Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 166, Decatur, Adams County, 14 July 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 166.

A FIRE ATDIXON Harvey Elevator and Deit rich Bros.’ Hardware Burned to the Ground THE LOSS IS HEAVY The Total Loss Wiil Exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars Some one has their toes crossed on Dixon, Ohio. This morning comes the announcement of another disastrous Are there, which wiped out the elevator belonging to the Harvey Elevator company, and the Deltrlch Bros.’ hardware store, the total loss figuring twenty thousand dollars 01 more. The fire originated in the hardware store, the cause up to this time being unknown and something of a mystery, and was first discovered at two o'clock this morning. The elevator was a good one and did an immense business, as did also the hardware store, where a stock invoicing nine or ten thousand dollars was carried. The insurance firm of Gallogly & Lower of this city carried $6,500 on the stock in the hardware store, and $2,300 on the building,which will not pay the loss in full. Insurance is carried on the elevator in a mutual company, but the amount is not known. Mr. Lower is at Dixon today taking a bird'seye view of the remains. Dixon is becoming noted for its many fires, the most of them being costly conflagrations. This is the third time for the elevator to burn in the last five -years, and a year or more ago the large store and office belonging to Dr. Morgan burned to the ground. A few months ago the Methodist cnurch there was completely consumed by fire, and now this loss. Some of the fire insurance companies have already passed up Dixon, and now there will be some it more of them that will wish they had done the same thing. The loss is a heavy one, but it is thought that both the elevator and hardware store will be rebuilt with as little delay as possible. Both are good business institutions for Dixon, and did a thriving business. IN jointsession Commissioners of Wells and Adams Counties to Meet August 4 HEAR OBJECTIONS Another Macadam Highway on the County Line Being Pushed

Auditors 0. G. Garrett of Wells ' county and H. S. Michaud of this county, have published notices to the effect that on Wednesday, August 1, there will be a joint meeting of the commissioners of the two counties for the purpose of hearing objections to a macadam improvement on the county line dividing Hartford township in ( this county, and Nottingham townsnip in Wells county. The proposed improvement is two miles in length, and is to be made a double track, one <x which is to be improved with crushed stone and screenings. Tue people residing along this county line have been boosting this road improvement for some time, and it is like... t aas fast as the townships can afford to build the roads they will be pushed through. The auditor has long been waiting for the bonds for the construction of the- C. C. Sprunger, Sherman Glendenning and August Walters macadam roads, and as soon as they come the commissioners will be called ior the purpose of placing their official signature to them.

