Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 25, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 1 January 1927 — Page 1

ff WEATHER ■ Cloudy and unsetBled tonight. Satun* Busy mostly fair. Not ■much change m ■ temperature.

NEW YEAR IS USHERED IN AMID NOISE HI /

mew official! (ASSUME UUTII I IN COUNTY Toil ■New Sheriff Takes Os Several County Officl Succeed Themselves J TOWNSHIP OFFICE! j BEGIN DUTIES, “j I Several county and townslM f rials who were elected in thef f election last November took of- j I day. Harl Holllngworth, who wfled sheriff on the DemocratJt I list November, assumed the |f I that office this morning, suMK I John Baker,,who served two ■*| I sheriff. Mr. and Mrs. Hbl.lngsworle moved into the county jail f r - Baker and his family have t|o the Baker property on e. Mr. Baker stated yesterday fie I had not yet decided what he Bo | in the future. A deputy sheriff has not ion appointed, it was learned t|ut it is probable that the riding Ind deputy sheriff will be the iferson, as has been the custofhis ] county for many years. Others Take Offic® County Surveyor Dick Hos edcd himself today and wills as surveyor for two more yearsfoch has made a good record a#yor the last four years, and wf ted last November without any f ion. Dick Tonnelier. deputy, willnue. in that capacity, ii was amid at the office of the surveyor. L John T. Kelly also sue/ liimsrlf as prosecutor. Mr. Kell jierved a two-year term as pros ■ and will begin today on his se :erm John G. Hoffman will t ■ the duties of commissioner to. 'rank Breiner, the other commiss elected last November, who sue himself, will not be sworn In so ‘cond term until next January. All seven members of t dams 1 county council will take oath ! of office today. They were :d on | the Democratic ticket witht rposi--3 tion last fall. The twelve township tni who I will take their oath of offici ty for I a four yefir period are: Ernst Worthman, Preble nship. (CONTINUED ON . — 0 1 II TOWNSHIE MAY BUILD BIDS f Union Township 01 One That Does Not Hauund Available For wk Eleven of the twelve tifchips in | Adams county will have1>3,831.06 I available for new road built in 1927 I figured on the two per ceilad bond I Indebtedness limit, aceort to the I table of figures compilet County I Auditor Martin Jaberg. Although this amount is liable in I the townships, it does nc ean that I the roads will be built. ’ two per I cent limit, figured on th st vahiaJ tions in the townships, w ield that I total for road building. Union township is the ly township in the county fun are not I available for build In this I township, the road bulk fund is I $19.98 over the limit. Washington township, * a valuaI tion of $9,670,900, has an akalde fund I of $88,125,04. This is tbeßgept am- ■ ouni Available in any oneMthe townships. During 1927 the twelWownships will pay $147,625.92. Thiroad debt in the 12 townships on Jfciarjj 1, is $716,927.49. This a reduqtn o! several hundred thousand dplirs i yer a few years ago. The towns® roa debt in this county, at one tinfewa more 1 than a million dollars. Si|c th 2 per cent road law became djtfcti >, the debt has been decreased! A table showing the ajbun owe( i by each township and nonnt ' available in each township (pn ifehed 1 in another part of this pa er

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. I Number One.

