Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 5, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 14 December 1907 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Volume V. Number 301

THE PRODUCE BUILDING COLLAPSED

Loss Estimated by Proprietors may Reach $15,000

NARROW escapes Two Employes Crawl from the Building on Hands and Knees. STUDDING GAVE WAY Caused Part of North Wall to Cave in—Second Floor Went Down.

( ■Unless carpenter Charles Suttles < and force of men succeed In bracing ' the roof of the Decatur Produce build- i ing so that several thousand pounds ■ of dressed poultry can be taken from the debris, the promoters of this in- ’ stitution will suffer a loss of nearly $15,000 from the result of the floor of the second story and its contents, (two car loads of goods) caving in upon the dressed poultry in the packing room. The second story of this building was loaded with goods with which the company prepared to meet the demands of the holiday trade, and although two car loads of goods had been stored there, it was thought that the structure was of such strong construction that it could easily bear the load, but at o’clock this morning the studding which supported the north partition of he packing room gave away and with it came the floor and many thousand pounds of poultry and eggs. The loud report that was heard at the time of the catastrophe was caused by the air escaping from a pipe used in conveying compressed air back and forth, a prima part of the ammonia system. Not only did the second story floor give away, but a portion of the north wa . of cement block construction, forty by ten feet in dimensions caved tn. demolishing everything before it. The only fortunate thing connected with the affair was that two young men. Howard Burdge and Bert locum who were engaged in packing pou try in the same room wherein e contents of the second floor fe . escaped unhurt. It was miraculous however, for these men, as they just left the north side of t e to get some barrels, when the crash came. When the pipe bursted, - storage and other adjoining room, were filled with escaping amm ° n and no person could have remained in either of the rooms for two mln utes without suffocating rom sects of that strong chemical. and Yocum made their e6<^ e the room on their bands an ( and consider themselves indeed, first, for the reason that _th< falling structure did not str and also because they made their ex “ being suffocated

from the room before oeiu 6 - While the loss Is heavy and also the busiest time of the year

prietors of the Decatur Produce - pany are very thankful that the hves > of none of their workmen we In connection. The bU " ’“ =g will go ' repaired at once and busin . on at this enterprising p,a^® jted tbe < as heretofore. Crowds • scene all day and watched the of repair. The Decatur Prod pany is one of the hustlmi g » - that of the city and it is to b the early estimate of the W ‘ greatly reduced by the as n o loss, of course, is a a c C ident. insurance covers mi tb e The live poultry was rem oW building where the wo ing went on. Consequently wag thrown out of e mp ”• be ab ie to present and the firm. demands . meet a part of eI J b — The lady in black. wh ° time has been causing seen excitement in our parties Thursday evening by identity on south Fourth stree however, still continues to be tery.

CLEARED NEAR FOUR THOUSAND At the regular meeting of the Elks lodge last evening, Charles H. Plessinger, treasurer of the fall festival, made his report of the financial end of the big project, showing a net profit beyond the amount roughly estimated. Since the closing of the festival, Mr. Plessinger has been busy gathering in the funds from the different departments and committees and it was not until this week that the accounts were completed. The gross receipts of the week, counting admissions, piano tickets, lotteries and booth and amusement col-

lections, were $6,111.56. The expense connected with the festival was enormous, amounting to $2,373,48, when all debts were paid. This left a clear net gain of $3,738.08. This amount is to be applied wholly upon the building fund should the lodge decide to erect a permanent home. Showing their appreciation for the aid they received from the citizens in making a success of the festival a reception was given the following week, but the promoters again wish to extend their hearties thanls to all concerned in the venture. —Bluffton Banner.

