davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
HIGH COST IF
ROAD iyl)Rk
Some Facts by the County .Digh-
way Commissioner

During the very trying period OF
tax-paying time there has been a
great deal OF discussion about the
waste Of the peoples money through
acknowledgement and as TO how those
taxes should have been expended by
the officers having charge of the
several funds created by taxation.
A great deal OF criticism, has been
directed at the State Aid Highway
work, mainly the high cost OF con
/ struction.
Now then, let Us take up some OF
the causes of the high cost of con
struction: First, l wish to explain
my own position; Last spring when
the road building season opened up,
had subject to my order nearly
$50. 900 to spend for roads and
bridges, the people had done their
part, in the several towns, the coun~
" board had done their part, and
now it was up to me TO construct
iroads and bridges and make th S
money so as far as possible in 10
different towns.
AS nearly every one knows, al
these jobs had to be done accord
ling to surveys approved by the state
highway commission. A blue print
is made fer each job, and the fore
man is required to work according
to that blue print, so that a uni
form standard of road work Will be
ACCOMPLISHED all over the state.
But here | was, with all this money
and not a foreman that could even go
out and stake out one OF the jobs
could not even put my hands on
a man who could start one of our
gasoline rollers, nor did | have a
man that could adjust or take care
of a crusher. Coupled with the
above conditions of affairs, men OF
all kinds were scarce. Now then, as
YOU know my position to start with,
70 be fair, do you wonder that the
work done in some localities was
not pushed as vigorously as it should
have been?
Other causes of high cost was the
scarcity of men and good wagse to
those who could be secured, but
when men are scarce, they know 1T,
and don't care to deliver very much
work for the money.
The standard of the grades is
thought by many as running into
extremes, but Mr.. Taxpayer, l appeal
to you. don't holler because the road
lis too good, remember you are build-
ing the foundation for the future
generations, and again l say, Build
this foundation right so that you are
satisfied that we have a permanent
foundation for the surfacing with
crushed stone, gravel or concrete,
whenever we want to put sumacing
material on our roads, which in my
opinion should not be done for at
least a year after this new founda-
ton has been built.
The surface of the roads will have
to be taken care of by every gener-
alton because there is nothing you
can put on that will not wear out
But no SO with grading and culYert
work if properly built should never
give out.
Some men have made remarks that
they could have done the work fol
half the money it cost the county
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
PLAN
4 STEP IN ADVANCE
Statement by DR.. E. z. Bradford
a National Authority
IMPROVEMENT The VERDICT
TweIVe Years Trial in Galveston
A Dozen Cities Have Tried 1t
Five Years or More.

Statement by DR., Ernest R. Brad
ford, Washington. D, c., a tional
authority on city government
THE commission form Of govern.
ment, originating in Galveston and
including Des Moines and Houston
Memphis, Birmingham. Portland, Den
yer, Spokane, Oakland, Tacoma, Lynn
New Orleans, Mobile and $50 other
cities, has been tried long enough to
enable us to say that it is a step in
advance in city administration. 1T is
twelve years since the first Texas
city port installed the new plan. A
dozen cities have tested it for five
years or over, two score for only a
twelvemonth less-cities Of varying
sizes, racial makeup, business inter
ests The unanimous verdict is: I'm
provement-in finance, engineering,
public health and safety, city plan
ming. There is no desire to return
to the aldermanic system, that is
losing ground every day. Our cities
are electing more capable commits
sioners, incompetence is becoming
less common in municipal affairs,
graft scarcer.
What 1t Has Accomplished.
"The reason for the success OF the
commission plan lies in the conoen-
tration of both legislative and admin
istrative responsibility in one and
the same body-the small elective
commission, chosen by the voters as
a whole and held accountable to then
by means of publicity checks, refer
endum, recall and other direct con
devices. Each commissioner
is usually head Of department
though generally subject under the
charter to the commission as a
This body, easy to elect. cas-. !
to act after election, since small and /
great power, and simply |
has revolutionized the adj /
Of many OF our cities,
and brought some considerable degre
Of order and honest efficiency out Of
what was a chaos Of failure and
graft
''The commission form did three
look at it in the large It
'eorganized the city governing body,
giving it all the power there was,
municipality speak ng, and distribut ]
ng that power rather evenly among
few men, except that the mayor !
had usually little
more than the others. It reorganiz-
d the electorate, recognizing the city
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
NATURES WARNING.
Grand Rapids People Must Recognize
and Heed 1t.

