The Newtown bee., 1897-08-13
In Li'chGeld County.
 WASHINGTON.
VISITORS FROM THE WEST.

ms accomplished dauSnber, WAo nave Deel spending the ast year sightseeing il Europe, dropped in upon us, last week for an all too brief visit. MT Balch anC the subscriber took MT Greely's advice tt "G } West, young man." over 40 year. ago, and settled in Lyons, Ia. (now con solidated with Clinton, city of % ,OOO in habltants), when nearly all the business was done in \ radius of three or foul blocks on the Mississippi river front and IJust back of that was virgin soil grown up with briers, weeds and hazel brush MT Balch has lived to witness many changes there, in most of which he has been an active factor. He was the first to introduce the telephone into Iowa, con- meeting his two stores in Lyons and Clin- ton. Not long after two little children playing around the store-saw people come in and go to the telephone and call up somebody in the next town and con- verse with them. At night when they were put to bed they were told to kneel down and say their prayers as usual, but there was hestancy on the part of the older one. When urged to commence and say "Now lay me-" he spoke up and says, "That ain'r right; you want to say Hello, Godv Y first" He seemed to have better conception of gaining the ear of Jehovah than some older sones. Though starting it almost as plaything 1t soon grew in his energetic hands to a system of over 200 exchanges, covering parts of two counties in Iowa and Indiana and in few years he, with his partner, J. C.. Root, sold out their interest for $50, ,OOO Mir Root afterward became founder and manager of the two beneficiary life in- surance companies, "The Modern Wood men of America" and "Woodmen of the World" two of the most thriving con- panies of the West. He Is still at the head of the latter, and some lodges of the order have been established in Bridgeport and New Haven and perhaps elsewhere in Connecticut. MT Balch's latest enter prise was in being largely instrumental in building wagon bridge across the Mississippi river from Lyons to Fulton, III nearly half mile long and 60 or 70 feet above low water mark, so that steam. boats pass under it freely. When first covered with loose 1S-foot plank, he, with some other daring officials of the bridge were driven across by it's president, Iva Stockwell, an old lumberman lately de- ceased, with span of high spirited young horses, with no side rail or other protection, and only loose plank under them, having to stop occasionally to re- move debris In their way. It was hair raising enterprise and looked to the by- saunders lining the banks like riding over on ribbon. They were royalty received on the other shore and returned without accident, with the satisfaction of having been the first to cross che wagon bridge with a wagon, while others were intend ing to steal march on them II A. s. B. HIGHWAYS BADLY TORN UP BY THE
 STORMS
 Not in recent years have the highways of Washington, particularly in the west ern portion, been so badly washed as has been the case, this season. To put the roads in as good condition as they were in spring would cost $50OO says Select, man Bradley. He estimates the cost of putting them In passable condition will amount to $l5OO. On the Saw Mill hill road below the green three bridges were torn out and the road bed gullied out at great depth. Near the house of Aspin- wall Brothers the road was made impass- able for some distance. Near Henry Nettleton's there was bad washout and many loads of stone were washed on to the meadows of Daniel Nettleton. Be- low Edwin Hollister's there was bad washout. In the Blackville district two bridges will have to be rebuilt and above Horace Warmers the road was torn all to pieces. Toward the Morris line there was serious damage. MT Bradley has been called on from all sides. Henry Frisbie's road was impossible for some days. The town teams and men are hard at work on the worst washouts.
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH NOTES.
 At the Congregational church Dr Ray mond spoke from the first verse ol Genesis, "In the beginning was God. The old idea was that God existed alone with nothing besides Himself, and out o1 nothing erected every thing. "The beginning" means the finite origin, evo lution of this universe in which we exist God is not only first cause, but in every cause. The segment of Design proved God maker outside of all things, who to use Dr Bushnell's words, Had noth ing to do but keep going the everlasting trundle of the machine and interfere b. miracle to keep things right.n God 1