0 THE COMMITTEES Speaker Cannon Hands Out

Appointments for Republican Members. INDIAN AN’S JOBS Hoosier State Well Taken Care of—Adair Will Land Good Appointment. 11 Washington, Dec. 13,-Speaker Can- ’ non has at last completed the list of committee assignments of the rei publican members of congress from Indiana. The list, as made up con- . tains one or two surprises. Reprej sentative Chaney goes to the committee on public buildings and grounds h and Representative Gilhams to t e committee on agriculture. s This means that Indiana will ose none of the committee prestige tha a she enjoyed in the Fifty-ninth con- “ g r ess when Fred Landis was a mem- ‘ ber of the committee on buildings and grounds and George W. Cromer of the Xmittee on agriculture. There were candidates in great numbers for these 3 ’ tTo vacancies, but the speaker, who te has a warm regard for Hosierdom 1 nd Hosiers decided that Indiana Zuld continue to control the apd. pointments. republican

The slate of Inmana .vp committee appointments follow. Foster-Judiciary. gg and c “ d » a * wX-’W “ a “ er - tories. . „„♦= of the four DemoThe assignm j n diana have CrßtiC COn XX decided upon. That not been defimte q{ j ohn ,j g a matter democratic leader Sharp William . many men of of the house, * to Wffl beinfluence have ' p lr congressman . bait of J- A - ” district. It bas been from the Eig blm that a , strongly repre asisgnment for

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening December 14, iv<)7.

NEW LAW IS A FROST. Kokomo Official Gives Opinion on License Law. Kokomo, Ind., Dec. 14. —Deputy County Clerk C. E. Middleton has written State Game and Fish Commissioner Z. T. Sweeney, of Columbus, a spicy letter growing out of the assertion of the state commissioner that the local clerk’s office issued duplicates of two lost hunter’s licenses without authority. The state commissioner asks for a remittance of $2 instead' of the 50 cents forwarded, and this circumstance affords the deputy clerk to express the opinion that the hunters law is a “bad one.” The letter declares that an immense amount of work and bother is imposed upon the county clerk without any compensation. Deputy Clerk Middleton calls the state commissioner’s attention to the fact that the instructions upon the blank licenses are very misleading, reading: “The law makes no provision for duplicates if license is lost. A duplicate will not be furnished unless a sworn statement and an additional fee of 25 cents are furnished.” Deputy Middleton has forwarded the affidavits, as well as the 50 cents and awaits a reply. Personally he declares the law a “frost.” He points out the limited amount of fish with which Howard county streams have been stocked, and the few quail which hunters are able to flush, and declares that, like Benjamin Franklin, the hunters “pay too much for their whistle.” Three hundred and twenty-five licenses have been sold, representing that many dollars going out of the county, he declares, and asserts that economically it would be far cheaper to buy all the quail and fish that sportsmen ordinarily secure.

ELECTING ROAD SUPERVISORS. The election of road supervisors in every district of Indiana occurred today and in a few places caused considerable interest. In Adams county the hottest fight is in district three of Washington township, just south of Decatur. Harve Smith and George Kintz are the opposing candidates, and the battle has caused as much interest as a democratic primary or a national election. Both men are working hard and bothe claiming a victory.

WANTSTORESIGN A. R. Kling Unable to Serve as President of the 1.-O. League. WRITES A LETTER

Which Will Please Every Manager Excepting Mr. Jessup. Frank Runyon, manager of the Bluffton ball team, has received the following letter from President Kling of the 1.-O. league: Dear Sir-I am just back from Chicago and hasten to answer your letter of some time ago- I was Xted from attending the meeting at Richmond, but I would have gone there however, only to resign. Star ’has put it up squarely to me ! have to take my choice between my position and the league. As the latter has been an unprofitable a nd a rather thankless proposition, it Jid not take me long to choose. i n regard to using the money m th e treasury for traveling tc> comrlete tbe circuit, that is all right ex P t in the cases of towns that are “ p tel titled to their money hack. Let. m know what the league wants done know n turn over about this treasury upon the surrende . H 8 w jth Farrell to‘“m VtX protection, I wl» wad sotrmr P w dI , „ T . p ““““ ““’smearelr. A. R. KLING-

