davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
The Business Situation.
From the Batesville Guard.

From the Batesville Guard
We find the following choice bit of
commercial information in Bradstreet s
weekly review of trade:
The moderate trade revival which followed
the last presidential election has been dis
appointing in TINT, aside from the Christmas
demand business has been more unsatisfactory
for month past than at a corresponding period
in many years.
The New York Journal, commenting
on the existing situation, says:
The conditions that have been noted for three
weeks contributing TO a shrinkage in values
and in the volume of business, have become
more acute during the past week. Prices have
dropped from to % per cent since November
Z. The decline in active stocks which are the
best indices, range from to II per cent with
the average nearer 10 than per cent The
decrease in business is not so easily measured.
Had Mr. Bryan won in the late
election, and business been so bad as
this, the Republicans and sound
money Democrats would have
attributed all the trouble to that fact.
But Bryan did not win. The gold
standard won, on positive and distinct
promise of an immediate return of
better times. Its advocates are
estopped from charging the present
trouble to silver agitation and lack of
confidence in the government inten-
tions to maintain gold payments. as
they have been doing for years; for
there is now no silver agitation any
where, and the election settled the fact
that gold payments are to be continued
indefinitely,
Yet, no sooner is the silver agitation
stopped, confidence restored and the
gold standard made permanent, than
trade becomes worse than before aud
the shrinkage of values goes on more
rapidly than ever. Business instead OF
getting better is rapidly getting worse.
Banks are failing and business houses
topping in Mckinley strongholds like
Chicago and Minneapolis. Even the
short era of artificial prosperity, with
which it was supposed the moneyed
interests would celebrate their victory,
has not materialized. Bradstreet,
accepted as authority throughout the
business world, declares business is
more unsatisfactory than during this
month in many years past, and that
includes the Venezuelan panic of last
year and the panics of 1898 and 1894,
when so many banks and business
houses failed. The falsity of the
promises of prosperity held out to the
country by the advocates of Mckinley
and sound money is proved sooner
than we expected. The correctness OF
the position assumed by the bimetallists
is vindicated more promptly than they
had supposed it would be.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
City Lighting.

We republish the following to show
what has been done elsewhere and could
be done in Van Buren, had the city the
power to issue bonds to pay for the
Improvement:
The engineering News of New York,
of Oct s, gives an account of the
electric light plant at Johnson,
Vermont, village of 900 people. The
total outlay for the plant was IS, 800.
The charge for 16-candle power
incandescent light is: For first light,
S.. 90 per year; for extra lights in same
room, So 90 per year; for lights in bed
roems, 81. 90 year. At this price, after
paying all expenses including interest
on bonds for the plant, the village,
which owns the plant, has 60 street
lamps of 80 candle power free, and there
was net profit paid into the local
treasury last year of $43l From these
figures one can arrive at the cost of a
lamp. If the town had the bonds paid
so no interest account would be neces-
sary, and the town paid pro rata for its
lights, the actual cost of furnishing a
l6-candle- power light was less than 80
cents IA year! How does that compare
with prices charged by thieving, lying
corporations2 That is all it is actually
costing the people OF Johnson, Vt. for
their electric lights, because the village
owns the plant, l would advise those
interested in municipal socialism to get
copy of this issue and good work can
be done with i'll. A. Wayland, in
Appeal to Reason.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
Sending Corn to India.
PHILADELPHIA Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
The first cargo of corn shipped to
India will be taken to Bombay ON the
German steamship Remus. The grain,
purchased by the British government
for seeding purposes, consists of 40, 900
bushels, and is intended to be distributed
throughout British India by the govern
ment S representatives when the plant
ing season again arrives.
The corn has been selected in the
West of the best known varieties,
especially that which will flourish in
the peculiar climate of the Indies.
Heretofore India has been an exclu
sively wheat producing country, but
men thoroughly up in agriculture sent
out by the British government decided
after careful study that maize or corn
would also flourish there, so that if one
crop was a failure the other might not
be, thus preventing famine like the
unprecedented one now prevailing. To
introduce corn, or, in fact, anything
new, in India is task which the gov
eminent realizes will be difficult
undertaking In learning how to use
corn meal as food as well as how tG
grow corn, the English will be assisted
by American negroes from the South.
The Remus will proceed to her destin
alton via the Suez Canal, and then
direct through the Red Sea and Arabian
Gulf. She will be at least two months
on the voyage.
! The late rains having failed, the
crops which should be harvested this
winter will produce nothing, so that
nothing can be done until after the
spring rains There are 2S7, 900 00t
people in India, and 10, 900, 900 live by
agriculture. The last famine, which
was in 1877, is different from the
present one, having been entirely local
while the present restitution is general.
The natives blame the introduction Of
railroads as the cause of their suffering
because these roads have promoted the
expectation of grain, thereby prevent
ing IA saving of a surplus. AS soon as
/ the spring rains come the Remus cargo
will be planted. The vessel will receive
shillings per quarter freight.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
The City Council.

