Daily Democrat, Volume 3, Number 27, Decatur, Adams County, 11 February 1905 — Page 1

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WILL RAISE WATER RATES Effort to Make Plant SelfSustaining

ADOPT NEW RULES City Attorney Heller Preparing Ordinance Discussed by Council Last Night - The Bill Calls for Municipal Ownership Discussion. It is quite proliable that the rates for the use of water in the city of Decatur will be increased in the near future. That question has been discussed at various meetings of the council for several weeks ]>ast, and was the subject at the s]tecial meeting held last night, though nothing definite was done. City Attorney Judge Heller is at work on a ordinance for conducting the water works plant, and which will no doubt be adopted when the same is completed. List year the plant lost <s,ooo, that is the amount taken in fell that amount short of the actual expenses. The present administration want to put the plant on a self susta'nmg basis. The electric plant is a moneymaker, and last year besides piy mg its own way, buying new ma chinery, etc., almost made up the deficiency of the water works plant. The present water rate is five dollars for the first hydrant and two dollars for the second. This is said to be much lower than in surrounding cities, the flat rate in several places being as high as <l6 for .one hydrant. The council here are desirous, if it can be figured out, to let the rate for house purposes remain at $5, but to increase the rate for other purposes, according to the amount of water used. The ne w ordinance will also provide that during the summer the yard hydrants shall be used only from six o'clock to eight o clock in the morning and from five to eight in the evening, thus cutting out the use of the lawn hose at noon. The question of how to make the plant pay is a serious one, and is requiring ninth work. There is rotne talk that the city should s<dl the city plants and quit the municipal ownership business, believing this would relieve things somewhat. The question is. could private in dividuals run the plant cheaper than the city or would they have to raise the rate high enough to "veroome the <sooo and make a profit besides* Our columns are open to a discussion of the question.

WILL RECOVER William Hockemeyer. oommis•inner ot Allen county, and well known here, who lives throe miles east of Hoagland, wan stricken with heart trouble yesterday and came very near dying. He was on his way to Fort Wayne, and had reached Hoagland, when the attack came on. He was supposed to be dying for some time, but a physician who was culled succeeded in rallying him after throe hours' work. He was taken home and is reported better today. His physician attributes the attack to the cold weather, Mr. Hockomoyer being chilled through and through. He will have to be very careful about exposing himself hereafter.

The Daily Democrat.

TRUST EVIL Frye’s Geography Contains Some Grave Errors Concerning Indiana. One of the evils of the school book trust, which often foists on the pub lie books of an inferior and often times worthless kind, has just been unearthed. If school children of the present day know correctly the county seats in the state they did not learn them through the geogra pliies now in use in the schools. And right here is where the Jegisla turc in its arguments and wrangles with the school book trust about how often these books should lie revised and the parents of school children made to dig up for now books, can get in some good work. A school text book with such glaring errors as contained on page fourteen of the Indiana supplement of Frye's Advanced geography calls for a revision within fifteen minutes after it is published. And this is the book now used in Indiana ' schools. On page fourteen of the Indiana part the county seat of Elkhart county is given as Elkhart and the county seat of Ohio county is given as Liberty. From the days when pupils used to "Bing” geagra phy from the map until the last election, it has always been under stood in Indiana and every where else except in this modern rchool book that Goshen is the county seat of Elkhart county a id Rising Sun the county seat c i Ohio county. But now the children are lieing taught different by one of these trust text books. What would happen if al! the principals, lawyers, newspaper reporters and detectives lately engaged in the Gillespie murler case were told that they had been holding court [and convicting a man at some other place thin the sear of justice of the county. But Frye's geography which parents are compelled to buv for their children says they have. And this book is used in the public schools. And again think,of the poor old Goshen, that has been the tax paying and law expounding mart, of Elkhart county since the county was organized, being turned down for the -upstart Elkhart. If would never do, but school children am being taught so from the trust school books of this state.

A CLOSE CALL Two Berne Lads Had Battle With Enraded Bull. The Berne News today told of the experience two boys had with a maddened bull, as follows: “Monday afternoon, while Perry Clymer and Crawford Farlow wore watering a large bull, belonging to William Farlow, east of town, the animal suddenly charged upon Clymer, forcing him to the ground. The animal held Clymei down by kneeling on him and made an attempt to gore him with his horns. Y ung Farlow, who did not lost his prosonce of mind, directed the bull s attention toward himself, giving Clymer a chance to free himself. Farlow grabbed the rope tiod around the bull's horns and twisted it ab mt a post so the animal could not move. Clymer is seriously injvred, receiving several scalp wounds and bruises about the face and shoulders. - J , ~4u.

DECATUH, INDIANA, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 11, 1905.

