KGS--Special Report on Coal (1898)--Geography

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Part II—Geography and Detailed Stratigraphy of the Kansas Coal Measures; Description of Mines, Mining Methods, and Mining Machinery; Chemical and Physical Properties of Kansas Coals; Output and Commerce; Mining Directory; and Mining Laws

By W. R. Crane

Geography of the Coal Measures

The Coal Measures of Kansas are situated in the eastern part of the state and cover about one-fourth of the entire area, or about 20,000 square miles. The western part of this, however, seems to be entirely barren of coal and therefore need not be considered in this connection. The coal deposits furthest to the west of any thus far discovered in the Coal Measures form an irregular line crossing the state from eastern Brown county to western Chautauqua county leaving about 15,000 square miles to the east that may be looked upon as a productive area. In addition to the Coal Measure area we have the Cretaceous coal area in the north central part of the state which furnishes a considerable quantity of coal for the local trade and which in the future may become much more productive than at present.

Of the 15,000 square miles of productive coal fields in eastern Kansas only a small proportion is actually productive at the present time. The mines that are worked the most extensively are located far in the southeast part of the state in Cherokee and Crawford counties, covering an area trending northeast and southwest in the vicinity of Mineral, Weir City, Fleming, Chicopee, Pittsburg, Frontenac, and other points as far to the northeast as Arcadia. Here is produced more than two-thirds of all the coal mined in the state as mining is conducted at present. A little to the northwest of this area are located the mines of Fort Scott, Pleasanton, and Mound City, and still farther west those in the vicinity of Thayer.

Beyond these limits there is another belt of country with productive mines likewise trending northeast and southwest; reaching from near Burlington by way of Ransomville, Pomona, and Lawrence to Leavenworth and Atchison. Throughout the whole of this territory coal has been mined at different times and of varying amounts. At present the mines are actively worked at Ransomville and in the vicinity of Pomona in Franklin county, and at Leavenworth and Atchison.

Still farther to the northwest is another zone of productive coal mines, the output from which is of great commercial importance. This zone reaches from Chautauqua county on the southern borders northeast by way of Eureka, Lebo, Osage City, Burlingame, and Topeka, across into Jefferson, Atchison, Doniphan, and Brown counties, with a varied mining activity at different places throughout the whole extent. Mining is the most active in Osage county in the vicinity of Burlingame and Osage City, but at scores of other places throughout the extent named local mines are operated for the local trade, particularly through the winter season.

Within the area above mentioned not less than twenty-three counties are coal producers. They are as follows:

Atchison	Crawford	Jefferson	Neosho
Bourbon	Douglas	Labette	Osage
Brown	Elk	Leavenworth	Shawnee
Chautauqua	Franklin	Linn	Wabaunsee
Cherokee	Greenwood	Lyon	Wilson
Coffey	Jackson	Montgomery

The Cretaceous area in the central part of the state has produced coal in the following six counties:

Cloud	Lincoln	Republic
Ellsworth	Mitchell	Russell

Within the counties above named coal mining at present is conducted in the following places:

Atchison County

The coal mines of Atchison county are principally upon the banks of the Missouri river, the most important mines thus far being operated in the vicinity of Atchison. Here Donald Brothers operate a drift mine two miles south of Atchison, the mine being connected with the Union Pacific railway. Also the Challis mine, is well operated, being located two miles south of Atchison and likewise connected with the Union Pacific railway. Coal is mined near Huron, in the northern part of the county, and also along Stranger creek, in the northeastern part. The coal at Atchison comes from a lower level and different geologic horizon from that in other parts of the county.

Bourbon County

In the early days of coal mining in Kansas Bourbon county ranked among the first, but at present its rank is of less importance. Coal is mined principally by the strip pit process in almost every direction from Fort Scott and at many other points in the eastern half of the county. It generally occurs near the surface and outcrops along the bluffs of the ravines so that the lines of strip pits follow the irregular outlines of the bluffs. At present the mining is principally limited to local trade.

Brown County

Brown county furnishes but little coal and that to supply the local demand. At the present mines are operated principally during the winter season in the northern part of the county along Roy's creek, and at a few points both north and south of Robinson along Wolf creek, and at some of the points to the southeast of Everest.

