THE WINFIELD COURIER.
[FROM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1884, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 1884.]
D. A. MILLINGTON, EDITOR.
ED. P. GREER, LOCAL EDITOR.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
THE WATER WORKS DECISION.
Following is the full text of the decision of Judge Torrance in the water works case, in which Bliss & Wood are plaintiffs, and the Winfield Water Company is defendant.
STATEMENT OF CASE.
The decision of this case arises upon a general demurrer interposed by the plaintiffs to the defendant=s answer. The petition in the case, in substance, alleges that the plaintiffs are owners of a mill pond on the Walnut River, in this county, and of lands adjacent thereto, upon which they have constructed a valuable flouring and grist mill, which they are operating by means of the water power furnished by said mill pond; that the defendant is a private corporation created under the laws of this State, and that it has constructed and is operating a system of water works in the city of Winfield, for the purpose of supplying said city with water, and for that purpose is diverting large quantities of water from the plaintiffs= said mill pond. The petition prays for a perpetual injunction. By way of defense to the cause of action stated in plaintiffs= petition, the defendant in its answer, alleges that it is a private corporation, duly incorporated under the laws of this State, for the purpose of constructing and maintaining, adjacent to and within the city of Winfield, a system of water works for the purpose of supplying said city with water; that said city of Winfield is a city of the second class, duly incorporated as such under the laws of this State; that the Mayor and Councilmen of said city duly passed an ordinance granting to Frank Barclay, J. L. Horning, J. Wade McDonald, W. C. Robinson, J. B. Lynn, W. P. Hackney, and M. L. Robinson, and their assigns, the privilege of constructing, operating, and maintaining, for the period of ninety-nine years, a system of water works within the corporate limits of said city, for the purpose of supplying its inhabitants with water, and for the better protection of said city against disaster from fires. This ordinance invests the grantees named therein with full power, for the period of ninety-nine years, to lay pipes in the streets, alleys, and other public places within said city, and to extend such pipes, and to erect hydrants, fountains, conduits, or such other useful and ornamental structures as may be necessary for the successful operation of such works. The ordinance further provides that at the expiration of certain specified periods, after the completion of the works, the city shall have the right to purchase the works from the grantees named in the ordinance, or their assigns, upon terms and conditions expressed in the ordinance. The ordinance in terms provides that it shall constitute a contract between the city and the grantees named therein, and their assigns, and shall be binding on all parties upon the acceptance of its provisions by the grantees named therein, or their assigns. In section 14 of the ordinance, the city expressly agrees as a part of the franchise and contract embraced in the ordinance, that it will, upon the request in writing of the grantees named therein, or their assigns, proceed without delay to exercise its right of eminent domain in the condemnation of any lots, parcels, or pieces of ground, or of water or any water privilege, that may be necessary to the proper and convenient construction and maintenance of the system of water works provided for in the ordinance, provided the said grantees, or their assigns, shall pay all costs and expenses incident to such condemnation proceedings, including the cost of all property so condemned. This section also provides that the right to the free and exclusive use and enjoyment of all property so condemned shall vest and remain in said grantees, and their assigns, so long as the franchise and contract provided for in the ordinance shall remain in force and effect. The answer of the defendant further alleges that, after the passage, and due publication of said ordinance, the grantees therein named duly assigned to the defendant corporation all the right, title, and interest granted to and vested in them, under the provisions of said ordinance; that afterwards the defendant notified said city of the fact of such assignment, and that as such assignee it accepted the franchise and contract granted by and embodied in said ordinance, and that the city of Winfield thereupon assented to such assignment, and accepted the defendant in the place and stead of the original grantees named in the ordinance; that afterwards, and in pursuance of section 14 of said ordinance, the City Council of said city proceeded to condemn, and did condemn in its own name, the right to forever divert from the said mill pond of the plaintiffs, sufficient quantities of water to operate and maintain a system of water works, and to supply the inhabitants of the city of Winfield with water therefrom. These condemnation proceedings were had under the provisions of an act of the Legislature of the State entitled, AAn act authorizing cities to construct water works,@ approved February 27th, 1872, and a subsequent act of the Legislature, amendatory thereof, approved March 8, 1883, and the proceedings seem upon their face to be regular and valid. The answer further alleges that the defendant corporation afterwards constructed the system of water works provided for in said ordinance, and that it is now operating the same, and is diverting from the plaintiffs= mill pond, by virtue of such condemnation proceedings, only such quantities of water as are necessary for the operation of its works in the supplying of the city of Winfield with water.
OPINION OF THE COURT.
The power of eminent domain, or the right of the public to appropriate private property to public uses, is one of the attributes of political sovereignty. This power remains dormant, and is unavailable even to the State itself, until legislative action is had, pointing out the occasions, the modes, and conditions under which it may be exercised. The Legislature may at once by direct legislative enactment, appropriate property; or it may delegate such authority to some public or private agency to be exercised by it upon the occasions, and in the mode and under the conditions specified in the act conferring the right. But no person nor corporation, either public or private, however pressing may be the public necessity therefor, is competent to employ the power of eminent domain unless such power has been expressly vested in said person or corporation by an act of the Legislature; and then only in the mode and under the conditions and for the uses expressed in the act. This legislative delegation of the right of eminent domain partakes of the nature of a personal appointment or trust, and the authority thus conferred cannot be delegated to another, or in any manner transferred or assigned, by the person or corporation clothed with the power by the act of the legislature. It seems to me that the principles of law thus far stated are clearly supported by the text writers upon the subject, and by the adjudged cases. The question now arises whether a city of the second class, empowered to exercise this right by the act of the legislature above referred to, for the purpose of supplying its inhabitants with water, has the power to contract with a private corporation, organized under the laws of this state for the purpose of supplying such city with water, to condemn the necessary lands and water privileges to enable such private corporation to construct and operate its waterworks, and in pursuance of such contract lawfully condemn the lands or water privileges of third persons for the benefit of such private corporation. It seems to me that this is a correct statement of the question of law raised by the demurrer to the defendant=s answer. It is true the city of Winfield may in one sense be benefitted by the use of the water proposed to be furnished by the defendant corporation. It is also true that when a private corporation is duly empowered by the legislature to take private property for the construction of works of public utility, the fact that it has a pecuniary interest in the construction of such works does not preclude it from being regarded as a proper agency in respect to the public good which is sought to be promoted. Under our statutes, however, a private water corporation has no authority delegated to it by the legislature to exercise the right of eminent domain. So it seems to me that the contract of the city of Winfield to secure the necessary condemnation proceedings was primarily, and in the just sense of the term, for the benefit of the defendant corporation. The ordinance itself provides that the exclusive use and enjoyment of the property condemned by the city shall vest and remain in the grantees therein named, and their assigns. The act of our legislature under which the condemnation proceedings were had in this case is entitled, AAn act authorizing cities to construct waterworks.@ This act grants to cities of the second class full power and authority, on behalf of such cities, to contract for and procure the construction of waterworks for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of such cities with water for domestic use, the extinguishment of fires, and for manufacturing and other purposes. It provides that the city council shall have power and authority to condemn and appropriate, in the name and for the use of the city, any such lands or water privileges, located in or out of the corporate limits thereof, as may be necessary for the construction and operation of such waterworks. It further provides that when the council shall determine to condemn any land or water privilege for the purpose aforesaid, it shall cause a petition to be presented in the name of the city to the judge of the district court of the county in which said city is situated, setting forth the necessity of the appropriation of lands or water privileges for the erection and operation of waterworks, and requesting the appointment of three commissioners to lay off and condemn such lands or water privileges as may be necessary for such purpose, and to make an appraisement and assessment of damages. The act provides that the subsequent proceedings shall be governed by the provisions of the statute relative to the condemnation of lands by railroad corporations (with but one exception), so far as the same are applicable. It also provides that upon the completion of the condemnation proceedings the city shall be vested with the right to perpetually use the property condemned for the purpose of such water works. The act also empowers the council to issue the bonds of the city to defray the cost of such water works, after the question of their issue has been determined in the affirmative by a majority of the electors of such city. The act further empowers and makes it the duty of the council to fix the rate of water rents to be paid by consumers, and to ordain such rules and regulations, with appropriate penalties for the violation of the same, as the council may deem proper for the regulation and protection of such water works, and, lastly, the act authorizes the council to appoint such engineers and other officers to superintend and operate such water works, both during and after the construction of the same, as may be necessary, and to do all acts and things for the erection, operation, alteration, and repair of such water works as may from time to time, in the judgment of the council, be necessary. It is evident, both from the title and body of this act, that it was the intention of the legislature to empower cities of the second class to construct water works for their own benefit and at their own expense, and to have the exclusive control and management of the same. And to this end the act authorizes the city council to exercise the right of eminent domain in the condemnation and appropriation of such lands and water privileges as may be necessary for that purpose, in the name and for the perpetual use of the city in the maintenance and operation of such water works. The only warrant which the city has is to be found in this act; and the only authority conferred by the act is the appropriation of property for the benefit of the city alone. When the property of an individual is sought to be divested against his will by authority of law, courts should not permit the authority conferred to be extended by intendment beyond the fair import of the language used, and should require a strict compliance with the provisions of the law by which the authority is delegated. If the legislature had intended that the power of eminent domain should be invoked in aid of water works to be constructed by private water corporations, it would have delegated the right to exercise such power to such corporations themselves, or to some other agency empowered to act on their behalf. The fact that the legislature has omitted to do so is satisfactory evidence to my mind that it did not intend to delegate the power in such cases. I have had but little time to examine the law bearing upon the point involved in this demurrer, and I would be very loth to thus hastily decide this case if I thought there was any probability that my decision would finally determine the rights of the parties. I thought it proper however, as the matter to be determined was of some general interest to the citizens of this city, to reduce the reasons for my decision to writing. In my present view of the law I am of the opinion the demurrer should be sustained, and it is so ordered.
E. S. TORRANCE, Judge.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
PRAIRIE HOME NEWS.
Mrs. Miles= little boy is very sick with measles.
Miss Allie Baker was the guest of Miss Ida Crane on Sunday and Monday.
A. Bechtle=s little girl has been very low with pneumonia fever, but is recovering rapidly.
BIRTH. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Barr are entertaining a young lady visitor. From all appearances she has come to stay.
Some of the Prairie Homeites attended the Tisdale Literary Society last Friday night and report an Ainteresting@ time.
Last Wednesday afternoon our neighbor, M. C. Christopher, met with the loss of his house by fire. The fire was not discoveered until the flames burst through the roof. Several neighbors were on the spot almost as soon as the flames were discovered, and ten minutes after the alarm of Afire@ was given, twenty men were battling with the fire fiend, but to no avail. The wind was blowing furiously, and the fire had gained so much headway before being discovered that it was impossible to check it. Most of the furniture and articles of value were saved.
