Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 14, Decatur, Adams County, 9 June 1904 — Page 1

all the news all THE TIME.

fOLUME XLA 111.

TOURING MICHIGAN Daniel Erwin Writes Us From Cadillac Cadillac, Mich. June 4, 1904, Editor Democrat, Decatur, Ind., As announced in your issue I left home June 2 arriving here after 12 hours ride, unttended by any special incident other than the usual ones on R. R- trains; faoes all strange the handsome and homely fats and leans and no doubt rich and poor with no two alike, one variance from any other trip ever made was the train was not crowded with the unfortunate “Sneezers” coming this way for hay fever, accounted for I presume by the lateness of the sneezing season in Indi- ' ana. This to some, seems away north but it is but a short distance and but little different from Decatur Ind., exoept in the age and development of the countrys. It is but 260 miles to the north on the G. R. &1. Cadillao customs do not differ materially from Dooatur, I see some young men walk with hands in both the hip pockets of their trousers and they get the usual forward tendancy to the corners of the coat tail when walking with hands in front pockets of pants did not see any drunks but some smoke cigarettes and are enough up with the times to blow the smoke through their nose. The city customs here resemble Chioago very much as I see they have notices posted in various places prohibiting the frequent practice of expectoraing on the sidewalk, another resemblance is the use of seven day brinstone matches and one dollar bills. This is a very beautiful city located on the east bank of Lake Mitohel a charming little lake tilled with fish water and pine logs and surrounded by good farming country the principi! product being potatoes and berries. It is estimated there have been about one million dollars paid out here on last fall potatoes crop alone. A' single report of the good results of potato raising is given by the cultivation <jf 12 acres near here from which the producer sold $1500.00 worth of potatoes receiving 90 oents per bushel, tk ; s is an ordinarv yield but of course the price is much in advance of other years. This years crop is being planted now, oats all sown and up, grass and pasture looks very tine, wheat looks thin this year and but little corn is being planted as this country and soil is not adapted to raising of corn. Cadillac has a population now of near eight thousand and the county seat of Waxford Co. the streets are very wide many of them paved and much more is being done this season. Manufacturing is the principal industry there being located here (many large factories employing hundreds |of men, this city claims the largest flooring factory in the world. One industry outside that of lumber is the large chemical works which manufacture principally wood acohol. This ctiy possesses [every modern improvement necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants, such as electric lights, water works, fire department etc. down to first class police foroe. There are a number of doctors here but only 5 or 6 lawyers. I had the pleasure of seeing the rural district to the west and south of her® in company with Judge Chittenden driving around the lake and off into the country for 15 miles. We observed where the land is cleared fenced and farmed, the crops are loot ing fine and we find all kinds growing exoept corn. Far out from the city I see the begining of what I conoeive will be n good farm, a small house and the first field being cleared for a potato crop. It struck my fancy and I admired the energy of the young man who waj working in the clearing near the road. JI asked the

Judge to stop and called him to us he came and I shook his charcoaled rough caloused hand and looking into his honest sun burned face with the expression of industry economy and determination to succeed 1 I was very forcibly reminded of the early life of my own father and his associates and the hardships which he and others endured during the early days and pioneer years of Adams Co. I questioned him although he did not seem much inclined to talk, he was satisfied with his lot and hopeful of success. I learned some of his history and holdings, he had bought 120 acres paid $25 cash last fall had worked and paid $125.00 more last winter, had built him a cheap cottage of plank and would crop 4 or 5 acres of potatoes this season. We passed the cottage, the wife was doing some washing on the shady side and some children played about their door. I learned from him his name which I noted in my memorandum and that he had come from Jay Co. Ind., and if providence blesses him and his with health he will sucoeed. By this interview lam reminded that many j young men with little means might come here and so practice the habits of industry that within a few years they could own good farms and live independent. He was to pay but $8 per acre for his farm on long time payments .Some of the advantages of such a looation would be. your neighbors chiokens would not bother you nor would the gossip of the wife, cause you any annoyance neither would the frequent calls from the next door keep you from work for there was no other habitation in sight. We passed on and finally into the city called Cadillac the beautiful which justly deserves the title she possesses. Before seperating we drove down over the city which is dotted with some very costly and handsome dwellings some of which is said to cost as much as forty and fifty thousand dollars, the streets are very wide and the lawns are large and as neatly kept as any I ever saw. I left this city after this very pleasant experience and genial hospitality of Judge C. C Chittenden whom 1 had never met before and am going into another county of which I will write. With kindest regards, lam in capital letters Yours Truly Dan Erwin. • R. D. Patterson, Miss Elizabeth Patterson aud Mr. and Mrs. Charles Myers of Decatur, and Mrs. Bernice Barton of Kingsland, Kansas, were guests yesteiday of George Morris and wife. —Bluffton News. Charley Cloud, fourteen year old so of County Recorder C. C. Cloud met with an exciting accident Mon day evening and as a result has a very sore face. He with several other boys were playing Wild West near the Lynch factory in the souUi west part of town and were giving an imitation of Buckskin Bills show. They had erected a tent and their yells and the report of the toy pistols were signals that they were enjoying boy life. Among the boys was Eugene Steele, young son of Dayton Steele, who tiring of the toy pistol which failed to make the desired amount of noise had gone to bis home and secured a real revolver belonging to an older brother with this he returned to the tent prepared to kill Indians as fast as they oould be found. A moment later Charley Cloud entered the tent and just as he did so Eugene who either did not see him ooming or failed to realize the seriousness of his act pulled the trigger of the revolver and Charles began hawling with pain. He was taken home at once when it was found that his only injuries were from powder burns, his face being badly scWched. It happened that the cartridge which was exploded was a blank, though it is sad the next one was a real 32 calibre bullet- Charley is alright today and the boys have all learned a serious lesson. Its the old story, a revolver is an unsafe plaything in the hands of a boy.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1904.

