The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 20, 1904

Plan Novel Trip to World’s Fair

Fort Dodge Young men Go to the Exposition by the Water Route.

Make Trip in a Houseboat

Float Down Des Moines to Mississippi, Down Stream to St. Louis.

A trip to the St. Louis exposition is planned by several Fort Dodge young men living on the west side, that for novelty at least, will hardly be surpassed. The plan is to build a flat boat and float down the Des Moines river to the Mississippi, thence down the father of waters to St. Louis. The boys do not care to have their names mentioned, as yet, as their plans are not fully completed. As far as is now known there is nothing that will discourage them in their undertaking and they anticipate a jolly trip.

The “voyagers” will build their boat of sufficient size to contain bedding, tents and supplies and will be fully equipped to camp if they wish to, or anchor their boat to the bank of the stream and seek shelter at night in the towns along the river, or if no town is at hand, in a farm house which will never be far distant from a stopping place.

The party will be a merry one. It is the young men’s intention to be prepared to fish and hunt when they please, while reading and other recreation will while away the hours, and the ever changing scenery, perhaps with an occasional ducking, will tend to overcome the monotony of the trip.

It is expected that the trip will take about three weeks, counting the stops. They will probably wait  until the weather is settled before starting. They expect the saving on car fare to pay their expenses, and on arriving in St. Louis, will probably sell or abandon their boat and come back by rail.

The current of the Des Moines at the present stage of water, travels at an average rate of at least six miles an hour. It would possible to travel at this rate, at least seventy or seventy-five miles from early daylight to late at night and at this rate, althought (sic) there are many bends in the river. It would not take many days to reach the Mississippi, when a sail might be used to good advantage with a north wind. It is the present intention of the prospective voyagers, however, to take plenty of time for the trip, and make it as pleasant an outing as possible.

(Editor’s note: If I should find later mention of this proposed trip, if it really did take place, I will update on this post.)

Tags: 1904

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 20, 1904

The Progress of Butter Making

Evolution of Methods Employed by Farmers in Getting This Product.

A Great Advance is Made

By Making their Own Butter Farmers Save About 25 Per Cent.

During the last few years the dairy business in the rural districts thruout Iowa, Illinois and other western states has passed thru a great revolution. The drudgery and inconvenience in connection with keeping milch (sic) cows a few years ago has passed, and now up-to-date methods are employed by nearly every farmer engaged in the dairy business, whether on a large or on a small scale.

It has not been many years since the milk was was strained into crocks or shallow tin pans, where it was left until sour, when the cream was skimmed off. The cream was then turned into a stone dash church, or perhaps into the more modern barrel or paddle churn, after which the tedious work of turning the fat into butter began.

The boys and girls who grew up on a farm a few years ago will remember the tedious hours that were spent in some spot in a seemingly vain effort to make the butter gather. If the cream was not of a right temperature, the task was a weary one.

After the butter had been gathered the tedious task of working it, usually without ice, occupied the attention of the housewife. The butter was placed in stone jars and set away in the coolest part of the cellar. Once a week the farmer would drive to market with the butter, many times traveling a good many miles thru the heat of the summer, the butter carefully covered with green leaves to keep it cool. The butter was traded for provisions, after which the farmer would wend his weary way home in the dust and heat of an August day.

This period was followed by the establishment of the creameries, but of a much different type from those which are now so numerous in Iowa, Illinois and the great dairying states. The milk was not delivered by the farmers to the creamery, but drivers for the butter making establishmen (sic) could make a tour of many miles, gathering up the cream. This was done every alternate day. The farmers were paid so much an inch for the cream, which was measured by a glass in the top of the can.

The old fashioned creameries were later converted into the more modern establishments with separators and the numerous improved methods of butter making. The farmers load their milk into the wagons early in the morning, and drive many miles to the separator, making additional work for themselves, but saving their good wives much drudgery.

These separators became numerous, and soon they were to be found at intervals of a few miles on every country road. The patronage of these institutions was marvelous at first, and the companies realized a good income on their money, but like many other kinds of busines, the field became overcrowded and many creameries suspended, and a new and still better method of dairying was introduced.

After the cream separators had been perfected with a capacity of several thousand pounds of milk per hour, the attention of the farmers were turned to smaller machiens of a similar character, which could be operated at home by hand or by some light power. Farmers invested in these reluctantly at first, but as soon as one appeared in a neighborhood and was pronounced a success, others invested – for it must be remembered that today farmers are earnest advocates of labor-saving devices – until at present nearly every farmer that keeps any great number of cows has his own private creamery, equipped in a manner to do first class work.