A party of five Prairie Homeites (we will withhold the names this time, boys) took a trip to the Territory last Saturday to explore the reported AHaunted House,@ but found upon reaching the house not only one but six Aghosts.@ The house proved to be inhabited, and the family occupying it have not as yet been disturbed by any Aspectral@ visitations. As soon as morning came the boys skipped for home, and if you want to see a sold crowd, just say AHaunted House.@ CHARITY.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MT. WASHINGTON SCRAPS.
Corn gathering is about over.
Good health reigns with us this winter for which all should be truly thankful.
A few Constant friends spent an evening this week with the Misses Lulu and Lillie Walton.
Invitations are out for a social at the residence of Charles Rosebesrry. As I have been there, I predict a good time.
Our school taught by Miss Ramage is in a prosperous condition; both teacher and scholars being hard at work to make it a success.
Two or three old fashioned spelling schools have been held at our schoolhouse at which pleasure and profit were combined. As several teachers were present, it did the children good to see one wilt occasionally.
Supt. Limerick was presented one of our social events this winter and used his opportunity of talking to the people about taking an interest in our common schools. His remarks and advice were good and should be followed by all parents.
J. H. Wooley was called to his old home in Indiana by the death of his father a few weeks ago. As Mrs. Wooley and Mmiss Ramage are keeping Abachelor hall,@ a few friends from Constant and vicinity spent last Thursday evening with them. Their refreshments consisted of oysters, candies, apples, etc. Among the guests were Misses Jence [?Jance?], Edith Holland, Nettie Anderson, Dillo, Lulu and Lillie Walton; Messrs. Feuquay [?Fenquay?], Timmerman, Brown, Myres, H. Hand, and Huff. A pleasant time generally was enjoyed.
On the evening of the 25th, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wright celebrated their crystal wedding. A pleasant time was enjoyed. The following is a list of some of the presents received.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner, cake stand and water pitcher.
Mr. and Mrs. Woolsey, wter pitcher.
Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, fruit dish.
Mrs. Crow, case of perfumery.
Mr. and Mrs. Ramage, dessert dishes.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen, bread plate.
Mr. and Mrs. Snow, individual salt cups.
Mrs. Wooley, goblet.
Mr. Parson, dessert cups.
Mr. and Mrs. Walton, bread plate.
Mr. and Mrs. Chafee, water pitcher.
Also the same evening an oyster suppera t the new residence of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham was pronounced a success by all. Nearly fifty guests were present.
A. H. G.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
RECOLLECTIONS.
After an absence of four years, none can be more astonished than I to note the change and improvements in our young city, Winfield.
When I hear the peals of the church bells, the shriek of the locomotive, the rumbling of the cars every hour of the day, to the north, the east, the west, and south, and see the black smoke curling up from the tall stacks of mills and elevators, I ask, has this all been done in four years? The answer comes back, four and one-half years ago no steam whistle had been heard in this county. This is proof to me, Mr. Editor, that the soil, climate, and people of our county cannot be excelled.
January 29, being the 23rd birthday of the state of Kansas, was duly celebrated by our public schools. We visited ten school rooms where the joy of the young people knew no bounds. We heard music, vocal and instrumental; all of the early history, trials and struggles of young Kansas. The rooms were all gaily decorated with paintings, flowers, flags, fruits, and grains, with beautiful mottoes prepared by the children of each grade, in beautiful artistic style. We give a few: AKansas Our Home!@ AKansas the Key to Freedom,@ AKansas 1861COur 23rd Birthday,@ in the primary rooms. Kansas darlings! We are proud of them and the great seal of Kansas. When the schools were dismissed, the scholars, teachers, and visitors went from one building to another until all the rooms had been visited. We were struck with the fine bearing of the scholars as they marched from room to room keeping time to the music furnished by the advanced grades, while the smiles of the professor and corps of teachers lit up the halls. A.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MAPLE TOWNSHIP.
D. S. Haynes= new store adds much to the improvement of the village of Red Bud.
A new bridge has arrived and will be put across Pole Cat Creek east of Walter Jacobus.
The singing at Red Bud last Thursday evening was well attended and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.
We have been informed that Adam Walck has sold his farm and is going to move down below Winfield, but can not vouch for the truth of it.
Our Lyceum is still booming. The question for discussion next Saturday is AResolved, That capital punishment should be abolished.@ The chief disputants are Ed. Walck on the affirmative and Frank Daugherty on the negative.
Judging from the crops we raised this year, I think we live in a good part of the county. Corn on the bottom land yielded from sixty to eighty bushels per acre. The upland yielded from thirty-five to fifty bushels. We also have plenty of good building rock for which thee is quite a call at present; in fact, it is hard work to supply the demand just now. JERRY.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
The city of Newton, Harvey County, is to have a system of waterworks, and a company for the purpose of building, maintaining, and operating such a system has been incorporated under the state laws. The capital stock of the company is $100,000, and the diretors for the first year are R. M. Spivey, S. T. Marsh, E. H. Hoag, and Julius Simon of Newton and James Hill of Arkansas City.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKCOUR TRIP CONTINUED.
As we promised in our last, we now take up our line of march to visit the Fire-hole basin, sometimes called Lower Geyser basin. This was on the first day of SeptemberCand let me say here, for the benefit of others, that this is decidedly the best time in the year to visit the Park. Entering, as we did, from the north, the roads fork to the right, crossing the two branches of the Fire-hole River, the headwaters of the Madison. After crossing these two branches, you come to the Pioneer Hotel, at the point where the Virginia and Bever Canon road enters the park. The government has a storehouse here for the keeping of supplies for the use of the men employed in improving roads and bridges, also a blacksmith shop, for the same purpose and for the accommodation of the traveling public. From the hotel to the east may be seen the rising steam of many hog springs, the most notable among the number being the Queen=s Laundry, appropriately named, as it is frequently used for cleaning garments, by throwing them in, and after being held in agitation in its seething caldron a few hours, they are taken out perfectly cleaned.
Near this place is Fairy Falls, where the water makes a perpendicular leap of two hundred and fifty feet. There are a great many hot springs at this place, and by going close to them, which can be done with perfect safety, you can see the fantastically-shaped and coral-decked walls are not only firm, but special objects of beauty that seem to prompt involuntary exclamations of wonder and surprise; and this is further heightened when you come to look down through their tinted but wonderful clear water to an immeasurable depth. The fountain is the only one in the system that most resembles a geyser in its habits. It has a throat or rather crater of about twenty-five feet in diameter from which the water is thrown in vast quantities sixty feet in height, and then falls back in glistening globules. If it were not for the tourists having heard of the upper geyser basin, they would pronounce this a natural fountain of marvelous beauty. It acts about every six hours.
A short distance to the east from this geyser, through some scattering trees, is a group of paint or mud pots. They occupy about 50 feet square. The surrounding rim or rather crater is about three feet high and perfectly safe to walk upon. In the one end (to the south, I think it is) is almost snow white boiling mud, while the other end is a bright pink and is somewhat thicker in consistency, boiling and forming numerous little craters with the orifices through which hot mud is thrown at intervals. The noise is similar to but greater than that of thick boiling hasty pudding. The white end boils more rapidly and its mud is agitated over its entire surface. These disturbances create peculiar shapes, and singular noise is made by escaping gas or steamCmost interesting and truly wonderful.
From here to Hells Half Acre is five miles up the river on the right hand side. If you can imagine a road smooth, rough, level, hilly, hard, soft, and several corduroy crossings, interspersed here and there on both sides with some of the most beautiful little evergreen groves in the world, you have a good idea of our surroundings while making this short distance.
This interesting and very conspicuous object lies on the left hand or opposite side of the river from the road and cannot be missed. A short dist ance below the river is fordable with buggies, but most of the tourists hitch their horses and cross on a foot bridge made for that purpose. The geyser to which this rather impious name is applied, though by no means a misnomer, is close to the bank of the river and considerably elevatedCthe elevation being the formation of an ancient hot spring which this geyser is now ruthlessly engaged in destroying, undermining as it does its own banks; and the rocks that cave in from the top are thrown out by its powerful eruptions. This enlargement has advanced until at present its area is little less than half an acre and its walls from twenty to thirty feet high. Unlike all other geysers, it builds no cone or crater of its own. Its only object seems to be destruction as if prompted by anger. Its waters are at all times in a boiling agitation and intensely hot, filling its orifice with such a vast column of white steam, looking more like a foaming mist. And by remaining as you naturally will a short time to gaze into its maze of bewilderment till a passing breeze sweeps the steam away for a moment and you look down into this seething, boiling pit not with a feeling of pleasure but terror. This pool constantly discharges an immense amount of water and occasionally becomes air-charged and then raises its entire volume to the height of three hundred feet and majestically holds it steady for fifteen minutes at a time. A little cowardly wisdom at these times may often save the tourist the displeasure of carrying off with him an unpleasant memento of having been a living witness to one of those grand demonstrations especially as nearness adds nothing to the grandeur.
We had the misfortune of not seeing twin eruptions, but were told by the men who were at work at the bridge that it would raise the river eight inches in a few minutes, and they had to remove their mules and themselves for a considerable length of time on account of the heat.
Close by and a little further from the river is one of the largest hot springs in the park. Its boiling is so even and regular that it looks like a pile of water and its rim was built up so even that it overflows on all sides. So hot was its water that we were unable to remove a specimen from its edge at fingers depth without being scalded. The next five miles has nothing uncommon and little to attract attention save now and then a little complaint of tender overalls. Our pace was nevertheless increased and we galloped off to the upper geyser basin and went into camp for the next two days in the very midst of the crowning wonders of the world.
January 12, 1884.
The weather is all that the charms of winter could afford. Where the snow is not drifted it is 6 feet deep. One place in sight on Specimen Mountain is over a hundred. Mercury playing at zero, sometimes a little below, and as high as 32 above. It is said by Montana papers the winter is unprecedented for mildness. Bands of Elk in sight every day and graze within rifle shot of our quarters, and eat of our hay.
OUR VISIT IN THE UPPER GEYSER BASIN.
When nearing this basin, the first thing to attract the attention is a small jet thrown about sixty feet high, near the river bank, and it is called Riverside geyser. It acts three and four times a day and happened to be in full blast when we arrived. Close by on the other side is another, and on account of the spreading stream that it throws out, is called
THE FAN GEYSER.
Here the road crosses the river on a bridge. Nearby is what may be called a real geyser.
THE GIANT.
Its eruptions are irregular, but when it does act, its volume is seven feet in diameter and over two hundred high. Its grandeur is in the length of time it acts, which is about one hour and a half, and its deep underground rumbling is enough to fill a weak geyserite appetite at once. To the right is the
GROTTO GEYSER,
I supposed named from its peculiar shaped cavern-like crater. Instead of having a smooth opening at the top through which to discharge its waters, it is thrown out at the sides and churned and dashed around at a furious rate. It looks as though it would blow its grotesque grotto or cavern to atoms. This lasts thirty minutes. Twenty-five rods further on is the
COMET GEYSER.
