Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1906 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

sx.oo Per Year.

RAILROAD TALK.

What Is Being Done To Secure Electric Line. A MEETING HELD AT REMINGTON Jlonday Night and Committees Appointed to Secure Rlght-of-Way. —Sure to Strike Rensselaer. • A meeting was held at Remington Monday night to discuss the proposed north and south traction line that G. W. Infield of Indianapolis, who owns the former S. W. Thayer land m Union tp., is working for. Mr. Infield is not a railroal man nor a professional railroad promoter. He wants a road through this section to benefit his landed interests, and believes the proposed line to be the moet feasible electric line that has been proprosed in Indiana for a long time. He explained his views and plans to the Remingtonians and they are for the project to a man. The meeting selected J. H. Biddle to see about right-of-way through Gilboa tp., Benton county, and Robert Parker for Remington and Carpenter township. All that is asked for is free right-of-way of 50 feet and enough subscriptions to make the survey and pay preliminary expenses, about S3O per mile in all. It is thought no trouble will be experienced in this. Mr- Biddle thought free right-of-way would be easily procured through Gilboa, and there will be no difficulty in securing it from there south to Otterbein and thence to Montmorenci and Lafayette, where connections may be had to Indianapolis and other points south. It is proposed to run south from Remington on the half mile line past John Wilson’s farm directly south to Gilboa hill, thence east two miles to Odessa, and thence south to Otterbein, and from there east and south to Montmorenoi and Lafayette. At Remington it is proposed to run west through town to the oorner by the former John Kettering farm, thence directly north past Fountain Park, etc. Wolcott is also anxious to secure thiß proposed road, and it may be possible that if built it will run north from Otterbein to Wolcott and thence west to Remington, but if built at all it cannot afford to miss Remington and Fountain Park and Rensselaer, and will not do so. It is proposed to run north from Rensselaer, say to Hebron, Crown Point, Griffith, Hammond and Chicago, or north along the east side of Cedar Lake, Crown Point and Hammond. Mr. Infield thinks if he can secure the right-of-way and blue-prints of the survey to show to capitalists, the feasibility of the route will appeal so strongly to them that there will be do trouble about getting them to take hold of it. Several Remington people volentered financial assistance for the survey at this meeting and Mr. Infield went to Berrydale, south of Remington, “on the Ditch,” Tuesday to interest the people there who have no road within ten or twelve miles of them. Mr. Infield held a meeting at Rensselaer Thursday night that was attended by some one hundred representative citizens, and the road was “built” from the Jordan line north to Walker — that is, committees were appointed to solioit funds for the preliminary survey and to see about securing the right-of-way. Geo. A. Williams was ohairman of the meeting and C. G. Spitler secretary. Committees were appointed for Rensselaer and Marion and Union townships as follows: Rensselaer and Marion —J. H. 8, Ellis, E. L. Hollingsworth, E. P. Honan, A. Leopold, * Warren Robinson. Union—Barney Comer, Steve Comer, Harvey Davisson, J. E. Alter. The most feasible route north was thought to be directly north to near the north end of the oounty through Kniman, bearing west in northern part of oounty to Hebron, etc., although some apEiared to think paralleling the onon would be better.

A meeting will probably be held at Kniman in a few days to interest Walker tp., people in the proposed road.

RAISES BIG CROP OP WHEAT.

What is probably the largest crop of wheat ever raised on odo farm in Jasper county was threshed on the Iroquois Farm for Charley Pullin and his son Joseph, 1,800 bushels in all. It is all of the Turkish Red variety, so highly prized for its milling qualities that a premuim of 10 cents per bushel was paid by the Rensselaer millers for the product last year. Mr. Pullin says at present prices this drop is worth just double that of the adjoining crop of oats.

SHOT BY A DAGO.

Patriok Haliigan, Sr., and son Joe were called to Kouts the last of the week by the former’s son Pat, who holds a railroad job there, having been shot by a young Dago who was working on the road. The Italian wanted young Haliigan to pay him for his work for the company. There was some dispute over the matter and be pulled a revolver and shot him, the bullet making only a flesh wound, however, in bis back. The Dago was pursued by citizens and captured and taken to Valparaiso and placed in jail.

