Iowa Old Press

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wed., Dec 29, 1915

EMMETSBURG'S IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1915

They Foot Up $308,775-The Season a Record Breaker

D.P. MURPHY, new residence...$3,100.00
J.K. McELROY, new residence and garage...4,300.00
E.J. HIGGINS, new residence and garage...3,800.00
Mrs. P.V. HAND, new residence...3,600.00
Frank KOCH, new residence...2,700.00
Julius SKOW, new residence...4,000.00
F.H. O'HALLORAN, new residence and garage...4,300.00
W.E. LOSEY, new residence...4,000.00
Thos. MURRAY, new residence...3,000.00
Thos. McBRIDE, new residence...2,800.00
RICHARDSON Sisters, new residence...3,000.00
Ralph MOSES, new residence...2,500.00
E.W. CARPENTER, new residence...2,900.00
E.M. THOMPSON, new residence...4,500.00
P. JENNINGS, new residence...3,000.00
M. JOYNT, new residence...3,500.00
P.J. CLAUSEN, new residence and garage...4,500.00
J.A. HAMILTON, new residence...2,500.00
John FORDYCE, new residence...2,500.00
A.C. THOMPSON, new residence...2,500.00
Guy E BUTTS, new residence...2,500.00
Edward McNALLY, new residence...2,500.00
M. JOYNT, new residence...3,500.00
S. SALVEN, new residence...2,500.00
Geo. SAUNDERS, new residence...2,500.00
J.E. LEONARD, new residence...2,000.00
J.H. WILSON, new residence and garage...12,000.00
C.A. YEUTTER, new brick building, fixtures, etc...9,000.00
Wm. WRIGHT, complete cafe fixtures...2,800.00
Western Electric Telephone Co., Improving system...3,000.00
Air Dome...1,500.00
W.L. PUCKETT, antiseptic tonsorial equipment...1,000.00
Monroe JOHNSON, residence remodeled...2,000.00
Wm. EAGAN, new residence...2,550.00
M.F. BRENNAN, residence remodeled...1,200.00
J.J. McDONALD, shop remodeled, residence remodeled...1,700.00
Chas. POTTS, residence remodeled...700.00
Assumption Church, new roof...700.00
Chas. DUHIGG, residence remodeled...400.00
Dan BURNS, residence remodeled and garage...2,000.00
Frank BRADY, residence remodeled...800.00
P. McNALLY, remodeled business building...400.00
Palace Cafe, remodeled...500.00
Western Union Telegraph Company, improvements...2,000.00
Hub Clothing store, new front...3,000.00
COONAN & MULRONEY, new fixtures...3,000.00
M.L. BROWN, remodeling THYLE and PFIFFNER jewelry store...350.00
Mrs. J.G. CROWDER, residence remodeled...600.00
Walter KEATING, residence remodeled...350.00
E.B. STEENSON, residence remodeled...500.00
Geo. WRIGHT, residence remodeled...500.00
M.A. PETERSON, repair on residence...500.00
First National Bank, remodeled and fixtures...15,000.00
Emmetsburg National Bank, remodeled and new fixtures...15,000.00
Emmetsburg Electric Company, Electric light plant remodeled...15,000.00
Emmetsburg Telephone Co., improvements...6,000.00
New Electrolier system for streets...7,000.00
City paving...107,225.00
Waterworks extension...4,000.00
Sewerage extension...4,000.00
Sidewalks extension...5,000.00
--------------------------------
Total...............$308,775.00


BERYL EMERICK STEALS MAIL SACK
Is Taken to Ft. Dodge and Is Held to Await Action of the U.S. Grand Jury
     Thursday night Beryl Emerick, a Spencer young man about twenty years of
age, stole the letter pouch from the depot platform brought in by train No.
S of the Milwaukee road. The pouch was missed that night and it was supposed
that it was carried by. Next morning it was found cut open near the coals
houses of the Farmers Elevator Co. Chas. Seaton, mail carrier, remembered
that Emerick was the only person who was around when the train came in, and
next morning he was taken in charge by the sheriff and confessed that he had
taken the pouch and told where the letters could be found in a suitcase.
Later in the day his clothing was searched and in the bottom of his shoe was
found $7000 worth of notes belonging to the Citizens Savings Bank of Webb.
Emerick claims that he had a partner in the transaction but refuses to give
his name. There are still some drafts missing which he claims the other
party took. The young man was taken to Fort Dodge Monday evening and bound
over to the federal court under $500 bonds. Court does not meet until May
23. Emerick graduated from Spencer high schools in the class of 1914 and was
a good student. He passed a very creditable examination for a letter carrier
and held the place for a short time.
     Mr. Emerick is the son of H. Emerick, who was postmaster of Ayrshire
for many years and also served as supervisor of this county for several
terms. The many friends of the family in this county regret very much to
learn of the affair. Mr. and Mrs. Emerick have had a great deal of sickness
in their family during the present year and the misfortunes of their son
adds to their burden.

BUYS A DICTAPHONE
D.G. McCarty Makes First Purchase of the Kind in Emmetsburg.
     D.G. McCarty has a dandy new $250 dictaphone. There are two parts in
it. There is also a third machine for shaving the records. A record similar
to the one on a phonograph will take from ten to twenty letters each and it
can be shaved from 50 to 100 times and is, when trimmed, as good as new to
received fresh impressions in dictations. The records cost thirty cents
each. The separate parts of the dictaphone and the shaving machine are
operated by electricity. The cost of current is from one and one half to two
cents per day. The electric cord is attached to an ordinary lamp. It does
not, when the dictaphone or the transcriber is in operation, lessen the
brilliancy of the light.
     Mr. McCarty can now go to his office at any time and dictate a dozen or
more letters. His stenographer, Miss Sullivan, takes up her regular work
while he is talking into the receiver and when he is through she can do the
transcribing at her leisure. Mr. McCarty connects the electric current and
talks into an ordinary receiver. Should he have to wait a moment to consider
any matter he can press a button and the machine will not take any more
impressions. When he is ready again to talk he presses a button and the
record is in motion. Should he care to listen to his own words to correct
his language or change it, he can do so by making a slight change in the
machine. He can talk rapidly or slowly and his words are taken. In
transcribing, Miss Sullivan puts a device across her head which has
receivers for her ears, listens to the dictation and copies it to the
typewriter. She can, if the machine goes too fast, press a button with her
foot and it will stop. She can also regulate the speed at will.
     The dictaphone is a great time saver. When dictation is given a short
hand reporter or to a stenotypist the dictator and the operator must both
give the subject matter close attention. With the dictaphone Mr. McCarty can
answer his letters when he is alone and the transcribing can be done at any
time, even when he is absent. The voice, in transcribing, is very distinct,
so there is no question about not understanding a word.
     We congratulate Mr. McCarty on his purchase. He will find his
dictaphone a great convenience in conducting his large business.

Poultry Car.
     I will have a poultry car on the Rock Island track on Thursday,
December 30, only and will pay the following prices: hens 10c, springs 10c,
ducks 10c, geese 10c, old roosters 6c.
K.J. McELROY.

Submitted by: #000525