Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1874 — LOCAL GOSSIP. [ARTICLE]

LOCAL GOSSIP.

After this week our friends and prtrons will find us In our new quarters, over Mr. J. H. Wood's hardware store. A New Hampshire paper says that a farmer at Hill, that State, was plowing a field for spring crops bn Uie 9th day of the present month, and that near Grantham on the 4th instant a man killed a striped snake which had come out by the roadside to sun itself. Ko it appears that this winter is unusually mild still further north than our latitude. The I.ogansnort Journal of last week contained au article over which was the startling conundrum “Shall we be Burnt?” It is not given to us to kuow what final disposition is reserved for the individuals connected with that paper, hut in view of the reputation Sheriff Manly recently gave the people with whom they dwell it may be prudent for them to seriously investigate their future prospects. President Grant has nominated Hon. Morrison R. Waite of Toledo, Ohio, for Chief Justice, and the nomination is likely tobe confirmed by the Senate. Mr. Waite is a lawyer of fine ability, bears an excellent private reputation, was one of the counsel in the Alabama Claims case decided by the Geneva Arbitration, is • at present Chairman of the Ohio Constitutional Convention to which he was elected a member by the unanimous vote of both parties in his district. He is sixty years old. The Committee on Railways and Canals on Tuesday submitted to the House of Representatives a report on tlie bill to regulate railway commerce among the several States. In their report the questions of the constitutionality and the expediency of Congressional legislation on the matter are discussed at length, and the Committee is of the opinion that sucli legislation is constitutional, expedient and necessary. This important step in the direction of cheaper and more equitable rates of transportation over railways has itsorigln in the Fa rnt ers’ and Grange Movement in tiie West, and is the beginning of an era in the history of national legislation, when instead of addressing itself almost exclusively to building up manufacturing, banking and railroading, as it has done in the past decade, Congress will extend its fostering care over the agricultural interests of the country. For many years the South monopolized the attention of Congress in the vain endeavor to make Slavery king, since the war Capital lias struggled for regal sway, and now Labor enters the list—not with a haughtv demand for supremacy and exclusive rights, but asking for an equal chance to live and to participate in the blessings which belong equally to ull the citizens of a republic. They are still agitating the Continental" railroad project in the East, and it is possible that some time .not far away in the future it may be constiueted: that is to say a through line of railroad will be built from New York to the Missouri river, to compete with lines now in operation, and afford at least a partial solution to the cheap transportation problem which the prolific fields and pastures of the West have propounded for national consideration. The latest notice we have seen of the operations of the projectors of thi9 magnificent scheme, aside from is discussion by members of Congress, is the following quotation from tlie Tiffin (O.) Tribune. It says, “General Gibson received letters 1 rom New York, last week, in which there was very satisfactory news regarding the future of the Continental Railroad. Active operations for build-. Ing the road will be commenced within ninety days, or early in the spring, and a large part of the work finished in 1874. Negotiations are in progress now with a German and English house for the building of the road, they to furnish the money. The original idea of a double track road is to be carried out, and the line already selected Is to be used, with a slight divergence to run to Rock Island, 111. Now, as always, we are strong in the faith that the road will be built.”

Mr. Thos. J. Spiller has $5,000 to loan on real estate security. He.also is an attorney at law, a fire insurance agent and deals in real estate. See liis card. Speer’s P. J. Brandy, Port W’ine and Wine Bitters nave an extensive and reliable demand. Physicians recommend them in preference to any other goods of the kind.—Advt. Mr, Thomas O. Chesnut has bought an interest in the Harding & Alter drug store, and is now engaged in the study of bottle labels, chemical hiero—glyphics, puzzling medical abrevlations, etc. The Journal says that a protracted meeting is in progress in Remington, at the Methodist Episcopal Church, and that the pastor, Rev. Mr. Meredith, is popular and liis sermons are appreciated. It is univereally admitted that Mr. W. W. Foster of Remiugton knows how to, and does, fill orders for marble work the best of any man in this country. He defies competition in quality of material, in finish, and in prices. Rain has fallen every day this week, thus far, and frost is pretty much out of the ground, everywhere; streams are full, mud abounds, and travel is nearly suspended Yesterday the mercury stood at 50° throughout the day. A babe in the family of a Mr. David Rhoads, six or seven miles southwest of Rensselaer, was found dead in bed when the family arose a fewTuornings Hince. The child was only a few weeks old, but appeared well enough when the family retired. Mr. C. H. Pricewas in town Monday to draw Ills portion of “The Railroad Tax Refunded,” probably, looking fifty toseyenty-five percent, happier and more contented than he ever did before be was married'. He reports that business is brightening up very l«reeptlbly over at Remington. Jbe Aetna fire insurance company —has filed her January statement for 1874, showing Telal assets $5,7.15,929.79 Liabilities 2244.139.6 t) Net asset* of the gompsny. .$3,491,790 19 This is the oldest and most reliable Insurance company in the United states, and those who desire sound insurance, >vhlch will protect in case of loss by fire, should lose no time in ; securing a policy. Thoa. J. Spiller, 1 Agent at Rensselaer, I ml.