strand Rapids People Must Recognize
and Heed 1t.
Kidney ills come mysteriously
But nature generally warns you.
Notice the kidney secreuons.
See if the color is unhealthy
If there are settings and sediment
Passages frequent. scanty. painful.
It time to fear serious kidney
trouble.
It's time to use Doan's Kidney PIN
Doan's have done great work in
Grand Rapids.
Mrs. Samuel Parker, S67 18th ST
Grand Rapids, Wis, says: "One ct
my family suffered from very lame
back and soreness and pain through
his loins. His kidneys were weak
and he couldn't control his kidney
secretions. He was restless at night
on account of the aches and pains
through his kidneys. When he saw
Doan's Kidney Pills advertised. he
got a box and they did him a world
OF good. He was relieved of the
Iameness and soreness in his back
and the kidney secretions cleared up.
He has not complained to any extent
since, I gave Doan's Kidney Pills
my endorsement some years ago and.
am glad to recommend them again.
For sale by all dealers. Price So
cents. Foster ilburn Co, Buffalo.
New York, sole agents for the United
States
Remember the name-Doans -and
take no other.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
500 Reward. SIRn

The readers OF this paper VIII b pleased 20
learn that there is at leeast ono dreaded
disease that science has been able 70 cure in
all It's stages, and that is Catarrh. Halls Ca
taffh cure Is the only positive cure now
known 10 the medical fraternity Catarrb
being constitutional disease requires a
constitutional treatment Hairs Catarrh
cure is taken internally, acting directly upon
the blood and mucous surfaces oil the system
thereby destroying the foundation OF the,
alsease, and giving the patient strength by.
building up the constitution ana assisting.
nature IN doing it's work. The prOprietorst
nave so much faith in its curative power
mat they offer One Hundred Dollars for any.
case that it fails TO cure. Send for lss OF
testimonials. I
Address +. }. CHENEY * Co. Toledo, 0.
Sold by Druggists 75c
Take Hairs Family Pills for constipation
Advertisement
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

crowd. All report a fine time.
Miss Beatrice Niles returned to
Rudolph Sunday noon after spending
the week at the Y. J. Richards home
in Grand Rapids
Mrs. Grant Babcock has returned
to her home in Grand Rapids after
two weeks spent at the Charlie Full
Ter home.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
SEALED BIDS WANTED

By the Portage County Drainage
District Commissioners, for the de
livering Of 425 tons of coal from the
railway stations of Coddington, Ban
croft and Kellner. For full partfcu-
lars inquire Of either of the COM
missioners. Bids will be opened at
Bancroft on Monday, Feb IS, 1914,
at 2 O'Clock p. N. The Commission
ers reserve the right to reject any
and all bids.
w. B. CoId;ngton,
D. H. Pratt,
VIM. Gaulke,
ltd 1tw Commissioners.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

as a unit instead Of a conglomeration
Of wards. and it provided direct and
easy control OF the city governing
body by the voters by means OF short
ballot, non-partisan primaries, recall
and referendum. 1t unified the vot-
ing body. it unified the governing
body; it tied the two together and
made easy the Influence OF one upon
the other. Some other things the
commission form did, but these were
the large ones
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

Folks are queer. They light match
es to find gas leaks and neglect to
light the gas when hunting for med
icine hotties.
The Lincoln supper given in the
Methodist church parlors on Tues
day evening was largely attended
and financial success.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