gave him a rebel flag Tennessee Girl Makes Present to Her Uncle in Portland. Portland, Ind., July 13.—Miss Etta Collins, of Nashville, Tenn., who is this week the guest of her uncle and aunt, Dr. and Mrs. H. V. Brown, of this city, has presented the doctor with a large rebel flag. The flag came into the hands of Miss Collins’ father, who is a Nashville business man, during a recent reunion of a southern regiment of the civil war. A few jears ago Dr. Brown received a present from a southern nephew of a federal sword found on one of the battlefields of the civil war. TOGIVE CARNIVAL Willshire is Planning a Big Four Days’ Celebration for August MONEY IS SUBSCRIBED Committees Have Begun Work — New Heating Plant for School House Willshire, Ohio, July 14. —(Special to Daily Democrat)—We are going to celebrate and arrangements are now being completed ffor the big event. It will be a four days- car- > nival, and will be held August 3rd ito 6th. Already over two hundred J dollars has been subscribed for the event, and the finance committee are 1 still at work. Besides this fund, the concessions will 6e sold and all the i money thus raised and from subscription will be used in making the event a rip-roaring success. The finance committee which is now 'at work includes Messrs. George T. Kocher and E. G. Spade, while the attraction committee is composed of G. D. Mercer, John Beam and J. F. Baucher. The boys are all hustlers and are going to show the folks something in the way of entertainment. An election was held here Monday when the citizens voted on the question whether or not they would stand for $2,500 for the installation of a new furnace system in the school house. It carried by a vote of 39 to 25. Work on the improvement will begin at once. An architect will be secured to prepare the plans and then bids will be received. The improvements also include plumbing. The expenditure does not increase the taxation as there is a sufficient fund on hands. o THE TINPLATE BATTLE COMING The Strike Getting Ready to Be a Real Good One. Elwood, Ind., July 14.—■ With apparently no change in the tinplate situation here today, both the men and the company seem to realize that the crisis of the fight is approaching and both are waiting quietly for the battle and preparing themselves to enter the struggle which it is believed will soon begin to grow more interesting. The real battle of the strike, it is thought, wili begin with the expiration of the tinhouse scale on the coming Thursday. There is no doubt but that the men of this department will strike and the general impression seems to be that they will walk out to the man. The tinhouse union has for several j years been much stronger locally than the Amalgamated, and should the strike be unanimous there would be in the neighborhood of 700 more men out of employment. The management of the factory, however, feel that there will be a number of the old men remain with the company and think that the strike will only take about twothirds of the men away. —o ■ ■ Mrs. F. W. Keller, of Roll, Ind., accompanied by several lady relatives arrived in the city today. Her friends left over the Erie for Pennsylvania. Mrs. Keller returned byway of Fort Wayne. She is acquainted with Mrs. Fred Linn, of this city, having met Mrs. Linn when she came to this town to inspect the Pythian lodge. ,

SOUNDS FAMILIAR Northern State Base Ball League is Facing a Serious Crisis FINANCES ARE LOW I Small Crowds, Little Interest and Frequent Rains Are the Causes No calamity howl is necessary, but it is no longer a denied fact that the Northern State Baseball league is facing a serious crisis. The situation is general over the circuit and the responisble factor is the weather man, on Important playing dates. In six cities holding franchises the clubs were able to break about even the first month. Then came the nasty weather and continued rains, resulting in reduced attendance, loss ot revenue and constant reduction of reserve capital. At the last meeting of league directors the situation was reviewed, but the various directors said then that their respective clubs were going to hold out as long as there was any possible chance of better weather conditions and weekly revenues getting back to the break-even basis. Down at Wabash a climax came last Sunday, resulting in the discharge of seven of the Wabash team. Manager Klunk announces that if given two days he would have another team in the field and his club will continue the playing schedule. He has signed “Red'’ Hall, an outfielder from Macomb, 111., and Monday evening had assurance of five members of the Van Wert independents. This will give him a seasoned aggregation. A meeting of directors of the Marion club was held Monday evening. ,It was agreed to hang onto the fight to the last. Marion stockholders are (enthusiastic for the season to go to | the finish. This evening directors of I the Huntington franchise .will meet to discuss various problems. It has been known all along that Huntington, by economy, has operated on the least amount of capital of any club in the league and the local team has been able to go along in the top division. Finances are low and a revival is necessary. The latest move is the selling of “booster club” tickets at $1 each, the same good for any game. If 200 of these can be sold, the revenue will assure league ball the rest of the season for Huntington. Some funds stand to be raised otherwise.—Huntington Herald. OPENTHENEWBANK C. S. Niblick and E. X. Ehinger Were at Tocsin Today THE BANK STARTS Doing Business Under Most Pleasant Auspices

C. S. Niblick and E. X. Ehinger, president and cashier of the Old Adams County bank, went to Tocsin this morning where they will participate in the ceremonies which will launch the new state bank of that town upon its business career. The new institutions began doing business today under most pleasant auspices. Twenty-eight stockholders subscribed a stock of ten thousand dollars and the bank was organized under the state laws. At a recent meeting an able corps of officers were chosen to guide the interests of the corporation and every indication points to a most successful future for the Tocsin bank. The new concern will have correspondence with the Adams county bank of this city. It is located in a new structure whtch for beauty and convenience is unsurpassed in this section. Frank Gartoh is cashier.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, July 14, 1909.

