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ESTABLISHED 1843. FARMERS’ TEL CO. IN ANNUAL REPORT Stockholders Meet at Beetown, But Not Enough for Quorum. Plant Showing Healthy Increase- Many New Stations Added Past Year.—Sec’y Makes Summary. About eighty stockholders of the Farmers’ Telephone company gathered at Beetown last Wednesday, but as this number was 46 short of the quorum of 126 required, no formal meeting took place. There are 840 members in the concern and fifteen per cent of this number is necessary to constitute a quorum. The officers were all present, how ever, and a general discussion took place among those present regarding the condition of the company’s finan ces and affairs. Rolla Kinney, secre tary, had prepared a concise report of the year’s transactions showing dis bursements and receipts and subdivid ing *he various amounts into their proper classification. For the benefit of our readers, who are interested in the company’s progress, Mr. Kinney’s report is published in this week s is sue. The board of directors of the Farm ers’ company will meet today at Bee town and discuss the matter of hav ing a special meeting called at a later date. According to the company’s by laws, unless a sufficient number of members ask for a special meeting the present officers hold over until the next annual meeting. It is considered advisable by the of ficers to annul the present provision requiring fifteen per cent of the ctock holders present in order to have a meeting, as this is almost impossible in such a large body of members. President Anton Vogt, of Beetown, will place this before the commission at an early date. Mr. Kinney calls attention to cer tain features in this report. Some heavy expenditures in the past year, notably for cabling Lancaster and re routing lines to avoid high tension dif ficulties. amounted to about $4,000. This, of course, will not occur again. Another point is about the new tele phones: In the last year the com pany bought 100 instruments at a cost of abou* sl2 each. These stations brought very little revenue this year as they were just installed. Next year they will bring in $1,200. The railroad commission has or dered a new system of accounting and also a change in the method of rentals. At present those owning their own telephones pay $9 yearly while renters pay sl2. The commission orders that the rentals shall be equal and each user pay the same rate. Any surplus will be paid out as dividends. Receipts for 1915. Rentals, per statement $14,137.24 Independent line rent 359.57 Tolls, night calls and mes- sages 322.57 Batteries sold 9.40 Fennimore line sold 125.00 Com. on tolls * 91.12 Borrowed money 2,4-?0.00 For transferring shares 1.50 Supplies sold 36.4 e Telephones sold 24.00 Returned reels 100.65 Total receipts $17,657.50 Total disbursements $17,392.20 Bal. on hand Dec. 31, 1915 $ 265.30 Bal. on hand Jan. 12, 1916 —$ 1,232.44 Borrowed money $ 2,550.00 Disbursements fur 1915. Telephones 1 1,229.56 Operators’ salary 4.309.60 Wire, pins and crossarms 650.63 Poles 645.55 Cable 1,830.90 Batteries - 460.14 Miscellaneous Switch B. supplies and racks 355.29 Postage and stationery 92.84 Labor, old work 2,036.09 Freight 187.44 Printing Ifln- State and city tax llb.L Electric supplies 498.66 General supplies 1.084.36 Officers’ salaries 400.00 Error ?1.43 Light, fuel and rent 304.22 Drayage 7.00 Revenue 25.36 Tolls, night calls and mes- sages . 302.91 labor, new work 994.60 C. A. Vesperman, telephone rent 60.85 Notes paid to date 1,450.00 Int. on borrowed money 23.07 Total disbursements for 1915 $17,952.50 Unpaid checks Dec. 31, 1915_ 1,268.68 Checks in 1915 paid by treas. $16,653.82 Checks paid by treasurer, is- sued in 1914 708.38 Treas. disbursements Decem- ber 31.. 