Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1902 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO Per Year.

JASPER COUNTY OIL FIELD.

Observations and Opinions of An Old Driller On its Present and Future. Under date of Nov. 19, the following letter relating to the Jasper county oil field, and over the signature, “An Old Driller,” appeared in the Oil City (Pa.,) Derrick: The main pool in this part of the Hoosier oil field is located in sections 33, 28 and 4 in Gillam towship, and section 32, Walker township, Jasper county, in the northwestern part of the State. On the west half of the northwest quarter of section 4, Gillam township, five wells have been drilled that are good for about half a barrel a day each. On the B. F. Rouse farm in section 28, eleven wells have been drilled and a few of them are showing for small producers and will pay operating expenses. The northeastern quarter of section 33, Gillam township, on the A. J. Wilcox farm, seventeen wells have been drilled and about one-half of them will pay to pump. All this property is inside the pool and will pay to operate. All of It is owned by the Federal Oil & Asphaltum Co., with headquarters at London, England. I have drilled all around this property and in drilling over 100 wells, I never found one that would pay. About one in sixty had a showing of oil, but I never found one that would make any money for the operator. There are several small companies operating all around the Federal’s holdings and I hear every day about big finds. I take no heed of them, as I am waiting to see some production pumped in the tanks. Then it will be shown how much they know about the oil business. It is very laughable for me to listen to those new beginners; they look so serious and tell what they have done all along the line in operating and drilling for oil. But it will be a long time before they get any returns from the kind of wells that have been drilled and few of them will ever realize ten cents on the dollar for money invested in producing lubricating oil in Jasper county, Indiana. My experience in drilling these wells has proved that many of them contain a pocket of oil. This, to the inexperienced oil man, looks big, and he is apt to get excited and declare a gusher had been struck. When tested with the pump, these wells are very short lived. The number of wells drilled in October was 14 and six were dry boles. The production tor all the field, when all the wells are put to pumping, will be about 350 bbls, per week. At the present time, for want of tankage and no market to speak of, the field is almost at a standstill. The Federal company has 8,000 bbls, stored in tanks. The outlook for a market in the near future looks bright, as the Federal company is going to put in a refinery and refine its own production. This oil will not need much refining, as we find it a good lubricating oil in the crude state. We have tested it on our machinery for the last three years and I have the first pumper to kick or find fault about the oil. The cost of drilling for this oil is comparatively small. The average depth of all wells in the field is 130 feet and cost for each well 1125. The Federal company has drilled 248 wells on its 32,000 acres it has under lease at one-eighth royalty. The Federal wells that are non-producers are 20 out of 100 before the wells are shot. After shooting some of those dry holes, as it intends to, it may lessen the percentage of non-producers one fourth. The Federal Oil & Asphaltum company has drilled one well to the Trenton rock. It was finished in July of this year. The well came in dry. This well was drilled on section 28, Gillam township, Jasper county. It got the Trenton rock at 960 feet; total depth, 1,020. The hole is full of salt water. This well was watched by many prospectors, who had invested in real estate close to the field. All of them had an idea that this shallow oil came from a greater depth than from the Oarniferous formation, in which we find this heavy black oil We have the best teas in Rensselaer or 60c a pound. Laßue Rroh

Thia «i|ni*ture la on every box of the genulna Laxative Bromo-Quinine iw>i«u the remedy that • MM 1b

' DR. MOORE, Specialist, I’RIVATB DISBAEBS. * * • ' ' HIMOKHORDS "““S.Vb, wombs. Office First Stairs West of Fendig’s Drug Store. Phone 251. RENSSELAER, END. ■»•J‘rt’ , 1 • • ' '

A CLEVER PLAY.

