davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14
THREATENING CIRCULAR
HOW COLLECTIONS ARE
MADE BY UNLAWFUL
THREATS.
Kicking About It-A Few OF the Cir.
Culars-What Il Prominent
Lawyer Says - Placing
Themselves in an Ugly
Position-Exiling a
Creditor to
"Hades."

"A newspaper reporter has many times
been asked if he had seen certain threats
sent out by so-called collecting agencies.
Sprague's collecting agencies have been
sending out such to numerous parties in
this and other cities in Iowa and in other
states. In Dcs Moines quite a kick has
been made over it, and the News has
made a determined fight against it.
More than one poor unfortunate has re-
ccived these threatening circulars above
referred to; parties who have found times
hard, and payments hard TO meet, and be-
ignorant Of the law governing such cases
have had to bestir themselves pretty live
~ to provide means to stave Off threaten
ing starvation, oftimes being compelled
TO pawn s~ome'articlc of household furni-
ture in order 10 procure a bite To eat.
Were these people aware of the imposi
ton that is being practiccd upon them it
would no be long before they wCuld take
up arms against such t|yrannical methods.
It is well enough for mel in business to
protect themselves from parties who they
think are not deserving of credit, and re-
fuse them if they know them to be bad
pay. 1t is right and proper, if they think
their business will be benefited thereby.
to organize for mutual protection and
benefit, but when concerns are organized
for conspiracy and blackmail, il is differ
ent. The circulars sent out by this agency
rs well as similar ones sent out by certain
parties in this state, who are doing
business on the same plan and principle,
copies of which we reprint, are of such n
nature that anyone receiving the same
can make the sender hop"
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14
SOME DAYS OF DAYS.

Some day, some Gay Of days, threading tho
street
With Idle, needless pace,
Unlocking for such grace,
] shall hrhold your facet
Some day, come day Of days, thzr we may
meet.
Perchance the sun may shine from skies OF
May,
Or Winters Icy chill
Touch Whitley vale and hill.
What matter! ] shall thrill
Through every vein with summer on tbaa
day.
Once more hfc's perfect youth will all como
back,
And Tor a moment there
shall stand frcAl ana fair,
And drop the garment care:
Once mere my perfect youth shall nothtng
lack.
/ shut my eyes now, thinking bow y viii be,
How face 20 face, each soul
VII slip its long control,
Forget the dismal Cole
OF drcary fate's dark, separating sea,
And glance to glance, ard hand to hand tn
greeting,
The past, with all Ia scare,
The silence and its tears,
It's lonely, yearning pears,
Shall vanish in the mnneat If that meeting.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14
THE IOWA CIRCULAR.
Mr..

DEAR SIR-Not wanting to put you to ex-
expense or inconvenience by placing your
account, amounting to s., In the HANDS
of the above agency, we send You this notice
in order to give you an opportunity TO adjust
it with III.
Should you fail to attend to this within -
DAYS from date hereof, we shall feel instruc-
lions to COLLECT 1T In their system.
*The Agency is established to afford Pro
TECTIoN IN GIVING CREDIT, and Is a safe
guard from those who contract debts and can,
but will not, pay.
Our members furnish the Agency a list Of
parties who owe them and fail To pay or make
settlements; each member o. the Agency
agreeing To refuse credit To any one whose
names appear in such reports until settlement
Of claim against them has been made and
noted by this Agency.
Trusting to hear from You within the time
specified, We remain,
Yours respectfully,
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

chalices, and the dark apparel of II
mornining will seem 10 whitcn into the
spotless raiment of the skies. God grant
that through the rich mercy of our Lord
Jesus Ceri.t We may all get there.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

