In the early 1900s, operators shipped steam rigs into Kansas and
from one section of Kansas into other sections of Kansas. Reports
of large wheat crops fired their Imaginations. Their being1 from
home, expense? were heavy. Conditions arose with which they were
not familiar. Full crews were furnished, paid and fed. Sometimes
after feeding those men through rainy weather, when dry enough to
faced with reality, realized, ‘The pot of gold at the end of
the rainbow was an illusion.’ A few operators poured their
earnings down their throats. Others slipped it across card tables.
Neither paid, their notes.
In 1904, Advance Thresher Co., sold a 20 hp. engine and a 36 60
separator complete at Wellington, Sumner County. Crops were short
in Summer County in 1905. That machinery was shipped to Plainville,
Rooks County. Rooks County was on my block. That operator did not
pay his notes.
In 1906, the company instructed me to take possession of the
machinery. The operator had returned home but stored the machinery
with a relative, six miles south of Plainville, near the foothills
of the Saline river. The machinery stood near a stone fence. – its
only protection.
Instructions were to get peaceable possession of the machinery.
I informed the owner of the farm, what my mission and intentions
were. Inquiry was made as to possession and storage. The storage
was high but I paid it. He signed a receipt for the storage and
released the machinery.
Arrangements were hastily made for a water hauler and fuel. The
machinery was quickly delivered into Plainville and stored with
Advance Thresher Co’s. dealer.