Chautauqua County

Chautauqua county has furnished in the aggregate a considerable percent of the coal that has been used for local consumption. The coal beds here are from 12 to 16 inches thick and consequently do not justify extensive mining. In the vicinity of Leeds mines have been operated for years during the winter season and occasionally during a part of the summer. Both to the northeast and the southwest of Leeds mining has been carried on to a limited extent been nowhere within the county has coal been produced for the general market.

Cherokee County

Cherokee county was the leading coal producing county of the state for a number of years and has yielded the position of first rank to Crawford county only during the last decade. This county was open for' settlement in 1866 and before twelve months had passed coal was located at a number of places in the southeastern part of the county, particularly along the highlands south of Shawnee creek to the east and southeast of Columbus. The coal beds in this immediate vicinity are thin and the coal of a somewhat inferior grade. When the heavier beds were found farther to the northwest in the county the coal mining operations soon became so extensive and the competition so sharp that the earlier mines were practically abandoned and have since been worked almost exclusively for local consumption and during periods of scarcity of coal due to coal miners' strikes or other causes. The heavier coal beds were first extensively operated at Weir City, but since mines were opened in many places along the northeastern and southwestern line passing through Weir City and Scammon and reaching to the northeast into Crawford county. At present this whole northeastern part of Cherokee county is one coal mining area, it being difficult to find a position from which no coal mining shaft can be seen.

The principal mines are clustered about Mineral, Stippville, Turk, Scammon, Mackie, and Weir, although some of the mines reach farther to the west and northwest. In the southern and southwestern part of the county coal is not very abundant but at different places small deposits are known which would prove remunerative were the price of coal twenty-five percent higher than it has been during the last decade. The following detailed account is given locating the principal mines within the county, beginning on the south and passing north ward:

The George Robinson mine is located two and one-half miles north of Columbus; has no railway connections.
The Columbus Coal Company has a shaft located at Stippville, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Scammon Coal Company's shaft, located about three and one-half miles north of Columbus, is connected by switch with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
Peter Graham's shaft is located in the neighborhood of one and one-half miles southwest of Scammon. Coal is hauled by wagon to a switch on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Southwestern Coal and Improvement Company's shaft No. 6 is located four miles west of Scammon and is connected with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway by switch.
The Durkee Coal Company's shaft No. 3 is located about one mile north and west of Scammon and is connected by switch with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Central Coal and Coke Company's mine No. 7 is located one mile north of Scammon and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The ExceJsior Coal Mining Company's mine is located south of Weir City. It has no railroad connections.
The James Hall shaft is located two miles south and west of Weir City and has no railroad connections.
The Bennett Slope Shaft is located in the southeastern city limits of Weir City and has no railroad connections.
The Central Coal and Coke Company's shaft No. 6 is located one mile south of Weir City and is connected by switch with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The J. Durkee Coal Mining Company's shaft No. 1 is. located in Weir City and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Hamilton and Braidwood Coal Company's mine No. 1 is located one mile north and west of Weir City and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Hamilton and Braidwood Coal Company's mine No. 2 is located three-quarters of a mile west of their No. 1 and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Kansas and Texas Coal Company's shaft No. 7 is. located two miles north of Weir City and is connected with the Pittsburg and Weir City branch of the St. Louis & San Francisco railway.
The Kansas and Texas Coal Company's shaft No. 18 is about two and one-half miles north of Weir City and is connected with the St. Louis & San Francisco and the Kansas City, Fort. Scott & Memphis railways.
The W. H. Barrett mine No. 1, known as the "Daisy" shaft, is located a trifle north and west of Weir City.
The Central Coal and Coke Company's shaft No. 8 is located two miles southwest of Weir City and is connected by switch with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Weir Brothers mine No. 2 is located one and one-half miles west of Weir City and is connected by switch with the Pittsburg and Weir branch of the St. Louis & San Francisco railway.
The Central Coal and Coke Company's shaft No. 5 is located one and one-half miles west of Weir City and is connected by switch with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Western Prospecting Company's shaft is located north of Mineral City four or five miles.
The Southwestern Coal and Improvement Company's mine No. 8 is located at Mineral City and is connected with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway.
The J. H. Durkee Coal Company's shaft No. 5 is located northeast of Weir and is connected with the St. Louis & San Francisco railway.
The Kansas and Texas Coal Company's mine No. 23 is located northeast of Weir arid is connected with the St. Louis & San Francisco railway.
The Southwestern Coal and Improvement Company's mine No. 7 is located at Mineral City and is connected with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway.
The Stone and Dixon Coal Company's mine No. 1 is located at Scammon and is connected with smelter switch of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The J. C. Graham Coal Company's mine No. 1 is located northwest of Scammon and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The J. R. Crowe Coal Company's mine is located three and a half miles north of Columbus and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.

