Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1915 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

sl.soPer Year.

AIR LINE LEFT OFF THE ROUTE.

Dixie Highway Location Meeting a Farce—Two Routes Selected. The Jasper county committee sent to the “Dixie High-way” riieeting at Chattanooga, Tenn., last week, consisting of Mayor Spitler, County Commissioner D. S. Makeever and Hon. E. P. Honan, returned home Sunday afternoon. Hon. W. L. Wood of Parr, did not go with them, as reported. They were disappointed in the outcome of the meeting, as our “air line” route was Anally left completely off the map and an east and a west route, both joining at Indianapolis, were selected. However, they done the best they could to get this line adopted, and it is through no fault of theirs that it was not. Illinois came in With an influential bunch of boosters and showed the millions it was now expending in building fine new roads, and as French Lick was put on the line for southern Indiana, the influence of the advocates of the other routes and the fact that the commissioners apparently wanted to be “good fellows,” they gave their endorsement to two other routes and cut the nearest and best route from Indianapolis off.

With the advantages of distance and good roads in our favor, it is the intention to go ahead on our own hook—the air line people—and put our roads all in better condition, placard and advertise this route and it is believed we will get the bulk of the travel despite the fact that we are left off the official Dixie route.

A Disgraceful Piece of Road.

How Rensselaer ever expects to attract automobile tourists through this city and permit such an abominable piece of road to go unrepaired as that on College avenue from Washington street south to the city limits—the Range Line, or Remington road—is beyond our comprehension. This piece of road at the present writing is one of the worst we ever saw, and is a disgrace to Rensselaer. The excuse feiven for leaving it in this beastly condition is that there is a prospect of having it paved. This is quite remote, as it is believed a sufficient number will remonstrate to defeat the project. But, even should the improvement go' thdough, it is two or three weeks yet before the remonstrators can be heard, then it would be several weeks more —should the remonstrators lose —before the contract could be let, and perhaps one to two months longer before the work was actually started.

Is it proposed to let this muchtraveled road go without any attention whatever during all of this time, when $25 would put it in reasonably good condition by filling up the numerous sink-holes?

With the hundreds of automobile .tourists who will pass through Rensselaer this week, can we afford to let this half mile of road go unrepaired? What sort of an opinion will these tourists form of Rensselaer and its “enthusiasm for the air line highway” with such an abominable piece of road right in our city limits? The city should take immediate action, today, and put this road in temporary repair at least.

Program for Commencement Week.

Next week will be a busy one for the Rensselaer schools and the people of the city in general. In fact, the “ball opens” this week, on Friday night, which is “Class Night,” and will be held at the high school auditorium. ' Sunday night, at S' p. m., the Baccalaureate Services will be held at Trinity M. E. church, at whicn there will be special music, scripture reading by Rev. Curnick and sermon by Rev. Titus. Rev. Green will -pronounce the benediction. On Monday and Tuesday evenings hte Senior Class Play will be given at Ellis theater. Wednesday evening the Junior Reception at th£» armory, r ;- Thursday evening commencement exercises proper at the high school auditorium. There will be special music at these exercises. The address will be by Stanley Coulter, Ph. D., of Purdue University. The week’s festivities will close on Friday evening with the Alumni Banquet at the armory.

Notice to Pocahontas Meml>ers. The district meeting will be held next Wednesday, May 26, at the hall. All members urged to be present.— POCAHQMTAS.

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. Attorney- Mose Leopold went to Chicago yesterday on business. Only three marriage licenses have been issued thus far this month. The cases against the alleged chicken thieves from Thayer have been venued to Jasper county from Newton, and will come up here at the September term. All four of the parties are still in jail here, but are endeavoring to secure bond. It seems doubtful at this time that they will be able to do so, and the prospects are that they will sojourn with Sheriff McColly for the summer at Newton county’s expense.

Newton circuit court items from the Kentland Democrat, the cases mentioned below having been taken from Jasper to Newton on change of venue: Case of Glenn S. Allen vs. G. H. Gifford, executor, reset for trial on next Thursday. A. H. Hopkins vs. R. L. Harris et al, venued ot Benton circuit court. John Herr vs. Edward S. Moon et al, for damages, plea in abatement filed by the Marion Savings Bank s Company was sustained and they given judgment for recovery from plaintiff, of their costs in the case. John McConnell vs. John Herr, suit for account, was tried by jury yesterday with the result of a verdict for $1,537.50.