A clever play is often marred by the work of a mediocre company, and an excellent cast are frequently saddled with a poorly written play; but when the best of both are combined the result is surprising. Of the latter class is “The Poisoned Dagger,” the best work of that sterling playwright, James Kennedy, which Manager Henderson is producing with Mr. Thomas J. Dempsey and his big company of comedians. He has surrounded this company with all the accessories of a first class company and offers the same to the theatre goers of Rennselaer at popular prices for three nights, starting Dec. 8, with a change of play and specialties each night. The pricees for this engagement are 10, 20, and 30 cents, with ladies free on the opening night.

RIVERSIDE AND IROQUOIS CROSS GUNS.

At the request of a few absent members and for the benefit of those interested in the advancement of trap-shooting in Jasper county, we are pleased to submit for publication the results of the tournament given by the Riverside Gun Club, in Union tp., on Thanksgiving day, 1902. Highest average for all day: Leslie Alter 85 per cent Emmet Pullins 84 “ Korah Parker 83 “ Al McCurtain 86 “ Joe Pullin 79 “ Len McCurtain 70 “ Sam Pullin 70 “ Wilson Clark 68 *’ Tt'BKBYS. L. Alter 9 E. Pullin 6 K. Parker 4 J. Pullin. 3 S. Pullin 2 A. McCurtain 2 L. McCurtain 1. Although all of our members are amatuers, they certainly did good work, what few were there, and pnt up a hard fight to keep the medal in the club, but as the champion trap-shooter of Jasper county was here, our defence was too weak and in consequence the Riverside Medal is in the hands of the Iroquois Gun Club. The score, at 25 targets: E. Pullin'. 23 K. Parker 23 L. Alter 22 J. Pullin .....22 The shoot off was: 14 to 15 in favor of Pullins at 15 targets. R G. C.

ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

While The Democrat has an exeptionably good paying list of subscribers, there are perhaps twenty to thirty in its list of 1400 subscribers who are three to four years in arrears. We are not in the business of furnishing free subscriptions, and therefore must insist on those knowing themselves to be this far arrears paying up before Jan. 1, 1903. Unless these old accounts are settled previous to the above date, the paper will be discontinued to such parties and the accounts placed in hands for collection. The money has long been due us and we must insist on its being paid.

Notice of An Election of Officers in Prairie Lodge No. Ixs, F. & A. M. Notice is hereby given that on the 15th day of December, 1902, at Masonic Hall in Rensselaer, Indiana, there will be held an election to elect a W. M., 8. W., and J. W., with other officers of said Lodge. The first three to be elected will be ex-officio trustees of said lodge for the ensuing year. Lodge opens at 6:30 p. m. A. R. Hopkins, W. M. W. J. Imeß, Sec. “WORTHY THE FAME OF A FAMOUS NAHE.” Ben-Hur Flour, made in Minneapolis, is the best ever brought to this market. J. A. McFarland received another carload the first of the month, and for a short time will sell at the same price as formerly. Our fall and winter goods are all in now and we have the largest and most complete stock tn town. Larue Bros. Foley's Honey and Tar positively cures all throat and lung diseases. Refuse substitutes. Sold by A. F. Long.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, December 6, 1902.

ABOUT THE COURT HOUSE.