SURVIVORS OF STONE RIVER. Will Hold Reunion at Kokomo Next Month. Kokomo, Ind., Dec. 14. —The eighth annual reunion of the association of the survivors of the battle of Stone River will be held in Kokomo, Jan. 2, day and evening. There will be the usual exercises during the day, and a banquet at night, which is being arranged by a committee of the local G. A. R. men. The first session will be called at 10 o’clock in the morning. A short program has been arranged for that session, Which will be followed by the reports of the different committees. In the afternoon the president will deliver his address, Capt. Milton Bell, Capt, George W. Searce, A. G. Murphy and Dr. W. W. Blair, who was medical director of Maj. Gen. Wood’s division, will be present and make addresses, as will a number of other soldiers of prominence. Roger R. Shies and Hugh Dougehty, of Indianapolis; Capt. Albert A. Haskett, of Westfield, and A. L. Kerwood, of Muncie, will make the addresses at the banquet. The officers of the association are: President, James K. Browers, Shelbyville; vice president, D. H. Olive, Indianapolis; chaplain, William P. McKenzie, Plainfield; secretary-treasurer, William H. Dryden, Martinsville; Council off administration, Jphn T. Ellef, Blomington; George W. Searce, Danville; Daniel H. Olive, Indianapolis; Capt. A. A. Haskett, Westfield; William H. Stern, Nobleville; committee of different districts: Gilbert R. Seormont, Princeton; Maj. Elias Grimes, Smithville; W. R. Adkins, New Albany; A. D. Verordell, Madison; Geo. W. Searce, Danville; Capt. John C. Livizey, New Castle; R. R. Shiel, and D. H. Olive, Indianapolis; A. E. Kerwood, Muncie; O. A. Somers, Kokomo; Benjamin F. Booth, Boswell; D. B. McConnell, Logansport; J. N. Ohlwine, Cromwell; Edward Nicar, South Bend.

MILES OF BOOKS In the State University Would Reach from- Bloomington to Indianapolis. A NEW BUILDING Has Just Been Completed for a Library Hall at a Cost of $140,000. Bloomington, Ind., Dec. 14.—1 f all the books belonging to the Indiana university library were placed end to end, the students in that instituion would have constructed a walk that would enable them to go from Bloomington to Indianapolis without placing foot to the ground. It is also estimated that a rapid reader, putting in ten hours a day. would be compelled to read continuously 375,000 days or twenty lifetimes, to read them all. The new library building of the university has just been completed at a cost of over $140,000, and experts pronounce it one of the finest college library buildings in the west. Within a few days Librarian Jenkins will be busy moving the 65.000 volumes to the new structure, and he will have the assistance of a force of men. but even then the task will be enormous. Providing that a ton of books can be hauled on a wagon, it will require 184 trips, or a caravan of wagons more than a mile long to transport the books to the new building. The floor space in the new library is considerably more than an acre, the main reading room alone containing 6 000 'square feet and accommodating two hundred students at one f tlme Th ® stack room is large enough for -75,000 volumes, so that it will serve the needs of the state university for years to come. In the stacks there are two and a half miles of steel uprights and cross bars, and 12,000 square feet of glass flooring. In the entire building there S ample room for half a million volumes. —<— —- 1 A party of relatfves from this city J county «nt to Marlon » • attend a party » ’■ Jennie Cater, formerly of this city, tn the party were Mrs. Ed Huffman. French, Mr. and Mrs. John Miller Mr. Md Mrs. T. A. Studabaker, Miss Lelia Studabaker, Mrs. Frank Nelson, and Mr and Mrs. L. L. Baumgartner of Decatur.— Bluffton News.

WON’T YOU COME t , Enterprising Justices of f Peace Continue Their Fight for Business. HAS ANOTHER OFFER i - ’Squire Smith Adds a Bouquet to List of Inducements for Brides. Not to be outdone by ’Squire James ’ H. Stone, who on yesterday made the magnificent offer to young people marriageably inclined, to marry them free , and furnish a certificate ready for | framing, Squire James H. Smith this morning informed us that he would go a little farther than his first offer and w'ould not only marry any couple free of charge but would furnish them a certificate ready for framing and in connection with this would present the bride with a bouquet. Both of these men seem inclined to go after the business, and with the special inducements offered marriages for the next three weeks or until January first should be immense. Squire Smith since making his first offer has attractively arranged his office and those desiring to avail themeslves of his flattering in- j ducements can either be married in private or public. With the justices of the peace fighting in this manner , for the business which in the end is bound to bring the result, President Roosevelt should not worry over the ( race suicide question, and should write each of these men a letter thanking them for their services to his cause. Young folks if you are contemplating J getting tied up, Decatur is at present the place to come to as you can get the work done at a bargain.

