Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 2, Decatur, Adams County, 13 January 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

OWN A RAILROAD.

Decatur Citizens Interest-

ed in New Road.

Members of the Decatur Egg Case Company Take Stock in Big Enterprise.

The Paragon l(j& Memphis Railroad Co. has just been chartered in Missouri and Arkansas. Its purpose is to build a railway about fifty-two miles long from Paragould, Ark., to Osceolo, Ark., the line running through the southeast cqrner of .Missouri. According to the charter of the company, the route will be as follows: From Paragould. Greene county, Arkansas, in a southeasterly and easterly direction, a distance of eight miles, to the St. Francis river, in that county, crossing the river into Dunkin county, Missouri, and to thence run in a northeasterly direction to Cardwell, in Dunkin county, thence southeasterly nine miles to the county line between Dunkin county, in Missouri, and Missippi county, in Arkansas, and thence east twenty-nine miles to Osceola, Ark. All that portion of the route which is in Missouri will be in Dunklin county, having a total of fourteen miles in Missouri and thirty-eight miles in Arkansas. The incorporators of the companv are: John W. Vail, W H. Niblick, A. T. Vail, S. N. Vail, Daniel Sprang, Don Quinn of Decatur. Ind., who have 565 shares, and E. A. Vail, J. E. Thomas, J. B. Hale of Cardwell, Mo., who hold thirty-five shares. The capital is $525,000 of which $60,000 has been subscribed.— Manufacturers’ Record.

COAL DUTY FREE.

Congress Will Give the Coal Question A Round.

It is expected that congress will pass a bill removing the duty of sixtyseven cents a ton on coal imported into this country. This bill will take the form of a rebate or drawback for ninety days, and also will provide for reciprocity, adding free of duty coal imported into this country from countries granting the same privilege to the United States. This means Canada will permit Nova Scotia coal to come into the United States free, while coal from the Alleghenies and westward will go into Canada free of duty. The ways and means committee will meet today and, according to the present program, will report a bill on the above lines. It is expected it will pass the house tomorrow. It will be taken up in the senate very soon and the intention is to have it pass without much delay. Its consideration in the senate has not been arranged for, but efforts are making to expedite its passage without amendment and with little discussion.

EXTRA PAY.

County Auditors Entitled to Pay for Special Services. The supreme court recently held that a county auditor is entitled to extra pay for serving on the county tax board of review in addition to his salary as auditor. The reasoning of the court would apply equally in favor of the assessor and treasurer, who are also members of that board. The question arose out of a suit by the commissioners of Dekalb county against Frank P. Seller to recover $78 which had been paid to him for twen-ty-eight days service on the board of review during his term as as county auditor. The circuit court held that the county could recover the money, but the supreme court yesterday reversed its judgment, saying that the provisions of the fee and salary law requiring the auditor to turn into the county officers’ fund all fees and allowances which he may receive as auditor does not apply to such a case. SMALL POX THE RAGE. Winchester on The Eve of a Genuine Epidemic. Winchester is in the midst of an epidemic of small pox, the extent of which is at present hard to calculate. The public schools have closed and the health officers are placing a strict quarantine around every suspect. One death resulted yesterday. There is much apprehension upon the part of the people there that it may grow

The Daily Democrat.

CAPTURED BURGLAR.

Sheriff Butler Lands His First Man, for Whom Reward Is Offered.

George Fisher, an escaped convict from the intermediate penitentiary, Mansfield, Ohio, is in jail here awaiting orders from that institution. He arrived here this morning about eight o’clock and a few minutes afterwards was locked up. With but little urg ing he confessed and word was at once sent to the proper officials tell ing of his capture. To a Dailv Democrat reporter he told the following story: “I am twenty-two years old and escaped from the Mansfield peni tentiary October 27, 1902 and have since been roaming over the country in search of work, which I have been unable to obtain. I was sent up from St. Clair, Ohio, for burglarizing a saloon. I was sent out of the prison on an errand as a trusty, realized the opportunity and escaped. I came here Sunday morning and walked to Fort Wayne, then back again last night. I have not had a bite to eat since yesterday noon. I have served three years and was sentenced for ten years." He is apparently a nice felfellow and bears no resemblance to the ordinary thief. A reward of twen-ty-five dollars is offered for his arrest and this amount Sheriff Butler will no doubt receive. He is five feet, five inches tall, has dark hair, blue eyes and weighs 135 pounds. A telephone message from Mansfield at noon said that an officer of the penitentiary would arrive tonight to pay the reward and take the prisoner.