COMMITTEE MET Library Board Discussing Material for Ntw Buildinj. The Library committee met last evening and adopted the plans for the now building as corrected by Architect Oscar Hoffman. The plans were agreed to two weeks ago aid the architect has since been busy correcting his drawings. The new building will be built as de scribed in a r. cent issue of this paper. The committee are now discussing the <ineation of what material should lie used., the fight being between brick and cement block. Representatives from factories which make both kinds of material are making an effort to convince the committee that their resepotive article is the best and cheapest. The Committee are trying to convince themselves. They are honest and sin wre and the publie will accept rheir decision. The architect s plans wilt soon be forwarded to Mr. Carnegie and the first installment of the 110,000 donation will then be forthcoming.

SESSION ENDS Commissioners Adjourn for the Session • Charles C. Ernst Appointed Engineer on Some Uncompleted Macadam Road - . The commissioner* concluded their session late yesterday afternoon. Charles C. Ernst, a com intent engineer and deputy surveyor, under the administration of George E. McKean, as engineer on the North and Sjuth St. Mary 's macadam roads, north Blue Creek road, G ineva, Ceylon and Wabash township roads. West Washington and Monroe township central exten sions. Julius Haugk gave up bis two Blue Creek township macadam road contracts, the price of raw material, labor and everything connected tuerewith is so much greater than when the contract was made, that he was compelled to be released. Bonds were ordered issued for building the extension to Monroe township central numner two. The annual report of the cominis sioners andfeounty treasurer were approved. The viewers report on the Russel Long ditoa was approved. LOOKS LIKE ASSAULT 0. K. Shacklev Believes ills Brother Was Robbed. EX Daniel Shaokley yesterday received word from the authorities at Kansas City, stating that the man who died February 3rd had been identified as(his brother, Hiram Shaokley. a former well known citizen of Decatur. He died in the city hospital and was unconscious when brought in, reviving just an instant when he told the nurse to send word to D. K. Shaokley, Decatur Indiana. He did not have a cent of money nor any papers about his peison when found and the fact leads his relatives to believe he had bsen robbed. He did Jan extensive contracting business and it seems st range that he had no papers about him. D. K. Shaokley wired imine diately for the rem tins to bi sent here and funeral services will be held here after their i" ;<d. Mr. Shaokley will probal iy g > west soon to investigate hi* brother's rffuiis and settle his est.t .

THE LEGISLATURE Moore Temperance Bill up to Governor The Proceeding' Furnish Nothing Out of the Routine Order Mr. Ruick's bill to establish a whipping jiost for wife beaters was reported for indefinite postponement by the committee on criminal code. The house committee on medicine wilt report unanimously against the M >untz bill to comptl makers of all patent medicines sold in Indiana to print the formulas for their tnedi cines in the labels of their bottles. The house passed Moore temperance bill. 64 to 32. it provides that a sal ion remonstrance may be circulated against all as well as any saloonkeeper of a ward or a township and that suoh remonstrance shall hold good for two years. Among ite bills that went through whs “enator Barens’ measure prohibiting the erection of spite fences. Only three mem tiers voted against it. Senator Milburn's bill leaving im prisonment option il with the judge on convictions for si Hing tobacco to children was passed. A bill was passed that places the countr prosecutors of Allen, Vanderbnrg and Madison counties on salaries of 12,500 (a substitute for the fee system of paying prosecutors), and that requirts all fi es to be paid into the treasuries of the counties stated. The bill provides further for salaries for deputies. Os tbe <2.500 salary <SOO !s to be paid by the state, <2,000 by the county. The ways and means committee will favorably report the bill for <25,000 a year for agricultural ex poriments at Pardue with amendments. The bill as amended will allow $5,000 for this work this year and <25,000 for next year After that the bill will provide <25,000 a year shall be used for agricultural experiments at Pardue, but this amount will have to i om > from the regular Puidue appropriation. A substitute bill was offered by Senator Lyons for the osteopath measure by Senator T. T. Moore. The most important change is the provision for an additional member on the state medical hoard to be a graduate of some well reputed osteopathic college instead of nn osteopathic board, as provided in the original measure. The substitute bill was recommitted to the committee on public health, and the report will be made Monday.

WAS MISTAKEN Browning Was Not Dismissed From Bedford Jail. Bedford, Ind., Feb. 11.—The report in an Indianapolis morning paper to the ettect that Elmer Browning, held to the grand jury on the charge of murdering Sarah bohafer, the latin teacher, was re leased last night, was without foundation. Prosecutor Fletcher says he would have no authority to take such action, us the case is not a bailable one. Browning will be held till the grand jury con venes as people, generally believe the authoiities are on tho right track in many ways.

