29S KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTERLY. 



Each of these has coal to a sufficient extent to justify local opera- 

 tions, usually the "strip pit" method. In some of them the mining 

 is practically discontinued on account of the cheap eoal shipped in 

 from the larger mines, while, could the same coal be located in the 

 western part of the state, it would be a fortune to its possessors. 

 The coal beds of Douglas county may be used as an example to 

 illustrate this. A fair quality of coal in veins from 12 to 16 inches 

 in thickness was formerly mined to a considerable extent in half a 

 dozen or more localities a few miles to the southeast of Lawrence. 

 But with equally good or better coal shipped from Leavenworth 

 and placed upon the retail market at from ^2.75 to 53.00 per ton, 

 the local mining had to be abandoned, except here and there where a 

 few farmers obtain their winter's supply of fuel. 



In the counties above enumerated the coal is or has been princi- 

 pally mined at or near the following places: 



Atchison. — About 3 miles south of the city of Atchison; the vein 

 has an average thickness of 15 inches; mining operations began in 

 1893. 



Bourbon. — The mines are principally operated to the southeast, 

 east, and northeast of Fort Scott, and the product is known in the 

 markets as the Fort Scott "red" coal. 



ChautaiKjua. — Mines located near Leeds in the northwest part of 

 the county. The operations are principally conducted to supply the 

 local trade. The vein is from 12 to 18 inches thick, and therefore 

 will not admit of operating for the general market. 



Cherokee. — This is the second heaviest producing county in the 

 state. The principal mines are located in the environs of Weir City, 

 Cherokee, and the southwest, where three different veins are ope- 

 rated, and farther to the southeast in the vicinity of Columbus, Crest- 

 line and Tehama, where a 14-inch vein is operated for local con- 

 sumption. At least four different veins of coal are operated in the 

 county. 



Coffey. — Mines located in the vicinity of Lebo. The coal is 14 

 inches thick and operated for local trade. 



Crawford. — This is the heaviest producing county in the state. 

 The mines are situated around Pittsburg and to the northeast and 

 southwest. Two veins are usually operated and in some places three. 



Do?/glas. — Mining operations almost abandoned. Mines located 

 in the vicinity of Sibley and Blue Mound. The coal vein is from 12 

 to 16 inches thick, of fair quality, and formerly supplied a considerable 

 local demand, but has been driven out of the market by cheaper coal 

 shipped in from Leavenworth and other places. 