The following reply has been received by us in answer to to the question “Why is is Ft. Wayne, called the Summit City?” The answer given is that Ft. Wayne rests upon the highest point in Allen county running east and west, it being 785 feet above the sea level while all other points are lower, hence the title of “Summit City.”

What is the population of Decatur J e today? That is the question that is i to be answered in a very few days ! j and if you can tell you can secure s a beautiful gift free. At present if the anwser is known only to O. J. J t Bayes who has prepared the j 1 names for the new city direotpry j r and by Niblick & Co. who ha ve se- < cured from him the permission to i use it in a free guessing contest. < In 1900 our population was 4142 ] according to the census of that 1 year as taken by the government. 1 It is safe to say it has increased, t but how much? Anyone may r guess on the number by filling out < the coupon which appears in this i issue of the Democrat and will ap- ] pear each evening until Saturday 1 June 18th. When the population ' will be annouened at Niblick & Co’s 1 store and the winner presented with : a beautiful 100 piece china dinner 1 sjt, the seccnl nearest will be givrn a fancy handled silk umbrella, the third a nobby umbrella holder and , the fourth a copy of the city direc- . tory. Each person oan have but one guess, so be sure and make your figures accurate. 1 Frank Elzey was arrested for public intoxioated Monday by Marshal Cordua near the residence of Dr. Coverdle on Third street upon information received from that neighborood. It seems that atfer Elzey had got on board about all that he oould handel, he proceeded to the south end of town and began to abuse the ladies and in faot every one who came in contact with him, and at last took the liberty of going on one lady’s porch and helping himself to a chair and when ordered away cursed the lady in a frightful manner. He was plaoed in jail and allowed free access to the same in which to sober off until this morning, when he was brought up before Mayor Coffee to answer Ito the above charge. While in court he produced a large pint bottle which as labeled “Old School” and stated that his trouble, he court quietly informed him that he 1 hated to m ike oqt his diploma but according to the evidence he was I guilty and assessed his fine at one dollar and costs amounting in all to nine dollars and thirty oents. He will board the same out with Sheriff Butler. Peter Snyder, a well known citizen of Decatur was arrested on the streets here at Friday and taken to Fort Wayne at 3:13 this afternoon to answer to a charge of embezzlement and larceny. Sheriff Butler received a telephone message this morning from Sheriff Stout of Allen county, telling him that Snyder was wanted there and ordering his arrest at once should he be seen here. Peter was placed in jail a few hours and then taken to Fort Wayne. About a year ago Snyder secured a position with the Eckert Packing Compny at Fort Wayne and soon proved himself a thorough meat man. He was soon promoted and placed in charge of a branch butcher shop at Lakeside a suburb of Fort Wayne, where he remained until last night when he came here. It seems that the company auditor has been going over Peter’s accounts and it is claimed that the shortage is s3ll. Yesterday the company offered to settle with Pete if he would give them a secured note fer $l5O but he refused to do so and this morning the charge of grand larceny and embezzlement was placed against him. Peter says he is innocent but admits he owed them $51.10 though he dosn’t explain just how it happened. During the time he has been working at Fort Wayne he and his a family have continued to reside here: It is to be hoped that j Mr. Snyder will be able to explain ( matters to the satisfaction of th» Echert Company.

