Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 12, Decatur, Adams County, 24 January 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

ROADS AND ROADS. Four Electric Lines Proposed. Decatur to be a Net Work of Electric Railways. That thia county will sooner or later be a net work of electric rail ways is a fact undisputed by even the most skeptical. Under that condition of things the wise and judicious thing for a city to do, is to get on the ground floor, and get the best that is going. From the amount of correspondence that is already in evidence Between Mayor Coffee as well as sev eral other Decatur citizens and the promoters of several promised roads, we can not help hut think that Decatur will be well supplied, providing they are encouraged this way. The ■J. Morgan company, of Toledo, are contemplating a line from the northeast to the southwest. As now out lined it will come through the Blakey settlement in Union township, through Bluffton, Warren, Van Buren and at M arion intersect with the Indianapo lie lines. It is a splendid route and from a promoter’s standpoint will be a financial winner. In this countv it would accommodate a large number of people and be of mutual benefit both tuthis city and qountry. Another new line heads from Columbus, Ohio, this way, at which place its promoters are now quartered. Representatives have visited this city, and as they now have figured out, they will sail down the river road in St. Mary's township, to this city, west to Preble, Magley and then direct north to Fort Wayne. This route is one that will accommodate a vast Adams county populace, and encouragement should be given those behind it, providing they show any degree of the kind of business that mean something. , The Dr. George route is familiar to all our people, as ii has been on the prospective list for tfcpp past year and a half. It begins at Cincinnati, coming throngh Dayton, Celina, Chattanooga, Willshire, Pleasant Mills, this city, the river road through Williamsport to Fort Wayne. The route is one of the l)esi imaginable, and that it is well considered by our people was evidenced by the reception in the then Mayor Beatty’s office given Th. George and his New York companions, when they visited this city more than a year ago. They were later granted a franchise of the streets in this city, and by the way, this it the only franchise that has been naked or granted from this city. It has leaked out that another line is proposed, which begins at Marion, coming through Warren, Bluffton, this city and then on to Fort Wayne. Nothing of a definite character is known about this line, but with so much electric line and interurban chatter you may expect to hear of a multiplicity of roads running every which way. ENTRE NOUS. An Informal Dance at Popular Club Rooms. The Entre Nous club had another of their informal dances last evening. The boys are getting famous as entertertainers and to say everybody had a good time would be putting it mildly. True Fristoe furnished the music for the evening and we never want to dance to better music. The dance was enjoyed by all who were there and those who were not certainly missed a good time. There were about twenty-five couples present. CLUB MEETS. The Friday Night Girls Play Provesive Pedro. Miss Rose Christen was the hostess for the Friday Night club last even ing, and the affair must have ls«en on ioyable, for the clocks were clanging out the midnight hour when the girls went homo. The refreshments were elegant and in fact every arrangement was complete for the club's pleasure. As usual at these meetings pedro was the game, and high honors were won by Miss Lili Huffman. Mrs. Alva Gilson, of Louisville, Ky., was an out-of-town visitor.

The Daily Democrat.

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE. Daniel Kitson Discovers that he is Fifty-nine Years Old. Again the Woman’s Relief Corp.spotted their victim, and last nighi t was Daniel Kitson, who says he had passed fifty-nine years of sun shine, temptests and hardships. At seven o’clock as per arrangements the ladies of that order accompanied by members of the G. A. R. Post, left their various places of assembly and met on the corner of Eleventh and Elm street which then numbered fifty-five persons,proceeded to disturb the quietude and tranquility of the aforesaid Daniel, which they fully accomplished. After a short time was spent in social talk and congratu lating Mr. Kitson on passing the fifty ninth mile stone of his journey through life, the real program was carried out consisting of music, songs, a real up to date menagerie and the ‘ silent band” with Prof. Lankenau as director and leader. At 8:30 Mr. Kitson was presented with a handsome rocking chair, donated by the members of the Sam Henry Fust of which Mr. Kitson is an honored comrade and worthy member. Commander Henry Lankenau making the presentation speech. And last but not least, came an event which was done justice to by all concerned, a magnificent spread was served embelished by hot coffee. The unanimous voice of all present was that they had a great big time, especially Comrade Joshua Parrish, who enjoyed himself to the fullest extent. Who willsbe the next victim?

