Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 267, Decatur, Adams County, 19 November 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

OBJECT TO ASSESSMENT

Elm Street Sewer Discussed Last Night

COMMITTEE HEAR OBJECTIONS Property Owners File Reasons for Opposing Many Present at the Meeting Committee Will Report to council Monday Eveuing. The city council room was the scene of a rather stormy session last night that being the date set by the committee for hearing objections to the new assessments for the Elm street sewer improvements by the property owners affected. The history of this improvement is well known. Recently the present council began an effort to effect a 1 settlement with Contractor Bowers and to have the suit against the City, now in the Jay circuit court dismissed. An offer was made to' Mr. Bowers whereby the Shamp i branch of the sewer was to be re-! paired to meet the requirements of the original specifications, the city to assume a greater part of the indebtedness and a general reduction aggregation about twenty-five per cent from the original price was to be made To this proposition Mr. Bowers did not reply and the law takes silence in such instances as an acceptance of the proposition. A committee to re-assess the prop er ties affected or benefitted was appointed and last night was the time appointed for projierty owners to object to said assessments. They objected in terms not to be mistaken. They were represented by Attorneys C. J. Lutz and A. P. Beatty, who argued the question thoroughly and filed written objections setting up e even reasons why the assessments should not be made, us follows: First—the committee appointed October 6th to make the changes in the assessments hud no legal power and their act was void. Second —The committee so appointed had no legal authoiity to act. Third—That the sewer was not constructed according to plans and specifications and therefore the property owners have no benefit to be assessed on.. Fourth—That the sewer has never 1 been completed according to plans, ! that the final report was never filed or the final estimate reported. Fifth—That the report of benefits to the property of objectors is excess of the benefits and tar in excess of the cost of construction. I Sixth—That the pretended report of the cost of the sower includes, SB,OOO for extras for which no l>enefits should be charged. Seventh— That the council has not caused the final estimate to he filed by the city civil engineer as required by law. Eighth—That the pretended report was prepared by private citizens who wore not appointed or author, ized to make said report. Ninth That the assessments are too high, exceeding ten per cent of the value of the property benefitted. Tenth —That this assessment is void because on March 17, 1903, a resolution was adopted by the council annulling the final estimate of the cost and setting aside the engineer's t report. Eleventh-That the orig-

The Daily Democrat.

inal contract with Mr. Bowers was fraudulent and his bid was not the lowest. The objections were typewritten, requiring several pages and were signed by Peter Frank and sixty-five other proprety owners affected by the sewer. The committee who heard the objections included Porter, Gaffer and Kirsch. They will leport to the council Monday evening and the matter will then be voted on by that body. YES ITS EASY An Exchange Gives Its Opinion on Running a Newspaper. People think it easy to run a newspaper. An exchange says that one week’s experience would change the opinion of most people on 'that subject. Did you ever count the words in a column of ordinary newspaper print? There are about two thousand words in a column. Suppose you sit down and write a thousand words on some subject and then another until you have written eight or ten thousand. Try it, and see if it is right easy. Keep that gait up for a month, a year—see if it is easy. Then chase a local item all over town and after you have gotten the facts all right, condense them into a few lines in a few seconds. Do this for a dozen items that seem insignificant after they are important; then have the items criticised and inacuracies pointed out to you when it is too late to correct them. Oh, yes, it is easy to “run” a newspaper. HIGH HONOR Marion Beall Awarded Gold Medal Former Resident of This County Praiseu By World’s Fair Jury and Secretary Taft. Washintgon, D. C , Nov. 18.— High honor has be. n conferred upon Marion E Beall, chief of the compilation division of tin insular bureau. A gold medal has been presented to Mr. Beall by the jury of awards for writing the first part of the catalogue of Philippine exhibits at the St. Louis fair. Not only did Mr. Beall receive this formal recognition from the world's fair officials, but has been commended in the highest terms by Secretary of War Taft. Mr. Beall's work that is attracting so much attention is virtually a Philippine encyclopedia, written in narrative I form. In a very concise and inter--1 eating manner, Mr. Beall has condensed much valuable information |in a very small space. Mr. Beall ; calls Fort Wayne his home, where iho was known as the editor of the j old Gazette. Mr. Beall earned his I first salary as a district school teacher in Van Wert county, and | was once principal of the Willshire public schools. He is a brother of j Alex Beall, cashier of the Willshire j bank and a few years ago worked in the Geneva bank.

DECATUR, INDIANA. SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER ID, 11104.