To use the camp expression, it Agoes off@ four times a day. Its crater is rather large, regular, and very beautiful, has nothing uncommon to attract attention here, but no doubt if it were in the public square at Winfield, would be looked upon with some interest, but here it is very tame. To the right and near the edge of the basis is
THE SPLENDID GEYSER.
It goes off five and six times a day and sometimes in quick succession. It gives no notice of its going off, as most others do. I suppose the appearance of its display gave rise to its name. Then comes
THE DEVIL=S WELL.
To vary the scenery and to a great extent rest the strained curiosity of the sightseer, its waters have the same unnatural clearness peculiar to these boiling pools. Its temperature is above that of ordinary boiling water, and campers take advantage of it in cooking their victuals in it by suspending camp kettles to a pole laid across the topCquite a fuel saver and no possible danger of burning like the paint pots spoken of before. They can boil for centuries and not burn. Its depth is unknown and it boils very even, regular and slow, while only a few feet from it is
CASTLE GEYSER,
that is every moment in the most restless state. It is the noisiest geyser in the basin, constantly throwing its waters to the height of 20 or 30 feet, churning, growling, puffing, splashing, as if trying to go off, and angry because of a lack of water. This lack is made up every day or two, when it is thrown in an immense volume to the height of 100 feet, and lasts 30 minutes, followed with an escape of steam with such force as to be heard many miles distant, while close to its foot is the Devil=s Well, showing not the least signs of agitation. Next to it is a group of small geysers. The principal one from its peculiar, puffing noise of its action, is called
THE SAW MILL.
It acts about half of the time, looked upon as rather a small affair. The
LION, LIONESS, AND THEIR TWO CUBS
have built for themselves an imposing elevation and on the top have stationed themselves close together. The largest lion acts independent of the rest. The cubs usually act together. Their names are not a misnomer. Tourists are often suddenly frightened by the growling, while nothing can be seen at the time but empty craters. To the left and nearly at the head of the basin is the
GIANTESS GEYSER.
It seldom goes off, but its crater is always full of water and one can see many feet down its rough throat. It is said to throw a stream 250 feet high and last 15 hours. To the right and near the river is the
BEE HIVE GEYSER.
The symmetry of its crater is the finest in the park, resembling that on the sign board of the Bee Hive store, only much larger. The opening through the top is 2 feet in diameter. It goes off once in twenty-four hours and lasts 8 minutes, height 230 feet. At one time I stood full 20 rods away and received a bath usual to a small shower. It seems to act with very great force. When not in action its orifice is empty for many feet down. Crossing the river on a foot bridge of two logs, we come to the very head of the basin and here is located
OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER,
like an ever watchful sentinel or the ruler of a small empire, Old Faithful, so called on account of the regularity of his actions. Every 60 minutes he lifts his majesty to the height of 160 feet as if to look over the entire basin, and holds his imperial majesty for 3 to 5 minutes, then sinks back as if to count 60 minutes more and recruit his strength the time to repeat himself again. Thus faithful day and night, winter and summer, cold and warm, by his regularity has gained the admiration of all that ever saw him.
GRAND GEYSER,
By all who ever saw it, seems to pronounce it the most satisfactory. It is located near a rocky bluff and many tourists linger near it for whole days rather than miss seeing it go off, but my geyserite appetite was so completely glutted that I found more pleasure in the woods examining the craters of old volcanoes and admiring the lofty pines on the mountain side. Its actions are very irregular; but in the evening of the last day of our stay, the signal was given that the Grand Geyser was going off. I heard the rumbling noise and felt the underground pulsations, saw the excited tourists run, and white steam rise above the tall trees; but I had all the geyser that I could digest for the next two weeks, and was satisfied with the description by the rest of the company, and here it is. Mr. Sawyer, an old gentleman: AWeimer, I=d rather than five dollars you=d seen it, oh, it was grand.@ Mr. Everett. ABy George, Weimer, it went off five times and you might easily got there, why didn=t you run like the rest of =em? Why the whole for 200 feet high was covered with the purtiest rainbow you ever seen, and it would expand and contract just as the water did and when it sunk back in its hole the rainbow seemed to creep in after it, >By golly.=@
Thus day and night the scenes with the accompanying music go on, some lashing the air in angry fury with boiling water while others fill the air with groans of monster spirits writhing in agony on account of close confinement.
On a clear bright morning the basin looks like a great manufacturing city, only instead of the dirty, black smoke, there are white clouds of steam and in most places the surroundings are exquisitely clean.
At the close of the second day our visit of the place was complete, at least mine was. Here is the place that fatigue gives way to excited curiosity instead of relaxing pleasure. While the party was planning for an early start in the morning, the idea struck me how easily could providential power stop these many little safety valves and send the whole business through a hole in the sky. What a horrible thought to bid goodbye to woman suffrage, prohibition, fashion, and party platform to take a voyage in a little cataclysm as this.
Respectfully,
J. W. WEIMER.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
The following biographical sketch was taken from the history of Marion County, as compiled by Messrs. Lagett [?] Conaway & Co.
ROBERT KERR.
This well-known pioneer of Marion County was born in Miffflin County, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1870, and is the son of James and Betsy (Arbuckle) Kerr. The grandparents on both sides were natives of Ireland, named respectively James Kerr and William Arbuckle. Robert Kerr=s father was a farmer, and emigrated with his family to Knox County, Ohio, in 1818, where he bought a farm of 160 acres in Clay Township, on which Wm. Hays now resides. His wife, Betsy, died on this farm, aged 42 years; he subsequently sold his farm to his son, Robert, and moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he resided with his son-in-law, Aquilia Barber, until his death, at the age of eighty-seven years. Robert Kerr remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, receiving scarcely any advantages for securing an education. He now began to learn the tanner=s trade, at Martinsburg, Ohio, with Joseph Buyers, Senior, and completed his apprenticeship in two years and five months. By the end of this time, he hired out to drive hogs through to Baltimore, Maryland, at three shillings a day and board, excepting dinner, which he had to furnish himself, if he had any. On his return to Ohio, he found employment at general work around a saw-mill for several months, at $11 a month. While employed in the following harvest, he was prostrated by a fever. The sickness, with the expenses attached to it, soon took the greater part of his earnings. On his recovery, and for some time thereafter, he followed the business of clearing up land for different parties, at from $2.50 to $3.00 per acre. His part of the contract was complete when everything was cleared up within twelve inches of the ground; 113 acres or more ground was cleared up by him in that manner. While clearing the land he cut 1,000 cords of wood and upward, at twenty cents per cord, and made many thousand rails at 50 cents per hundred. About this time or a little while before, he had bought two eighty acre pieces of land, then in Scott Township, Marion County, but now in Crawford County; for the first eighty acres he paid $100; and for the other two, $200. He was married August 29, 1833, to Matilda Swaggart, a daughter of Daniel and Betsy (Coonrod) Swaggart, and at once commenced keeping house on his 160 acres of land. From this time he gave his attention to farming, clearing $100 cash the first year. About the third year on the farm, he began handling stock, which turned out tolerably well. He now for what money he had made, purchased 360 acres of land in Scott Township for $1,500, on five years time at six percent interest, payments to be made of $800.00 yearly. He stocked this land with sheep, and made enough money to meet his payments promptly as they fell due. He was then advised by an old Pennsylvanian, one Stephen Ulery, that he could make more money raising sheep than in anything else, and Mr. Kerr, acting upon his advice, bought quite a large number. The first year he sold his wool for 21 2 cents, the second for 22 2 cents, the third at 29 cents, the fourth at 33 2 cents, the fifth crop for 40, the sixth for 50, and the seventh at 80 cents per pound. The last year his receipts from the sale of wool and sheep amounted to $33,000. After this the price of wool declined to 50 cents, and kept going lower, and Mr. Kerr sold out all his sheep and quit the business. Up to 1876-77, his principal business had been handling sheep and stock, and he now owns a herd of 1,024 head of cattle in the Indian Territory, 1,059 acres of land in Crawford County, 443 acres in Wyandotte County, and 2,573 acres in Marion County. He was one of the original stockholders of the Farmers Bank, of Marion, Ohio, of which he is now president, and of the Nevada Deposit Bank, of Nevada, Ohio, and now owns a large amount of stock in each; he is also a stockholder in a bank at Winfield, Kansas, which has but recently been established. He built, and still owns the Kerr House at Marion, at a cost of $60,000, and the Kerr House, at Nevada, at a cost of $18,000; both fine buildings, are an ornament to the towns where they are located, and monuments that speak well for the enterprise of the builder. He has made various donations of considerable amounts, one of about $53,000 to Hiram College, and another of $23,000 to Bethany College, of Virginia, and various minor amounts to other institutions. He is the wealthiest citizen and largest land holder in this section of the country. He has 4,000 acres of land, free from incumbrance, and other property, which at a cash valuation, would amount to $600,000. This large property was acquired by forty-five years of untiring energy, combined excellent financial ability, and strict integrity in all business transactions. He was formerly a member of the Disciple church for many years; but, for what he considered unchristian conduct of the members of that church, has not been a member of any Christian denomination since. His wife, Matilda, died in February, 1859. By this marriage there were eleven children, six of whom are living, named Elizabeth, Sarah, Stephen, Mary, John, and Amanda. Mr. Kerr was married the second time, in July, 1861, to Martha Williams, by whom there was one child: Addie. On New Year=s day, 1883, Mr. Kerr met with a serious accident at Caledonia, while walking down the street, which was very icey, he slipped and fell, causing a fracture or dislocation of the hip joint on the left side, and has not been able to walk since, and has made his home at Nevada, Ohio. He lived for forty-four years on the place where he first commenced keeping house, but for the ten years previous to the accident above mentioned, had lived in a house erected on his land in Scott Township, a short distance from his old home. Barring his inability to walk, he is enjoying good health for a man of his age. He is now seventy-six.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
THE CORRUPTING POWER OF MONOPOLIES.
The San Francisco Examiner of January 12, published a statement respecting the $400,000, which Mr. Huntington, in his New York deposition, acknowledged having paid out, for which he had no vouchers, and for which, under oath, he could not account, except by saying that he paid it to agents and attorneys. A tabular statement shows that in 1876 he expended $190,000, presumably in fighting Scott=s Texas Pacific scheme, and in 1878 $118,000 in efforts to defeat the Thurman bill. Of the lump sum of $100,000 paid on March 1, 1879, no explanation is attempted. The Examiner concludes that as the House of Representatives is Democratic, an investigation is imperative.
