Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1917 — GRANT-WARNER LUMBER COMPANY TS DISSOLVE [ARTICLE]

GRANT-WARNER LUMBER COMPANY TS DISSOLVE

Leading Rensselaer Business Concern To Go Out of Business At Once. The firm of Grant-Warner Lumber Company has disposed of its holdings and win discontinue business at once. The purchasers are the Rensselaer Lumber Co. and the J. C. Gwin Lumber Co., who have bought the lumber business including the grounds and buildings for that purpose. The coal bins and the seven lots that go with them were sold 'to the firm of Kellner ACallahan. : , ? The Grant-Warner Lumber Company was incorporated Feb. 15, 1913. The stockholders were Charles C. Warner, Thomas Grant and G. E. Murray and E. L. Hollingsworth. The stock held by Mr. Hollingsworth was later taken over by the other members of the firm. It is understood that the amount put into the business was close to $25,000. The firm handled lumber, coal, sewer, wire fencing, lime, cement and rough hardware. We understand that it has never been a paying proposition on account of the field in which they had entered being already overcrowded. The firm hao as competitors the very strong firms of the Rensselaer Lumber Co., and the J. C. Gwin Lumber Co., both well established and with very strong financial .backing. Five firms were in the coal business and all seemed able to hold the trade against the newcomer, which made six coal firms in the city. This was entirely too many and the new firm was not able to do an extensive business in that line.

The members of the firm are splendid fellows. Mr. Grant had been very successful in the lumber ibusi ne . s at Roselawn and Mr. Warner had a business training of considerable breadth and had been for eight years one of Jasper county’s most popular officers. He was for that perio l the clerk of the Jaspw circuit court . Mr. Murrav had not been active in the management of this business bv.t his most successful career as a business man made a very valuable number capable of giving most excellent advice. The lack of success of the business was dn no way due to incompetei qy or mismanagement but was due entirely to the crowded field in which it attempted to operate. A considerable amount of money was expended in equipment. The office, lumber sheds and barn represent a considerable expenditure of money. The coal bins are along, the railroad and wall be of very great value to the firm: of Kellner & Callahan, who have possibly Hie largest business in that line of any firm in the city. The J. C. Gwin Lumber Co. will take over that part of the land and building that joins the property they now own. - Kellner & Callahan, who already have a large trade in the sewer lane, have taken over the Grant-Warner stock in that line. We have not been advised as to the plans of either Mr. Warner or Mr. Grant for future activity. But whatever may be their endeavor, thevhave, a host of friends who wish thepat well.