davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
STRATFORD SUF-
FERS ANOTHER FIRE
Four Store Buildings are Destroyed
Blaze Occurred Early
Sunday Morning.

Our neighboring town of StratforG
Experienced another disastrous fire
which destroyed four store buildings
on the east side of the main business
street early Sunday morning. The
blaze was discovered at about 1:45
in the j. L. Parker barber shop and
had gained considerable headway,
The building was also occupied by a
restaurant conducted by George
Breckfelt. All contents and build
ing were practically demolished. The
structure was owned by Lundell &
Johnson and valued at $1,400 and
was insured for $500. Mr.. Parker's
effects in the barber shop were val
ued at $500 and no insurance was
carried. The restaurant proprietor's
loss is estimated at $500 and is par
TALLY covered by insurance.
The adjoining building to the
south was owned by A. B. Linde and
occupied by another barber shop
conducted by G. M. Longhenry, on
the ground floor, and the upstairs
was used as living rooms by j. w.
Parker and family, father of J. l..
Parker whose barber shop was de-
lstroyed. The structure was COM
pletely gutted and it's valuation. plac-
ed by the owner, was $500, which
is complete loss. Mr.. Parker's loss
on household effects is fully covered.
G. M. Longhenry's loss is in water
soaked furnishings and is partially
covered by insurance.
The meat market building, owned
by G. F. Hook, was also completely
razed. The business was conducted by
Lundell & Johnson, whose loss is al
most wholly in damaged goods re.
lsulting from being water soaked. and
is covered by insurance. The build
ling, however, was valued by Mr..
Hook at s3,4O0 and is insured for
$4,000.
Just how the blaze started is not
known. All indications point to its
having originated in the Parker
shop. although Mr.. Parker declares
that very little fire was left in the
stove when he closed his shop at a
late hour Saturday night.
Plans arc already afoot for the re-
building of the meat market and it
lis believed that the other store rooms
will be replaced in the near future.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
By Betsy Ross Granddaughter.

There is on display on the bulletin
board at the Kendall Young Library
"a quilt block which was made by
Betsy Ross granddaughter. The
quaint square of chintz, cut out and
appliqued upon muslin, was given to
Marion Crosley, granddaughter OF
Mrs. G. w. Crosley of this city. by
Betsy Ross descendants. who are
relatives by marriage to that branch
of the Crosley family. Miss Marion
Crosley. who is well known in this
city having visited here since child
hood, is also the proud possessor OF
Ia mahogany dresser once used by
Betsy Ross. The piece of furniture
was presented to Miss Crosley by
Mrs. Ross great granddaughter.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
FREIGHT / CAR SHORT
AGE IS SERIOUS
Webster City Shippers and Manu-.
facturers are Feeling the
Effect Most Keenly.

The car shortage throughout the
country, and especially in the mid
die west, is getting more serious ev-
cry day and shippers and manufact-
urers of Webster City are feeling the
effects. There has been shortage
of cars for some time. Perhaps the
industry that suffers most here in
Webster City is the National Sewer
Pipe Company. They have hundreds
of orders booked and have the goods
on hand, but cannot get shipping
accommodations. One of the chief
reasons for this shortage, as pointed
out by rail heads, is that for the year
or two Just past shippers of exports
have loaded their goods in cars Of
their home roads and sent them to
the Atlantic coast. OF necessity
these cars must be diverted to other
lines in order to reach their destina-
ton. Since the submarine warfare
situation has been so acute the sup
ply Of ships available for the trans
portation Of these goods across the
water has been entirely inadequate.
Consequently these loaded cars from
western points have been standing
in the eastern terminals for months
waiting to be unloaded and the num-
Der Of cars increases daily. The east
ern, roads can not spare their own
cars for use by western roads to re-
lieve the situation and the result is
that shippers are finding great diff
ficulty In obtaining cars, even for
local shipments.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
PETR|F|ED FOOT. OF
GIANT f0UN0 N Mine
The Dayton Property at Lehigh Sur
render. Mystery to Dumbfound.
ed Scientists.