In addition to these, coal is mined in many places by the strip pit process, not only in the northwestern part of the county but to a much greater extent in the immediate vicinity of the larger mines about Weir City and Scammon. A large proportion of the coal used hy the zinc smelters is obtained in this way. As the coal beds dip to the northwest they outcrop at the surface to the southeast, forming the irregular northeast and southwest line already referred to. The mines most extensively operated at present reach the coal by shafting, but large quantities of the coal lying near the surface is still untouched and will remain so for years although mining by stripping is conducted to so great an extent.

Coffey County

The coal in this county is obtained principally from the northwest part in the vicinity of Lebo, although small quantities have been taken out in the northeastern part of the county. At Lebo the coal is from 14 to 16 inches in thickness and furnishes a good supply for the local trade and that of the surrounding country. It is taken by wagon north, south, and west for considerable distances, even twenty or thirty miles. It is milled principally by the stripping process, although at different places, particularly about Lebo, the tunneling process is resorted to, starting from an outcropping along the banks of a stream. The coal here is of the same grade as that of Osage county.

Crawford County

Crawford county is the largest coal producer in the state. For the past five years it has averaged more than two-fifths of the total state production. The coal here is in every respect practically the same as that of Cherokee county, and the history of the development of mining is about the same. Pittsburg is located in the center of the coal producing district with mines in operation in the vicinity of all the adjoining towns such as Cherokee, Fleming, Chicopee, Litchfield, Frontenac, Nelson, Fuller, Mulberry, and Arcadia. The following is a detailed location of the mines operated in this county:

The Western Coal and Mining Company's shaft No. 2 is located at Fleming and is connected with the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Western Coal and Mining Company's shaft No. 3 is located one mile north and east of Fleming and is connected with the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Durkee Coal Mining Company's shaft No. 4 is located two and a half miles northeast of Weir City and is connected with the Cherryvale division of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The T. M. Bennett mine is located five miles southwest of Pittsburg and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The John Davis Coal Company's mine is located at Cherokee, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Lake and Gilmore shaft is located one and one-half miles south and east of Pittsburg and is not connected with the railroad.
M. A. Redding's slope shaft is located one mile south of Playter's lake, Pittsburg. It has no railroad connections.
J. N. Cessna's slope shaft is located one mile south of Playter's lake, Pittsburg, and has no railroad connections.
O. L. Hovey's slope shaft is located one mile south of Playter's lake, Pittsburg, and has no railroad connections.
The Esten and Oakes slope shaft is located one mile south of Playter's lake, Pittsburg, and has no railroad connections.
The C. A. Beck strippings are located one mile south of Pittsburg proper and are connected with the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Cherokee and Pittsburg Coal Mining Company's' shaft No. 4 is located at Chicopee and is connected by switch with the Santa Fe railway.
The Cherokee and Pittsburg Coal Mining Company's shaft No. 5 is located two miles south and west of Pittsburg and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Wear Coal Company's mine No. 5 is located two miles northeast of Pittsburg and is connected by switch with the Cherryvale division of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Wear Coal Company's mine No. 6 is located at Pittsburg. Coal is hauled by wagons to railroad switch.
The Wear Coal Company's shaft No. 2 is located four miles west of Pittsburg at Kirkwood, on the Cherryvale division of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Kansas and Texas Coal Company's shaft No. 20 is located one mile west of Pittsburg and is connected with the Pittsburg and Weir City branch of the St. Louis & San Francisco railway.
The W. A. Swan & Co.'s mine is located north and east of Pittsburg. It has no railroad connections.
The Sheldon Coal and Mining Company's shaft No. 1 is located two miles north of Pittsburg. Coal is hauled by wagon to a Santa Fe switch.
The Dewey and Walker shaft is located two miles northeast of Pittsburg. It has no railroad connections.
J. H. Jenness' mine is located about one mile south and west of the Missouri Pacific depot at Pittsburg. It has no railroad connections.
The R. Wilson shaft is located on the line of the Pittsburg & Frontenac electric railway. It has no other railroad connections.
The Wright Brothers' strippings are located two miles southeast of Pittsburg. They have no railroad connections.
The Hamilton and Grant mine is located three miles north of Weir City and is connected with the Cherryvale division of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Pittsburg Coal and Coke Company's mine No. 2 is located five miles southwest of Pittsburg, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Arnott and Lanyon shaft is located two miles northeast of Pittsburg and is connected with the Santa Fe and Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf railways.
The Cherokee and Pittsburg Coal Mining Company's mine No. 1 is located at Frontenac and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Cherokee and Pittsburg Coal Mining Company's mine No. 2 is located at Frontenac and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Kansas and Texas Coal Company's mine No. 37 is located four miles northeast of Pittsburg and is connected with the St. Louis & San Francisco, Missouri Pacific, and Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railways.
The Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company's mine No. 4 is located at Midway and is connected with the Santa Fe, St. Louis & San Francisco, and Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railways.
The Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company's mine No. 5 is located at Midway and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The J. H. Durkee Coal Company's shaft is located three-fourths of a mile south of Mid way and has no tailroad connections.
The Carleton stripping is located about three-fourths of a mile north and east of Frontenac.
The Western Coal Mining Company's mine No. 4 is located at Yale and is connected with the Fort Scott and Yale branch of the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Western Coal Mining Company's mine No. 5 is located at Yale, on the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Central Coal and Coke Company's shaft No. 9 is located at Nelson and is connected with the Pittsburg & Gulf railway.
The Southwestern Coal Company's mine is located at Cornell and is connected with the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Braidwood and McLusky Coal Company's mine is located at Coalvale and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Arthur Bell drift shaft is located one-half mile east of Coalvale and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Jack Russell Coal Company's mine is located at Coalvale, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Fuller Coal Company's shaft No. 1 is located two and a half miles south of Mulberry, on the Pittsburg & Gulf railway.
The Mount Carmel Coal Company's mine No. 1 is located at Frontenac and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Mount Carmel Coal Company's mine No. 5 is located at Chicopee and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Midland Coal and Smelting Company's mine is located three one-half miles west of Cherokee and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Western Coal and Mining Company's mine No. 7 is located southeast of Fleming and is connected with the Missouri Pacific railway.
William H. Barrett's mine No. 3 is located northeast of Weir and is connected with the St. Louis & San Francisco railway.
The Weir Junction Coal Company's mine is located north of Weir City and is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Empire Coal and Mining Company's mines Nos. 1 and 2 are located at Coalvale and connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The J. E. Lewis mine is located one mile southwest of Coalvale and has no railroad connections.
Miller Brothers and Company's mine is located north of Mulberry and is on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The Kansas Commercial Company's mine No. 1 is 10, cated at Fuller and is connected with the Pittsburg & Gulf railway.
The Eureka Coal and Mining Company's mine No. 1 is located one and three-fourths miles north and one mile west of Frontenac.
Wilson Brothers' mine is located a half mile north of Pittsburg, on the street-car line to Frontenac.

Stripping has been carried on in a great many places in Crawford county. Old strip pits may be found all around Pittsburg, especially to the north arid east. From the south line of Crawford county northward along the state line to the north county line of Linn county more or less coal has been, and is being, removed by stripping. There is almost a continuous line of old strip pits north of Pittsburg for ten to fifteen miles, while south and west of Pittsburg to the distance of three or four miles, especially along the creeks, the territory has been stripped extensively for coal. In the brick works at Pittsburg the coal consumed is taken principally directly from the clay-pits.