■Prohibition Enforcement ■Reported Better In General I Washington. Jan. I.—(United Press) ■—The new year “finds prohibition en■forcement better all along the line," Ithp board of temperance, prohibition land public morals of the Methodist I Episcopal church announced today. “Hie production of moonshine, howI ever, is stilf far too general," the r board said. "This situation must be controlled by local authorities.” I - I - o SMALL FIRE LOSS HERE LAST YEAR I Fire Chief Reports That Loss During 1926 Amounted To Only SII,BOO The fire loss in Decatur during 1926 was small, according x to the anual reIport compiled today by Jack Freidt, ■ chief of the local department. Although property estimated at $78,000 was endangered by fire, the j loss from fire was only SII,BOO, of which SB,OOO was on buildings and $2,800 on contents. The loss in 1925 was $20,331. The lohs from fire in 1926 is one of the smallest in recent years, although not the lowest. Several years ago the estimated loss from fire in Decatur was only $1,300. That year, this city was among the lowe t in the state in fire losses. The department answered 19 fire alarms during the year. On« false alarm was turned in. The causes of the fires as listed by Chief Freidt were as follows: sparks from chimneys, 12; overheated stoves. 2; sparks from auto, 1; spontaneous combustion, 1; leaking in gas stove. 2: false alarms, 1. The estimates value of the buildings endangered by fire was placed at $59,100; the value of the contents at $19,000. Chief Freidt will file his annual report with the city council next Tuesday evening. Missouri River Adds To Leavenworth Land Leavenworth, Kaus., Jah. 1. —(United Press.) —The Missouri river has enforced the United States government by several acres of rich farm land here. The federal penitentiary here owns an island in the Missouri, and up to a short time ago, boats were employed to reach the island. But the Missouri has dope away with this necessity. The river has cut back on the side of the island opposite to Leavenworth and has left the channel on the penitentiary side dry. Contrary to ordinary expectations, the dry channel is not rock or sandy but is a rich fertile loam which prison authorities state can be used to advantage. o , Ministerial Association To Meet Monday Morning —I li - The Decatur Ministerial Association will 'have its regular monthly business session on Monday morning at 9:80 o’clock in the Old Adams County Bank. FARMS BECOMING FEWER IN COUNTY Statistics Show Number Dropped From 2,328 In 1920 To 2,127 In 1925 The number of farms in Adams county is gradually decreasing each year, according to the United States census of agricultural, for 1925, just issued. In 1925, there were 2,127 farms in Adams county, while in 1920, the number was 2,328. In 1910, there were 2353 farmers in this county. This decrease in number of farms is general throughout the state, the total number decreasing from 215,485 in 1910 to 195,786 in 1925. The most common sized farm in Adams county in 1925 was between 50 and 99- acres. There were 845 farms in this size. There were 648 (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY ' L ■ LL

I I Alabama And Stanford Football Teams Clash In National Sport Classic I - . — —— ,

L Record Audience On Hand , To See Game; Many Plan To “Listen In” Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1. — (United Press.) — National sports interest focused on the Pasadena Rose bowl today, where Alabama's Crimson tide, champions of the old south, and StanI ford's Cardinals, best in the west,' I clash in the post-season football classic of the country. A record audience of 58,000 have > paid to witness this year's tournament of roses battle and hundreds of thousands, in addition, will hear the game over their radios, arrangements hav- ; ing been made to broadcast the con- . test on a national scale. Normal southern California weather, which means a balmy afternoon, t prevailed for the game. Neither > team was favored by the climate, as [ the opposing players are equally acI customed to warm winters, and both i squads completed training in the Arroyo Seco, where today’s football I fiesta is being staged. The Dixie champions and the Palo i Alto warriors face each other on even i terms. Stanford is conceded a slight advantage on offense, with its varied ! and deceptive attacks, and the master strategist, "Pop" Warner, guiding play . from th e bench. . The southerners, with a forward wall that outweighs the Cardinals r eight pounds to the man and a dei fensive record second to nothing in the country, were admittedly the most i feared eleven that the California out- , fit has encountered. Alabama partisans weie demanding . 10 to 8 odds froth Stanford support - [ ers but they were not getting it. i There were few wagers placed and i (pese at even money. I Thousands of persons thronged to the Rose bowl early this morning. Highways were jammed with traffic within a radius of 100 miles. I ‘“l'he Crimson tide is in top form for this game and I expect the boys to put up the best battle of their ! careers,” said Coach Wallace Wade In behalf of Alabama. “If lose, it ’ cannot be said that the best team did (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) • o BREINER HEADS I COMMISSIONERS I Washington Township Man 1 Elected President Os s 1 Board; One New Member F. Breiner, of Washington township, who began his third year as counr ty commissioner today, was elected ’ president of th Adams county board ( of commissioners at the organization meeting held this morning. John G. t Hoffman, of Preble township, commisr sloner from the first district, assumed office .on the board this inorhlng. Mr. Hoffman was elected last November and succeeds Ernst Conrad, who served as a county commissioner for six yeais, three years of which he was president of the board. ’ George Shoemaker, Geneva, commissioner from the third district, is ;ae third member of the board. Mr. Shoemaker started his second year today. I Following the organization meeting, the county commissioners, together with County Attorney Henry B. Helled, went to the county inf 1 mary where they engaged in taking the annual in--1 vent ry of personal porperty. John ' Wt ciiier and David Habegger acted as ' appraisers. The three commissioners are numbored among the best known residents ' in the county. They are earnest work- ' ers and will give every attention to ' the affairs of the county. 1 'J t,- county commissioners wjll meet in regular session "°xt Monday, at which time regular business will le transacted. Action may be started on the building of Several roads. The appointment of county health physic'ans and a member of-the board of trustees of the Adams County Memorial Hospital will be appointed by the hoard.

