Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 234, Decatur, Adams County, 1 October 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 234

family reunion; la Honor of Daniel Weldy —Promises to Be Big Affair 1 is EIGHTY- SEVEN And Celebrates His Birth- ( day at a Reunion Tomorrow The eignty-seventh birthday of Uncle Daniel Weldy will be celebrated appropriately by the giving of a family reunion to be held at Mr. Weldys home on south First street tomorrow. The anniversary falls on Sunday, but will be celebrated on Saturday, being more convenient. The children of Mr, Weldy who are living are Cris Weldy, W. B. Weldy, Mrs. Noah Mangold. Mrs. Dayton Gault, Mrs. Arthur Fisher. Not only the children but the grandchildren and great grandchildren will be present. Mr. Weldy has probably a dozen grandchildren. He has been for many years one of the best known and beloved citizens of this county, having always lived here for over sixty years, and been a good citizen. He is one of the old pioneers of the county. A number from out of town are expected to be in attendance, among them being Mr. and Mrs. Ora Clark and daughter, who are now in ■ Dunfee, Ind., and Mr. and Mrs. James i Sneider of Bluffton and many others. I A sumptuously spread table, with ■ ever# member of the family will be 1 seated around it will be the main , feature of the day. The morning and | afternoon will be spent in the usual pleasant way, in talking over bld times and in general conversation. TO STATE MEETING James Hurst to Represent the Adams County Detective Association - w AT CRAWFORDSVILLE The Meeting Will Be Held There on Tuesday of Next Week James Hurst will go to Crawfordsville next Tuesday, where he will attend a state meeting of the Horsethief Detective association as a representative of the organiaztion in this county. Mr. Hurst is perhaps one of the most faithful members of this band of Adams county citizens, who for the past three years organized and successfully, too, against the common ornery old horse thief. The association here is a strong one, and the large attendance at their meetings indicate a healthy and flourishing condition. They have grown in numbers until there is scarcely a part of the county not represented in the association. This has been the history of a similar organization throughout the state, and now Indiana is covered with shre-enough detectives who always have their weather eye out for the horse thief. The state meeting at Crawfordsville will be chuck full of interest and no one there will enjoy the meeting more than the representative of the Adams county organization. A program will be carried out there and the visitors will be. entertained by the citizens of Crawfordsville. - - o— — SOCIETY IS DULL The Pocahontas order enjoyed a social hour at their hall last evening. Refreshments were served. UsualK the regular business routine is gone through with, but last evening pleasure was mixed .vith business and a general good time was in order. Mr. ».nd Mrs. C. J. Weaver will entertain guests from out of town

Sunday at their home on Fifth street. The regular meeting of the Elks will be held this evening and every mem- > ber is requested to be in attendance, i There is something doing as there al- , ways is, when this lodge meets. A big joint meeting of the Brother, hood of American Yeomen orders from Berne, Fort Wayne, Huntington and this city was held last evening and this city was held last evening. Two prominent men of the order. Dr. W. O. Bowman of Fort Wayne, state deputy, and Dr. Goheen, of Fort Wayne, were present. Almost a hundred witnessed the beautiful and impressive initiation services. That the order is growing is evidenced by the fact that at almost every meeting several candidates are taken into the 1 order. ' j wetswinlnknox They Carry the County by 761 in Local Option Election A HOT CAMPAIGN Vincennes With Seventy-two Saloons, Went Wet by 1,835 Vincennes, Ind., Oct. I.—Knox coun. .ty at its local option election yesterday, voted to retain the licensed sa-