Items of Interest Gathered In the Offices and Corridors of the County Capitol. The Chicago Bargain Store bids were the lowest on poor farm supplies for groceries, clothing, boots, shoes and dry goods, for quarter ending March 3, 1903. Owing to “Honest Abe” being so interested in the Thompson tax case, was done in his court until Thursday, and therefore we will give no report of his proceedings until next week. —o — Judge Howard made a most favorable impression on the public in the Thompson injunction case. His rulings were prompt and impressed everyone with their logic, fairness and lucidity. Judge Howard is a very able jurist indeed. —o — Marriage licenses issued: *Nov. 28, Albert P. Taber to Leona Schwerdsman. Nov. 29, George S. Posey to Ethel H. Payne. Nov. 30, Thomas Earl Chestnut to Ada May Gay. Dec. 2, Jacob Sommers to Sarah Augsburger. Dec. 3, Ellis Jones to Hattie M. Besse. —o — Judge Thompson protested against Abe’s allowing the taxferrets’ bill of about $369, but Abe overruled the protest and allowed the claim the first one and the first day of the term, and we will venture the assertion that the county warrant was drawn at once and paid. Now Thompson has taken an appeal from the allowance, and there is still another law suit on hands for the county. —o — Abe started another lawsuit against the county Thursday night by cutting our bill for printing the election ballots some S4O. The bill as filed was a just one, and lower than that of any of the surrounding counties for the same work, and we informed Abe that we would submit to no cut whatever. He cut it, however, and the only thing for us to do is to institute suit, which will be done at once. —o — New suits filed: No. 6408. Daniel Coleman vs. Lillie Coleman: action for divorce. The complaint alleges that the parties were married in January. 1893, and lived together until December of the same year, when defendant abandoned plaintiff at Morgantown, N. C., without cause, and has since lived apart from him; that as the fruits of said marriage one child, now about nine years of age, was born. The plaintiff resides at or near Remington, and the defendant is a non-resident of the state. No. 6309. Thomas Aken vs. Benjamin J. Gifford; action- for damages. —o — Following is a report of circuit court proceedings for the past week: Alston Nichols vs. John G. Perry et al., mechanic’s lien; case dismissed. Town of Goodland vs. Perry; judgement for plaintiff for $76.98 and costs. The cases of Garret Gravenstuck and Edward T. Boyles vs. Charlee T. Otis were compromised. Caso of state vs. Kight et al., the Hancock-Kight et al case from Newton county, was continued for term. Henry Heil vs. Elizabeth Heil; action on note. Continued for term and clerk directed to notify plaintiff that cause will be dismissed at the February term. 8. M. LaMoine resigned as justice of the peace in Union tp., and the proceedings to oust him, because his appointment was alleged to have been illegal, were dismissed. Aultinan-Taylor'Co. vs. Gray et al.; action to quiet title. Title quieted in Hippolite Conrad, he to pay costs of same; verdict against Aultman-Taylor Co., as to renewal of judgment, and costs.

The case of Judge Thompson in behalf of the county, to collect about $4,000, which he alleges the tax-ferrets have been overpaid, was, on agreemant of all parties, continued to the April term of court. Mr. Thompson expects to spend the winter in the south with his wife and children, and for this reason could not well attend to the case at the February term. Judge Howard of South Bend came Tuesday, and the injunction case of Judge Thompson vs. the county treasurer, to enjoin the collection of the $1,300 alleged “omitted” taxes, placed on the tax duplicate against him by the taxferrets, was taken up and lasted until about 4 p. m, Thursday. The court reporter will make a long-hand transcript of the evidence and the case will be argued by the attorneys at the April term or court, when Judge Howard will return here for the purpose of hearing same. Judge Thompson’s attorney was Wm. Darroch of Kentland, while the tax-ferrets, on the part of the county, were represented by J. Frank Hanley of Lafayette, and C. E. Mills and W. H. Parkison of this city, and “Honest Abe” lent his presence most of the time to stiffen up the backbone of the defense. The case attracted quite a good deal of interest, and there were many citizens in the court room during the hearing. There seemed to be no contention in the evi-1 dence that any particular property had been omitted, but that the notes and securities had been undervalued by the assessors during the years in question, 1892 to 1900 inclusive, and the ferrets had revalued them. The Judge’s pass books, containing his bank balances on April Ist of each year were brought in by him and there seemed to be no attempt to conceal anything on his part. The two assessors now living who had assessed him a portion of the years in controversy, bore out his statements and everything seemed open and honest on his part. The assessors saw the notes and securities and assessed them at what they considered their true cash value. The defense had brought in the bank ledgers of the three Rensselaer banks, and the balances as shown therein corroborated Judge Thompson's testimony. The general impress on of everyone who heard the testimony, that we have heard express themselves, is that the ferrets had no good grounds for placing the tax on the duplicate, and that noting had been I “omitted” so far as shown.