under thS5 day labor system. \ ON
you Mr. Man, who made such re
marks, come out and make some
money this coming year. l have q
lot o. jobs for you, and would be
glad 10 let them by contracts to any
one furnishing bond fol the faithful
performance Of the work. There is
no one more anxious to get this
work done cheap than l am.
And this brings US into the matter
Of contract work, and as We always
contracted our bridge work, and as
our state aid bridge work was done
under the day labor system, you can
very easily get the figures and com
pare you last years contract work,
with our bridges built under the day
labor system, and you viii find at
least 20 per cent to the credit of the
day labor system under my superYi-
sion.
Summarizing, l find according to
record that I have saved over 20 per
cent of the bridge fund, and some of
the taxpayers claim that l have
wasted nearly 90 per cent of the
road fund.
Now the only way l can see how
to adjust this matter is to continue
doing our bridge work under the day
labor system, and contract our state
aid grading work to some of these
fellows who know how.
For myself l have no excuse to
offer for high cost of construction,
as l did all in my power to keep thai
cost down, Bear in mind that the
taxes you pay this winter have moth
ing to do with last summers work,
as these taxes are to be expended
during the season of 1914 and
amounts to $69, $500 for roads and
bridges.
And brother farmers as nearly all
unjust criticism comes from the
country. do you know that the cities
and villages in Wood county did not
get a dollars worth of improvements
out of this state aid highway fund,
but paid towards your state aid high
way work in 1913 % per cent of the
state bridges. SO per cent on state
roads, 40 per cent of the $15, 500
county appropriation, 40 per cent Oh
all machinery and repairs, 40 per
cent of the county highway commits
sioner's salary and expenses.
That is not all but. three farm
members of the county board sue
ceeded against very influential oppo-
sition in securing a farmer to work
among you and superintend this road
work, And all these improvements
as we'll as most of the money it took
to do the work, is left in front of
your doors.
With the above facts before you,
don't you think that you ought to
keep quiet next time you go into
town? You might get the man liv;
ing in the city woke up to the fact
that he is building a, good deal of
your roads.
AS the cost of construction is lowe,
than in some of the countiesunder
similar conditions, and at least a
couple of the jobs will show up with
the best in the state, SO I am hap
by to believe that the farmer in
charge, Louis Amundson, is making
good.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

dumphTeys' Veterinary Remedies. Remember, it is
4Dsoiu9eIy free. You do not have TO order any
.ene1ies TO secure the book. Address, Humphreys,
Homeopathic Medicine Company, 15s William Street,
Few YORK City. This is q splendid opportunity to
obtain veterinary treatise that you should have
your library. AS a reference work you viii find
tlhYaIuaDie TO have tin the time of need VIII be
Worth many dollars whereas It win cost you but
post card by writing for 1t now.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

action Is the great secret
Of treating horses.
Minutes mean dollars.
OF course proper treat
zlea5t s aiwaysn necessary.
That IS just how Hunph-
reys' so page Veterinary
Manual win prove so val
liable TO you. 1t IA bv
F. Humphreys, MD, VS..
and teaches how to dag.
nose end give proper
treatment.
This book will save You
hundreds Of dollars and
costs you nothing. twill
be sent absolutely free
on request to any farmer
In order tn ntroduee
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
BETTER SERVICE
DEMAKD GENERAL
Wisconsin Valley Towns. 20
Counties, and Even Mad
ison Want Chance
ON THE VALLEY DIVISION
Chicago, MiIwa ukee & St. Paul Com.
Pany Has Been Notifies, and
Will Investigate.

The subject of improved PASSENGER
service between Wau au and Chica-
so over the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul road received another i'm
petus when A. C. Schmidt OF tbs
city on his recent trip to the state
capital, put the matter before a
committee representing twenty-n ne
counties in the northern, part of
Wisconsin, and also before the Madi-
son chamber of commerce. The sup
port of both these organizations has
been assured. and will no doubt
lend aid to the fight for improved
accommodations.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
DON'T KNOW THEY
HAVE APPENDICITIS

HAVE APPENDICITIS
Many Grand Rapids people who
have chronic appendicitis, which is
not very painful, have doctored for
years for gas on the stomach, sour
stomach or constipation. Ottos
Pharmacy states if these people will
try A SINGLE DOSE of simple buck
thorn bark, glycerine, etc, as com
pounded in Adler-i-ka, the remedy
which became famous by curing ap-
pendicitis, they viii be surprised at
the INSTANT benefit. %
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
Minutes Mean Dollars
IN TREATING AnIENAI

Doubtless you know the danger Of DELAYED treatment
Of cole and other diseases. You also realize tbat
wrongly applied remedies are often worse than no
treatment at all 10 other words not to diac7lose
a disease accurately may prove fatal. Every owner
should De able TO recognize an aiIneut and give
correct treatment at the first srrnrfcrns E2rc-r,rt
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

that for any Of the preceding years
since the enactment Of the uniform
saw with the exception of 1910 and
1911
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12