Webster county is prolific in the
discovery OF various sorts of things
that astonish and astound the ma.
tivcs. 1t will be recalled that from
the sturdy hills of Webster was
carved the Cardiff giant" that
created such sensation all over the
country some forty years ago. Men
of science, when the giant was dug
up later in New York, where it had
been taken and buried. were sure i!
was the real thing and insisted that
the giant was from a race that lived
perhaps a million years ago and
whose stature was immense. The
giant was about twelve feet tall and
well proportioned.
Some years later great snake
was captured down along the Des
MOines river in the vicinity Of Le-
high. The reptile was as big as a
barrel around the body and varied
from thirty to one hundred feet in
length, according to the Judgment
of excited witnesses who had seen
the monster. His snakeship was sold
to some fakir who travelled over the
state exhibiting the reptile and the
populace again vindicated the wis
dom of Barnum when he declared
that the people like to be humbug-
ged. After while the snake story
failed to attract and 1t was admitted
that the 'varmit' had been import
ed and was nothing more than big
boa constructor. Now Webster county
is out with new sensation and the
Fort Dodge Chronicle tells of 1t as
follows:
A specimen of mans foot found
recently in a Lehigh mine will un-
doubtedly put that city on the map.
Scientists are already puzzling ov-
er the new find in the Frank Dayton
mine of Lehigh. In times past it has
not been uncommon to find petrified
toads, fish and other small animals
in the coal and the Office of the COM
pany will bear testimony from the
numerous relics which it has on dis
play.
The most recent And was not To-.
Gated in the coal and bears striking
resemblance to a mans foot, and is
firmly believed by those who have
seen it to be no other than the petri-
fed foot of man; probably giant
from the immensity of it. 1t is IF.
teen and a half inches in length from
toe to heel. seventeen inches around
the ankle and weighs somewhere
near thirty-five pounds. 1t is the
real thing and not hoax, as was the
famous Cardiff Giant. Miners are at
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
FARM STRIPPING IS
CAUSING some ALARM
Feared That Food Prices Will b
Forced Higher and That Seed
Will be Scarce.

! Reports that farmers are stripping
their farms Of livestock and seed sup
plies are creating alarm in the big
centers of population and have ar0us-
ed the conviction that something
must be done to protect the future
or the cost of living will go still
higher and many farmers will be
without much of anything to sell.
The heavy burden which excessive
prices have placed on the wage earn
ers, it is believed, will be still heav-
ier unless steps are taken to dis
courage the sale of hogs, grains and
vegetables to the extent of cutting
down the production of the coming
year.
Fear has already been expressed
that there will not be enough pota-
toes for spring planting. In the
south, where the planting season has
been in progress for three weeks.
landowners have found it impossible
to procure seed. When the potato
planting season opens in higher al
titudes it is believed the difficulty OF
securing seed will be greatly increas-
ed.
According to reports farmers are
selling off livestock to take advant-
age of extraordinary prices for beef.
pork, mutton and poultry to an ex-
tent that will work serious cur
tailment. Female animals are be-
ing sold as readily as males.
In the case of cattle. the sale of
COWS and heifers. it is contended,
will not only threaten reproduction,
but cause milk and butter to soar to
levels never dreamed of.
Conservation of root crops for
spring planting and for seed is
strongly urged by agriculturists in
touch with the situation. Prices for
these crops have not been as high in
so years. and included in this classi-
Ification are onions, turnips, rutaba-
gas, carrots and parsnips.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27

work at intervals to locate the body
belonging to the foot, which was
found buried in earth ninety feet
from the surface of the ground.
A coal miner, while blasting one
day neglected to place the usual sup
ports for the roof, which caved in
bringing deluge of earth and with
| it the huge foot of human body, 1t
would be judged from race of peo-
pie who far surpassed the present
one in size and strength. No doubt
the owner of the foot was ten or
twelve feet in height.
BY those we'll versed in the study
of geology, numerous theories have
been advanced, among them the pos
|sibility of the foot belonging to a
human living in the pre-glacier age,
|or of the northland and brought
down with the glacier and deposited
in the glacial drift. At any rate it
is puzzling scientists and at present
those interested in the find are cor
responding with geologists of the
state university of Pennsylvania, who
expect to send man to investigate
and if possible determine it's identity
in the scientific world.
The foot is on display at the Dona-
hoe and Donahoe piano store and is
in the possession of e. Woolway.
Any skeptical minded persons may
see it for themselves and Judge if
they can its likeness to the human
anatomy.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
A Vote Of Thanks.

