The courier-index., September 21, 1917, Image 1

About The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current

Image provided by: Arkansas State Archives

                
TWELVE PAGES THIS WEEK
I 5% (EmtTOr-Jttitex. I
_ MARIANNA, ARKANSAS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. 1917. NO. 37
Waterworks Issue
To Be Settled Soon
Within the next week or ten days
the property owners in water im
proveinent district No. 1 will be call
ed upon to act on a proposition tc
dispose of the water system to the
Arkansas Light & Power Companj
The company, under the terms of a
contract made two years ago with
i the city council and water com mis
, sioners, offers to pay $20,000 for the
system. If the sale is made the
water commissioners will be required
to pay off all outstanding bonds
against the district, amounting tc
approximately $12,000, together with
accrued interest, whicti amounts tc
$4,000 or $5,000. This will leave ap
proximately $3,000 to be distributed
among the property owners in the
district on the basis of their assess
ments.
The city council, at a meeting on
Thursday night of last week, appoint
ed a committee composed of R. L.
Mixon, Max D. Miller, members of the
council, and J. E. Stevenson, one of
the water commissioners, to prepare
an article giving a brief history of
the water situation in order that
property owners mignt be informed
on the issue.
On Thursday morning of this week
a number of property owners who
are opposed to the sale of the plant
to the Arkansas Light & Power Com
pany or to any other corporation or
individual, held a meeting and ap
pointed a committee composed of
Hugh Mixon, D. S. Plummer and J.
B. Daggett to prepare an article in
opposition to the sale of the system.
The Courier-Index presents below
botn articles—first, the tfne prepared
by the council committee, and im
mediately following, the one prepared
by the citizens' committee. Every
nxnnnefl' /kll'tlOP irk tflO U H Ck 11 1 H
*'*'-'*' .
read both articles so he can act in
telligently and with a full knowledge
of tne facts when the petition seek
ing the ratification of the proposed
sale of the plant is presented to him
tor action. Ftefusal to sign the pe
tition counts against the sale.
STATEMENT OF WATER SITUA
TION PREPARED BY COMMIT
TEE APPOINTED BY MAYOR
DUF?UY UPON MOTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
In the beginning of th* water ques
tion certain citizens created and
formed an improvement district with
a boundary definitely laid out. issued
bonds, giving a lien of the property
contained in said district, and thus
obtained the necessary money, built
the water plant,’ and after a short
while found that the Commissioners
had made a grave error in allowing
certain kinds of pipe to be laid as
water mains; sued and recovered
damages, issued a second series of
bonds, relaid the mains; after which
for a period the water plant paid
expenses and accumulated a small
reserve out of which a second well
was made and sometime later, it was
found that the plant was very much
run down, and out of repair to such
an extent that the calamity of being
without water wras a condition ap
parent. Under these circumstances
the city council advanced to the
water district five thousand dollars
out of the city treasury, to enable
them to make the necessary im
provements, which improvements
were made. For this money the
rnnimiGBintutrsi lamipH t WO HOtfiS
able to the city, and no payment,
either principal or interest, has
been paid on said notes. The watei
district passed through another per
iod paying expenses, but about the
time of the settlement of the light
rate controversy, it was found that
the water plant was not. accumulat
ing any surplus to take care ot
future improvements, and negotia
tions were opened with the Arkan
sas Light & Power Company, and
after much discussion of the subject
the citizenry composing the district
assembled in mass meeting am
VWtthorized the Commissioners and
<:ity council Jointly to sell the water
plant for twenty thousand dollars,
the price being based on a repot t
made by W. N. Gladson (a professor
in the IT. or A. employed by the
city tor the purpose), a» t0 ,,u‘
physical value of the plant, and to
enter into a contract with said > °m
panv to run the plant for the rents
revenue till the city or commission
ers could pass a bill through the
legislature authorizing the sale am
transfer of title. The bill was pass
ed but requires the endorsement o
the citizenry composing the distiu
The matter cannot be closed up
until a majortity of citizens com
posing the district express them
selves by petition, which opportune >
will be given you in a few days
All documents and papers supporting
the foregoing statement can be found
on file with the city clerk. Every
property owner in the district will
be counted either for or against
the sale as outlined and it is to
ascertain your wishes that the pe
tition will be presented to you
(Signed)
R L. MIXON,
MAX I). MILLER,
J. E. STEVENSON,
Committee.
