The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 21, 1903
Fort Dodge city water has been pronounced pure. No longer need the anxious housewife bend over the steaming teakettle in which the family beverage is simmering in order that the last wandering microbe may be exterminated. No longer may the business man, busy at his office down town, and far from the disinfecting teakettle, rush hastily out to get a drink of Colfax water or something stronger, that he may incur no danger of catching the dread thyphoid (sic).
City Physician Churchill announced this morning that after repeated tests, he has failed to find signs of impurity in the city water, and that it is once more fit to drink.
The happy outcome of the bad water scare indicates that truth of the supposition that the cause of the impurities which manifested themselves was the holding of surface drainage beneath the ice. Now that the ice has gone out, the trouble seems to have righted itself.
Just as soon as the water is low enough, the sand in the filters will be renewed, and all will be well again.
The news that the water is pure again will be gladly received all over the city, as the condition of Fort Dodge’s favorite beverage has aroused considerable anxxiety (sic) for the past few weeks.
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The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 20, 1907
Rockwell City, March 20 – (Special to The Messenger) – When County attorney F.F. Hunter secured the conviction of Martin Johnson in the district court today, and Judge Powers imposed a fine of $500 ($11,547 today) and costs, they sounded a note of warning to the violators of the liquor laws, and won the admiration of all law abiding people of Calhoun County.
It was alleged that Johnson had been running a joint in the town of Jolley for some time and had been selling intoxicants freely and without fear or favor until he had become a menace to society in that locality. Fights and street brawls were a common occurrence, and it was charged that Johnson was responsible for the lawlessness that prevailed. The city marshal was unable to cope with the element that caused the disturbances, consequently things around Johnson’s place of “business” ran with a high hand. The better class of Jolley’s citizens became disgusted and the matter was brought to the attention of the grand jury which was in session here last week. An indictment was returned against Johnson, which he ignored. It is alleged that he continued in his nefarious business until court convened yesterday, when he was arraigned to answer to the charges that had been preferred against against (sic) him. He was found guilty of running a “joint” contrary to law, and when the jury returned a verdict Judge Powers immediately imposed a fine of $500 and costs, or an equivalent jail sentence. It was suggested to the Judge that he reduce the fine to $300 and Johnson would pay it rather than spend the summer in jail, but his Honor refused to entertain such a proposition and said: “No sir. I will not reduce it one cent. If I do anything I will increase it. These “bootleggers” are a menace to a community and their business must stop.”
With these burning words the accused was permitted to retire from the court room to decide what course he would pursue. With a long jail sentence staring him in the face he decided to pay his fine, which he did. It is said that he stated before leaving for his home that he is done selling liquor contrary to law and hereafter expect (sic) to live a respectable life.
It is understood that there are still a few more places in the county on which the “search-light” will be turned when the grand jury meets again and the county attorney has given assurances that any and all violators of the law will be prosecuted with all the vigor and energy that he commands.
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 19, 1904
There are quite a number of fruits and vegetables of spring in the market this week to tempt the pocketbook for the Sunday dinner.
Strawberries are quite plentiful this week and are of a good quality, selling at 30 cents per quart ($7.18 in today’s money – per quart). The egg plant has also made its appearance a close follower of grape-fruit, cauliflower, tomatoes, aetc. (sic)
Some fresh ground horseradish, just out of the frozen ground is also on hand, a welcome and strong reminder that spring is here.
Eggs and butter are still about the same price, the former bringing 15 cents per dozen ($3.59) and the latter twenty cents per pound ($4.79).
Fruits are about the same as last week. Oranges, bananas and apples are on the market and some fine specimens of all three varieties are exhibited at the stores about town.
The new potato is daily expected from the south, along with new cabbages and other vegetables which are the usual arrivals of this time of year.
In meats, there are all kinds of fresh fish and plenty of fine fowls of all kinds on the market. Some particularly fine ducks appear at the various meat markets of the city this week.
The oyster is getting in his last work of the season, selling for forty cents per quart ($9.58).