Douglas County

Douglas county at present is furnishing no coal although coal can be found under more than half of it. The Douglas coal is in thin beds and therefore cannot be mined to advantage so long as the market price of coal is as low as it is at present. In earlier times coal was mined over a large area to the south, southeast, and southwest of Lawrence, generally by the stripping process but not infrequently by shafting. During the recent period of low prices these numerous country shafts and strip pits have been closed because the farmer can buy his coal on the streets of Lawrence cheaper than he can hire it mined. Yet during the winter of 1897-'98 some coal was mined on Deer creek in the north west part of the co,:!nty and placed on the Lawrence market.

Elk County

Elk county produces but little coal and that which is produced is not equal in quality to the coal from the southeastern part of the state. The mining in this county is similar to that in Chautauqua county to the south, only that Elk produces a smaller amount than does Chautauqua. The principal mines are located some miles to the east of Grenola and are operated entirely for local consumption.

Franklin County

Franklin county produces coal for local consumption, for use by the railroads passing through the county, and supplies a large proportion of the coal consumed in Ottawa and other points within the county. The mines are found in the western half of the county, particularly in the vicinity of Pomona and Ransomville, but there are numerous other mines operated by stripping even throughout the greater part of the southwestern fourth of the county, particularly to the east of Williamsburg and Silkville. The coal is fair in quality and can be mined at a profit for the trade above mentioned.

Greenwood County

Greenwood county produces but little coal and that which she does produce is similar in quantity and quality to the coal obtained from Chautauqua and Elk counties. There is a line of strip pits on the eastern side of the Santa Fe railway extending both to the northeast and southwest of Eureka, reaching Elk county on the south and Lyon county and Coffey county on the north.

Jackson County

This county produces almost no coal at all, the only mines known being in the extreme southeastern part of the county along Muddy creek and Cedar creek. As far as developed it is of little importance.

Jefferson County

Jefferson county produces more coal than Jackson but still not enough at the present to be of any considerable commercial importance. Thin beds of coal are found in many places along the ravines in the southern part of the county, north of the Kansas river valley, and also in the territory tributary to the Delaware river in the northwestern part. Coal mining has been conducted to a limited extent for a number of years by the strip pit process and by tunneling into the hillsides. The output of the mines constitutes but a small percent of the total coal consumption of the county.

Labette County

Labette county in the aggregate produces a considerable amount of coal although not enough to entirely supply the local demand. Mining has been confined principally to the banks of the Neosho river and its tributaries in the eastern part of the county, particularly in the vicinity of Oswego.

Leavenworth County

Leavenworth county is one of the four leading producers of the state, being about equal-in production to Osage county. The coal of Leavenworth county is obtained from great depths by shafting. The mines are located in the vicinity of Leavenworth city and to the south at Lansing: Although it is by no means demonstrated that coal of equal value could not be obtained elsewhere in the county. At present the following are the more important mines:

The Leavenworth Coal Company's mine is located on the west bank of the Missouri river, just out of the city limits to the north, and is connected with the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railways.
The Home-Riverside Coal Company's mine No. 1 is located on the west bank of the Missouri river in the southeastern part of the city and is connected with the Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, and Santa Fe railways.
The Home-Riverside mine No. 2 is located on the west. bank of the Missouri river one mile south from No. 1 and is connected with the Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, and Santa Fe railways.
The penitentiary mine is located at Lansing and is connected with the Santa Fe, the Missouri Pacific, the Union Pacific, and the Kansas City & Northwestern railways.

A large amount of coal is placed upon the market from these mines, although they are placed at a disadvantage with respect to the other mines of the state, by the great depth to which the mining operations are confined, the cost of sinking the shafts, and the various natural obstacles met with, such as water, poor floor, etc.

Linn County

In quantity and quality of coal Linn county should rank high, although her proximity to Cherokee and Crawford counties has greatly hindered her development. Linn county has at least two beds of coal either or which could be profitably worked were the price one or two cents more per bushel than it now is. However, she is fifth in coal production. Coal is mined in many places in eastern Linn county, particularly the southeastern fourth of the county. The coal is obtained both by the strip pit process and by shafting, dependent upon the depth below the surface at which the coal is found.

