Decatur Democrat, Volume 47, Number 25, Decatur, Adams County, 27 August 1903 — Page 1

ALL‘THE NEWS all thETtime.

VOLUME XLVII.

Huntington county is not the only ne m the state whose assessors’ j work for 1901 has been ordered changed by the state tax board. Howard county Saturday received ■ ( notice of a two per cent reduction I on lands and fifteen per cent on | improvements. In Adams and [ (ji SS counties conditions were re I versed. Two per cent on lands and I ten percent on improvements will J he added.— Huntington News-Dem- ! ocrat. In the assignment of ministers to the charges for the ensuing year. • the Indiana Methodist Protestant Church sends J. Will Flagg to Berne, and A. B. Williams to Bryant. Their annual conference was I i n session at Muncie. The session lasted for a week and was one of I the most pleasant in the history I of the church, and all reports find i the church in a prosperous condition. The conference next year will be held at Elwood, the fourth week of August. The Berne Witness is authority for : th- • statement that the men who held 1 up Homer King, as described in Saturday’s paper, were laying for another man. After discovering I their mistake they ducked. WhethI er true or not it was an experience , in which Mr. King has no desire to have repeated. When he has occasion to cover that territory again I he will probably go loaded to the I brim, and the fellow or fellows who i interfere with his peace of mind, will likely get a hunk of cold lead in the rear end of his pantaloons. Sheriff Butler tried to locate Corydon Rayls of near Monroe yesterday, having in his possession a warrant from Tipton county, which charged Rayls with larceny. The sheriff spent a half day trying to sight the fugitive, but failed. Young Rayls came here from Tipton county about one year ago and this would indicate a somewhat chary record . It is likely that he will make himself somewhat scarce hereabouts for a time at least, for he no doubt knows that Sheriff Butler will land him, if he stays within his bailwick very long. Is there anyone who has not heard it said that a woman cannot keep a secret'? At Washington they have discharged a woman from the postoffice department. This headline tells the story: "Woman Loses Job Because She Won’t Talk!” They claim she knew something about the postoffice frauds and kept it all to herself. In other w< >rds, they discharged her because she didn’t run around and tell everyone she knew and more, too. If she is the first woman who ever kept a secret, the treatment she received isn’t much of an incentive to any other woman to make the trial. R. J. Holthouse came home Saturday from a week at Louisville where he was getting his samples in order for the fall trip on the road, nesday, and will cover his old territory in this state where he had become a familiar and permanent fixture among the shoe trade. Mr. Holthouse is now selling shoes for the Conrad-Ralls Shoe Company of Louisville, in which he is personally interested, being the owner of a block of stock and is one of the directors of the ‘company. They have a very strong combination of practical shoe men, and with these advantages are sure to win out. A citizen: Why not boom a city sprinkler in your General Topic column? Have you ever walked along Madison, Adams or Jefferson streets in a continual cloud of dust and arrived home almost choked’? Then you will doubtless agree with me that a city sprinkling wagon is a much needed improvement. True we have water-works, but how many have time to keep their street sprinkled or would if they had time. I think as much sickness is caused by the clouds of dust stirred up every day, as through any other form of bad sanitation, and good health can not exist as long as five or six inches of dust is allowed to collect on the main thoroughfare. One sprinkler could coyer several of the main streets outside the business district, and I'm sure the citizens would welcome it anS gladly bear any expense thereby entailed.

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The fifteenjhead of Belgian stallions for Frysinger & Sprunger arrived in this city on the Erie fast passenger train No. 7, about three o’clock Saturday morning. The car was not set at the stock yards until an hour later and about that time the horses were unloaded. They were very tired and after being led to the Frysinger barns at Steele’s park soon grew contented. The lot includes some fine animals which are in prime condition and would make fit subjets for a fair. One of the big ones weighs 2,300 pounds and stands 17 1-2 hands high. The horses were purchased by Mr. Frysinger who is at the present time in Belgium. He will return sometime in September to this country and bring along another shipment of Belgian and Norman horses. Johnnie Smith in his Cadillac automobile made a fishing trip to Rome City Saturday night and returned Monday. The fish did not bite and for that reason Smithy returned. On the whole trip he traveled his machine about 140 miles and he says that he never made a more pleasant journey. The machine he states went across the hilly country at a twenty miles an hour clip and dug through like an old racer. Johnnie says that the roads were good north of Fort Wayne but that between the Summit City and this place they were fierce. In many places new gravel had been put on the road, and it was very hard to push through it. It took longer to run from Fort Wayne here than it did to cover the distance between Rome City and Fort Wayne.

