OLD-MISSOURI-NEWSPAPERS-L Archives

From: "John O'Brien" <>
Subject: Wilkinson & Barto ticket brokers - Kansas City, MO - February 1901
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 19:20:47 -0500

BARTO, BILLINGS, ROEHM, WILKINSON


"The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Thursday, February 21, 1901


FULLER'S EARTH AND PET ALLIGATORS

Charles R. BARTO of the firm of Wilkinson & Barto, ticket brokers,
at 1028½ Union avenue, is in River Junction, Fla. There is a large
deposit of Fuller's earth near River Junction and Mr. BARTO has
an idea that he would like to deal in this valuable stuff which is
almost indispensable as a clarifier of crude oil. He may decide to
buy an interest in the mine at River Junction before he returns to
Kansas City.

Fuller's earth is worth $25 a ton and as the Standard Oil company
alone uses 250 car loads of it a year, it can be seen that there is
some profit in its sale, as it costs little to mine it.

Mr. BARTO sent his partner, Mr. WILKINSON, and his clerk, Bert
ROEHM, two small alligators, which arrived Tuesday morning. The
animals were objects of interest along Union avenue and in the
hotels and barrooms, many persons watching them with interest
because they had never seen one.

C. J. BILLINGS, the ticket broker in the New Albany hotel, had
never seen a live alligator and he was asleep in a chair when
Mr. WILKINSON and Mr. ROEHM reached the hotel with their
strange looking pets. One was strung on a long cane and by
means of a string was lowered so as to touch the sleeper's hands
which were crossed in front of him. Mr. BILLINGS jumped and
waved his hands when the clammy flesh of the animal struck his
hands. One hand struck the alligator and it was thrown several
feet away. When BILLINGS woke up he said he had dreamed
that he had "snakes." It took a half hour for him to recover his nerve.

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(I have no connection with any of these people but I'd appreciate
knowing if you found this posting helpful. )
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• Wilkinson & Barto ticket brokers - Kansas City, MO - February 1901 by "John O'Brien" <>