1915517,392.20 THE CIRCUIT COURT. Friday of this week will see a short session of circuit court when several matters will be taken care of by Judge Clementson. The next regular ses sion of circuit court will take place on the third Monday of next month — namely, February 21. At that time all new cases and such cases as were un disposed of at the conclusion of the last term, will com? up for disposition. -GRANT COUNTY HERALD SC HOOL INSPECTORS AT LARGE. H. M. Goddard, state high school in spector, and Miss Amy Bronsky, state inspector of grades below high school, dropped into Grant county Monday ot last week and for three days were busy in several different places. Coun ty superintendent of schools, Erhardt Charles Brick, went along for tw o days but came home to Lane ster Wednes day on the wings of the storm —as it were. The inspectors first looked at the Montfort system and found it good. The schools are overcrowded though and a recommendation was made to in crease facilities. At Cuba City the party looked over the new high school addition that cost the taxpayers of that enterprising lit tle city $17,000. This addition is part of a school building that represents a $40,000 investment. The building is two stories and a basement and contains among other things a large auditorium with a real stage and sure enough dressing rooms. There is also a well-equipped gymnasium in the basement and in other respects the building and equipment is thorough; ly up-to-date. Hazel Green was also on the itiner ary and the inspectors found the same condition as at Montfort —namely crowded. The organization is said to be good and in * other respects the school in first-class condition. MODERN WOODMEN INSTALL. Sylvan Camp No. 75, M. W. A. met at G. A. R. hall last Thursday night at 7 o’clock and after partaking of a tasty supper held their regular in stallation of officers. Hon. E. B. Goodsell acted as in stalling counsel, and C. W. Burrows as installing escort. With the regu lar business over the assemblage passed the time pleasantly visiting and playing a game called, “Marching to Jerusalem.” The following officers were seated for the ensuing year: Venerable Counsel —Julian Bellows. Advisor —Benjamin Suer. Clerk—W. E. Webb. • Banker —C. H. Basford. Escort —Henry Bryhan. Watchman —John Mankel. Sentry—John Breithaupt. Past Counsel —R. A. Irwin. Manager for three years—E. B. Goodsell. MARRIAGE LICENSES. Wallace Macke and Mary Uppena, both of Potosi. Alvah M. Boorman, and Ruth L. Remy, both of Bagley. HOLDING FARM SALES IN FREEZING WEATHER That editors and bank presidents are not afraid of the wintry blasts on the coldest day so far this year, was demonstrated last Thursday morning when at 8 o’clock George Moore, the Herald man and Will Tiller, driving Bess and Harry, the two blacks from the Tiller barn, drove out over the snow drifts on the Beetown road and broke tracks for the Hurricane. George played a trick on the news paper man and took the front seat so that the festive breezes from Med icine Hat would play a merry tattoo on our tender calves and ankles. How ever, he got what was coming to him on the way home, when he faced the north for nine long miles. The destination be it know, was the Bailey farm, located just north of the Hurricane Corners and the occasion was the sale of the Bailey-Hannum property. Everything was primed for the sale at the farm —Mrs. Hannum had one of those scrumptious farm dinners on the table waiting for the hungry men folks, and they fell to on time without much urging. Too much could not be said about that dinner, but anyone who has attended and participated at a dinner in a Grant county farm home knows how good things can be. This was a dandy. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Han num thought at first that the sale might have to be called off the weather was so cold, and many people who had announced their intention of coming, changed their minds on account of the cold weather and remained at home. Still a crowd of nearly one hundred was soon on the job and about 2 o’clock, like good sports, the owners ordered things started. Cold weather must be a stimulant to John Vesperman for he moved things in a hurry. The small stuff and im plements went in short order and in jig time. He was soon selling brood sows. They sold quite well bringing up to $23.50. The yearling steers went next and they brought $47 apiece for the lot of them. The yearling heifers sold for $43.75 apiece and the cows from $52 up to $73.50. Eight calves brought $29.50 each, or a total of $236. A fine brown mare. 6 years old, sold for $176 and her gelding colt, coming 3 years old. went for $99. Owing to the lateness of the day and the decided chilliness of the atmos