n. \. Sun: Our contemporary, The
Times, has q cable dispatch from London
about the scenes of drunkenness there in
this holiday season. They were not con-
fined to Christmas Sunday and the next
day, but promised to last during the
week and until after the general New
Years jamborec. Never before" says
the London correspondent, did | see
half as much drunkenness on the streets
as l have seen this week" At night
there is a fight on every corner, with big
crowds gathered around the combatants
to egg them III.
Contrast this state Of things i'm London
with the sobriety and peacefulness of
New York during our holiday season.
The spectacle Of a drunken man in the
streets last Sunday or Monday was IA very
rare sight indeed. Such a thing as q
drunken mob in the streets could not be
seen in any part of the city. AS for pub
lie fights on the street corners, will
crowds of onlookcrs-why, such a thing
would not have been tolerated for a mo
mcnt anywhere between the waters that
lave the shores of the island of Manhat
tan.
We are surprised that Her Majesty
Queen Nictoria's army and navy were not
called out to aid the constabulary III pre-.
serving the peace in the streets Of the
world chief city.
New York is a nice, quiet, orderly
town, otter all that is said against it.
- -
Isaac, James and Gus Douglass recently
shot two moose near Pennington, Maine. One
Of them was the largest ever killed in thai
region. He stood seven feet high, and was
thirteen feet six inches from nose To end OF
hind feet, and had a name six inches long
His %antlers spread four feet and had eleven
prongs, indicating that he was fourteen years
old.
A party Of explorers on the Harvey lakes,
In Oregon, discovered an island three miles
. length that is apparently the home and
breeding place Of all the various water fowl.
The island is said to be simply alive with
ducks and geese, and is a very paradise for
sportsmen. Deer were also found on it In
large numbers.
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14


DEAR SIR: You were notified on the -
day # SS- by III Of -
that --- claim amounting to -
dollars was over due, and requesting a speedy
settlement of the same. Your name has been
reported TO us for publication in our next
monthly report for your county, but II you
will call on - and settle, or pay part OF
it, or maxi satisfactory arrangements, and
notify Us 90 that effect, you will save your
credit in you locality.
Please attend to this at once, and don't
fail to drop us a postal card If settlement is
made.
(IIcrc II printed a repetition same as circu-
lar No. | finishing up as below
N. b. All correspondence in regard 10 set
Element must be made with the owner Of this
claim. Correspond with Us only after settle
mcut Is made.
Yours Respectfully,
BuRNELL's COLLECTING " R~EroRTisG AG'Y.
Lock Box 6i5, Marshalltown, Iowa.
Circular No. I is the first one sent out
to a delinquent customer. A careful pc
rusal of this circular shows ii to be in di-
rect violation of the United States postal
laws, containing as it does a threat to
publish the debtors name. All the cir
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

Your name has been reported To us for a
claim Of s., owed by you to --- Of
--, who a subscriber to this agency. The
party says the bill il correct and demandsihat
ii be paid at once. We shall expect YOU To
give it your immediate attention. and not
compel us to proceed further.
You certainly do not fail to appreciate the
kindness shown you in the past and also have
too much pride TO allow yourself TO be classcd
rs poor pay'' by the business men Of your
vicinity.
Settle this inside Of ten days and have the
above named party notify us that you have
paid SO as TO stop our proceedings.
Respectfully,
S%PRAGUE's COLLECTING AGENCY.
a list Of names of persons who do not pay
their bills is published for the good and pro-
lection Of the public.
All principal merchants and leading pro-
fessicus are subscribers to the agency, and
every subscriber receives a copy OF the delin-
qucnt list.
Do you a your name shown to the public
In this manner
Save your credit by settling thisa amount in
side Of ten days.
If this account is not correct notify the par
ty who reported your name.
Do not correspond with us, but pay the per
son to whom the bill is due.
THE IOWA CIRCULAR.
Members First Mo-.
Notification. Folio.
Incorporated under the laws Of the state OF
Iowa-Copyright secured.
CLASS A.
Our Motto
to
Collect Debts BCRNELL'S
and
Protect COLLECTING AND REPORTING :
Business Men.
From No. /. AGENCY.
Local Branch---
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

THE merchant usually signs here.)
IOWA CIRCULAR NO. =.
(Same heading as No. ID
Members second notification.
GESERAL OFFICE, MARsnALLTowN, IA.
--------lSS
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14


|ietlt
| 'yn
| itl
Ia 4.
BY
|ily;;
held
|uiiR
mn.
|liite
| par.
| Ad-
} st..
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14
OUR IDEAS OF HEAVEN.