Bids were opened for supplies for the county infirmary. Iveubler and Moltz getting the drygoods, Niblick and Company groceries, Lock A Dirkson hardware, Henry Knapp machinery, M. Burns repairs, Holthouse Drug Co., drugs, T. R. Moore gasoline. The solidity of the business interests and the business men of Geneva oould not be'more forcibly illustrated than in their apparent success in organizing and financing the proposed interurban that when constructed will traverse the territory from Celina, Ohio, to Marion, Indiana, passing through Geneva, Montpelier and several other good towns. The principal organizers live in Geneva and the corporation thus far is composed almost solely of Geneva men, S. W. Hale being the president. Nearly all the right of way between Celina and Montpelier has been taken and the engineers are now busy making the survey. They are in touch with the proper element in the money world to almost insure the carrying out of the project as now contemplated. If they succeed it will not only be a money maker, but it will be a matter of much pride to those who made it possible for Geneva to boast of its standing in the business world.

One of most enjoyable family reunnions took plaoe Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Scherer, one and a half miles south of Monroe in honor of Mrs. E. B. Macy of Brownstown. A sumptuous dinner was served to which all did justice, and was one of those old fashioned kind, where nothing was missing. Among those who were privileged to partake of the hospitality of the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Scherer were: Mrs. E. B. Macy and sons, Mrs. Ensley Smith of Bryant; John J. Myers and family of Decatur, Misses Lizzie Scherer and Jessie Dickerson, W. S. Smith and children, Z. O. Lewellen and wife of Monroe; and Paul Beardsley of Decatur. This is an annual ocourranoe at this home and is always looked forward to with much pleasure by those interested as they always have an enjoyable time at these renunions. Last evening was children’s day exercises at the Methodist church at Monroe and a large crowd was in attendnees. A fine program was rendered and those who attended were givou a rare treat. A number of people from our city w T ere present. Jay county’s most distinguished citizen the Hon.'lsaac Underwood, passed away at 10:20 o’clock Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lewis G. Walling in Pennville. He had been ill for about ton week contracting pneumonia during the cold months of the winter. He awaited death Calmly and died surrounded by members of his family. He cast his first vote for Henry Clay for president in 1844; he also took an active part in the “Tippacanoe and Tyler Too” campaign and in 1856 was a delegate of the first national Republican conventionn which nominated John C. Fremont for president. He was engaged in tjjie mercantile trade in Pennville and Fort Wayne for several years and for sometime managed a hotel at the latter nlace. He was one of those who labored most energetically to secure the building of the Cincinati, Richmond & Wayne railroad—now the Grand Rapids & Indiana railway —and besides contributing a large amount of money to its bonus he was one of the first directors of the road. In 1865 he was vice president and, assistant treasurer of the Toledo, St. Louis is better known as the” Clover Leaf” He was at one time grand treasurer of the grand lodge Good Templars; was also elected as representative of Rightworthy Grand Lodge of the World first at Bloomintgon Illinois in 1875, and again at Topeka, Kansas, in 1881 [and Saratoga, New York, in 1887. He served in the state senate and legislature. He was eighUy three years old. The funeral service were held this morning from the residence at Pennville under the aus--1 pices of the Masonic ld&ge.

Hon. Hugh Dougherty and wife will arrive home this evening from Los Angeles where they have been attending the Methodist general conference. Miss Elizabeth, who has been with them will return at the same time. They have been gone a month and in that time had a pleasant time in California.— Bluffton Banner. Another fall in the oil market came yesterday morning and §the quotation of Indiana oil, instead of being 1.08, at which point it has stood for several weeks, is chalked up on the local market boards at $1.06. The drop is, as usual, a blow to local oil producers, but, always ready to look on the bright ; side of every question, the oil men in Adams county see something in the last, drop from which they gather hope that the fall is about over and an increase is about to begin. Since Indiana oil began tumbling it has always dropped at the rate of 3 oents for each time, while the decrease in price today was but 2 cents. This fact insignificant enough in'itself, has oaused many of the Adams county oil men to hope that possibly the end of the fall is near at hand and a raise in the price of the product may be looked for. A year ago at this time the question of getting oars with which to handle business was a serious one. It had been strongly intimated beore that not only were cars short, but motive power was lacking, and even track space was not adequate to the needs. The reverse is about true at the present time, ’there is a plethora of everything. The per diem plan of car service charges had been introduced to assure a prompt movement of equipment and immediate unloading. Niw the railroads, having adhered to these rules for a long time, and rigidly are getting a little lax. There is no disposition to be arbitrary and in fact, car servioe charges are sometimes waived altogether for the purpose of pleasing the ship pers. The plethoric condition of equipments is especially seen in the coal and ooke trades. Last year coke shippers oould not get cars and two months ago they had to ship in open cars. Now there is no question about car supply. Last month embargoes were placed against the shipment of coal to the lakes,and now tliese embargoes are j being lifted. Sampson Pillars who resides just north of our city Tuesday sold to Mr. Schenk a representative of a Brooklyn New York horse firm, one of the finest teams of five year old draft horses that was ever sold in Adams county. This team was : the admiration of everyone, when 1 Mr. Pillars drove down street and all the horsemen were commenting j upon the fine qualities of the pair. They were heavily built sorrels, closely mated with white manes and tails and were as near alike as could be. This team brought Mr. Pillars the handsome sum of $550, which is the largest price that has ever been paid for a team of draft horses in this oounty in the past sixteen years, so old and experienced horse buyers inform us, individual fast stock however has brought more but this is an extra ordinary high price for draft animals. This indeed speaks very highly foi Pillars’ ability as a horse raiser and should incourage other farmers to follow in his foot steps and raise nothing but the best It may also be said of Mr. Pillars that he always keeps his stook in the best condition possible, so that when the opportuntiy arrives for a good bargain he is always in a position to receive the highest price for his animals. Mr. Sohenk while here bought a number of other horsesj possibly fifteen in number and the principle stock among his purchases were of the great Belgians Blood or in other words heavy draft horses, paying for all nioe prices and getting nothing but the best. There is no doubt but that on an average Mr. Sohuck paid the highest price for horse flesh that has ever been paid is this county and will b® weolomed among the farmers should he return soon again. *•