The sudden change in the weathei has had a decided effect on the Christmas trade. One merchant stated this morning that if business remained as good the balance of the season as it was yesterday, he would be satisfied. Another enterprising merchant, who carries heavy advertising, reports business to date fifteen per cent better than last year. In fact from all quarters comes the evidence that any tremors the people may have had over the financial situation, are now gone, and it will pay more than ever to do your shopping early. HADTGO3D oe Lots of Fun at Prof. Leon’s Show Last Night. LADIES DRIVE NAILS Mrs. Leonard McConnehey Won Beautiful Silver Set. Professor Leon and bis troup of actors and actresses have pleased large crowds during the past two weeks. His show of last night, however. eclipsed them all. There was nothing but fun from the time the curtain was raised until it was dropped. Clever specialties were introduced throughout the performance the most prominent of which was the tumbling of their acrobat He was very good and his work drew applause. The act that concluded the night’s entertainment was a novel affair. Seven ladies were lined on the stage and a heavy piece of timber placed before them. Each of the contestants was given twelve spike nails and a hammer as Professor Leon said the word they all began pounding away at the nails some striking their fingers, some their thumbs and some missing the board and nails altogether, but neverthe ess it was a great contest and in the win up Mrs Leonard McConnehey was declared winner by Marshal Bohnke. who was acting as judge. The prize given for the winner of this race was a beautiful thirty-seven piece silver set and Mrs. McConnehey can be well proud of her prize. Professor Leon W HI conclude his engagement here with tonight's show and without doubt the house will be crowded.

• FUND IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH. ! State Institutions Not Able to Keep Within Limit. The board of state charities in a statement made public yesterday, shows how nearly the Indiana state institutions were able to complete the last fiscal year within the appropriations made by the last legislature. “The four institutions,” said the board, “which do not have an allowance for excess population are the Soldiers’ Home, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home, the Institute for the Blind and the Girls’ School and Woman’s Prison. The first three had a small balance remaining at the end of the year, but the funds of the Girls’ School and Woman’s prison fell short by $9,615.42. This amount was made up by the governor from his contingent fund.

“The state prison was granted a specific appropriation by the last legislature of $4,300 and the reformatory one of $9,000 to guard against a deficit in the maintenance fund. Both the regular and specific appropriations for maintenance were used and in addition the state prison spent $10,434.04 and the reformatory $15,676.72 from their allowances for excess population. The Indiana Boys’

school used up its regular maintenance fund and was forced to call on the governor for an additional amount of $5,000. The four insane hospitals used all their maintenance appropriations and a portion of their additional allowance and had small balances at the close of the year. “The School for Feeble Minded Youth used all its regular appropriation as well as all of the amount which became available for excess population. The maintenance expenditures of the school for the Deaf consumed all its appropriations for that purpose and all but $11.27 of the allowance for excess population.

SCHOOL FIGURES Show Enrollment in State Smaller than the Year Previous. BELIEVED AN ERROR Superintendent Cotton Says it Can’t Be Possible and Will Investigate.

