The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 21, 1903

Potato Famine Has Been Broken

And Joy Reigns in the Kitchens of Fort Dodge Once More.

Is Dry Enough to Dig Them

And As a Consequence Plenty of Mealy Tubers Come on Market.

Joy reigns supreme in the hearts of the Fort Dodge housewife today – the potato famine is broken.

After a week’s almost total absence, the ever edible tubers are again with us and once more occupy a prominent place on the boarding house table, as well as on the bill of fare of the ordinary home dinner table.

As has been stated, potatoes were off the market for a while last week, after the long continued rainy weather, and were hard to secure during the latter part of the week, but today murphies may again be had without any particular standin (sic) with the grocery man.

Beginning at a dollar a bushel ($24), the first of last week and steadily advancing until they could not be purchased for love or money, and closing the week at $1.25 ($30) potatoes were scarce all week, but the price has dropped to $1 today and dealers are looking forward to a further decline.

The return of ideal weather has besides saving the corn crop, brought about the return of the potato. The recent famine was due entirely to the rains, it being impossible to dig potatoes in damp ground, and almost similar conditions had prevailed in Minnesota, where Iowa receives most of her supply. Now that the ground is in condition to be worked, farmers are bringing many into the city and a car of Minnesotas was received today at one of the local commission houses, so that no one need be without potatoes today.

The crop is said to be bad in this vicinity this year, the wet weather having rotted many of the tubers, but a good harvest is looked for in Minnesota and the western states, so that the present figure of $1 per bushel can not continue long.

Tags: 1903

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 21, 1903

Monday Morning’s Police Court

The Usual Number of People Charged With Law’s Violation Before Mayor.

Charge Theft and Drinking

Man Fined $7.25 for Beating His Horses Unmercifully and Using Profanity.

A gray haired man over fifty years old was arrested by the police this morning upon information from the sheriff of Pocahontas county, who had warned local officers to be on the lookout for the man whose name was Frank Emmons who had absconded from Fonda, on last Saturday, having in his possession a large quantity of upholstering tools, leather and cloth furniture coverings which he h ad stolen from a furniture dealer of that place, leaving town upon the same day.

The supposition of the Fonda sheriff that Emmons had come to Fort Dodge was correct for three grips, containing the described articles were found at the American Express office this morning, and Emmons was arrested shortly after when he came after the grips. The Fonda officers have been notified and will come to the city tonight to conduct Emmons to that place.

Emmons seems peculiar as if he were not in his right mind. He explains the matter by saying that he is out on the road, got drunk, and just landed in Fort Dodge. The value of the articles stolen would amount to over $25 ($599 today). Emmons has two new suits of clothing and two pair of shoes in his possession but only sixty cents ($14.37) in cash.

Stealing a kit of tools from his employer an hour after he had received employment on the plea that he was hungry is the crime Jack Ryan will be charged with in police court Tuesday morning. Ryan, who is a stranger here got a job cleaning gasoline stoves from M. Rhyne, proprietor of a second hand store on first avenue south this morning, after completing the work and receiving his pay stole the tools, so it is said, that he had used to clean the stoves, Mr. Rhyne being too busy at the time to notice their absence.

Ryan was later in the day arrested for drunkenness and the tools, the missing of which Mr. Ryne had reported to the police, were found in his possession.

Elmer Porter, a teamster, also figured in police court this morning. Porter was charged with disturbing the public quiet and using profane language.

The charges were filed by Mrs. Richadr (Richard) Linthel, who lives hear Porter on the round prairie. Mrs. Linthel also testified that Porter was often guilty of mistreating his horses.

Porter was let off with the costs of the case or $7.25 ($174).

Tags: 1903, Emmons, Linthel, Porter, Rhyne, Ryan, Ryne

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 20, 1906

Swindler Comes to Unexpected Grief

Man Who Attempted to Rob Andrew Hower is Caught by Police in Wisconsin

After attempting to swindle Henry Hower, a member of the upper Central Avenue business firm, Hoffman & Hower, John Mueller a clever crook, came to grief at Hudson, Wisconsin, in attempting to work the same dodge upon D. Hoffman, the proprietor of a small grocery store.