loon by a majority of 761. Vincennes [ went "wet” by a majority of 1,835. The 1 “drys"’ carried the country precincts by a majority of 1,074. The “wets” were jubilant and cheered in the streets. The fight has been a bitter one, but now that the county has vet. ed to remain “wet” many of the business men who supported the “wet” are I declaring that there should be better regulation of Vincennes’s seventy-two : saloons than there has been in the past. The liquor forces are rejoicing over the result of the election all the more because they believe that had the county voted “dry” the temperance forces would have prepared to attack Vanderbarg, Vigo. Allen and St. Joseph counties and possibly Marion county within the next few weeks They believe the result here will tend to discourage the temperance forces in these counties. The “drys” remained at their headquarters until all the returns were in, hoping that the coun. try vote would show better results. The vote in the country precincts was only average. The vote in Vincennes was heavier than that cast at the election last fall. The excellent weather it is believed, affected the country materially, as farmers are busy sowing wheat. The fight was close in several instances. In precinct Aof Vincennes township the “wets” polled 112 votes and the “drys' l the same number. Two mutilated ballots were thrown out. The “wets” carried Decker township by only four votes. The “drys” carried Widner township by only twen-ty-seven votes. The “wets” claim to have a report that the.“drys” will seek to have the vote in precinct B of the second ward in Vincennes thrown our, charging that the polling place was not fifty feet from a saloon, as required by law. The “wets" will fight this, contending that other elections have been held at the same place and that it is fifty feet from the saloon. Every precinct in Vincennes went •■wet” After the final returns were in several hundred “wet” sympathizers marched to the “dry" headquarters where they stopped and cheered wildly Hundreds of men and boys paraded the streets until a late hour shout, ing and blowing tin horns. The scene was one of confusion. Many business men and saloon men congratulated one another everywhere.

Mrs. Glen Brown of Ohio City, will return to her home in Ohno City this evening. The Decatur Packing Co. is reviving the meat market located east of the A. Gottschalk residence on Main street and expects to be ready for businss tomorrow. Manager John S. Bowers has had hands at work the past few days making some alterations in the building and it is now very nicely arranged for conducting a meat business. The same company [has also just closed a deal with Amos Ellenberger in which they come in possession of his Geneva 'meat market.-Beme Witness.

THEY ARE BITTEN Some Bluffton Wise Ones Buy Mining Stock HAVE NO DEED Property is Good But They Did Not Get What They Bought The mining venture in which many - Bluffton people were interested and which reports from the west indicate may result in the loss of the bulk of the money invested, is a matter of | deep interest in Bluffton and is being | discussed probably more than any

other subject. The mining proposition drew investments from some who could hardly afford to lose their money and one young fellow in particular is reported to have bought stock to the extent of about $1,200. As far as present information goes a party in the west who E. L. Murray trusted to procure the mining properties is most to blame. It developed that he failed to get a clear title and the company has no title to what was considered the best of their properties. Two Bluffton gentlemen have been to Mar. ion to see Mr. Murray, but found him so seriously ill, apparently from nervous collapse, that they did not press ■ business matters much. Mr. Murray ' worried both over his own investment ' and the fact that so many of bis 1 friends here had bought stock on his I representations. There is still a possibility that the mining properties may pay out, as the companies had some other claims. L. B. Stevens is still in ; Denver looking after the interests of I the property. Persons here who are I (Reported to have invested $15,000 to [ $20,000 are anxiously awaiting further | word. —Bluffton News.

VALUE OF THE WATERWORKS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANTS

In giving the assets and liabilities of our electric light and water works plant, I placed the value of same at $125,000.QJ0. I have since promised the public a statement showing how I arrived at the value of this property which so many people thought was a real burden to the city. My statement of September 15th showed howmuch of the people’s money was in the plant. The amounts are as follows: Paid by taxation $19,000.00 Extension money raised by taxation ~ 2,950.00 Outstanding electric light orders *. 2,993.31 Outstanding water works or. ders 2,082.99 Outstanding W. W. bonds.. 10,000.00 Int. on outstanding orders.. 1,200.00 j E. L. & W. W. orders in $20,000 bond sale 14,500.00 j Interest on bonds carried by city 19,140.00 Total . u 571,866.30 Plant earnings used for ext. 82,564 48 Total value $154,430.78 The above is the total value of the plant determined by the amount of money invested. The trouble is that I cannot make these figures stick, be- 1 cause people will say that it does 1 not matter what a property costs. Cost does not determine value. The • report further shows that $19,313.00 1 of the fire hydrant and street light 1 money has been retained by the tax- 1 payers. $93,049.42 was collected 1 from consumers. Our rate is eight cents per kilowat and other plants i show a rate of ten and twelve cents i per kilowat. If we had used the ten 1 cent rate, we would have collected 1 mlore than we did. Add 1 this to the amount retained by tax- 1 payers and you will fyave $42,575.00. j The above amount is for eleven years. < One year the amount would be $3,- i 870.00. Compute the interest on s7l,- 1 866.00, the amount the people have i in the plant by direct payments and t guaranteed payments including inter. 1 est, and you will see that the ;ity has < declared a little less than a six per t cent, dividend on her investment of i $71,866.00 besides earning $82,5'64.48 1 for extensions and the $24,875.00 of ’ the bonded indebtedness that was I paid out of the earnings of the plant. 1 / I

Decatur, Indiana. Friday Evening, October 1, 1909.