Monday night was regular meeting
night of the city council, but owing to
the fact that a quorum was not present
the meeting was adjourned till Tues
day afternoon. When the meeting was
called to order there were present beside
his honor Councilmen Pernot, Williams
and Matlock.
The committee which had been ap-
pointed to procure horse for the hose
cart reported that they had been unable
to buy one for the amount appropriated.
They were discharged from their duties.
The finance committee reported and
warrants amounting to $506. 05, which
had been cancelled during the month,
were burned.
The tramp question was then
thoroughly discussed, and while all
appreciated its gravity they saw that it
would conflict with state law for the
city to try to enforce general ordinance
against tramps as Migrants. In case
they should fight the case the city would
be compelled to prove that they were
not attempting to procure work. 1t
was therefore decided to instruct the
police officers to use their Judgment in
making arrests of that kind.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
Ended His Existence.

Mr.. H l.. Johnson, for six or seven
wears past day Waterman ON the bridge
at this point, made successful attempt
at suicide Thursday evening, the wound
inflicted proving fatal about a 80 A. NJ. ;,
Friday. All the circumstances proceed
ing the act go to prove that it was COM
mitted during a fit of temporary
insanity.
1t is said that on the first of the year
cut of one third was made in his
wages by the bridge company, and
this, together with other trouble with
the company is supposed to have
affected his reason He had been act
ing strange all day preceding the
tragedy and that evening while Mrs.
Wilhauf was calling on Mrs. johnson
she made some jocular remark to him,
which in this unnatural state of mind
drove him into a frenzy of passion and
he addressed himself to her in such a
manner that she became frightened and
left the house. Mrs. johnson there
upon demonstrated with him, telling
him he ought to call her back and
apologize. He answered that If she
would call her back he would do so.
He then stepped into an adjoining room
and moment later fired the shot which
ended his life. The ball entered the
right side of the head back of the ear
and ranged downward into the mouth.
Mr.. johnson leaves wife and child
and number of brothers and sisters in
Logan county. He was a member of
/ the A. o. U. W Lodge of this city
The bereaved family have the
sympathy of the entire community in
| their sudden bereavement.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
How to Get Roads.