Mrs. Mary Sacketts was only seventy-three years old Saturday, but her friends thought her old enough for a square meal. Quite a number of her relatives and friends took her home by storm and celebrated the occassion in true historic style. It was a gay time and was thoroughly enjoyed by Mrs. Williams of Indianapolis, Miss Nora Garde of Wisconsin, Mr. and Mrs. Harlo Mann, Mrs. J. D. Lammiman, Mrs. Harriet Brandyberry, Mr. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Harmon and family, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Gilson, Mrs. Ammy Gould and son, C. H. Lammiman and family, T. S. Perkins and family, W. L. Stanley and family, John Hook and family, Mrs. Peter Waber, Leo, Wililam, Joe, Hattie, Maggie and Anna Faurot. It was a happy day and every one had an enjoyable time. Manager ■xiojei.-.’ui. base ball club received word this morning that the reorganized Huntington team would be in this city next Sunday for a game. The Huntington aggregation which is known as the Lime City team is headed by Tim Hurst a pitcher who is considered good enough to play with the Fort Wayne Central league club. Hurst was in the game with Wsone of the reg-* ular twinters was sir j. and was only released on account of the season being nearly ended. The Fort Wayne Nationals who defeated Decatur were in turn defeated at Huntington by the Lime City team on the Sunday following. The game no doubt will be a very interesting one. Manager Marty made the statement that no boisterous rooting would be permitted next Sunday. A number of managers of the Great Northern Indiana Fair, including the president and secretary,, were in session providing ways and means for successfully carrying out the program due Sept. 22-25. They are compelled to make additional room for both exhibits and attractions wanting to come, and of course it is a foregone conclusion that when these long heads got together they solved the perplexing problem satisfactorily. Everything looks exceedingly bright for the greatest county fair ever held during the history of this corner of the earth. This sounds like we might be rubbing it on some, but it is the gospel truth, told in straightforward English. Their prospects are brightened some by the fact that the fair here follows Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Huntington, Eaton, Chillicothe and Hicksville, all of whom are good contributors to our fair.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1903.

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A big Gay family reunion was held at the home of George Gay east of this city Tuesday. The affair was planned by Mont Holmes of Bucyrus, Ohio and from reports of those who returned it was a grand success. At noon a big dinner was served and throughout the entire day the festivities were boiling. Among those who attended were P. J. Hillard and family of near Decatur, James Gay anci family and Ed Green and family of this cityFollowing the actions of the commissioners in ordering the sate of bonds for the two St. Marys township macadam roads, county Treasurer Voglewede set things in motion to carry out the expressed intentions of the board. He has set the date at Tuesday, September 8, and will comply with the law in the proper advertisements and legality of said issue. The bonds will bear four and one half per cent and will be paid in semi-annual installments of $762. The issue for the two roads exceed $29,000 and as they are gilt edged some keen competition will likely want them. It is a fact that heretofore our local banks have met all outside competition and usually offered more for county securities than foreign people have. They got them too, and it is a marktof great credit to the local banks and to this city as well, to have financial institutions able to take care of such large loans. We hope this contest will end the same way and that Decatur bankers will have the credit of clipping the coupons of this issue as they semi-annually become due. In conformity to the advices received from the state tax board the work of adding two per cent to the land valuations of the county was begun at the auditor's office Monday morning. They are now perspiring over in Union township, and from there they will make the circuit ending up in Jefferson township some time in the dim distance. It is not thought probable that the additions can all be completed and made of record by the time of the annual meeting of the 1 - ~ p mopth. At this session the*'county levies are all made and the total valuations should be known as a basis of calculations. They will no doubt be far enough advanced to admit of the council completing their work at the time provided by law. The two per cent, addition, however will keep the force at the auditor’s'office grinding away on a long and solemn line of double crossed figures, for several weeks to come. The job is not calculated to make a person feel real gay. Allen county got a ton per cent dose off the same chunk with Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur D. Suttles were almost overwhelmed with surprise Saturday evening. At five o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Suttles’ neigh bors marched in upon them and proceeded to make themselves at home. Each lady carried a basket well filled and a regular picnic supper was prepared. Mr. and Mrs. Suttles proved themselves equal to the occasion, however, and the feast arranged by the ladies was duly presided over. After supper, with many good wishes the party left and scarcely had they gone when a crowd of young ladies arrived at Mr. and Mrs. Suttles’ home. This affair was a “kitten shower, ’ ’ and was planned by Misses Dollie Simcoke and Minnie Orvis. The party went to the home of Dr. McMillen, and from there went to the home of their victims. It was a complete surprise and the shower was duly welcomed by the recipients. Amusements were provided for the assembled crowd and refreshments served. Mr. and Mrs. Suttles have scarcely recovered and it will be an evening of tourprises kindly remembered.

