The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 3, 1903

Big Bridge Now 2-3 Done

1,720 Feet are Now Standing of 2,582 to be Built

Preparing to Cross River

First Piling Was Sunk on Monday – S.C. Stickney Pleased With the Bridge.

Just two-thirds of the new Great Western bridge across the Des Moines river has been completed. The length of the bridge when finished will be 2,582 feet, of which 1,720 feet are now up. All that now remains is to carry the bridge across the river and u p the comparatively short approach to the summit of the bluff standing opposite, and all will be done.

Work was commenced on Monday  at driving the piling, which will bear the false work of the span while the bridge is being carried across the river.

General Manager S.C. Stickney visited the bridge during his recent visit here, and expressed himself as highly pleased with the progress which had been made.

The other bride work, which is being done on the old Mason City & Fort Dodge line north of this city, is progressing satisfactorily. The bridge at Lime creek, north of Mason City, has been completed with the exception of a little riveting. The work has been transferred to the Boone river bridge, which is being moved. Engineer Harvey stated this morning that the iron will be put in on this bridge on Wednesday.

Preparations are being made to begin work on the lower yards in this city.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 14, 1907

Fort Dodger Invents

Ernest Green Has Automatic Equipment to Close Switches

Ernest Green, a former Fort Dodge young man, is the inventor of a railroad device that promises to come into general use on all traffic lines. It is believed that no little fame is in store for its inventor. Regarding a test of the appliance recently made the Buffalo Express has the following:

“Ernest Green’s device for automatically closing an open switch before an oncoming train was recently tested with great success on the Lake Shore at Silver Creek where Mr. Green lives.

“Freight locomotive No. 5830 was used in the tests and was run over the portion of the track equipped at speeds that varied from 25 to 55 miles an hour. Roadmaster Connors and other officials who witness the test say the device worked perfectly and promptly.

“It appears to be a very simple and inexpensive equipment. It makes it possible for a train to take an open switch. A switch left open carelessly or by design closes automatically in front of the train.”

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 12, 1903

Manson Secures Supply of Coal

Ilinois Central Railroad Sets Aside Six Cars Expressly for Town’s Use

In Answer to Petition

Cars are Being Loaded in Central Yards Here. Unique Move on Part of Manson

A somewhat unusual concession has been made by the Illinois Central railroad company to the town of Manson. Six cars are now in the Illinois Central yards, to be loaded with coal to be devoted exclusively to supplying the wants of the people in and around Manson. Two of the cars are already loaded and it is expected that more will soon be in readiness.

This action was taken by the Central, in response to a petition from the town of Manson, asking that they be granted this favor. It is not known that any special coal stringency exists at Manson, but this action was taken by the citizens to ensure a good-sized supply being kept on hand.

“Six cars won’t be much in Manson tho,” said a Fort Dodge coal dealer, in speaking of the situation th is morning. “Manson supplies a territory of many miles in extent and those cars will just evaporate as soon as they get on the Manson side track. The action taken in petitioning the railroad company was certainly rather unusual but it had produced good results, and the contents of those cars will fill a good many empty coal bins. Those cars to be shipped to Manson; and no where else. Those are the instructions of the railroad company.”

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 8, 1903

Hard Work For Railroad Boys

Operating Trains in Heavy Winds is Not Child’s Play

Must Endure Hardships

Storm of Tuesday Night Said by Railroad Men to Be One of the Worst on Record.

The severe weather during the past few days and nights had made the lot of  a railroad man one not to be envied. Trainmen say that Tuesay night’s storm was one or (sic) the severest on record. The wind was terrific and running a train in such a gale is almost as hard as navigating a ship on a storm tossed sea. It costs much more to operate a train in stormy weather, as the tonnage must be greatly reduced. On Tuesday night the tonnage was reduced from 25 to 33 per cent on many trains and even then few trains were able to arrive on time. Telegraph communication is usually bad in such storm weather and this also adds to the railroad man’s woes.

Hurrying along the top of a slippery box car is a dangerous as well as unpleasant job, yet this work must be done by the trainmen, rain or shine. Running an engine when the wind is blowing forty miles and with a blinding snow storm in his face is something that engineers do these days.

The lot of the railroad boys at times such as this is not to be envied, and the men who work uncomplainingly under the most unfavorable conditions to bring their trains in on time, or as nearly so as possible, are entitled to the credit justly due them for their brave ght (sic – should be fight?) against odds.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 6, 1905

Engine Knocks House to Kindling

No. 26 on the C.G.W. Returning from Lehigh Demolishes a House.

Was on the Right of Way

Was a Two Story Structure, 16×24 and Was Being Moved by Wood and Fortney – Engine No. 26 was Slightly Damaged.

Engine No. 26, of the Great Western, when returning from Lehigh last night in charge of Engineer Schoonmaker and Fireman Tennant, ran into a house which was on the right of way, and split it into kindling wood, as well as damaging the engine to such an extent that it will be laid up for repairs for some time.