After the plain fare of the winter season, the fresh crisp things of spring are going like hot cakes before the onslaught of the afternoon marketers, but the supply is good, and Fort Dodge will have an opportunity to die (sic – should be dine) high SSunday (sic).
(Editor’s note: I am not familiar with the price of oysters today, but the other prices kind of shock me. The equivalent of $7.18 per quart for strawberries, $3.59 for eggs and $4.79 for butter seems high. Especially the strawberries.)
Tags: 1904
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 19, 1904
Thomas Hughes was arrested by Deputy United States Marshal G.F. Gustafson at Forest City Friday, and brought to Fort Dodge the same night. He was taken to Clarion today where he was given a hearing before Commissioner Rogers on the charge of selling intoxicating liquors in violation of the revenue law. He was bound over to the federal grand jury under $200 bonds ($4,790 today). As he was unable to furnish bonds Hughes will be taken to Sioux City tomorrow.
The prisoner is charged with selling liquor in Forest City, where he makes his home. He is an unmarried man, his parents being respectable farmers living near Forest City.
While there was no feature of interest in Hughes’ arrest, the federal officers not infrequently meet with unusual situations. Some time ago Deputy Marshal Gustafson arrested a man on the charge of selling intoxicating liquors. His prisoner emphatically denied the charge.
“I will tell you just how it was,” he said. “We often played cards and usually had whiskey in the house. This day I was going down town to meet some friends to play, and put a bottle of whisky (sic) in my pocket. I didn’t sell the whisky, although I met a friend and when I got down to the depot the whisky was gone and I found a dollar in my pocket.”
He was held to the grand jury.
Well, here it is, that rare thing on this blog: a personal note from the editor.
I originally planned to scan a couple of pages I had printed out from old ads in The Messenger. However, I don’t have my printer/scanner hooked up right now and I spent a good chunk of the day looking for free eBooks on Amazon.com.
So I owe you a valid post for today.
I’ll get to it.
In the meantime, here’s an excerpt from Barkham Burroughs’ Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information (1889):
(Page 71)
Pour upon the pods a quantity of scalding water, and the beans will slip very easily from the pod. By pouring scalding water on apples the skin may be easily slipped off, and much labor saved.
Apply Poland starch, by rubbing it on thick with a cloth. Place it in the sun. When dry, rub it if necessary. The soiled part will be clean as new.
I started this history blog on March 1, 2011. In honor of the first year I’m holding a giveaway.
The prize is a copy of “Fort Dodge: 1850 to 1970 (Images of America)” by Roger Natte.
Fort Dodge: 1850 to 1970 (Images of America) by Roger Natte
The book description from Amazon.com says:
Fort Dodge was founded in 1850 as a military post to police the Iowa frontier. A subsequent land boom created fortunes that were reinvested in the local economy. The town soon earned the nickname Mineral City because of the extensive deposits of coal, gypsum, limestone, and clay. By 1900, the city was a rail center and the world’s largest producer of gypsum products. With a highly diversified economy, the city prospered and by World War I was able to claim to have more skyscrapers per capita than any other city in the Midwest and beautiful public buildings designed by some of the nation’s leading architects. Between 1900 and 1925, Fort Dodge enjoyed the role as an important political center and the home of two U.S. senators, the director of the U.S. Mint, the solicitor of the Department of the Treasury, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, and the first presidential press secretary and speechwriter. Sons and daughters of the community went on to establish national reputations in art, music, literature, science, and journalism. Images used in this volume come primarily from the archives of the Webster County Historical Society and were chosen to represent the changing character of the community from 1850 to 1970.
Roger Natte is a retired history professor and local historian. I haven’t spoken to him about the giveaway, but there’s a good chance that I can get him to autograph the book for the winner.
The prize is being provided by me personally, and I will cover the cost of mailing it to the winner. For this reason, I am restricting it to residents of the United States.
