The daily Alaskan., 1914-07-20
T'.B..-.E OF 4 TOWER
There It Stood, Yet It Had Never
 Been Erected"
CLEVER EVASION OF THE LAW

The late Senator AlilSOu, MuO7G home was nt Dubuque, Ia,, thoroughly enjoyed humor and a good story. One day when in a reminiscent mood MT. Allison narrated the following story, based upon facts, which is worth a place among tales extraordinary:
 Along about 1860, when the west was vet quite new, a number of busi- ness men in Dubuque conceived the idea of establishing plant for the manufacture of shot and bullets. At the tine there was no factory of that sort nearer than St. Louis, and, with lively demand for ammunition, it was figured that a shot tower would pay like a California gold mine The tower was built the necessary ma chlncry was put in at large expense and production began.
 "For a time business was quite sat isfactory; then demand sIackened, and 1t soon became apparent that the enter prise would never develop any Stand ard oil dividends. After time some of the stockholders became disgustcd with the whole business and practical Iy offered to give away their holdings
 Among them was John K. Graves who aItcrward became power in eastern Iowa politics. Graves quietly bought up the stock SIS it was offered, getting practically all of it eventually on the basis of 8 or 10 cents on the dollar. Just what Graves wanted this stock for his associates in the venture could not figure out but they did not lose any sleep over that They were tckled to death to get anything out Of the dead enterprise. It had been los ing money for some time.
 Soon after this the war broke out Graves instantly saw his opportunity. War makes great quantities of bullets necessary, and he made preparations to supply them. He iudulgcd in cer- tain statements concerning his plans and purposes in the presence of per sons he knew would flash the informa- ton to a St. Louis concern, and his scheme worked admirably. Inside of two weeks a man whom Graves knew to be a representative of the St. Louis shot tower company called upon him and in the course of the conversation brought up the subject of stock in the Dubuque company. After several days of dickering and bantering Graves un- loaded his entire holdings of stock at over fifty cents on the dollar realizing a small fortune.
 By the terms of the agreement, however, Graves legally bound himself not to erect a shot tower within hundred miles of Dubuque within ten years. The representative of the St Louis concern had scarcely got beyond sight of Dubuque, down the river, until Graves sent in an order for a complete equipment of machinery for q new shot making plant While awaiting its arrival he induIgcd in a little sur veying.
 Dubuque is situated partly upon lofty hill or series Of hills. and the in land country is extremely rough. When wandering among the bluffs Graves came upon the excavation of a deep well. Shortly afterward there was considerable activity in that vicinity. 4 fOrce-of men was employed to re- move the debris, and the hole was en- Iarged and brickcd up. A lateral in cision was made into the side of the blun. striking the main vertical shaft a hundred feet from the surface open. ing. Here a room was dug out and brlcked up and prepared for the recep- ton of machinery. By the time this work had been completed the outfit ar- rived and was quickly installed. With in two or three months of the time of disposing of the stock of the Dubuque concern Graves had the new suburban underground establishment in full blast, producing bullets and shot.
 "Of course news of the new factory speedily reached the St. Louis concern, and they sent an attorney to Dubuque loaded with contracts and receipts and paraphernalia for making trouble The lawyer called on Graves and plainly told him that if he did not shut up shop he would get the law on him quick. Graves replied that he did not understand he had violated any law or any pledge and that he would go right along making bullets, suggesting to the attorney that he start proceed ings The attorney invited Graves at tentiOn to the bond given by the latter that he would not engage in the manu- fracture of shot or bullets within 100 miles of Dubuque for ten years. Graves cOntended that he had entered into no such covenant; he had pledged himself not to erect a shot tower and asked the attorney if he had erected a shot tower. The attorney said that was boys talk; that such bypIay would not go in a court of justice.
 "The case was tried, and nOtwith- standing that every inch of ground was contested by the St Louis concern, which had able counsel, Graves won. The St. Louis lawyers could not make the jury believe that Graves had erect ed' a shot tower. And so he went right on pouring melted lead into the hole in the top of the hill and gathering up shot and bullets in his brick room 100 Pnnt hnTOyv and bpcamp n wealthy