Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 25, Decatur, Adams County, 9 February 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

; COUNCIL MEETS — And Discusses Elm Street Sewer. Many Petitions Presented and Assessment Imposed by Board of Equalization will be Reconsidered. KAh decided, the city council met in continued session at nine o’clock this morning, and from the way that th' citj hall began to fill up with earnest petitioners it was evident that a full day’s business was at hand. In fact there was, for the Elm street sewer question is not yet at rest. Mayor Coffee presided and all members of the council were present but Teeple. At the call for business bundles of petition* asking for a reconsideration of the .ewer assessments as imposed bv the recent board of equalization were j presented. Objections were made by property owners in person and , through attorneys and the sentiment that the recent ruling of the council on the Elm street sewer will not stand, was plainly seen. The petitions were the same in nature as those presented before and in fact many are but the old ones re filed, and the council deeming that the only wov to arrange a satisfactory settlement is to make the assessments themselves, have determined to examine into the matter and make final conclusions from the facts thus learned. They ' will hear objections and consider peti-, tions each night this week until all are in and then make an inspection of the route of the sewer and all property ; that is assessed on account of the j same. From the facts thus learned i they expect to render an ultimatum, I which will be made public at the regular meeting one week from tomorrow night. Although the extent of the ac | tion taken by the council on the ques tion is not known, it is understood that the assessment at least will be revised and then should their report disagree with the demands of the people, a fight on different grounds will in all probability ensue. NEW LAWS. Six New Legislative Bills Passed and Signed. ' With the present session of the legislature more than half over, the amount of legislation accomplished can be summed up in the statement that six bills have been passed by both houses of the assembly and have *>een •igned by the governor, and that nearoTy seventy-five more have passed the separate houses. The first of these •igned was the general appropriation bili for the payment of the salaries of the lawmakers and the attaches of the , assembly; the second the senate bill for the purchase of a sword for Admiral Taylor. The amended reform L Story reorganization bill, known as Hj'**tlie ripper.” is the only other senate JJUU thus far signed. Thereare three bouse bill* in this list: The Morgan “graft bill" for the employment of ad ditional employes needed in either br meh of the assembly; the Morgan bill authorizing tiie Indianapolis •chool commissioners to raise the tax levy to 57 cents and issue school bonds; the Dirksou bill fixing the time of holding court in the twentysixth judicial circuit, and the Trapp bill to authorize the sale of bonds for ■tool purposes in the city of Mt. Vernon. GETTING BETTER. E. Woods Heads Off a Case of Lung Fever. E. Woods who has been housed for several days trying to displace a genuine case of lung fever, is succeeding, and if no relapse occurs nothing serious will result. The trouble be gan with a heavy cold and it will take a solid week of confinement to head off a siege of genuine fever. Mr. Woods has a constitution that is the envy of all his friends, but exposure to Such weather as we have had for several weeks will even get the best of anv one. We dare say that Mr. Woods hss went through more ad - verse weather and consumated more hard and laborious work than any inan in Decatur and even yet he is letter phisically than half the young . fellows in the city.

The Daily Democrat.

HEART FAILURE. Charles Geimer Dies at an Early Hour This Morning. The death of Charles Geimer occurred at half past twelve this morning, after a brief illness of but two days, He was on the streets Friday morning but went home some time that day. While not feeling wall yet at no time was he considered dangerously ill, until about midnight Sunday night, when an attack of heart failure caused death in less than an hour afterward. The deceased was born at Ottweiller, Germany, April 4,1868. and come to Adams county in 1886. He was married to Anna Gross of this city in 1892, and the wife and four children remain to mourn the loss of a father and husband. He also has two sisters and one brother living near here, Mrs. Paul Miller, Mrs. Garet Kohn and John Geimer. The funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at nine o’clock from St. Mary’s Catholic church which will be followed by interment in St. Joseph cemetery. IT LOOKS GOOD. Adams County Oil Field to be Developed. Chambers Oil Company Have Unlimited Capital and Practical Knowledge. The Chambers Od company is another new corporation that will invade the Adams county field and root for their share of the valuable crude. They have leased something like 2,400 acres within a radius of six or seven miles of this city, and as soon as the weather permits, will begin actual development. This means that within to or three months they will begin drilling. The company have the wherewithal of unlimited capital and if their word is reliable they mean business with the bark attached. The now own valuable leases in Grant and Huntington counties and are heavilly interested in California and the southern oil fields. Their headquarters are in Chicago and Indianapolis, and a glance at the blue book shows them to be rated up in “G.” C. A. Chambers is secretary, and has already spent several days here and will be back soon with a view of adding more territory to their holdings and make further arrangements rela tive to lieginning their work here. With the advent of so much foreign capital it iscertain that during the coming summer the extent of the field surrounding Decatur will be fully tested. Three different companies are now readv for the drill and as soon as win ter subsides they will begin. The success of their energy means much to the business interests of this city. An extensive oil field means the distribution of lots of capital, the most of which will find its way into the business channels of trade and the result of the new industry can not be easily estimated. May they all make a ten strike. TOOK A HEADER. Levi Mumma Seriously Injured By a Fall. Word reached here yesterday of a very serious acoident that befell Levi M umma, who for the last two years has worker! tor the plumbing firm of A. N. Steele & Bro. He loft here Friday for his home at Montpelier, and while there was helping a friend paint a factory smokestack. When at a heighth of twenty feet a rope that supported him broke and he fell with a sickening thud to the ground below. His skull was fractured and internal injuries were for a time greatly feared. Medical aid was quickly summoned, and after a careful nursing he was this morning re|>url<<d tu have again Ivecome conscious. The extent of his injuries, however, are not yet known, and while his family and friends hope for the Isvst, fears are prevalent that the worst is not known. Mr. Mumma was quite well known, being a nephew of A. N. Steele, and since his residence here has made many friends who learned of the accident with more than regret. A. N. Steele went to Montpelier last night and will perhaps remain there a few days.