STATEMENT BY CITIZENS’ COM
MITTEE.
On account of the expiration of
the temporary contract which has ex
isted between the city council and
the Arkansas Light & Power Com
pany since the first of August, 1915,
which contract involves the sale of
the Marianna water works system to
I the latter company, the city council
has been called upon to determine at
once the matter of whether the sale
in question shall be consumated.
The council has therefore very prop
erly decided to take the necessary
steps to determine that very import
ant question by the circulation of a
petition approving the sale, which
must be signed by the majority in
value of the property owners within
the district before the legal transfer
of the water plant can be made.
The council is also endeavoring in
a very fair and impartial manner
to acquaint the public with a com
plete history of the water plant from
the date of the first issue of bonds
to the present dme. In order to do
this they are publishing in this issue
of the Courier-Index a statement ad
dressed to the public, giving all the
tacts as related above without com
ment, leaving it up to the people to
decide whether they shall sign the
pcuuuu ICICIICU IU V> UCI1 It is pic
sented. The undersigned committee
has been appointed by a body of citi
zens who oppose the sale of the
water plant, to present a few facts
which are not shown in the state
ment published by the city council,
and to present some arguments in
support of their opposition to the
sale, which we feel sure must prove
convincing to any citizen who gives
the subject the careful study it de
serves. In doing this the committee
is authorized to state very distinctly
that no criticism ot the action of the
council in the matter of the contract
with the power company is intended
to be made, neither is it intended to
question their absolute integrity of
purpose in making the contract.
There is nothing of a personal nature
the whole matter whatever and it fs
hardly necessary for us to avow
our high regard for the gentlemen
composing the city council or onr
confidence in their ultimate inten
tions. We do not believe however that
it would be a fatal error for the city
to sell its water plant to the Arkan
sas Light & Power Company or to
any other company or individual.
Believing this as we do. we urge
upon those citizens who are interest
ed that they refuse to sign the pe
tition in question until they have
made a careful study of the jM’otKjsi- j
tion and have become sufficiently in- ■
foriuua to decide the matter accord- !
ing to their very best individual
judgment.
In support of our position we de
sire to make a few comments on some
of the facts as set out in the council’s
statement as well as on some fea
tures of the sale contract itself
which latter instrument, while avail ;
able for inspection by anyone inter
ested, has not been published.
Referring to the council's state
ment relating to continued lapses
in the financial affairs of the water
district during its operation up to.
1915, tt is true that from tne insinu
ation of the water system up until'
the time it was turned over to tide
water company its affairs suffered
various vicissitudes. Part of the time
the revenue from water rents ex
ceeded ordinary expenses and creat
ed a surplus; part of the time re
ceipts and expenditures were about
even, while most of the time it
seems the revenue was not equal to
the expense of upkeep and during alt
of the time the plant and its machin
ery was being run down and depre
ciated It is a fact that it became
necessary for the city to make a
loan of $5,000 to the water district
in order that necessary repairs on
the plant could be made ami it is
also a fact that none of this money
nor any of the interest has ever
been paid.
Let us call attention however to
the fact that the city, with the
exception of the first three or four
years has not to the present time
paid to the water district one cent
for hydrant rentals. In the event
that this proposed sale goes through,
however, it is provided in the con
tract that the city shall pay to the
power company $25 per month for
hydrant rentals, which shows a
Lee County’s First Draft Quota
The picture shown above was taken Ten-Oent Stores in Marianna and
on Saturday morning, sept. 8, just as Blytheville. The other members of
the first thirteen white men from *)ai*-v are Leonard A. Gillenwater
... , , , , of Moro. Samuel Mattox of Marianna,
Marianna and Lee County, Arkansas Benj ,, ThompBon of Allbrey, r,ar
were ready to board the train for ence Edward Davis of Council, Harry
Camp Pike to become units in Casey Simmons of Rondo, John
Uncle Sam's new army. Bennett Everett Motsinger of Holly Grove,
Freeman in shirt sleeves on extreme Jesse Lawson Hughes of Haynes*
right, was designated as custodian of Harry Emmett Draper of Haynes,
the men to see they were delivered William A. Austin of Marianna. Eu
to the military authorities. Mr Free, gene G. Smiley of Moro, Wilkes
man is one' of the drafted men. He Mathews Andrews of Monroe, Jim
is head of the Freemar Five and Harris of Wheatley.