The cold snap last week enabled Mr. Starr to fill his ice house with a store of beautiftil clear Ice of six to eight inches thickness. Towards the last of the filling the cakes began to “honey-comb” considerably from the influence of raiu and south winds. The Jasper County Central Association of Patrons of Husbandry will hold their next regular meeting at Rensselaer, on Saturday, January 31, 1874. at 1 o’clock, r. m. A full attendance is desired. \V. K. I’akkisojj, President. While milking last Thursday morn- I ing a daughter of Mr- Wm. Bull’s, | who lives about four miles northeast of here, was hooked in her mouth by a young cow. The horn passed upward and protruded tlirough her face underneath her right eye, badly shattering the bones of the girl’s face, but without injuring her eyesight. The N. Y. Independent says: “Mr. Talinage is a phenomenon. He is in dead earnest, and every blow tells.”;— Mr. Tn Image lias become editor of the Christian at Work. Hpurgeon, of London, is special contributor. This is one of the greatest newspaper combinations of the day. The office is at 102 Chambers street, N. Y. Specimen copies mailed free.—Advt. N otices signed by Thomas Boroughs, David Nowels and John Cooper, have been posted that an election will be heti) at Brushwood school house, Union township, on Tuesday, February 9th, 1874, at one o’clock, p. m., for the purpose of electing five Directors for the Jasper County Ditching Company; a new organization which is being perfected to commence a system of draining on lands overflowed by the headwaters of the Iroquois. Married last evening (Wednesday, January 21st, 1874), at the residence of the bride’s father, by Elder D. T. Halstead, Mr. Frank W. Babcock, Auditor of Jasper county, to Miss Emma, eldest daugliter of Dr. G. A. Moss; all of Rensselaer. For the customary courtesy to editors, we return thanks to the happy couple. As long acquaintances we beg to tender our warmest congratulations, and sincerely wish them a full fruition of the hopes and joys which their positiqn in society may inspire them to anticipate. The persons who are summoned to serve as grand jurors at the next term of the Jasper Circuit court, which commences on the third Monday of February, 1874, are Alfred Thompson, Micha Halstead, Allen J. Yeoman, John L.. Robinson, John Hicl, William Castor, Bronson W. Harrington, William B. Price, Calvin Coppess, Charles Pullens, Alfred Ulnzebrook and John Sebring The petit jurors for the same term arc Martin S. Comer, Joseph Mason, John Rayburn, Wiliam 11. Bellows, Thomas E. Willey, Cyrus Ball, J. 1). Dunn, John M. Wasson, John English, Jasper Kenton, Shelby Grant and Joseph James. Mr. F. C. Stephens of Wheatfield township was in town Tuesday. He says the interests-of the people in the northern part of the county demand the building of a new bridge across the (Kankakee river and the construction of a grade and trussle work a mile and an eighth in length across tile bottom on the Jasper side. The bridge should be one hundred and seventy-five feet long, thetrusse! work about five feet high and long enough to leave sufficient room for the free passage of water in time of floods, while the grade ought to be not less than forty feet wide at the base and twenty feet on top, with an average bight of five feet. He estimates that i all could be done at a cost not to ox- ! coed $5,000, one-fifth of which could be raised by private subscription. Jasper Divison No. 40 Independent Order of Sons of Temperance died a calm and peaceful deatli last Friday night. Jts mission was fulfilled.— There were no more saloons to watch over and regulate, no more drunkards to reform, and the precepts of the Order were no longer required by the rising generation to teach them that intemperance is a vice of frightful mien, which should be hated and never Feen. Then, besides, times were most too hard to well afford the expense necessary to carry on a Division properly, all who desired to hold office had had thetramhition satisfied, other and more attractive places of amusement had been found by the younger members, there was no longer very much interest manifested for the Order either by the public or its members—it had survived its usefulness, it was a burden to Its friends, it ceased to be a jov forever—it was meet that it should die when it did. It is gone! Farewell!