SCARED OUT.

Small Pox at Indianapolis Drives Stud-

Dallas Butler, son of our county sheriff, came home from Indianapolis last night. He says the capitol city is in the midst of a terrible epidemic of small pox. Over six hundred cases have been reported and there were seventeen deaths last week. A young man living next door to Dallas’ boarding house died Sunday and students in that neighborhood at once left for their various homes, fearing a quarantine. Indianapolis papers have not mentioned the serious plague, notwithstanding their ever-ready manner of describing conditions of this |ort in other parts of the state. Last spring, when something like sixty cases were reported from this county, Health Officer Hurty stormed and even threatened to quarantine the county. Perhaps he could now put to good use at home some of his good advice offered here.

HOT OLD TIME.

City Dads will Hear Objections on Elm Street Sewer Assessments Tonight.

A special session of the city council will be held tonight and a birds eye view of the event indicates that something interesting will be doing, this being the date when any and all objections to the engineers and city committees report will be heard. It looks now very much as though these said objections will be numerous and the f act of the matter is that a good sized law suit may be the result. In fact every party to the suit has made manifest his presence by employing attorneys, who will be present tonight to see that things in general are run in a correct manner. Attorneys for the contractors are J. E. K. France and Henry Colerick, of Fort Wayne; R. S. Peterson and D. D. Heller & Son of this city, Schafer Peterson will look after the city’s side of the ease and A. P. Beatty, E. Burt Lenhart; C. J. Lutz and L. C. DeVoss represents the objectors.

NATIONAL BANK ELECTION.

The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Decatur National Bank met this afternoon and held their regular election of directors, the polls being open from two to three o’clock. The following board was chosen: P. W. Smith, W. A. Kuebler, J. H. Hobrock, C. A. Dugan, E, X. Ehinger and J. B. Mason. Immediately after the election the directors met and elected P. W. Smith, president; W. A. Kuebler. vice-president; C. A. Dugan, cashier and E. X. Ehinger, assistant cashier.

HANDS FROZEN.

Lawrence Lewton the eight-year-old son of Mrs. Chester Lewton had his hands frozen yesterday when on the way to his grandmothers, to Monmouth. While his condition is not very serious the end of trouble with the members is not in view and it will cause considerable suffering.

DECATUR, INDIANA, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1903.

ent Home.

EATING PAINT.

Experts Prove that Many Live on Painted Diet.

State Laws Should be Enforced and

We Could Live Longer.

State Health Officer Hurty in a recent talk to a woman’s club at Indianapolis, insisted that Indiana has one of the best food laws in the United States, but it is not enforced. It was passed in 1899, but there was no arrangements for its enforcement. Dr. Hurty’s strongest argument was in the illustrations that he showed. He has a box of “coffee” that to all appearances is coffee, but analysis show that it is made up of flour and clay, stamped and roasted and sold in the market as coffee. A tea sample was a mixture of different leaves with a few tea leaves. One sample was of flour that was 25 per cent cornmeal and which is sold at the price of good flour. Another article was a substance sold to farmers to weight lard, and it is made of burnt alum and starch. A circular boldly sent out was an advertisement for “stretching” cream and milk and this mixture “deceives the very elect.” One of the most interesting illustrations was what he termed the "paint menu” in which he gave the actual breakfast served in a workingman’s family. The sausage was colored with red aniline and mixed with flaked corn grits: apple butter was colored and adulterated with water; the coffee was dextrine and starch, colored brown: the bread was mixed with malt and glucose, and the gravy was made of the colored sausage drippings milk and flour. Of the whole breakfast, only the potatoes were normal. This was only a a hint of the extent of the adulteration of foods. Mr. Hurty said Indiana is not doing anything to stop it.

