Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1918 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

|2.00 Per Year

WORST STORM IN FIFTY YEARS

Rensselaer and OUer Towns Cut Off From Outside World. R.R. TRAFFIC BLOCKED 3 DAYS On the Monon and Only Partially Established Now. —Mercury Went to 31 Below Zero. With the possible exception of the big storm fifty-four years ago, referred to by old-timers as “the cold New Year’s,” the storm that was in progress •as The Democrat went to press Friday afternoon was the worst ever known in.. this section of the •tate. This storm started Thursday night, and up to early Friday afternoon perihaps four or five inches of snow had fallen, but there had been no wind and it was not very cold. During the late afternoon, however, the wind raised and the mercury went scurrying down the tube (until the government thermometer at St. Joseph college registered 31 degrees below zero Saturday morning. The snow had continued falling to some extent all this time, continuing all day Saturday, which was the worst day ever experienced, the mercury remaining several degrees below the 0 all day long and t'he wind whirling the snow in drifts that impeded all traffic. No trains were run at all on the Monon from the milk train south bound and the Indianapolis train northbound Friday Evening—each of which was from two to three hours late —until Monday. Little effort was made Saturday to keep traffic open in Rensselaer, as both streets and sidewalks were blown full of snow again almost as soon as shoveled out. Nobody was in from the country at all and practically no business was done by any of the stores except a little by the groceries and meat markets. There was no delivery service and only the barest necessities were purchased and carried home by the purchasers to last over Sunday. All the stores except the grocei’, meat markets and restaurants closed up at 4 or 5 o’clock in the afternoon and the proprietors and clerks went home. Few of the women clerks and office girls got down town at all during the day because of the drifted condition of the sidewalks and streets, and Rensselaer presented the most deserted, desolate appearance imaginable. Sunday morning opened bright and clear, but cold, the mercury reaching six to eight below zero during the previous night, and then tke work of “shoveling out’’ began in earnest. The snow had packed itard enough to almost bear up the weight of a horse, and it was very work clearing paths and breaking through the huge drifts in the streets. Fire Chief Montgomery superintended the work of clearing the streets. A big road grader, with six horses, was used. By early afternoon most of the streets were cleared sufficiently io permit traffic and everyone breathed easier, as fears of fires with no way of reaching the scenes with the fire wagon and hose had become a . nightmare. Fortunately no fires occurred, and this we can certainly be thankful for. Two trains from Chicago came in early Tuesday, morning, Nos. 31 and 3 at about 1:30 o’clock, and brought newspapers and mail that had been delayed throughout the storm period. The papers conveyed t'he information that the storm was quite general in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and while traffic bias been partially restored it will be several days before normal schedules can be resumed. The worst effects of the storm will no doubt be felt in the large cities because of t'he scarcity of fuel, and steps have already been taken in Chicago and other industrial centers to reduce the use of fuel by industrial concerns to permit the use of same by individuals. There is no great cause for alarm from this source in Rensselaer for the supply of coal now in the city is sufficient for all immediate needs and if traffic has not been fully restored by the time this supply is

exhausted it will be no hardship for us to- burn wood as did our forefathers. And should it come to this there is an abundant supply about Rensselaer that is easily accessible. Considerable time and labor will be required to open the country roads, especially those running north and south between tight (fences, where the drifts are said to be several feet in depth and in many places impassable. The east and west roads were not drifted nearly so bad as the north and south roads. It is conservatively estimated that close to two feet of snow fell on the level. Several Rensselaer people were returning from- Chicago on train No. 31 Friday evening when the same was stalled in the snow just south of the station at Hammond. The train had experienced considerable difficulty in reaching Hammond so another engine was coupled on at that point and it was thought by all that the train could then get through. However, they had only proceeded about a mile when they

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FINANCIAL REPORT OF YEAR

Jasper County Paid Out $748,630.01 During Fiscal Year 1917 On another page of today’s Democrat appears the annual statement of the county auditor and county treasurer, which should be of interest to all taxpayers of the county, as it shows how much was collected during 1917 in the various funds and how it'was spent. On January 1, 1917, there was a balance in the county treasury of $18,396.95, and in all (funds a balance of $159,479.44. During the year 1917 there was collected $105,473.97 of county revenue, but only $76,236.59 was from taxation, the remainder being made up from receipts from the various pounty Offices, poor farm, county hospital, interest on county funds, etc., which, added to the balance on hand at the beginning of the year made a total df $123,870.92. The disbursements during the year from county revenue were $98,148.61, leaving a balance at the end of the year in this fund of $25,722.31. There was collected from other various sources, however, including county revenue, $913,481.01, making a grand total of balance and receipts of $1,072,960.45, and expended $748,630.01. There was collected about $3,450 between the time of the November settlement and December 31, which left a grand total in the county treasury at the end off- the year of $327,765.06. -Considerable of the money recedlved during the year was from the sale of bonds for improved roads and ditch construction; in fact, $325,000 of the total receipts given above came from this source, and about $170,000 was received from taxation for the redemption of road and ditch bonds. Of the $327,765.06 on hand January 1 about $240,000 was unexpended balances received from the sale of such bonds, there being SIBO,OOO in round numbers in road construction and $60,000 in ditch construction.