The subject of poor passenger SER
vice on the Wisconsin Valley div
sion came up, and the members Of
the committee voiced the sentiment
that the association of northern
counties would heartily cooperate
with Wausau and other cities to
bring about a change for the better
they considering that what would
benefit the Wisconsin valley would
also be of advantage to the north
part of the state in general, The
committee represents twenty-nine
counties in this part of the state,
and their support viii probably be
of material assistance.
A letter was received today at the
office of the Wausau Advancement
association, from the General Pas
senger Agents department of the
Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul
railway company, saying that the
schedule and service complained OF
would receive their attention
Of late another style of engine has
been used ON No train, arriving
here at 700 a. NJ over the Milwau-
kee road, and the service has been
much improved, the train having
been late only few times during
the past several weeks.
y Newspapers in practically all the
valley towns have taken up the mat
ter of better service ON this division,
and with practically half the state
asking for improved accommodations,
1t is hoped that the railroad officials
much needed change
Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-22
Little Bobbie's Pa

am going TO set everything that ask
you for as q gentiewoman.
Yes. sed Pa Pa was beginning 10 look
kind Of wurried. ! guess he thought Ma
was going to ask him for sum inoar
mummy.
In fact, sed Ma. think that the men Of
America were always & stin are the
finest men in the wurld. Thay. are 50
noabel. 30 self sacrificing. Why deerest.
sed Ma. you wuddent REFUSE me any
thing in this wurld II II was within your
power. wind your
Not II It was within my power. Pa
sed, bat am pritty short Jest now. You
know. deerest. that paid my insurance
this month. a we spent quite q lot enter
tanning this month.
know It. you deer honey, sed Ma. YOU
are prince. was going to ask you for
thirty dollars for them two hats was
speaking about, but !. know ware can
get darling hat for -. 80 you see yure
little wife In saving You five dollars. So
Pa gaiv Ma the SIS.
II all the wimmen was az smooth "a
ha thay cud eeven sit the men 10 Let
them yoat 4 let the men stay at hosm.
Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-22
BY WILLIAM F. KIRK.

see in the paiper that them miiIytant
suffragets is cutting up picters q throw.
ing moar stones thru windows, Sod Ma 20
pa last mite. think that 1t must talk a
lot OF outrage to do that
1t takes a lot OF outrage to jump off a
sky scraper, too. sed Pa. wonder II
those ladies' reelize that thAy are doing
moar to hurt the cause OF voatsl for
women than they are doing good. Why
doant thay go about It quiet a sensibei.
like the women OF Ameriky7 Whence
never helped cause. said Pa.
I doant know. sed Ma.
Wei, know. sed Pa. You remember
our deer old friend Carrie Nation? Wen.
she broak ont n few mirrors in sum Kan
sas saloons a threw a Ratchet oust that
hit a German helper q cut thru his skin
Did that do any good Tor the cause OF
temperance7 No. sed Pa Thay are still
making and selling the stuff. At last
sum owner Of place made up his mind
that II Carrie was going TO act like a
ruff-nsck he wud treat her like one, so
he threw her out OF his place. I cant
see how women are going to get any
thing By destroying property.
- Nes~ 49, tt-ND 80 - 1DAnl NuAuA
women ought to be KEEP from the rite 20
vote. II thay had that rite. thare wud-
dent be any militant sufrygets TO make
fools Of themseIfs q hold thare sex up
10 any riddycuie. But as long a. thay
haven't got the ballot everywhere AZ yet,
the only way 10 get It IL TO go about Il
Ike reel women. the way our women
have. Thay have done prftty well SO
far. haven't thay7 & thay dldent pour
any acid in letter boxes. Think OF that.
sed Pa. pouring acid IN a letter box a
destroying a lot OF letters Maybe sum
gent was sending a ten dollar bin 70 a
friend that he borrowed II from three
years beefear. Think what ., traesdy
that wud be.
guess you are rite. dearest, sea Ma.
] know that you have always been good
kina to me without my throwing a
brick AZ you or putting salt IN the sugar
bowl. I have treeted you jes az the
American women are freezing the man.
Thsy want thare rite to voat a thay are
sslSing for It as sentIewomen shud. a
tnay are going 20 get II. too, Jest a.
Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-22