Miss Neva Ernst went to Berne Friday morning, where she will look over the millinery stock of Simison & Soldner, preparatory to buying the fall and winter supply of goods. Miss Ernst will work at Berne this winter and will go to Cincinnati in the near future to study the winter styles of ladies’ hats.

A suit for divorce was docketed at the county clerk’s office Tuesday in which Charles M. France assumes the place of plaintiff, and Louisa France defendant. The complaint was written by J. Fred France and states that the marriage of plaintiff and defendant, took place March 4, 1903 ,and that they lived together until May 5, 1903, being one day over two months of bliss ful married life. The plaintiff avers cruel treatment and abandonment, in that she left him alone on the farm where he had to prepare his own meals, milk the cows and perform other manual labor not in the category for man to do. He also says that he was a kind and dutiful husband, and made ample provision for her support. The plaintiff asks for a divorce, cost of the suit and other proper relief. The defendant to this suit was formerly Mrs. Lousia Lum kins of Winchester, and where she has been living since being separated from Mr. France. She is quite an estimable lady. L. C. DeVoss has been employed by her and some provisions of the divorce suit will likely be contested when it comes to trial. Mr. and Mrs. Horace Botthoff are in receipt of a letter from the latter’s mother at Pleasant Mills, and there seems but little question but that Elwood Slusher was among those killed in the Wallace show wreck at Durand, Michigan. The description given to the Pleasant Mills relatives by the Durand undertaker tellies completely and left no doubt in the minds of the boy’s relatives at least, but that he was killed. In the letter from the undertaker, he said there were eighteen at the morgue originally and that nine bodies had been claimed and taken away. The letter from the undertaker was forwarded to the boy’s father who lives at some point in ? **** ' <**• •!»»!>. either go to Durand, or have the body forwarded to his home for interment. The relatives both here and at Pleasant Mills are all broken up over the news that to them seems certain as to the fate of Elwood Slusher. While here the boy stayed with his aunt and uncle Horace Botthoff and wife, and they used every endeavor to give the boy a good home and to have him lead an ..honest and honorable life.• •:.» At a meeting of the Commercial Club board Monday night the agreement in duplicate with the Springfield Traction Company was signed. Ways for carrying out the stipulations of the contract were discussed in a general way and within the next day or two a committee appointed by French Quinn will begin an active campaign for the raising of the amount of the bonus required. The property owners at and near the proposed power station are taking an active interest and will come down real handsomely toward meeting the obligation shouldered by the citizens of the city. In fact every one—with one exception—seems to be in an excellent frame of mind' and are now lending the cause their moral support, which later will be substituted by something more substantial. Indications now point to a speedy and successful termination of this effort to locate such an important branch of the first electric railway that has or will favor Decatur. The amount to be given them is a small stipend in comparison to the good that will be done. Let us unite and nail this proposition to a certainty, and then begin on something new.

The Indiana state board of health has sent out circulars to all secretaries of county boards, advising that the greatest precaution be used f in the preventtion of cholera in-' fantum, cholera morbus, diarrhoea and dysentery. The circulars name several simple precautions which may be used with good results. Work is progressing at a very acceptable speed upon the Fourth street improvement, and by the end of another week the grade for the entire street will be complete. That is, providing against strikes and other casualties. Some thirteen laborers were discharged Monday night by the “boss” in charge of the work, and the reasons assigned could not be ascertained. It is current street talk that the object of this wholesale dismissal is the initial step toward creating a panic for laboring men and to give the contractor sufficient latitude to import cheap “dago” labor. According to the plans, specifications and contract, however, the engineer in charge has the right to discharge any laborer on the work with cause or without cause. It is safe to predict that surveyor McKean is American enough to fire every imitation of a dago that attempts to set foot on the work. This of course is subject to the approval of the council. They would have to stand back of the engineer and we take it for grunted that they too are Americanized to give their preference to the home laborers. As long as the demand for workmen can be supplied here, the agreement in cold type is understood, that they shall be employed. It is human nature to pay as little and get as much as possible, and in accordance -with this spirit of enterprise, all contractors are looking to the employment of cheap laborers. In this case, it takes two to make a bargain and it will have to be a ground hog case, before the “dago” gets his spade in the Decatur street work. Next Tuesday, September 1, the public schools of this city begin their fall term under the direction of Superintendent H. A. Hartman. Without wishing to excite any particular degree of flattery we feel it our duty to say that never before to our knowledge have the public schools of this city begun a school year under more flattering prospects. Not a dissenting note is heard from any quarter about anything of vital importance to our schools. On the other hand the spirit of harmony and the best of good ieeiu!^ t '*p?y v • «<* *<•’ those connected in any capacity with the success or failure of school work. The school board themselves are in harmony, and the corps of instructors from the primary departments to the high school give evidence of that same good fellowship that can mean nothing short of bright and shining success. Not all, but a large sized chunk of the credit for the present happy * - ian hand of Superintendent Hartman. He is a genuine success in the position he occupies, and can brush away more rough edges in less time than any one we ever knew. He seems especially gifted in this line. As a teacher and instructor he also takes high rank, and carries in his inside pocket all the collegiate credentials that jyean as much to a teacher and scholar. But his greatest success is in instructing in away that instructs. In other words it is the practical man that wins the greatest successes, and Mr. Hartman is nothing if not practical. He came here from Trinidad, Colorado, four years ago, and has since won the good will of everyone, especially the patrons of the pubile schools. Previous to going west he was a teacher in the Van Wert public schools, and could have been their superintendent. A larger salary in the wild and woolly west was an inducement that took himself and family there, where they remained several years. But we are all proud of our public schools and in being so, must occasionally look to those who are in command and who in a great measure are responsible for the great educational work being done. B