FOR AFRICA Rev. Geyer, a Former Monroeville Citizen, Sails Today. Last Sunday evening, Rev. Robert Geyer preached his farewell sermon to a large audience in the M. E. church, before starting on his journey to Africa. He goes as a missionary of the M. E. church to Angola in Western Africa. His talk was very interesting and described his work in the missionary field and his motive for taking up the work. Rev. Geyer is a Monroeville boy having lived in this vioinity since childhood However the last seven years of his life have been spent mostly attending Taylor University at Upland, Ind., where he has been preparing for his life work. He will enter upon his duties as soon as he reaches his destination and will not return for five years, when he will be granted a year’s vacation and will probably pay his old home a ■’isit. Rev. Geyer and wife left their home in Upland, Tuesday for New York. Saturday, the 19th, they will leave New York for Liverpool and from there on December 3rd they will sail for the province of Angola. Angola is a Portuguese province on the western ocast of Africa just south of the Kongo river t and about ten degrees south of the equator.—Monroeville Breeze. AN OIL BOOM ;ay County Produces a New Field That Looks Good. An oil well was shot Thursday morning oa the Mrs. Theresa Johnson f«rm in Bearcreek township that creates some excitement as well as a new interest in oil developments in the north part of the county. When the well was drilled in it was thought to be about up to the average, but after the shot it proved to be fur out of the class of anything that has been opened in this part of the state within the past year. A telephone message from the north nart of the county received at noon gave the information that the well flowed for a full half hour after the shot a solid stream the volume of the casing and higher than the derrick. The well is owned by Alex McDonald of Montpelier and is in the south part of the west halt of the northeast quarter of section 14. Other wells will follow at once on the same farm and other companies holding leases nearby are getting ready to offset the gisher. George W. Bolds & Co., are so fortunate as to hold leases on a block near the Johnson and a location has been made on the Melvin H. Montgomery farm. Then on another side of the Johnson lease the Monadnock Oil company is starting a well on the Metz farm—Portland Commercial Review. HOTTEST COON Best Colored Troupe on the Road—Mere Wednesday. Os all the colored attractions "The Hottest Coon in Dixie” stands at the head of the class, first, last and all the time. On this their second visit to Beattie during the present season, they have tested the capacity of the Grand, nightly. Both the musical and s pooially features as well as the general ex - oellence of presentation will always make it a welcome entertainment to all classes of theatre goers in this city.—Extract from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Nov. 9, 1903. "The Hottest Coon in Dixie” will be presented on next Wednesday, Nov. 23 at the Bosse opera house.

PLANT COMPLETED Berne Will Soon Have Light Test Will Be Made First of Next Week — Machinery is Modern. According to reports received from Berne their new eloetrio plant is now practically completed and ready for use, and a thorough test of the machinery and dynamos will be made the first of the week to ascertain the power of the new plant. Manager Stuckey has been rushing the work to completion as fast as possible and in the course of a few more days Berne will be as bright by night as it is by day. The street lights are now being placed in position the exact location having been decided upon a few days ago and they are now nearly all up and ready for use. Workmen are busily engaged in wiring various residences as the demand for this new kind of light is great and everyone in Berne who is able will have his or her property lighted by electricity. The plant put in by this Berne company is one of the most complete and modern establishments now in use, the machinery being of the latest pattern and the power being fully competent to light three places the size of that city. Berne is justly proud of this new addition, and she has a perfect right to be, as she is now far ahead of any city her size in the state, and some that are larger, and i her citizens are alway? looking ahead for something. The Democrat congratulates Bjrne citizens upon there enterprising spirit and hope she may continue in the same 1 line. OFFICIAL VOTE Governor Hanley’s Majority Was Big Totals 84,364 and lie is 8,500 Behind National Ticket—Canvas Made Yesterday. Indianapoils, Ind., Nov. 18.— Official figures show J. Frank Hanly's plurality in Indiana to have been 84,364. This is about 8,500 behind the national ticket. The official count of the total number of votes oast in this state for the candidates on the different tickets for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state was completed tonight and shows that Hugh T. Miller's plurality over Warder W. Stevens, the democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, was 86,999 and th it Daniel E. Storms for secretary of state outdistanced the other candidates with a plurality over Edward J. Fogarty of 87,114. The count also shows that the prohibition vote for these three candidates varied scarcely more than a hundred votes and that the socialist vote on state officers was far behind that of the prohibitionists. The official count of the votes cast for president will not be known until Nov. 28, the date set by law when the compilation will be made. The vote for governor: John W. Kern, dem., 274,998; J. Frank Hanly, rep., 359,362; Felix T. McWhirter, pro., 22,690; Leroy Templeton, jieople’s, 2,065; Matthew Hallingberger, boo., 10,991; E. J. Dillon, soo. labor, 1,437. I

THEY SETTLED Fanner Evers Got Pay for Horse Killed on C. & E. Railroad. Getting money out of a railroad company for damages done to live stock is very much like getting blood out of a turnip, although the companies are once in a while made to disgorge. One year ago last August Col. Evers had a driving horse that strayed on the Chicago & Erie tracks near his farm north of the city. The horse was struck by one of the Erie’s death dealing flyers and instantly killed. Mr. Evers attempted to secure a settlement out of the railroad company but was unsuccessful. He retained Eichhorn & Matlack as his attorneys and they brought suit against the company. The horse was valued at $l6O and yesterday an attorney representing the company came here and offered $95 as a compromise settlement. This sum was accepted on the theory that half a loaf is better than none and the case was dropped from the docket.—Bluffton Banner.

