Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1922-10-20
FARMERS ELEVATOR
STROYED BY FIRE

The Farmers Elevator, on West
Second street was completely destroy
ed by fire discovered about 7:15 We'd
nesday evening. The loss is estinat-
ed at about $4,000 practically cover
ed by insurance, according to Mr..
Steging, manager.
Between $4,000 and $4,000 BUSH
els Of wheat were stored in the bins.
One car, just loaded, standing ON the
scales,was pushed out on the switch
and was not damaged. There was
very little corn in the building. About
800 bushels Of oats and about ten or
twelve tons of feed, were lost.
Something like 10000 pounds of
flour was on the floor Of the flour
house, and all burned except a few
hundred pounds.
The fire was discovered by Ben
Rolling who put in the alarm. Before
the fire department could reach the
building the entire west side of the
building was in flames. The firemen
were Handicapped because the stream
played on the blaze would not reach
to the top Of the building. From all
indications the fire started ON the
roof of the cob house. The origin how
ever, will always remain a mystery.
There had been no fire about the
premises and there were no electric
wires in that particular section of the
building. Some are inclined TO think
that a spark from a passing locono-
tive lodged on the roof of the cobb
house and started the blaze.
The Wabash engine house, only rs
or 80 feet east of the elevator was al
50 destroyed.
The elevator was the tallest build
ing IN town and the blaze could be
seen for many miles and many coun-
rySpeople drove to watch the fire.
The building burned 50 rapidly that
an hour or 50 after the blaze started
1t had burned to the ground.
A strong wind from the northwest
famed the blaze and sparks were car
ried several blocks. The roof Of sew
eral dwellings, on Third and Fourth
street were set on fire from flying
eabers, but were promptly p,ftoutfby
watchers.
The elevator was built by the
Leach Bros. IN 1906, following the de-
stxuction of the old elevator on The
same site September Is. 1904. The
Farmers Co-operative Company
bought the elevator from Leach Bros.
IN 1918, paying $4,000 for the build
ing and equipment. 7. E. Leach man
aged it until March, 1915, when the
late John Legendre and Richard Steg
ing took charge as managers. Since
the death of Mr.. Legendre, Mr.. Steg-
has had charge Of the business, with
J. M. Mason as assistant.
The stock Is owned
this section and its affairs are CON
trclled by board Of directors chosen
annually. The elevator has been a
success and has paid good dividends.
A meeting of the board was held
Thursday morning, and plans made
to continue the business. Space was
rented in the Rolling garage where
an office win be fitted and the busi-
ness carried on as usual. The usual
stock Of flour and feed win be car
ried. The old cider mill will be used
to store feed, etc.
What will be done about rebuilding
can not be determined until there has
been a meeting Of the stock holders,
but from expressions made by q num-
4 ber Of them, a new and better eleva-
tor will soon be built.
When the old elevator burned in
1904 there was no water works sys-
tenn, and it's lack was deplored. It
was the loss of the building then that
started the movement for water
works system. A few days after the
fire q petition was circulated asking
for an election to vote on the propo-
sftion. The election was held October
26th, and the proposition carried by
.256 to As. Salisbury Press.
FELL IN WELL
C,has. 4. Ballew came very near