phere, the owners did not sell the bal ance of the horses or the hay and grain. The sale came to nearly $2,- 800 and with any kind of weather would have reached considerable more. PUBLISHED AT LANCASTER. WISCONSIN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19,1916. POSTMASTER SHORT; COMMITS SUICIDE Drinks Carbolic Acid as U. S. Marshal Appears On Scene. Delinquency Amounts to $2,000 —Sec- ond Postoffice Discrepancy In Short Time—Sad Case. Louis Hammond, postmaster at Woodman, and proprietor of a small store, committed suicide by taking carbolic acid last Wednesday after noon. Woodman received a visit a short time ago from a postoffice in spector named John B. Wieklinski. The inspector found that Hammond was short about $2,000 in his accounts and notified headquarters. The mat ter was put up to United States Dis trict Attorney Aylward and last Wed nesday afternoon U. S. Marshal R. J. Flint came to Woodman with the papers for Hammond’s arrest. Hammond knew that the inspector was working on his books, and that it was a question of a few hours when he would be arrested. The inspector stepped out of the office about noon for lunch and while he was absent Hammond went over to the saloon. He there secured a small glass par tially full of hot water and filled it to the brim with dilute carbolic acid. After drinking it he rushed outside where he dropped unconscious. This was about 12:30. At 12:45 Flint stepped from the train but later returned to Madison without serving the papers. Physicians summoned from Boscobel did everything possible, but Ham mond passed away during the night. The funeral was held Friday afternoon at Boscobel. Hammond was about 35 years old and leaves a wife and four children, all small. His father, named Thomas Hammond, is an old soldier and lives at Boscobel. Mrs. Hammond is a daughter of John Ostrander, who also lives in the neighborhood. Ham mond’s business was said to be meagre and the family’s circumstances in bad shape. Considerable comment has been made regarding the defalcations of such large sums in such small towns as Beetown and Woodman. Apparent ly Uncle Sam has been checking up these offices at very irregular inter vals. CHURCHES. Congregational Church. 10:00 —Sunday school. 11:00 —Morning worship. 6:45 —Christian Endeavor. 7:30 —A Gospel service. 7:30 —Wednesday. Prayer meeting and Junior C. E. Teachers’ training class will follow. 3:00 —Friday. Ladies’ Aid will meet at the home of Mrs. Lou Starr. Methodist Church. Prayer meeting this week will be held on Wednesday evening instead of Thursday, on account of Dr. O’Neal’s lecture at the opera house. The services next Sunday will be as usual. Sunday school at 9:30. Morning worship 10:30. Junior League 2:30. Epworth League 6:30. Gospel service at 7:30. Presbyterian Church. 9:4s—Sunday school. 10:45 —Morning worship. 2:00 —Hurricane Sunday school. 3:00 —Divine service, followed by business meeting. 7:30 —Boice Creek evening service. 7:30 Wednesday. Services at Rockville. Baptist Church. The Bible school begins at 9:30 with six classes, all doing good work, and a new Sunday school choir. Five min utes for missions each Sunday and ap propriate songs. Last Sunday “How Some Americans Spend Their Money,” was presented by the girls. Next Sunday, “Japan” missions by the young ladies. The school is moving along nicely in interest and attendance. Morning worship at 10:30. Subject: “Christians and Worldly Men Compared.” The “Farther Light” society organ ized last Sunday, will meet each Sun day at 2:30. The B. Y. P. U. is increasing in in terest and numbers with Paul Knoke president. Same meets each Sunday at 6:30. Evening service at 7:30. Weekly prayer service Thursday at 7:30. The Sunday school teachers are re quested to be present at 7:15 for a conference. The public is kindly invited to all meetings. HOME ECONOMICS AT FENNIMORE. Next Saturday morning at 9:30 a representative of the Home Economics Department. University of Wisconsin, will be at the Fennimore high school with the purpose of establishing a home economics course among the teachers of that neighborhood similar to the one being given at Lancaster. All interested are urged to come. BLIZZARD STRIKES IN OLD GRANT COUNTY Temperature Drops Decidedly In