Mueller reached Hudson on the same day with a carnival company billed in there for the week. He was rather seedy looking, and passed himself off for a retired farmer residing near Albert Lea, Minnesota. On the day of his arrival he approached Hoffman for the sale of his store, saying that he had just disposed of his farm near Albert Lea, and was looking for a business location. Hoffman arranged for the transfer of his business to Mueller for the consideration of $4,000 ($95,798 today), Mueller giving Hoffman a worthless check, drawn on the State Bank at Albert Lea for $500.00 ($11,975), asking for a receipt for the same.

When Hoffman made the receipt out Mueller seemed rather careless and indifferent to it, which aroused the suspicions of the grocer. He at once sent his daughter to the telephone office to talk with Albert Lea, and learn the amount of the deposit and standing of Mueller in the Minnesota city. She learned that there was no such a depositor on the books of the bank, and more over that he was wanted in Albert Lea to answer to the charge of swindling.

She hastened back to her father, in the mean time warning the city police who arrested Mueller when he attempted to make a swift “getaway.”

Mueller was in the city the early part of the week, and attempted to purchase, with bogus checks, a portion of some city property owned by Mr. Hower. While he was at the bank depositing the five dollar check ($120) given him to bind the bargain by Mueller, the swindler attempted to secure a loan of ten dollars ($239) from Mrs. Hower, who was too shrewd to give it to him. He left before the return of Mr. Hower.

(Editor’s note: There seems to be some confusion about names. Mr. Hower is referred to as Andrew in the drophead and Henry in the article. I’m not sure if there is confusion about Hoffman, since the article refers to Hoffman & Hower, and to D. Hoffman, a grocery store proprietor in Hudson, Wisconsin.)

Tags: 1906, Hoffman, Hower, Mueller

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Sept. 19, 1910

Free Want Ads For Present Week

Readers’ Attention is Directed to The Enlarged Classified Department of This Issue

This evening the first of the free Want Ads appear, and during each evening this week The Chronicle will given (sic) free service to any who desires same, merely for the purpose of demonstrating to the people of Fort Dodge more thoroughly than has ever been done before the benefit of the Chronicle’s classified department.

The number given today is a large one and if the reader will look over the same he may find some article he desires to purchase, or may find some one who is looking for some particular article which he has for sale. Read them every evening during this week, and by that time the habit will be so firmly fixed with you that it will be one of the departments never overlooked in reading the evening paper. There are hundreds of good bargains offered and there are a great many opportunities to dispose of certain articles.

During the present week, as has been announced in these columns in the past, a free service will be given to the people of Fort Dodge and vicinity. This offer is open to all, whether subscribers of the Chronicle or not, and is merely made to demonstrate the value of classified advertising. All ads received up to noon each day will appear in that evening’s issue of The Chronicle, but they must be forwarded by mail or brought to this office as under this offer we would be swamped if an effort was made to take the same over telephone. That a large number were received at this office after noon t0-day accounts for their non-appearance this evening, but they will be found under the proper classification on Tuesday evening and will be run for the remainder of the week unless the party inserting the same notifies us their wants have been supplied.

Tags: 1910

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Sept. 19, 1910

Eleven Unfortunates

Almost an Even Dozen Face Mayor S.J. Bennett in Police Court During Sunday Morning

Eleven arrests were made in this city during Saturday and Saturday evening and as a result nearly one dozen of unfortunates faced Mayor S.J. Bennett in police court Sunday morning. All of the unfortunates were charged with over indulgence in the flowing bowl and customary fines were imposed.

This morning one drunk and one vag arraigned, being assess regulation fines for their offenses.

Tags: 1910, Bennett

The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Sept. 19, 1910

Wahkonsa Open to the Public

General Reception at the New Hostelry on Saturday Evening

Six Thousand People Inspected the New Hotel

Sunday Breakfast was the First Meal Served and the Patronage Was Satisfactory to Management

Saturday evening The Wahkonsa, corner of Tenth street and Central avenue was formerly opened to the traveling public, and Fort Dodge now boasts of the largest and finest strictly fireproof hotel in the state of Iowa.

