RECONSTRUCTION IS TASK FACING MANY

Tornado Damages Yet Untold

The tornado which ripped thru Desloge and Cantwell and surrounding rural districts wide open Tuesday, May 21, left untold damage in life, property and suffering. No accurate estimate is available as to the amount in money. A preliminary survey submitted to The Lead Belt News is as follows:

DESLOGE-CANTWELL

Results of preliminary survey --

100 homes totally damaged or beyond repair.
6 churches badly damaged or destroyed.
3 schools destroyed (1 elementary, 1 high school, 1 auditorium).
1 Post Office destroyed (Cantwell).
1 Post Office severely damaged (Desloge).
8 commercial buildings and stores destroyed.
8 commercial buildings and stores damaged.
28 dwellings destroyed.
85 dwellings, major damage.
188 dwellings, minor damage.
31 business buildings destroyed.
25 business buildings, major damage.
35 business buildings, minor damage.

Farm damages, $625,000 estimate made by FHA and ASC. Total damage probably will exceed ten million, including utilities and undiscovered damages up to date.

The scene of disaster is rapidly being cleared and new construction is going on night and day. All the utilities, gas, electric, telephone are about back to normal thru temporary replacements but it will take many weeks to get permanent replacements installed.

Last week we gave you as nearly as possible a graphic picture and news story of what happened. This week more is told. Terry Williams, a Junior College student of Flat River, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Williams, has interviewed many people in the wake of the storm. His story, along with many pictures, are being published in this issue of The News. His story is a human life story gathered as fast as possible and as you know everybody involved could not be interviewed.

The News has learned that Flat River Lions Club has contributed $250 direct from the treasury and has collected from highway contributions in excess of $2,000, all of which goes thru the channels of the Red Cross.

Local No. 8-404 O.C.A.W. Ralph Baker, president, Everett Laws, Secretary-Treasurer, made available $75 on the minute for sandwiches, etc., Tuesday night after the storm and also made available $500 for any emergency and gave $300 to the City of Desloge. The union officials told The News they would go the limit to help if further requested.

There is a lot of discussion, pro and con, as to what help may be received directly or indirectly from various governmental agencies, state and national. The answer is, direct federal grants for schools will be 50 percent of the cost of building after insurance has been deducted, 25% must come from the state and 25% from the people of the school district, which of course would have to be voted upon. According to the best information available, the two latter requirements would have to be met before the government grant of 50% would be met.

Now comes up the question as to who and how is going to handle the emergency fund which is being collected. Many stories have been told The News and it is impossible to give a true and frank picture to you from the information received. Supposedly it will be handled thru the Red Cross and all matters will be passed upon by the headquarters in Washington. The Governor of Missouri told a delegation from Desloge Tuesday that the Red Cross was supposed to rebuild and take care of destroyed homes, and instead of paying for food, it could be obtained free thru the Department of Welfare in Jefferson City. The delegation consisted of Wyman Buckner, Irvin Green, Hadley Merritt, Frank May, C. D. Bell, W. L. Bouchard, Everett Laws, Rev. Mann, Ralph Baker. The delegation also was assured that federal and state aid would be provided for the sewage system when plans were finally completed. Gov. Blair told the delegation that he was handicapped at the minute because of lack of funds, but that if the legislature finally approved appropriations as he had suggested there might be some direct aid to the City of Desloge. The Governor was very direct and it was not maybe this or maybe no. He gave the committee more time than he should have but seemed to have enjoyed the bantering of questions poked at him.

Stories have been going around about curtailment of St. Joe Lead Co., and many other stories which have been discouraging to property owners and business concerns. The mines are still running at full blast and will continue to do so for a long time, perhaps after your grandchildren will have passed on. The story got out about Leadwood going to be closed down for a week, but the St. Joe electrical crew got the lines fixed and the pumps running and the mines are going on short order. E. A. Jones, District Manager, told The News that he and the company highly praised what was done in such little time.

Fred Strickland, whose store building was a total loss and his stock damaged, has not announced future plans.

Earl Bannister, owner of the Bannister IGA Store in Cantwell, plans to build a larger store, a super market on the ground where his business was destroyed by the tornado, also a building to replace the one which housed the Cantwell Post Office, adjoining the store building.

Earl Jones, owner of the Jones Market on Main Street, is undecided as to whether he will rebuild his store or not. The building and contents were a total loss.

On Tuesday a Lead Belt News reporter visited a part of the rural district which was damaged by the tornado, which included the Cedar Falls, Fairview, and Aulsberry Chapel communities. The buildings destroyed were the Russell Chapel Church, Jasper Byington home, Mrs. Myrtle Turley home, Wardy Pinkston home, old Shelley farm home, Lawrence Cunningham property. Several other houses were damaged and a number of barns demolished and a large number of huge trees blown down.

At the Cunningham place their dog and a few chickens were still there and Mr. Pinkston's dog was still guarding his place.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. May 31, 1957.