City Council Contracts for Water Meters.

At the regular meeting of the city council Monday night all members were present and the following business was transacted:

The mayor was authorized to sign contract with tne National Meter Co., for water meters for use in Rensselaer.

The bid of C. W. Platt of $l7B to build sidewalks to grade around B. S. Fendig’s old poultry house, or 12c per square foot and S3O to take out the old walk, the city to stand good for the payment of the work, was rejected. In the matter of the petition of J. C. Gwin et al for the oiling of certain streets in Rensselaer, notice ordered for letting contract oh June 14, and Division street, from Washington to Cornelia, which property owners had already oried, will be omitted from the letting. An ordinance against overhead signs in blocks 4 and 9 was passed under a suspension of rules. While no record was made of the matter, The Democrat understands that the proposition to extend the boulevard lights on Washington street out to College avenue was abandoned. All of the property owners out that way were anxious to have the lights extended and agreed to help pay the expense except O. F. Parker, who declined to give anything and did not care for the lights, therefore the project was abandoned. The usual number of claims were allowed.

Joe Thomas Has An Expensive Automobile Accident.

Joe Thomas of Newton tp., met 1 ’ I with an automobile accident near the old Rensselaer stock farm, on the Pleasant Ridge road, about 7 o’clock ß Saturday evening that might easily' have ended fatally for some of the occupants of the car. in company with his son, Ray’ Day and Mrs. Chase Day and baby daughter, he was ' driving out on the Pleasant Ridge road in his Ford car, and when near the stock farm some one driving a team putted up on the stone road ahead of him, not seeing him approaching, and just then a dog ran out in front of the car. In attempting to dodge both, the car struck the dog and was whirled around in the road, heading back west and going into the shallow ditch on the north side. All of the occupants were thrown out, the two right wheels and the glass wind shield of

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1915

the auto broken and the rear axle sprung. AH escaped without serious injury except the child, which had the bridge of its nose broken. Mr. Thomas was also considerably bruised up, and the dog was killed. The automobile was brought in by the Rensselaer Garage and is now undergoing repairs.

Mrs. Grant Warner Taken to Hospital

Accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Dale Warner, of Chicago, who came down for the purpose and who is a trained nurse, her son, Rex Warner, and Dr. Washburn, Mrs. Grant Warner, who has been in such a critical condition of health for nearly a year past, was taken to Chicago Sunday to the Augustina hospital, where the transfusion of blood will be tried. }lr. Warner and son, Rex, went to Chicago yesterday and it was expected that a pint of 1 blood would be taken from Rex's arm and transfused into that of his mother. In a week or ten days later another transfusion will be made and it is hoped that Mrs. Warner's strength will be built up sufficiently thereby to withstand an operation for the removal of the spleen. The many friends of Mrs. Warner and of the family sincerely hope that the treatment and operation may prove a complete success and that she will be restored to health.

Big Auto Races at Indianapolis Saturday.

The annual Decoration day races at the Indianapolis speedway will take place Saturday, and hundreds of cars of tourist visitors will pass through Rensselaer today, Thursday and Friday enroute to the Hoosier Capital for the event. Friday, of course, will be tihe “big day” for cars through here, and no doubt a great er number will pass through to the races this year than ever before on account of the larger number of people owning automobiles and the greater interest being taken in this class of sport. Sunday will be the big day for the tourists returning home, and while they usually string out for several days on the going trip, they return for most part the next day after the races, and it is quite interesting to watch them and see the different makes of cars represented.

Remains of Former Resident Brought Here for Burial.

Mrs. Louis L. Daugherty, a former old time resident of Rensselaer, died at Hammond Saturday afternoon after an extended illness, aged 7 b years. She leaves a husband and five children, Oliver M., Henry, Charles J., and Edward Daugherty and Mrs. Ida Bell. The husband, wiho is a brother of George P. and John Daugherty of Rensselaer, is also in quite poor health. Mrs. Daugherty was an aunt of Arthur and Bert Hopkins of this city. The family removed to Hammond about -25 years ago. The remains were brought here yesterday on the 2 o’clock train and the funeral held at the M. E. church. Burial was made in Weston cemetery.