General Reception Tendered

R.W. Johnston of Waterloo, lessee of the house and Manager Fred F. Coles, tendered a general reception to the public on Saturday evening between seven and ten o’clock in the evening, and it is estimated that close to six thousand people were conducted through all of the departments of the new hostelry and were agreeable surprised that such a handsome hotel had been opened in the city of Fort Dodge. All departments were open for inspection during the evening and the visitors were conducted from the basement to the fifth floor, practically all of the one hundred and forty-eight guest rooms being thrown open for the evening’s inspection.

American and European Plan

The Wahkonsa will be conducted on both the American and European plan, and the rooms, all of whch (sic) are outside, will range in price form $1.00 up without bath and $1.50 and up wiht bath. The dining room will be conducted on the European, table de hote and a la carte plan, club breakfast, 25 75 cents, noon luncheon 50 cents and table de hote evening dinner 75 cents. A la cart service together with the above will be provided at all meals.

Opening Patronage Good

The opening patronage at the Wahkonsa was saisfactory (sic) to the management and from the large number of traveling men who were in the city to spend Sunday but demonstrated that the openng (sic) of the new hostelry will make this city more than ever the stopping place over Sunday of the knights of the grip who are in this section of the state during the latter part of the week.

Reception This Evening

This evening R.W. Johnston and Manager Fred F. Cole will give an invitation reception at The Wahkonsa, over one thousand invitations having been sent out for the affair. Special music will be furnished during the evening by the Quist Orchestra and refreshments will be served to all of the guests of the evening.

(Editor’s note: In the first paragraph, formerly should be formally. That is one error I still see as a copy editor today. Also, the manager’s name is listed as Coles and Cole, so I don’t know which is correct.)

Tags: 1910, Cole, Coles, Johnston

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 18, 1905

“Take Notice”

From and after this date I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by Mrs. Aroline Liess.

Fred Leiss

Tags: 1905, Leiss

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 18, 1905

Men’s Clothing in Subdued Colors

Many of the Changes in the Attire of Men are Radical in the Extreme.

Styles Varied For This Fall

None of the Extremes of Previous Years Will Be Reached – The Well Dressed Man Will Be Quietly Dressed This Year.

With the coming of the chilly weather the thoughts of man not only turn to the coal bin and the price of coal, but turn also to what he will wear this fall and winter. Ordinarily it is supposed that man pays but little attention to styles, but as a matter of fact he is almost, if not quite as particular about matters of this kind as womankind, whose desire to be in style are sometimes laughed at. If the reports from the fashion centers and from those who dictate the styles are to be believed, man will have plenty of opportunity for this is to be a fashionable fall.

Will Be Radical Change.

Many of the changes in the attire from last year are radical, through none reach the extreme of previous years. The well dressed man this fall will bequietly dressed as most of the suits will be in subdued colors, but it will be the cut that will determine the style. The prevailing blues of the summer will give away to worsteds of mixed colors and paid (plaid?) effects. The haberdashery supplies will be both of brilliant hues and subdued colors, allowing of a wide choice for the buyer.

The young man who delights in dress will have a fine chance this fall. The styles will be so varied that he can go to almost any length. The dressy young man’s neckwear will be brilliant to the extreme. When it comes to fancy vests the nobby dresser will be able to get the largest and finest selections of many years. Fancy vests will be worn altogether this season and it will hardly be worth a man’s while to buy a suit of clothes with a vest. the styles in fancy vests were never so brilliant before.

The coat appropriate for street and business wear will be of worsted, in subdued colors: grays and broken plaids of quiet, neat tones. The coat this fall will be cut long and full with a deep center vent on the back. The shoulders will be broad and more natural than in previous years, being slightly sloping. The lapels will be long and graceful and broader than usual.

The Length of the Coat.

In place of the box sack and the half shaped sack of last season as the extremes of looseness and closeness, the direction of amplitude and the nearly close fitting sack as the extreme in the other direction. The close fitting sack, however, is the swell thing and the closer fit hte better the style. Either the center seam of the side seams may be vented according to taste. The length ranges from medium to extreme, the unwritten rule being the closer the fit the greater the length.