The Monroe County Sun has the fol-
lowing timely reflections on the question
of road reform:
The Hope Gazette thinks that if con
victs were employed in working the
roads, the whole question would be
solved. 1t has never occurred to the
Gazette roads expert that labor alone
cannot make a road. The highways Of
Arkansas have been worked ever
since the state was organized, and the
roads are no better now and in some
instances are worse than they were at
the outset. Few intelligent men cling
to the idea that a good road can be
made of dirt. There must be broken
stone or gravel applied. Such road
costs money, and lots of it, but it is
worth every cent of the cost, no matter
how great. 1t takes money to build
roads. and the money must come
through taxation if it comes at all. A
great many people pull their hair at
every mention of taxation, for whatso
ever purpose-some even voting against
the school tax. If these penny wise
and pound foolish economists would but
take the trouble to investigate they
would find that bad roads are costing
much more than would have to be paid
for good roads. 1t is a mistake to say
that the people are opposed to taxing
themselves for building roads, because
| they are not, as was clearly indicated
by the vote given amendment No.
two years ago This amendment
carried nineteen counties, and would
have been adopted in the state had it not
been for an error in certifying it to the
newspapers for publication AS certi-
fed the amendment read, ''for roads,
bridges and other purposes, when it
should have been for roads, bridges
and no other purpose. This was not
corrected until the very eve of the
election, and was the means of defeat
ing the amendment. But admitting
that the certihcation had nothing to dc
with the defeat of the measure, the
vote it received at least indicates that
there is a healthy public sentiment in
| favor of taxation for roads. and that il
exists in those counties farthest removed
from road material, and where road
/ building would be the most expensive.
| We venture to say that if the Legislature
will submit single barreled, clean
cut road tax amendment. setting forth
plainly and unequivocally that the tax
| is to be used on roads, and for no Other
purpose. the people will adopt it by an
overwhelming majority.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
commissioners Sale.

lY authority OF decree in Chancery rendered
ID on the 18th day OF November. 1895, and Of a
supplemental decree rendered on the S0th day
day of November. 1896 by the Circuit Court OF
Crawford County. Arkansas. in a case pending
in said Court between Jesse F. London. as
trustee. and the Union Central Life Insurance
Company. plaintiffs. aud Andrew II. Hnckle-
berry ct al, defendants. the undersigned
Special Commissioner will on
Saturday. January so, 1897,
at the front or Main street entrance to the Court
House in the City OF Van buren,, Ark, within
the hours for judicial sales offer for sale, and
sell e. the highest bidder. al public outery. on q
creditor three months. the following described
lands in Crawford County. Arkansas tO-wit:
The Southeast quarter: East halt Of Southwest
quarter. southwest quarter Of Southwest
quarter East half of Northwest quarter. AID a
strip G., poles wide OIL the East side OF North
west quarter OF Northwest quarter, all in Section
"A. townships 9, North. Range 30 West contain
ing SIS acres, more or less.
The purchaser will b. required TO give mote
brsring 10 per cent interest and approved
security for the purchase money said sale to
b.. made ina default % payment 0t the Judgment
for s. ss121 rendered ~ said DEGREES against
said dcic danis aud OF the interest an I costs
y, 4. sAulEs, Special commissioner
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09

During the recent session of congress
Mr.. Sherman professed himself willing
to vote for beer tax, which would
have put $50, 900, 900 into the treasury.
But when a resolution was offered In
the senate favoring a tax on beer by
some inexperienced senator, who had
innocently supposed that the Ono
statesman would be as good as his word
Mr.. Sherman withdrew himself into
his protective shell and shut himself in.
He did not vote for it then he would
not vote for such proposition now.
The way is open to the Republican
party, with the assistance of the Sound
Money Democrats in congress, to
Immediately relieve the financial tension
and restore business confidence.
They could levy u tax of 81 per barrel
on beer That would bring relief with
out touching the tariff.
They could tax tea and coffee to cover
the treasury deficit.
They could levy Il tax on sugar, which
would make good the deficiency without
any abandonment of the protective
principle.
They could cut down expenditure to
the measure of revenue, drop their
tariff hearings, and busy themselves
with the currency reform to which they
stand pledged.
But they will do none of these things.
They are determined, first and fore
most, to legislate for the promotion of
private interests at an extra session OF
congress assembled avowedly for that
purpose. In the meantime they. will let
the public interests slide.
The country will agree with Senator
Sherman that this delay is little less
than criminal, but when the response
bility is to be placed he will not escape
a full share of it.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
County Hort Society