Whereas; members Of this post at
tended a patriot entertainment given
by the public schools of this city,
Feb. 23d, in the high school build
ing, and were highly entertained and
pleased. Therefore,
Resolved; That we tender the
schools a vote of thanks for the ex-
cellence Of the exhibitions, and the
patriotic spirit manifested.
Headquarters Winfield Scott Post
No. &C, Dept. of Iowa. G. A. R., Web
ster City, Iowa, Feb. "a, 1917.
A. A. Cook, Commander.
j. A. Holman, Adjutant.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
The Census.

Friends of Mr.. and Mrs. c. w. o.
ney, former residents of this city now
residing in Grinnell, today received
announcements of the birth of a
aughter-Dorothy Alice-weight
six pounds. at their home on Feb.
18th. Mr., Olney was formerly limo
type operator on the Herald when f.
%. Satter was manager of that paper.
New cuttings in cut glass at Teed
& Teed's. diff
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
Receives Orders.

Mai. +. J. Lund writes his family
here that the boys of the Second
Regiment received their marching
orders Feb. Goth at Brownsville. and
are to arrive in Des Moines some
time between March 5th and 10th.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
Buys New Equipment.

Fort Dodge, Feb. 26.--In an ef-
fort to relieve the congested freight
conditions which exist in all parts of
the country. the Illinois Central rail-
road today announced that they had
placed orders for new equipment
amounting to $750.OO0 in this df-
vision.
The order includes the purchase
of rs new engines, So of the mikado
type. 20 switch engines and 30 of the
pacific type. The average cost of
each, it was said, would be $4,000.
The San Tox medicines, only at
Teed's. d.f-tf
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
NOT TO BUILD SCHOOL
HOUSE THIS Year
Board OF Directors Practically Unan-
imous in Favor Of Waiting for
at Least a Year.

To offset the repeated statement
that the school board intend to take
the reins in their hands and ride
roughshod over the situation If the
$15O,O0O bonds are voted in the COM
ing school election for new school
building, signed statements from
each member of the school board.
with the exception Of Mrs. S. w. Nc
Adow, have been obtained, contain
ling the positive assertion that
should prices of labor and building
materials remain high, actual build
ing will be postponed.
It was impossible to see Mrs. Nc
Adow. but 1t is not even presumable
that she would attempt to carry out
plans for building over the heads Of
the other members of the board,
should she be ever so inclined.
After reading the other statements
of members of the board. Mr.. Lane
remarked. "Why can't just sign my
name to the statement made here by
Warren Pyle?" and he did so.
The statements follow:
at is not my intention to even
building before 1918,
and if prices remain high to hold of
building until they drop"
S. S. Parkhurst.
"You may state definitely that we
do not intend to build this summer.
|If prices remain high. unless condi-
|tions warrant it, we will not build in
1918"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
Card of Thanks.

We wish to express our sincere ap.
probation Of the kindness of friends
and neighbors, who SO generously of.
fered sympathy and assistance dur.
ing the illness and death of our
father, ana also for the floral trib.
utes.
diff Oscar Olsen and brothers.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27

The First National Bank is any
day expecting shipment of 81 bills.
crisp and brand new, but in reality
made over from a lot of old $40
greenbacks and larger denominations
of legal tender. From this "bread
pudding mixture boiled up and roll
ed out, as made over paper is always
comes the new 81 bills OF
this shipment. There is and has been
a shortage of 81 and 50 silver certif-
icates and this making over Of old
greenbacks is the outcome of the sit
llation.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
THE VICTOR store
HAS CHANGED HANDS
H. H. Roemer Sells Five and Ten
Cent Business to A. G.
Schroeder Of Palmer.