1 Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, January 1, 1927.

Geneva Girl Critically 111 At Hospital Here Rose Marie Romey, age 6, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Romey, of Geneva, is critically ill at the Adams County Memorial Hospital and little hope is extended for her recovery. She has been a patient at the hospi- • tai for a few days. o POSTMASTER TO BE NAMED SOON Time For Filing Os Applications For Position To Close January 4 January 4 is the last day for Decatur citizens to tile their application for the position of Postmaster of the local office, according to an official bulletin sent out by the federal postal au horities. Several already have filed for the position. It is predicted by those in touch wflth Congressman Vestal, of this district, that L. A. Graham, present Republican county chairman, will receive the appointment, which will not be made for several days. After the applications are receive ed, the President sends a nomination to congress and 13 is verified by that body before the appointment becomes bonaflde. This will take some time after the closing of nominations, and at is probable that Harry Fritzingcr, present postmaster, will serve until February or March. BUSINESSGOOD HERE LAST YEAR Year 1926 Best One For Most Concerns Since The World War Although 'the saying is, “Off with the old, on with the new,” many will look back to the year 1926 as being one of the good years in the business history of Decatur and community. The year was above the average for many concerns and manufacturing plants. It was not the largest year in point of volume and possibly profit for many, but, next to the war and post-war periods, it was probably the best year within the last five years. Local 'industries made much progress and kept their plants running full tilt. Among the busy manufacturing plants which enjoyed increased business during 1926, were the LaHandle . company; the Mutschler Packing company; the General Electric company; the Cloverleaf Creameries; Krick and Tyndall company and the City light and power plant. With several of these plants, 1927 will be their busiest year since the post-war years. The Cloverleaf Creameries remodeled and enlarged its big creamery plant In this cl'y and the Mutschler Packing company also continued to improve its large packing plant. | The city light and power plant completed most of the improvements which were under way at the beginning of the year and, in point of power production, the year w’as the larg(CONTINtTBI, ON PAGE TWO) 0 Mrs. Frank Gideon Dies At McGill, Ohio Mrs. Frank Gideon died at 7 o’clock last night at her home tin McGill, Ohio. Death was due to a complicaItion of diseases. Her husband, who died several years ago, was a director of the Old Adams County Bank of this city for several years. Mrs. Qideon was a sister of the late John A. Mumma. She formerly lived In Union township. Several relatives reside here. Funeral services will be (held at McGill at 2 o’clock, Monday j