LEARY RESIGNS AS
SECRETARY OF CLUB
WILL ACCEPT OFFER TO EM
BARK IN COTTON BUSINESS—
PRES. DAGGETT NAMES H. Mi.
JACKSON TEMPORARY SEC.
Glen H. Leary, who has been, sec
retary of the Marianna Commercial
Clnb during the past two months,
has tendered his resignation to the
board of directors, effective between
September 24 and October 1. His
resignation Tiast been acce.pted and
President Daggett has aptxiihted H.
M. Jackson actthg secretary until the
board of directors meets and chooses
a man for the place permanently.
Mr. Leary stated he regretted very
much to give up the work, but that
he had been made a very fluttering
offer to embark in the cotton: busi
ness and he Cuuid not afford to
retain the secretaryship! ih' view of
the more remunerative field tiiat had
been opened to nim. Mr. LLeary had
just gotten well into his work as
secretary and gave every- promise of
making good.
least that the power company is
not overlooking any small bets.. If
the ctty h»d been paying $25 per
month hydrant rants to the water
district during all these' years, would
it nave oeen neceBsaQ tui iuc uij
toi have to make this $5,000 loan?
We believe we are correct in as
serting that the principle reason why
the water plant has not been operut--j
eel on a successful! basis is that it
has not been properly managed
We do not attempt to lay the blame
for this at the feet of anyone, hut
we do believe that ail of the gentle
men- without exception' who are in
favor of the sale of the water works
will agree with us in this statement.
In partial' support of chip claim are
refer to the record of its manage
ment during the last two years it
was operated prior to 1915 during
which time, with" El C. Goerrant in
charge, it was conducted' on a paying
basis.
We want to call further attention
to. the fallowing clause which ap
pears in the contract of sate adopted
by the council:
"The company further agrees that
it will extend its mains throughout
the city in new districts where the
gross revenue for the first year
from bona fide patrons will equal
i 50 per cent of the original cost of
[ installation, etc.*'
It will readily be seen from this
I that citizens living outside the pres
ent hounds of the water district will
have small chance to have mains
extended to their district for the
j reason that they must first guarantee
! that the gross revenue from patrons
I the first year must equal half the
! cost of installation, and if it does
not equal that sum the deficiency
must be paid out of their pockets.
1 It is reasonable to suppose that it
J advantage is taken of this splendid
1 offer bv citizens of any certain
| • -
| (Continued on Page 6)
TO ORGANIZE HOME GUARD
All the adult male citizens of
Marianna who are not subject
to military duty under the se
lective draft act are urged to
attend a mass meeting at the
! court house at 7:30 o'clock Sat
urday night. September 22. for
the purpose of organizing a
company of home guards. Or
ganizations of this nature are
being formed all over the coun
try. There is a much needed
work to be done by the older
mem who will not be accepted
in the army. The patriotic
citizens of this city and section
can find many wayk to assist
the government in its fight
against the autocracy' that is
seeking world dominion. Come
out Saturday night and be one
o£ os. ft will do yon good.
B. M. GO VAN
E. D. ROBERTSON
AHd! Others.
ELUJS4VE NEGRO IS STOPPED
BY BULLET IN HIS FOOT
A negro named Leon Baylis,. em
ployed as a waiter in the Hiatel
Marianna, is in the county jail «n a
«harge of grand larceny. Incident
ally he is nursing a wounded foot,
the result of the good marksmanship
of Deputy Sheriff McDougal of For
rest City. On Monday night the
negro entered cfie sample room of
the hotel here and stole about if50
worth of finery, which he- presented
to a negro girlt whom it iw stated he
intended to marry. Deputy Sheriff ,
CEaud Cotter found the stolen articdesj
in, a trunk at the negro woman S j
home. She claims Baylis told her he
had bought- the goods for her. La/er
.dr. Cotter went to the hotel and
placed the negro under arrest. He
placed Urn in an automobile and
started from the hotel to the jail,
someone called tu Cotter und he
turned his head Do- reply. When he
lookedl back the negro wais gone, i
He had leaped from the cur and
made his escape. Officers at sur^
rounding towns were notified, and! J
Wednesday morning Deputy Sheriff
McDougal located Baylis at the court
house at Forrest City. When the
officer approached his man, the lat
te again pinned his faith to his
sprinting qualities. Finding he could
not outrun Baylis the officer fired at
him. the hall striking the fleeing
Senegambian in the left foot. His
capture followed. Later he was
brought to Marianna and placed in ,
jail.
