The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-05-08
TALE OF A TOWER
There It Stood, Yet It Had Never
Been Erected"
CLEVER EVASION OF THE LAW
The Curious Place Where John X.
Graves Turned Out His Shot and
Bullets and the Contract the Courts
Declared Had Not Been Broken.

enjoyed humor and a good story. One
day when in reminiscent mood Mr..
Allison narrated the following story.
based upon facts. which is worth a
place among tales extraordinary:
along about 1860. when the west
was yet quite new. number of busi-
ness men in Dubuque conceived the
idea of establishing plant for the
manufacture of shot and bullets. At
the time there was no factory of that
sort nearer than st. Louis. and. with
"a lively demand for ammunition. it
was figured that shot tower would
pay like California gold mine. The
tower, was built, the necessary ma.
chinery was put in at large expense
and production began.
"For a time business was quite sat
isfactory; then demand slackened. and
1t soon became apparent that the enter
prise would never develop any Stand
ard Oil dividends. After time some
of the stockholders became Disguised
with the whole business and practical
ly offered to give away their holdings.
among them was John X. Graves,
who afterward became power In
eastern Iowa politics. Graves quietly
bought up the stock as it was offered.
getting practically all Of 1t eventually
on the basis Of 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
tickled to death to get anything out OF
the dead enterprise. 1t 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 INDUCED in GER
tain statements concerning his plans
and purposes In the presence Of per-
sons he knew would flash the informa-
ton to st. Louis concern. and his
scheme worked admirably. Inside Of
two weeks 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 I'M
loaded his entire holdings Of stock at
over fifty cents on the dollar. realizing
IA small fortune. d
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 I'm an order for complete
equipment of machinery for a new
shot making plant. While awaiting
its arrival he INDUCED in Il little sur
veying.
dubuque is situated partly upon a
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 deep
well. Shortly afterward there was
considerable activity in that vicinity.
A force of men was employed to re-
move the debris, ana the hole was en-
larged and bricked up. A lateral in
cisiOn was made into the side of the
bluff. striking the main vertical shaft
a hundred feet from the surface open.
ing. Here a room WAS dug out and
bricked up and prepared for the recep-
tion of machinery. I;y fire 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 Ia Dubuque
loaded with contracts and reccipts and
paraphernaiia for making trouble. The
lawyer called on Graves and plainly
told him that il he did not shut mp
shop he would get the law on him
quick. Graves replied that he did not
understand he had vioarrd any law
or any pledge and that he would 90
right along making bullets. suggesting
to the attorney ilat IL. start proceed
ings. The attorney iAviicd Graves at
tcnti0n TO the bond given by the latter
that he would not engage ia the manu-.
facturc Of shot or bullets within 100
miles of Dubuque for ten years. Graves
ronlended that he had entered into no
such covenant: he had pledged himself
not To erect II shot tower and asked
The attorney If he had erected Il shot
;ower. The attorney said that was
boy's talk; that such byplay would not
30 in a court Of justice.
The ease was tried, aud nptwith.
standing that every fIch Of ground was
contested by the st. Iouls concern T,
which had able counsels Graves won
The st. louis lawyers c6uld not make
the jury believe that Graves had erect
ed. n 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 Ia his brick room 100
feet below and became a wealthy
man."-Frank I. StllIman In ST. Louis
Republic.