THE SHOW WAS ALL RIGHT.

The Golmar Bros., circus showed here Tuesday, both afternoon and evening, to large crowds at each performance, The show was pronounced first-class by all who attended, and one of the cleanest shows on the road, being entirely free from gambling of every kind. Golmars has grown considerably since last here and is now a show of much greater proportions than we expected to see. They gave a street parade that was very creditable indeed. Rensselaer people have nothing but good words for the Golmar Bros, show and hope it will be with ns again next season.

FIRE LOSS ADJUSTED.

The Continental insurance adjuster was out to Henry Hayes’ in Barkley tp., Friday and agreed on a settlement of the fire loss of the latter by the burning of his barn on July 18, the amount agreed upon being $275. The tire is supposed to have been caused from the hay—with which it was completely filled—beating. It occurred about 11 o’clock a. m., while Mr. Hayes was away threshing. The barn was a new one built last fall by Mr. Hayes, and some tools and a horse of little value belonging to an agent of the Watkins Medicine Co., was consumed. The loss is estimated at S4OO.

JASPER COUNTY MAN IN LIST.

Ellzur Sage, off Union Tp., Gets $25,000 By Will of Russell Sage. By the terms of the will of the late Russell Sage, the New York millionaire, Elizur Sage, a nephew, who resides on Di*. Moore’s farm in Union township, this county, is given $25,000. Mr. Sage resided in this county a few years ago, up in the Gifford distriot, coming here from near Channahon, 111. He later returned to Illinois, having been unsuccessful in farming on the Gifford muck lands, but last spring, we believe it was, he came back to Jasper county. He is a poor man and this $25,000 is a fortune {o him. Newspaper reports state that the entire estate of the dead millionaire ie about $76,000,000, all of which is left to the widow—there being no children—to do with as she sees fit, exoept $25,000 each to some twenty- six relatives. Mrs. Sage is quite old and is anxious to avoid a contest over the will, which is threatened by some of the heirs but not including our Mr. Sage, so he says, and •it is thought that Bhe may give eaoh of the heirs a million or two more rather than have the estate tied up in the courts for several years. While this is a cold-blooded stand-and-deliver program, if oorrectly reported, we would like to see our Mr. Sage get a million or more and oontinue to live in Jasper county and spend a good share of it here. The new stylish men’s grey and fancy Sootch mixtures and worsted suits at $3.88, $5.40, $7.60 and $9.60, oan not be matched at double the price. Chicago Bargain Store.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, August 4, 1906.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. Commissioners’ court will convene in regular monthly session Monday The regular meeting of the Jasper County Board of Education will be held here Monday. —o — Work on the Marion-Rensselaer stone road system will be commenced in a few days, it is stated. —o — Only three marriage licenses were issued last month, against 7 for the month previous and 8 for July, 1905. The annual estimates of several of the township trustees for the year 1907 appear elsewhere in this paper. The various advisory boards meet Sept. 4 to pass upon the estimates made by the trustees. The gravel or stone road election in Jackson tp,, Newton county, last Saturday resulted in the project being defeated by 140 to 99. The east precinot, which includes the town of Mt. Ayr, voted 89 for to 57 against, but in the west precinct the vote was 10 for to 83 against. —o — It is expected that the north end of the Jordan stone road will be completed this week. People who have traveled over the road say that the top dressing is not {thick enough to properly cover the coarser rock below, but we are told this. is not the contractors' fault, that the specifications do not call for enough top dressing. ■■ ■ o In the Indianapolis News’ special correspondence from Washington Thursday we find the following regarding a former Rensselaer man of unenviable reputation, here: ‘ Captain Powell, formerly of Rensselaer, has resigned his position in the government printing office after a service of many years. He came here and entered on the work under the Harrison administration. He was formerly sheriff of Jasper county.” —o — Marriage licenses issued: July 28, Joseph Els worth Carson of West Lafayette, aged 36, occupation druggist, to Orrie Vanscoy Clark of Rensselaer, aged 29, occupation registered nurse. Second marriage for groom, first wife having'died May 30, 1903; first marriage for bride.