Twenty-four Hours’ Time. Storm Blows From North —Coal Piles Melt Rapidly—Grant County Seemingly Vortex. Last Wednesday was what might have been called a cold day with a maximum temperature of 20 degrees above zero and a minimum of 10 de grees below. Along towards evening the storm that had been threatening all day came whirling down from the north and with the snow a biting wind that made the thermometers perform gymnastics. The drop in twenty-four hours amounted to 47 degrees for by Thurs day morning the official Lancaster thermometer showed 27 degrees be low. Wednesday night was a cork er —with the intense cold and blind ing snow was a gale that whistled and shrieked with a total disregard of our feelings or our coal pile. Early risers found their hands stinging as they plied their snow shovels, and soon went back to the warm fire for relief. Local thermom eters this time were nearer right than usual as most of them registered close to the actual mark. Friday and Saturday things grad ually worked back to a more livable condition. The local train service was hampered but not seriously. Numerous pipes were frozen and the plumbers were kept busy for several days. The coal yards had the usual rush that accompanies every sudden drop in temperature, but handled the orders with despatch and no one suffered. Getting away from Lancaster and Grant county we find that the Wis consin metropolis had its lowest tem perature of 15 degrees below at 9 a. m., Thursday. At that considerable confusion and discomfort resulted. Letter carriers were unable to gather mail because the boxes were frozen shut and many a letter was delayed on this account. Train service in the northwest was in general delayed and a bad collision with a number of pas sengers injured occurred at West Al lis, due it is said to steam condens ing to such an extent that the engin eer could not see ahead. A freak of the storm is shown by the United States weather bulletin for last Thursday. The west central states give temperatures ranging from 6 below at Des Moines to 20 be low at Bismarck. Canadian stations range from 22 below at Winnepeg to 38 above at Montreal —the latter city evidently not being in the path of the storm. Mountain points show Havre, Montana, at 22 below and Denver 32 above. Yes, it was some storm with things looking like old Grant county, if not being exactly the center, the vortex was dangerously near it. Have a snowball. COMING EVENTS. The West Side Reading Circle will meet Tuesday afternoon with Mrs. R. B. Showalter. The Pythian Sisters installation was postponed last week on account of the weather, and will be held this evening. The Gen. Callis Good Will Offering Circle will meet Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p. m., with Mrs. R. B. Show alter. The men of the M. E. church will give a chicken pie supper on Wednes day, Feb. 2, from 5 o’clock until all are served. Everybody come. There will be a meeting of the Boice Creek Cemetery Association at the Boice Creek church, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 1916, at 2 o’clock p. m. Mrs. Aug ust Roesch, secretary. 47t2 What? Fun! Fun! At the big dance at the rink in Lan caster, Thursday night, Feb. 3rd. Platteville orchestra. Come if you can! The M. W. A. Sylvan camp No. 75 will hold their annual dance. Thurs day evening, January 20 at the rink. Dance tickets, 75c; spectators, 25c; ladies free. Everybody come and have a good time. There will be a meeting of the members of the Boice Creek church at their church building, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 1916, at 2:15 o’clock p. m. This will be a business meeting of the so ciety. 47t2 HIGH SCHOOL MOVIES. Program this week is a crecker Pathe Weekly, world’s greatest news pictures. Drama, “Ashes of Dreams” with Henry Walthall, leading actor in “Birth of a Nation”. Comedy, “His friend the Captain.” Travel pictures, “A Trip Through Sudan and Japan.” Can you beat it? Help make the ma chine pay for itself. Come. —Miss Mabel Pflug of Cleveland. 