A comparatively small part of the taxes paid in goes to the state, it being the local taxes that always hit the taxpayer hardest. Fees are received back from some of the county offices and of these the clerk paid in $ 1,148.23 and was paid $2,332.54; the auditor sl,148.23, and was paid $2,843.06; the treasurer $1,775.47, and was paid $4,458.85; the recorder $2,093.05, and was paid $1,945.43 — $147.62 net gain for the county; sheriff $1,146.31, and was paid $2,158.10. The county poor Harm receipts were but $3,697.21 and the expend-, itures were $7,387,37 —a net deficit of $3,690.16. The county hospital paid in $7.989.54 while the expenditures were $1 4,487.22, leaving a net deficit of $6,497.68. (These figures, understand, are official, and prove conclusively that The Democrat's reports from month to month of the receipts and expenditures of this institution as taken from the figures In the countytreasurer’s office have been correct.) ' At the beginning of 1917 there was a balance of $4,533.51 in the gravel road repair fund and there was received during the year $32,-

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1918

COURTHOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPERCOUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. Former Judge T. F. Palmer of Monticello was in Rensselaer on business Friday. -County Assessor G. L. Tho,rnton attended the meeting of the State Board df Tax Commissioners and County Assessors at Indianapolis last week.

New suits filed: No. 8872. David D. Gleason vs. Art Hicks and Babcock & Hopkins; complaint on contract. No. 8873. George H. Gifford, executor, vs. Reuben Zehr et al; foreclosure of mortgage. Demand $7,000. The January term df the Newton circuit court convened Monday. The petit jury, composed of David S. Fletcher, Alonzo A. Smart, Sidney Lee, John Vayette, William H. Boyle, Robert E. Stack, James RKay, Anguj D. Washburn, Peter Sallee, John S. Allen, Jacob W. Cline and John Bootby, are called for ten o’clock a. m., on the third Monday of the term, January 23. Judge Hanley was to go over to Kentland Monday to open up the January term of the Newton circuit court, but owing to the fact that Court Reporter Mike Wagner is sprouting a Charlie Chaplin mustache and the chances of its getting frost-bitten between here and Remington were very promising, the Judge had to forego the trip until today, when, accompanied by the faithful Mike wrapped in a neck comforter to protect the tender whiskers, he will set out for the Newton county capital. Walter Funk of South Bend, special judge, has handed down a decision in the Porter circuit court in favor df the Manhattan Lumber company of Chicago, and other firms, in their suits against the -stockholders of the old Mineral Wells Jockey Club ifor material used in the race track at Porter, closed by the governor two years ago. Fire of incendiary origin destroyed the racing plant. The defendants must pay the lumber company $33,441.40, six Chesterton firms a total of $8,208.70, and thirty-seven smaller claims, ranging from S3O to S3OO. Local defendants say an appeal will be taken. This case, or one similar, was once tried in the Jasper circuit court -and appealed to the supreme court.

577.95, making a total of $37,11146. There was expended for gravel road repairs during the year $28,696.93, leaving a balance at the end of the year of $8,414.58. There was received on account of the expense of the circuit court $1,049.70 and paid out $8,209.27. Thirty dollars was received on account of the court house and $12,482.16 paid out on the same account. It cost $1,572.13 to keep up the county jail during the year. The expense of bridges was $25.,000 in round numbers. One bright ray in the list of figures is $6,245.02 receiived as interest on county iunds from the various depositories. Previous to the enactment of the county depository law the county treasurer and township trustees received and put down in their pockets whatever interest they could induce the banks to pay for the public funds in their possession. One can easily see from the above figures what a fat thing the office of county treasurer would be in Jasper county at the 2 per cent, interest on daily balances under the depository law if this interest went into the treasurer’s pocket instead of going into the county revenue fund. And in some instances, no do<ubt, under the old law, the treasurer received much .more than 2 per cent, on daily balances.