August 2, Arthur Dewitt, of Fair Oaks, aged 21, occupation farmer, to Rosa Ethel Blake, also of Fair Oaks, aged 16, occupation housekeeper. First marriage for each. —o — The Democrat has oeen asked when the present liquor licenses expire iq Rensselaer and Union township, where remonstrances against the traffic have been filed containing a sufficient majority of the voters. We find in consulting the records at the court house that the license of J. M. Conway at Parr will expire on Nov. 5, 1906; Licenses of August Rosenbaum, Conrad Kellner and Henry Hildebrand at Rensselaer will expire, the two former on Sept. 17, 1906, and the latter on Sept. 21, 1906; License held by George A. Striokfaden at Rensselaer, will expire on Oct. 12, 1906. —o— A squabble has arisen in Newton county over the letting of the contract for furniture for the new oourt house. The commissioners let the contract to M. C. Ulrey, of Brook, for $2,485.17, (sll9 more than his bid, because of some other articles being added.) Now the auditor has served notice on the commissioners that he will I not draw any warrants for the payment of same, and, that if they insisted in going ahead with such contract, will enjoin the contractor. His reasons for this are clearly oorreot. He says no plana and specifications were on file in his office, no affidavit or bond was filed with the bid of Ulrey, both of which are required by law, and the contraot is in excess of the bid. The commissioners are liable to prosecution for entering into a contraot under suoh conditions,

we understand, and the auditor would be liable if he drew any warrant in payment thereof. —rO Ne# suits filed: No. 7058. Thomas A. Tyler vs. Daniel Antrim et al; action for partition. No. 7059. Elmira Monnett vs. Cordelia P. Monnett and Fletcher Monnett; action for partition. No. 7060. William B. Austin vs. William Wells Tucker and Luella M. Tucker, his wife; action to foreclose mortgage, demand SSOO. No. 7061. Marion E. Jennings vs. Simon H. Kuster, Ruth J. Kuster, P. J. Pothuisje; action to foreclose mortgage, demand SBOO. No. 7062, Medaryville Bank vs. Jerrie Miller, Geo. W. Poicel and John S. Johnson; Buit on note. Demand $39. No. 7063. Elijah Granthaur vs. Jacob Conrad; suit for possession of real estate. Transcript from Newton county.

PROSECUTED BY THE KELLOGO INTERESTS.

Bloomington, Ind., July 31. — During the trial of Ulysses B. Kellogg, the Canadian land promoter, one of the witnesses for the prosecution was G. W. Michaels, a well known resident of Lafayette. who had been worsted several hundred dollars in his dealings with Kellogg, and who was active for the State. He was accused of intimidating a star witness for the defense, and was arrested for contempt of court, but was acquitted. Yesterday afternoon he was again placed under arrest in this city for alleged perjury, it being claimed that his testimony in the Kellogg case, and what he submitted in the contempt of court proceedings, did not agree, Mr. Michaels readily gave bond and was released. The attorneys for Kellogg are pressing the case.

PATENTS FERTILIZER SPREADER.

John H. Jessen of this city was granted two patents on Fertilizer Spreaders on the 10th of last month. He makes some claims on his intention that ought to commend it to users of these machines. These machines have two functions, viz: To pulverize the fertilizer, and to spread it in varying quantities on the land, as the users may desire. These two features he claims to have embodied in his machine in the fullest sense of the word. In other words he claimß to have the widest range of spread, and the best pulverizing device that has ever been embodied in this class of machinery. Farmers who have experienced the inconvenience and the waste through the use of many of the machines now in common übß will appreciate a machine that will come up to the standard claimed for this Fertilizer. We hope Mr. Jessen’B invention will meet with the successful sale it deserves.