The old story of the Titans is, in some respects, repeated in the history of railroad, telegraph, and other monopolies. We have no individual Titans or Herculeses now, but we have created artificial men by law of much greater power than ever was dreamed of in classic fable. A corporation is just a law created man. It may have many members, but it acts as one man. It has not all the rights of the natural man, but only such as the law confers upon it, and some of these are far more powerful than the individual man possesses; for instance, the right conferred upon railroads to go through and appropriate private property and the right of a continuous or perpetual existence. That gigantic creature of the Legislature, an incorporated body, may be enabled to amass wealth and water stock without limit; and it, in special cases, can afford to pay hundreds of thousands or perhaps millions of dollars, to influence the Legislature and the Bench to grant such privileges and make such decisions as it requires. In other words, it can make itself in all matters that interest it a controlling power in the Government of the State or Nation. Is this a wise or safe system? Have there not been enough of privileges granted to corporations? Is it not time to call a halt to the process of subjecting the public to monopolies of all kinds? Are not patent laws also in fault? For instance, the simple business of boring for water is patented, and through a large portion of Minnesota bore wells are a necessity. The patent enables the company which owns it to charge any price they like, even as much as the whole value of the farm, for boring a well, and there is no appealCno remedy. APay the extortionate price, or let your farm remain worthless for want of water,@ is the alternative submitted to the Minnesota farmers, who are threatening to rebel against the patent law.
Monopolies are the mothers of lobby, that excrescence and scandal of legislative assemblies, which in many cases rules them. A bill with much Amoney in it@ effectually helps up the venal legislator=s Apile.@ If the above unaccounted for amount of four hundred thousand dollars were all traced out from first to last, we would have the record of a crime smelling to heaven for rankness. How much of it was paid by lobby agents to legislators or their friends? How much stuck to the magnetic hands of the lobby? How much was pocketed by Huntington himself, and those who appointed him to be an irresponsible administrator of bribes? Surely an honest investigation should be had to ascertain these points; though, as Congress has no power to punish those who refuse to answer questions, and as Ahawks do not peck out hawk=s eyes,@ nothing might come of it. In all these cases of bribery to obtain exclusive privileges, the money paid goes into the cost of the enterprises, which the public is to pay back in the high prices or fares charged. Witness.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
[INTERESTING ARTICLE RE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING, JAN. 15, 1884...Bound volumes added to library, 307; unbound volumes and pamphlets, 1,088; newspaper files, 403; single newspapers containing special historical material, 243; posters, cards, etc., 105; maps, 10; atlases, 2; manuscripts, 6,338; pictures, 235, relics, 77. From this statement it will be seen that the library additions during the year number 1,798 volumes.
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In the department of newspaper files, the collection has grown more rapidly than that of any other library in the country. . . . The Society is receiving the regular issues of 448 newspapers, of which 387 are published in Kansas, namely: weeklies, 304; dailies, 19; monthlies, 23; semi-weaklies, 1; semi-monthlies, 3; quarterlies, 1. . . .Article names members of the Board of Directors and officers.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
CONSTANT CHIMES.
We welcome the return of Mercury to its equilibrium.
The Shitzon brothers have purchased a combined corn sheller and grinder of the Challenge Mill Company, Batavia, Illinois. This is an economical as well as profitable investment for property preparing food for feeding hogs.
Tell it all, Jasper, it detracts very materially from the interest of a story to leave it unfinished. The romantic part you and a certain auburn haired damsel played in bringing up the year, and the subsequent relapse you suffered was the most amusing featurte of that rag-weed performance.
Who are we going to have for trustee this year? is a very pertinent question propounded by interested taxpayers just now. The present incumbent has attended fairly and faithfully to the duties of the office and deserves recognition for his efficient services by a re-election. The only objection raised is his weakness on prohibition.
Mr. R. B. Corson camped with ye reporter last night and secured a subscriber for the People=s Cyclopedia, for which he is canvassing the county. The work is a desirable one for the general reader, for two reasons, viz.: its brevity in discussing subjects of only practical interest and its very reasonable price of eighteen and twenty dollars.
Last Monday M. M. Markcum sold a carload of fat steers that netted the litle sum of one thousand and fourteen dollars. In calculating the cost of feeding them, he realized sixty cents per bushel for the corn feed: about twice the present market value. Our farmers who are hauling their corn to town would do well to stop and reflect on the profits and advantages of feeding it at home and marketing it in more concentrated form.
An epidemic is raging among the obstreperous school youths of District 4. Out of an enrollment of thirty, the attendance has been reduced to five. The girls seem to be its favorite victims, as there has not been a scholar of this sex, either big, little, tall, slim, short, or stout, in attendance for a week to cheer and brighten the gloomy hours of the pedagogue. The writer has an idea that the general health of the pupils has been disturbed by the teacher=s fogyish and barbarous method in calling school by whaling the schoolhouse with a long pole till the building fairly trembles and the neighborhood is distracted with the reverberating echoes. The teacher being a muscular specimen of the genus homo, is capable of striking heavy blows, and the colder the weather, the harder the beating the poor, old, helpless schoolhouse receives. It would be more prudent for the Board to purchase a bell for him than to repair the schoolhouse each term. Forty-five dollars a month ought to justify any teacher in providing himself with a more suitable instrument to attract the attention of his pupils. Otherwise, he is a hale good fellow and a competent instructor. MARK.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
OTTER NEWS.
Traveling north from Cedarvale, we passed Judge Gammon=s. There we were informed that he had sold his fat cattle.
We saw Mr. A. J. Barrus had moved into his new house.
Turning the corner at Rev. Sheek=s residence, we learned the Rev. was busy getting the AQuarterage@ for our pastor.
Arriving at Mr. Jones, we noticed his troubled countenance, asked the cause thereof, and was told his son, Jarvis, who has been visiting his father for some time, had gone west to Sedgwick again.
We were informed that Mr. J. Turner and family will remove from Otter=s peaceful neighborhood sometime during the last of February or first of March. His future hunting grounds will be near Grenola (until game gives out).
The light of Mr. Francis Stockdale=s countenance is illuminating this pleasant vale of ours, but he will soon depart for Colorado.
Continuing our journey westward, Miss Howland must be noticed next. She will wave her mystic wand for seven weeks to come, o=er her unruly Hectors.
Turning southward from her stronghold, we learned of Mr. Serviss= advent here, agitating the R. R. question.
At Mr. Bartholomew=s, we saw an Illinois family, which intends to locate here. We admire their judgment. Judge ye why!
Turning north again to Mr. Hempy=s, here we see that Mr. J. Burright is moving into Mr. Hempy=s old house. Mr. Burright has rented a portion of his (Mr. Hempy=s) farm for the coming season. On inquiring for the young gentleman, we were informed that they are not at home, but are attending the school at Ft. Scott.
Crossing the creek from this place we are told that a free fight has been indulged in by Mr. L. Baldwin and his son-in-law, Mr. Manson. Love for gain was the cause. No bones were broken.
As we had delightful weather for our journey over the country, we decided to return home ere we might be overtaken by a storm; noticing on our homeward way that those who are behind with their corn gathering are improving the pleasant days.
Now as we have given you all the news that there is at present from this section, we will add one word of advice to AJasper,@ who seems to have a serious time in retaining the affections of various young ladies; we would gently remind him that AA rolling stone gathers no moss.@ TIM & JERRY.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
FROM OTTER TOWNSHIP.
Everybody over here says Ahurrah@ for the Narrow Gauge road. They say the COURIER ought to join in and help us.
The school on Cedar is doing finely, from what we can learn from the boys. They say John lets them do about as they please. Euchre parties are common at the schoolhouse. Of course, the boys enjoy themselves.
The weather has been the coldest that we have had for several years. We are fearful that wheat is badly injured by freezing, as the ground was dry when the freeze came. Peach buds are badly injured. It is feared that we will not have another good peach crop this year. Stock of all kinds are wintering good.
A good many cattle are being fed through here, and still there is room for more. Corn is plenty and cheap. I understand Judge Gammon sold his lot of about 100 head for $5.25 per hundred. Other parties are feeding small lots on Otter Creek, and several lots on north and south Cedar. Mr. J. H. Serviss of Dexter is wintering his stock on his Cedar Creek farm this winter.
Hunting parties have been indulged in very freely since cold weather, and the rabbits have become scarce. The men would choose two for captains, and they would choose an equal number of men and hunt all day, then meet at Cedarvale and count scalps, and the losing party pay for an oyster supper for the crowd. Of course, the boys all enjoy themselves hugely. You see, they don=t have their wives and sweethearts there, and they can mix in a few bottles of beer and the other necessaries of life and have a good time generally. The last hunt was last Tuesday, the cold day, but they slew the rabbits all the same. Think they got about 70 on each side, or equivalent, but the boys got mixed up and could not tell which side they belonged to, so you see the supper is not paid for yet; but they got to all the same. To wind up the fun, the team got loose with Mr. Serviss= buggy and run till they tore it all to pieces. We will try and keep you posted on the hunting parties. JACK SUGGS.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
OTTER AND VICINITY.
Weather is no longer 16 below zero.
Cedarvale has harvested a fine crop of ice for next summer.
Jo. Doolen has rented the Widow Tompkins= farm for the coming year.
The Cedar Creek Literary Society was gathered to its fathers long ago.
BIRTH. Born to Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Craddock, a Agal baby,@ weighin nine pounds heavy weight.
A cattle man has just brough in and is feeding 90 head of steers on Mr. Ashworth=s place on Cedar Creek.
DIED. Mrs. Thomas Higgins died last week and Mr. Higgins is at the hotel in Cedarvale under medical care, and may die.
John Hefner has returned after an absence of three months, and looks as old as ever. By the way, he will soon be numbered among the Aold baches.@
Ramey, Kendal & Co. had the good fortune to lose their AOld Gray Hoss@ and thereby find a silver mine. Will not say more for fear of legal proceedings.
As our part of the country is sparsely settled and your correspondent is a Astay home@ sort of man, it is seldom he hears any gosspi to foward to ye editor.
Aspirants for township honors should begin to shake hands more freely than of yore, so that the Adear people@ may know who will have such and such an office.
Cedarvale is rapidly improving. Brown & Stapleton are having built a fine store building, size 90 feet deep with a 24 ft. front. Kemeson [?] & Son have commenced a large business house 40 ft. deep, 41 feet front, two stories high with hall above and two storerooms below: one room to be filled with dry goods and groceries, the other with hardware.
Most all with whom your correspondent has conversed on the subject, are in favor of the Narrow Gauge; provided, they will make the county a fair proposition and one that will be as binding on the R. R. Co., as on the people of the county. Most all of us are with you in the fight you make against their first proposition, save we are not caring for a depot in our township, if they have one at Cedarvale. OTTERITE.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
STRAWS FROM TANNEHILL.