A BIG CLASS _____ <■ Eleven Applicants Initiated Into Ben Hur Lodge. The Ben Hur lodge on last evening had one of the most enjoyable and best attended meetings it has held in a year A class of eleven were initiated into the mysteries of this organization, and were forced to furnish amusement for the whole lodge. This order is intending giving a box social on nex t Friaay evening, at which time six new members will be added to the already large roster. The Ben Hur lodge is fast gaining prestage in this city, having up to this time an oragnization that embodies 216 members that are in good standing, and more asking for admission, and at the rate they are now going, will be the largest order in the state in another year. INSTANTLY KILLED Father Schirack of St. Henry, Ohio, Was Known Here. Father Schirack, of St. Henry, Ohio, met with a horrible death near that place Thursday, by being thrown from his buggy in a runaway and striking his head against a telephone pole breaking his neck and producing instant death. Father Schirack was quite well known here, having visited with Father Wilken on several different occasions. His brother was at one time a partner of Dr. Keller and practiced in this city, the firm Ixjing Keller A Sohiraok.

IS ENGAGED Popular Geneva Man to Wed Bellefontaine Lady. A dispatch from Bellefontaine says that the engagement of Miss Dora Winans, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. J. H. Winans, of that city, to Mr. Archibald Haughton, of Geneva, Ind., has been announced. The prospective bride is well known in St. Marys, having resided here during her father’s pastorate of the First Baptist church. The wtdding will occur the latter part of this month.—St. Marys News. U. 8. SERVICES. You are welcome at all the services of the U. B. church tomorrow. Subject of sermon at morning service, "Heirs of God." Evening, “The Light of the World.” The young people's service will lie led by Miss Lillie Steele. The deacon said, "We always have a good meeting when 1 take [part.” True it will be so with you. Pastor

NUMBER 207

THE PROGRAM Farmers’ Institute Here December sth and 6th Splendid Instructors— Excellent Entertainment for Every Minute of the Session. The farmers institute will beheld in this city December sth and 6th, and promises to be the best session ever held in the county. During the same time a poultry exhibit will be held in the Woodard and & Bal! building. The institute program as prepared is as follows: MONDAY, 9:30 A. M. Invocation Rev. J. C. White Music Mesdames Patterson and Thomas Benefits of Farmers' Institutes J. W. Broad beck Recitation W. E. Teeter, Berne How to Get a Good Stand of Clover; How to Make Hay; How to Handle Seed Crop C. E. Martindale, Wilkinson, Ind. 1:00 P. M. Miss Hattie Studabaker, Decatur, presiding. Vocal solo Mrs. Thomas Butter Making Miss Maggie Peoples Questions Music Miss Carrie Thomas Poultry Raising Mrs. E. S. Christen Questions My Experience with Incubators and Brooders Mrs. Naomi DeVilbiss, Fort Wayne 7:30 P. M. Vocal Solo W. P. Schrock The Home and Its Influence Martindale Vocal Solo J. R, Evans Benefit of Organization for Farmers’ Wives and Daughters Mrs. DeVilbiss Music. TUESDAY, 9:30 A. M. Invocation J. A. Brown Music Ralph Moser Money in Poultry D. F. Matsh, Frankfort, Ind. Recitation Miss Margaret Beery, Peterson schools Rearing and Buying Cattle to Feed Martindale Music Miss Helen Fenner, Monmouth schools Labor Question on the Farm Maish 1:00 P. M. Music Me.-dames Rice and Vail Recitation Ray F. Steverson, Pleasant Mills schools The Farmer’s Horse, His Care and Training. Martindale j Recitation Chas. Breadbeck ■ Tao Farmer of loday Mulsh Election of officers. Berne meeting, January 7, 1905 G, R & I. WRECK

Freight Cars Piled Up at Ridgeville This Morning. A wreck on the Grand Rapids railroad near Ridgeville this morning caused passenger train No. 7 that is due here at 7:59 to be three hours late. The wreck from what the agent here could learn was due to a truck on a Heavy loaded freight car breaking, causing it to jump the track and pull several oars off with it. The wreck train was called from Richmond and it took five hours of hard work to clear the track for general freight and passenger traffic. Passenger train No. 7 went over the Panhandle from Ridgeville to Redkey, then over the Lake Erie and Western road into Portland, using their own track from there into this city. The damage done will amount to several thousand dollars, which the oompiny will loose. No blame can be attached to the employees, as the wreck was purely accidental.