CIRCULATION UIBOO WEEKLY

NUMBER 25

A notice signed by F. M. Schirmeyer as secretary, will be found in this issue and it is in accordance with the by-laws and other rules and regulations of the Citizens Telephone Company in calling the stockholders of said company on Monday evening, September 7, at which time will be held their annual election. Five directors are to be elected. For the past two years no election has been held for the reason that every attempt to get a quorum failed. This was a pretty good indication, that generally speaking, the members of the company were perfectly satisfied with the management of affairs. This is true this year and it will take several officers of the law to get a corporal guard to this meeting. The directors at the present time are Jeff Bryson, F. M. Schirmeyer, John D. Hale, E. X. Ehinger and J. T. Merryman. The affairs of the Citizens’ is in an excellent and healthy condition. Besides having a telephone in nearly every home in town, they have their toll lines to Preble, Magley, Bingen, Hoagland, Fort Wayne, Berne and Linn Grove, besides a country telephone service covering fifteen or twenty miles. This latter will be gradua - ly extended and in a few years will cover a greater portion of the county. There is no discounting The prospects of the Citizens’ Telephone Company and thus prosperity is the direct outcome of the good business management. The Decatur base ball team won from Ohio City Sunday in the twelvth inning by the narrow margin of one run. For six innings both teams struggled along trying to send a man across the plate and settle tne game but their efforts seemed in vain until the last ot the twelvth. With two men out and the score still a tie, Pennington sent a line drive to the race track which gave him three bases even after falling at first. Coffee followed with a clean single and all was off. Thus ended one of the most remarkable games ever played at Steele’s park. Perhaps the most remarkable feature was the continual knocking that Ohio City put up and those who had bet the wrong way, but it

was base ball all the way through and intensely interesting at that. In the first of the game through a lucky bunching of hits and one or two errors in overthrowing, Ohio City took the lead and a perfectly contented set of fellows they were. As the game progressed through hard playing the locals would send T'iiui.;•»» ■ Ohio City turned yellow. To every decision that the umpire made which was disfavorable to them they kicked. Bunches of players that stood along first base would object to strikes that were called which they could not tell anything about and so It went. Knock—knock—knock, in every close decision they thought they got the worst of it and again it was knock—knock—knock. Break away old sports let me argue that point with you. There were two decisions in yesterday’s game in which I would disagree with the umpire but they are too unstable supports to permit of as much knocking as has been accumulating. In the first place, Ohio City had no license to win the game. Think awhile and you shall be convinced. France of the Rosenthals out-pitched the Ohio City twirler. He had 13 strike outs to Snyder’s 11 and Decatur got 11 hits and the visitors 8. France let one man walk and Snyder 5. Again after the third inning Ohio City only got four hits and not one man ever reached third base. Decatur on the contrary after the sixth when rhe score was tied had two men on third base and one on second. The home team batted the entire game while Ohio City secured half their hits in the first three inn ings. Now isn’t that luck? Left fielder Goodwin the poorest hitter Ohio City had, so they claimed him to be, even got a single in the lucky third. Furthermore Decatur outfielded their opponents. Ohio City had no hard chances to show them while the home team did and over and over again they demonstrated that they were there with the goods Now my friend if that doesn’t satisfy you I woud advise you to go I wav back and sit down. The score resulted 7 to 6 in favor of the i Rosenthals.