Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1914 — COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF [ARTICLE]

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From The Several County Offices. Prosecuting Attorney Longwell has appointed C. M. Sands of Rensselaer, as deputy prosecutor. The county council of White county at its meeting last week, made a levy of 30 cents for county expenditures proper, 15 cents for gravel road repair, and 4 cents for court house bonds, a total of 49 cents on the SIOO valuation. Roy Dilts, formerly of Rensselaer, who was arrested near Demotte a few weeks ago by Sheriff Hoover for stealing a horse from Henry Pagels of Kouts, was sent to the reformatory from Porter county this week for a period of one to ten years for this theft. i On information received from Jerry Karsner, who has been intoxicated a few times lately, a warrant was sworn out before ilduire Bruner a few days ago and John Platt was arrested on the charge of bootlegging, Jerry having claimed that he got his booze from Platt. Platt took a change of venue and the case was sent to Squire Irwin’s court and set for hearing last evening. Last Monday Squire S. C. Irwin performed his 200th marriage ceremony, when he united James T. Davis of Kniman, and Miss Etoil JVlima Helsel of .Virgie, together for better or for worse. This is quite a record for the less than twelve years Mr. Irwin has held the office of justice of the peace here, and the per cent of marriages that “stuck” is no doubt as good as those performed by ministers of the gospel. The county council of Starke county has published a request to the people of that county asking them not to petition for any more stone or gravel roads until such time as the tax rate can be reduced. With the roads already petitioned for, Starke county will have over 400 miles of improved roads when all are completed. About 100 miles are at present under construction or have been petitioned for. They ask this because of the present “high rate,” 50 cents on each SIOO valuation. Well, Jasper county can give Starke hearts and spades on county taxes, our rate is 69 cents,, more than one-third higher than Starke, and here lass than 200 miles of improved roads. V * “ • ——' The contract for the concrete abutments for the new bridge across the liver at Work street, has been let to C. W. Platt and Joe Miller, both cf whose bids were the same, ss' per cubic yard. There are about 150 cubic yards in the job. The contract for this bridge was let, so the record snows, to the East St. Louis Bridge Co., but it is rumored that local men are really behind the contract. It is to be completed by November 1. And rumor also has it that the contract was taken at too low a figure. However, the 1 taxpayers are not to blame for this, and they should see to it that the bridge is built strictly according to plans and specifications.

The Kankakee or Marble ditch was sold Wednesday afternoon to R. H. and G. A. McWilliams of Chicago, at 5% centsi per cubic yard, this firm being the lowest of the many bids submitted. Other bids wefe: Timothy Fooey, 6y 2 cents. R. B. Gordan, 6.15 cents. M. J. O’Mera & Son Dredging Co., 5.69 cents. A. V. Mills & Sons, 5.69 cents. Sternberg 8r05.,. 5.98 cents. .1. M. Boyer & Co., 5.88 cents. Rensselaer Dredging Co., 8 cents. Rodger & Black, first section only, 6.35 cents. Northern ~ Construction Co., 5.70 cents. Coleman & Sons, 5.70 cents. J. C. S. Sprafikle, 6.58 cents. Horton & Mosely, second section only, 6.4 cents. Sealed bids were submitted for

the work, but several of the many dredge men here to the letting did not submit bids at ail. John Brown, et al, for the remonstrators, posted up a notice in the east court room, where the letting was held, notifying prospective bidders, amohg other things, that the contractors would be held strictly accountable for any damage to lands caused by overflows or otherwise occasioned by the dredging. The contract provides that the work must begin on or before Dec. 1, 1914, and be completed by Dec. 1, 1916, although extra time will be allowed for any inconvenience caused by Jasper county. This ditch begins at the Starke county line, and extends west to a point three miles west of the Monon railtoad bridge, a total distance of 28 miles. It cuts off a number of the short bends in the river, making it about one-fifth shorter than it now is. A petition has been filed and is now pending in the Newton circuit court, to carry the work on west seven miles to the Illinois state line. The estimated cost of the ditch was $328,391.11, or $50,521.71 more than the price at which it was bid off. The estimated benefits w r ere $413,814.93.