Out of the past: Sept. 23

1990

CAIRO, Ill. -- Members of the 1244th Transportation Company of the Illinois National Guard in Cairo depart for Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. It's their first stop on a journey that eventually may land them in the Persian Gulf.

A pilot who flies into the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport for the Aviation Days and Air Show unexpectedly becomes part of the show. The left landing gear on the plane collapses when the pilot attempts to land at the port two hours before the show starts. The incident delays the show by about 30 minutes.

1965

The rising Mississippi River is expected to reach 30.4 feet here by Saturday, with no projected crest set as yet. Although serious flooding doesn't occur in Cape Girardeau until the river is considerably higher than the official flood stage of 32 feet, some of the nearby islands will begin flooding at 30 feet.

State College's two 12-story dormitories now under construction will include built-in fire protection systems consisting of sprinklers, automatic alarms, water-pumping capabilities to the top floor and fireproof stair towers; the dorms, however, will stretch skyward about four stories beyond the reach of the city's aerial ladder equipment.

1940

Last-minute preparations are being made for the start of the SEMO District Fair, revived after a lapse of 11 years. A short opening ceremony, to lend a touch of formality to the event, will be held at the grandstand adjacent to the race track at 1:30 p.m. The program will be short, and music will be furnished by the Central High School Band.

The Missourian publishes a map, drawn by city engineer John Walther, showing what Courthouse Park would look like, if the federal government trades the present federal building for the park property. The city's proposal would mean the demolition of the old courthouse and the construction of a new $430,000 post office and court building on the site.

1915

The big poultry firm of Goodwin and Jean has been negotiating for the lease of land from a railroad company at Delta for the construction of a poultry house. The ground is staked off for the building. The site selected is just above the Frisco depot. A large building could reach from the Frisco road to the Cotton Belt. Coops of chickens and cases of eggs could be unloaded direct from express cars into the structure.

Users of coal in Cape Girardeau, especially those who consume considerable amounts, are thrown into dismay when they learn that the Frisco Railroad will put into effect Sept. 30 a 75-cents-a-ton rate on coal from the Illinois coal fields. Coal dealers are asking: What will the city do about the contract it has with the Frisco to haul coal to the city for 60 cents a ton?

-- Sharon K. Sanders