JENNIE FORLEY WEDS.

Lady Well Known to Our Soldier Boys

is Now a Professor’s Wife.

Miss Jennie Farley, a beautiful young lady who accompanied the 4th Kentucky regiment during the encampments of 1899 and was known to many of the members of company B of this city, was married recently to a school professor of Bowling Green. Miss Farley was known as the daughter of her regiment and gained considerable notoriety during her trip with the soldiers. The colonel of the regiment at one time became engaged in a quarrel over her and shot his opponent. killing him He was cleared on a plea of self defense.

MRS. PORTER, AUTHOR.

A New Book, Soon to be Published by the Bowen-Merrill Company.

Mrs. Gone Stratton Porter of Geneva has written a book, presumably a novel, which will no doubt be very popular, and especially here, where she is so well known. The manuscript is now in the hands of the Bowen-Merrill company, publishers, of Indianapolis, and will soon be on the market. The title and nature of the book has been kept a secret and is to be a surprise, no doubt. Mrs. Porter has written a number of magazine articles, and has met with splendid success in that line of work. While this is her first effort as an author, we predict a ready sale for her book.

ZION CHURCH.

Dedication Services at the Beautiful New Friedheim Church.

The dedication of Zion German Lutheran church will take place Sunday, January 25, 1903. Services will be held in the morning, afternoon and evening. In the morning service, commencing at ten o’clock, the Rev. Prof. L. W. Darn of Fort Wayne will officiate. At two-thirty in the afternoon English services will be held in which the Rev. J. Klansing of Preble will deliver the sermon. All English speaking people are invited to attend this service. In the evening at half past seven the former pastor of the church. Rev. H. Sehlesselmann, of South Euclid, Ohio, will address the congregation in the German language. A collection will be gathered at the close of each service.

NEARLY FROZEN.

A Bluffton Man Found in Time to Save

His Life.

William Emenhizer, a well known citizen of Wells county, wan picked up last evening near the residence of R. S. Peterson, and if reports are true had he not received proper attention lie would have frozen to death by morning. He is said to be a fine fellow and yesterday closed a deal for a farm in this county. He took a few drinks while waiting for his train back to Bluffton and between eight and nine o’clock started for the Clover Leaf station. He missed connections some way and about 10:30 was found by D. H. Hunsicker near the Peterson residence. His boots were frozen to his legs and he was in a precarious condition. He was taken to the Clover Leaf depot and a night policeman telephoned for, who found lodging for him. He soon revived and it is believed no serious results will happen.

PLENTY OF FUEL.

City Plants Here Are Well Supplied

With Coal.

While other cities in this locality are making complaints of lack of fuel for their water works, electric and other city plants, De atur institutions are well supplied and just now sailing along without friction of any kind. At the city station there is yet an ample supply of coal to last several weeks and a number of cars of this valuable mineral have been ordered and are on the way. At Bluffton the water works plant has been shut down being entirely out of gas, wood and coal.

SENATOR FAIRBANKS.

The Republican Caucus Nominee For

Senator.

Charles W. Fairbanks was selected as the candidate of the republican members of the general assembly for re-election to the United States senate at the joint caucus held last night in the house of representatives. No other name was suggested to the caucus. The name of Senator Fairbanks was presented with a brief speech by Lieutenant-Governor Gilbert and was seconded by Senators Ball. Lindley and Wood and Representative Kirkman. The election will be held January 20.

DEATH OF PIONEER.

Remains of Joseph Johnson Sent to

Willshire for Burial.

The remains of Joseph Johnson arrived here at eight o’clock this morning from Richmond, and were sent to Willshire at noon. Mr. John son died yesterday morning at East Haven. Richmond, of cerebral hemorrhage, aged seventy-six years and two months. He was well known to our older citizens and was an early settler of the county, coming here in 1836. He resided two miles southeasf of Pleasant Mills, remaining there until 1884, when he went to Easthaven. He was a man of many good characteristics and his long life in this county was one of usefulness. Three sons survive him, they being Andrew Johnson, living three miles south of this city, John G. Johnson, of Portland, and Thomas Johnson, of Willshire. The funeral services were held this afternoon from the Methodist church at Willshire. Interment at the Blazier cemetery, southwest of Willshire.