Phinnie Marsh has been courting this week. Says he don=t like it very well.
Miss Mills, of Hutchinson, a cousin of the Misses Coulter, is visiting them at present.
Mr. Watt sold 26 hogs the other day which averaged 281 pounds each. Who can beat it?
Our Sunday school is in a flourishing condition under the management of K. J. Wright, Superintendent.
S. F. King says he can lick any school teacher of Beaver Township. Look out, boys, he is a good one.
The Christian Church at this place is about to secure the services of Rev. Frazee of Indiana to preach to them twice a month.
Mr. Bradbury gave an oyster supper Monday night for the benefit of the Sunday school, which was well attended and the nice little sum of $14 was cleared. Charlie=s wife knows how to cook =em.
Several of the young folks of this community took in an oyster supper at Mr. Cunningham=s on the evening of Jan. 25th. They report a good time although quite an accident happened to a couple of them. While driving along the road where there was a large ditch, the horse got tired of the road and tried the ditch, and as a result the occupants of the buggy were unloaded very precipitately. They have our sympathy! JOHN A.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
SANTA FE FREIGHT RATES. Messrs. Humphrey and Turner, railroad commissioners, are standing nobly up to their work and firmly resist the blandishments of the corporations. The late hearing of the motion for a new trial of the complaints of towns on the Santa Fe road resulted in the affirmation of the decision of Jan. 1, in all respects except that they reduce the distance rates for short distances a little. They give the railroad company 20 days in which to make up new tariff rates according to the decision.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
TARIFF NO. 3.
Fred Hunt=s third article on the tariff question, in the Telegram last week, is still mainly introductory. He makes a brief statement of what he calls the eight principle arguments of protectionists, the first of which he states as follows.
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1. The great prosperity and growth in material substances which the United States have enjoyed, has been brought about to a great extent by the protective system.@This he claims is Amere assumption,@ and that this prosperity, which he admits has been unprecedented and wonderful in the last twenty years under a high protective tariff, is not in consequence of, but in spite of protection. He then makes about a dozen Amere assumptions@ without the least evidence to support them, that protection is a system of robbery, making a scarcity instead of plenty, destroying some of our industries, taxing the poor to enrich the wealthy, is a Abird of prey,@ Aa leach that sucks blood,@ a grievous burden, and similar rhetoric are common with those who are destitute of arguments, and then proceeds to state the causes of the wonderful prosperity of this county in the last years as follows.
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The natural vigor and energy of the American people.A
The great deposits of mineral wealth in the United States.A
The liberal homestead and preemption laws of the government which has caused the rapid settlement of the country.A
The rich and virgin character of the soil.A
The great effectiveness of modern agricultural machinery.A
The great streams of foreign immigration that have emptied themselves into the country, bringing untold wealth in strong arms and actual money.A
The free character of our institutions that give courage, heart, and wealth to American citizens.A
The great era of railroad development.A
And more, perhaps, than from any other cause, the actual FREE TRADE among the several states.@We would like to ask him to explain in his next article; why Athe natural vigor and energy of the American people@ did not crop out during the Atariff for revenue only@ eras of 1850 to 1861 and 1833 to 1840. Were not these great deposits of mineral wealth in the United States during the free trade periods? Did we not have the same liberal homestead and pre-emption laws from 1850 to 1861? Did we not have the same Arich virgin soil@ at that time? Why did not Athe great streams of foreign immigration@ and wealth Aempty themselves into this country@ during that time? Was it not because of the low starvation wages, the low prices of everything the farmer, the mechanic, and the laborer produced in this country during that time? Was there not at that time the same freedom of trade among the several states?
We admit that there is now greater effectiveness of Amodern agricultural machinery,@ but why should this make so much higher prices for farm products and labor now than then? We admit also that our institutions of a free character have not the addition of the abolition of slavery, but why did not the general free character of our institutions give more prosperity in the Atafiff for revenue only@ eras? We admit that this has been a great era of railroad development, but is not this a part of the general development and prosperity of the country? And how should you say that the prosperity causes the prosperity? When our Atariff for revenue only@ champion has answered all these questions satisfactorily and has explained why we have always had our greatest prosperity under Aprotection@ and our times of distress, poverty, stagnation, and financial panic under Atafiff for revenue only,@ we will admit that he has fairly got down to business.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
NARROW GAUGE QUERIES.
Eds. COURIER: In reading your editorial in last week=s issue headed, AThe Narrow Gauge,@ the following questions suggest themselves:
1. If this narrow gauge railroad company don=t intend to build and equip a good road and in a permanent manner, why are they soliciting aid along the proposed route?
2. Is it not a fact, that this same company that is asking us to aid them, have already built their road from Denver, via Colorado Springs, to Pueblo, Colorado?
3. Is not the previous good character of those gentlemen of our county who are directly interested in this project a sufficient guarantee that the road will be built if we vote the bonds?
N. R. WILSON.
In answer to the first question above, we remark that we presume they want to make money for themselves. The more county bonds they can get and the less expense it costs them to get the bonds, the more money they can make.
We answer the 2nd question decidedly, NO. They have done nothing at all but wind work and have no connection whatever with any company that ever built or owned a mile of railroad.
We answer the 3rd question NO most emphatically. There is no doubt that the company will try to get the bonds; but it is a question of ability as well as intention whether the road is built or not, how far it will be built, and how cheap a road it will be if built. There is no man in this county who intends to put his money into this road, or who admits that he has any personal interest in it. Plenty of roads all over the country have been commenced by men of just as good character as any of these men in this company and failed. Bonds have been delivered and then the building ceased and no track ever laid or if laid, torn up again. Character never built a railroad. Cheek is worth ten times as much as character in railroad building. If these men want their character to stand in lieu of their written agreements, they should be willing to take the character of Cowley for the delivery of the bonds without binding it by a written agreement endorsed by a vote.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
RAILROAD PROJECTS.
We clip the two following paragraphs from the El Dorado Republican.
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We are in receipt of a private letter from a gentleman who is in a position to know that money cannot at present be obtained for building a new line of railway anywhere, that just as soon as it is possible to get the means, the proposed road from El Dorado northwest will be commenced, and that the parties are all ready to move. We think it is about settled for this line to be built, and we believe the money market will be so that it can be built this year.@A
A movement is on foot to make the El Dorado and McPherson branches one division, to be operated as such, giving us a regular passenger train in the morning and an accommodation train in the afternoon. This would be a great improvement over the present arrangement.@The first paragraph relates to a branch of the St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita. We should expect that this road could raise the funds before any new railroad could. The latter paragraph is a good scheme and if the Santa Fe company would build from Douglass to Winfield, thus making a continuous line from Winfield via Florence to McPherson and Ellinwood, it would do much to popularize their road, and we think it would be a paying investment. The Santa Fe company are able to build from Douglass to Winfield at any time without municipal bonds. If it would do so and give us a morning passenger train thereon to the north, connecting at Florence with the east bound train on the main line and giving us direct communication with thhe towns on the McPherson branch and to the northern part of the state, the people down this way would feel that there was one corporation in the state that had a soul, and would throw up their hats for the Santa Fe.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
THE NARROW GAUGE.
In this issue appears the original proposition of the Narrow Gauge railway company contained in the petition which they circulated for signatures. This is a part of the call for an election and is followed by a large mass of matter prepared in the interests of that company as a kind of stump spech to explain the proposition contained in the petition and to obviate some objections to the petition that have been raised. The words, AWithin the time and in the manner herein after provided,@ which occur in that stump speech, do not fill the bill: 1st, because they are not a part of the proposition contained in the petition which was signed by the petitioners authorizing the call of the election, and 2nd, because they are not sufficient. It needs the further words: AProvided that no bonds shall be issued unless such road is built in the time named.
Our objections are not affected by the stump speech but stand yet as follows.
1. The proposition does not state what kind of a road or how constructed. The name of the company contains the words Anarrow gauge@ and this is all. Should the proposition be voted and afterward the company lay cottonwood cordwood along the ground for ties, without grading, and then spike thereon 2 x 4 pine scantling for rails, from the west line of this county to Winfield, not more than twelve and a half miles, making the cheapest kind of trestle work for a bridge across the Walnut, and run thereon a cheap engine and a dirt car, they would be entitled to $50,000 of Cowley=s bonds under the proposition, and would get them.
[MILLINGTON REPEATED ALL 8 ITEMS COVERED IN PREVIOUS ISSUE.]
SEE NO REASON TO BE REPETITIVE!
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
SKIPPED MONTHLY MEETING OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FEB. 2ND, 1884.
Members mentioned: President Martin, Mr. Hogue, Mr. Henry Hawkins, Mr. G. W. Robertson, Mr. Gillette, Mr. Brown, Mr. Thomas of Harvey Township, Jacob Nixon, Secretary.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Teachers= Association.
The Central Division of the Cowley County Teachers Association will meet Feb. 23, 1884, at the High School building, Winfield. Following is the program.
SATURDAY, 10 O=CLOCK A.M., FEBRUARY 23, 1884.
1. AWhat improvements are needed in our examinations and certificates?@ Prof. Limerick, W. P. Beaumont, and Anna Robertson.
2. APeriodicals versus readers for higher grades.@ Miss Helen Mench, S. L. Herriott, F. P. Vaughn.
3. AClosing the term.@ Miss Allie Klingman, Miss Laura Barnes, S. W. Morton.
4. AGeneral Review.@ Leota Gary, Celina Bliss, Blaude Rinker, Emma Gridley.
All are invited to attend.
BY ORDER OF COMMITTEE.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
FROM AKRON.
J. S. Savage marketed 3 steers last week for $145.00.
BIRTH. Mr. and Mrs. Butler are happy over the arrival of a fine girl.
J. W. Warren is talking of having an exhibtion in his school the last day.
Mr. and Mrs. Weimer returned last Saturday from a month=s visit in Wilson County.
N. S. Fowler is hauling posts to Winfield to ship out to his stock ranch in Ford County.
Earnest Wilson has leased his farm for two more years, paying $300.00 a year for 160 acres.
A few of our farmers are not through husking corn yet. There seems to be no end to last year=s corn crop.
Rev. Rose has been holding a series of meetings for two weeks past, with good success, at Valley Center schoolhouse.
MARRIED. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gammon, who were recently married, have gone to housekeeping at the home of Mr. Gammon. The writewr wishes the happy coupled oceans of joy and success, and may they be blessed with a bountiful supply of good things.
N. E. Darling has sold his store at Akron to Mr. Thompson, and will change his location to Grand Summit, Cowley County. Mr. Darling and E. E. Rogers will set up a general store at that place. They will build immediately. The short time Mr. Darling has been our merchant, he has worked up a good trade and has done an honest business. While we are sorry to lose Mr. Darling as a merchant, we wish him and his partner unlimited success in their new location. RINGSTOM. [??? NOT SURE OF THIS AT ALL???]