In a few minutes the product from a dozen cows can be separated, and thus the trip to the creamery, which took from one to two hours, is obviated. The rich cream runs from the separator thru a spout, while from the other side the skimmed milk, robbed entirely of butter fat, streams from another spout. The separator holds about a gallon of milk and revolves very rapidly. The cream, being lighter, goes to the top and escapes thru a small hole, while the heavier milk runs out thru an opening at the bottom.

In some instances the cream is shipped direct to milk depots in the cities, where it is sold, while others prefer to make butter and deliver it to their patrons in the cities, who are willing to pay fancy prices for the superior quality which is manufactured by the private creamery.

By making their own butter farmers are enabled to increase the income from their cows at least 25 per cent and in some instances even more than this figure.

Tags: 1904

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 20, 1904

To Build a Shock Loader

De Loura Auto Manufacturing co. to Construct One.

The Machine Will Be Sent South and Worked North With the Harvest.

J.J. Ford, secretary of the Iowa Shockloader company, has let the contract for the making of patterns and the construction of a shockloader after the plans of the late patent, to the De Loura Automobile Manufacturing company of this city, and the machine (at least one line of text missing here – something like: will be sent down south.) From Oklahoma, as the small grain ripens, it will be worked north to Minnesota, the Dakotas, and even perhaps into Canada. It is also the intention of the company to have a sufficient number of the machines manufactured by some concern, not yet decided upon, to supply this year’s trade, and wherever the model machine is displayed orders will be taken, which the company will be able to fill at once.

It is expected that by showing the work of the machine in this practical manner, and over such a wide territory a great demand will be created for it at once, and that next year’s trade will be greatly accelerated by  the proceedings of the machine and knowing it is a success, will not be afraid to take it. It is felt by the patentees that in the way of simplicity, quality of work, durability and light draft, the present model cannot be much improved. The machine has been put at actual work int he field, and all the difficulties that then appeared have been remedied.

Tags: 1904

The Webster County Gazette: April 19, 1878

Household Recipes

For Scotch cake, take one pound brown sugar, one pound flour, half pound butter, two eggs, one teaspoonful cinnamon; roll very thing, and bake.

“Apaquinimies” are made as follows: Yolks of two eggs, one pint flour, one-half pint milk, two teaspoonfuls butter, a little salt; roll very thin, like wafers, and bake.

Sauces should possess decided character and whether sharp or sweet, savory or plain, they should carry out their (indecipherable word) in a distinct manner, although, of course, not so much flavored as to make them too piquant on the one hand, or too mawkish on the other.

brown sauces, generally speaking, should scarcely be so thick as white sauces; and it is well to bear in mind that all those which are intended to mask the various dishes of poultry or meat should be of a sufficient consistency to slightly adhere to to (sic) the fowls or joints over which they are poured. for browning and thickening sauces, etc., browned flour nay (sic) be properly employed.

To use up cold meat: I. Prepare your meat as for has; fill a deep dish with maccaroni (sic); on top of that place the hash; cover it with tomatoes, over which sprinkle with bread crumbs, with a little butter; bake until nicely browned. II. Prepare meat as for hash; make it in rolls (like a sausage) by binding it with raw egg; tie each roll carefully in cabbage leaf, and boil one-half to three-quarters of an hour in weak stock.

Eggs form an important article of food among all known races. The English, the great egg eaters, receive annually from Ireland one hundred and thirty millions of eggs, and from France over one hundred and thirty millions. The great object is to get fresh ones, and many modes are resorted to, to ascertain this important point. some dealers place them in water, when, if fresh, they will lie on their sides; if bad, they will stand on one end.

Gravies and sauces should be sent to table very hot, and there is all the more necessity for the cook to see to this point, as, from their being usually serve din small quantities, they are more liable to cool quickly than if they were in a larger body. Those sauces of which cream or eggs form a component part, should be well stirred as soon as these ingredients are added to them, and must never be allowed to boil, as in that case they would instantly curdle.

If coffee, after roasting, were made as fine as flour by pounding in a mortar, it could be extracted so much better as to require no more than two-fifths as much as if it were only coarsely ground. An equally strong extract can be made by allowing water to stand on the grounds, as by giving it a boil or by filtering through it. The latter method is the true one for retaining all of the aroma. When coffee beans are roasted, an empyreumatic oil is produced, which being very volatile, is expelled if the coffee extract be boiled. It is better to make the grounds as fine as flour, and to extract by filtration, and never to boil.

(Editor’s note: I have no idea what “apaquinimies” were. Google was useless in this case. Empyreumatic oil is “oils obtained by distilling various organic substances at high temperatures.” I also thought it was interesting to describe sauces as being potentially “mawkish.”)