EXTENSIVE DECORATING JOB Scottish Rite Temple at Fort Wayne Will Be Fine. An extensive decorating contract that will require the expenditure of between $4,000 and $5,000 was let by the building committee on the Scottish Rite cathedral and Architects Mahurin and Mahurin to Gustave A. Brand of Chicago, at a meeting Mon- , day evening at the John H. Bass home. The contract is one of the largest ever awarded in this city and insures that the interior of the build- ( Ing when completed wiil be one of the most beautiful in the country. The color schemes throughout the building are to be various but all will be carried out to develop the architectural lines of the rooms and to emphasize the size. The consistory work room in particular are to Be made attractive and paintings of the rooms as they will look give evidence of great , taste in the decorator. All the work is to be in oil. —Fort Wayne Sentinel. o- ■ IN CONFERENCE The President’s Suggestions Not Being Made Public MANY LETTERS Indiana Steel Company Protesting Against Rate on Steel Washington, July 14. —While there is plenty of speculation as to what j the conference committee on the tariff may do, no one is getting any def- ! inite information as to the program, if one has been agreed upon. The ‘ president is adhering to his policy of 1 not making public the suggestions he jis offering to members of the committee. Undoubtedly Senator Aldrich, ' after two extended conferences with ! the chief executive since the bill went to conference, has a pretty clear idea as to what Mr. Taft wants. That he will yield to the president on ! a good many points is generally bej lieved, but no one believes he has • any thought of giving way on any iof the essentials of the legislation. ( Some of the members of tlie committee have a plan for adjudicating the I differences which would be a fine I thing for New England and at the same time, apparently, be a concesI sion to the president. The sugges•tion is that the senate consent to a I reduction of duties on certain raw materials, and in some instances to ' the transfer of such material to z the free list. What the New England i manufacturers would like to obtain is free raw material and a prohibitive duty on everything they manufacture. Washington, July 14.—Senator Shively put into the Record a batch of letters from Indiana people objecting to the corporation tax. He also submitted a communication from the president of the Indiana Steel company objecting to certain provisions of the tariff bill. The president of the Indiana Steel company, located at Gary, Ind., protesting against the proposed rate of $3.92 on steel rails a ton, said in his communication to Senator Shively that if that rate is maintained it will be impossible for inland companies to compete with foreign manufacturers at coast points. He continues: “Foreign rails have been sold as low as $17.40 f. o. b. Antwerp. The present rate of freight from Antwerp, Hamburg or Bremen to San Francisco, Portland, Tdcoma or Beattie is $4.80, and with the duty is equivalent to a delivered price duty paid, of $26.12 on foreign rails. Our present freight rate from Gary to the Pacific coast is sll. To meet this competition we would have to sell rails a&Uow as $15.12 at Gary. It is evident that if the proposed rate is maintained it will result in foreign producers taking away our market to the Atlantic coast, the gulf and the Pacific coast. I consider the situation grave, and ask that you do everything that you can to protect us.” Farmers are still busy making hay and they are enjoying a good harvest •ot same. Oats promises to be very i good this summer as well as corn. llf those hens would only lay now, I eggs would become a little cheaper.