You see my text sets forth the idea
that. however exalted our ideas of
Heaven, they come far short Of the real
ity. Some wise men have been calculat-
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

But not so in heaven. Welcomes in the
air. welcomes at the gates, welcomes at
the house of many mansions-but. no
goodbye. That group is constantly being
augmented. They are going up from our
circles of earth to join it-little voices To
join the anthem-little feet To dance in
the eternal g%lee-little crowns to be cast
down before the feet of Jesus. Our
friends are in two groups-a group this
side Of the river. and a group IN the
other side of the river. Now there goes
one from this to that, and another from
this to that, and soon we shall all be
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

wish we could anticipate that song. l
wish in our closing hymn today we might
catch an echo that slips from the gates.
door opens today to let some soul through
there may come forth the strain of the
iubilant voices until we catch itp Oh,
that as the song dropsdown from heaven,
it might meet half way a song coming
Up from the earth.
They rise for the doxology, all the null
''tlde of the blastl Let us rise with
them; and SO at this hour the joys Of the
church on earth and the joys of the
church in heaven will mingle their
Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-14

ctr.
egu-
|lCi's
-
|tso-
led
| Il.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

Elsewhere in this paper will be
found en- advertisement for the above
company, and also an article relating
to it copied from the Pionesi Press.
The above company has been organic
ed under the laws of Wisconsin, with
a capital 81 100000, End mas fer its
object, buying selling and improving
property in Superior, and to this end
special inducements will be offered to
all parties buying lots of this company
who will put valuable buildings on
them or occupy them for some pur-
pose that will help to build up SUI
perior. Their corporate act gives a
wide range and will enable the com
pany to adapt itself to such circum-
stances as future developments may
bring to light for success.
This is just such company AS We
have long needed here. Land and
town lot spectators pure and simple,
we have had Il long time and in great
abundance, bu: all of these never
looked for or worked for anything but
n rise of 30 per cent on town lots.
Here we haYe an organization which
looks beyond that; which understands
that the surest way to ensure such an
el"a.,"<, e-..i r LII ~ Scl goou
and growing population, and that
among these must come the poor or
laboring man and that he must have
a home, and as he cannot buy and
build on cash basis, some one must
help him, and this is what the COM
pany proposes to do. When the
company gets in full working trim it
will be able to sell laboring man n
lot on time and even go further and
build him Il house and let him pay
for it Oh the Installmcnt plan. Such
a company is public benefactor and
should receive every encouragement.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

The storm of last week was the
worst, in point of loss of life, both
human aud brute, ever put on record
for this country. Wednesday and
Thursday, January 11th. and 18th.
1888, will long be remembered, espec-
tally by the people of the Northwest.
The total loss of life will probably
never be known, but so far 100 deaths
have been reported besides the hun
dretis OF men, women and children
who were badly frozen many of whom
will loose hands or feet or both. The
loss in horses, cattle and sheep are
very great, hundreds having persisted
in those two terrible days. We can
only offer our sympathy to the aftlict-
ed and hope we may never be so Wis
tied again.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
A Pleasant Surprise.