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
AD. FOR SALE. A 10 FOOT ECLIPSE WINDMILL, IN GOOD ORDER.
PRICE, $60! ENQUIRE OF G. B. SHAW & CO. Winfield, January 23rd, 1884.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
AD. WANTED. Dead Hogs and Stock of all kinds suitable for Tanking. Bring them in and we will pay you ASpot Cash@ what they are worth. HOLMES & SON.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
WINFIELD POST OFFICE.
POST OFFICE open from 7:30 a.m., to 7 p.m., except Sundays, open from 9 to 10 a.m. Money Order and Registry Department open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Sundays. The mails arrive from the North on the A. T. & S. F. at 11:15 a.m., and leave for the North at 3:35 p.m. From the East on the K. C. L. & S. at 9:50 p.m. and leave, going Eastward, at 5:40 in the morning. The Eldorado stage leaves at 8 a.m. and arrives at 7 p.m. The Sedan and Dexter stage leaves at 6 a.m. and arrives at 7 p.m. The Floral and Wilmot mail arrives at 12 m, on Tuesdays and Saturdays and leaves at 1 p.m. of said days. The Salt City mails leave Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 a.m. and arrive at 5 p.m., of said days. Letters to go out on any of these mails must be put in the post office at least 30 minutes before the time of leaving. Those to go out on the K. C. L. & S. must be mailed by 11 p.m.
D. A. MILLINGTON, P. M.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MAPLE CITY.
Our school closed last Thursday. The teacher, Miss Cora Robins, has left for Winfield. She will be greatly missed from our community, for, besides being a very successful teacher, she was organist for our Sabbath school and Lyceum. Our good wishes go with her.
A RESIDENT.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
THE MARKETS. Wheat is up two cents and now brings 77 cents. Corn brings today (Wednesday) 31 cents. Hogs are going lively at top prices, as high as $6.00 per hundred being paid. Produce is holding at the high prices of last week, with a heavy demand for eggs especially.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
PERSONALS.
Sham Tycoon & Pyramid tonight, February 7th.
J. C. Fuller started Tuesday morning on an excursion.
Allen B. Lemmon came down from Newton Tuesday.
J. P. Baden is shipping a carload of eggs every other day.
Several columns of county news will be found on the front page this week.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
[MORE PERSONALS.]
Come and see the interview between the Candidate and the Goat, Opera House, tonight.
Ed. Bedilion has been fixing up his office until even the oldest resident don=t hardly recognize it.
All secret order men will enjoy the Burlesque Degree, Opera House, this evening.
Ladies, your only chance to witness the Initiation of a candidate. Opera House, tonight.
The Pleasant Hour Club will have another of their enjoyable parties Friday evening at the Opera House.
Mr. W. B. Pixley offers his splendid farm for sale in this paper. It is one of the best places around Winfield.
If you want to buy or sell a farm or city property, call on BEACH & DENNING, East 9th Avenue, Winfield.
Atkinson The Taylor is receiving new goods one door south of English Kitchen. Also the new styles are on hand.
It=s business; we warrant every pair of Stacy, Adams & Co.=s make of men=s shoes, sold only by O=Meara & Randolph.
Mr. E. S. Bliss met T. A. Wilkinson on his western trip. He is managing a wholesale commission house at Fort Worth, Texas.
Mr. Frank Oliver has leased lots on north Main Street just south of the foundry, and will put in a large stock of lumber at once.
In Walnut Township the whole Republican ticket was elected with the exception of John C. Roberts for trustee, who was defeated by A. J. Thompson.
Just received three hundred and fifty gallons mixed paint. Every gallon guaranteed, $1.25 per gallon, and $1.00 for iron paint. J. N. Harter, druggist.
Wanted. Two Catholic teachers, ladies or gentlemen. None but competent and experienced teachers need apply. Rev. Kilian. Call M. P., pastor of Winfield, Kansas.
We publish on the first page this week the full text of Judge Torrance=s decision in the injunction case of Bliss & Wood against the Water Company. Every citizen should read it.
Mrs. T. Edith Crenshaw will give under the auspices of the Woman=s Suffrage Association of Arkansas City, an elocutionary entertainment in that plce on Saturday evening, February 9th.
The mayor has appointed Mr. D. L. Kretsinger as chief fire marshal under the new fire department ordinance. Jim Clatworthy is appointed captain of company No. 1 and Frank Finch of No. 2. [Clatworthy?? Chatworthy??]
A pocket-book containig certificates of deposit and other papers, on which is the name of N. M. Pell, was found by Mr. C. C. Roberts, northeast of town, last week. The property is at this office.
We offer for sale at a bargain, for the next thirty days, one of the most desirable farms in the vicinity of Winfield; also, several valuable city residences. For particulars call on or address Shivers & Linn.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
[MORE PERSONALS.]
Mrs. Jas. Ramsey, of Vernon Township, threshed nine and a half acres of wheat, which turned out forty-nine bushels per acre. This is a big yield and can be substantiated by many of Mr. Ramsey=s neighbors.
Mr. T. Edith Crenshaw, assisted by her pupils in elocution, will give an entertainment in the Opera House on Friday evening, Feb. 15. There will be presented a series of exercises in physical culture and aesthetic gesture.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
The S of [? HARD TO READ?] Knights and the Knights of Pythias of this city have prepared an entertainment for tonight (Thursday) at the Opera House, which will be unique, attractive, and amusing. These orders will appear in their new and brilliant uniforms and publicly install the officers of Cowley Legion. They will execute on the floor of the hall some fine movements, making a beautiful display. Our Arion club will furnish music. But the chief feature of the evening will be the initiation of a candidate into a secret order, with costumes, paraphernalia, and ceremonies gotten up regardless of expenses. Ladies can now have their curiosity satisfied as to what takes place in lodge meetings. (See hand bills.)
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
The Good Templars installed thewir officers for the term commencing with February, on last Friday evening, as follows.
W. C. T., H. H. Siverd.
W. V. P. [?], Mrs. E. D. Garlick.
W. F. S., H. G. Norton.
W. R. S., Miss Mamie Garlick.
W. T., Mrs. N. J. Lundy.
W. C., Mrs. Emma Smith.
W. M., W. J. McClellan.
W. I. G., Miss Fannie Saunders.
W. O. G., F. V. Rowland.
W. A. S., C. A. Garlick.
W. R. S., Mrs. S. J. Hepler.
W. L. S., Mrs. L. Schaffhausen.
W. D. M., Miss Ella Garlick.
Organist, Miss Lucy Cairns.
P. W. C. T., Frank H. Greer.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Mr. E. S. Bliss has just returned from his second trip through New Mexico in the interest of the The Winfield Roller Mills. He put Winfield Roller Flour in almost every railroad town in New Mexico. He met several Winfield people, among whom he mentions Mr. A. J. Rex, at Raton; J. E. Saint and W. M. Allison, at Albuquerque; and H. C. Robinson, at El Paso. All are in good health and prospering. Mr. Robinson seemed very much pleased to see anyone from Winfield and sends regards to his many friends here. He is in government service in the Custom House.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Last Monday night about 10 o=clock as Dr. Taylor was returning from a professional visit in the country, the driver of a spirited team undertook to pass some teams, and in turning out the front wheel struck a stump, throwing the driver out on his head. Fortunately the Doctor was not thrown out of the vehicle, and escaped with a couple of badly mashed fingers that were caught under the seat as it fell. It was well that the horses did not run, or a very serious accident might have resulted.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MARRIED. Mr. Spence Miner and Miss Cora Berkey were married last Thursday evening at the residence of the bride=s parents in this city, Rev. Jones officiating. Mr. Miner is the junior member of the firm of McDonald & Miner, and one of our brightest and best young businessmen. The bride is one of Winfield=s fairest ladies. The happy couple were the recipients of a large number of beautiful presents and the best wishes of hosts of friends.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
At the Baptist Sunday school last Sunday, the monthly report for January was read. The school has a membership of 302, of whom 26 are officers and teachers. The highest attendance during the month was 229 and the average attendance 193. The collections for the month amounted to $9.38. The attendance last Sunday was 253.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
The following MARRIAGE LICENSES have been issued during the week.
Geo. R. Holmes to Mary C. Boomershine.
Chas. Davis to Lottie Parker.
Frank S. Adams to Francis R. Jones.
Fred W. Barret to Laura E. Fales.
Spencer Miner to Cora Berkey.
J. B. Johns to Della Goodrich.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
The Wilberforce concert troup has been secured by the trustees of the Presbyterian Church to give a concert at the Opera House on Monday evening, Feb. 25th. Please cut this out and remember. This troupe gave our citizens much pleasure by their excellent performances last year.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
A lot of boys have been in the habit of going out to the west bridge, mornings, firing off pistols, and scaring the teams of passers-by. When remonstrated with by a gentleman the other morning, they used very offensive language. Complaints have been made and the boys will come to grief if the thing is not stopped.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Mr. J. W. Cottingham brought us in six peerless potatoes Tuesday, which weighed fifteen pounds. This is twenty-four potatoes to the bushel. He brought in a load for Rinker & Hodges for which they paid 75 cents per bushel. These are Fairview Township productions.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
W. L. Morehouse is putting in a large stock of lumber and everything pertaining to the trade, just north of the Santa Fe depot, in Winfield, and expects to be in full blast by the 15th of March. His facilities for supplying the market at low rates are second to none.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
A physician attachement is the latest necessity for a Cowley County drug store. An investigation of records would disclose a wonderful amount of sickness for which Abitters@ is a popular remedy.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Hon. Leonard Farr, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, is again in the county looking to his large property interests. He is in good health and spirits and more and more attached to this grand young county.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Lost. A soft felt hat with pink satin lining and initial letter G. at the fire Monday night. Finder will confer a favor by leaving same at Bryan & Lynn=s. M. L. Garrigus.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MARRIED. Married at the Baptist parsonage, Winfield, February 1st, 1884, by rev. J. Cairns, Mr. Fred W. Barrett of Arkansas City and Miss Laura E. Fales of New York City.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
BIRTH. Mr. Fred C. Hunt is the happy dad of a bouncing girl. This explains why Fred has been fighting to have the tariff on woolen goods, diamonds, and silk buttons reduced.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Miss Ella D. Kelly, of this city, has been granted a Normal Instructor=s certificate by the State Board of Education. Miss Kelly is going way up in educational circles.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Frank Leland and W. A. McCartney were admitted to the bar last week. They are both bright and growing young men and will prove an ornament to the profession.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Dr. H. L. Wells went up to Topeka Tuesday, as a delegate to the G. A. R. meeting, and to attend the State Eclectic Medical Society meeting.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MARRIED. Married, J. B. Johns and Della Goodrich, at the residence of Mr. Sweet, by P. F. Jones, January 29, both of Cowley County, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
MARRIED. Married, John E. Grantham and Theodosia Jones, at M. E. Parsonage, January 28, by P. F. Jones, both of Cowley County.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Elwood Shock, the Santa Fe Agent at Udall, is lying very low with malaria fever. His recovery is doubtful.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Mr. S. H. Wells was re-elected trustee of Dexter. He got 123 out of 124 votes polled.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
A Heavy Dose.