The Victor store changed hands
this morning, H. H. Roemer, the
owner, selling his business to A. G.
Schroeder, a real estate agent in
Palmer, la. Mr.. Schroeder and L.. A..
White of Manson are here attending
to the business of invoicing, etc. In
talking of the matter the new owner
says he hasn't fully decided what
the outcome will be regarding his
stock, but Miss Elsie Wiegit of Pal
mer, who is experienced in the work
of a general store, will have full
charge of the business for the pre-
sent. The Misses Orpha Berggren
and Ruth Mertz, salesladies in the
Victor store, will remain with the
new firm.
The Roemer family will remain in
this city until the close Of school.
but their plans for the future are
indefinite.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27
J. L.. Peterson,
President of the School Boar,

President of the School Board.
There is no possibility of our ev-
en- beginning a new building before
the spring of 1918 and If building
material stays up next year. I doubt
if we would do 1t then. We are not
going to be robbed.
w. C. Pyle.
Geo. S. Lane.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-02-27

The latest toilet goods at Teed 6
Teed's. diff
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
ICE CREAM PROFITS.
Whole Milk is Next, Cream Third,
Cheese Fourth, and Butter Fifth,
Say Figures.

Clemson College, March q
From the viewpoint Of largest re-
1utns. ice cream is the most prof.
table form in which to market milk,
with whole milk second. cream
thlrd, cheese fourth, and butter
fifth. At the same time, Individual
conditions are frequently such as
to make it most profitable for a
dairy farmer to dispose Of his pro-
duct in the form of cream or Of
whole milk. In fact, in South Car
olina it may be said that the latter
condition is almost generally true.
For example, a dairy farmer on
the outskirts Of q city will in most
cases find it most profitable to sell
the bulk of his product as whole
milk. A farmer on one Of the cream
routes of cooperative creamery
will generally find the sale Of his
butterfat in the form of cream to
the best. Nevertheless. figures COM
piled at Clemson College TOR the
sake OF those who make inquiries
On this subject show that where a
man is equipped to manufacture and
sell ice cream the returns from his
milk are largest.
Calculations are based on the fol-
lowing average prices: whole milk,
8 cents quart; 20 per cent. cream,
80 cents a gallon; butter, 80 cents
a pound; cheese, 20 cents a pound;
ice cream. $1.0O a gallon. Manu-
featuring and marketing costs are
Not considered. III,
On the basis Of the prices named,
100 pounds of per cent. milk may
be disposed of in the following
forms for the amounts named be-
low:
1. AS AZ gallons Of ice cream
and Is pounds Of skimmilk, selling
for s4.41.
2. AS 46.5 quarts Of whole milk
selling for $3.72.
3. AS 2.5 gallons of 20 per cent
cream and 80 pounds of skimmilk
selling for $2.49.
4. AS 10.4 pounds of cheese AMI
residue Of whey. selling for s2.2O.
3. AS 4.66 pounds of butter and
s5 pounds of skimmilk and butter.
milk, selling for S1.67.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
"DRYS" LOSE JUDESHIPS.
Tammany Democrats Apparently
Keep Their Threat.

washington, March 2.-Tammany
Democrats from New York today
made good to some extent their prom
ise to "get even" with Southern
"bone dry" prohibition members.
These New York Democrats muster
ed enough votes against the bill re-
tiring federal circuit and district
judges at seventy to encompass the
defeat of the measure, which would
have cleared the way for the ap-
pointment of several Southern con-
gressmen to judgeships.
One Of the dry" leaders who
would have been appointed if the bill
had passed, according to a current
rumor. is Representative E. Yates
Webb, of Charlotte. N. c., chairman
of the house judiciary committee, and
joint author of the Kenyon act.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
no PROVIDE NITRATE SUPPLY.
Senators Would Use Naval Vessels for
Trade. =. H

Washington, March 2.-After a con-
ference tonight with Secretary DAN
iels on the crop shortage in the South
Atlantic States, Senators Smith Of
South Carolina and Shields of Ten
nessee said they would introduce a
resolution authorizing the. president
to utilize naval transports and col
liers not needed for naval duty to
transport nitrate Of soda from Chile
to South Atlantic ports.
The resolution would put the trans
ports at the disposed of nitrate i'm
porters under government supervision
and the ships would bring the nitrates
supplies for farm fertilizer through
the Panama canal.
with the crop shortage, the great
necessity for fertilizer in the South
Atlantic States, with freight at SIS
a ton and the living cost very high"
said Senator Smith tonight, some
thing must be done to rumedy the sit
uation. We believe congress should
authorize the use Of naval vessels in
this crisis to transport the nitrates."
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
U-BOAT MEETS MATCH,

