The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 20, 1906

Fort Dodge’s Chief Need is Hospital

Present Institution for Caring for Sick is Badly Over-crowded

This City Should Be Active

A Large Territory in This Part of the State Would Contribute Cases if a Proper Hospital Were Conducted Here – Many Reasons Urge It.

It may surprise some people of Fort Dodge to know that for the past month the Fort Dodge General Hospital has been overcrowded and that the management has even been compelled ot refuse admittance to at least a dozen patients.

Fort Dodge is fast becoming the medical and surgical center for a territory of fifty miles in all directions, and the time has arrived when the people of this city must cast about for ways and means to provide a suitable hospital to supply the needs of the unfortunate sick of so vast an area.

The present building is fairly good, so far as it goes, and the services rendered are excellent in so far as the management is not hampered by lack of room and other necessary facilities. It will be remembered that nine months ago the proprietors were forced to abandon the old Grant residence for the larger and better fitted Poyer building Since then their patronage has increased to such an extent it seems imperative, not only from the standpoint of humanity, but from a purely commercial point of view, that larger and better equipped quarters be provided for the sick of Fort Dodge and its contributory territory.

It is urged that hospitals do not pay. It is true that most secular and civic hospitals do not. Investigation has shown, however, that the great majority of Sisters’ hospitals do pay, for the reason that the nurses are not paid and very little outside help is hired.

How much money would a hospital of fifty bed, if four-fifths full, put into circulation in Fort Dodge every day? There are very few, if any, single commercial institutions in the city that would circulate more.

From actual experience it is estimated that of forty patients in a hospital thirty are likely to be from out of town and twenty-five of these likely to be surgical cases. The expense, including doctors’ and hospital fees, hotel bills of relatives and friends, shopping expenditures in town, etc., incurred by each patient is figured at $15 a day (about $359 today). Thirty patients at $15 a day would leave $450 a day ($10,777) in Fort Dodge. Aside from the actual financial gain to Fort Dodge, such an institution would do more if properly advertised, to spread the name and fame of this city than any other single enterprise we have.

During the recent meeting of the Fort Dodge District Medical Society in this city, Dr. Margin of Pomeroy said to a Messenger representative: “It is a source of great wonder to me that Fort Dodge is not better equipped as to a hospital. There is no question but that fort Dodge physicians and surgeons are well able to take care of anything that may come to them and in my mind it is only a question of a short time when practically all the surgery in this part of the state will be done right here in Fort Dodge. But that time will never come until a big modern hospital is built. At present, all of my hospital cases go to Sioux City, but they would come here if you had the hospital I speak of.”

Drs. Taylor of Pomeroy, Mullarky of Manson, Belt and McManus of Gilmore City, Arent and Grigsby of Humboldt, and a score of others expressed the same views.

Tags: 1906, Arent, Belt, Grigsby, Martin, McManus, Mullarky, Taylor

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 10, 1906

Death Angel Enters Hovel

Old Man Discovered Friday is Dead.

Was Sad Affair – G.A.R. Will Take Charge of Burial – Try to Find Relatives.

Last night shortly before the hour of eight, the death angel entered a miserable hovel on Central avenue where in a lowly room, Eugene Lockwood, a veteran of the civil war, had struggled for week, unattended and uncared for with the dread disease of pneumonia.

Lockwood’s case was reported in last night’s Messenger. The unfortunate man was alone in the world with the exception of distant relatives whose names or address are not known. For three weeks he has lain gasping for breath and almost with the death rattle in his throat, practically on the street where hurrying crowds rushed by, and nothing was known of his condition by those who were in a position to do anything to aid him. The members of the G.A.R. who would have done anything within their power to aid their comrade did not discover his plight until Friday and the county officers were not informed until the same day. It was then too late. Pneumonia had closed its grasp upon him, and it merely remained for him to gasp out his closing hours of life the same as he had his days of sickness before.

