People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — SLIGHTLY MIXED. [ARTICLE]

SLIGHTLY MIXED.

Are Some Things in the Gifford Drainage District, if Reports are True. In the matter of the Gifford drainage district with which our county commissioners have been “rasselin” with for some time, and which they chewed at Monday and Tuesday of last week, there seems to. be something loose somewhere. The records do not seem to full show nor explain what has been done or undone. In last week’s Republican there was an account of the proceedings as they were taken from the records, but we have it from reliable sources that it is not as is published in that paper, The article remarks that there were twenty persons who appeared before the commissioners and that their assessments had been reduced. Out of that number Leander Bringham, of Chicago, appeared for his daughters, Margaret Brandon and Mary C. Mason, and R. L. P. Massey appeared before the commissioners. Margaret J. Lewis also appeared in person, and that august body agreed to reduce her assessments if she would pay part cash down. Her name fails to appear in the proceedings published in the Republican. The above persons were the only ones who actually appeared before the board last week, notwithstanding the fact that the records show to the contrary. There is no such a man in Jasper county as Stephen Wyatt, although the Republican says there is.

The matter of the assessments being cut down was all fully arranged at least a week before the commissioners met, and they made a complete canvass of the drainage district and tried to compromise the matter in the interest of no one only Mr. Gifford, No one asked them to come, but they did, and on their own responsibility, too. Instead of working in the interest of the land owner and tax payers of the county, corporation gangs and individuals receive their undivided support. Is this right? Is it just? This calls to mind the old saying that “a public office is a public trust,” but it can be plainly seen at a glance that some of our county offices are an individual trust. Almost every petitioner was in favor of taking the case to the supreme court and part of them were here at the time trying to work up a bond for that purpose, but the commissioners decided the case to suit themselves. Such things as the above must have an ending some time, or if the work of the commissioners should continue as it has in the past our county will go into bankruptcy. It should stop and that pretty soon, too. Give us a fair and square administration.

One word describes it—“perfection.” We refer to De Witts Witch Hazel Salve, cures obstinate sores, burns, skin diseases and is a well known cure for piles. A. F. Long & Co. Monon has a gun club with eighteen members. What’s the matter with Rensselaer sportsmen?