A MERRY TIME.

Notwithstanding the cold it was a very jolly crowd that left the city for the home of Andrew Schurger, one and one half miles west of the city, last evening. To say that the crowd enjoyed themselves would not be doing it justice for they just had a glorious time. After the crowd, which was composed of C. Y. M. S. club boys and their lady friends arrived at the Schurger home they proceeded to the enjoyments of the evening. The music was furnished by Will Smith and Roy Wolford. Luncheon the likes of which could not be surpassed, was then served, and the crowd left for the city at a late hour wishing Mr. Schurger success in his new home in Oklahoma.

IN SESSION.

Adams County Farmers Holding Annual Institute at Court House. Owing to the extreme cold weather, but a few people were present at the farmers’ institute which convened at the court room at ten o’clock yesterday morning, Nevertheless the program was rendered just as arranged. Rev. Beardsley conducted opening services after which Miss Clara Terveer sang a solo. She is a sweet singer and responded to an encore with a brand new song entitled “Oh Mr. Johnny Moran, Won’t You Marry Me,” and it is needless to say it made a decided hit. “Clover Culture was then discussed by W. A. Hart of New Mount Pleasant. Indiana. 1st—Cappillary action of plants. 2nd —A fertilizer. 3rd—Time to sow clover seed. (a) Cover the seed. (b) Sow late in spring, about May 1st. (c) Harrow seed in. It improves the wheat by harrowing the ground. A hot rain when clover is blooming destroyed the polen. “Adaptability,” a paper by C. S. Mumma. He said: “That farming is a business and that a farm must be a business.” Adverse wind will blow. Here is where adaptability comes in. Remarks by J. J. W. Billingsley commending the paper were excellent. We succeed better with the kind of stock we like best. Then J. J. W. Billingsley, of Indianapolis, discussed “Soil Improvements,” in a very satisfactory manner. Drain to get the water in the soil and not out of it. Study to bring back to the soil every available plant food and increase fertility. The new lands were loose like an ash heap. It is not so now. Sow something on the land in order to shade it. Turn under green crops. AFTERNOON, 1:30. Piano solo by Mrs. Ella Bell was well executed. In an “Address to Farmers,” Hon. R. K. Erwin said: We all labor to make money. Every man had his opportunity to become a rich man. The illustration of the man who wanted diamonds. He sold his farm and stock and went to search for it and died a suicide. The man who bought the farm found the diamonds on his farm. Gold, coal and coal oil were results of careful observation. Study what the want is and raise that. The young teacher who went to Wisconsin and left a $40 a week job. The man leaning against a wall where a silver mine was located worth $33,000,000, while the owner of the land went to seek for wealth. The little collar button. See the opportunity and take hold of it. The man who whittled toys for his children started with a jack-knife and in three years was worth $100,000. Raise what demands want, if you want to succeed. Vocal solo by Miss Gertrude Forbing, was excellent “Butcher's Stock,” 1st, Breeding; 2nd, Rearing; 3rd. Feeding; 4th, Selling, by Davis Dailey. On feeding, Mr. Dailey said: Begin to feed in the summer and feed soaked corn. Feed early, sell early in fall of the year. Ed Moses followed by some excellent remarks on feeding fat catcattle. Mr. Hart then spoke on the line of feeding, saying: Feed the dam and it will put on as much flesh or fat on the young as feeding the young alone. Mr. Dailey made a fine point on raising young calves, for this is the king of meat that the market demands. Stock fed on grass or cooked feed do not weigh with those fed on dry feed. “Cow Peas and Soy Beans,” by J. J. W. Billingsley. He said in part: I grow soy beans and when they get the full height I turn them under for a fertilizer. I raised cow peas for hay but they grew woody and made about three tons to the acre. Cut when pods are forming. He favors growing them as fertilizers. A beautiful vocal solo by Miss Gertrude Forbing was then rendered. J. T. Burley gave a talk along the line of innocent amusements. Committees appointed by chairman were: Resolutions C. S. Mumma, E. S. Moses. James Dailey; nomination - Jacob Koos, Joseph Lower. Attendance 65. EVENING 7:30. The evening session opened with music by Monmouth quartet. They rendered a very fine selection. “Homemaking on a Rundown Farm” was taken up by W. A. Hart. The element of fertility comes from the soil. Phosphorus acid, potash and nitrogen, the principle soil elements. A rundown farm lacks one or more of these elements. On muck land use potash and phosphorus acid for a corn crop. Put your ditches down deep. I have two hundred rods of ditch on five acres and put them five feet deep and fill with sand or gravel. Have nothing but pure breed of stock and grains. Music by the quartet, Cal Kunkle and others. “Character Building,” a paper by J. J. W. Bill ingsley. 1st, The inherited tendencies. the mechanic, the merchant, the physician. 2nd. The environments. How much we owe to our mother. He illustrates the mother’s love and guardian care by an archway with

