Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1900 — Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 [ADVERTISEMENT]

Mr. and Mrs. George O. Pumphrey of this place, received the sad intelligence last Friday of the sudden death of their eldest son Bruce, which occurred at Brook where he was a teacher in the public schools. He died of neuralgia of the heart. His sickness was very brief, he having been taken ill only the day before and dying about ten o’clock Friday. The young man was well and favorably known here. He leaves a wife and two small children. ♦.

About two years ago The Democrat gave some inside facts about the Keener tp., gravel road construction, stating that only aboutwo miles of the 16 miles of road had been built and nearly one-half of the construction money had been paid Out, and that there was no bond in existence so far as known. Our statement, as usual, was vigorously denied by the “Official Apologist.” About one year ago the county commissioners confirmed our statements by deposing the contractor and appointing a supert intendent to “complete the road.” Now, after a period of more than three years since the contract was let, the county officials admit—and the fact is shown by the late report of the county auditor —that the construction fund is exhausted, and there are still some five or six miles of uncompleted road. What do the people of Keener tp., propose to do in the matter, or can they do anything? They have paid back one-half the amount received from the construction bonds and have got no road, and, asTHE Democrat stated nearly two years ago, there is no bond standing between them and the contractor or county commissioners. They are simply buncoed out of about one-third of the road they are paying tor.