Mrs. Maurice Gorman of Jordan Tp. Dead.

Mrs. Julia Gorman, wife of Maurice Gorman, died at her home in Jordan tp., at 6:15 o’clock Monday evening, aged about 80 years. The funeral will be held this morning at St. Augustine’s Catholic church and burial made in Mt. Calvary cemetery. Deceased was born in Ireland, but had resided in America for many years. She leaves a husband and several children.

Sudden Death at Zadoc.

Mrs. Albert Nagel of Zadoc, died very suddenly Friday night, probably about 11 o’clock. Shortly after 11 o’clock Mr. Nagel awakened and found his wife sitting up in bed holding her three-week’s-old babe in her arms, and life was extinct. Mrs. Nagel was a consumptive. They had had no doctor, and probably she had suffered an internal hemorrhage. The funeral was held Monday.

Another Suicide at Roselawn Monday

Our Roselawn correspondent tells of another suicide that occurred in that town Monday, a young married woman, Mrs. Cornell Walstra, ending her life by taking rat poison. This is the second suicide there in two weeks and the fourth or fifth in the past two or three years.

> May 23, to Mr. and Mrs. Van Wood, a daughter.

Birth Announcements.

REMINGTON DRUGGIST DEAD.

\\ illiani Townsend Succumbs From Injuries Received in Fall From Ladder. William Townsend, the well known Remington druggist, died Sunday noon from injuries received just a week previous in a jfall from a ladder while examining the damage done by the storm of the Saturday night previous to his store room in the Durand block. Mr. Townsend fell perhaps 12 or 14 feet, and broke one of his wrists, received a cut in the back of the head and was prettybadly bruised up. , 'He was unconscious for thirty hours after being picked up, but Monday noon he regained consciousness and later brightened up so that hope was entertained for his recovery. Mr. Townsend had resided in Remington for nearly forty years, and had been engaged in the drug business there since 1882, when he and W. A. Traugh purchased the Butler drug store on south Ohio street. He was a quiet, unassuming man and had many friends who will be greatly shocked to learn of his death. He leaves a wife and two sons, Claude, who has been associated with him in business for several years, and Lowell, who is a musical instructor in the Urbana, 111., schools. His age was about 60 years. The funeral was held at Reming ton yesterday at 2 p. m.

Memorial Day to Be Observed May 30

The Grand Army of the Republic has gone forward with arrangements for Memorial Day, to take place Sunday, May 3.0, 1915. The following order has been issued: Rensselaer, May 22, 1915. The customary observance of Memorial Day will occur on Sunday, May 30, 1915. All cornet bands, military companies, Boy Scouts, fire brigades, the Sons of Veterans and all fraternal orders and civic organizations of citizens and Sunday schools are respectfully and cordially invited to participate in the usual annual parade and march to Weston cemetery, where the exercises will be as per program below. All ex-soldiers, Union and Confederate, are cordially Invited to faL in with this Post and participate ITINERARY. At 1:30 o’clock p. m., the court house bell will be rung, upon which all organizations will meet at their respective places of assembly and form, then inarch to court house square, reporting to the grand marshal or some member of his staff, by whom each body will be directed to its rendezvous and to its place in the marching column. The parade is to move at 2 o’clock. PROGRAM. Call to order. Music, vocal—Choir. Address of Welcome—Post Commander. Invocation—-Post Chaplain. Music, vocal selection—Choir. Oration—George A ; Williams. Music, vocal, “America,” led by the choir and everybody requested to join in singing tihe same. John Kresler, officer of the day. Reading, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address—Russell VanArsdel. Sunday schools are asked to report to Comrade W. S. Day. Reading, “Appomatox,”—Miss Kathryn Watson. Parade to form for return march in reverse order. By order of the Post, D. H. YEOMAN, Commander. Attest: W. H. Wood, Adjutant.

Birthday Surprise for John Michaels of Jordan Tp.