DECATUR, INDIANA, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1903.

RED HOT. Fogartyville Boiling with Summer Heat. Major Allison Writes an Entertaining Letter From the Sunny South. Fogertyville, Fla., Jan, 6, 1903. Editor Democrat: —Mrs. Allison and self arrived here on January 28th from Birmingham, Alabama, and are ' located at "The Cedars,” Captain Fogarty's plantation, where we will in | all probability remain for the next sixty days. The Cedars is one of the ' handsomest places on the Manatee; river and derived its name from a ! grove of cedars planted by Mrs. Fog- I arty soon after the arrival of the family in 1867. They have a very extensive orchard of oranges, lemons and ' other tropical fruits, and in addition the premise's are beautified by an abundance of all kinds of flowers and shrubs, which makes it one of the most desirable temporary homes for people from the north to be found on the west coast of Florida. The weather here since our buglarious entrance into the state has been red hot, beginning at Sanford on the St. Johns river, halfway between Tampa and Jacksonville, where the mercury registered 78 degress and at Tampa 90 degrees and has continued its firing until it has put me hors de combat, and unless it soon lets up will compel an old soldier like me to take to the woods to save my life. The crop of oranges the past season was unusually heavy and the fruit brought fancy prices but some of the groves unfortu- | nately were infested with the white I fly. an insect that goes in swarms of millions and settle on the trees, strip ping them of their verdure and tern porarily stopping the growth of the oranges, but not to exceed two years, when they get back to their normal condition. The Manatee countiy is getting to be noted for the raising of vegetables and ship to all parts of our aggregation of states large quantities of sweet potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, etc., and for the past few years many of the progressive farmers have turned their attention to the cultivation of celery which they find the low hammock land well adapted to, and are now sending out large quantities to all parte of the country. One full car load was shipped last week, and the quality, if not equal, is a close competitor of our famous Kalamazoo variety. They now have better facilities than ever for the transportation of their products since the Seaboard Air Line railroad has built a branch to Biadentown from Turkey Creek, a station on the main line from Tampa to Jacksonville, about fourteen miles east’of the present city, which will undoubtedly give them lower rates, therefore giving them larger piofits. The road is now being constructed for them south and will soon be completed to Sarasota on the Gulf of Mexico, and will lie continued to Boca Grand, a small town on Charlotte Harbor, where they will have deep water i enough to make connection with the Morgan line of steamers doing business between New Orleans and Ha vana. This line when done will certainly open a large territory that has l>een heretofore practically a useless | section of lower Florida, and which i has an excellent soil for the cultiva- ! tion of all kinds of citrous fruits and ; vegetables besides having unbroken forests of excellent timber. They have as I have heretofore written, the beautiful Manatee river which enters into Tampa Bay five miles west of here and is navigable for large sized steamers which for years past has been the only outlet for their products going to Tampa, Mobile and other points on the gulf. With the above advantage I don t see why this part of the state should not be highly favored and set ! tied rapidly by those seeking cheap homes in the best climate m the suni ny south, especially those who cannot ' stand the rigorous climate of the 1 north. They have an active, hustling j lot of business men in the different | towns along the river and those coming here with the expectation of find iug back numliers in merchandising and in the trades will run up against the real thing. For the lienefit of the disciples of J. Walton Esq., will say that fish are not coming at the nod or beck of any rooster living north of Mason and Dixon’s line but that when the ingenuity of a gentleman is brought to bear they will respond in a very satisfactory and exbilerating way. You know I have the reputation of lieing as truthful as that son of the revolution and when I open my mouth the truth flows like a miniature niagara, so when I state that I fish nothing smaller than jewfish, shark, tarfton etc., the boys at home must not think I am vaporing or I will convince them vi et armis. Major.