RACE MEET TO BE HELD HERE NEXT AUGUST Col. Reppert Leases Bellmont Park To Montpelier Men For Four-Day Meet NIGHT ATTRACTIONS WILL BE INCLUDED Decatur and surrounding territory are assured of a high class race meet for this year, to be staged during the last of August or the first of September. H. L. Kelley. W. B. Engle and T. C. Peterson ,of Montpelier, who are among the best known race meet promoters in this part of the country, have leased Bellmont Park, in this city, from Col. Fred Reppert, the owner, and will stage a four-day race meet. The lease was closed yesterday, when Col. Reppert; received word from the Montpelier men, saying that they would accept the terms of the lease 1 . , There will be night attracfiion< during the race meet and there will be free acts and fireworks. Mr. Kelley will go to Indianapolis next week tn arrange for the free acts, shows and other attractions. Mr. Peterson was selected president, Mr. Kelley, secretary, and Mr. Engle; treasurer, of the new company. These same men operate a race track and Blue Water Park, at Montpelier. It is likely that there will be no ■'ounty fair in Decatur this year, although the Montpelier men stated* that they would stage a fair during the race meet if the citizens of Adams county so desire and will give such an event the proper backing. There has been a fair held here eash year for the last several years. o Smith Funeral To Be Held Sunday Afternoon Frlneds may view the remains of Richard Smith, well known Decatur man who died at Fort Wayne, yesterday morning, any time this afternoon, evening or tomorrow morning, at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Smith, 325 North Third street. Funeral services will be held- at the home at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. o RALPH LEE IS FUGITIVE AGAIN • Dimutive Bandit And Jailbreaker Again Flees From Franklin Jail Franklin, Ind., Jan. I.— (United Press.) — Police squads and sheriff's posses today were searching for Ralph Lee, dimunitive bandit and jailbreaker who celebrated New Year's eve her e by making his tenth successful break from prison. Lee, awaiting trial here for the murder of Abner Peek, Indianapolis grocer, and two other prisoners, overpowered Carl Losey, deputy sheriff and fled from the Johnson county jail. Losey was left bound and gagged with the jail cook and two prisoners, In the cell vacated by Lee and his companions, William Rowe, Indianapolis, and Thomas Snedgar, Greenwood, awaiting trial for liquor law violations. The escap e was Lee’s third from the Johnson county jail, and the teuth in his police career. Losey was called into the cell block to see a sick prisoner, as he entered the block he was attacked by Lee and his companions who clamped his own handcuffs on his wrists. Lee donned the deputy’s overcoat, placed his pistol and flashlight in the pocket and the trio started for the front door. They were accosted by E. Hedrick, jail cook, who soon joined Losey and the other prisoners in the cell block. The fugitives then left the jail, unobserved, and no trace had been found of them today. •

United States Has 22,342,457 Motor Cars The December Issue of “Motor" published the fact that there are 22,342, 457 cars and trucks in the United 1 States. Os this number 19.465,676 are passenger cars, and 2,876,781 trucks. During the year 1,675,000 were junked Indiana listed with 769,750 cars of which 663,250 are passenger cars. The total gain in the United States during the year was 13.9%. 0 — VALUATIONS IN COUNTY LOWER ' ■ Net Assessable Valuations , For 1927 Show Decrease Os $184,235 i The net assessable valuation of all ■ taxable property in Adams county, ■ as shown in a table prepared by William Zimmerman, retiring assessor.- , is $38,657,630. This is a loss of $184,235 as compared with the 1926 valuations. A ■ gain of $54,000 was made in the valuations in the city of Decatur, the f total net value being $6,656,240.00. I Deducted from this total, is the sum of $220,460 for mortgage exemptions. The value of all lands in the couni ty is placed at $19,718,510. The value of the improvements therein is placed at $7,436,480, making a total of $27,154,990. FMom is dedtjeed • a total of $1,399,800 for mortgage i exemptions, leaving a net total of $25,720,040, of which is added $3,468,720 for personal property and the i state’s assessments of railroads and ■ utilities of about $7,000,000, making , l< a total.yf $38,657,630. ; The valuations in the 12 townships and in the incorporated towns, > exclusive of the amount of state ■ assessments, together with the i amount of taxes to .be paid by each taxing unit and the 1927 taxes follow: Unit Valuations Taxes Rate Union $1,733,560 $ 31,603 sl.Bl Root 2.938,680 51,412 1.74 Preble 2,571,520 42,435 1.64 ■ Kirkland .... 2,129.400 39,345 1.84 . Washington 3,587,470 52,318 1.45 St. Marys . . 2,374,680 47,764 1.99 Blue Creek.. 1.841.730 36,294 1.96 , Monroe 3,419.150 61,169 1.78 French 1,974,680 32.753 1.65 Hartford .... 1,889,480 43,867 2.31 Wabash . ... 2,436,060 57,177 2.33 Jefferson .... 1,656,740 41.440 2.99 i DecatuPW. 6,083,430 203,695 3.32 Decatur-R. . 562,810 19,294 3.47 Monroe 319.730 6,774 2.08 Berne 2,464,380 85,191 3.45 Geneva 676,130 25,977 3.79 Monroe township has the largest valuation of lands, the total being $2,089,630. The next highest valuation of land is that in Washington , township, the value being $1,975,380. The mortgage exemptions fin file in the different! taxing units follow: Union, $87,290; Root, $93,700; Preble $49,790; Kirkland, $67,070; Washington, $97,820; St. Marys, $79,080; Blue Creek, $98,240; Monroe. $133,080; French. $71,550; Hartford, $77,300; Wabash, $95,980; Jefferson, $97,780; Decatur-Washington, $238,680; Deca-tur-Root. $2,000; Monroe, $12,530: Berne, $109,800; Geneva, $28,240. o — TAXPAYERS TO PAY LESS TAXES Adams County Taxes To Be Lowest Next Year Since 1920 Taxes Adams county taxpayers will pay less taxes this year than in any year within the last six years, the abstract ‘ sheet prepared by County Auditor Marfin Jaberg shows. The amount of current tax to be collected in 1927 is $879,354.28, as compared with $910,156.87, collected for the 1925 taxes. ’ The 1926 taxes, payable this year, are the lowest since the 1920 taxes • \ were levied. The amount of delinquent taxes for J last year amounted to $8,349.02, making the total tax collected for next year, $887,703.30. The delinquent t taxes last year were higher than in j (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Price Two Cents.

