Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-04-23

/ .N>A's ASSNSo WIN anu iuMOtE
had to ''double" over the Knob hill,
because there was no pusher at hand
to help 1t. So the train was cut in
half. and the forward end started up
| the grade. A short distance above the
| Knob it broke in two, and three cars
loaded with piling took the back track.
| They rapidly increased in momentum,
and when they struck the rear half of
| the train, which was standing near the
Il, there was a crash that could be
heard for long distance. Three cars
were knocked off the rails, the track
was dIslocated, and the ground cover
ed with the debris. 1t took until after
midnight to clear the wreck away so
that trains could pass. The discarded
pusher was Immediately restored to
service.
Last November there came to this
town two men with a proposition: viz,
to establish wooden mill, which, with
a tallor-shop attachment, was to make
place for not less than one hundred
employes-provided, that the citizens
contributed bonus of $4,000 to the
good cause. The money to be paid
when the mill was completed and in
operation. The projec ors had had Of
fers of greater amounts by other COM
munities, but they liked this place; it
was healthful; the scenery of the quiet
Valley indenting the summit Of the
classic Ozarks had captured their aes-
thetic souls. Here was the spot they
long had sought, and here would they
pitch their tent, fill it with $4,000
worth of machinery and sewing-ma-
chimes, and make glad the waste places
of cur population. ALI the foregoing
beauties of the locality had their part
in fixing the determination of these
benefactors; but the chiefest reason
was-tte Uater. The astesian we'll on
the A. V. NJ. Co.'S grounds, which it
was their purpose to buy, gave a new
er-failing, plenteous, always-running
supply OF the ..soft" element SO essen
tial to the needs of WOODEN factory.
No piping, no pumping from afar. no
failure in the dryest of dry seasons.
This was the sine qua non, learnedly
speaking, which had knocked out
Piedmont, De Soto, and a half-score of
other would-be competitors, bidding
away beyond the modest sum of ready
cash asked from this favored locality.
Meetings were called and steps were
taken by the public-spirited citizens to
raise the bonus. The editor was eau
toned to make no mention of these
things, so that envious neighbOrs-who
it was believed were all a-panting for
wooden milis-might not be spurred to
extra effort to rob us OF this Jacobs
ladder extending into the realms OF
unlimited prosperity. About $1,000
was, after diligent canvassing, set OPP
posite the names of our people, and the
remaining $400, it was thought, might,
by long pull, a strong pull, and
pull all together, be yanked from the
inside pockets of the doubling Thomas
es who hesitated and yet were not lost.
But about this time came hitch. The
negotiations for the A. V. NJ. plant
were broken off-short off-because
Mr.. Crommer wasn't epublic-spirited"
enough to part with his property with
out cash consideration. 1t is true, he
was willing to take some wooden mill
stock and to contribute $3.50 worth of
lumber, but he insisted on being paid
a little money-for forms sake, if
nothing else. This busted the trade,
of course Then the wooden mill peO-
pie, who in the meantime had resolved
themselves into corporation under
the name of Arcadia Valley Wooden
Mills" capitalized at 100000, came
suddenly to the conclusion that the ar
tesian well was no great shakes, after
all; that there was a-plenty OF just as
good, if not better, water most any
where: in fact, that water of any kind
wasn't much of An object anyhow; and
they bought-sson space, of course-a
lot from Mr.. Begley with not drop of
water on it or within half-mile of it.
As Mr.. b. didn't demand any money
down, the negotiation was quickly
concluded, and soon the lot was trench
ed for the foundation of the building;
rock was hauled, masons employed,
and East Ironton had a squirt of labor
ious activity. But some of the neigh
bors didn't want a dusty. greasy,
musty wooden factory in that quiet
residence portion of town, and one OF
them, with the right sort of public
spirit" bought off the company's Pres
ident, Lowenstein, with-S25! Then
two citizens who owned adjoining lots
in the north end of town sold and
gifted them to the company. The
Begley lot was abandoned, and the
scene of activity removed to the new
found location. The good work went
on apace, and soon the imposing strue-
ture that now engages the eye sprang
into huge dimensions. The artisans
worked cheerily, for their faith was
strong, though their pay was slow
a-coming. But after time. when this
building was ready for its contents.
and the cupboards and the little ones at
home were yawning for their filling,
| too, the workmen began to insist on
something in hand the whilst" They
were put off with meager installments
and plenteeus promises and still the
good work went On. The $4,000
| machinery came along and was duly
| placed in the building. 1t was good
| and approved machinery: it must be
| good, for great part of it was made
| in 1883, and an inferior article would
have long since worn 6nti and it had
| the approval of the President and Sec
rotary of the company who swore out
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