ANTI-TRUST LAW. Congress Unanimously Makes Such a•’ Law. By a unanimous vote Congress Sat urday passed the anti trust bill. The closing chapter whs devoid of excitement. For three hours the democrats offered a series of amendments designed to place “teeth” in the bill,'' but they were either ruled out of order, or voted down by a stric , arty vote. On only one thing we. tae political ranks broken. It was on an amendment offered by Mr. Thomas, republican, of lowa, to make the filing of returns incumbent upon all corpor-1 > ation mandatory. On that amend- t ! ment seven republicans voted with ■ I the democrats. The bill as passed I. j requires corporations “hereafter or-1 < ganized” to file returns covering its I articles of incorporation,, financial I composition, condition, etc., with the ; interstate commerce commission on I penalty of being restrained from en- < gaging in interstate commerce, prescribes penalties for false returns, I etc. The commission is given author i ity in its discretion to call for similar ' returns from existing corporations 1 doing an interstate business. 1 I A NEW LAW. Congressman Robinson Suggests a I I I Fugitive Law. Congressman James M. Robinson ■ suggests that the Indiana legislature, now in session, should enact a law to faciiate the extradition of fugitives from justice. Mr. Robinson has given this subject considerable study and his conclusions have the approval of Congressman Miers, of Indiana who is also a competent lawyer. “The law of Indiana’’said Mr. Robinson,” ■ provides for the extradition of , fugitives from justice and fully covers the case of W. S. Taylor anil i Charles Findley, but the Indiana law does not go far enough. It should ■ be amended by the legislature to i to prove that on the failure of the , governor to execute or observe the i execution law any citizen may apply > to a court for a writ of madate to compel him to perform his duty.” A NEW BOAT. I « I Rome City Will Soon Boast of a Handsome New Steamer. ■ ' The old "Maid of the Mist” that *' has plowed up and down among the many isles on Sylvan Lake has been ’ ■ wrecked, and Rome City excursionists jwiii never get the opportunity to ride ;on her any more. However, a new boat with a capacity of 100 passen-' •' gers is lieing built to take the old ■ ’ tub’s place. The new craft is to be up- • to-date in every particular, fitted with water tube boiler and 35 horse power engine. The contract has already been let a Fort Wayne firm, and ac1 cording to contract the boat will be | ’ ready for launching by April 1, ' CHANGES BASE. J ’ Fred LaDelle, Joins the Hudson Comedy Company. I : ' Fred LaDelle the magician who is a I I wonder in his lino and whose home is 1 1 in the city, left for Chicago this morning, where he will join Hudson’s | comedy company, at Aurora. Illinois, ' * for the balance of the season. The I company is an old established one ' and LaDelle's magic act will be one ' of the valuable features of the company. Their many friends and ad- ' mirers here will wish them the liest that is going in the theatrical world. TROUTNER-RASH. Two Popular Young People of Union Township Married. I 1 Sunday morning, at the office of 'Squire Smith, Miss Anna Rash and * Lawrence Troutner were united in 1 marriage. Both are popular young > people of Union township, and they nave a host of young friends who wish them all the happiness and success in the world. The Demucaat offers congratulations.

