The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-10-21
New Owners Of the Property Expect
to sart the Wheels Cumming
Ready For Business
on Nov 10.
GREAT FOR THE CITY
Opening of the Mills Will Have Good
Effect on the Community
and do Lot Of
Good.

DOANfaI AT1 u, OCt. Al.-DUudptti lS
is looking up. Messrs. Pocock
Lane and Garland of Jack
sonville, Illinois, who recently
bought the Bonaparte wooden
mills, at bankrupt sale, will open the
plant for business about Nov. 10. A
committee went to Jacksonville to
investigate the financial standing of
the new people and came back fully
satisfied with the prospects for future
activity at the old Meek's plant An
expert machinsist has gone over the
entire plant and put everything in
first class condition.
Mr.. Pocock is expected here this
week and upon his arrival the Bona
parte Wooden Mills Co. will be in
corporated. A 35 horse power gaso-
line engine will be installed in the
big clothing factory. This will oper-
ate the 10 machines and furnish pow
er for the dynamo which will light the
plant. Another larger dynamo will be
installed in the big engine room on
the river bank for the purpose of light
ing the town. The plant will give en-
ployment for at least fifty or sixty
people as soon as opened. and more
will be taken on later.
Bonaparte has been a town OF
many empty houses for fully year.
The sixty or seventy vacant homes
are already being spoken for and it
I is believed that January first Bona
parte will again be on the map as a
town in which houses to rent are un-
known.
J. 1. Israll, head salesman for the
Meek Bros. for thirteen years will
be the first man to go out on the
| road for the new firm. He expects the
force of men to be increased to six
or seven in a very short time. He in
| formed a representative of The Gate
City that the new concern would at
once get out special 1909-10 winter
line of all wool clothing, to be fol
lowed at an early date by a regular
line of spring goods. .Bonaparte wool
ems have been famous for a half cen.
/ fury.
Walt R. Wilson, for twenty-six years
millwright with the old firm, says that
he has started in on his next twenty.
six years of active service with the
| Bonaparte mills.
The Bonaparte clothing factory will
occupy the 54x1oO three story brick
building and basement. The first floor
will be given over to the Office and
piece goods. The second floor to the
manufactured goods and the third floor
to the machines. The plant is fitted
out for steam heat with low pres
sure boiler and is a strictly modern
factory for up to date clothing.
The big wooden mills with it's sir
sets of cards and twenty-five automatic
looms, all of the latest patterns, will
: be put in operation during the winter
giving labor to the many experienced
mill hands who have been idle TO,
nearly two years. This plant is rur
by a $50 horse power Hamilton
Corliss engine with Babcock and VIII
cox boilers. The opening of this part
of the Meeks mills will insure q
prompt return of the prosperity which
characterized Bonaparte so many
years.
Notwithstanding her many misfor
tunes, Bonaparte has turned the recen
idle time to good account. Mayor Oar
Cresap and Councilman Charley
Stebbins have been special commit
tee to look after civic Improvements
They have just completed six foo
concrete sewer, 102 feet long alons
Lower Front street. The street has
been filled to grade line and the
open ditch SO long an eyesore, is /,
thing Of the past. Mr. Stebbins claim.
for his town more brick and cemen
sidewalk and crossings G miles, thar
any other town of it's size in Iowa, anf
offers to back his statement witt
money, marbles or chalk"