AID SOCIETY. © A Pleasant Afternoon Social at Mc- ® Miliens. The January section of the Ladies’ Aid society of the Methodist church gave a social at the W. W. P. McMillen home yesterday afternoon. Quite a large crow-d was present and each enjoyed the affair. The refreshments were delicious and a short program was rendered. An interesting feature was the reading by Mrs. C. G. Hudson of a litter from the Philippines, written by a nephew of Dr. McMillen. Another feature was a reading by Mrs. Jennie Studabaker representing Josiah Allen’s wife wasgood and created many a hearty laugh. Miss Lettie Kintz gave a violin solo, accompanied by Miss Minnie Orvis, and several ladies rendered piano selections. LATEST RULING. Uncle Sam will Enforce Rural Route Rules. • farmers served bv rural routes who do not have mail boxes, before February 1 will find that their delivery will be cut off by order of the postal authorities at Washington. Thes boxes, which cost from §1.25 to §2.25, may be purchased at a number of places in this city. Uncle Sam has strict rules. A day’s work for a mail carrier is eight hours. They are not allowed to work a minute over that time,although they may desire to distribute the mail in their sacks before returning to the office. This rule is due to the government having to pay out several million dollars recently when letter carriers brought suit to receive pay for working overtime. The case was contested, but the government attorneys lost. Now it makes no difference how much mail a carrier may have left over, he must return to the office without attempting to complete the delivery, at the expiration of eight hour’s time. NEXT TUESDAY. Senator Fairbanks to Appear Before the Indiana Legislature. Lieutenant-Governor Gilbert, chairman of the committee that notified Senator Fairbanks of his re-election to the United States senate, submitted to the senate tixlay a telegram from the senator saying that he will be pleased to meet with the senate and house at noon next Tuesday. Arrangements are in progress for a joint session es the legislature, at which time Senator Fairbanks will undertake to impress the members of his gratitude and devotion to them, and then the members will retaliate with tears of joy that such a great man as Senator Fairbanks lives in Indiana and permitted them to vote for him.

DECATUR, INDIANA, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 24, 1903.

WANTS $12,000. School Town of Geneva Sues Gas Company. Want Pay for Destruction by Fire of Their School Building. Late last evening a new case was filed in circuit court, and judging from the complaint it promises to be an interesting one. The plaintiff is the school town of Geneva, and the defendants the Logansport and Wabash Valley Gas company, a corporation. The complaint is in three paragraphs and very lengthy, consisting □f twenty type written pages. The first paragraph sets out the facts that the plaintiff is a school corporation, regularly organized under the laws of Indiana, with William A. Aspy and Merrill T. Atwood as board of trustees; that the defendant company is a corporation duly organized for mining oil and gas for vending purposes. After duly setting out purpose and manner of organization of both corporations and the fact that gas was used in the town of -Geneva and in the public school building of said town, the complaint continues and further says, that the school building, valued'at §IO,OOO. and the furniture and supplies, valued at §2,000, w*hs destroyed by fire December 16, 1901, and that said fire was caused by no carelessness on the part of school corporation, but because of the carelessness of the Gas company to regulate the floyy and pressure of the gas, and in not having a watchman. The story of said fire, as already known to our readers, is set out in the complaint. The second paragraph recites the franchise rights of the Gas company and the school boards contract with said company, also alleging that the Gas company by failing to regulate the flow of gas through their pipes, or failing to notify them of their inability to control or regulate said gas had been the cause of the destruction of said school house. While no particular act of carelessness on part of the defendant is set out, the paragraph avers that because of want of care and because of negligence on part of defendants said Tire was caused. The third paragraph sets out the title ‘of the plaintiff’s property, again goes over the grounds of the suit as stated in the two previous paragraphs, and adds further that the company had committed a careless act by allowing the valves, regulators, pipe line and other parts es the gas line to become stopped up with dirt, ice, etc., thus making it impossible to control the pressure of gas passing through same; that the lines had become worn and needed repairing; that for several days prior to the fire the gas had been low and there was no reason to expect an increased pressure; wherefore the plaintiff avers that by reason of the burning of said buildingand personal property they are entitled to the sum of §12,000, and said amount is asked for with other proper relief. The allegations of three paragraphs in few words are: let. No watchman was employed by the Gas company to watch regulators, etc. 2nd. The gas pressure had beeif loft and the Gas company failed to notify their patrons of an increased pressure. 3rd. The-compauy allowed the pipes, regulators, etc., to become rusted, stopped up and out of repair generally. The suit was filed by Merryman & Sutton, C. J. Lutz and D. E. Smith, attorneys for plaintiff. COOLED DOWN. Muncie Lawyers Make Concessions to County Clerk Another letter was received this morning at the county clerks office and by the way it reads is entirely I different from the one spoken of in our issue of Thursday. It will lie remembered that Lawyers Templar & Templar ordered the clerk of Adams county to appear at Portland next week with a car load of record books, to serve as a witness in their case against Abe Brown. Deputy Haefiing answered the order bv informing the Muncie attorneys that they had a peculiar way of seeking favors and that if they desired the books, etc., they would have to make arrange merits for expenses of getting them to Portland. This morning’s letter said that upon reflecting over the matter, that they had decided to do with a certified copy of the records, receipts and other papers used here in the case of Brown vs Gemmell. The county clerk is required to make these copies when same is required and they wore duly prepared today.

