleontology of, 655
strata of, 611 Sparganium eurycarpum, 750
minimum, 750 8parting synosuroides, 752 Sphagnum, 741. 742, 748, 750. 774 Spike Rush, 745 Spiraea salicifolia, 756, 771
tomentosa, 756 Spiranthes cemua, 745, 746, 754 Spirifer cameratus, 635, 636, 638, 656 Spiriferina kentuckiensis, 633, 656 Spirodela polyrhiza, 753 Spring Hill, Warren county, boring near, 175
coal near. 516 Spruce, 763
Squaw creek, mines near, 76, 575, 579 Stachys palustris, 760
tenuifolia, 760 Stammler. P. W.. cited, 683 State University of Iowa, cited, 496 ff. Statistics of coal, 591 Steamboat Rock, Hardin county, coal
at, 581 Steele, David, mentioned, 539 Steironema lanceolatum, 759 Stellaria longifolia, 755 Stennett, Montgomery county, anticline
at, 636 Stillwater creek, Scott county, coal near, 353
Index
Stone, production of, in 1908, 13 Story, Mr., mentioned, 568 Story, D. Q., mentioned, 552 Story county, coal in, 77 coal production in, 78 history of coal mining in, 575 Stout, J. E., cited, 683 Strata of southwestern Iowa, 611 Stratigraphy of Iowa coal field, 26 Stream channels in Iowa coal heds, 27,
235, 279 Strong, W. B., mentioned, 542 Stuart, Guthrie county, coal near, 376,
Stuart Prospecting Co., drilling by, in
Guthrie county, 376 Stump, Jess, mentioned, 628 Sugar creek, Wapello county, mines at,
Sulphur, method of determining, 479 Sulphur in Iowa coals, 410, 518 Summerset, Story county, mines
near, 176, 516 Summit, Story county, mines near, 78,
Sundew, 740 Sunflower, 745 Svedala, mentioned, 699 Swamp, definition of, 695 Swamp Ash, 748 Swamp Birch, 740
Swamp Thistle, 745. 748, 772, 773, 775 "Swamps" In Iowa coal, 27, 107, 182,
Swan, Marion county, mines near, 189,
Sweeney, Edward, cited, 683 Symphoricarpos occidentalia, 743 Symplocarpua foetidus, 748, 753 Sypher, Mr., mentioned, 568
T
Tall Cotton Grass, 740 Tall Sedge, 740 Tamarack. 740. 742, 763 Tan Weed. 769
Tara, Webster county, coal near, 53 Tarcucacum offtcinale, 762 Tarkio limestones, 634 Tarkio river, strata on, 630 Taylor, C. S., mentioned, 576 Taylor, R. C, cited. 683 Taylor county, analyses of coal from, 492, 512
coal in, 382, 485
history of coal mining in, 584 Teucrium canadense, 760
occidentafe, 760 Thalictrum purpurascens, 745
revolutunif 743, 755
Thomas, M. G., cited, 684 Thompson, D. M., mentioned, 552 Thompson, J. M., mentioned, 572 Thompson, Thomas, mentioned, 555 Thornburg, Keokuk county, coal near,
Thuja occidentalis, 750 Thurman, Fremont county, coal near,
fault at, 612. 647, 648
strata at, 644 Tickseed Sunflower, 770 Tilia americana, 743 Tilton, John L., cited. 167, 169, 684 Todd, J. E.. cited, 612, 648
section by. 615 Transeau, E. N.. cited, 747, 776 Trifolium hyhridum, 757
pratense, 757
repens, 757 TriglocMn maritima, 751 Trilobite, 633
Troy, Davis county, coal near, 322 Troy, Van Buren county, coal near, 332 Turner, Joseph, mentioned, 538 Typha latifolitt, 744, 750 Tyson seam, in Webster county, 49
U
Udden, J. A., cited, 307, 347, 388, 612,
/ttJvo, 743 Union county, coal In, 217 Union township, Dallas county, coal
in, 95 United States Geological Survey, cited, 496 ff.