Indianapolis, Dec. 14. —As shown by reports compiled at the office of Fassett A. Cotton, state superintendent of public instruction, the enrollment in the schools of Indiana for 1906 and 1907 did not reach the figure for the school year of 1905 and 1906. The total enrollment for 1906-'O7 was 538,959, while the enrollment for the previous year was 551,561. It is shown also that the average attendance was larger in the school year of 1905-’O6 than in the school year of 1906-’O7. For the former school year the average daily attendance was 425,149 and for the latter year it was 420,283. Mr. Cotton believes that the decrease shown is due to errors in the reports which have been forwarded to his office. He says there has been an increase in population and the truancy officers have been fully as vigilant as they were last year. These reports are forwarded to the state superintendent by county superinendents and the county superintendents get their reports from the trustees. The trustees get their reports from the teachers. Mr. Cotton believes there must have been numerous errors. The compilation of the report has just been completed. Investigation will be made to determine, whether there were errors in the reports forwarded. The report for the school year of 1906 ’O7 shows that more white boys than white girls attended the schools of the state during the year. The number of white boys was 265,647 and the number of white girls was 263483. Among the colored children the -girls took the lead. The number of colored girls was 5.369 and the number of colored boys was 4.760. The total enrollment in Indianapolis was 32,088. A number of the counties where there was a heavy enrollment and the enrollment in each were: Allen county, enrollment, 12.166; Delaware 10,531; Madison. 13,715; Grant. 12,208; SL Joseph, 10,798, and Vigo, 15,039. |

HE IS OUT OF IT The President Knocked Cortelyou Out of Presidential Race. DEMANDS ARE HEAVY Appropriations for this Congress Large—Call Soon to be Issued.

Washington, Dec. 14.—“ I’ve had a rough deal from the white house,” George Bruce Cortelyou is reliably reported to have said to a friend today. George Bruce Cortelyou is pratlcally eliminated from the presldental race. His game was to be the dark: horse candidate, and this game was planned on the advice of such shrewd politicians as Elmer Dover, secretary

of the national republican committee. Cortelyou was told that if he admited himself a candidate, or permitted the instruction of a delegate in his name or fought for a delegation, he would be lost. So the delegates he was working so patiently to secure were all to be instructed for Roosevelt. At the proper time there was to be a Cortelyou stampede. The announcement of the president last night spoiled all this.

Washington, December, 14. —The various departments of the government have already asked this congress for $996,949,288.96 to be expended during the year 1909. This sum, exclusive of deficiences and miscellaneous appropriations is $118,826,277.66 in excess of the estimated revenues for that year. Last year the deficiency appropriation was $12,408,998.91, and the miscellaneous appropriations $738,900.62. The estimates do not include an appropriation for new river and harbor work nor the cost of a public building bill. Taking into consideration these two Items it is clear that the demand on congress is for at least $150,000,000 more than the government conreasonably hope to get in receipts in the year 1909. Washington, Dec. 14. —Contrary to expectations Chairman Taggart did not issue the call for the democratic national convention before leaving for home. The call will be issued from French Lick within the next three or four days. It will allow each state to select delegates to the convention according to its state laws. It was learned today that Senator Guggenheim, a republican, put up $25,000 of the SIOO,OOO which Denver gave to get the convention.

the bullet did its work. I . Otto Seidel Died from Self-Inflicted Wound. Fort Wayne, December 14.—(Special)—Otto Seidel, the councilman from the third ward, who shot himself In the right breast Thursday night, died from the effects of the wound, at an early hour this morning. Seidel had been drinking heavily for a month and the council had threatened, even begun action to impeach him. Thursdaylight he went to his office and fired a bullet in his breast. He was very sorry immediately afterward. Physicians expressed belief that the patient would recover, but late last evening he took a sudden turn for the worse and died within a few hours. He was forty years old, unmarried and worth |IOO,OOO. o—- ~ The Erie has just issued a new time book which contains some very unique advertising matter. It seems that down east the Erie is considered a very slow road and every one takes occasion to hand the road a lemon the same as they talk here of the Leav Early & Walk road. Between certain points In New York state the road doesn't carry corpses any longer because it is feared they would not get them to their destination in time for the resurrection. All of this appears in their advertising columns and makes very interesting reading. The book contains many other funny little articles of like nature._Rochester Sentinel. Mr. Dan Fisher and wife. Eaton, Ind ; Pete Chase and wife, Shidler, Indand Lem Fisher, of Huntington. Ind., were in the city yesterday attending the funeral of Mr. Geo. Hurst I their nephew.

Price Two Cents