The local G.A.R. will have charge of the burial unless relatives come to claim the body. It is understood that distant relatives live in Mason City. An attempt will be made to learn who they are, but this seems unlikely. Lockwood has lived in this city for about five or six years. He had supported himself by doing odd jobs about town. He was last employed as a porter at the Freeman and Schureck saloon.

(Editor’s note: The G.A.R., or Grand Army of the Republic, was a fraternal organization of veterans of the Union Army during the Civil War.)

Tags: 1906, Lockwood

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 9, 1906

Old Man Dying in Dirt and Squalor

Pitiable Case Called to Attention of the Police Last Night.

Man is Ill With Pneumonia

Lies Gasping for Breath in Miserable Room Right on Central Avenue – Not Room for Him at Hospital – County Takes Up Case.

One of the most pitiable cases on record of the winter was brought to the attention of the police last night, by parties employed in the Peschau cigar store, w ho reported that an old man homeless and friendless lay deathly sick with pneumonia in a narrow room over the cigar establishment. Chief Tullar visited him and found the report all too true. An attempt was made to do something for him last night, but it was learned that the hospital was full, and as it was late when the case was discovered, it proved impossible to remove him to any other place. An officer was detailed to go up to the room every few hours to keep a fire burning and render whatever aid proved possible.

The case was brought to the attention of the commissioner of the poor and the associated charities this morning and it is probable that the sick man will receive prompt attention.

A Messenger reporter visited the place this morning and learned that the name of the sick man was Jean Lockwood. He is a veteran of the civil war and is a man about sixty years of age. He was unable to talk, but lay gasping for breath, which the inexorable hand of pneumonia strove to hold from him, on a hard bed in one corner of the miserable room. Broken panes of glass, poorly patched with boards and stuffed with clothing failed to keep the bitter air from sifting into the room, and a rusty stove burned at the bedside. August Hassher, a laboring man who resides at the place, has been the only attendant of Lockwood during the three weeks that he has been sick until yesterday when a physician was called. He states that Lockwood has lived here for about two years during which he has supported himself by doing odd jobs about town. When he was taken sick, Hassher out of pity allowed him to stay at his place.

The case is an example which it is to be hoped will not soon be found again in Fort Dodge. It illustrates plainly the need of an institution in the city for the care of such unfortunates.  The hospital, the only place where such can be taken, is at present almost daily overcrowded. An institution of the proper kind would undoubtedly find itself plentifully supplied with work.

Tags: 1906, Hassher, Lockwood

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 1, 1906

Automobile Garage in Fort Dodge

Cadillac Machines Will Be Sold – Autos Rented and Repaired.

H.B. Grove Has The Agency

Leases Garmoe Building on North 6th Street, Formerly Rented by M.Q. Daley – Will Open The New Concern March 1st.

H.B. Groves has leased the Garmoe building on North Sixth street, formerly rented by M.Q. Daley, and will open an automobile garage about March first. He has the exclusive agency for the Cadillac Motorcar company, of Detroit, Michigan, whose machines he will sell. This agency extends over eleven counties of Iowa, through which he will probably station sub agents.

Mr. Groves has resided in Fort Dodge for less than a year, having lived in Sioux City previous to his removal here. During that time he has won a great many friends who will be pleased to learn of his location here. He is the owner of a $1,000 Cadillac which he had drive across country on several trips. Besides handling the machines for sale, he will rent and repair machines and expects to carry a fine line of accessories. A thoroughly experienced machinist will arrive about the middle of February.

The sport of automobiling has not progressed very rapidly in Fort Dodge. Machines have not found much favor with the residents who seem to prefer their horses. The advent of an automobile enthusiast with a good line of machines means the formation of a club which will eventually join the ranks of the other sporting clubs in the city.

Tags: 1906, Daley, Garmoe, Grove

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Feb. 1, 1906

Plymouth Will Not Close Out

Clothing Company Has Been Re-organized with V.N. Bloomgren as Manager.

