Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-10-17
CREAMERY
DESTROYED
Plant is Wiped Out by Fire Sunday
Morning, and the Loss is Almost
Total.
IT AMOUNTS TO OVER $1,000
Creamery Association Carries 5000
Leasee, $1,0O0-Future Plans.

The Lewistown Creamery, owned by
the Lewistown Creamery association,
and operated by c. P. Newell, as les
see. with whom was associated Rob-
ert Morrison, was destroyed by fire
Sunday morning, practically all that
was saved being 45O pounds Of but
ter, the scales, churn and some small
er articles. Fully 1900 pounds of but
ter, one-half of which belonged to the
Power Mercantile company, and the
balance to Messrs. Newell and Morri-
son, went up in smoke, along with
the creamery building and much valu-
able machinery.
Losses and Insurance,
The creamery association had about
$4,000 invested in the enterprise and
it's loss will approximate $4,000, with
$4,000 insurance, carried by Wright
Bros. and Hilger & Busenburg. Mes
srs. Newell and Morrison lose at least
$500. with insurance of $1,000.
How Fire Started.
Sunday morning Mr.. Newell went to
the plant, and, as usual, built a fire
in the furnace, using pitch pine kind
ling and then throwing coal on. AS
soon as the fire was we'll started he
went over the hill, short distance
from the plant, with a couple of friends
to do some target shooting. The party
had been there but few minutes
when the smoke from the building
attracted their attention, and they
hastened to the scene. The building
was frame structure, and burned
rapidly, and when the surplus butter
that was stored in the building caught
fire, 1t gave out an intense heat. The
| hook and ladder company of the vol.
unteer fire department made the run
to the creamery, and did everything
possible to save some of the prop
erty, but there was no water avail
able and they could do but little. Mr.
| Newell and the firemen made q spec
ial effort to save the fine separator
which cost about $500 in the east, but
were driven out by the flames.
| Association May Rebuild.
1t Is possible the creamery associa
ton may rebuild the plant, although
no plan has yet been decided on
A call for meeting to be held Satur
day afternoon at the Office of Hilgel
& Busenburg was issued yesterday
and at that time, the whole matter
will be gone over. and some conclu
sion arrived at with regard to future
action.
| Mr.. Newell viii Resume.
| Mr.. Newell intends to resume bus
mess just as soon as possible, whether
the association rebuilds or not. JUS
as soon as he can secure suitable quar-
ters, he will commence fitting then
up with the machinery, and hopes
soon to be making butter again. Ht
has an Office temporarily with Roy f
Ayers and f. w. Mettler, and will
settle for all the cream on hand wher
the fire occurred.
The fire started, apparently, in tht
roof, around the large smoke pipe, ant
it is supposed that it was the result
of some defect in the building. or tt
the pipe becoming overheated.
The plant was completed less thar
a year ago, and the main object O
the association being to establish thi!
industry. and not to make money
it was leased to Mr.. Newell for thu
first year, rent free. Mr. Newell ha.
operated the plant since last spring
and had built the business up to /.
point where it was paying proposi
tiOn.