Prescott is one of the most important mining points in the. southern part of the county. Little or no coal is mined within a half mile of Prescott, but from a distance of one and a half to three miles east, south, and west coal mining, 'principally by stripping, has been carried on very extensively. The coal stratum operated on in the Bourbon county mines is probably the one worked in the vicinity of Prescott. It is found just above the Pawnee limestone and is mined from within a half mile west of Prescott westward for four or five miles. It is stripped along, the creeks and three miles west of Prescott is shafted for. The coal at this point is 28 Inches thick. Not much coal is removed here during the summer months but a considerable amount is mined during the winter. The following are the more important localities where coal is removed by shafts and strip pits in the vicinity of Prescott:

Tarn's strippings are located one mile west of Prescott on the north bank of Laberdy creek.
The Caffett and McIntyre mine is located three miles south and west of Prescott.
Mrs. Tanny's strippings are located one mile west of Prescott.
James Borey's strippings are located two miles east of Prescott and one-half mile north.
Joe Billing's strippings are located two miles east of Prescott on Indian creek.
John Hurl's strippings are located three miles east of Prescott on Indian creek.
Link Nine's strippings are located three miles east and one-half mile north of Prescott on Indian creek.
John Lewis's mine is located one and three-fourths miles east and one-half mile south of Prescott.
Three miles west and one mile south of Prescott is the only shaft located in this vicinity; the names of the operators are unknown.

West and south of the last mentioned shaft considerable coal is stripped. In this locality a 40-inch coal stratum was reported as having been found, but this claim could not be substantiated.

The next point of importance on the north is Pleasanton. The coal mines here are located principally to the north and east of the town. The exact locations of a few of the more recently worked mines are as follows:

The Mine Creek Coal Company's shaft is located two miles east of Pleasanton, on the Fort Madison branch of the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Pleasanton Coal Company's shaft is located one mile north of Pleasanton, on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.
The A. F. Seright mine is located two and one-half miles east of Pleasanton; is not connected with any railroad.
The Sanson and Seright shaft is located two and one-half miles east of Pleasanton; is not connected with any railroad.
The Bradley-Vernon Company's mine, the only one at Boicourt, is connected with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railway.

The coal stratum in the above mentioned localities is reached at a depth of 70 feet, except at Boicourt where it is reached at , a depth of 90 feet. From Pleasanton east to the state line the coal comes close to the surface, while across the state line it outcrops at Moreland. East to and south of Moreland coal is mined by drifting. North of the Osage and along the railroad it is mined by drifting. The dip carries the coal under the Osage a short distance west of the state line. East of La Cygne the mining is conducted by shafting. The mines located in the vicinity of La Cygne are as follows:

The Ben Goode mine is located eight miles east of La Cygne and is not connected with the railroad.
The Gage Brothers' mine is located one-half mile east of Ben Goode's mine. It is not connected with the railroad.
The Orchard-Vantuyle mine is located six and one-half miles east of La Cygne and is not connected with the railroad.
The Enoch Sink shaft is located six miles east of La Cygne. It is not connected with any railroad.

Excepting in the vicinity of Prescott and in a large part of east Linn county, especially east of the railroad where coal is obtained. in paying quantities by the strip pit process, most of the coal obtained from the localities just described is taken from shafts.

Lyon County

Lyon county produces a little coal in the southeastern part. Here the coal is obtained by the strip pit process along the southern tributaries of the Marais des Cygnes, the area being the same as that already described. for northeastern Greenwood county and northwestern Coffey county. In quality the coal is in no respect different from that obtained in those counties.

Montgomery County

Montgomery county furnishes a little coal, the only mines opened being in the southeastern part of the county. At present they are all closed, due to the low price of coal shipped in from the large mines to the east.

Neosho County

Neosho county, in the vicinity of Thayer, furnishes a comparatively large amount of coal for local consumption. The mines to the southwest of Thayer are operated principally in the winter and the coal hauled by wagon to Neodesha and other adjoining towns. The coal is obtained principally by drifting into the hillsides of the upper tributaries of Chetopa creek, particularly along Coal Hollow, the mining area extending westward into the edge of Wilson county.