---o-—
BANK IS DISPOSING OF
THOROUGHBRED CATTLE
.. —
The carload of thoroughbred Short
horn cattle which ('has McKee of the
4,ee County National Bank recently ,
-^purchased, reached Marianna Tues-.
day evening and on Wednesday Mr.
McKee began disposing of the stock
to Lee County farmers. The cattle
are being sold at cost and carriage. |
Those who made purchases Wednes-'
dav were as follows Grove & Hewitt,
i
Second Army Quota
Goes to Camp Pike
Lee county’s- second contribution to
the new army the government is
raising consisted of twenty-one fine
young men, all white, who left, here
on a special Missouri Pacific train
Wednesday morning for Camp Pike.
The adjutant general asked for 36
white men. but the local board was
able to furnish only 31 at the time.
A large crowd gathered at the station
at 7 o'clock Wednesday morning to
bid the young men “Good-bye and
God bless you.” The Marianna Com
mercial Club Hand played patriotic
airs and the assembled throng joined
in singing “America.”
Those who constituted this quota
were John Franklin Secrest, James
C. McAlexander, Wm. Demoret, Fred
Lawson Merck, Wm. E. Gillen water,
Thus. Henry Wttite, Jesse G. Willis,
Roscoe Fitzgerald, Asa L. Lanham.
Walter. D. Bross, James E. Singer,
Geo. Casey, Edwin R. Cox, Garland
F. Hartley, James P. Hughes, Noble
Herbert Neal, John Eber Manning,
Jas. McQuarry, John Oxner and Mack
J. Brewer. The Ibc.al boarii appoint
ed John Eber Manning captain of the
squad of men.
The next call is for 176 men, white
and black, wHT> are ta> entrain here
on Wednesday morning, October 3.
The local board has completed the
following auTiitional lists of those
called into service, those exempted,
and those who have .ailed to appear
for examination and are on the
“pink” list.
LIST OF PERSONS CALLED INTO
THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED
STATES, NOT EXEMPTED OR
DISCHARGED BY THE LOCAL
BOARD OF LEE COUNTY', ARK.
Blane White, c, Thomasville; John
Jones, e, Marianna; Arthur Peters, c,
Council: John Pointer, c, Moro; Lu
ther Haywood, c, Marianna; Will
McNeal.c, Aubrey; Willis Jamea
Cobb, c, Lexa; Thomas Henry White,
w, Rondo; Charley wells, c, Mari
anna: Jesse G or dor Willis, w, Marh
anna; Judge Williams, c. Marianna;
John Wesley, c, Soudan; Rose**?
Fitzgerald, w, Marianna; Asa Lafay
ette lianham, w, Marvell R. F. Di;
Jeasse Page, c, Brickeys; Jimmie
Dyer, c, Marianna; Walter D. Bross,
w, Moro; Philander Hicks, c. Mart
anna; Nathan: Hill, Jr, c, Brickeys;
James Elmer Singer, w. Jaiestine R
F D.; Hamp Thomas, c, Marianna;
Solomon Darby, c, Auorey; Will May
Custum, c, Moro; Lee Saunders, c.
La Grange; Joseph Doom and, c,
brickeys; Houstan Perkins, c, Moro;
Tim Presley Moore, c, Haynes; Alon
zo Butler,, c. Marvo'd: R. F. D.v Larry
Barnes, e, Auorey; Will Spencer, c.