G. K. HASKELL DIES AT MT. AYR.

Gardner K. Haskell, aged 73 years, for eighteen years s resident of Mt. Ayr and vicinity, died at his home in that plaoe at 7:30 p. m., Sunday from paralysis, with which he was stricken the previous Tuesday night. The funeral was held Tuesday at 2 p. m., Revs. Kindig of Rensselaer, Rippetoe of Lafayette and Stafford of Mt. Ayr conducting the services. Interment in North Star oemetery. Deceased leaves a widow—his second wife—and nine children, as follows: James, residing in Wells oounty; Samuel and Mrs. Mary Miller of Kosoiusko county; Charles of Denver, Colo., Leander of Chicago; Frank of Rensselaer; William and Arobie of Hegewisch, 111., and Mro. J. H. Dunlap of Mt. Ayr. All the cbiJdren were at his bedside when the death summons came except Charles, who arrived a few hours after bis death, CARD OF THANKS. We desire to express our sincere thanks to the many friends and neighbors for their sympathy and Kindly sots and assistance during oar recent bereavement. The Haskell Family. Nothing spasmodic about the Wildberg Sale, the best stock in Northern Indiana to be sold out at less prices than has been known for years. When the leading bakers of the country discard all other makes of flour for White Lilly means something. Try it Chicago Bargain Store.

LETTER FROM THE “OLD MAN”

Tells of Town and Country and Flore About Depreciation In Farm Values. * NUMBER FOUR. [As these letter* have been read with considerable interest, and some point* touched upon, especially the farming conditions, I have been asked to go into a little deeper, I will endeavor to “complete my trip’' in this tetter and also explain the farming; conditions in this section of central New York as I find them.] In my previous letters I have said but little of the town or village of Worcester, a beautiful little town of about 900 population lying on the Worcester creek, near the southeastern corner of Otsego county. It lies in a beautiful valley and ia an up-to-date little village, having telephone, electric lights and waterworks, all owned by private corporations. The water is obtained from a fine lake of pure spring water lying about one and one-balf miles from the town and probably 300 to 400 feet above it, on a hill. The natural pressure is so strong that a cheok valve to reduce the strain to keep from bursting the pipes, was pat in about half way down the hill. It will be seen that the expense of operating waterworks of this kind is practically nothing, and I am told the company, which is about twenty yestrs old, has a surplus accumulated of Borne $25,000, The town has three hotels, an excellent local paper and practically all branches of business are represented here. The last statement issued by the one bank in the town shows deposits of $339,541.11, and total resources of $414,115.24. [ Worcester is one of the prettiest little towns imaginable, and with its intelligent people, well kept lawns, attractive residences, good Btreets and railroad facilities, together with fine sconety, is a good shipping-point, and it has become quite a summer resort, and the hotels and many private residences and near by farm bouses care for quite a number of city folk, mostly from New York, each season. The citizens here all take great pride in keeping their residences and outbuildings well painted, their lawns neatly trimmed and the streets free from waste or rubbish of any kind. The D. & H. railroad runs along the south side of the town, and probably over one hundred trains a day are run over this division, many of course being coal trains. The road is double-tracked boost of the way from Binghampton to Albany. A rate of 3 cents*per mile is charged on this road to passengers, but a 500 mile mileage book is sold for SLO, good for any member of the purchaser’s family and good until all used up. No questions are asked by conductors, and nearly everyone here uses these books. If they do not own one themselves they hire a a book, there being numerous places in every town where the books can be had at cents per mile for as many miles as one wishes to go, the owner making a profit of J cent per mile on them. Now, as to farther information about the farming conditions here, I will say that my remarks will be oonfined to the conditions in this part of the country near Worcester, only. I understand the same conditions prevail eleewbere, but 1 will only mention them as I personally see them here. Understand, there is no demand for farms whatever, and the few changing hands are hunting owners, rather than being searched for by purchasers. Here are a few samples of the way improved farms are selling in this locality: Farm of 181 acres, lays well, and all can be worked with machinery, 2 miles to railroad town of 400 to 500 population over easy grades; has large bouse in good repair and probably .worth $800; milk house and other buildings; fine large basement, barn built in 1889 at oost of $2,200; bop bouse, wagon and implement house combined, fine large orchard from wbiob considerable fruit is usually sold; water piped from neverfailing spring on side of bill, runs continually a large 000 l stream in kitchen of house, from there to milk-house, and thence to tauk in barnyard. Owner refused SB,OOO for farm after barn was built, but died a few years later and his sons did not get on well together. Two years ago this farm was thrown on the market and was sold for $2,250, S6O more than the big barn alone oost 20 yean ago.