0.. has been visiting at the Herman Roth home the past week. BOOTH AND DOTY SENTENCED, According to the Richland Center Democrat, Haney Booth and Ralph Doty, the two Richland Center young men who were apprehended at Bloom ington with the Ingham automobile and returned for trial, entered pleas of guilty before Judge McCorkle last week. The court sentenced them to four months’ imprisonment in the county jail, the sentence carrying with it hard labor. Under the statute now cover ing jail sentences at labor the sheriff is authorized to “farm out” such labor and to turn into the county treasury the money so earned. The probabili ties are that the lads will be kept pret ty busy and will have plenty of hours in which to figure out the real cost of their stolen ride. On Saturday af ternoon Sheriff Miller secured a job for Doty on a farm near Woodstock and Booth is learning the action of a buck saw at the jail yard. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN WISCONSIN TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION February 11 and 12 at Madison will be devoted to the annual meeting of the Southern Wisconsin Teachers’ As sociation. The meeting will take place at the Madison high school build ing and commences at 9:15 Friday morning. A glance at the program shows many splendid features, both in the general sessions and sectional meetings. The meeting is open to members whether teachers or not, and no charge is made beyond the membership fee of fifty cents. An interesting session is looked forward to. SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS IN COUNTY SCHOOLS The present know supply of avail able teachers is practically exhaust ed. All such teachers who hold cer tificates that are now in force and who desire to teach, will kindly notify the county superintendent of schools, at! once, so that they may be notified when vacancies occur. E. C. Brick, county superintendent of schools. STOCK SHIPMENTS. Wednesday, Jan. 12. —George Jer rett, two cars of cattle. Thursday, Jan. 13.—Edgar Croft, one car of hogs. Saturday, Jan. 15.—Edgar Croft, one car of hogs, and two cars of cattle. Monday, Jan. 17.—Place and Jerrett, one car of hogs. Tuesday, Jan. 18. —McCoy & McCoy, one car mixed. George Jerrett. two cars of cattle. CORN AND DAIRY WEEK PROGRAM UNDER WAY “Corn and Dairy Week” got well started yesterday with Mr. Danks and Mr. Graber both on the job. Yesterday morning was taken up with a general discussion of dairy cat tle, Mr. Danks giving the talk. Mr. Danks spoke of various methods in bringing up the standard in a herd and also dwelt at some length on the diseases of dairy cattle and remedial agents. That the meetings are considered a good thing was shown by the number of farmers and dairymen in attend ance both morning and afternoon. There was a very good crowd for a start, Mr. Graber said, and the later days of the week are likely to have a splendid attendance. Mr. Danks and Mr. Graber are both farmers themselves —nothing of the high collar and highbrow type about these young men and they talk straight from the shoulder about the things they are familiar with. If they are ; not up on something they are willing to admit and believe they can also : learn a good deal from their audiences. 1 The talks are very informal and any | listener desiring to ask a question is asked to break right in while the matter is on the tip of the tongue and ■ ask about it. The meetings are ar- ; ranged for the benefit of the men ac- , tive in farming and while everyone ‘ is welcome, farmers are particularly urged to attend during the week. The picture program has been changed to Friday evening instead of J Thursday as announced on account of the other things on the cards for Thursday night. Friday evening at the high school will be given a lec ture on the Panama Pacific exposition using colored slides. Friday afternoon will be devoted largely to alfalfa rais ing at the rink, and the picture at the high school following the slides will consist of 3,000 feet of film on alfalfa raising in Wisconsin. All farmers at- I tending the meetings at rink will be ’ issued tickets admitting them free of charge. A charge of ten cents will be made at the door to others desiring to see the slides and pictures. Thursday and Friday will be taken up with en tirely different subjects, so do not fail to come both days. —Miss Mae Hannum ij able to be ( up after an attack of pneumonia. —Misses Nettie Tuckwood and Nel- , lie Bollard are