Council; Grover Shackelford}, cr, Aub
rey; Willie Douglas, c, Soudan;
George Casey, w, Marianna R. F. D.;
Edwin R. Cox, w, Palestine; Ruehen
Hall, *, Mar.aitnai Louis Eldridge
Fuller, c, Marianna; Cornelius Smith,
C, Palestine; Garland’ Frederick
Hartley, w, Rondo; Hubert Robertson
c, Marianna; Lee Harris, c, Peters;
Galiver Thomas. c, Brickeys; Lennie
Casrlan, c, Aubrey; Staimette Buf
fett®, c, Soudan-; Eugene Worden, c.
Marianna; John Anderson Pittman,
c. Marianna-; James HURard Hunt, c.
t.’TIfton; Henry Mullins, r, Marianna;
Jesse Lewis, c. Rondo; Henry Wal
lace. c. Council-, Com ad ore Ward-en,
Marianna; John f> Norment. C,
Thomas ville; James P. Hughes, w,
Marianna; Monroe Woodson* c,
Thomasville; Sylvester Hodges, c,
Moro; Percy Williams, c. Council;
Henry Purttonan, e. Monroe; Will
Burnett, c. La Grange; Lonnie Holer,
c, flrickeys.; Janies Walker, c. Mari
anna,; Phifflp Hassell, w, Marianna;
Willie Robinson, c, Mariarfina; Noble
Herbert Neal, w, Brickeys; Dave
Derden, c. Rondo; Richard' Rice, c,
Marianna; Nelson Llo^rd, c, Marian
na; Will Cutchens, e. Moro; John
Brown, e, Haynes; Will Jefferson, c.
Marianna; Wayne Murdock, w, Brtck
ey«; Warner Thomas, c. Haynes;
Marshall Lewellen, c, Ebling; John
Oxner, w, Goodwin; Wilt Knight, c.
La Grange; John Eber Manning, w,
Haynes; Henry Wallace, c, Council;
Luke King, c, Marianna; Benton
Polk, c, Marianna R F. D ; Felix
Shepheru, c. Soudan; Nelson Lloyd.
one registered Shorthorn male,
$165; one registered cow $185; Will
Yarbrough, one registered cow, $185;
G. W. Cooper one high grade male
and one heifer;' C. H. Lyle one
heifer; O. B. Harris one heifer;
Henry East two heifers; Jim Roane
two heirers; Lige Conner rour heif
ers. All the graded stock sold at
prices ranging from $40 to $60. Mr
McKee stated yesterday he had 12
more head to sell.
Ernest Newbern has returned from
an extended trip to points in the
east.
c, Marianna; James McQuarry, w,
Marianna; John Hampton, o, Brick,
eys; Mack J. Brewer, w, Soudan;
Luther Boone. ,c Brickeys, Ernest
Guy, c, Hughes; Tom Willie Perkins,
c, Askew.
LIST OF PERSONS EXEMPTED OR
DISCHARGED FROM THE SERV*
ICE OF THE UNITED STATES,
BY THE LOCAL BOARD FOR
LEE COUNTY, ARK.
Joe McCracken, w. La Grange;
Robert Hardy Silas, w, Hondo; John
Thomas Weob, w Marianna; Hub
Williams, c, Marianna; Edgar Craf.
ford, w, Palestine; Spencer Lantrip,
w, Moro; Will Steward, c, Rondo;
Rufus Pennington, w, Rondo; Sara
Kizer, w, As,cew; Leroy Douglas, c,
Marianna; Dudley Neal, c. Askew;
Sylvester Coleman, c, Brickeys;
Dave Hooker, c, Moro; General Park*
er, c, Marianna; John Hanel Jones,
w, Marianna; Robert Braswell, c,
»,arianna; Walter Douglas, w, Moro;
Ben Peterson, c, Marianna; Homer
McKenzie, c, Rondo; Louis Spring,
field, c. La Grange; John Wesley
Ridnle, w, Moro; Ed Green; c,
Marianna; Oscar Reason, c. Marl*
anna; V\ Hliain Rucker, c, Moro;
Paul liurres Denham, w, Marianna;
Walter Brock, w, Moro; Fred Cum
mins, w, Moro; Phillip Jefferson
Mills, w, Moro; Phillip Harper, c,
Brtckeys; James Burris, c, Aubrey;
Thomas Scott, *, Marianna; Will
Green, c. Dansby.; Lafayette Boykin,
c, Moro; Henry Webb, c. Askew;
Johnnie Woods, w, LaGrange; DaV*
Felix Smith, w, Marianna; Milton
P. Langston, w, Aubrey; Henry
Banks, w, Soudan.; George Howell,
c, Marianna; Harvey Fianey, c,
Marianna: Edgar Tlllen Brown, w,
Aubrey; Spenirer Webster Hall, c,
Moro; John Alley McCarty, w, As
kew; Isaac Kirkwood, c, Marianna;
Jesse Williams, c, Peters; Willi*
Lane, c, Marianna; Evans. Buchanan,
w, Marianna; Albert Cleveland Daily,
w, Moro; Willtatn Nunnally, c, Ma
rianna; waiter Neet ,o, Soudan;
Will SlaytoD;. c% La Grange; Jim
Bray, c, Marvell R. F. D.; Ernest
Chester Norman, w, Moro; Fred
Tucker, c, Phillips Bayou; Tom Britt,
c, Aubrey; Samuel Franklin Sanson,
w, Council* Allen Kobitison, o. Mari
rianna; John McNary, c, Haynes;
■ James Scott Gibson, w, Aubcey; Dock
| Charles, c, Haynes; Grover Clave.
