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Newspaper
Monticello Express
Location
Monticello, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 31, 1903
Page
1
A New Year tale set in a moonlit tower where Ruprecht, a gifted bell ringer, recalls a life of ambition love and family. As the clock nears midnight his farewell chimes carry memories of Elspeth Ruprecht and a mother’s hope. The scene blends faith music and the ache of parting.
A piano virtuoso revealed as the long‑lost son of Elspeth’s world returns at the stroke of midnight. The farewell year closes as the weathered bell tower keeps time with the musician’s farewell hymn and a mother’s hopeful joy.
A Washington Star fragment captures Mr Meekton asking his wife about wearing a neck tie given at Christmas. She replies she will wear the red necktie with a nile green jacket and purple and yellow socks and smoke a birthday cigar, all at once.
Special correspondence from Des Moines notes the Iowa State Library Commission plans general oversight of all school libraries, enforcing use instruction and better utilization of the 300,000 volumes under the Trewin law funding. It preserves a $6,000 appropriation and seeks no increase.
Marshalltown plans to file a suit for more than 10 000 dollars against the county, contending road taxes paid to the county should fund city streets. The county disagrees. The Iowa state library commission met at the capitol to review the past year and plan for the future, deciding not to ask for more leniency and requesting about 6006 dollars in appropriation.
Y Locke of Sibley state bank becomes vice president and managing officer at Security Trust company in St Paul Minnesota while retaining part interest and holding roles at National bank of Melvin and Harris in Osceola county and vice president and director at his Iowa bank.
At a conference of Iowa fire insurance agents in Des Moines the formation of a field board was postponed until after the legislature adjourns in April. A banquet followed with S and Phelps of Burlington presiding. About 50 delegates attended as it was generally believed no organization would be formed.
Iowa reports the 1903 corn crop from weather service shows 7,398,320 acres cultivated and harvested. Average statewide yield 31 bushels per acre, total 230,511,310 bushels. Farm price 36 cents per bushel, value about $82,984,071. prior year value near $83,000,000.
Jay C. Schugert and Alva St. Mason return home after a year and a half global voyage starting August 4, 1902. They found work along the way, traveled via Spokane Seattle and Tacoma to South Africa, then served as seamen aboard a three masted vessel carrying Dakota wheat, a 99 day transatlantic voyage.
Drake issued the challenge and Ames accepted for a Des Moines February debate. The subject will be non technical and of general interest, likely political or national policy. Ames must pick by January 15 and Drake responds by February 1.
The Patriarchs Militant of the Odd Fellows' lodge will meet in Des Moines February 9 to plan locating permanent headquarters for the Iowa branch. Over 300 Odd Fellows expected. Des Moines considered best chance for the site. Also notes on New College Must Whit fire recovery. Rev Hastford says rebuilding will take time and the Iowa conference must decide on next steps. Plus Frank Roberts, Jasper county treasurer, reports 98 percent tax collection for 1902 with $120,305.03 taxes and $12,793.28 delinquent collected in two years. Nearby Parlham hosts a record farm auction including John Gunden’s 280-acre farm sold at $85/acre to Phil Sheridan of Des Moines. extensive livestock and grain also sold.
Iowa railroad commissioners plan a thorough investigation into the high number of wrecks with unprecedented loss of life. They urge trained station operators and consider legislation to set a standard of efficiency, with bills under discussion to enforce it.
A blaze in Keokuk destroyed the Hubinger Brothers starch factory killing watchman John B. Puder. Loss estimated at 250 900 dollars with 44 000 dollars insured. Explosion in a dryer room started the fire. The plant opened April 29 when President Roosevelt pressed a button during a visit. Manager H W Green says the plant will be rebuilt.
Adam Mickle of Spencer known as Scotty, a former hostler, is named heir to a fortune of four million dollars after a banker traced a newspaper notice of a wealthy Australian who died without relatives. Mickle, a native of Scotland, is to inherit as the sole heir.
Early morning robbery at Citizens Savings Bank in Quimby nets $3,000 in cash. Sheriff Price of O'Brien county captures two suspects at Paulina after they burglarize the local post office for $125 and recover $1,430 of the stolen bank funds. The whereabouts of the remaining three men and full identities are unknown.
An Illinois man named M. L. Pinkley arises as a new claimant to the Jacob M. Funk million-dollar estate in Webster City alleging his mother was his late aunt and seeking a substantial portion of the fortune.
One hundred years ago Iowa joined the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. To mark the anniversary thirteen thousand schools statewide held special services. In Des Moines schools and colleges paused work for the event with speeches by prominent educators.
W. L. Moore street commissioner in Cedar Rapids was indicted by the Lion county grand jury for drawing pay for a nonexisting man named William Martin. Witnesses testified there was no such person, describing Martin as a straw man.
Engineer Knox, veteran on the Denver line, was killed in a wreck one mile east of Malvern on the Denver Limited No 1 westbound. No passengers were seriously injured. Residing in Creston, he leaves a wife two daughters and a son.
Three children of August Batteen a farmer in Alamakee county were burned to death when the family home was destroyed by fire. Batteen and his wife left five children alone in the house. two children escaped the blaze.
A run of obituaries and incidents reports details deaths from murder in Des Moines, a fire at Estherville injuring homes and greenhouses, a Sumner farmer’s fatal brain rupture, and a wheel chair bound man’s death in Oskaloosa. Other notices include a Cedar Falls judge’s long service, a Johnson county political leader’s death, Adelbert T. Stewart leading a touring glee club, Fort Madison’s long imprisoned inmate Frank Watkins’ death, Frank Bradbury’s million dollar inheritance, and a Garden City bank robbery with a $1,000 theft.
Prof. Felix Schurig completed oil paintings from photographs of former governors Sherman and Newbold. The works, ordered by Charles Aldrich for the Des Moines state historical gallery, depict Sherman with beard from his early auditor days and Newbold who later became governor.
Special correspondence reports that osteopathic doctors demand Gov. Cummins name an osteopath to the state board of health and to the state board of medical examiners. The present law ties memberships. boards oppose an osteopath on health but not on medical examiners. If unmet, osteopaths threaten to seek a separate board.
Charles A. Pell Drake university athletic director and track trainer at Cedar Falls state normal school announced engagement to Etta Merner world class sprinter and student at the same normal school. Pell trained Merner turning her into a leading 100 yard sprinter and broad jumper with noted performances.
Ex Senator T J Harper of Burlington succeeds Merritt Greene of Marshalltown as president of the State Good Roads association. Harper, a pioneer in the movement, and Secretary D B Lyons of Des Moines expect legislative action to fund road construction with state one half and various local shares.
A petition to lower Iowa long haul freight rates has been filed with the state railroad commission by Mississippi river jobbers. Interior jobbers protest the change warning it could put them out of business and plan a meeting. river jobbers threaten legislative action if their demands are unmet.
Profs. William Miller and Guy Clinton of Clarinda publish The Concrete Arithmetic. The Singapore language edition emphasizes the metric system and includes many Philippine terms, with Philippine printers and binders noted for quality.
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