confined to their homes suffering with an attack of lagrippe. ; Miss Tuckwood has been sick for some ■ time. VOL. 73. NO. 47 SONE DEALS IN DIRT FOR PASTSEVEN DAYS Transfers Filed With Recorder of Grant County. An Active Movement in Good Farm ing Lands and All Kinds of Town Property. From Jan. 10 to Jan. 15. Samuel Peacock to Fer dinand Burbach, contain ing 5 acres, more or less, in Smelser; considera tion $ 275.00 Karl Hindermann to Henry Hindermann, containing 80 acres in Hazel Green; con sideration 9,500.00 Francis H. Dalen, Arley Da- len, Charles Dalen and Fred Dalen to Henry A. Reed, containing 60 acres in more or less, in Ellen boro; consideration 600.00 Joseph Sneider to Joseph Kaiser, containing 137.5 a. more or less in Jamestown; consideration $14,062.50 John Eckert to Carl Von- drau, containing 11.68 a., in Jamestown; considera tion 1,000.06 Herman Digman to John Eck- ert —acres in Jamestown; consideration 3,000.00 John H. Daniels to Ferdin- and Burback, containing 10 acres more or less in Smel ser; consideration 375.00 Ella Hale to Henry Bonn, 80 acres in Patch Grove; consideration 1.00 William Ostrander to Central State Bank of Boscobel, Wis., containing 240 acres more or less in Watters town; consideration 600.00 Lancaster Loses to Platteville. Lancaster high school basket ball team opened the season here, Friday night, and were defeated by Platte ville, 16-11'. A fair-sized audience witnessed the rough contest, and un doubtedly were disappointed at the result. Neither team showed any team-work, and the basket shooting was very poor. It is doubtful if some of the local players could have tossed, a basket ball into a bushel basket. This year’s team seemed to lack the “fight” and “pep” which was so char acteristic of last year’s five. The play ing of some of Lancaster's men was far below expectations, but lack of practice is given as an excuse. Black burne played a very good c .ame at cen ter, while Oyer and Clanton did good, work, considering it was their first game. Mingst, Platteville’s scrappy forward, was the star of the game, cag ing five baskets, two of which were of the sensational variety. Pitts, the vis itor’s 200-pound guard, surprised the spectators by his playing. He broke up every play which came into Platte ville’s territory and held his man to one basket. The locals showed thev were in poor condition and this, com bined with over-confidence, caused the defeat. Sangster, of Fennimore, ref ereed, and proved very satisfactory. The lineup: Lancaster —Dyer, rs; Oyer-Clanton, If; Blackburne, c; Angus, rg; Ed wards, capt. Ig. Platteville —Mingst, capt. rs; Car thew If; Sanders c; Pitts rg; Barris lg. Goals from field: Mingst 5; Sanders 2; Blackburne 2; Carthew, Oyer, Ed wards, Angus. Free throws tried: Lancaster 8; made 1. Platteville, 5; made 0. Referee —Sangster. Umpire—Monk. The next game, scheduled with Darl ington, will be played on the oppon ent's home floor. Fennimore plays here, Wednesday, January 26. FARMERS’ TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS ATTENTION! According to the annual statement of the Farmers’ Telephone company as published in this week’s Herald, there is an existing deficit of about $2,500. This amount will be greatly reduced if the delinquent rentals amounting to about SI,OOO are paid up promptly. Those in arrears are asked to give this their early attention. Respectful ly, Farmers’ Telephone Company, by Rolla Kinney, secretary. TAKEN TO COUNTY HOME. Mrs. Estella Gould of Montfort, who was recently committed to the state hospital at Chippewa Falls and con veyed there by Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Dyer, only to be refused admittance on account of her age, was committed to the county asylum last week. Mr. and Mrs. Gould were in Lancaster Tuesday and Judge Goodsell made out the papers committing her for treat ment. Great sympathy is felt for Mrs. Gould and family by their friends. THE JUSTICE COURTS. Frank Dalum of Ellenboro, and Wil liam Wiest of lowa, spent last Thurs day night as the guests of the city, following their being corralled by Night Policeman Frank Stitzer. Da lum and Wiest were arraigned Wed nesday on a charge of being drunk and disorderly and assessed fines of $5 and costs, which they paid.