Lucas County, Iowa

OTHER TOWNS IN LUCAS COUNTY


The towns in Lucas county outside of Chariton, the county seat, are the towns of Russell, in Washington township, Derby in Union township and Lucas in Jackson township. Each of these towns have a population of about six hundred people.

RUSSELL

Russell is situated on the main line of the C. B. & Q. R. R., about eight miles east of Chariton. It has the usual commodious schoolhouse common to Iowa towns of its size. As hereinbefore stated, Iowa has very nearly approached perfection in the building of such houses. Our architects have constructed so many schoolhouses in the state during the last thirty-five years, and the competition between architects for the construction thereof has been so acute, that it would seem that they have discovered every possible advantage or improvement in such houses. In other words, the modern schoolhouse in Iowa is a model of perfection in such building. They have not only looked to the point of constructing a substantial house, but they have had regard to the beauty and convenience of the same. They have sought to render it attractive, thereby impressing teachers and students with pleasant memories of their stay therein, and causing them to regard with pride to this beautiful house and grounds where they acquired their education.
Here they not only acquire knowledge of the elementary branches of education, but the surroundings educate and develop the love of the beautiful and useful things of life, which tends to render them better men and women.
Russell also has the usual number of churches and church buildings. While none of them are unusually large or attractive, yet they indicate that such societies are energetic, and alive to the interest involved therein, and their church buildings are amply sufficient to accommodate their membership.
The number of orders and societies in these smaller towns, of both men and women, shows that the existence and growth of the same is realized and appreciated by the community, and the influence and teachings thereof is felt in such communities.
While such towns cannot become large, or grow into cities, yet they become and are great convenience and benefit to the people of the surrounding county. They each possess large supplies of lumber and building materials, and also a large supply of hardware and farm implements, and farm machinery, which can be, and is, sold as cheaply there as in any other market.
The last generation has discussed the question whether or not we should endeavor to cheapen the cost of such articles by placing them on the free list, permitting their importation and sale in this country without duty, but, as this question has not been finally settled, it remains a question to be determined by the next generation of statesmen. When all other questions are determined, the people can entertain themselves by discussing the tariff.


DERBY


The town of Derby is situated on the branch road of the C. B. & Q. R. R. Co., extending from Chariton to St. Joseph, Missouri. It is surrounded by a first class farming country, and has several general stores, besides extensive stocks of lumber, hardware and farm implements. Derby and Lucas keep and sell as much hardware and farm machinery and implements as Chariton does.
Derby has the usual number of schoolhouses, churches and other societies and organizations. These smaller towns, of late years, have shown a disposition to organize and encourage the usual societies, orders and means of social and mental improvement witnessed in cities and larger towns. As some one remarked, there is no reason why his village of Tinkletown with a population of 100 souls could not have as beautiful blue grass lawns, as they have in Chicago and New York.

LUCAS


The town of Lucas, while possessing in substance about the same number of people possessed by Russell and Derby, and also with improvements, stores, churches and other advantages and organizations of said towns, has at times had the advantage of being the seat of valuable coal mines. For many years the coal mines at and near the town of Lucas were so operated as to produce from 200 to 600 tons of coal per day. The history of such mining operations has been shown in our article in relation to coal, the effect of this coal business on the town was apparent. At times when said mines were in full operation the population would increase to several thousand people, but when the mines would close, the population would decrease to five or six hundred people. An effort is now being made to renew this mining business.

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