HE HAS A BROKEN RIB Dick Burrell Sustained a Painful Injury on Monday. Dick Burrell, the baggage man for the Fashion stables, has been going around with a broken rib since last Monday and not until yesterday did he know of the fact. He was unloading a trunk at the Clem Voglewede shoe store and in some way was forced against it breaking the rib just over the heart. Dick said it pained him ever since the accident occurred, but thought he had just bruised himself, but upon going to Dr. Boyers and an examination held it was discovered that thq rib was really broken. The doctor bandaged it up the best way that could he done and the fracture will from now on heal without any trouble.

o ! HE LOST HIS VOICE! A Queer Affection of the Throat Affects Little Albert Losche OF EAST OF TOWN Unable to Speak Above a Whisper for Two Weeks. Friends Alarmed Albert, the six and one-half year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Losche, who Ive on the Studabaker farm two miles I east of the city, is suffering from a peculiar malady, having lost his speech about two weeks ago and so far the efforts of his physician to correct the defect has proven unavailing, though it is believed that he will recover his voice. However, the parents and friends are greatly alarmed over the boy's condition. Albert had (Continued on page 2.)

Be careful how you figure or you will run the value above the $150,000.00 mark. You want to be careful or you will make every dollar, that the city invested, worth three. These figures have been too flattering and I will have to figure from another basis. i We will use the private ownership, . basis at ten cents per kilowat. Our gross earnings at eight cents last year, was $30,000.00, ten cents would 1 have brought $35,000. We spent for coal, drayage and freight $12,000.00, labor $5,580.00, you may allow for I depreciation $5,420. The total ex- . penses will be $23,000 leaving $12,000 ( > the profit on an unknown capital. This ; amount will equal the interest on [ $200,000.00. Our eight cents per kilo.; wat gives us a $7,000.00 profit with a [ depreciation fund of over $5,000 which ! amount is really too high. Be careful again or you will make the plant

(worth $200,000.00 and you will make 'every dollar of the money the city [invested worth three or more. In my statements, I have been exact but in all my arguments, I have given the benefit of the doubt to those of the opposite belief. I have never mentioned minimum charge once, neither have I have anything about the increased or higher power rate of the other cities. If a private firm could have secured this plant at cost, they could have bonded it for $125,000, put the money in their pockets, paid a six per cent dividend on a $200,000 capital stock. They could have spent tneir summers in Petoskey, their win. ters in Florida, while we could spend our few hours of leisure as far north as Maple Grove park. I believe in the people of Decatur managing their own affairs. They do not need any high priced men to tell them how to take care of their own business. When do you find a private business in this town that makes a better showing? In 1894 there was a $20,000 bond issue. This bonded indebtedness was made to cover the floating debt and to take up old obligations. Decatur then was $20,000 in the hole and no salable property: to cover her indebtedness. Today she has property to cover all her indebtedness and is more than $41,000 co the good. Using the $125,000 as the valuation of the plant, everybody knows the above figures are too low. This makes a difference in favor of the city of more than $61,000 during, the last fifteen years. I am glad to