Vol. IX. No. 18

This farm has always been considered an extra good one and finely improved, and the price it sold for is an exceptionally low one. * Another farm that I have known since boyhood consists of between 90 and 100 acres, has fine sugar bush, sidehill land but productive, and can all be mowed with machine. Sold for $3,500 thirty-five years ago, buildings need some repairs, probably $l5O would put them in excellent condition, large house, running water, horse barn and wagon house combined, large cattle and hay barn, good orohard, excellent grass, oats and potatoes growing on farm this year; £ mile to school and cheese factory and 6 miles to railroad town over good road. The old folks both died in the past six or seven years and left no children. The farm was thrown on the market and recently sold for S7OO. One man can easily raise enough potatoes alone in one year to pay for it. Another farm with which I am equally well acquainted contains about 100 acres, half of which lies well and is productive, balance timber and hill land covered with timber, baa fair honse, barn, etc.; SIOO would have put both in good repair. This farm is within one mile of small town and cheese factory, | mile school, good roads, 5 miles of good railroad town, of 1,000. It sold in the last year for $550. I might go on and mention numerous other instances of the extreme low price that farms are selling for here, but the above will give the reader a fair idea, although it is bard to believe that such conditions can exist in a highly civilized community such as this. The causes for this state of affairs may be summed up in a few words: The old people have either died off or become too old to farm, the boys have gone west or to the cities and towns, and it is almost impossible to secure farm labor, the factory and town drawing them there and away from the farm. As proof of this statement we cite the fact that under a recent five-year census taken here, this county (Otsego) showed a net loss in population of some 400, wbile Oneonta, where the D. & H. railroad shops are located, gained about 2,000. Thus the country and smaller towns outside 'of Oneonta, must have lost 2,400 in population in the past five years. (These figures may not be correct, but they are approximately so.) Now, as to the crops grown here, the timber, the character of the soil, etc., I will mention as briefly as possible: Every farm has several acres of timber, so fuel and fencing costs nothing but the labor of cutting, and a market for any surplus wood is found in the towns at good prices. The timber is hard maple, beech, birch (white and red), hemlock, some chestnut, pine, ash, oak, and numerous other woods in smaller quantity. The soil is rather a yellowish clay with gravel and numerous small flat stoues mixed with it, and the crops grown are hay,* oats, rye, buckwheat, wheat, barley and other small grains, some corn, hope and potatoes. The latter crop usually pays best, as potatoes are reliable and generally bring good prices, seldom under 40 cents per bushel. Not muoh corn is grown, owing to the shortness of the season, and no small grain to speak of is marketed, but instead is fed out on the farm. Several of the more progressive farmers have silos, and sow "western corn,” aB they call the corn grown with us, for silo use. Dairying is on the increase in this locality, and it is a healthful sign, as it means more produce fed out on the farm and an improvement in the lands where stock is kept. Every village and hamlet now has its cheese factory, while the railroad towns have “milk stations” where the milk is purchased and shipped to New York City, only about five or six houre away by rail. The dairyman gets about two centß per quart for bis milk now at either place. There baß also been a great increase in poultry growing here of late years, and probably ten times as many eggs are produced as there were ten years ago. It see ms they go in more for the eggs than in growing poultry for market, and there are more Leghorn chiokens kept than all other breeds combined, beoause it is thought they are the beet layers. Notwithstanding the great increase in the production of eggs— which is almost