The Cut of the Trousers.

The trousers will not be in the extreme cuts for the proper dresser. They will be cut to fit easily over the hips, with medium thighs, slightly tapering towards the bottom. The trousers of the correct dresser will have a slight break over the shoes. No cuff will be worn this fall by the nobby dresser.

It is in his vest that the careful dresser will shine. All suit vests will be single breasted and without collars. The opening in the vest will be lower than in previous years, allowing more of the shirt to show. At the corners the vest will be slight cut away. There will be plenty of fancy vests in net flannels, marseilles, mercerized and oxfords, in the single breasted style and double breasted with long, wide lapels. The vest will be longer in front than usual and shorter at the sides, which will give a dip to the vest. The correct vest will have but five buttons.

The Black Derby Again.

In hats the black Derby will be popular.  The crowns will be full, in heavy effects. The Fedora will be the stylish soft hat, and will be in pearls and blacks. The pearls will have white and black bands. In the golf shapes, the medium low crowns with slight crease will predominate for morning wear. The bands and binding will match with the pearl color of the felt. The silk hats are slightly higher in the crown and with a slight bell shape. The greatest change in silk hats will be the broadcloth bands in place of the silk bands.

More Fedoras of pearly gray, with black bands and pearl bindings, as well as the solid black stiff hats will be sold this season than ever before. Some of the golf shapes will be in demand. The golf shapes have a much narrower brim than heretofore.  The telescope in gray will come in for a good share of the demand on the part of the young man who wishes a good knockabout hat for all occasions and all times. There are no extremes in the Derbys and all will be of good staple shapes. The flat-brimmed Derby of last year will not be considered in style.

In the opera hat the newest thing is kidlined. The opera hat heretofore has been lined in silk and the silk lining has ever had a tendency to stick to the hair. This is where the kid lining will stand in good stead for it will not stick to the hari.

The soft hats are of a pearl gray color and have fine shapes that cannot but appeal to the swell dresser. The peal (pearl?) color will no doubt be the favorite in the soft shaped hats.

Tags: 1905

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Sept. 18, 1905

Fall Hats Will Not Be Extreme

So Says Local Milliner Who Has Recently Returned From Trip to Chicago.

The fall hats are not to be extreme this season. This is the comforting statement made by a Fort Dodge milliner who has recently returned from the Milliners’ convention in Chicago.

“We won’t have anything extreme here this fall, though the tendency in the east is to go to extremes,” said one of the local hat-makers to a reporter this morning. “The hats this fall and winter will be neat and the colors in them will be the neatest we have had for a number of years. The Alice blue, which was the color of Miss Roosevelt’s inaugural ball dress, will be a popular shade, also the olive greens, the pearl grays and the peacock blues, in a variety of shapes and styles. We moderate our styles here as the women don’t dress as gay here as they do in Paris, where the gay colors originate. There the peacock blue will be popular and brilliant hues will be the rule. Of course, there are many American women, who with their good taste and discrimination can be trusted to choose from among the bright colors something that will become them, but many will have to be careful.

“There are many new features in shapes. An effort will be made to keep the small hat in vogue, but it will only prove popular for street and suit wear. Being so severely staid in style and small in outlines, it gives no space for plumes and colorings. Though the picture hats are not suitable for ordinary street wear, they will be quite the proper thing for dress occasions.

“Shapes will run from the close fitting walking hat to the voluminously draped picture hat. A very popular shape will be the turban, made of cloth to match the suit, fur or velvet with breast effects, a pretty shade or which is that Alice blue.

“Then we have the ‘Roosevelt’ hat, which is broad brimmed,” said this milliner, taking down a hat of fine material, resembling very much the headpiece which Col. Roosevelt wore at San Juan hill. It is white with a blue band and about every other shade of the rainbow. “We have the continentals, the polo hats, the French roll backs, and many other beautiful shapes, which will be sold at up to date millinery stores.”

Tags: 1905, Roosevelt