CELEBRATION ON NEW YEARS EVE IS ORDERLY HERE Whistles Blow And Bells Ring As New Year Makes Its Advent Here NOISY CELEBRATIONS ARE STAGED IN CITIES Welcome to the New Year 1927 in Decatur was given in a noisy manner by the blowing of whistles, the ringing of bells and general wishing by everyone of “A Happy and Prosperous New Year." No public celebration or welcome to the New Year was given in the eity. A few private watch-parties were held and the TriKappa sorority gave a private dance at the Masonic hall for the members and invited guestsl Several of the churches held services last evening, but none had a midnight watch service. The banks, manufacturing plants and a majority of the business houses were closed today in observance of the holiday. The drug stores, restaurants and cigar stores were opened during a part of the day. The Daily Democrat was printed at noon and most of the offices in the court house and city hall were closed for the day. Several new county officials took office today, while several others started on new terms. Township trustees and township assessors began their terms in the 12 townships today. 1 Reports from the cities were to the effect that the New Year was given a hilarious welcome. Cabaret; parties were held in tlic night clubs and in the hotels and in the larger cities “the lid was off,” “everything except” guns being adlowed in carrying out the New Year’s celebration. No liquor violations were reported by local police authorities. No calls were received during the night and officers stated that the “celebration was very quiet” Disorder At Chicago. Chicago. Jan. I.—(United T* ?ss ■ Eighty policemen were requi.cd .<j disperse a crowd of new year revel<<*OR(TfWrfCn PAGR TWO) — O'" THINK BODY THAT OF A GENEVA MAN Man Killed At Kalamazoo, Mich., Greatly Resemblles Carl McWhirter (Special to Dailv Democrat) Geneva, Jan. 1. —D. J. McWhirter, of Geneva, received a telephone call about 5:30 last night from his brother, H. E. McWhirter, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, stating that the body of a man had been found in the railroad yards in Kalamazoo and that the man greatly resembled D. J. McWhirter's son, Carl, 27, w’ho has not been heard from for the last several months. Mr. McWhirter, who is station agent for the Pennsylvartia railroad here, left last night for Kalamazoo, to view the body. He called his wife here this morning, sayinifWiat he did not believe the body founwin Kalamazoo was that of Ms son, Tut - he asked that Mrs. McWhirter come Io Kalamazoo and view the body, also. She left at noon today for Kalamazoo'. The body of the man found at Kalamazoo was said to answer the description of Carl McWhirter in many respects. Thera was a scar on his upper lip that corresponded to a sear on Carl's lip. The man killed at Kalamazoo had blue eyes, however. and Carl's eyes were grey. It is said. Carl left Geneva about a year ago. going to Detroit He had not been heard from for some time. He was not married. He was graduated from the Geneva high school several years ago and was well known here. The man found at Kalamazoo had been killed by a train and his features were somewhat marred in the accident it was said.

MW. «ii IIM ,>.l■i. ,n » ,~, The Daily Democrat Receives News of the World by the United Press Service