CIRCULATION 2800 WEEKLY

NUMBER 14

The new boilers for the city electric light station and water works plant arrived Monday and are now at the Clovei Leaf railway. They are of the Atlas make Indianapolis and each of 150 horse power capacity. D. F. Teeple the drayman, has the contract for removing them to the station where the foundations have already been constructed by contractor, Fred Huffman. The boilers were inspected this afternoon by the purchasing committee and answer the specifications exactly. They will be ready for use by the last of the week and the city will then be ready to furnish electric light and power in any quanit.y desired. A day cur - rent will be put on at once and business houses may prepare for some at once. While the expenditure of money for so much power may seem extravagant to some tax payers it is an absolute necessity owing to the increase in business. A few years ago the electrio lights brought a return of about SIOO per month and now the annual receipts from this source are near the SIOOO majk and will easily reach it when the day current is established. On the platform at the G. R. & I. freight depot may be seen one dozen large tin boxes on the sides of which in large letters appear these words “A mortgage lifter. The lightening feed cooker and feed grinder combined. Mfrd. by R. D. Dewey, Adrian, Michigan.” Thereby hangs a story, the old tale of a farmer duped by the smooth tongue of a clever stranger, who made him believe that he could coin a snug fortune by purchasing the county right of this article. R. D. Dewey, the patentee, salesman, manufacturer and swindler, all in one arrived in Decatur last Thursday and registered at the Burt House, here he informed the clerk he would be a guest for a month at least and so be might had he not found “easy picking” sooner, He had a flashy wagon and a team of handsome horses. Each morning he loaded up one of his famous cookers and made a trip to the country returning usually with an empty wagon. His machine oonsists of a large sheetiron box, eight feet long and three feet high, underneath which is a patent furnace arrangement. It really is of some merit we are informed and is probably worth | something to any farmer. Dewey I seld about three or four machines when he came across C .0. Hunter an old farmer who lives about four miles north west of town and who ! moved here two or three years ago from Illinois. Hunter became enthusiastic over the machine and a | deal was at once talked of for the county right - Hunter was suspicious and the agent smooth. They | came to Hunters lawyer in this city who instructed him to use his judgement about the business deal but not to sign any papers. Mondly the clima came. Dewey

drove out (o Hunters during the morning and after several hours work succeeded in selling him twelve of the machines and the county right for $1)00 and got his signiture to a note for that amonut payable at the Old Adams county Bank. After dinner they drove to this city, got a machine and started to the country to make a sale so that Hunter could reoeive the neoessary instruction in how to do it Several miles out, they stopped and tried to interest a farmer who turned them down. They got in the wagon again and then for the first time Hunter realized tnac the sale of the cookers was no easy task. He demanded his note back and the contract cancelled. Dewey of course refused and then came the tug of war in which Hunter was ejected from the wagon. Dewey drove to town rushed into the hotel, paid his hill, and drove east across the river as rapidly as his trotters would take him, carrying in his breast pocket the farmer’s note calling for nine hundred plunks. This was at five o’clock last evening and an hour afterwards Hunter trudged to afoot, tired and heart sick and sought his attornev to whom he told his tale of woe. What the outcome will be is unknown and the cookers are still scattered over the G. R. &I. platform, unclaimed. _