Wilson's drift mine is located in Coal Hollow one-half mile north and two miles west of Thayer.
The Hight coal mine is located one and three-quarters miles west and one and one-half miles south of Thayer.
Several other mines were visited in this vicinity but the names of the owners were not obtained.

Osage County

As a coal producer Osage county alternates with Leavenworth county for third rank in total output for the state. The coal in this county outcrops to the southeast and becomes buried beneath the surface to the northwest. Along the line of outcropping coal has been mined by the strip pit process from near the north side of the county north to Carbondale and south ward to beyond Osage City. The Santa Fe railway passes near this line of outcropping on the north, but bears further west by way of Burlingame and Osage City to the south, at which points the coal is obtained at from 75 to 90 feet beneath the surface. Only a few rods to the west of a surface mine may be found a shaft which brings the coal from a greater depth, the exact depth dependent upon the distance westward that the shaft is located. The following list gives the location of the principal mines:

The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 25 is located one mile southeast of Osage City and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's shaft No. 27 is located about one mile southeast of Osage City and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Western Fuel Company's shafts Nos. 2, 5, and 6 are located one and one-half and two miles east and one mile west, respectively, of Osage City. They are connected with the C. K. & W. branch of the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Black Diamond Coal Company's mine is located one and one-half miles east of Osage City and is connected with the C. K. & W. branch of the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Enterprise Coal Company's shaft No. 1 is located one and one-half miles east of Osage City. It is connected with the C. K. & W. branch of the Missouri Pacific railway.
The Matthew-Waddell mine is located one mile north of Osage City. It has no railroad connections.
The J. Johnson shaft is located one and one-half miles north of Osage City. It has no railroad connections.
A. W. Granstrom's mine is located one-half mile west of Osage City and is connected with the Missouri Pacific railway.
A. W. Granstrom's shaft No. 6 is located one mile west of Osage City. It has no railroad connections.
The Lloyd Brothers' drift is located in Osage City and is not connected with the railway.
The Murray Brothers' mine is located two miles east of Osage City and is not connected with the railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 20 is located one mile northeast of Osage City and is, connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 22 is located in Osage City and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's shaft No. 23 is located one mile northeast of Osage City and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 24 is located one and one-half miles northeast of Osage City. It is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 6 is located one mile northeast of Peterton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's shaft No. 9 is located at Peterton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 26 is located at Peterton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Coughlin Coal Company's mine is located one mile north and east of Peterton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Boruff coal mine is located one and one-half miles east of Peterton. Coal is hauled by wagon to the Santa Fe railway.
The Grant drift is located near Peterton. It is not connected with the railway.
The Sand Bank mine is located three-quarters of a mile south of Burlingame. It is not connected with the railway.
The Burlingame Coal Company's shaft No. 1 is located one-fourth of a mile east of the Santa Fe station at Burlingame and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Star mine is located three miles south of Burlingame and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Fair Ground mine is located on the fair ground at Burlingame and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Cole and Burnett mine is located one mile south of the Santa Fe station at Burlingame and is connected with the same railway.
The Central Coal Company's mine is located one mile east of the station at Burlingame.
The Alliance mine is located two miles east of Burlingame. It is not connected with any railway.
The Boss coal mine is located two miles east of Burlingame and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Ure shaft No. 1 is located three and one-half miles south of Burlingame and is not connected with the railway.
N. H. Lee's shaft is located one mile east of Burlingame and is not connected with the railway.
The Kansas Mining and Fuel Company's mine is located one and one-half miles north of Burlingame and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Chappell Coal Company's mine No. 3 is located two miles east of Burlingame and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Eureka mine is located two miles south of Burlingame. It is not connected with the railway.
The Champion mine is located three miles south and east of Burlingame. It is not connected with the railway.
The Turner Brothers' mine is located one and one-half miles south of Burlingame and has no railway connections.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 10 is located at Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's shaft No. 12 is located one-half mile northeast of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Osage Carbon Company's mine No. 13 is located one mile east of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Chappell Coal Company's mine No. 2 is located one-half mile west of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Thomas Noble mine is located two miles northeast of Scranton. Coal is hauled by wagon to the Santa Fe railway.
The Ingham mine is located two and one-half miles southwest of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Belleville mine is located one mile west of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Ryan mine No 2 is located one and one-fourth miles southeast of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Martin mine is located one and one-half miles southwest of Scranton. It is not connected with the railway.
The Chappell mine No. 1 is located one-half mile west of Scranton and is connected with the Santa Fe railway.
The Eagle slope is located one mile east of Carbondale and has no railroad connections.