OFFER A REWARD Mr. and Mrs. Blazer Will Give SI.OOO for Restoration of Daughter ABSENT FOR WEEKS Foul Play is Feared—Chicago Police Have Searched for Her in Vain Elwood Blazer authorizes the statement that he will pay SI,OOO for the return alive of his daughter. Miss Minnie Blazer, who disappeared from i her home in this city, about two months ago. Minnie is about sixteei years old, and a girl of comely appear 5 ance. Since she left here the polio and her parents have made a con tinuous effort to locate her, but with out results. At first it was believei

she would return in a few days, but as time elapsed and nothing was heard from her, the parents became more worried with each day. There is some evidence it is said that she was enticed to Chicago by a man con. 1 nected with the white slave traffic and the police of that city were notified, but without results. Now Mr. and Mrs. Blazer are truly alarmed and fear that something serious has happened to their daughter, this fear causing them to offer the sum of one thousand dollars in cold cash for the safe return of their daughter. While there may be some who will sneer at this offer, it is said to be genuine and shows the fact that these parents whose love for their child is sincere, are willing to sacrifice ad they have for the restoration of their girl. It is to be hoped that the reward will be the means of bringing back to them the daughter for whom they have sought so earnestly.

see that a great mfiny fair minded 'people understand the object of my statements. In fact our figures have convinced the most unreasonable that our city indebtedness rose and fell during the last eleven years regardIss of the water and electric light plant. Yet we have some men whj have axes to grind that cannot see what has caused our troubles. They fail to see the south ward school building at a cost 0f512,000.00 West Ward at perhaps 7,000.00 North Ward at perhaps.... 7.000.00 Central schol building 20,000.00 .Refunding bonds of 1894.... 20,000.00 .Refunding bonds of 1898.. 9,000.00 j Township roads 1898 to 1909 96,540.0(1 (Interest for eleven years.,.. 61,324.00 (Misc. streets and sewers... .114,483 00 Special street and sewer.... 17,683.00 Total $365,030.00

8 The above $365,000 is only a part of f the huge load that our city has bei n r carrying and paying. With all this 1 burden, we do not begrudge the far- ? mer this good roads nor wish the 8 city to return to her mud streets. We ’ have convinced the people that the credit of Decatur is good and that all our money is not going into our water ‘ works and electric light “junk pile.” There'‘are two things that a city coun. cil cannot do. They cannot manage the city business satisfactory to ev- ' erybody concerned, neither can they I manage the business just like they 1 would manage their own. business. Such wisha-washa policies allow the i indebtedness to slip up but does fur- 1 nish the strength to pull her down. There is no politics in throwing the 1 books open and allowing everybody ■ know the value of their own property. There is more pleasure in helping to build up the credit of one city than to destroy the credit of a thousand municipalities. “Build up” is the nrottcfc and every taxpayer should realize that this cannot be done without definite ideas. Publicity of our city affairs will unite the voters on rational lines, will aid in the care jof the city revenue, will, prompt the I I reducing of the city indebtedness and I help to save the interest. There is 'I no narrow politics in trying to save i [ the credit of the city. There is no ■ politics in working for our homes in- 1 | stead of the bondholder. That is bus'■iness. The road is open for better r things. Let us go forward and not 'backward. W. X ARCHBOLD.

MISS RADAMACHER RECOVERING ( From Serious Operation Performed Monday. Miss Mae Radamacher underwent a 1 very serious operation at her home Monday, and is now recovering though somewhat slowly. Miss Radamacher had been in failing health for the past several months, and it was then de- , cided that an operation was necessary to relieve her. A trained nurse from Fort Wayne was secured and Dr. Beavers and Dr. Boyers performed it. The physicians were of the opinion , that two days later they could not I have operated, as the patient would have been too weak and yet that the ' operation was necessary to save her life. The operation, however, has been successful and Miss Radamacher ! is now on the road to recovery. 11 o : HOME LAST NIGHT Elmer Moser Spent Two ■ Weeks Seeing the Northa west and Its Boom

CROPS ARE GOOD Land Selling from Twelve to Sixteen Dollars an Acre Elmer Moser came home last night from a two weeks’ trip to the northwest, the most of the time being i spent in tne country, the principal

(towns visited beingWinnipeg,Portage ;Le Prairie, Mellville, Wattron, Regina ! and Scott. The most of the time was ' spent at the latter place which is six ■ months’ old, and now has a population of two thousand. There are located I among the industries of Scott four elevators, four hotels, two lumber yards, and four large implement stores , who have mammoth stocks in the . I open, not having time yet to build suitable store buildings. The crops this year are excellent, threshing being the principal occupation, although many were discing the ground for the spring crop of wheat. He rode for hundreds of miles in passing one long sweep of wheat fields and the sight was a glorious one when the value of the crop is appreciated. Land is selling there for twelve to sixteen dolI lars an acre, and it is being purchased ■ right and left, the most of the buyers | coming from the western states of I Washington, North Dakota, Nebraska [and Kansas, and quite a number also from lowa, Illinois and some from i Indiana. Homesteading is also indulged in to some extent, but those who come to buy and farm the land upon a gigantic scale are in the majority, and in all that country is booming out of sight. Towns are springing up like magic and growing by the hundreds over night. Mr. Moser was pleased with the country, and the prospects of making money there.