Crawford County Hort. Society.
Pursuant to call the above society met
in special session last Saturday to dis
cuss the subject of whether or not the
society should incorporate under the
state laws.
Mr.. Decherd of the committee ap-
pointed at the last meeting to investigate
presented a majority report, backed up
by the legal opinion of Col. .. L..
Miles, to the fact that under the present
status the society has no standing III
court and in case of trouble has no
recourse under the law.
Mr. Meyers, also a member of the
committee, presented minority
report, saying that since he had
investigated the matter he had come to
the conclusion that it would not be
advantageous for the society to incor-
porate under the laws of the state; that
heretofore but few losses had occurred
and that these could have been
Strengthened if taken up in time.
The proposition was then discussed
pro and con, number of the members
taking part and giving their views.
Some seemed to fear that If stock
company was formed assessments could
be levied and that stock would drift IN
the control of few parties who would
then dominate the society. All this
was denied by the other side. Finally
Mr.. Scott moved that the majority
report be received and committee of
five be appointed to investigate further
and report at next regular meeting
today Mr.. Meyers moved as substi-
tute that the matter be left as at present
to be considered further at next meet
ing. Mr.. Meyers substitute carried.
Letters were then read by the secre-
tary from different parties in regard to
cotton seed meal. Offers were for
SIC. 80 per ton, carload lots, delivered
at Van Buren, by the Little Rock
compress and s14.00 by the Fort Smith
compress f. o. b.--freight being 75c
per ton to Van Buren,.
Mr.. King. travelling freight agent of
the Mo. Pacific, was present at the
meeting and explained the reason for
delay in settlement of the overcharge
cases.
Annual election of officers today.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
Van Buren, Opera House.

Armer & Logans Pantomimic
Extravaganza Confusion Co. will
appear in our city one night only
Tuesday. January 10.
The above company is one of the
largest shows travelling in the west
carrying 20 people. band and orchestra
and all special scenery. Confusion
is new and up-to date comedy,
especially written for Mr.. AL Armer,
the worlds greatest mimic clown
Twelve speciality people introducing the
very latest songs, dances and musical
acts. including the jerome Bros .
acrobats Jones and Emerson, song and
dance artists; the Armers, in their
up to date act Are You On Walter
Jones. the greatest negro impersonator
and the "Copelands, musical artists
introducing their wonderful musical
act; Me(4oogin and the Kid. and others
Remember the date the big show Of
the season,
Prices 25. 50 and - cents.
Grand street parade al noon.
Tickets on sale at the Palace Drug
Store.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
Mortgage Sale!

NOTICE is hereby given that under and by
~ virtue of Mortgage made and executed OIL
the 18th day of December, 1888. by James G.
Armstrong and wife to and in favor of William
]. Neal to secure certain promissory note Of
even date Herewith, for the sum of One
Hundred and Twenty -four Dollars and Sixty
Five Cents (sl2465), due and payable on the 10Th
day of December, 1889, with interest at the rate
of ten (10) per cent per annum from date until
paid, which said mortgage is on record il
Mortgage Book R. Page AL, Crawford County
Records. will offer for sale at public cutlery
to the highest bidder for cash, at the Court
House door in the town of Van Buren,. in the
county of Crawford and State of Arkansas, on
the 18th day OF January. 1897,
within the hours for judicial sales the following
property, situate in said County and State
to-wit:
SW4 of the SW4. Section 10, Township 8
North, Range 81 West, to pay said note and
accrued interest, with costs of this sale.
Given under my hand this 18th day OF
December, 1896 JAS. K. NEAL,
Assignee of William j Neal
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09

CONGRESSMAN HOWE. of New York.
has introduced bill regulating the
leases of lands for the production of
coal. oil and other mineral products in
the Indian Territory. The bill provides
that, except in cases where the lessee or
lessees of any land for the alleged pur
pose of producing coal, oil or mineral
products have for a period of three years
prior to the date Of the passage of this
bill. produced coal, oil or mineral
products in commercial quantities. and
engaged commercially in marketing
such products said leases are TO be
declared null and void in all respects,
excepting, however, from the pro
visions Of the act. any lease of coal, oil
or mineral rights which have been
acauiled with the consent and approval
of congress. The bin provides further.
that no leases shall hereafter be made
with any Indian tribe for mining
nur2oses. except with the approval an d
coasra! Vi congress.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
slippery John Sherman.

