Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

Thursday, Sept. 13, 1923 -- RECEIVED NEW ENGINES -- The L. & M. railroad during the past week received three new and powerful locomotives of the mikado type, which will be used as motive power for coal and freight trains. Engines of this type are said to cost approximately $50,000 each and have a tractive effort of 55,000 pounds. On level track they are capable of handling 80 to 90 loaded freight cars and in territory where there are sharp curves and grades, they will pull about 65 cars.

FIXING UP ROADS -- Highway commissioner Ed. Mindrup is at present at work oiling up several roads in Staunton township. Among those roads to be thus treated is the one leading to No. 2 mine via the Burns farm. Mr. Mindrup and his assistants during the past week tore up the bumpy stretch of road on East Main street and have levelled the same off so that it is now in better condition than it has been since some time.

Several loads of oil were sold to the Oak Hill Country Club and were applied to the roads on the club grounds to keep the dust down and put the roads in better condition to withstand use in bad weather.

MINE INSPECTION REPORT SUBMITTED -- County Inspector of Mines R. C. Knemoeller at the meeting of the County Board of Supervisors at Carlinville this week submitted his annual report on the affairs of the mining industry for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1923.

From this report we note that coal production in Macoupin county during the aforementioned period reached a total of 6,828,389 tons, which while not nearly the capacity of the mines, is a considerable increase over the previous year. The mines of Macoupin county have a potential capacity of 10,000,000 tons per year.

During the past year the coal business has not been very active and as a result the Nilwood, Greenridge and Girard mines, as well as the mine of the Bartels Coal Co. at Carlinville have been shut down entirely. The shafts of the Consolidated Coal Co. at Staunton and Mt. Olive, while not shut down, have operated only a very small portion of the time. Those companies who use their own coal have been able to keep their plants in operation with a much greater degree of steadiness than those who depend on the open market for orders.

The Macoupin County record was again broken during the past year, when the No. 4 mine of the Superior Coal Co. at Wilsonville accomplishing the feat by hoisting a total of 6085 tons of coal during a day of eight hours.

Fatal accidents reached a total of eighteen, or one for every 379,354.94 tons of coal produced. This average, while somewhat higher than in some other years, is well in line with the general average throughout the country.

The year just passed has also witnessed the inauguration of First Aid and Mine Safety Work in Staunton, Gillespie and Carlinville and it is probable that before long other communities of the county will also take up this very essential work.

A perusal of the report indicates that the number of motors being installed is increased while the number of mules used is becoming smaller each year.

The report is a very carefully prepared one and shows much thought and consideration in its preparation.

WILL PLAY AT HOTEL STATLER -- Herbert Paschen of our city recently played at the Washington Hotel in Okawville, rendering a program on the musical saw, in the manipulation of which device he Is an expert. While at Okawville he received an invitation from Mr. Wm. Sommers of St. Louis to play with him at a ball at the Hotel Statler. Mr. Sommers is piano player for one of the St. Louis orchestras. The date for Mr. Paschen's appearance at St. Louis has not yet been arranged.

"AUNT JEMIMA" IS DEAD -- Mrs. Nancy Green, known the world over as "Aunt Jemima," was killed Thursday at Chicago in an automobile accident. "Aunt Jemima" was born in Kentucky and came to Chicago to work. Her ability to make "flap jacks" soon won for her a reputation and a milling concern secured her recipe and engaged her services as demonstrator. Through extensive advertising "Aunt Jemima's" smile-wreathed face is familiar to thousands and is symbolic of a "stack of wheats."

DR. PHAR HOLD-UP VICTIM -- Dr. Phar of Edwardsvtile, who has offices in Staunton and Gillespie, on Friday evening was held up on the hard road a short distance south of Staunton as he was returning to Edwardsville from Gillespie. The Doctor was robbed of $95 in cash, a watch valued at $60 and instruments worth $350. In telling of the holdup he said: "I was driving along the road some place near the intersection with the Worden road, when the other car ran up and the occupants attempted to force me to stop. I continued driving but they crowded me off the road and I was forced to shut off the engine.

"One fellow got out of the big touring car and covered me with his revolver. He ordered me to 'stick 'em up' and I complied. The other fellow then got out. One man went through my pockets and took the cash and watch. They took a stick pin and other articles and made a complete search of the automobile. They also took the instruments.

"The men were riding in a big touring ear but turned out the lights. In the darkness I could not tell the make of the machine. The men were not masked. I was detained at least fifteen minutes. The men then told me to go and I left them standing in the road."

BAZAAR AND SUPPER AT NEW DOUGLAS -- The annual bazaar and supper of the New Salem's Evangelical church of New Douglas will be given on Thursday evening, Sept. 20. Good eats, clean fun and plenty of needlework.

Come and fish where every hook catches a fish. Supper begins at 5:30 p. m. Chicken, roast ham and all the trimmings for only 35c.