A Look Back: Putnam County in the News

The following items were excerpted from the June 27, 1923, edition of The Unionville Republican. One hundred years ago, the “drought” in the news was not the lack of rain, but the lack of liquor on foreign ships departing from the United States. With Prohibition in full force, the US maintained they had the right to seize alcohol off foreign ships entering US harbors and with the sale of alcohol prohibited, the ships could not restock before departure. In more local news, plans were progressing for the construction of the courthouse and a system for dealing with wastewater was being considered. In hindsight, it is a little troubling that the proposed system would handle only “practically all” of the effluvia.

Sewer System Being Talked

With the need of a sewer system becoming more and more apparent as the town is being modernized there is growing a sentiment that such a system should be provided for in Unionville as soon as possible. The new court house makes it advisable to have a system, not to mention the fact that such a system has been needed for a long time as a safeguard for health.

A representative of the Henningson Engineering company was called before the City Council and others last Friday, and the question was gone into as thoroughly as possible. He had gone over the ground carefully and gave what information he could based upon that. However, he pointed out that it would be necessary to make a survey of the city before absolutely accurate information could be had. He gave it as his opinion that a complete system sufficient for our purpose could be had for around 45 to 50 thousand dollars.

Two or three or more plans for such a system are possible, but the best one as well as the most economical one cannot be fully determined until after the ground has been surveyed and the systems worked out carefully. Off hand the representative was of the opinion that it would be possible to dispose of practically all the sewage with one disposal plant, and this would lessen the cost materially. It would probably be necessary to make one 18 or 20 foot cut, but with the machinery now in use this would be no problem. ***

Architects Here Last Week

The County Court set last Thursday as the time when it would receive proposals from architects with reference to the construction of the new court house. Nine first were represented, and each made its proposition. Since that time the Court has had the matter under advisement, and has reached no decision with respect to its choice of firms or terms. The terms ranged all the way from two to six per cent, but the higher ones generally offered to keep a man on the job every day, while the cheaper ones plan to visit the job frequently as it progresses.

The Court visited several court houses on its trip last week. The following ones were visited: Princeton, Trenton, Chillicothe, Carrollton, Marshall, Boonville, Jefferson City, Fulton, Mexico, Macon and Kirksville. The buildings at Princeton, Chillicothe and Boonville appear to have made the best impression. The Court has not yet fully decided upon what the new building shall include, although this will be governed largely by the mater of cost. It is seeking to find the most desirable combination for the amount of money available.

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State May Reduce Road Costs

Acting under the power granted by the present road law the State Highway Board is considering the advisability of condemning cement, sand and stone plants with the idea of operating them. There appears to be much evidence that a combination exists among the producers of these materials, and that the prices are being boosted artificially. The state has available about two million dollars to operate the plants with. Another plan suggested is to place these plants in the hands of small producers and have the state to pay the operating expenses. This is believed to be a quicker plan of reaching success than to bring suits. ***

Livonia To Celebrate

Livonia is making plans for a great celebration on the Fourth of July at that place. So far as we have learned this is the only place in Putnam county which will celebrate, though many towns surrounding the county will do so. The Livonia band was here Monday advertising the celebration, a played a delightful program in the park about noon. A good program has been arranged by the Livonia people, and a great crowd is expected to be present. A hot baseball game is promised for the afternoon.

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Oiling Not Yet Begun

Although the oil has been on track here for about a week the men who do the work of oiling the streets have not yet arrived. Mayor Brown took the matter up with the home office at Des Moines, Ia., and was told that a crew would be sent here from Browning. They are expected Thursday of this week, with a slight possibility they may arrive today.

The work of oiling will not require long, according to information had, but there is need to have it done on account of the dust. The crews seem to be behind their schedule. If the work can begin Thursday the oiling may be finished by the end of the week so far as the first oiling is concerned.

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To Test Liquor Ruling

The Olympic, one of the largest of the float- ing palaces which cross the Atlantic, last week sailed for New York with a large quantity of liquor under seal. The plan is to sail squarely into New York harbor, and if the seals are broken and the liquor taken to take the question up in the courts for direct settlement. The plan was not arranged with the idea of being irritating but to seek a quick solution of the present misunderstanding. Another plan being worked out is to establish a floating warehouse out about 12 miles from the American shore, and stock up from that for the return trip to Europe.

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Manage To Survive The Drought

The ruling of the United States with respect to the use and possession of liquors on foreign vessels while in our waters has not created so much trouble as was anticipated in many quarters. The vessels sell all they want or can until they reach American waters, then they have their supplies exhausted, as the supply is based upon demand before the vessel leaves Europe. Many of the passengers are gloriously soused when the vessels reach here because of their efforts to drink up the entire supply before landing.

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Heard The President

Quite a number of Unionville people listened to President Harding’s speech in Kansas City last Friday evening. The speech was heard quite plainly here over the radio. The one belonging to Dr. O. R. C. McCalment was stationed with the loud speaker on the street, and a crowd quickly gathered in the park and gave close attention to the speech.

The President spoke Thursday night in St. Louis on the world court, Look Back ...

Cont. to pg. 8