From the fnllhutlpulu hetufus
Tired are we, aud tired are the people
of the United States. of Senator John
Sherman. of Ohio1 he is gentleman
who knows better than he does. He is
mighty in promise, and unfaithfnl in
performance. He declares that lit is
shame and a disgrace that in time OF
profound peace the government had. OH
account of insufficient revenue, to issue
bonds He is, for his own part, will
ing TO increase the revenues. and says
he does not care whether the increase
is in the shape of import duties OF
internal revenue. This is the talk OF
statesman willing TO temporarily
abandon his preferences in regard a.
methods of taxation in order TO extricate
the treasury from its difficulties.
Indeed. he exsggerates the difficulties
of the treasury. which has on hand a
rousing surplus of SIPS, 900. 600. in order
to more profoundly impress the country
with his patriotic willingness 10 do any
thing within mis- power for the public
welfare
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09

IN the case of Mollie E. Gordon ad
ministratrix of the estate of Alex Cor
don VS.. Fordyce q johnson, as receiv
ers of the City Electric Street Railroad
company, of Little Rock, judgment for
the plaintiff in the sum of IS, 600 was
rendered in the second division of the
Pulaski circuit court. In November
1898, DR.. Gordon. of Hackett City, was
attending the Masonic grand lodge in
Little Rock. He was taking a street
car ride and while standing on the rear
platform, getting ready to leave the car
there was collision and he was thrown
violently to the ground, sustaining
severe injuries DR.. Gordon entered
suit for $25 900 damages, and during
the tendency of the suit he died. The
widow continued the case with the re-
suit above recorded.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
Commissioners Sale

pY authority of decree in Chaucery rendered
- on the goth day of November, 1896. by the
Circuit Court of Crawford County, Arkansas in
a case pending in said Court between Jesse E.
London, as trustee, and the Union Central Life
Insurance Company, plaintiffs and Thomas J..
BaSham and Sarah f. Basham defendants the
undersigned Special Commissioner will on
Saturday, January 80, 1897,
at the front or Main street entrance to the Court
House in the city of Van Buren,, Ark. within
the hours for judicial sales. offer for sale, and
sell to the highest bidder, at public cutlery, on a
credit of three months, the following described
lands in Crawford County. Arkansas to-wit:
The Southeast quarter. and the Northwest
quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section B.
and the Northeast quarter of the Northeast
quarter OF Section 10, and all that part of the
Northwest quarter of the Northwest quarter OF
Section IT, lying north and west of Clear Creek
containing 10 acres in all $50 aeres-all in Town
ship IL, North Range 80 West
The purchaser will be required to give note
bearing 10 per cent. interest, and approved
security, for the purchase money Said sale tc
be made in default of payment of the judgment
for g. 4l5 H. rendered in said decree against sale
defendants
W.P sADLER, Special Commissioner.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-09
THREE MONTHS OF CONSTIPATION
CURED.

l have used and sold st. Joseph S
Liver Regulator and find it superior to
any other. l sold it to DR.. Isbell, Red
Apple, Ala, who prescribed it to one
of his patients who had not had move
on his bowels for three months except
by injection. In three days after com
mencing the use of the Regulator his
bowels became regular and are so today.
DR.. Isbell says he would not do without
it in his practice. A. CRUTCHFIELD,
Sand Mountain, Ala.
This famous Liver Medicine may be
found at Kerr Drug Store, ~