TO CONTEST WILL. Suit to Set Aside Will of the Late Simeon Hines. A. Unsoundness of Mind and Undue Influence Alleged.

A suit will be filed in the circuit court Monday, to set aside and contest the will of Simeon Haines, Sr., who died a few months ago. The plaintiff is George Haines, the only son of Simeon Haines by his second wife, and the defendants as named in the complaint are Louisa Haines, Simeon Haines, Lizzie Haines, Charles Haines, Mary Omlor, Minnie Schmidt, Lena Durkins, Dyonis Schmidt and Thomas Durkins. The will is rather a peculiar one, and, it is alleged, was made while said Simeon Haines was under undue influence and while he was of unsound mind. George Haines the plaintiff in the suit was cut off with five dollars because the will states he will fall heir to the property now owned by his mother. Another son, Charles Haines is also cut off with five dollars and the reasons therefor set out. The other heirs were each given their respective share. There are several peiSiliar features to the will which the plaintiffs believe will tend to prove the allegations made in their complaint. SURPRISE PARTY. ® A Pleasant Social Affair'Was Meld Last Evening. A crowd of about twenty-five people called at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Barnett in the south part of town last evening, and several happy hours was the result. The as fair was a surprise upon Miss Orpha Barnett, and was certainly a success. Refreshments, games and music were on the program, and each event was thoroughly enjoyed The guests were Messrs, and Mesdames James Bain, C. J. Weaver, James N. Fristoe, Jacob Eady, Harry Cordua, William Ramey, James Ramey, J. O. Huston, A. W. Gerard, A. P. Beatty, Mrs. Charles Patton an,d Irene Weaver, Sadie Crosby, Laura Strickler, Rena Weaver and Messrs. W. R. Bunn and J. S. Cloud. AN INCREASE. e Senator Beveridge Gets in Mis Work at the Pension Office. Through the efforts of Senator tor Beveridge, the junior Indiana member of the United States senate, Col. M. B. Miller of this city, has been granted an increase of pension from $8 to§l2a month. The increase’ will be paid from last March, the time the application for an increase was filed at the government uension office- s>_ THE TELEPHONE. Night Service at Berne to be in Use Sodh. Jeff Bryson, manager of the Citi zetis' Telephone company, and George Kinzle, the popular telephone man, of Decatur, were in town, Tuesday, making arrangements for the removal of the telephone central from the rear of Stengel At Craig’s room to the front part of the room on the second floor, where a cozy home will lie arranged for it. After the removal the central will be ready for night and day service. This will bo the last of February. Berne Witness. A SOUND SLEEPER. Harry Freidman, popular manager of the Bargain Clothing store, is a great sleeper, in fact the porters at the Murray House where he boards say it is almost impossible to arouse him in the morning, but Jeff, the night clerk, has discovered a metho 1 that works like a charm. Going to Harry's room this morning Jeff yelled "Harry get up. The hotel’s on fire.” In three seconds by the watch Harry was out of bed ami half way down stairs. He noticed the smiles of the other Ixiard era and realized the joke, taking it in good humor and Jeff swears its the only time Harry ever got up at first call.

BEFORE THE GOVERNOR LaFayette Making War on Liquor Law Violators. Preachers from the Lafayette Ministerial association called on Governor Durbin yesterday and presented a petition, askiugthe governor to investigate charges which have been made against the Lafayette board of police commissioners. The charges which the preachers ask the governor to investigate are: Failure of the police board to enforce the law for ths closing of saloons at midnight, and on Sundays and holidays: allowing public gambling houses to be kept;supervising resorts in which liquors are sold without a city license, and owning of saloon property by police commissioners. The petition is signed by fifteen preachers representing every denomination in Lafayette.

A MERGER. | •. The Standard Oil Company Getting int© the Gas Business. A merger was effected yesterday whereby the property and franchises of the Muncie Natural Gas company, the Wabash Oil and Gas company and the Muncie interests of the Water Wbrks and Guarantee company, of MeKeesport, Pa., passed into pes session of the newly organized Muncie Gas Light and Fuel company, capitalized at §1,000,000. The transaction involved $500,000. It is hinted that some of the money came from the Standard Oil company. — THE ENUMERATION. Adams County Has 7,737 Students in the Public Schools.