John Michaels, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Michaels of Jordan tp., was the ‘‘victim’’ of a birthday surprise last Friday evening. Saturday was his birthday,’but his sister, Evaline, decided to get in with the surprise .the evening before. John was assisting his brother-in-law, Phil Heuson, with his corn planting over near McCoysburg, and was called home Friday night by. news that “a cousin from Chicago” was there. This, however, was simply a ruse to get him home, and when he reached there he found the yard full of buggies and the house filled with young folks to greet hi m on the occasion of his reaching his 21st milestone!. There were about fifty present, and a splendid good time was had in which dancing and refreshments were on the program, of course. The surprise was planned and successfully carried out by John’s sister, Miss Evallne Michaels.

Attention Rensselaer High School Alumni.

The Rensselaer High School Alumni banquet will be *eld at the armory on the evening of June 4, 1915, at 6: 3.0 o’clock. Tickets can be procured from Carl Duvall, treasurer, at Duvall’s clothing store. Please procure them as soon as pos-sible.—-AdYt. \

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places.

Indiana Routes Chosen

* Chattanooga, Tenn., May 23. ♦ * The routes selected for the Dixie ♦ * highway follow: * * West Route—Chicago, Mo- * * mence, Watseka, Hoopeston, * * Danville (Ill), Covington, Craw- * * fordsville, Indianapolis, Martins- ♦ * ville, Bloomington, Bedford, * ♦Paoli (Ind.), Louisville, West* * Point, Elizabethtown, Cave City, * * Bowling Green, Russellville (Ky), ♦ * Springfield, Nashville, Mu frees- * * boro, Shelbyville, Sewanee, Mont- * ♦eagle, Chattanooga (Tenn), La-* * fayette, Summerville, Rome, Car- * * tersville, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Gris- ♦ * fin, Barnesville, Macon, Ameri- * * cus, Albany, Thomasville (Ga.), * * Tallahassee, Live Oak, Lake City, • * Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Palm • ♦Beach, Miami (Fla.). * * East Route (joining west route * * at Indianapolis—Richmond (Ind.) ♦ ♦Tlayton, Cincinnati (O.), Coving- * * ton, Williamstown, Georgetown, * * Lexington, Richmond, Cumber- * * land Gap (Ky.), Knoxville, Rock- * * wood, Dayton, Chattanooga ♦ * (Tenn.), Dalton, Calhoun, Atlan- * * ta, McDonough, Jackson, Macon, * * (Ga.). (East route from Macon ♦ *to Jacksonville to be selected ♦ * later.) * * * * * * * * * * ** ****

LAFAYETTE DISAPPOINTED

Neglected Counties to Improve Own Roadway to Chicago. Lafayette, Ind., May 23.—Headed by Representative Will R. Wood, Mayor Thomas Bauer and Albert V. Weigel, secretary of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the Tippecanoe county delegation to the meeting of the Dixie highway commission returned today from Chattanooga and members expressed themselves as greatly disappointed at the action taken by the commissioners of the seven states through whioh the road will pass. Up to Saturday afternoon the local boosters were given to understand that there was no doubt that the Lafayette air’line route was then favorite, and would be adopted. The delegation was greatly surprised when the commission decided on another route. . The delegates say that the commission meeting ‘was all log-rolling and that instead of adopting th. plans of a great highway between the south apd the north they decided to spread the road out and give each commissioner a part of the highway. They characterized the road adopted as the “pretzel highway.’’ / The delegates from Boone, Clinton, Tippecanoe, White, Jasper and Lake counties will meet ihere this week and have decided to put the air line route between Chicago and Indianapolis in splendid condition and they say that the route is the shortest and that. the. travel will come this way. - ,- : -

SANDSTORM AT GARY.

Dunes on the Lake Shore Moved by Strong Gale. Gary, Ind., May 21.—This city today had one of the worst sandstorms in its history. A Sahara-like simoon swept over the whole of the northern Indiana sand dune country. The fine sand was fanned by a sixty-mile wind which blew lakeward. Throughout the city doors and windows had to be closed, but even these precautions did not prevent furAiture from being coated with sand dust. Life was made miserable for pedestrians and autoists and teamsters had to pick their way slowly through the streets as their eyes were half blinded by the cutting sand. Scores of fine lawns were damaged by traveling dunes and many business houses suffered damages because of the

Vol. XVIII, No. 14

sand getting into fine fabric. Those living in cabins and tents of construction camps on the sand flats, outside of the city limits, suffered much discomfort.