Fort Dodge people will be rejoiced to hear that the Plymouth Clothing house, for years one of the strongest business houses of its kind in the city, will not go out of business, pursuant to announcement made a few months ago, but has been re-organized and will remain among the business firms of Fort Dodge.

By the re-organization of the company which will operate it which was effected yesterday Mr. V.N. Bloomgren who for the past two years has assisted Mr. Amrstrong, the owner in the management of the store, will assume the full control and management. Mr. Armstrong will not withdraw his interests entirely but will continue as a part owner in the business, and will devote such time to the business as his other interests permit. The store will still be known as the “Plymouth Clothing House” and its policy along all general lines will be the same as formerly.

The remainder of the present stock will be closed out as far as possible and full new lines of goods installed.

Tags: 1906, Armstrong, Bloomgren

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 31, 1906

Wolves Bother the Farmers

Two Large Wolves Come Into Yard on the Dean Farm

Attack Big House Dog and Are Driven Away Only When Farmer Appears With a Club

Although people have for some time believed that the wolf race had been exterminated as far as Webster county was concerned, the farmers north of the city have been complaining of the depredations of two large wolves which have become very bold.

The animals are larger than a big dog and are usually ferocious. They have appeared several times at one farm. Monday night the two wolves entered the yard at the Dean farm and when attacked by the large h ouse dog they drove this animal back onto the front porch.

Mr. Dean heard the noise and when he appeared upon the scene the two wolves were up on the porch attempting to drag the big dog, now thoroughly subdued, off the steps. Mr. Dean picked up a club and finally drove the two animals away. Last night he armed himself with a rifle but the wolves failed to put in an appearance.

Fort Dodge sportsmen are considering the matter of getting up a wolf hunt as soon as snow falls.

(Editor’s note: As recently as five years ago, I was made aware that in fifth-grade Iowa history class, students are taught that wolves were extinct in Iowa before 1900.)

Tags: 1906, Dean

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 24, 1906

Oleson Park Deed is Filed

O.M. Oleson Present Deed of Oleson Park to The City Today.

Senator O.M. Oleson formally conveyed the tract of land known as Oleson park to the city this morning by placing a deed to the property with Mayor Bennett.

Through the gift to the city was made nearly a year ago the final step in the transfer was not completed until today. The deed shows that the tract contains 70.81 acres. It will be filed for record at once. The park board are daily expecting to hear form the eastern landscape artist who has been employed to draw plans for beautifying the park. The tax of four thousand dollars is due in less than two months and active operations along the line of improvement will probably be started at that time.

Tags: 1906, Bennett, Oleson

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 20, 1906

Serious Coasting Accident Occurs

Ten Year Old Son of L.E. Blake, Badly Injured on West Fort Dodge Hill

His Life is Despaired Of

Hand Sled, on Which he Was Reclining Strikes Bob Sled on Curve, And Boy is Rendered Unconscious. – He Has Suffered Internal Injuries.

Never in the history of Fort Dodge has there been as many coasting accidents as have taken place this winter. The most recent accident took place Friday evening on the dangerous West Fort Dodge hill, known far and wide as Swedetown Hill. The little ten year old son of L.E. Black while sliding down this hill struck a bob sled, the shock rendering him unconscious for over an hour. A physician being called, it was found that he was seriously injured internally.

For hours the physicians worked over him and it did not seem that he could live through the night. This morning he is somewhat better, but the worst is feared, although as yet the family is hopeful of the recovery of their small child.

It seems miraculous that this is the first accident of serious nature that has taken place on this dangerous hill. For length and for steepness there is no hill within miles of Fort Dodge to compare with it. With the curve that shuts out all view of teams from below and with the high sides which makes it impossible to dodge them, after a small sled has gained the momentum that it does on this hill.

With numerous companions, young Blake started out to slide Friday evening. Everything went well for a time and then the accident which has been feared for months by fond mothers took place and the life of one small boy was nearly crushed out.

