728 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
is an abundant supply of anthracite coal in the mountains of Colorado, and that 
efforts are being made to bring this supply to our markets at such rates as will be 
remunerative to operators, and at the same time within the financial reach of the 
great mass of consumers. — Industrialist. 
KANSAS COAL. 
Six years ago where the two towns, Pittsburg and Weir City, are now the 
scene of business activity, and embracing a population aggregating 8,000 to 
10,000 people, the country was nothing but raw prairie. Inexhaustible supplies 
of coal were discovered, and next in turn the workers in lead and zinc ores dis- 
covered they could transport the ores to the coal and manufacture them into 
merchantable lead and zinc much cheaper than bring the coal to the ore de- 
posits. Pittsburg grew, Weir City grew, and around these two industrial centers, 
in Crawford and Cherokee Counties farm lands have enhanced in value from $5 
per acre, six years ago, to $25 and $30 per acre, while the farmers are selling 
hams of their own raising for sixteen cents per pound, which brought four cents 
per pound when the smelters were first located; and so on have they found a 
ready and remunerative market for their labor since manufacturing has been 
established in their midst. 
Without taking into account any other material than coal, what is true of 
the Second district can be wrought out of the future in other parts of Kansas, 
for the coal formation is widespread and inexhaustible throughout the State. 
The mining of coal in Kansas is comparatively an infant industry, one of a few 
year's growth only; but so far as it has progressed, the enterprise has proved 
satisfactorily remunerative, and has demonstrated that Kansas coal is the best for 
all domestic and steam purposes offered in the markets of the West. 
Though only an infant industry, the possibilities of coal mining in Kansas 
with the attendant industries it is bound to attract, are manifestly shown by State 
Inspector Scammon's report regarding the coal mines, mining and the employ- 
ment given in Kansas. His report embraces a period extending only from July 
I to December 31, 1883, the law creating his office going into effect on the 
former date. From the report, the industry in the State is represented by the 
following figures for the six months of the year beginning July i and ending De- 
cember 31, 1883 : 
Bushels mined i3j377j875 
In tons 535»ii5 
Number of miners 2,833 
Number of other employes 671 
Total employes 3»5o4 
Quoting the report it shows the wide extent of the deposits, the magnitude 
of the industry and the fair remuneration to those engaged in the industry. 
