Stories, Memories and Thoughts
for Mystic
Introduction
We love to hear the stories that people remember from their youth, especially those tales about where they grew up.
Since the best and most interesting history are the reminiscences and stories passed from one person to another, we want to try and record some of them before these little slices of history are lost forever.
If you have a tale, reminiscence or other thoughts to tell of Mystic, about the places you knew when young, we would like to include them here.
If you're interested, we have some Guidelines about the stories that we would like to place here - please see our Story Guidelines.
Our first story about Mystic:
Mention of Mystic from 1894
Extracted from:
The Twenty-Fifth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, Vol. 4
Sixth Biennial Report of the State Mine Inspectors
Two Years Ending June 30, 1893
[Mine:] ARNOT
A slope located at Mystic, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, and operated by C.L. Arnot. A new air shaft has been sunk and a new furnace erected, ventilating the mine in a fair manner. Volume of air, 9,6000 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 33.
W.M. Oughton, Superintendent
BROWN & BOWERS
A slope located at Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by Brown & Bowers. Ventilated by furnace. Volume of air, 4,620 cubic feet; 53 men employed. On January 19 6,4000 cubic feet of air were entering the mine; on February 7 (an extremely cold day) 15,000 cubic feet. Above deficiency was caused by the course being temporarily closed on second east entry.
George Young, Superintendent
CLARKDALE
A shaft 70 feet deep, located two miles east of Mystic, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. Equipments are lawful. Ventilated by furnace. Volume of air, 3,520 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 11.
A. Clark, Superintendent
IOWA AND MISSOURI
A slope, located at Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by the Iowa and Missouri Coal Company. Coal is brought to the surface by means of a tail-rope. Ventilated by furnace. Volume of air per minute, 12,000 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 100.
Jas. Tuscon, Superintendent
LODWICK NO. 1
A slope located at Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by Lodwick Bros. Volume on air 3,000 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 39.
LODWICK NO. 2
A slope located and operated as No. 1. Volume of air, 4,455 cubic feet; 47 men employed. A new slope is being driven and in time all coal mined by this company will be brought through it to the surface. Steam haulage will be employed.
L. Lodwick, Superintendent
LONE STAR
A slope, located at Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by the Lone Star Coal Company. Mine in fair shape. Ventilated by furnace. Volume of air, 4,140 cubic feet. Number of men, 43.
John Seddon, Superintendent
ORR'S SLOPE
Located at Mystic, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by Orr Brothers. It is ventilated by furnace. Volume of air, 2,822 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 27.
ORR'S SHAFT
Depth 73 feet, located one and three-quarter miles east of Mystic, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by Orr Brothers. Equipments are in good shape, and escape is according to law. Ventilated by steam jet. Volume of air per minute, 7,700 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 26.
A. Orr, Superintendent
PEERLESS
No. 1: A slope, located at Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, ventilated by furnace. Volume of air 4,830 cubic feet; 48 men employed.
No. 2: A slope, located same as No. 1. Ventilation by furnace. Volume of air per minute, 2,600 cubic feet; 21 men employed.
No. 3: A slope, located near No. 2, equipped in the last year with a new furnace and air shaft, and the ventilation is fair.
No. 4: A shaft 30 feet deep, located one and one-half miles southwest of Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and ventilated by furnace. Volume of air 2,930 cubic feet; 28 men employed.
No. 5-6: Two shafts sunk a short distance apart. Depth 40 feet. Located near Mystic. The mines have underground connection and the coal is hoisted at No. 6. Ventilation by furnace. Volume of air per minute 6,300 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 47.
No. 7: A slope located east of No. 2, at Mystic. Just opened.
The above mines are operated by the Peerless Coal Company. With the exception of No. 7 all have escape ways as the law provides, either by slopes or shallow shafts.
J.E. Lee, Superintendent
WALNUT CREEK
A slope located near Mystic on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and operated by the Walnut Creek Coal Company. A new air shaft has been sunk near the workings. The mine is ventilated by furnace. Volume of air, 4,950 cubic feet. Number of men employed, 30.
Thomas De France, Superintendent
Off-the-Road Links ...
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The official website for State of Iowa: https://www.iowa.gov/