TELEPHONE MEETING Fsrmert Will Meet to Organize A Com pany—Central Office at Poe. If all the plans now under head way carry out to the letter, the far mere residing along the southern part of Allen county and in the northern |»rt of Adams will be tbe iKissessors of a complete tele phone system, and all their own, run and operated as they ace fit. The project has been under way for several weeks, and a petition has been circulated among the farmers asking them to enter into the scheme and organize a stock oom l>any. The petition has met with universal success and now bears tbe signature of nearly every far mer in that section of the county. Plans and specifications are being drawn and an estimate made as tc just what the plant will cost, all of which will be disclosed at a gen ®ral mass meeting to be held at Williams, Ind., on Thursday, February 16th, at which time officers will be elected should the farmers vote to put in enterprise. As is now planned the central office will be located at Poe, Ind., where they will be able to connect with the Citizens Telephone company for Fort Wayne and Decatur, or any other place they might desire to t ilk to. THATS RIGHT The Farmer Has Ceased to be The Bunco Man’s Prey. It makes us tired to pick up a little city daily or two-by-four country pqtsr and see the often used headline, "Advice to Farmers," under which will appear a stick full or two of matter containing a varning against lightning rod peddlers, gold brick men or seed oats swindlers. Great Scott! Don't you know boys' that the farmer is the hardest fel'ow in the world to fool, and is no mire in need of these little squibs of advice than the dweller in the marble fronts of the city? In fact, not so much, for dollars to doughnnts no Mrs. (’had wick could work oft a Carnegie on a farmer. The Hey Rube" time has vanish ed far hence, and tbe modern farmer, with his tolephnoe and papers, magazine and library and frequent trips about the country, is pistol and fully up to the times. He bus quit blowing out the gas and wearing a little bunch of whiskers on his chin, and is now lending hie city cousin money to carry on bus! ness and buy his evenint cloth 's. | And when he dresses up for a trip! abroad with his wife, you can't. tell whether he belongs to Pea Ridge or New York's four hundred. | Just let the farmer alone. He'll take care of himself all right, and take pleasure in doing it.—Ossian News. NEW MUSIC W. E. Smith, Has Written Two Ntw Songs—Are Good Ones. W. E Smith returned last evening from Fort Wayne, where he took two of latest productions in the musical line, namely, "Rough House" and "The Farmers' Crook ed Row of Corn,” to O. Artimas Higgs, a music composer and will have the same set up and made ready for the market. The two latest achievements of Mr. Smith are well worthy of mention as they are good in every respect, being vocal music and catchy and up to date. These two new pieces to* gether with his former prodution, "The High School Belles," will be arranged by Prof. Higgs for orchestra and band, and will soon he ready for the market. Mr. Smith’s reputation in this line has already toon gained by his former musical hit, " The High School Belles," and with these two new pieces added tq h : s list will mil mote 1o; 1- i i i- ■

NUMBER 27

BLOOD SHED Russian Labor Upheavel is Renewed Solden Fire on Strikers and Many Fell Drad—Looks Like a Revolution. St. Petersburg. Feb. 11.—11 p m.—St. Petersburg il agiin face to face with a renewal of the labor upheaval, tbe immediate incite ment being failure of the workmen to secure payment for the time they were on sti i ke. added to the fact that there has 1 een no adjustment of the demands which led to the s'riLe last month. The Putipff Iron works, where the former strike originated, is playing the principal role. There are 30.000 workmen already out within the metropolis and th • workmen at the torpedo factory in Kolpino, eighteen mi'es distant, have joined the strikers There is a strong prospect of the movement extending. Only energetic measures by the troops and I police resented the resumption today of the former tactics of the strikers, marching from factory to factory and inducing or compelling employes to lay down their tools. Berlin. Feb. 10.—According to I press dispatches from Kuttowitz. Russian Poland, a collision occurred I between 15,000 strikers and the military at the Russian station of 1 Skarzysko, in which twenty-four strikers were killed and forty wounded. The military, it is reported, fired on strikers at Ostrowicz. but the casualities in that ease are not known. ENJOYED IT Bernt Crowd Entertiinei in Decatur Homr A jolly crowd of about twenty young people of this place drove to Decatur Tuesday evening in large sled, where they w ire entertaint A at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ei Sprunger. The party left hi re at 6:30 and arrived ’there about H:3O. The evening was socially spent in playing various games and in listening to excellent piano music and singing by Miss Florence Sprnnger. An elegant lunch was served at about twelve o'clock, after which all departed, voting Mrs. Sprunger and daughter royal entertainers. The party consisted of the following: Misses Eva and Ella Liddy, Eltie Rose. Ella Stuckey, Rena Reisen, Della Moser, Opal Shalley, Hulda Sprunger, Viola Yager, and Messrs. Henry Sprunger, Homer Augspurger, Sam Baumgartner, Ed Moser, Lawernce Yager, Roh Neuenschwander, Gus Sprunger anil Frank Braun. —Berne News. DO IT NOW An Advertisement is the Best Investment A Business Man Can Make. ”We find in every village plenty of business men who are willing to in vest in all sorts of outside specula lions. They will take a throw at far away mining ventures and stock speculations. Promoters find it easy to interest them in most any kind of a speculation that figures out a profit on paper. Yet t.he same business men will refuse to invest more than <SO, <IOO or possibly <2OO yearly in printer's ink. Many of them never spend a dollar in advertising, yet they should realize th it there is no way in which they might invest money to yield a greater profit and no wav more certain to make money than to invest it in ] newspaper space and to other plans rs legitimate publicity wherein . inter's ink is eoiulnvrd.