Last Thursday morning Judge Torrance passed sentence upon Dr. Fleming. It consisted of a fine of five hundred dollars and costs, amounting in all to over seven hundred dollars. In delivering the judgment of the Court, Judge Torrance made some very strong and pointed remarks. He said that the prohibitory law should be enforced and while physicians should be allowed to use liquor in the practice of their profession when used as such, no physician could sell it as a grog shop keeper. The Court seemed to have considered strongly the question of adding a penalty of confinement in the jail, but owing to the Doctor=s infirm physical condition, did not do so. The Doctor=s experience is costly, and should be lasting.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
INCENDIARISM!
Another Attempt to Burn the Town Tuesday Morning.
The Water-works Come to The Front.
Tuesday morning between four and five o=clock the fire bell rang and almost the whole male populace of the city turned out. The small barn in the rear of J. L. Hodges= grocery store was discovered to be on fire. Dr. Mendenhall, living just across the way, was on hand with a garden hose attached to his street hydrant and played at the fire until the large hose was brought out and attached, when the blaze was quickly drowned out, without injury to adjacent buildings. The fire had barely been extinguished and people were returning to their homes when another alarm was made and flames were seen issuing from Mr. Shenneman=s barn on the alley in the rear of Hudson Bros. Jewelry Store. In this barn were six horses, two of McGuire Bros. and several belonging to Mrs. Shenneman. These were got out, the hose brought around, and after some delay about opening the hydrant, caused by the loss of the wrench, a heavy stream was turned on, and in a few minutes the barn was drenched through and through and the fire out. The water worked splendidly and was undoubtedly the means of preventing a disastrous conflagration, as the location of the last fire was in the most inflammable part of the city. The fires were both the work of an incendiary as no fire nor no person was in or about the barns at that time of night. What the motive or object of the fire bugs are is a mystery, but it seems that someone means to have a fire. The officers cannot be too vigilant in their efforts to run down these midnight destroyers. Three incendiarisms within a week is warning enough that there are parties hereabouts who are deadly in earnest in their efforts to burn a big hole in the business portion of the town.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Council Meeting.
The City parliament met Monday evening and ground out the usual grist of laws.
The fire limit ordinance was finally passed, and it is a stout one. Everyone must first get a permit from the Council before the erection of any building within the fire limits.
An ordinance organizing a fire department was also passed. It provided for a chief fire Marshal and two hose companies of twelve members each. The chief Marshal is to receive two dollars for every run made and each member of the companies one dollar. The members are enrolled for three years and are exempt from poll tax and jury duty. It is a first-rate ordinance and ought to give us an excellent fire department.
The City Attorney was instructed to draw up a vagrant ordinance whereby a person loafing around without visible means of support may be put on the rock pile.
A petition for a sidewalk on the north side of Tenth avenue running from Fuller Street east through the COURIER Place to Thompson Street, thence south to the city limits, was referred to the committee on streets and alleys.
The Cowley County Coal Company were granted the right to mine coal from beneath the streets and alleys of the city. Several bills were allowed and reports received.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
THE WINFIELD NURSERY.
Last week we took a trip to the Winfield Nursery, Hogue & Mentch, proprietors, located just north of the city. We were more than surprised at the extent and quality of trees, shrubs, and vines being grown, and the amount of business done. The trees are grown in long rows, are as clean as a flower garden, and healthy and thrifty. They have trees of every known variety which will grow and thrive in southern Kansas, vines, shrubs, and evergreens. The most noticeable thing about the nursery was the thrifty appearance of everything. Not a weed could be seen, and every tree looked unusually strong and health. The firm will do a business of over ten thousand dollars this spring. Our people are beginning to find out that the only way to raise trees is to get them home grown, fresh from the nursery, and set before the roots have been dried out by long shipment. No finer trees can be grown than are those we saw last week in the Winfield Nursery. If our farmers would kick the foreign tree peddlers off the place, go to the nursery with a wagon, dig up the trees, and set them out the same day, they would have no trouble in raising orchards or getting shade trees.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Township Elections.
Vernon Township elected H. H. Martin trustee and the whole Republican ticket.
Fairview elected R. B. Corson trustee by 40 majority and the whole Republican ticket.
Ninnescah elected A. J. Worden trustee and the whole Republican ticket, including
A. A. Jackson.
Barney Shriver was re-elected trustee of Sheridan by one majority. The whole Republican ticket carried except one constable.
John Hanlen was beaten for trustee in Fairview Tuesday. John=s experience is rather discouraging. This is the fifth time he has been beaten.
Mr. J. W. Browning was elected trustee of Beaver Township, and the whole Republican ticket by 20 majority. Beaver is Democratic no longer.
Tisdale elects H. H. Sparrow, trustee, D. Sellers, clerk, and J. W. Conrad, treasurear. The issue was on the question of removing the voting precinct from Tisdale to New Salem. The Tisdale adherents won.
Vernon Township has elected N. C. Clark as road overseer for the whole township. They discovered a provision in the statutes covering the case and decided to try it. The overseer gets $1.50 per day for the time occupied in his duties.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Coal.
A coal company has been formed for the purpose of prospecting for coal here. Quite a large sum has already been subscribed to prosecute the work and it is the intention of the company to begin work as soon as the necessary boring machinery can be secured. This enterprise is a most important one for our City. There is no doubt but that our town is underlaid by coal deposits and all it needs is enterprise to develop them. The following gentlemen are the incorporators: W. P. Hackney, M. L. Robinson, B. F. Cox, J. L. Horning, C. C. Black, J. M. Keck, O. M. Reynolds, C. L. Harter, S. C. Smith, and Geo. Emerson.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Private Opinion on the Narrow Gauge.
A gentleman in a private letter to us from Otter Township, says:
A
I have talked with quite a number of voters of our Township regarding your stand on the Narrow Gauge R. R. proposition and find that most all of them think that your position, in the matter, is not only right but commendable. Unless the above company make us believe that they mean to deal fairly in this matter (between now and 11th of March) they need not expect many votes from this, Otter Township, even if they do propose to run through our midst. Hope you may continue to make it warm for this new R. R. scheme until they will be pleased to do the right thing.@
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
A Resolution.
At a meeting held at New Salem the following resolution was passed.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that the proposition for voting bonds for the Narrow Gauge Railroad is detrimental to the best interests of Cowley County.
By order of Committee.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Temperance Lecturers.
The people of Winfield are soon to enjoy a rich treat, in a series of lectures given under the auspices of the W. C. T. U. The speakers are to be Hon. John B. Finch of Nebraska, known to many in ths part of the State, and one of the leading temperance speakers of America; Hon. Edward Carswell of Canada, often called the John B. Gough of Canada; Mrs. Marion B. Baxter of Michigan; and Dr. Mary E. Haggart of Indianapolis, the most eloquent lady speaker of the country.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
At a meeting of the citizens of Sheridan Township held February 1st, 1884, J. R. Smith was chosen chairman and H. L. Wilson secretary. The object of the meeting was stated to be to consider the advisability of appointing a delegate to meet with delegates from Tisdale and other townships for the purpose of drafting resolutions asking the Denver, Memphis & Atlantic Railway Company to so obligate themselves to build a substantial road with important connections, so that the people of Cowley County may have some assurance of getting a road that will be of benefit to them after voting their bonds. The petition for the road was read and called forth considerable discussion. It appeared to be the unanimous sentiment of those present that, although strongly in favor of a road over the proposed route, they could not do otherwise than vote against the petition as it now is. E. Shriver was appointed to act as delegate. H. L. WILSON, Secretary.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
New Salem Pencilings.
Mr. Bryant is having a well drilled.
Mr. Chappell is badly afflicted with rheumatism.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster have returned to their home.
Mr. Lucas is having an addition built to his house.
Mr. and Mrs. McClellen are visiting friends here this week.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Hoyland are visiting friends in Cambridge.
Mr. Frank Rowe is a Salemite at present. He is holding their cattle at J. E. Hoyland=s.
Mrs. Wolfe is quite sick. I hope the warm, bright days will bring back some of her youthful vigor.
The Salem teachers are doing their best to elevate the thoughts of the youth in this vicinity.
Rounds, Kelly, and Cox are in the pig businessCbut I=m saving mine to start a hog ranch on some of Uncle Sam=s land.
Miss Mary Dalgarn will teach in the Crooked Elm district this spring. Success to all our teachers.
BIRTHS. Mr. Thornton and wife are rejoicing over a fine little gentleman to their home, while Mrs. Stevens has a little mate for him in the person of a nice little girl.
We were very sorry indeed to see the home of our Prairie Home neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher, burned to the ground. We extend our sympathy, and trust they soon may find a new home and enjoy all the home pleasures that they now so sadly miss.
DIED. There is another little mound wet with sorrowing tears in the New Salem graveyard. A large concourse of kind and sympathizing neighbors followed the little form of Mr. and Mrs. Griever=s sweet little babe to its silent resting place on last Friday afternoon. It budded on earth to bloom in Heaven; and the sorrowing parents have a sweet little flower in the garden of God silently calling them to its happy home. Their oldest boy is still very sick.
After the burial the many friends resorted to the banks of Cedar Creek to witness the baptism of two young men in the vigor of youth. A large number of people were already there. How solemn that duty seemed and yet how cheering to see those young men saying by their actions that they were on the Lord=s side, and heeding the command, ASeek thy Creator in the days of thy youth.@
Brightly the sun is shining, and though they say Kansas is always in a gale of wind, it proves false now, as the zephyrs are as calm as a summer dream. Some of the farmers are busy plowing, others trimming the thorny hedge, and others are improving the time in different ways. All seems quiet and at peace with their neighbor. Our new druggist is highly incensed at AOld Maid,@ the Telegram correspondent at Salem. She insinuates that the prohibitory law is not strictly kept, and our druggists have bloated faces from the use of stimulatns, etc. We hope and trust the boys have more honor than to sell anything against the laws of our fair land, and cannot see why AAlgero@ and AOld Maid@ cannot be friends. Such reflections are not a recommendation to Salem and its inhabitants is why I retaliate. I am temperance personified and wish all in the county were also. AOld Maid@ and AAlgero@ I count among my friends and shall expect them both to help hold the Temperance Banner high, and may its fair colors never be soiled by dragging through New Salem. OLIVIA.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Washington Territory Letter.