| land Holland, w, Aubrey; Robert- -
Temple,, c; Marianna; Gordon Hicks,
w, Palestine; Jes»e Shackelford, c,
Thomasville; Albert- Robert Wooten,
w. Rondo; Fred McKenzie, o. Aubrey;
Shortie- James, a, Haynes; Hayes
miller, c* Brickeys; Chris Bross, vr,
Moro; Felix W’hiteneal. c, Moro;
James Hudgens, o, Marianna; Robert
Mulifns, c, Marianna- R. F. D.; Fay
Chappell, w. Brickeys; Ellis Kiryb,
w. Blacktop; R. F D.; Monroe Sher*
rod. c, Marianna; Milton Chaney, c.
Murp; John Henry Moore, c, Aubrey;
Henry Williams, c, Marianna; Will
Worn, c, Mariaima; Ira Wisty Hays,
vr, Aske**: Mos* Gla»pey, c, Aubrey;
llerfcy Woods, c, Marianna; Will
McGee, c, Wheatley; Walter Ennis
Butler,, w, Goodwin; Eliga Gist, c.
Rondo,, Arthur Waller, c, Thornas
ville; Eugene Davis, w. Council;
Timothy Ricks, c, Thomasville; Hen*
ry Sherman, c. Marianna; Edward
Robinson, w, Marianna; Will Woods,
Aubrey; Robert Smith. Rondo; Tom
Cal. t\ Miarianna.
LOCAL BOARD for Lee County,
Arkansas, hereby certifies the follow,
ing list of the names and addresses
of persons who have been duly and
legally called fqr military service of
the UNITED STATES, and WHO
HAVE FAILED TO ,-vPPEAR AND
SUBMIT TO EXAMINATION and
who have not reported:
Tom Cruse, e. Marianna; Ivy Lew*
len, c, Forrest City; Van Rowland,
c, Haynes; Will Jones, c, Palestine;
Sidney Lee Bard, w, Forrest City;
Sidney Davis, c. Pillow Mound;
Johnnie Dotson, w, Askew; John
Henry Evans} c, Brickeys; Joe
Holmes. Soudan; Mose Hakes. C,
Pillow Mound; Rufus Greer, c. Coun
cil; John H. Wilbur, w, Marianna;
John Jones, c. Marianna; Albert L.
Morris, c, Marianna; Joseph Jones,
c. Marianna; John Swain, c. Pales
tine; Alex Sununerfield Chappell, w,
Rondo; Johnrfte Broom, c. Askew;
Roger W. Willard, w, ooudan; Fate
Ada, w. Askew; Drew Anthony, c,
Rondo. Jerry Wiggins, c, Moro;
George Exter, c, Marianna: Will
Jorden, c, Moro;; Milton Morris, c,
Aubrey; Sam Banks, c, Hondo; Ben
Jennings, c, Council; Andrew Rogers,
c. Phillips Bayou; Luther Hinlev, w,
Moro.
It is the duty of every citizen of
Lee county to report the where
abouts of these men, if any infor
mation is known as to their where
abouts. report to C, E DAGGETT,