The accident is decidedly a peculiar one and perhaps anything similar to it has never happened before, and decidedly not in this part of the country. It happened about two miles from Fort Dodge, between here and Carbon, and a firm named Wood and Fortney were moving a good sized, two story house, the house resting on wagon wheels.

They were on the Great Western right of way and not on any public highway when the accident occurred, and had given no notice whatever to the company, that they would be near the track when any train passed.

Just as the Lehigh train appeared, coming back to Fort Dodge, the house movers became aware of their predicament, and knowing that it was too late to get the house out of the way, they unhitched the horses and go thtem and themselves out of danger.

The train came on and was two (sic) near, when the danger was noticed, for Engineer Schoonmaker to stop the engine.

The engine ran full into the house and came out badly crippled on the other side, leaving a shower of kindling wood on both sides of the track. Knowing that nothing could be done Fireman Tennant had jumped and was uninjured but Engineer Schoonmaker, who stayed on the engine was badly was badly skined (sic) and bruised.

They  managed to get the engine up to the yards here, but it is so badly crippled that it will need a great deal of repairing.

The house was said to be a two story structure about 16×24 in size, and there is practically nothing of it left except the kindling wood.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 26, 1906

Santa Claus Held Sway

Yesterday Given Up to The Observance of Christmas Day.

Good old Saint Nick, the knight of the sock, the reindeer and the big pack, reigned supreme yesterday and received his full share of homage in Fort Dodge. The day was given up to Christmas rejoicing, merrymaking, feasting and holiday celebrations all over the city.

Business was suspended, except such as had to be carried on through necessity, all over the city when the stores closed Monday night after the busiest day of the year 1906.

The Christmas sun rose radiant and the day continued throughout one of the most beautiful for the time of year that could have been wished for. Christmas gatherings, family reunions and church programs formed the main events of the day. The happenings are chronicled in part below:

At St. Mark’s.

One of the prettiest trees on Christmas eve was that of St. Mark’s Sunday school. Prior to the distribution of the gifts a program of recitations was given by Misses Grace Chantland, Ellen Clark, Elizabeth Wheeler, Martha Fransen, Evelyn Roper, Myrtle Drake and Katahrinee (sic) Francis. In spite of the fact that regular church is not being held the Sunday school has been suprintended (sic) very ably by Mr. Frank Griffith and the school teachers.

Dolliver’s Family Reunion.

At the Senator Dolliver home a family re-union was indulged in. Miss Gay Dolliver of Sioux City was present to enjoy the festivities of the day. “Uncle Vic” rigged himself up in fur coat and flowing beard to impersonate “Saint Nick” and succeeded in scaring a year’s growth out of the baby, George Prentiss Dolliver, and so confused Francis and Margaret that they were not sure of their bearings. They exhibited the same symptoms that a (shy?) colt does the first time he meets a steam roller and it took considerable assurance from the older heads before they could be brought to think that the impersonator was not a wild man who had invaded the home for the purpose of committing some terrible deed. After the youngsters had been quieted the program was carried on with merriment and the occasion made one that will linger long in the minds of those who were present to participate. The genial “Vic” succeeded in carrying out his part without destroying his borrowed plumage by fire or enacting any of the tragedies incident to the occasion. The younger member of the household has recovered from his scare but still retains an aversion to anything with long shaggy whiskers that speaks in muffled tones.

A Christmas Tree Fire.

A Christmas tree at the J.W. Amond home Christmas eve caused quite a little excitement by catching fire. No serious damage was done although the carpet was burned and Mr. Amond received a slight injury to his hand.

Remembered The Employes.

Among the most generous and most appreciated Christmas gifts were those received by the clerks of the Sturges company from their employer, Mr. L.E. Sturges. The gifts consisted of sums of money which were presented with the compliments of the season on Christmas eve.

Methodist Christmas Eve.

The surprise program of the Methodist Sunday School was one of hte most interesting and novel Christmas eve celebrations in the local churches. The church was decorated with two trees and festooned evergreen and strings of colored lights. In the centre (sic) of the choir loft was suspended a large star.

Nine classes took part in the evening’s celebration. Superintendent Dr. Money called upon each one in turn to give some literary or musical feature. Here are the classes:

Senior Bible Class – Scripture reading.
J.F. Nelson’s class – Piano solo, Miss Myrtle Parsons.
J.G. Early’s class – Album characters.
Miss Martin’s and Miss Houk’s classes in primary department – Sixty children in motion song.
Young men’s class, Mrs. J.G. Early, instructor – Cornet solo. Harry Sultzbaugh.
Miss Ruth Cummings’ class – Duet, Misses Sauerbrunn and Gregg.
Mrs. J.F. Monk’s class of boys – Recitation and chorus song.
James Sultzbaugh’s class of girls – Recitation – Miss Corenlia (sic) McBurney.
Miss Jeanette Early’s and Miss Phoebe Sultzbaugh’s classes – Chorus of 30 little girls.