JOSEPH SORG DEAD Well Known Farmer Was a Victim of Bright’s Disease WAS WELL - TO - DO Leaves Wife and Nine Children—Funeral Services Friday . Joseph L. Sorg, pioneer resident of Marion township and one of the wealthiest farmers of Allen county, died at 4:40 o’clock Tuesday morning at his home in Marion township, nine miles south of Fort Wayne. Mr. Sorg was 70 years of age, and his death was due to Bright's disease after an illness of three weeks. The deceased was a lifelong resident of Allen county and an excellent citizen who was widely and favorably known. He was born at Hesse Cassel, December 23, 1839, the son of Michael Sorg, one of the earliest pioneer residents of this region, whose death occurred twenty years ago. The son grew to manhood in Allen county and enlisted as a soldier in company K, Ninety-first Indiana volunteers, serving with distinction to the close of the war. His marriage occurred January 9, 1866, to Miss Mary Hcevel, Rev. Father West solemnizing the ceremony. Mr. Sorg devoted his life to farming, and his industry, thrift and integrity found compensation in marked accumulation of wealth and in the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Surviving relatives include the wife and five sons and four daughters. The sons: John M., George, Henry 8., Louis J. and Joseph L. Sorg, all reside on farms near the old homestead. The daughters are Mrs. Ed Allgeier, of Adams township, and the Misses Minnie, Barbara and Regina Sorg, at home. There are also six brothers and three sisters: Theodore, John, Anthony, Charles, Michael and Henry Sorg, Miss Julia Sorg, Mrs. William Suelzer, Fort Wayne; and Sister Mary Modesta, of Sun Prairie, Wis. Mr. Sorg was a member of the Sosary and school societies as well as of the congregation of St. Joseph’s Catholic church at Hesse Cassel. Funeral services Friday morning at 9 o’clock from the residence and at 10 o'clock from St. Joseph’s church at Hesse Cassel. —Fort Wayne Sentinel. Mr. S®rg was well known in this city and county.

FORM A COMPANY Stockholders of Bluffton, 1 Geneva and Celina Com- ( pany to Do Own Work ________ s 1 OF CONSTRUCTION i < i They Have Organized a j Company—the Line Will 1 Be Rushed to Completion The Wells Construction company, consisting of a number of business men of Bluffton, has been organized for the purpose of building the Bluffton, Geneva & Celina interurban and will be ready to begin work in a short time. The company has only been organized recently and has already started preparations for the building of the road. As a result there will be no bids for the grading contract, but the Wells Construction company will build the entire road. All of the members of the construction company are also stockholders in the interurban company and consequently the work can be done to a better advantage by them than by some outsider. The directors of the company are: H. C. Arnold, L. A. Williamson, S. E. Bender, E. B. Williamson, W. A. Kunkel and A. G. Briggs. Without doubt the work of construction will be rushed to com- j [pletion and thus a long felt want will | be satisfied. I

QUESTION HAD 3,000 WORDS Murder Trial at Detroit Breaks Record in this Respect. Detroit, July 13. —The record for long hypothetical questions was broken today when Attorney Bumps, counsel for Dr. C. Boyajiap, on trial for shooting his nephew, Haratoon Bostanian, propounded one containing 3,000 words to Dr. David R. Clark, an alienist witness for the defense. The question embraced all of the testimony given by the witnesses iu the case and was propounded in an effort to prove that Dr. Boyajian was insane at the time he shot Gostanian. Prosecutor Van Zile objected to the question and a lengthy argument followed. P a—- — ELECTION NOW Wells County Will Wait to Hear from the Supreme Court COUNTY IS DRY They Cleaned Out the Saloons by Remonstrance Nearly a Year Ago The Rev. N. C. Shirey, of Fort Wayne district superintendent of the state anti-saloon league, was in Bluff-

ton today and spent several hours here circulating among local workers in the temperance line. When asked whether there was anything under way for a local option election in this county the coming fall he said that he was not doing anything in that line in Bluffton just at this time, and that he simply happened to be going through Bluffton and stopped off here for a short visit with friends. According to report it is likely that local anti-saloon forces will not ask for a local option election until a decision is rendered in the supreme court on the constitutionality of the local option law. This county is dry by remonstrance until a year from next November, about fifteen months longer and this gives plenty of time to hold an election if one is desired. By continuing the election until a decision on the law is rendered this county will take no chance of unnecessary expense. The election is sure to come within a year, however, if the law is held valid, for by putting the saloons out by election they are closed for good under this law until another election is held whereas by remonstrance they are ousted only for two years.—Bluffton News. , ■ o WRIGHT FAILED TO FLY Aeroplane Did Not Have Favorable Conditions Yesterday. Washington, July 13. —Orville Wright, late today, made two unsuccessful attempts to maneuver his aeroplane in the air at Fort Myer.