Shawnee County

The coals mined in Shawnee county probably belong to the same formation as those of Osage county but the coal stratum is a little thinner. There are two localities in Shawnee county where coal is now being mined, namely, at Topeka and Blacksmith. The exact location of the mines is as follows:

The Walwork mine is located three miles west on Tenth street at Topeka. Coal is hauled into the city by wagon.
Jim Bailey's shaft is located two and one-half miles west of Kansas avenue, on Sixth street.
The Crossdale mine is located about eight miles west of Topeka.
The McRoberts mine is located three miles west on Sixth street, Topeka.
The Capital strippings and drifts are located three and one-half miles south of Topeka.
The W. A. Eaton mine is located two miles west on Seventh street, Topeka.
At Blacksmith coal sufficient to supply a small local trade is mined.

Wabaunsee County

A small amount of coal is produced in the eastern part of Wabaunsee county along the ravines of the tributaries of Mission creek, about half way between Keene and Dover. Here the coal varies from 6 to 12 inches in thickness and seems to belong to the same horizon as does the upper stratum of coal five or six miles west of Topeka, in the vicinity of Sugar Works. Coal has been mined particularly on the farms of Mr. Crane and Mr. Loomis.

Wilson County

Wilson county produces but little coal, yet in the extreme eastern part of the county in the vicinity of Thayer the coal already described for Neosho county reaches across the line in some places into Wilson county. Also the southeastern part of the county has some beds of coal which seem to be largely independent of the Thayer coal beds. Here coal has been mined to a limited extent, but at present is abandoned on account of the difficulty in obtaining the coal in paying quantities.

The Cretaceous Area

Passing westward from the Coal Measures area to the Cretaceous of the north-central part of the state it is found that here in the Dakota formations considerable Cretaceous coal exists and is now being mined in a number of counties and serves a good purpose in the way of supplying the local trade. Six counties in this vicinity have produced coal, namely: Cloud, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Russell. The coal seems quite uniform in quantity and quality throughout the whole district.

In Cloud county the mining is principally conducted in the vicinity of Minersville, from five to eight miles north and a little east of Concordia. Here from five to eight different companies have been in operation, working a coal bed which is described as being from 20 to 22 inches thick and containing a fair quality of lignite.

In Ellsworth county the mines are located on Elkhorn creek in the northern part of the county and are described as containing coal 20 inches thick. The quality and quantity of the coal here is similar to that in Cloud county. A letter from Mr. Waterbury, of Wilson, to the State Mine Inspector, published in the Eighth Annual Report of the Inspector of Coal Mines, page 65, explains the mining situation there as follows:

"Owing to the coal getting thinner, faults, dikes, and other causes, this mine has steadily decreased in production for several years. There are five or six veins, but only three worth mentioning, and only two of these have been worked. The first or upper vein is about 3 inches thick; the next is about 4 feet lower, and varies in thickness from 8 to 20 inches; the next is from 4 to 14 feet lower, and runs from 4 to 12 inches thick. This is not worked much. I am at present trying to open the lower vein. The rules for larger veins do not apply here. The coal is of an inferior quality. There are no regular hours for work. The men begin and quit when they please; there is no record of the day's work. The men get their own fuel for taking it out and there is no record of it kept. The mining industry is not likely to last long, as the coal gets thinner as we work south and the men cannot make living wages working it."

In Lincoln county coal is mined at Little Timber, Bacon, Rattlesnake, and Elkhorn creeks, and in the vicinity of Sylvan Grove, Vesper, Denmark, and Pittsburg, and is in every respect practically the same as that from the counties already mentioned.

The coal in Mitchell, Republic, and Russell counties is about the same as that already described for Cloud, Ellsworth, and Lincoln counties, with probably the smallest amount being mined from Russell.

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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
Placed on web Sept. 12, 2018; originally published 1898.
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