Tags: giveaway
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 17, 1904
J.W. Beck, who has been bell (sic) clerk in the Minneapolis & St. Louis freight office in Fort Dodge for the past eighteen months, has been given a promotion. He has been offered and has accepted the agency of the Winthrop, Minn., office for the same road. This office is an important one, as it is the junction point of the Estherville, Watertown, South Dakota lines. His promotion is significant of the approval of the officials, as very few ever become agents who are not operators. Mr. Beck is not an operator, but as there is both a day and night operator at Winthrop, it is not necessary that the agent be an operator. However, it shows that his ability is depreciated.
Mr. Beck was a Fort Dodge boy, having graduated at the Fort Dodge high school. Later he moved from here and studied to be an operator, but did not continue that work. He enlisted in a South Dakota regiment at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war and served until his regiment was mustered out.
Later he accepted a position in the Minneapolis & St. Louis offices at the Minneapolis Transfer, and was promoted to a position in the general offices. Later he was transferred here as bill clerk. He will leave to take up his new duties as soon as his successor arrives.
Mr. Beck is well known in Fort Dodge, having practically lived here all his life. His many friends here will be glad to hear of his promotion.
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 16, 1906
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Symptoms If your wife is growing restless, if she tentatively tugs You had better plan for boarding somewhere else a day or two, You will eat upon the ice box, you will sleep upon the stove, -W.D. Nesbitt |
The above verse seems singularly appropriate to the season which will soon be fairly launched upon the populace. House cleaning time with all its sorrows, labors and exasperations will soon descend upon the public, to the public (sic), to the unutterable disgust and uncomfort (sic) of the long suffering family man, and the hard working housewife. Only the laboring woman and the professional carpet beater will rejoice and “Everybody will work, but Father,” who will take his meals down town while the household is uptorn; to the profit of the cafe and the restaurant keep keeper (sic).
Tags: 1906
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 15, 1905
It was a topsy-turvy world that mortals stepped out into this morning when they started for town, and as a usual thing the first stop landed the adventurous citizen in an upright position with his head on the walk. The impulse to turn flip flaps (sic) and hand springs was irressistable (sic) as everyone took a try at it with more or less success. It was shocking to see the utter lack of dignity that attended these athletic exhibitions. There was no one too old, too dignified, nor too corpulent to join in the sport. Even the ladies took a hand in the performance and it was nothing to see one of the most charming and modest of the shop girls attempting a succession of cart wheels as she made her way down Central avenue. There were many new ways of lighting, but one most favored seemed to be a graceful drop with the head and heels both in the air and an expression of horror on the face.
It required the entire attention of the femine (sic) portion of the crowd of morning foot passengers to prevent a most immodest display of the latest spring styles in hosiery. The banker on his way to his place of business played leap frog with the common laborer, and the heavy-weight merchant, usually a veritible (sic) ice berg of reserve did team stunts with the ragged man on his way to beat Mrs. Jones’ carpet. The sedate and usually exact Mr. S—– skated spasmodically down the incline, to frantically and enthusiastically embrace the rotund form of the wife of B—-. There was an utter disregard for the proprieties in all the walks of life most terrible to contemplate, and it was all due to the fact that it had rained during the night.
The rain that fell in a fine mist throughout the hours of darkness, melted the snow from the walks in most places, and later the weather turning cold the brick and cement footways were covered with a coating of about the greasiest ice that ever was invented. It was next to impossible to stand up, to say nothing of walking. Rubbers were no protection whatever. The Spanish slide and the Cuban split were in vogue and nothing could prevent the people from attempting them.
It did not take them long to find out that the sidewalks were not intended to walk on, however, and they immediately got out in the street where the temptation to try the flying sommersault (sic) was not so alluring. Here they fell into the line of procession along with the hacks and dray teams that were plying up and down the avenue.
The merchants and property owners along Central avenue got out at about eight o’clock, however, and began the good work of scattering sand and sawdust on the walks, Their example was followed a little later by some of the good Christians out in the residence portion of Fort Dodge, and this did much to encourage progress.
Tags: 1905
