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Coal Mines of Linn County |
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There
are now four coal mines being worked in Linn county. The industry is yet
in its infancy, and until wood becomes scarce, or the demand for coal
exceeds its supply, little will be done in Linn county to develop the
immense wealth which is hidden below the surface of her soil. It is there,
however, and it is a guarantee that so long as the world stands, or at
least for scores of generations to come, that the fuel supply of Linn
county will never be a source of fear because of its scarcity or high
price.” The demand referred to came with the construction of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in 1887-8, and shafts were sunk at
Marceline and Bucklin. These
have been operated steadily and have produced the large tonnage necessary
for the road’s use and for export. The Twenty-Fourth Annual Report of
the Bureau of Mines, Mining and Mine Inspection of Missouri, issued in
1912, gives these statistics of the present state of the coal mining
industry of Linn county: No.
of mines operated: 6 No. of miners: 297 Average price per ton paid for pick work: $1.42 Average wages paid per day: $2.63 Total number of men employed in mining: 404 Total number of tons produced, pick and machine: 86,774 Value of product: $187,913 Price per ton received at mine: $2.69 Following is list of Linn county operators, mines and location at time of report: Bucklin
Coal Co ................Bucklin Bucklin
Howery Brothers .................Howery Brookfield
Landreth Coal Co ................Landreth Marceline
Marceline C. and M. Co...........No. 1 Marceline
Marceline C. and M. Co
...........No. 2 Marceline
Turpin Brothers .................Turpin Brookfield The coal beds of Linn county are reached by shafts at a depth of from 130 to 230 feet, the latter depth being at Bucklin. The seam runs from two feet four inches to three feet, and the coal is taken out on the “longwall system.” All the larger mines are equipped with steam for hoisting and for operating the machines and fans. Following are the officers of the incorporated coal companies of Linn county: Bucklin
Coal Company-President, C. B. Cantwell; secretary, J. C. Lamson; superintendent, O. B. Cantwell; foreman, George
Woodruff. Marceline Coal and Mining Company-President, L. C. Jackson; Secretary, C. P. Cleugh; superintendent, J. Hemmings; foreman, P. Kelley. |