coal tested by, 401 "Upper Bituminous" coal, in Webster
county, 40 Upper Coal Measures, thickness of. 613
see also Missouri stage "Upper" vein In Boone county. 60 Utricularia hiflora, 760
mtermedia, 760
minor, 760
vulgaris, 760
Vaccinium corymhoaum, 759 macrocarpan, 759, 775 oxycoccua, 740. 759
Valeriana edulia, 748, 761, 771
Valley Junction, Polk county, near, 114, 117
Vallisneria spiraJis, 751
coal
Index
Van Buren county, analyses of coal from, 512
coal in, 323
coal production of, 323
history of mining in, 526 Van Meter, Mr., mentioned, 572 Van Meter, Dallas county, coal near,
98, 500, 519 Van Side, Mr., mentioned, 526 Vandalia, Jasper county, mines near,
Verbena hracteosa, 743
hastata, 743, 760
stricta, 753
urticaefoUa, 760 Vemer, John, cited, 240, 262, 684 Vernonia fasciculata, 761
novehoracensia, 761 Veronica americana, 760
anagallia-aquatica, 760
virginicum, 760 Viburnum lentago, 761
nudum, 761
oculus, 749, 761 Villisca, strata at, 626 Vincent, Mr., mentioned, 567 FtoZa hlanda, 757
conspersa, 757
nphrophylla, 757
renifoHa, 757 Virginia, plants of. 750 Virginia Creeper, 749 Vitis rotundifolia, 757
vulpina, 757 Volatile combustible matter, determination of, 479 Volatile matter in Iowa coals, 518
W
Wages paid Iowa miners, 383, 386, 395, 526, 528, 545, 550, 560, 566, 569, 581. 583, 585, 586 Walnut Creek valley, Polk county, coal
in. 112 Walnut Valley. Appanoose county, coal
near, 499 Walters, John, mentioned, 568 Wapello county, analyses of coal from, 412, 491, 513 coal in. 293, 404, 484 history of coal mining in. 540 production of coal in, 295 tests of coal from, 404, 412, 417, 468, 474 Warren county, analyses of coal from, coal in, 168 coal production of. 171 Washing tests on Iowa coals, 410. 474
Washington county, coal in. 291
Water Marigold, 745 771
Water Parsnip, 745
Waterman, H. L., mentioned, 549
Wayne county, analyses of coal from,
coal in, 254 coal production in, 257 history of coal mining in, 540 mines in, 258 Weakly, P. M., cited, 618 Weber, C. A., cited, 777 Webster City, Hamilton county, coal
near, 54, 502 Webster county, analyses of coal from,
coal in, 34
coal production in, 37 history of coal mining in, 581 Webster county poor farm, well on, 36 Weld, Louis A., cited, 741, 776 Wert, Mr., mentioned, 587 West. Frank, mentioned, 573 West Point, Lee county, mines near,
Western Interior coal field, 599 What Cheer, Keokuk county, mines at,
287, 504, 555 Wheeler Mill, Lucas county, section at,
Wheeler wood, Cerro Gordo county,
plants near, 750, 765 White, C. A., cited, 385, 527, 532, 533,
584, 587, 612, 647. 648, 685, 733 section by, 623 White. S. W., mentioned, 553, 560 White Bellflower, 745 White Bog Willow. 763 White Cedar, 763 White City, Mahaska county, mines at,
216, 483, 560 WhHe Water Lily, 747 Whitebreast creek, Marion county,
mines on, 190 Whitebreast Fuel Co., mentioned, 650 Whitford, H. N., cited, 776 Whitney, J. D., cited, 496 fT, 563, 686 Wichita creek, Guthrie county, coal on,
Wick, John D., cited, 686 Wild Cat creek, Lucas county, coal on,
Wild Rice, 747, 766 Wild Rosemary, 740 Wild Timothy, 745 Wild Turk's-cap, 769 Wilder, F. A., cited, 40, 49, 686 Willard, Wapello county, mines at, 303,
515, 519 Williams, Albert, Jr., cited, 686
Index
Williams, H. S., cited, 686
Williams, Ira A., cited, 154, 156, 686,
Willow, 763. 774 Willow bog, plants of, 744 Wilson, Hon. W. C, mentioned, 583 Wilson. Park C, cited, 686 Wilson section, Fremont county, 647 Winchell, A., cited. 739 Winnebago county, plants of, 746, 747,
Winneshiek county, plfuits of, 745, 750 Wisconsin bogs, plants of, 748 Wisconsin drift area, bogs in, 696
plants of, 742, 744 Wood, L. H., ated, 693 Woodruff, C. cited, 247 Woodward, Dallas county, coal near,
Woodioardia virginica, 750 Worth county, bogs of, 742, 746, 747,
Worthen, A. H., cited. 527, 532, 541,
561, 687 Wright, Mahaska county, coal near,
Wright county, bogs of, 742, 747. 768
coal in, 34 Wyoming Hill, Muscatine county, coal
near, 347
Yellow Water Lily, 747 Yeoman, T. D., mentioned, 567 Young, L. E., cited, 230, 687
Z
Zenorsville, Boone county, coal near,
76, 579 Zero, Lucas county, mines at, 226, 553 Zimbelman Bros., mentioned, 578 Zinc, production of. in 1908, 18 /Azania aquatica, 744, 747. 751, 766. 774
a bias 013 sas mt
3 bias DI3 a3S tHL