“Buttinsky" Keeps Butting In.

Rensselaer, Ind., May 21. ’ls. Kind Editor— Whoop! Bang! Pop! Kun everybody, run for your lives.; get in your cellars, hide. O! We thought a Zeppelin bomb had exploded. Well, it is just ■’Buttinsky’’ giving some more 01 his valuable advice to Newton tp., voters. . 1 ,o soems to have such a mania For free riding we would suggest to Ihe J asper con nt y com m i ssi oners that they buy him a merry-go-round that he may ride to his heart's content; 'also a kindergarten teacher for him would not come amiss. For such PUBLIC improvements Newton tp., farmers would give their hearty support. ■’Buttinsky’’ tries to smooth over the Charley Parks’ letter by deceiving his readers again. The fact is that lie misrepresented Air. Parks in almost every word. Mr. Parks states that he would never have signed such a misleading article, and that he only made a statement about the backsliders, but he (Buttinsky) grossly misrepresented 'him on that. Also, that he met him on the street and not that he went to the Republican office. We are likewise informed that Charley is against the subsidy, and will so vote. Also note his statement about “Bill’’ Ray her. Perhaps this article was manufactured like the Parks’ article, and that Bill would not make such a silly statement. Just think, farmers, S3O land made $l5O an acre land, and the interurban did it, sand, marsh, or anything. Whoop! How ridiculous. Also about Illinois corn land selling for $4 00. Now we know that country and they have got the soil where it sells so high. And before they had a line west of Danville land sold twice as high as our best land here. You can also find land along the interurban that is practically worth nothing. Most farmers know what land is worth, and wihen they buy it they buy land and not interurbans. Probably the sucker in the Republican office might bite at such foolishness, especially if the hook whs baited by a match factory promotor, a Purtelle, Roberts, or, O, Lord, any silly thing that might come along. After having stated that he would let the Newton tp., people decide this question he still keeps butting in. We think that the farmers of Newton tp., have sense enough to decide this question and do not need the advise from a person that has not been such a great howling business success. Just read what he says about Brown changing front on the subsidy. His theory is this: Pray today, Steal tomorrow. No argument at all, is it? Now let us take up his mud-sling-ing and myself taking to the tall timber and high grass. Well, let’s compare a little. I was working for SIOO a year about. 20 years ago; now have a nice little home which the butter-in seems to envy me. Had I jumped at every wildcat scheme that came along I would no doubt have to be partner of Mr. Clark, and have him to make a living for me, as it appears he is doing for Buttinsky. Now let us go to the court house and take a peep at his taxes. Well, we would guess from all the advice he gives us that his taxes are about $1,000,000, but, O! well, we won’t mention it. What a surprise. We wonder who pays his school and other taxes. (It is claimed (hat it takes about $25 a year to pay one child’s school expenses.) Well, that SSOO taxpayer, whom he so abused a lew issuer back, and others that he is so anxious to run their affairs. Who does it look now that is crawling in the tall grass* You can guess. He also makes a pass at overalls, and We regret that ihe hates overalls and the rattlers, (the people, who are in them) so bad. We do certainly love them and do like to make a fight for them and their wearers when it is threatened to have them skinned off of bur Newton tp., friends. My friends—and he hints I have none—did not know that I had so many friends, but have ihad men from all over the township and county come to, me and commend my fight against the abuse of the Republican and say, “We are with you till h— freezes over.’’ He talks about SIOO,OOO being voted in White county as a boy spending a nickle for popcorn. How milch hardship will such a sum be on a great many people. We know it to be a fact that women in Rensselaer had to get down and wash and do other work to help pay for lots in that great match factory steal. We have friends and neighbors, as well as ourselves, that this PRIVATE tax is a burden on, and thank God I have the manhood to stand up and defend their homes as well as my own. . I hate to get personal, but after being called everything but a yellow dog, it almost boils my Dutch blood and I am compelled against my will to reply. I do not in any way in this article, mean to dictate to any Newton township voter how to vote, as that is his business, and I nor Buttinsky have no right to take their liberty from them. But an answer to his ridiculous and silly article is certainly justifiable.—E. WUERTHNER.