NOTES FROM THE RED CROSS

i During the week ending January 12, the Jasper County Red Cross chapter completed, ready for shipment, the following list of articles: 29 sweaters, 9 pairs socks, 2 mufflers, 3 pairs wristlets, 1 comforter, 1 crib comforter, 20 bed shirts, 4 pillows, 6 pillow cases, 120 large gauze compresses, 40 small gauze compresses, 40 gauze wipes, 60 gauze strips, 1 3-yard roll, 1 sponge, 35 triangle bandr ges, 30 atxiominal bandages, 45 scultetus, 20 *T bandages, 55 four-tailed bandagep. A report of the work of the preceding week will be printed each week so that the public, as well as the workers, may see what is being accomplished. Save this list for comparison with the one which will appear next week and then spend a little extra time over those pajamas and that sweater or add another hour or two with the surgical dressings so that you may be responsible for several additional items in the next report. Remember that the box is packed on Friday.

CAMPAIGN WILL BE PATRIOTIC

Winning the War to Come First in the Democratic Campaign. (By Willis S.. Thompson) When Chairman Charles A. Greathouse induced Fred Van Nuys io accept the secretaryship of the Democratic State Central committee he could hardly have made a better move, looking to the injection of a good bunch of ginger into the perfecting and building of an efficient organization. Chairman Greathouse has built from the start with an idea of conducting a vigorous campaign In 1918, entirely along patriotic lines and along the way mapped out by Woodrow Wilson. He and the democrats in Indiana have to back them one of the most excellent state records ever made by any party. Chairman Greathouse will start and carry forward the campaign always on the aggressive. Mr. Van Nuys was a member of the state senate in 1913 and 1915, and in the 1915 session was floor leader of the Democratic majority. He is one of tfie most popular leaders aanong the younger element of the Democratic party in Indiana. Secretary Van Nuys is both aggressive and progressive and is one of the most attractive speakers in the state. In this line his services have been much in demand for several months past in all the patriotic war work. He has taken active part in the Liberty loan drives, in the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. campaigns. In fact, he had almost abandoned an extensive law practice to do this service. In making the appointment of secretary to the state committee, Chairman Greathouse has acted with the same judgment that has through all his life made his work of organization remarkable for success, this being true both in his personal affairs and in public positions of much importance he has held. He has always named men of ability and .men who are in full accord with his own ideas and who work on the same militant and aggressive lines. Secretary Van Nuys made this statement for publication when assuming the duties of secretary: “At a personal sacrifice to myself I have accepted the secretaryship of the Indiana Democratic State committee with the purpose of being of some real service to that party in its organization for coming campaigns. “During the past several months I have devoted a considerable portion of my time to different war activities and hope to continue so to do. The Central committee appreciates the fact that there is onlv one thought uppermost in the minds of the people of Indiana today, anl that is the business of winning the war. Chairman Greathouse an<l myself are in entire accord in our I ambitions to make off the DemoIcratic state organization a valuable asset in that undertaking. “Along with the routine work of reorganization we shall Cndeavor to make of that body a strong, forceful, patriotic organization which, in every phase of the war, shall be of assistance to the administration of President Wilson, the Democratic chief executive of the nation, and

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GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of tho Country. SHORT HITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns —Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. FARMS ARE SHORT OF HELP Situation Is Critical and Needs the Attention of the Nation. The country ie losing its population to the industrial centers at an amazing rate. It Is said upon good authority that Starke county has lost one-tenth of its population in the past two years, counting those gone to war. As a result our farmers will find it more difficult than ever to get sufficient help and scores of farms will He idle for want of tenants. And yet the city newspapers accuse the farmers of being slackers, as to furnishing men and .money to win the war. There will be fewer bushels of grain grown in Starke county this year than is usuaL What Is true of this county is likewise true of all sections of the state. Since it takes food to win the war why are so many of our farm hands being called upon for war service? Doubtless the war department holds, with city editors, that all the country . folks are good for is to go to war and to furnish mankind with food. On Route 2, out of Knox, there are twenty-two wacant farm houses. —Starke County Republican.

WHY SO MANY PERSONS ARE ALIENS

When the framers of the 1851 Constitution incorporated a provision granting the franchise to for-eign-born persons, who have declared their intention to become citizens, they laid the foundation for the embarrassing position in which numerous persons born in Germany now find themselves. Such persons have been voting for many years, but they never became fully naturalized, and now they are classed as “alien enemies” by the federal government and are required to obtain permits to go within half a mile of factories filling war orders. A striking case of this character is the new mayor cif Michigan City, who has asked for and received a permit. Of course it should be added that these persons who have not become fully naturalized have only themselves to blame. They have had the opportunity. The 1816 Constitution granted the franchise right only* to “every white male citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one years and upward, who has resided in the state one year Immediately preceding such election.” But when the constitutional convention met in 1850, It decided to extend the franchise to the foreign-born who had declared their intentions but had not become fully naturalized. One of the results of this extension of the franchise was that a great many foreigners never took any other step than to declare .their intentions. By doing this they obtained the right to vote. The provision granting the vote to those who bad declared their intention to become citizens was so loosely administered that not a few were permitted to vote.even without such a declaration.