I see from the Kansas papers that Prohibition is making gigantic strides, and as the people are perhaps as much interested in that subject as any other, I will in the present letter give the situation in Washington Territory.
He who reads the papers must recognize the fact that a great Temperance revival is abroad in the land, nearly ever State and Territory is discussing the question, and so astute a man as the editor of Harper=s Weekly states that the subject of Prohibition bids fair to play an important part in the campaign of 1884.
When I came here nothing had been done in regard to the subject of Temperance, but a few days after we arrived in Colfax, a mass meeting was called, which was addressed by several able speakers, and the result of that meeting was the call of a county convention to be held at Colfax Nov. 20th, 1883. At that convention delegates from the different parts of the county were present, and at the close of an enthusiastic meeting an organization was effected and named The Whitman County Temperance League, and your correspondent was chosen President.
The objects of the League as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, are to enforce the law in regard to Sunday Gambling, AOpium Joints,@ and the sale of intoxicating liquors. Heretofore along the coast, and especially in this section, business houses were kept open on Sunday, and saloons especially reaped a rich harvest on that day. The League commenced its work by publishing in the papers the law requiring business houses and especially saloons to close on Sunday, and requesting all to observe the same.
The saloons closed except one and on Monday morning he entered a complaint against himself and was fined $25 and costs. The next Sunday the same was repeated and on Monday morning he paid a fine of $30 and costs. The third Sunday he again kept open and on Monday paid a fine of $100 and costs. Since then he has obeyed the law. One other saloon keeper has tried it once and paid a fine of $25 and costs, and it now looks as though the whole nine in the town will go through the same tactics.
While the work thus seems to be slow, yet we have the assurance that we have taken a step in advance, and though it may be slow work yet we are confident of success in the end. Our plan is to organize the several districts of the County and all the other counties of the Territory and then unitedly strike and gain Prohibition. Meanwhile, we propose to enforce what laws we have.
In pursuance of the plan to organize the districts of the county during the Holidays, I visited some of the principal towns and lectured on Prohibition. Everywhere we were greeted with large and interested audiences. While the people have heretofore been quiet on the subject of Temperance, yet it has been because they have not been called upon to act, and they now only await the proper time, when they will arise in their might and banish the saloons from the Territory.
The COURIER readers are perhaps aware that our last Legislature passed an act giving to women the right of suffrage. Contrary to the predictions made by many wise politicians that women would not avail themselves of the ballot, in many towns they have attended the polls and voted. At Olympia a citizens= ticket was nominated and elected by the aid of the women. The liquor men are sharp enough to see that something will certainly be done, and they are exercising themselves to secure High License as their only hope. Many of the politicians also favor this, as by so doing and seeming to favor Temperance, they can at the same time secure the support of the Temperance people and the Rummies.
We rejoice in the success of Kansas in clearing out the saloons, and can confidently say that in a short time the men and women of Washington Territory will prove that they are worthy to stand by your side and join in the funeral dirge over the graves of the saloons, the curses of the land. We feel that your success is ours, as the effect of Prohibition in Kansas will in a great measure determine its immediate adoption or rejection in the great future struggles in other states and territories. While we are widely separated by distance, yet we feel that we have one common cause and though progress may be slow, it is nevertheless sure and we must conquer in the end.
A
Right forever on the scaffold,Wrong forever on the throne,
But that scaffold moves the future
And behind the dark unknown
Standeth God within the shadow
Keeping watch above his own.@
E. T. TRIMBLE.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
STREAKS OF SUNSHINE. [ADS.]
Farm for Sale, consisting of two hundred and forty acres; 60 acres growing wheat on plce, 130 acres under plow, balance in grass. Good house, large orchard, good spring of water, spring pond, and conveniently located to Winfield and New Salem, in Cedar Valley. For particulars call on W. B. Pixley, first dry goods and grocery store south of Brettun House, Main Street, Winfield, Kansas. W. B. PIXLEY.
Palestine, Texas: Mr. Lewis Conrad: We received the Burges Steam Washer and have given it a fair trial and find it will do all you claim for it. We have a colored woman in our family who has had twenty years experience in washing and is first-class. She is so well pleased with it that she is anxious for wash day to come. (This is one out of hundreds of ladies who are using this washer in Kansas and other states. They all recommend it to their neighbors and friends.)
Public Sale. The undersigned will sell at his residence in Ninnescah Ttownship, on Tuesday, March 4, 1884, commencing at 10 o=clock a.m., the following described property: 1 wagon and harness, plows, harrow, cultivator, one-half interest in Deering twine binder harvesting machine, 3 head of horses and colts as follows: 3 work geldings, 1 span mares, coming 4 years old, 1 filly, coming 2 years old, also one stallion colt, coming 3 years old. 7 head of grade cattle, among which are 2 fine cows, 50 head of stock hogs, averaginb about 140 pounds; also other articles too numerous to mention. Terms: A credit of 9 months will be given on all sums over ten dollars by the purchaser giving bankable notes. The stallion colt will be sold on one, two, or three years= time at 6 percent interest, payable annually. The colt only needs to be seen to be admired, as for general make-up and style, he has no superior; weighs 1200 pounds. Sale will take place at my residence, 3 2 miles south of Udall. LEONARD STOUT.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
RECAP ONLY OF ELECTION PROCLAMATION FOR JAN. 16, 1884, VOTE ON DENVER, MEMPHIS & ATLANTIC NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY COMPANY.
Petitions came from H. C. McDorman, J. Wade McDonald. The railroad company named J. J. Burns, 1st Vice President and Acting President. Affidavit attested to by M. L. Read, Secretary of the D. M. & A. R R. Asking for County to subscribe for 200 shares of five hundred dollars each of the capital stock of company...amount $4,000 per mile constructed in said county, interest 6 percent per annum, payable semi-annually. Depots: Freight and passenger depots at Winfield, to be located on the east side of the Walnut River annd on the south side of Timber Creek within 2 mile of the crossing of Main Street and Ninth Avenue. Other depots not mentioned. VERY PECULIAR WORDING IN PROPOSAL.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
HUGH H. SIVERD, Assignee of the property of Goss & McConn, had notice printed in paper to creditors of Willis S. Goss and William V. McConn, formerly doing business under the firm name of Goss & McConn at East Geuda Springs, announcing that on June 10, 1884, at the office of the county clerk of the district court of Cowley County in Winfield he would proceed publicly to adjust and allow demands against the estate of the said Goss & McConn.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Public Notice.
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons interested that the undersigned owners of the Tisdale Town Site, the same being an unimproved town site situated in Cowley County, Kansas, and composed of the following lands, to wit: The N W quarter of the N E qurter and the N E quarters of the N W quarter of Section No. 26 and the S E quarter of the S W quarter, and the S W quarter of the S E quarter of Section No. 23, all in Township No. 32 South of Range No. 5 East, being desirous of vacating all the streets, alleys, and other public reservations of said town site, will on the 7th day of April, A. D. 1884, the same being the first day of the next regular session of the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas, present to the said board a petition, praying the said Board of Commissiners to vacate all the streets, alleys, and other public reservations of said town site, at which time and place, all persons interested, may and can appear and show cause, if any they have, why the prayer of such petition ought not to be, by said Board granted.
February 1st, A. D. 1884.
WILLIAM CONRAD,
W. R. BRADLEY,
DAVID SELLERS,
J. A. McGUIRE,
HARLEN SHORTER,
C. E. LACEY,
Owners of said Town Site.
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1884.
[FRONT PAGE HAS A LENGTHY ARTICLE RE TARIFFS BY Chicago Cor. in Kansas Farmer, WHICH I SKIPPED.]
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1884.
A VOICE FROM THE RURAL DISTRICT OF THE D. M. & A. R. R.
Pleasant Valley Township.
Just now there is a one-sided effort to create a little excitement over the proposed building of a narrow gauge railroad across this county. I say one-sided advisedly, because only a few parties (not to exceed a half dozen) are manifesting any particular interest in the success of the enterprise. These parties are the supposed projectors and, therefore, are specially interested. They have been indefatigable in their efforts to impress upon the farmers of Cowley County the immense advantages that would be derived from the construction of such a road. They have given it the very significant title of Denver, Memphis & Atlantic railroad. From this we are to infer that it is to be a grand trunk line extending between the Alleghany mountain of the east and the rocky mountains of the westCconnect-ing the two great systems of narrow gauge roads in the United States.
The ponderous brains of these immaculate projectors have given birth to an extra-ordinary gigantic enterprise; and we candidly concede the great benefits and profits that would accrue to the county from its construction. But the very pertinent question that arises in the mind of every thoughtful, reasoning farmer is: AWill it be built if the necessary aid is voted?@ I think I would be safe in asserting that at least three fifths of the farmers of this county have no confidence in its ultimate completion.
Now if these famous projectors are sincere in their faith and are sanguine of its final construction within a reasonable time, they should be willing to submit to the county a fair and just proposition. Such an one, the pending petition is not considered, but, on the contrary, is bristling throughout with cats paws in which are lurking the merciless claws, only waiting a favorable opportunity to fasten themselves on the unsuspecting voter.
The specification of the kind of material of which the road is to be constructed, the limitation of stock and mortgage bonds to a reasonable amount, the location of depots at convenient points, the forfeiture of bonds, in case of failure, to the county or municipality voting them, are vital provisions that should be incorporated in all railroad petitions for the protection of public interests. Furthermore, as Cowley County is no longer suffering for railroad facilities, the commissioners should have insisted before calling an election that the company deposit with the county treasurer a sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses of such an electionCprovided the bonds are voted and the company fail to fulfill their part of the contract. It is needless to remark that the D. M. & A. narrow gauge railroad petition now before the county embraces some of the foregoing important conditions.
I am informed by reliable authority that the A. T. & S. F. R. R. company are anxious for Cowley County to vote that fraudulent narrow gauge proposition. Why? Because it would tie up the county and prevent it from voting aid in the future to any legitimate enterprise; thereby insuring exclusively to this company the carrying traffic of the county for many years to come. Therefore, farmers of Cowley County, in view of the foregoing facts, each and everyone of you who object to being burdened by taxation for the support of chimerical enterprises, should consider yourselves a committee of one, and be sure to go to the polls on election day and firmly, squarely, and emphatically set your feet down on this approaching octopus; for it is only by presuming on your gullibility or indifference in regard to the matter on election day that these designing schemers, who father the project, hope to be successful. Attend the polls and see that your neighbor does likewise, and thereby reject this flagrant imposition on your intelligence. MARK.
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1884.
G. B. SHAW & CO.
Lumber dealers are doing a very heavy business in selling lumber, etc., but pay out more to the farmers for grain and other products