Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1899 — AND THE CLOCK STOPPED. [ARTICLE]

AND THE CLOCK STOPPED.

“Honest Abe’s” clock has been in the tower For a period of ten months or more; From Tom’s strong right arm it receives most of its powe r . But it has become an intolerable bore. For it can’t live without slumber. Tick-tock—Tick-tock. It has stopped times without number. Tick-tock—Tick-tock, And it’s the general impression That when Abe’s not in session. The clock is not worth a tinker's d —. A great deal of indignant language has been expended upon taxpayers who, having acquainted themselves with the merits and demerits of the court house clock, condemned the commissioners roundly for making the purchase. But the chickens arc coming home to roost, and the experience gained since last Friday should set this matter at rest, and condemn this wind and water apparatus for all time. That this make of clock was- absolutely unreliable, and that they had been condemned and taken ont, of at least three places, was known to many persons at the time this clock was on trial, and before it was paid for. Letters can be seen at this office from Chas. Freeman, of Newark, N. J., a jeweler of over 20 years experience with tower clocks. Mr. Freeman’s office is not over onehundred feet from one of these clocks, which, we believe, has since been taken ont. He says it is “utterly unreliable” and is wrong in principle. The motive power, says Mr. Freeman, should be as close to the hands as possible, and the clock will not be a success when controlled by a master clock located a hundred feet or more from the dials; From Alderman Dan. B. Horne of Davenport, lowa, where one of these clocks was purchased for the city hall, and after utterly failing to give satisfaction was ordered ont; From Wm. H. Wayne, manager of the Brooklyn Warehouse and Storage Go., of Brooklyn, N. Y. This company tried one of these so-called clocks, and ordered it out, it proving an utter failure. Our experience has been no exception to that of the other places named. The following table gives the time which this dock did not run from Saturday, Jan. 28th to Feb. 2: Saturday, 16 hours; Sunday 24 hours; Monday, 17 hours; Tuesday, 18 hours; Wednesday, 14 hours.