Commander J. d. Robbie, of Post
No. 10, G. A. Il. invited the Post to
hold its last regular meeting at his
home, the Revere House, on lower
Second Street, and the invitation was
accepted, and the meeting held last
saturday evening. The Comrades
we're also invited to bring their wives,
s.ns and daughters, that little pleas
mt visit might be INDUCED in after
business meeting was concluded. 1t
vas fearfully cold and terrible bad
Walking. but with the assistance of
comfortable system Of transportation
pioyided by the thoughtful and gen.
erous Commander, about INVENTIVE of
the brayest (and fairest) were enabled
to stack arms at the front, and enjoy
the comfortable camp fire that await
ed their coming.
Shortly after the business meeting
of the Post was completed, the Com
mander gave the orders fall in"
right dress" front, face" two ranks,
right face, forward, march, and led
by Col. and Mrs Hayes, the company,
to their utter surprise, was marched
nts the dining ON and seated about
i-.'ts table which was perfectly insti-
he'd IN groaung because OF the weight
put upon it. We hear good deal OF
sarcastic comment about Boston cul-
chur," but we never admired it more
than we did that evening, for there is
where Mrs. Robbie got her "culchur,"
as to how To bake beans and make
brown bread, and the woman that can
assault a man with such spread az
she put before US on this occasion
could single handed, capture the best
brigade that ever bore arms The
table was heaped with delicious baked
beans, brown bread, doughnuts, pump
kin and other pies, in fact everything
in the eatable line that heart could
desire, aud coffee, the aroma from
which was nectar for the gods, while
the whole house was premeated with
hearty cheer and GOOD fellowship.
Is it any wonder that every body
was happy, or that the Col. exploded
q button when he tried to play pussy
wants corner" with some pretty girls
or that the Commander elect Tubbs
had to be laid out on a stretcher till
| the ambulance arrived? There were
others i'll equally as bad a fix, among
them your humble servant, but it is
not likely we are going to give our
selves away in detail.
At eleven O'Clock again, the am
| buiance was at the door-for the Com
mander evidently knew the failings of
his command and had provided for
the emergency-and we were loaded
III, and again loaded out, at our re-
spective homes, while the Post and
the guests declared it a grand evening
and voted Mr.. and Mrs Robbie royal
! entertainers.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
Pay your taxes NOW, as
after March 10th a penalty of
- per cent. will be incurred
on all taxoo remaining un-
paid. JN0. KEAOUGH,
Town Treasurer.
1t is reported in railroad circles

1t is reported in railroad circles
in Milwaukee last week, that the Chi
cago, Burlington & Northern had pur-
chased the Chicago, Fairchild & Eau
Claire River railroad, the line owned
by \. c. Foster, and that it was the
plan of the first named corporation to
extend its line from Alma up the
Beef Valley to connect with Mr..
Fosters road, now running from
Osseo, northwest to the Eau Elaire
river. The rumor is not confirmed
but the purchase is entirely probable.
Overtures to that end were made some
time ago, and the Burlington is IN
derstood to desire to establish a means
of communication with the lumber
region of Observation-Disclosures
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

Almost every business man in
town has signed remonstrance ag-
ainst building bridge across the st.
Louis RIVER AZ Connor's Point Why
any one should hesitate to sign it is
more than We can comprehend, as Il
bridge at that point leading from Su-
pcrior to Duluth could only be injur-
ious to every interest of Superior
while it would be Il great factor to as
sist our. bitter and INSCRIPTIONS
rival across the bay. We want all
roads coming to the head of the lake
to make Superior their terminal point,
and to this end they shall have our
assistance and good will, but if they in
sist on making Us no more than a flag
station on their way to Duluth as the
Northern Pacific has been doing for
the past six years, we can see no rca-
son under heaven why the people of
Superior should help to ruin their
harbor facilities just to help said roads
reach Duluth or any other point be-
yond us. As we view the matter a
bridge at the point proposed can only
do Superior an injury, and we are not
here to advocate measures injurious
to our town. We may be wrong in
our views. but until some argument
other than any which has as yet been
advanced is produced, We remain firm
to our convictions.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
Officers Elected.

At a rcgu ar meeting of Alonzo
Palmer Post No. 10, G.. A. Il. held
at the Revere House Saturday even
ing the l4ih. inst, officers for the en-
suing term We're elected as follows:
Commander S. L. Tubbs.
Sen. V, &c. II. Brown.
Jr, V. C.-Step'en Hoffman.
Chaplain-L, 7. Slayton.
O. Of ID. w Head.
Q. NJ. 81. D. Robe.
Surgeon Morse.
O. of G.-ildwin Soper.
Commander elect Tubbs appointed
as his Adjutant Comrade NJ. b. Kim
ball, who, though not then present,
vii! no doubt accept
Comrade II tiorse was taken into
full fellowship at this meeting, ami
the applivalionof Col. II. Hayes re-
ccived
J. Lutte Christie was elected dele
gate TO the Department. Encamp-
ment.
The time set for the next meeting
Of which time. the new officers will he
installed, WAS Saturday The 2Sth inst
at the same place, and full attend
ance IS very much desired
The present membership of this
Post is small, but there are now in the
place enough new corners and of
those who have never Joined from
shere neglect, to make good strong
Post, and they vii! all come in if we
90 to work in earnest, hold regular
meetings and maintain some attract
tive features which will make it q
pleasure do attend the meetings.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
For SuperiOr's Benefit.
A Superior correspondent of the St.
Paul Pioneer Press SAYS:

''The Superior Improvement Company, new
corporation consisting principally OF 81 Paul ana
Eastern capitalists has just completed S20,IJ
purchase of Superior real estate III which Is IN
cluded the property OF Edmund Rice, Jr, oil ST.
Paul The greater F.Irt of the property lying near
the proposed EXIT We plant OF the Minnesota
Railway d Nayig5 pn company but the com
pany is securing property in all parts Of the city
for the greater part of which heavy prices are be
ing paid Henry :. Minot of IT. Paul, General
Manager of the 81. Paul Minneapolis x Manitoba
railway is one of the principal stockholders in
the incorporation He is president and principal
owner OF the Douglas County street Railroad,
constructed last fall and now III operation iii this
city and ]. W. Gates, secretary, and Peter l..
Bradshaw, are the resident lncorpoTdtors ana
shareholders Ii is the scheme of the company 10
establish or encourage the establishment OF new
industries TO offer Inducements 20 new railroads
to build lines to the city. and To euilNen prospects
in general. Some of the improvements contehl-
plated for the ensuing summer are n large hotei.
several capacious elevators, iron and coal docks,
opera house and the establishment of plants by
the Minnesota and Northwestern, the Manllob :,
and the Superior. south Shore d Atlantic rali-
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

The electric light company is
pushing its work along as fast as pos
sible, and in February the old oil
lamps will be thing of the past.
The parties putting up the poles say
they find about two feet Of frost in the
ground. At this rate there can be
but little frost in the ground out in
he woods
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
syrEIp of Figs

Is Natures own true laxative. 1t is
the most easily taken, and the most
effective remedy known to cleanse the
System when Bilious or Costiye; to
dispel Headaches, Colds and Feyers;
to cure Hahitual Constipation, lndi-
gestion, Piles. etc. Manufactured
only by the California Fig Syrup CO.,
San Francisco, Cal. For Sale by l.,
y. Newton.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

L. +. Johnston sold his house
and three lots on the corner of fifth
street and Nettleton avenue, few
days ago to Mr.. \. G.. Descent, late
of Dakota. The consideration was
$500, we believe, which is good evil
dence that real estate is not depre-
cia,ing here, but on the contrary is
advancing.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
GREAT RaRe.

In millinery goods for the next thirty
days. These goods are new and sly
fish, and will be sold regardless Of
cost, come early while the assortment
is good, Sixth St. between Tower
and Ogden Avenues, West Superior
Madame Glasier.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

The remonstrance against build
ing the Connor's Point bridge was
sent on TO Senator Spooner yesterday
morning. 1t was a little more than
twelve feet long and will no doubt
greatly assist in quashing the scheme.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

Mr.. 4. Piefle, of Poplar, was in
town last Wednesday and bought a
new team for lis farm work, and be-
fore he got ont of town with them
they run away with HIM twice, for
tunately escaping injury or doing any
serious damage. 1t Was a nice team,
but not very safe one.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

The clothes line thief is abroad IN
the land once more. He visited Mr.
McLean's yard Thursday night and
succeeded in running a nice blanket in
his efforts to get it from the line
where it was frozen fast. Look out
for your clothes.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21
AGNcrtlsesi List.

The following letters were remain
ING uncalled for at the close of bust
ness Jan. 18th and unless called for
within the next 80 days they will be
sent to the dead letter office.
Mike Mackey, Miss Minnie Miller.
JOHN A. BARDoN. p. NJ.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-21

Richard Cullen of Duluth has
been nominated for mayor by one Of
the political factions of that city If
elected the city limits would haye to
be enlarged to hold him. Some OF
our people know of Richard and his
greatness as q hotel builder