The failures were due largely to the h small area of the field and the unfavorable direction of the light wind blowing. The machine rose on both occasions, but the aviator was obliged to make the turn at the end of the drill field before the “flying speed had been attained, and came to earth because of lack of speed when he attempted to turn. On the first trial the machine rose a little more than ten feet, and on the second trial ] a height of about 20 feet was attained. , Tn the latter trial Mr. Wright failed to stop his motor before making landing, and the machine In scraping against a little knoll, broke the crossbar between the skids. o ——• CONFERENCE HAS CLOSED Richmond District African M. E. Sunday School Convention at Anderson. Anderson, Ind., July 13. —The annual conference of the churches and Sunday school convention of the Richi mond district, African M. E. church, ■ closed at the Alien chapel, in this • city, after the election of officers and i the choosing of Carthage as the place ■ for meeting in July 1910. M. V. i Saunders, of this city, was elected j 7 secretary of the conference. By vir-I 5 tue of his office, Presiding Elder Hun-1 . ter, of Richmond, continues as chair- ] ■ man of the district. For the Sunday j . school convention officers elected fori. Hone year were: Chairman, L. M.'i Smith, Marion: secretary. Miss Cora|t Tanner, of Kokomo; treasurer, Miss c |Josie Watkins, Richmond. la

Price Two Cents

ARE IN READINESS Arrangements Complete for the Big Log Rolling to Be Held Here ON NEXT SATURDAY Decorate Y our Business House in Red, Green and White, Lodge Colors Those in charge of the Modern Woodmen's log rolling are expecting a big crowd of strangers here next Saturday, and they also expect many people from this section and this city to assist in making the day a big holiday. If you will glance at the program to be found complete in this issue you will see that the fun begins early in the morning and continues until late at night and we are requested to impress on the minds of all that you are cordially invited to take part in the day's pleasures, whether you are a Woodman or not. You are also invited to join in the parade. Business men of the city are asked to decorate in the 'Woodmen's colors, which are red, white and green. There will be plenty of good music, and for those who go to the park there will be all kinds of amusements and sports. If you read the program you will sure find something that will interest and allure you to the grounds on that day. Word has been received from a number of camps that they are coming with big delegations and it is hoped that the strangers to the city will be impressed with the courteous treatment given them. Turn the town over to the boys that day as they are a bunch of gentlemen who will be here only for a day of recreation and should have the keys to the city. o BURNS WILL FIGHT AGAIN Ex-Champion Likely to Meet Sam Langford in England. New York, July 13.-—Tommy Burns, whom Jack Johnson defeated for the heavyweight championship of the world, has bene matched to fight Sam Langford in England during the latter part of October. Hugh Mclntosh, who staged the Burns-Johnson fight, and William C. Brady are promoting the go. Langford and his manager, Joe Woodman, will sail for England September 29. The men will battle at catchweights. o LEASED THE HALL Several Decatur Gentlemen to Have Dance Hall at Maple Grove

THE PARK OPENS The Amusement Place Will Be Very Attractive this Summer , The Maple Grove Park association has closed a deal whereby Messrs, W. H. Lehne, Vane Weaver, Elgin King and several other Decatur gentlemen have leased the dancing hall at the park where they will give dances each week. The first hop will be given tomorrow night, and it is understood that a large crowd will . be present to enjoy the popular pastime. The Maple Grove Park gives ' promise of being even more prosper--1 ous and popular than last year, and far better attractions will be sei, s cured. The promoters have arranged n to have a balloon ascension there in e the very near future, a merry-go- ’. round will be placed upon the grounds 1 next week, the shooting gallery, eat- - ing stand and bowling alley will soon . be in operation. The directors of the association are busy selling the various priviliges at the present time. iMaple Grove affords beautiful shade land is an ideal place at which to seek | recreation and during the summer no doubt, large crowds will visit the I amusement place.