Pictured here is a group of Coldwater business men junking an old combine and two tractors on the B. J. Herd used machinery lot on Junk Rally Day, August 28. Every place of business in the county closed that day and everyone stopped work for an all-out drive.Considerable favorable publicity has been given this county in the publication by the Associated Press of a three column picture and the following news story in 1700 newspapers over the United States, Canada and Alaska:
"Coldwater, Kans., Sept. 3 - Comanche county figured it was a pretty good deed, donating that carload of wheat to the famine stricken Belgians back in 1918.
"But the 4,500 citizens of this Southwestern Kansas short grass county now believe they even surpassed themselves.
"The whole county was locked up tighter than Easter slippers for Junk Rally Day. You couldn't buy gasoline, cigarettes or anything, except perhaps a war bond.
"The post office, telephone exchange, light plant and the depot stayed open.
"Farmers took the day off to scour the county for scrap. Bankers, clerks, ministers and laborers joined in dismantling old machinery with cutting torches, wrenches and sledges.
"The result was 375 tons of scrap iron for the mills. This was added to the 442 tons gathered up several months ago - and most folks thought that left Comanche county pretty clean.
"The collection included the American Legion post's souvenir of the last war - a 37 millimeter Howitzer captured from the Germans.
"It is believed to be the first county in the nation to shut everything down for a day to clean up the scrap. This ought to be proof to the East that the Midwest is behind the war program 100 percent.
"Comanche county's war bond purchases in July averaged almost $25 models to a citizen. The total was $21,000."
Also see:
The Western Star, September 4, 1942.
Scrap Drive Response Is Most Amazing
Nearly a Million Pounds Gathered to help Our BoysThe Western Star , January 18, 1952.
Scrap Iron Is Badly Needed.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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