New Orleans. March "A German
submarine was sunk in u Atlantic
ocean some days ago by the British
steamer knight Companion, which
arrived yesterday from England, &c.
cording to a story told by the steam.
er's officers to government officials
here today. The steamer was sew
eral days on her way to New Orleans
according to the story. when she
sighted the submersible.
The urdersea craft fred five shots
which missed the steamer, before the
latter got her defensive gun into ac-
ton. The knight Companions sec
ond shot. at about $500 yards, struck
the submarine which. it was stated,
Immediately sank. Nothing was seen
OF any of her crew.
The exact date and location OF the
light We're not given and the me
night were not given and the mssto-.
Captain John Kendall. declined to dis.
cnss the incident with newspaper men.
The Knight Companion is loading a
cargo o; grain for Europe.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
BIG NAVAL BILL TO WILSON.
FINAL ACTION ON APpROPRIA-
TION TAKEN BY CONGRESS.
Tfliman PatriOticaIly Yields on Sec
ton Providing for Enlargement of
Dry Dock In Charleston.

Washington, March 4.-The naval
appropriation bill was sent to the
president shortly after o'clock this
morning when final congressional ac-
tion was taken, the senate agreeing e
TO the conference report previously
accepted by the house.
The senate then adopted the house
resolution providing for bond issue
of s150,00O.OO0 to expedite construc-
tion of naval vessels. That completed
approval Of the administration nava!
programme.
The separate resolution for a bond
issue of $150,O00,00O 20 provide for
Fastening construction of naval ves-
sells was passed by the house with
out opposition.
Without roll call the house later
agreed to the conference report on
the naval bill itself.
Only senate approval and the pres
ident's signature was needed then TO
complete enactment of the measure
but 1t was uncertain when the SEN
ate would act
Conferees on the $685., 100000 bill
agreed on a report at Z O'Clock last
night. They reduced the extra num-
Der Of submarines to be built onl the
Pacific coast from so to 20. making
the total number of submarines pro
vided for in the bill SO. 20
The senate sconferees yielded also
the provision for enlarging the Char
lesion IS. c. dry dock, Senator Till
man declaring that he would rather
the dock never should be built tha.:,
to imperil passage Of the bill at this
time.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
STOCKHOLDERS SURPRISED.
But Agrccably so at Spartan Mills
Extra Dividend.

Spartanburs, March 2.-Sportan
Mills Company one Of the largest cot
ton mills in SpartanburS, has declar-
ed an extra dividend of 4 per cent.
and this amount has been sent to the
stockholders This was a surprise to
the stockholders. as few of them knew
that the extra dividend had been de-
clarcd. The capital stock of ST.
100000 is held for the most part by
Spartanburg people, but some is i'm
hands Of Eastern capitalists. The
extra dividend probably means that
an entire dividend of IL per cent. will
be paid this year. Walter S. Mont
gomery is president of the company;
e. M. Matthew secretary, and w. j.
BrittOn superintendent.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-07
DENIAL By Won ECKHARDT.
German Minister Processes Complete
Ignorance.

Mexico City, March III. Won Eek
hardt, German minister to Mexico, de-
clared today that he knew nothing
about the instructions alleged to have
been sent to him by Foreign Secretary
Zimmerman regarding a German
Mexican alliance in the event of war
between Germany and the United
States.
Won Eckhardt made this statement
in replying to the question whether
he had followed the instructions al
legged to have been sent to him by
DR.. Zimmermann
You must go to Washington for
your information" the minister said.
IF you must say something, you may
say the German minister knows MOTH
ing about all this"
Tamekichi Ohta, charge d'affaires
for Japan, declared he had not been
approached in any way with a pro-
posal for any alliance with Mexico
or Germany against the United States.
Cara Perez, subsecretary of foreign
affairs, now in charge of the foreign
office, declared he knew nothing of
the proposals mentioned. If the pro-
posal had been presented by Minister
Won Eckhardt, which he personally
doubted, he said, it was presented di-
rect to Minister of Foreign Affairs
Aguilar or Gen. Carranza.
Henry P. Fletcher, the American
ambassador, left hurriendly today
with Foreign Secretary Aguilar for
Guadalajara, where Gen. Carranza
now is. -,
1t seems to be the general opinion
among we'll informed public men here
that the proposal outlined in the Zim-
mermann note probably has not been
definitely presented to Gen. Carranza
by Minister Won Eckhardt, although
this is only a surmise on their part