The first of every year the statistics of the public schools is taken by the township trustees and other school officials. The same has been completed for 1903 and in Union township the total numlier of school children is given at 387, Root 417, Preble 423, Kirkland 437, Washington 547, St. Marys 379, Blue Creek 376, Monroe 890, French 432, Hartford 435, Wabash 679, Jefferson 423, Decatur 1,204, Geneva 360, Berne 328, Aotal 7,737. The amount of the school fund received from the state is based on the number of school and this year it will be figured on thoabove number. THE SMALLEST. The Democrats Cast Their Smallest « Number of Votes. » The South Bend Times always has on tap some good statistics, and lien' is what they say about Ihe senatorial I vote for United States senator: The : smallest democratic vote cast in the | genural assembly of Indiana for fifty 1 years was that recorded in the election of United States senator on Tues ■ day. It was 13 in, the senate and 31 Mn the house a total of 14 out of a i membership of 150. Two of the 'democratic senators were absent. Though Senator Fairbanks was reelected by an exceptionally large ma--1 jority, his total vote is not far in ex cess of that once or twice recoijled in favor Daniel W.*Voorhees. Hendricks, Morton, Pratt, McDonald, Harrisoji anil Turpie had majorities, when elected, far Inflow those of | Voorhees and Fairbanks. VACCINATION. — Railroad Employees Must Suffer the Ordeal. The Grand Raiflds A Indiana Railway company have sent out a carload of physicians and the entire office force of the company is to lx< vaccin ail'd. Many of the railroads have already done this and the now ever prevalent condition of small pox makes such a procedure imperative. As it was. the railroad offices in certain towns might suffer a tie up almost any | time and the company makes this | wholesale vaccination as an absolute | preventative of such difficulties. The car is ex|x<ct<<d in Decatur next Mon day and if you should see the Rapids bo vs with their arms in slings you will know the reason why.

NUMBER 12

DISSOLVED. (») © Temporary Injunction is Set Aside. if) Perpetual Writ Refused and Fourth Street Improvement May Yet be Made. Judge Erwin has set aside the temporary injunction issued to prevent thg city from contracting with Calvin Miller for construction of a bfick pavement and cement sidewalks on Fourth street in this city. The case was filedjby Joseph Smith and about a dozen other property owners along the street, and the defendants-were the city of Decatur and Calvin Miller. The council asked for bids on tb« street and duly awarded the contract, when the temporary injunction was issued and the matter has since been in court. The case was tried last week and the decision rendered this morn iSg dissolved the injunction. In his decision Judge Erwin stated that when the case was tried he believes the onlv question was the fact as to whether or not tne city was beyond the limit, but since going into the merits of the ease he finds that this fact is no bar to the city contract ing for publjc work, but the city cannot be assessedato pay for such work. @ There are several questions volvefl which hammered down, amount to this, the contact with Mil ler was valid; the contract does not create a liability against the city; there is another remedy namely an appeal from the common council to court. Judge EYwin’sdecision was an able one and showed much tiro* had been given the question. The re fusal to grant the perpetual injunction leaves it up to Mr. Miller as to whether or not the street will be built and he says that it probably will not be at the price the contract was awarded, owing to the recent advance in ma ® tennis. ®

A DIRECTORY. E. T. Wood Getting Out a Business Men's Directory. ® E. T. Wood of PortMnd, is here making up what they pleSfie to term a business men’s di rectory. When complete and published the directory will contain the names of every business man in Fort Wayne, Auburn. Angola, Goshen, Rochester. Plymouth, Log ansport. Marion, Hartford City, Port land, Decatur, Bluffton, Huntington all in Indiana, Van Wert. Celina .and Paulding, f)hio. The benefits to be derived from such a publication is not apparent ou its face, but perhaps there is more merit under cover than one might imagine. , JUST COMPLETE. The January Distribution Made bythe Auditor. The county auditor has completed his January distribution, and aecoizi ing to its provisions the township trustees, the corporations and school boards will be replenished to this tune. Union township §2,231.67, Root §2, 749.26, Preble §2,349.16, Kirkland §l, 558.81, Washington §3,086.43, St. Marya $3,230.06, Blue Creek §1,329.89, Monroe §3.711.1t5, French 81,666 48. Hartford §3,106.'49, Wabash §3(349.56, Jefferson §1.431..'Mi. Decatur corpora tion $9,558.68, Dix'iitur school §7,244. 89, Geneva corporation §1,124.18, Geneva school §1,632.69, Berne corporation §2,393.45. Berne school §1,537.73, total §53. 232.57. THE GLOVE FACTORY. Machinery Ordered and Wheels Will Soon be Moving. The Waring glove and mitten sac tory will soon lx< in operation here. Temporarillv it will be located in the Noah’s Ark building on North Second street. Mr. Waring intended to ?ome over this afternoon to complete arrangements, but was suffering with a severe cold and telephoned over that he would lx* here Monday. Ho asked for exact dimensions of the room, and will nt onw complete his plans re garding the position of his machines which were ordered by telephone today. Ho means business and is elated over his treatment by Decatur people. The new building will be completist and the factory moved there m soon as possible.