Young Blake was lying flat on his stomach on the sled. He gained a good start and his sled was speeding with terrific momentum when it rounded the curve and the approaching team was seen. Doubtless the little fellow did everything in his power to dodge the team but every effort was fruitless, for his sled crashed into the side of the bob. His head must have struck the runner, for he was rendered unconscious. When taken home it was speedily discovered that he was injured internally, for hemorrhage followed hemorrhage and the family were fearful that life might go out at any moment.

This morning the conditions were more favorable. However, the worst must be prepared for, for as yet it is impossible to state how badly he is injured internally.

The Blake family returned to Fort Dodge from Arizona only a few weeks ago. They had moved to the south, but did not like the country so returned to Fort Dodge. The father is employed as a machinist and the family is well known here.

Tags: 1906, Blake

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Jan. 11, 1906

Wants Pictures of Inebriates

Saloonkeepers to Ask for Changes in State Black List Laws.

They Seek For Protection

Want Several Holidays Cut Out of Closing List – Secretary J.J. Klein Goes to Des Moines to Join Other Members of the Legislative Committee.

Photographs as a means of enabling saloonkeepers to identify parties to whom they have been notified not to sell liquors are to be one of the requirements of the state law governing the conduct of saloons, if the efforts of the Iowa Retail Liquor Dealers’ association during the present session of the legislature is successful. J.J. Klein, secretary of the association, left yesterday for Des Moines to join the other members of a committee now at work there with the object of bringing about this and other changes in the state liquor law. The other members of the committee are: President, C.A. Stephens, Cedar Rapids; Margin Ingwersen, Clinton; and L.C. Stevens of Sioux City. All four of the men are members of the executive committee of the association and were appointed to the task of framing bills for the legislature at a meeting held last December in Davenport.

Changes Wanted.

It is understood that the changes in the present law which are desired are mainly these: The elimination of New Years, Washington’s birthday and Labor day as days on which the saloons must close; a provision that the friends of inebriates shall furnish saloon keepers with photographs and descriptions of those to whom they are forbidden to sell liquor, and the reduction of the number of signers to saloon petitions in small towns from 80 to 65 per cent, besides making it necessary to obtain the consent only of property owners residing upon the street where the saloon is located.

The saloon men also want the law amended so that they will not be held responsible for selling to minors and inebriates unless they do so knowingly.

A suit is now being waged against four Council Bluffs saloon men in which a woman is seeking to get $10,000 of the saloonists’ hard earnings for selling liquor to her husband, after being notified not to do so. Similar cases have occurred elsewhere and it (sic) such cases that have aroused the saloonkeepers to an effort to protect themselves.

Would Give Protection.

“A bartender may see a man on the street and speak to him for years without knowing his name,” said one of the fraternity yesterday. “If the man’s wife or mother notified the bartender not to sell him liquor, how would he know to whom the notification referred? It is utterly impossible as the law now stands, for us to have any safety whatever, and the photograph scheme would give us just the protection we need.”

The Iowa Retail Liquor Dealers’ association comprises probably two-thirds of the dealers in Council Bluffs and throughout Iowa. Back of it stand the big brewing and distilling firms, which own a large proportion of the saloons now in operation. The association is not merely a picnic organization, but is for working purposes. When suits are started against saloonists for apparent blackmail the association takes a hand and fights them to a finish.

That the liquor business is feeling the sort of strength that comes from union is shown by the fact that arrangements are now being made for the building of a large brewery at Le Mars. A few years ago anyone that embarked in a business of that sort in Iowa would have been thought a candidate for the commissioners of insanity, declared one dealer yesterday but the work of the association has put the liquor business on so firm a footing as to make a large expansion seem likely all over the state.

No one seems to doubt, say well informed liquor dealers, that a fight of large proportions is about to be waged in the direction of securing a more lenient liquor law than the one now in force, as plenty of capital, energy and other useful resources are on hand.

Tags: 1906, Ingerwersen, Klein, Stephens, Stevens