386 THE MINERAL REGION OF SOUTH-WEST 



dance of exccllcut blue limestone. Salt water has also been found in large 

 quantities and of a strength almost sufficient, even in these days of cheap 

 salt, to pay for manufacturing, while from the same well a natural gas forces 

 its way out in quantity sufficient to heat and light a large city, and of a qual- 

 ity almost equal in candle power to the best artificial gas. 



In Johnson County, which is one of the richest agricultural regions in 

 the State, coal has been found at a depth of 530 feet, in a vein three and one- 

 half feet in thickness, and thinner veins crop out at several points within its 

 borders. Building stone abounds, and hydraulic cement, red ochre, fire and 

 pottery-clay have been discovered in various localities in the counties. 



In Miami County coal is found on all sides, though so far only in thin veins ; 

 the presence of petroleum is manifest in many places, building stone of the 

 best quality and the well known "Fontana marble" abound, and recently 

 discoveries of lead in the Southern portion of the county have been reported. 

 In Linn County the coal assumes a more prominent position and crops 

 out of nearly all the hillsides and banks of streams in the Eastern and South- 

 ern portion of the county. At a depth of ninety feet a three and one-half 

 foot vein has been struck at Barnard, where also the famous "Barnard sand- 

 istone" has been discovered and taken out in large quantities. This stone has 

 been largely used in this city and is not only very valuable, but is also very 

 handsome in appearance. 



Bourbon County, which is probablj' the best in Kansas as a manufactur- 

 ing district, abounds in coal of two kinds — the rust}- or surface coal, which is 

 the best for fuel, and the black or gas coal. Not less than 250,000 tons are 

 mined in this county annually. Limestone and sandstone are also found 

 on all sides ; also hydraulic cement, fire-clay, pottery-clay and mineral paint. 

 Lead also has been discovered in a limited amount. 



Crawford County also abounds in coal, in veins running from five feet in 

 thickness downwards, while limestone, sandstone and slate arc found in 

 abundance. 



Cherokee County furnishes large amounts of coal, which is found almost 

 universally at a depth of from ten to fifty feet and in strata varying from 

 twelve inches to four feet in thickness. Sandstone, limestone, fire and pot- 

 tery-clayp also abound. Lead and zinc ores have been recognized us present 

 for several years, but have not been, until recently, believed to exist in 

 paying quantities. The late discoveries of these metals above alluded to 

 have been made in Cherokee County, about eight miles North-eastwardly of 

 Baxter Springs and, from present indications, will soon equal in importance 

 those of South-west Missouri at Granby, Minersville and Joplin. 



The counties in Missouri just across the line from those in Kansas, above 

 described, show similar mineral developments, while on both sides of the 

 State line the agricultural products of the several counties are fully equal 

 to the best of any of the counties in either State, and the Missouri River, Ft. 

 Scott & Gulf E. E. is tasked to its fullest capacity to transport the immense 

 agricultural, horticultural and mineral productions of this territory. 