Tags: 1878

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 19, 1905

Mayor Conducts Matrimonial Bureau

Works It in Conjunction With Police Court and May Make It a Success.

Johnson Was a Little Shy

One of the Candidates Having Been Married Did Not Take Kindly to the Mayor’s Proposition – The Other Thought It a Good Thing.

Major S.J. Bennett is conducting a matrimonial bureau as a side issue along with his police court. He opened up business this morning in the new department for the first time with two candidates. One of these was a little shy when the question of matrimony was broached, and a few questions developed the fact that he had been there and had had experience.

The other candidate, when asked if he was enjoying the bliss of a home and wife made the statement that he had never married, but that he really thought it would be a good thing for him if he were joined up with some good woman. He intimated that a wife might act as ballast for his wandering craft, and hold him truer to his course. Both of the men were strongly advised to tie up as soon as possible by his honor.

Both of them were up as plain drunks and were given the usual $1 and costs, but as it was the first time for them under the present administration, they were let off. Albert Johnson, who a few months ago was one of the faithful ones, and made his appearance regularly from once to three times a week, was one of the offenders, and Frank Carter, a farmer, was the other. Carter is the man who looked with favor on the mayor’s matrimonial proposition, and it is probable that he will become a benedict in the very near future.

(Editor’s note: I can’t help but wonder how the women of the town would feel upon reading this. “Oh, joy. A couple of drunks are going to be looking for wives. And one of them has already failed at marriage.” Who wouldn’t jump at that chance?)

Tags: 1905, Carter

The Webster County Gazette: April 19, 1878

Loss by Fire

The Brick block in Rear of Fort Dodge House Burned.

Last Saturday night, about 12 o’clock, a fire was discovered in the brick block on Walnut street, in the rear of the Fort Dodge House. The fire bell was jingled – what for nobody can tell, as there isn’t a possibility of its disturbing or alarming anybody. The night had been very rainy and the adjoining buildings were wet which aided in confining the flames. The brick walls were good ones, and though a frame building stood against it the fire did not spread.

Mr. Dunning moved his livery stock, expecting nothing but that it would take his quarters. The west wall of the burning building fell upon the frame adjoining it on the west, and crushed it flat. It was vacant, however. The fire company’s ladders were upon the roof and were buried under the rubbish.

The building burned and the one ruined by the falling wall, were owned by Thomas Cahill, and there was not a cent of insurance upon either. Messrs Ferguson and Markle had rented the brick for a saloon, and had just removed their stock into it. They were insured to the amount of $500 in the Imperial & Northern Company. No one seems to know how the fire caught. The loss is severe upon Mr. Cahill.

Tags: 1878, Cahill

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 19, 1904

Dairy Wagon is Wrecked

Delivery Wagon of Oakdale Dairy Smashed in Runaway and Many Bottles of Milk Broken.

The Sunday quiet in the vicinity of the Sacred Heart church was rudely broken by a lively runaway. One of the teams belonging to the Oakdale dairy started while the driver was in a nearby house, and running from the church a block east turned the corner south, the wagon going over on its side as the turn was made. The frightened team dragged the wagon some distance in this position, then broke entirely free from it. neither of the horses were hurt, though the wagon was wrecked and many bottles of milk were broken.

Tags: 1904, Oakdale Dairy

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 18, 1904

Will Erect a New Residence

John Hackett to Build New House on Second Avenue North Between Thirteenth and Fourteenth.

Among the other improvements to be made in Fort Dodge this summer is a new residence to be built by John Hackett on his property on Second avenue north between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. The residence will be modern in construction and will cost between $5,000 and $6,000.

Work on the structure has already begun.

S.W. Corey, Jr., will erect a fine modern residence on the site of this former home on Second avenue south and Twelfth street, which was destroyed by fire last winter. The new house will be brick veneered and will cost about $5000. It will be an ornament to the part of the city where it is to be located.

Tags: 1904, Corey, Hackett

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 18, 1903

L.E. Armstrong Begins Drilling for Gypsum

Is Prospecting Land With View to Determining Location of New Mill.

Drilling for gypsum has begun on the land southeast of the city, which was recently purchased by L.E. Armstrong with the intention of establishing a new gypsum mill. Mr. Armstrong has not as yet prospected about thirty acres of the land purchased by him, and the work is now being carried on with the intention of finding the thickness and location of the veins of gypsum rock.

It is expected that the result of the prospecting which is now being carried on, will be to determine the location of the mill. The drilling is being done by Tom Irvin.

Tags: 1903, Armstrong, Irvin