Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-06-14

not been for the good work OF the lire
company it would have gone with the
rest.
Walter Fl. Brooks presented claim
to the Woodbury. county board of super
visors for $1,000 damages because of
injury to his health while confined in
the county jail. Brooks was agent of
the Sioux City & Northern, and when
found to be short in his accounts was
sent to Jail, where he remained until
sent to the penitentiary for q short
term. While he was in Jail the grand
jury condemned the Jail as unhealthy,
but the board took no action. Brooks
| was taken sick while there but has fully
fully recovered. He does not expect
any action on the bill, but will sue the
county for the amount and test its liza
, bility under such circumstances.
The most disastrous fire Dubuque
has known for many years broke out
about o'clock on the afternoon of the
9th in the Leisure Lumber Company's
yards, and it was after midnight before
it was extinguished. The fire was
caused by passing engine and was
discovered in lumber pile. In spite
of every effort to control the fire. the
wind drove the flames in every direc
ton, until five blocks were burned
over, including the yards and mill of
the Leisure company, the Knapp,
Stout e Company yard, portion of
the Standard Lumber Company yard
and their stables, the yard and office of
the Erwin Lumber Company, the Miss
issippi Valley Vinegar Works, Du-
buque Buggy Top plant, Dubuque
Paper Mill and several other dwelling
houses. The efforts of the tiremen
were directed to saving the pumping
works of the water company, and in
this they were successful, although a
number of the firemen, including James
Mcbride Captain Daily and Frank Ess-
man were overcome by the heat and
had to be taken home. The amount of
lumber burned is estimated at 60, 600, 900
feet. The Leisure mill was entirely de-
stroyed. The total loss is roughly es-
timated at $500, OOO all insured up to
the so per cent limit and some beyond
that amount.
A bill has been filed in the United
States court at Dubuque in which the
eastern stockholders ask that a re-
receiver be appointed for the American
Investment company of Emmetsburg.
Subsequently John Stewart & Co.. of
Manchester, England, who hold over
81 200, 600 of the defendants obliga-
tions, filed bill of intervention, ask
ing for joint receivership. Judge
Shiras issued an order to the defendant
to show cause why the receivership
should not be granted. This order is
returnable June 10. Complainant
bill charges the American Investment
company with insolvency or it's officers
| with mismanagement. A. l.. Ormsby
of Emmetsburg is president and w. l..
Tillford, of Emmetsburg, secretary.
The authorized capital is 81 900, 900, of
which 100000 is paid up. The com
| pany has loaned between $1,000, 900
and So, 000, 900 on farms in South Dakota,
western Kansas and Nebraska, Wyom-
ing, Colorado, Washington. Oregon and
Texas. 1t has outstanding about
| 100000 of guaranteed loans and
| So, 600 600 of debenture bonds, and of
of these 5000, 900 of mortgages 40 per
| cent have been defaulted and defend
ant company is unable to make it's
guarantee good. Many tracts of land
upon which the company hold first
mortgages have been allowed to go to
sale and for taxes in 1892 without the
knowledge of the eastern investors. 1t
money collected by the company for
eastern investors in it's loan
and bonds have been spent by
the corporation without these in
vestors' knowledge or consent. July
/ next 800, 900 will be due on these sig
natures in principal and $780, in
interest, and the company will be I'M
able to make the payments Two hun
dred thousand dollars of debenture
bonds issued by the company were
based on second mortgages and stocks
in defunct institutions. The company
holds 400 mortgages, representing
| $500, 900 on land in Holt county, Neb.
so poor that purchasers could not be
found even at tax sale. and it reverted
to the county for unpaid taxes. Men
who took up homesteads on this worth,
less soil, and by collision with the
companys local agents, who reported
false appraisements to the home office
secured leans of $500 to 81 900, ther
| abandoned the farms as their only pur
pose in taking up the claims was to
secure the loans.
A catastrophe occurred at Webster
City which filed the entire community
with thrill of horror. William Foral
harnessmaker who was placed in the
city calaboose for being drunk and dis
orderly, set fire to the building at al
early morning hour, and was burned
to crisp before the door could b,
broken open and the unfortune maj
taken out. Foral had been a slave t.
drink and had taken the Kelley cur,
twice, but the treatment failed to b,