The favorite number on the program was the album given by the young men and women of Mr. Early’s class. Here were shown pictures of members of the Early faily (sic – family?) in early days.

West Side M.E.

A Christmas program was held by the Sunday school classes of the West Side M.E. church Tuesday evening. A large crowd was present. A beautiful Christmas tree which held a gift for everyone present, and a fine program constituted the entertainment of the evening.

Railroad Offices Closed.

Yesterday there was not a railroad office in the city, with the exception of the Illinois Central dispatcher’s office, open. The railroad men one and all were making merry. On the Great Western freights 85 and 86 and the stucco special were annulled. On the M. and (S)t. L. the wayfreights were pulled off for the day. Business on the Illinois Central did not stop because of the holiday. The switch engines were busy in the yards all day and the traffic was as large as on any other day.

At Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart Catholic churches three morning masses were said. The first ones were at five and six thirty o’clock. They ended with the usual high mass at ten thirty. Sermons appropriate to the occasion were preached by the pastors.

Bring Back Gifts.

In almost every store along the street people can be seen today bringing back gifts to exchange them for a different design or size. Especially where the articles are gifts of clothing and a misfit resulted, is this to be noticed.

Merchants Invoice.

Now that the busy Christmas season has practically closed, many of the merchants along the streets are beginning to take their yearly invoice and perparing (sic) for straightening accounts, which always comes at the close of the year.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 6, 1904

A Wild Gravel Car Causes Commotion

A Broken Flange Allows Trucks to Jump the Track

Ran Three Miles on the Ties

But the Car which was in Middle of Train was not Ditched and Train Came Across Bridge into the city Safely

With death trailing grimly in the rear, and all unconscious of the terrible peril, that was pursuing them, a gravel train crew on the Illinois Central, experienced a thrilling escape last night.

From about half the distance between here and Tara, clear to the depot, a wild car, loaded with gravel, bumped along on the tied, smashing the track, and threatening to ditch the train at every lunge.

There is a down grade nearly all the distance and the train was running at a furious speed. The flanges broke on one side of the car, which was located about the middle of the train, and the dumb peril, lunged about in a wild effort to free tiself from the bonds which held it. Today, the trainmen are wondering how the car could have been pulled so great a distance without wrecking the entire train.

However, trainmen are accustomed to face death and peril in a hundred different and unexpected forms, and today, the engineer of the gravel train is smiling grimly, as he thinks of that ride, with death, as an unannounced companion, as it sat beside him in the engine cab.

Today, a crew of workmen is engaged in repairing the damage which the wild car did to the track. It will require fifteen kegs of bolts, fifteen kegs of spikes and fifteen barrels of braces to repair the damage. On the Des Moines river bridge, where the wild car was hurled across on the ties, nearly all the heads of the bolts are severed, and will have to be replaced. For the entire distance the wild car left its trail of destruction which bears mute testimony to the deadly peril in which the train crew made that perilous ride.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 7, 1905

Storage Charges Cause Trouble

Patrons of the Railroads Do Not Like to Pay Storage Charges

Hurts Mail Order Houses

The Rule Adopted by the Illinois Central and Iowa Car Service Association Went Into Effect July 1 – Much Complaining From Patrons.

The rule recetnly [sic] adopted by the Illinois and Iowa Car Service Association, of which association all the western railroads are members, has caused considerable trouble here. The rule was to the effect that all shipments in less than car load lots, not taken from the freight warehouse within twenty-four hours of the time the freight was received should be charged storage rates.

The storage rates, while comparatively small would yet amount to a large sum within a short time, should the freight not be taken from the house. A charge of five cents a day for each hundred pounds is paid, so that should the shipment weigh four or five hundred pounds and remain in the warehouse a few days the owner would soon have a bill to pay that he would not like.

A fraction of one hundred pounds and a fraction of a day are charged at the same rate. Thus all people who are expecting a shipment of freight from any point would do well to look the matter up occasionally and see that it is not laying around the warehouse. The railroads send a postal card to all owners of freight immediately upon its arrival, but this card might not be delivered in time to allow the owner a chance to get it out before the storage rates went into effect, so the method of calling up the freight office daily is a good plan to keep from paying freight storage charges.

Although the business men do not like the idea of paying storage charges very well, in the end it will help their business as it will hurt the business of the mail order houses. As the customers of the mail order houses reside mostly in the country, the freight will in all probability lay around the warehouse for several days before the farmers are able to get in and get the shipment. This will cost the farmers so much that in the end it will be cheaper to buy of home merchants.

The railroads have for some time been charging storage on all car load shipments, but the first day storage was charged on smaller shipments was Wednesday as Sunday and the Fourth both being holidays, the rule did not go into effect until the fifth.

(Editor’s note: This story is one where they didn’t hold back in describing the injuries to the young man who died. Not for the faint of heart.)