NUMBER 2

fruits and dangerous places and a good angel leading the way. That good angel is the mother. The scripture Hays: “Be not deceived, for whatsoever a man soeth that shall he also reap.” Music by the quartet. Attendance 31.

MORE QUAIL.

A Way Proposed to Make Bob White

More Plentiful.

Delaware county may have an increased number of quails next year if the sportsmen are not indulging in dreams. The idea of men is to cooperate with some trustworthy friend residing on a farm, who realizes and appreciates the value of the birds. If purchased the birds in pairs will be turned over to the farmers who will allow them to thrive upon their farms. There are two benefits to be derived from the movement. The birds will destroy the noxious insects and when another season rolls around there will be ample bunting for all and especially those who are careful, such as are the ones contemplating the stocking of the county. This will be the first experience of the kind for Delaware county, but it has been done elsewhere with gratifying success. The farmers readily consent to allow those who are careful and not greedy to hunt upon their farms, but they have been imposed upon a great deal, ever since the strict law requiring a license has been in effect.

HOME AND HAPPY.

Rough Experience of a Decatur Hunter

in Arkansas.

Bob Gregory who has just returned from a months hunting trip through southern Arkansas thinks he is lucky to be alive and after hearing his story, we agree with him. Bob left here in the early part of December in company with three other Decaturites but after ten days all of them grew tired of the wet weather and lack of game and came home, excepting Bob, who joined James Middleton and another citizen of that section and proceeding to a new stamping ground, prepared to get some game. They were in the middle of a big timber tract and ten miles from any habitation. Wild turkeys, rabbits and small game were plentiful but deer and bear were an udheard of quantity. The boys stuck however, expecting a change of weather and luck soon. Well it came and for four solid days and nights it rainincessantly. The campers came across an old shack which, they fixed up as good as possible and were tolerably comfortable during the four days. On Saturday night a week ago they turned in with a hope that the next morning would be brighter but before day light they were routed out bv the water flowing into their hut. They at once got their baggage together, hitched up their team and proceeded towards civilization. It was an awful trip, water being up to the wagon seat most of the time, but after all kinds of hardships, they got through alive and its little wonder the’re glad of it. At that Bob declares it a great country and says he would like to live there.

DON'T WANT MONEY.

Miss Cochran Asks for $5,000, But Would Rather Have a Husband. A young woman came here presumably from Fort Wayne about a month ago and has since been making this city her headquarters, going away a day or two each week. Among other places it develops she has been visiting at Bluffton and has there met a man who won her love and affections. She gives her name as Miss Ada Cochran, and a few days ago filed a suit in the Wells circuit court demanding the sum of $5,000 of Henry Lewin, a saloonkeeper of that city, who she claims promised to marry her and has since showed a desire to revoke his agreement. Lewin says that it is a rank blackmailing scheme and will fight the case to the end. He says the woman came to his place and told him she would like to go into some business and wanted his help. He refused and claims he ordered her out of his place of business. Miss Cochran called at this office this morning and made the following statement: “The statements Mr. Lewin made concerning me are false. I never intended to go into business and am ready to marry him any time. It is not his money want but I expected him to keep his promise to marry me, which he certainly made. I was greatly surprised to learn of his actions after the number of times he has declared his love for me.”