AT BERNE. Farmers’ Institute, February 16th and 17th. The Program Certifies an Entertainment Lasting Two Days. The program for the Farmers’ Institute to be held at Berne. Monday and Tuesday, February 16 .and 17, has been put into circulation, and judging from its completeness the coming sessions will be among the best yet given. Talent from outside the county will be D. B. Johnson, of Mooresville, and W. A. Hart, of New Mount Pleasant, and in addition discussions will bo indulged by Martin L. Smith, C. S. Mumma, Judge R. K. Erwin, J. L. Aspy, J. F. Lehman and many other successful and practical farmers of the county. Some may question our right to enumerate J udge Erwin in this class, but we stand by the declaration. The program is rounded out with declamations and music that will prove more than entertaining. The farmers of the county can not do a better thing than to attend these sessions. The benefits are untold as there is no way of getting a comprehensive knowledge of the pur-; suits of agriculture than by rubbing elbows and exchanging personal experiences with those similarly engaged. Adams county has an envious reputation abroad as possessing the best soil for farming, and the way to get the best results from your possessions, is by learning well the lesson of practical farming. As usual Berne will wear a social air and make you feel the warmth of welcome. THE POOR EDITOR. The Commoner Tells of the Wealth of Mr. Bryan. The Commoner last week made a statement concerning the personal wealth of William Jennings Bryan. This peculiar statement, which covers a whole page of the paper, is made in denial of various reports as to the fortune of Mr. Bryan. It has been as sorted that he is worth 51,000,000. The commoner says that before Mr. Bryan's nomination in 1*96 he had from $3,000 to $4,000 of personal property. He has built a new house which was to cost SIO,OOO, but the price paid for it was considerably in excess of this sum. There are thirtyfive acres of land near the house and this belongs to Mr. Bryan. In addihe has property worth from $15,000 |to $20,000, of wtrren sum about $3,060 came to him by inheritance. As in ; come from his book, “The First Battle,’ 1 he received $17,000, but a sum equal to this was given by him. the Commoner states, to various commit tees for expenses in the bimetallist propaganda. About $20,000 of his i own money has been given by Mr. Bryan, the Commoner says, to the work of various reforms, educational, ’ religious and political, and the Com moner has paid him about $5,000 a I year, personal money, in the two years ' of its existence. — BOOM GROWING. — Senator Fairbanks Looks Good to Southern Republicans. Senator Fairbank’s presidential boom is getting a foothold in the south. A special dispatch from Elizabeth City, N. C., says that the North Carolinian, edited by Roscoe C. Mitchell, the oldest republican newspaper in the south, is out in a strong editorI ial declaring against President Roosevelt because of his southern policy ' and nominating Senator Fairbanks for president and Senator J. C. Pritchard of North Carolina for vice pres ident. There are indications that the south is breaking away from Roose velt and that Senator Fairbanks would get a good following in that section if he desires to lie a candidate. A RUNAWAY. A horse belonging to William Butler ran away this morning, start ing from the Scheitnan meat market on Madison street, where he wan hitched, and running down Second street turned in at Meyers’ livery barn. A broken buggy shaft was the amount of damage done.

NUMBER 25

A NEW DISH. Molasses Fed Horses a New and Profitable Experiment. Between four thousand and five thousand horses in Brooklyn are being fed on molasses because it is cheaper and better than oats. This interesting and surprising statement was made by Dr. George H. Berns, of the Berns Veterinary Hospital, in Brooklyn. “We are using molasses as a food for horses very extensively,” said Dr. Berns, “not only in my own hospital but in a number of stables under my care professionally. I find it a most nutritious aud digestible food for hard working draught horses. Horses in harness from twelve to fourteen hours a day do not take time to masticate and properly prepare dry oats and other dry fodder, and the result is that most of it is expelled from the body without having b'-en digested or assimilated. Therefore, they receive but little nutritive value from their food. Wats must be converted into starch, and starch must be converted into glucose and sugar be ; fore they can possibly be digested and assimilated. As our animals, by rea son of fatigue from overwork and excessive hunger, do not take time to properly masticate and salivate their food, it enters their stomachs in an indigestible condition and causes fermentation gastric disturbances and colics very frequently, TERMS EXTENDED. I I Judge Erwin and Clerk-Elect Gerber Are Favored. The Askren bill which will pass the legislature means thousands of dollars to the men who are now county officers, circuit judges and prosecutors of Indiana, or who have already been elected but have not yet taken office. It lengthens the terms of all the circuit judges, most of them about two and one-half months and some of ’ them a year and two months. It j lengthens the terms of twelve pros ’ ecuting attorneys one year. It is said j that the bills add to the terms of fifty i1 county treasures five, six, eight or [ twelve months. Several county auditors will receive a year extra. Accord - i ing to the provisions of this law the beneficiaries in this county will be i Judge R.K. Erwin who will have about two months tacked on to his . term of office and Clerk elect Gerber . who will get a year extra. ; IN THE RUNNING. I i Judge Alton Parker a Favorite Among the Democrats. i! A writer in Washington has found ■! out that Judge Alton B. Parker of New York, is the favorit■> candidate of the democratic party for president, i Judge Parker’s candidacy, however, has not progressed sufficiently to cause anything like an overwhelming , sentiment to form in the party in favor of his nomination. Richard Olney, of Massachusetts, is not yet i an important factor in the democratic field. Senator-elect Arthur P. Gorman, of Maryland, is being discussed as a candidate aed would have many followers if he would indicate a willI bigness to have bis name used. J Former Governor David B Hill, of New York, has a few friends, but no concerted movement in his favor is under way. TWENTY-TWO SOLD — The Delinquent Tax Sale Took Place This Morning. About fifty spectators and bidders ! stood out in front of the east door of the court house for fifteen minutes this morning and witnessed the profeedings incident to u delinquent tax ' sale. But twenty-wo sales were I offered and as usual they were snapI ped up quicker than you could say Jack Robinson. But few of those pres ent were interested in the bidding except, B. W. Sholty, W. H. Niblick of this city. Sam Simisou, of Berne, and George Duil arson of Geneva, were about the only ones who offered to spend their money. The total footings of the sale did not exceed $lO6 and this shows the extent of delinquencies that yearly exist in the county. It is certainly not a fat field for the fellow who lives from sheriff and delienquent tax sales.