UNCONSCIOUS FOUR MONTHS Fort Wayne Lads Condition is Queerest on Record, Little Patrick Farnan, five years of age, injured in a fail at the new Pidgeon Millinery-Fort Wayne drug building, four months ago is still at Hope hospital and unconscious, in practically the same condition as at the time of his accident. The case which is declared to be one of the most remarkable on record, baffles a'l the physicians who have seen the youngster. It is stated that at the present time there is apparently a slight improvement. In all about twenty local physicians have examined the lad and in addition to this at the recent national convention of the American Association of Obstericians and Gynecologists here, the boy was examined by about the same number of eminent surgeons who confessed themselves at a loss to account for the peculiar case. The case has attracted a great deal of attention in the city and practically every day a number of people call up at the hospital to ascertain the boy’s condition. —Fort Wayne News. Miss May has been the cuest of J- B- Rice and U L I' turned home to Huntertown today ( t Miss Mabel Pence, of Rome. 0.. s ( n the city the guest of friends. Miss a ’ence is well known here, having ( Il ved here five or six years ago. s<

Price Two Cents

SEASON CLOSING Pittsburg Wins National League Pennant and Detroit the American THE WORLD’S SERIES Will Begin at Pittsburg Next Friday, Much Interest in Results • The base ball season is drawing to a close. No longer will the eager fan scan the morning paper or await the 1 arrival of the evening dope showing the day’s results in the big leagues. The games yesterday, while not the last, decided the winners, as it is no longer possible to shake the top notchers out of their places. The Pittsburg Pirates win the national

league pennant, while the Detroit Tigers, are for the third consecutive year the champions of the American league. The all-absorbing attraction for the fans during the next two weeks will be the world’s series between the winners of the two leagues. This big contest will open at Pittsburg next Friday, October Sth, playing there also the next day, then going to Detroit for games Monday and Tuesday, and then alternate each day until one team has won four out of the seven games. The proceeds of these contests is always divided among the players of the clubs, the winners taking sixty per cent, and the losers forty. Prices of admission for these games vary from j fifty cents to $2.50. The National I league has won the world's series for 1 two years past and while opinion here lis somewhat divided the odds are in I favor of Pittsburg taking the series. namTcandidates Democrats of Geneva Make Nominations for Town Officers A GOOD TICKET _ r A. H. Fristoe Named as a Candidate for Treasurer

Geneva, Indiana, October 1. —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —The Democrats of Geneva met last night and nominated candidates Jfor the various offices of the town government. An enthusiastic convention was held, largely attended and a good time had and a splendid ticket named.,The nominations are for clerk, John E. Briggs; treasurer, H. A. Fristoe; marshal, L. G. Botkins; councilman first ward. C. N. Brown: second ward, Clem Green; third wardl Adam McKissick. Central commiteemen were also selected, they being R. R. Bradford fior the first ward, Milo Miller for the second ward, and John Armantrout for the third ward. The Republicans will meet on next Tuesday evening and make their nominations and from that time on there will be a campaign doing. Rev. C. U. Wade, district superintendent of the M. E. church, was calling on friends here Thursday and Friday. Walter Cross has his skating rink opened fior the winter season, and it is already proving a popular place for the older as well as the younger people. Large crowds ‘ have been enjoying the pleasure and Mr. Cross is also wearing a smile. Our hardware merchants are dismaying their stoves for the inspeeion of the many buyers, and if tn Jdgment of a casual observer mounts to anything, the equal of is display cannot be found in any wn the size of Geneva—the bars e down for the world to compete, you do not believe it, come and ?, for seeing is believing.