to $900 invested in the Ossian Enterprise... He asserted that the Bee was not fit to enter the homes of this community. ...in saying that he would refuse to absolve those who continue reading the Bee, let us say that if he has authority to use the sacraments as a club to bolster up such a rotten proposition as the Ossian Enterprise that we have little faith in absolution... Lechtenberg aspires to things too highs he tried to put the Bee out of business--and failed; he tried to squash dances—and failed; he tried to close Ossian's saloons—and failed.

The fortunes of the Ossian Bee improved during the years of 1907 to 1909. The Thanksgiving edition of 1907 contained twenty pages. The editors boasted that it was the largest edition, containing the most advertising, ever printed in Ossian.

On August 12, 1909, after four years and eight weeks of publication, the OE closed its doors. The Bee gleefully editorializes: "The Enterprise croaked after an illness of the worst type—starvation!    ...born in infamy, so abhorrent to principles, disavowed by those charged with its parentage, it finally succumbed for want of proper nutriment... It was built on the foundation of spite...its builders...have learned that spite availeth naught!"

Thus ended the lively period when Ossian had two competing newspapers. We suspect our account, obtained soley from the Bee, may be biased.

1904

The town officials in January of 1904 were: F. J. Figge, mayor; A. F. Dessel, clerk; P. Bullard, treas.; T. F. Schmitz, assessor; Dr. J. W. Wells, physician; D.    D. Rosa, marshal; and J. E. Boyle, Ed Reum, L. A. Meyer, G. G. Oyloe, Frank Limbeck and E. Frank, councilmen.

The officers of the Ossian fire department were: G. H. Burton, president; J. E.    Boyle, V. pres.; Leo Dessel, sec'y; A. F. Dessel, treas.; S. G. Oxley, chief; John Beardmore, assist, chief; Abe Oxley, engineer of chemical no. 1; G. H. Burton, nozzleman; Ghas. Emry, engineer of no. 2; Geo. Webster, nozzleman.

The schoolboard consisted of: I. H. DeGraff, pres.; Wm. Helwig, sec'y; H. J. Etteldorf, treas.; M. Cavanaugh, Ghas. Holbrook, M. J. Klein and J. D. Long.

Military township officials included: trustees—Ole Riveland, L. A. Meyer and H. Scheidel; justices of the peace—A. G. Heck and Jos. Milbert; assessor--H. H. Dalaker; constables—J. E. Boyle and John Beardmore; clerk--J. E. Boyle; physician—Dr. G. A. Geist; and roadmasters—Clemmens Funke and Philip Wagner.

L. J. Orke advertised that Millers beer is the best tonic for: nursing mothers, convalescents, over-worked nerves, toning up your system, producing healthy sleep and stimulating the appetite.

A petition, requesting the submittal to the voters of a proposition to build a municipal gas plant, was presented to the City Fathers. A motion to include this proposal on the ballot carried. The Bee endorsed this gas plant and predicted a favorable vote—it was soundly defeated, 124 to 54.

One hundred eighteen members of the community contributed to a fund to alleviate suffering in a fire catastrophe at Aalesund, Norway.

Junior editor Schmitz blamed his defeat for the office of city assessor on the "Church controversy." The next year (1905) he purchased a partnership in the Bee.

Three full slates of candidates competed in this years municipal election.

The following were elected: F. J. Figge, mayor; M. J. Klein, clerk; F. Frantzen, treas.; A. H. Knudtson, assessor; Dr. Wells, physician; D. D. Rosa, marshal; and J. E. Boyle, J. J. McManus, L. A. Meyer, P. Bullard, Frank Limbeck and E. Frank were selected as councilmen.

The assessed valuation of personal property within the corporation totaled $215,092. This figure was derived from the following numbers of livestock: 111 horses, 101 cattle and 44 swine plus merchant's inventories and moneys and credits.

The Lend-a-Hand ladies of the Methodist Church held an ice cream and cake social at the Banning Hotel. The Ossian orchestra contributed to the occasion with several fine musical numbers. The charge for everything—10¢.

The Bee carried a write-up on Dr. Well's new x-ray and hot air machines.