Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-11-17
DR.. Niven Nov. 20 and 81.
The Page Mill at Fergus Falls
Destroyed-Loee $4,000
with $4,000 Insurance.

morning the Page Flour mill at
Fergus Falls was discovered to boon
fire, and the fumes spread SO rapidly
that no effort could check them. In
a few hours the mill, elevator, cooper
shop. cars, and neighboring buildings
were reduced to ashes. The mill was
the largest in the north western part
of the state, and had capacity of
600 barrels per day. The elevator.
could hold 100000 bushels of wheat,
and was a quarter full. The mill
was built in 1885, and had lately been
operated by the George Tileston Mill
ing Co, of st. Cloud. The mill and
other improvements originally cost
nearly 100000, including the dam
and river improvements, Lately
the mill had been running full time,
and was employing a large number
of men. The Fergus Falls Journal
gives the following history OF the
mill: - = /.
1.-THE Page mill was erected in 1885.
Mr.. H. G. Page, who owned several
hundred acres in that vicinity on
both sides 81 the river, had put in
the dam at an expense of nearly
5000 before the company was orr
gained. In 1884 the Page Mill Co.
was organized, Mr.. Page owning the
controlling interest. The other
large stockholders We're j. N. Patter-
son, DR.. w. P. Book, Geo. B. Martin,
N. B. Smiley and John McKeown.
The latter were Pennsylvania men.
who became interested through Gen.
James Compton. j. V. Horning was
the business manager and Joseph
Harris head miller, both Of whom
were interested in the company. Iu
addition to building the mill.
which had capacity of 600
barrels per day and an elevator with
Il capacity of 10000 bushels, the
company erected eight dwellings for
men employed in the mill. There
was also a store started and for
some time Mill Park promised to be
a hustling suburb. The company,
however, was forced to assign in
1890. In order to operate the mill it
was necessary to fill the elevator
with wheat when it was being mar
keted in the fall. For two or three
years the price was much lower in
the spring than the preceding fall
and in one season the company lost
$40, 900 by the decline in the price of
wheat and -four on hand; other
years We're nearly as disastrous and
the entire capital was swept away.
The mill, elevator and other i'm
prOvements made by the company
cost over 100000. Because the com
pany failed many assumed that the
mill could not be opera ted alta profit.
Two years ago George Tileston, the
st. Cloud miller, leased it for the sea-
son and the results were such that
he has continued to operate it ever
since. 1t has been run night and
day to it's fullest capacity and has
proven to be y very profitable mill.
There were only two disadvantages
to the location of the mill. 1t was
so out Of the way to get wheat from
farmers teams. and the switching
charges were quite an item on all
business done over the Great North.
Tern road. The cheap power, how.
lever Offset these disadvantages. The
mill will not be rebuilt certainly fol
some time to come, and until tits thu
power and dwellings, there are prac
tically valueless.
The mill at present is in the hand.
1Iof c. D. Wright as assignee. TIL,
. claims against the company amour,
/. to over 800, 900. The mill and plan
!. were the only assets and they ar
represented by the insurance. SO tina
q thecnmpany will probably not pa.
more tEaa 25 cents on the dollarnoy
Z that the mill is destroyed. Z
Esea1 Eatate Transfers.