DEMPSEY A FAVORITE.

The character comedian, Mr. Thomas J. Dempsey, appeared at Chatterton's opera house on Wednesday night and made a decided hit. Mr. Dempsey is a whole show in himself. His rapid changes from one character to another surprised had delighted the audience.—Springfield Republican, Thursday, Oct. 16. 1902, At Ellis Opera House, three nights, beginning Dec. 8.

WERE EASY MARKS.

The White County grand jury investigated the Wolcott prize fight in which a number of Rensselaer sports were prominently mixed up, and as a result a few indictments were returned, two of which were against the principals, “Kid” Hennessy, of Frankfort, and Wright, or “Kid” Landis, as he is professionally known, of this city. Hennessy is understood to be now under arrest at Frankfort on the charge of obtaining goods under false pretenses, but Wright has not been arrested, we understand at this writing. If those Wolcott witnesses had got a few pointers from the Rensselaer fellows whom we understand were before the late grand jury here, which attempted to enquire into the Carnival prize fight, they wouldn’t have known there was a fight pulled off within a thousand miles of them. The Wolcott sports are dead easy.

My 80 nere fnrtn in Bnrkley tp., is for sale or trade. Nelson DuCharme. Rensselaer, R. D. 2. *

KEPT $4,000.

Serious Charge Against One of Abe’s Henchmen. EX-AUDITOR A GREAT “GRAFTER.” Tax-Ferret Workman Sued In Owen County for Witholding $3,600. It will perhaps be of interest to the people of Jasper county to know that the man employed by “Honest Abe” to investigate the tax-payers of this county, and, contrary to all law and precedent, make a re-valuation of personal property, is himself charged with being short about $4,000 in his accounts during the four years he was auditor of Owen county, Ind. Owen county is democratic, and Mr. Workman was elected auditor in 1894, taking the office Nov. 6, 1895, and serving until Nov. 6, 1899. An investigation of the county records was made some time ago by the democrats, the dominant party, and as a result thereof ex-Auditor Workman was found to have drawn $3,660.23 more than his regular salary of $1,900 per year, which he had failed to turn over to the county. An action was brought for the amount against Workman and his bondsmen, Alexander Bryce, William Fender, Robert A. White, Walter E. William, Benjamin E. Allison, Richard McNiell, Samuel R. McKelvy, George W. Edwards, John C. H. Baker and William L. Barnes, by Owen county, at the October term of the Owen circuit court to recover the amount of the alleged shortage with interest and damages, amounting all told to $5,500, and the case is now pending in court. The complaint, which is quite lengthy, sets out in detail the alleged moneys which Mr. Workman is charged with having collected and put down in his jeans. If the allegations of the complaint are correct, Workman was a grafter from ’way back, and was, apparantly, one of those “democrats” for revenue only. Until Mr. Workman is cleared of the above charges, we insist he is not a fit man to sit in judgment on the honesty of the taxpayers of this county. The Remington case of Lamborn vs. The Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Co., was being tried as we go to press.

M. E. LADIES’ BAZAR.

The ladies of the M. E church will hold their annual bazar. Thursday, Dec. 18, 1902, in the room back of the postoftice. They will serve a roast chicken and chicken-pie dinner. Come, everybody, and get a good meal for 25 cents. A large line of fall and winter caps at half price at Laßue Bros.

Money to Loan.

Private funds to loan on farms, also city property, for 5 years or longer at a low rate of interest, with privilege of making partial payments. Also money to loan on personal, second mortgage and chattel security. No delay, call or write. A complete set of abstract BOOKS.

JAMES H. CHAPMAN.

