The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-05-05
OUR DISASTROUS FIRE

NoWngton Supply Company, stock
and building, and serious damage to
the, Tennessee Hardware Company,
stock and building, by fire on Mon
day morning of this week, the town
Of qovington and the entire commun-
ity suffers distinct and serious
loss Not thing was saved from
the Supply Company building except
such books and records as were in
the office safe. The entire stock and
fixtures and many personal belong
ines which had been left III the store
by members 81 the sales force were
beyond reach when the first help ar
rived The fire department made
splendid fight and is deserving Of all
praise in keeping the fire confined
70 one building, but the Supply build
ing was doomed when the alarm was
given.
The Supply Company was one Of
the towns biggest assets and had
gotten to be one Of the landmarks Of
The county Many people came to
Covington To trade at the Supply
Company, and while here spent
money for other purposes and at
other places. This may be said with
out disparagment to any other firm
on account Of the length Of time that
the company had been in business,
the large stock that it carried, as
well as the record it had made for
fair dealing. The drawing power Of
the Supply Company was big help
to people in other lines Of business
in Covington, and even to those in
the same line, because the competi-
tion between the business people Of
Covington has always been Of the
most friendly kind.
Notwithstanding the liberal insur-
ance carried BY the Supply Company,
the financial loss will be heavy and
the people Of the entire county, as
we'll as a wide circle Of friends be-
yond the confines Of the county, will
sympathize with the stockholders in
this loss. Particularly will this be
true in the case Of Messrs. w. 1.
Shelton, s. r. Shelton and w. ".
McFadden, who have been with the
company since its organization and
have given the best Of themselves to
It's development.
The Supply Company was organ
lied April IN, 1887, and. has been in
business continuously since that date.
Many years ago its annual sales
reached the 100000 mark, and it
had reached in one year $277,OO0.
The popularity Of this business had
never waned and had It not been in
terrupted by fire its sales this year
would have been, perhaps, as good /
as evar, except that oil accglnt of |
The reduced prices Oh goods II would !
have an9u ted I'd less ii dollars
The Supply Company has always !
been progressive concern. Not (
only has it handled the best il its I
various lines of goods, but its sales
and office meth IDS have been tsose
Of the best type Buying in large
quantities for cash and selling for
cash has been a practice Of the com
pany since its organization. For
many years its employees have had
their SD mer vacations with pay and I
have drswn bonuses At the end Of
the year based GA annual sales.
Tae plans of che Supply Company 4
for Tile future are MT known at this
time, but the people IF Gle entire
community viii hope that it viii re-
build ana reopen tie business along
the same lines as those followed be-
fore the fire. The town and county
can not afford to lose business
like this from its midst. Individual
members of the company express the
belief that the business viii be con-
tinued as before, but as no stock
holders meeting has been held, q
definite announcement can not be
made.
The Tennessee Hardware Company \
has considerable loss by smoke
and water, which is, perhaps, COW
cred by Insurance, but the inter-
ruption Of business will be consid
cradle loss. Mr.. Robert Miller, the
proprietor, came to our town about
is years ago and honesty, energy
and close application, has built up a
successful business, which our people
viii regret to see disturbed and which
the community could not afford to
lose.
The Covington Millinery Company,
W. v. Bringle and VI. L. Owen, at
torneys, and DR.. Z. ]. Lindsey ALI
suffered complete losses of their en-
tire office furniture and equipment
and it will require considerable time
and moneg to make good these losses.