would appear in Germany. Of the capital
part that torpedoes would play in the
present war. II has been thought that a
relatively small fleet provided with a
plentiful supply Of the most deadly type
OF torpedo would be more than a match
for more powerful fleet not thus sec
onded.
So far no opportunity seems to have
occurred for the use OF torpedoes on a
notable scale. but that opportunity may
turn up any day, and in the meanwhile
those who pin their faith on the efficacy
OF torpedoes are strengthened in their
opinion by what was done IN the Russo
Japanese war.
OF one thing there can. apparently, be
no doubt, viz: that a single torpedo which
fairly reaches its mark can strike q. blow
more surely fatal to battleship than the
mightiest shell ever fired from a gun.
The reason OF the terrible efficiency of
the torpedo is that It's blow rs dealt be-
low the belt" that 10 TO say, under wa,
ter, and upon the most vulnerable part
OF the. enemy's body.
The cigar shape OF the steel body or
the torpedo IL Intended to- give It the
property Of q pointed projectiie. to oleave'
its way through resisting medium
which medium In the case OF a torpedo
Is water, for, although Il may begin its
flight An the air, It quickly, turns down.
ward and enters the water. This Is Illus
trated by the torpedo In the photograph.
which has started from an above water
discharging tube. But many torpedo
boats discharge their toTpedoes under
meath the water at the start -
The shape OF the torpedo. Its automatic
Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-22
Opinions in Point

Bishop John H. vincent, Founder Of
chautauqua-W When about 30 years Of axe
accepted for a time the doctrine OF
woman suffrage and publicly defended
It. Years Of wide and careful ohserva-
ton have convinced me that the demand
for woman suffrage IN America Is With
out foundation IN equity. and. IL success
ful. must prove harmful to American
society.
DR.. 8. Weir Mitehsll-The besl Of the
higher evolution Of mind win never be
safely reached until the woman accepts
the irreyocable decree which made her
woman and not man. Sometkang IN he
tween ahs cannot be.
Cardinal Gibbons Head. OF the Roman
Catholic Church IN This country,-If
woman enters politics she vail be- sure
TO carry away on her some OF the mud
and dirt OF political contact
Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-22

guiding apparatus, etc, are 80 arranged
that its course when once launched Is as
straight as that of an srrow TO Its mark
The deadly part OF the torpedo IL It's
nose. where q heavy charge OF explosive,
that viii explode by contact. is carried
The body Is charged with air under a
pressure OF about 1900 pounds TO the
inch, sufficient to drive the torpedo
through tho water at a speed of twenty
eight to thirty miles for distance OF
half mile or more.
The length of the torpedo is about
sixteen feet, and the diameter about
eighteen inches. Tt weighs over half a
ton. and. when fully charged with, air.
contains store of 100000 feet pounds Of
propulslve energy. Tho automatic steer
Ing mechanism Will bring the torpedo
back to its course II anything temporarily
defects II. The biioyancy Is SO calculated
that with the aid Of the special mechan-
ism 1t contains the torpedo can, by. ad-
justments made Just before launching,
be caused to skim ,sIong on the surface
OF the water, or run ut any desired depth
TO about twenty feet. IT can also be so
adjusted that its engines will stop at any
given distance from the starting point,
and then. again. in accordance with the
special adjustment employed, Il will
either rise 60 the surface. where Il can be
recovered and reused, or viii sink to the
bottom. -
To show how perfect an antomaton a
modern torpedo is, II is only necessary to
consider the fact that IL is. ablo to re-
cover It's driving power I'm spite OF the
loss occaaoned by the cooling ofytthe
compressor air under water. This Is ef-
fected by means OF a store OF alcohol
which is isnited at the instant Of launch
ing, and which heats the air. and thus
not only counteracts the cooling. but In
creases the driving power about 80 per
cent.
Another automatic device which gives
to the torpedo when in motion an un-
canny appearance OF conscious seIf-con-
troll is a pendulum apparatus that cor
reefs any tendency TO turn too much up
ward or downward. To say that It like
an arrow IL not correct; It goes rather
like a living fish, guiding itself straight
toward its victim. 3D.
To enable a torpedo to pass through
the steel "crinoiinef' with which battle
ships subjected to torpedo attack are
often surrounded. a Kind OF automatic
scissors" has been invented. which,. at
taohed to the head. cuts way through
the obstruction 30 that the blow may be
struck homo.