We pay the highest market price for produce. Laßue Bros. Better Than a Plaster. , * Apiece of flannel dampened with Chamberlain's Pain Halm and bound on the affected parts, is better than a plaster for a lame back and pains in the side or chest. Pain Balm has no superior as a liniment for the relief of deep seated, muscular and rheumatic pains. For sale by A. F. Long. New Lumber Yard In Rensselaer, Where you can get all kinds of Lumber, Lime, Hair, Brick, Cement and Piaster; albp the celebrated alabastscent Wall Plasti r. I solicit a share of your trade at my old stand. Respectfully, Hiram Day. TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY. Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund the money if it falls to cure K. W. Grove’s signature is on each box. 3bc.

Vol. V. No. 35

THE TEACHERS.

The Teachers’ Association of Jasper county met in the thirteenth annual session Nov. 28-29, in the east court room. Prof. Stanley Coulter of Purdue University, addressed the teachers on nature and psychology. His fundamental notion was that the teacher should develope continual perceptivity in the child, and that this could be done, not by books or lecturing, but by getting the child to see things for himself, and in relation. The teachers enjoyed this line of thought and found it stimulating. A symposium on “Our Schools” was given Friday afternoon. Dr. Kressler spoke from the medical standpoint, Hon. J. E. Wilson from the legal,, and Mr. C. W. Coen from the business man’s. Supt. Marshall of the Remington schools, gave a comprehensive address on “Essentials of Discipline.” Supt. Hamilton talked of what he had seen in the district schools. Excellent music was provided for the various sessions, partly by the Rensselaer schools and partly by musicians from the city. The association is indebted to Mr. Perkins, Miss Gilkie, Miss Potter, Mrs. Delos Thompson and others for the mnsic. Mr. Martin R. Marshall of Remington, was the chairman, while Mr. E. E. Pierson was elected president for 1903. *

HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR SALE.

The undersigned, intending to leave the city, will offer for sale at his residence on Clark street, during the next two weeks, the following household goods: 5 rockers from $1 to $5; set dining chairs, $5; 2 carpets; Davenport, sls; Baseburner, $22; sideboard, $18; Dining table, $8; cook .stove. sls; stands, $1 and $5; Lawn-mower, $3; white maple bedroom suite, $24; roll top desk, $10; and numerous small articles. These goods are all in good shape, and comparatively new. My property will be for rent or

ELMER J. WILCOX.

sale.

PUBLIC SALES. If you are thinking of holding a public sale, remember that The Democrat office is the proper place to get your bills printed. We get up a nice, neat bill and give a free notice in The Democrat with each set of bills, and, as the Democrat is read by more farmers in Jasper county than all the other papers combined, you will make a mistake that means dollars and cents to you if you go elsewhere for this class of work. Publicity is what you want to bring the people to your sale and thus secure good prices for what you have to sell. The Democrat can insure you this, for it reaches the people, and the very class of people you want to tell about your sale. Try our package coffee, 3 pounds for 25c. Laßue Bros. R. W. Marshall’s law office is in the county building, formerly used for circuit clerk's office, opposita east side of court house. Anyone having legal business of any kind, should secure the benefit of Mr Marshall’s long experience and practice. It. We keep a full line of Kennedy’s cakes. Laßue Bros. Did you taste those lovely warm biscuits during E. D. Rhoades’ stove sale? They were made of River Queen Flour. The Democrat and State Sentinel, each one year for $1.35; Democrat and Cincinnati Weekly Enquirer, $1.60; all three, $1.95. This is the season of the year when the prudent and careful housewife replenishes her supply of Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy. It is certian to be needed before the winter Is over, and results are much more prompt and satisfactory when it is kept at hand and given as soon as the cold is contracted and before it has become settled in-the system. In- almost every instance a severe cold may be warded off by taking this remedy freely as «oon as the first indication of the cold appears. There is no danger in giving it to children for it contains no harmful sut stance. It is pleasant to take—both adults and cl hiren like it. Buy it and you will get the best. It always cures. For sale by A. F. Long. Craft’s Distemper and Cough Cure A Bpacific for Distemper, Coughs, Colds, Heaves, rink Bye, and all Catarrhal diaeaaaa of harass. Price, sec. ai.oo per boule* Sold by A. F. Long.