THE DEMOCRAT DOESN’T BELIEVE IN ’EM

This month everybody will have a chance to see whether the famous prophecy based on the Book of Revelation to which «o much publicity has been given will come to pass or -not. This" prophecy takes the biblical number 666 as the number of the kaiser; it counts 666 months from the kaiser’s birth, (January 27, 1859) which brings the time to June 27, 1914, the date of the beginning of the present war. The Book of Revelation says: “Power was given him to continue forty and two months,” and forty-two months from June 27, 1914, will bring the ending fit the prophecy to January 27, 1918, when the downfall of the kaiser is confidently expeted by those who believe in prophecy.—Exchange.

FUTURE PUBLIC SALE DATES The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Wednesday, January 16, David J. and M. J. Miller, 1 mile north and one-half mile west of Mt. Ayr. Stock sale, including cattle, horses and hogs. Thursday, January 1 7, J. P. Wagner and M. J. Kuboske, 1 mile south and 3 miles east of Rensselaer. General sale, including 12 head of horses, 29 head of cattle, 11 hogs, farm tools, etc. Tuesday, January 22, Ira Clark, on the David Wesner farm, 3-4 mile east and 1-2. mile north of Kersey. General sale, including 7 head of horses, 37 head of hogs, farm tools, etc. Friday, January 25, L. A. War* reri, on the Sol Guth farm, 7 miles southeast of Rensselaer. General eale, Including 13 horses, 8 head of cattle, 7 hogs, farm tools, etc.

FANCY PRODUCE MARKET.

January 15.—-Get the top price. Bring ms your produce. We are paying today the following prices: Eggs, 55c; chickens, 20c; old roostem, 10c; ducks and geese, 17c; turkeys, 18 to 23c; butterfat, 59c. —C. E. PRIOR.

GOLD HAMPERS FIGHTING MEN

Zero Weather Curbs Activities on All Fighting Fronts. Washington, Jan. 14. —Only minor developments at the battle fronts are recorded in tho weekly review of military oprations made public tonight by the war department. Wintry weather is interfering with operations in Italy, France and Fbnnders and in Russia the military situation:' is overshadowed by peace negotiations from which, the review says, no conclusions can safely bo drawn. Of the American forces in Franco, the department announces that their preparation for the ordeal of battle is being steadily pursued and that General PerShing reports their health and fighting spirit extremely good. General improvement ,in health and equipment conditions 1q the training camps at home is reported, and the department says in spite of abnormal cold the clamps have been adequately heated and soldiers have had a sufficient supply of blankets for their comfort. Although there is still talk in unofficial quarters of the possibility of a final -break in the peace negotiations between the Central powers and the Bolshevik! the armistice evidently has been extended, to February 18, and it is reported that the pourparlers will be transferred shortly from Brest-Li tovsk to Warsaw.

NOTES FROM COUNTY HOSPITAL

Mrs. William Havens Is Improving nicely and was able to be taken to her home Mond/ay. Grantville Moody, Jr., was able to go to the home of his uncle, H. E. Parkinson, Monday.A wom was born to Mr. and Mrs, Roy Anderson of this city Saturday. January 13, to Mr. and Mrs. Williaanf Platt, also of Rensselaer, a daughter. The four-months-old baby of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Luers of southeast of town was brought to the hospital Monday again suffering from pneumonia. Mrs. George Reed, who is taking medical treatment, is improving.

LITERARY CLUB WILL MEET

The next regular meeting of the Ladies’ Literary club will be held ait the public library at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, and a full attendance is desired. Following is the program of the day: Responses—Spell and Locate a City of South America Wars df Independence of South America. . .Mrs. G. A. Williams Heroes of South America —Five Minute Biographies Francisco Pizarro. . Mrs. E. N. Loy Jose San Martin.. . Mrs. C. C. Starr Carlos and Francisco Lapez. ... Mrs. A. F. Long Don Ambrosio O’Higgins Mrs. W. L. Bott Simon Boli var... Mrs. C. M. Sands Don Pedro Mrs. Hale Warner Political Quiz, ’

NOTICE The 21st Annual Meeting of tho Policy Holders of the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Association of Benton, Jasper and White counties will be held at Remington, Indiana, January 19, 1918. FRANK E. FISHER, Pres. J-18 D. W. BIDDLE, Sec’y.

An armload of old papers for firs cents at The Democrat office.

Vol. XX, No. 83