What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago

At 480 feet, Jack Dryden quit drilling on the deep well, having demonstrated there is no deeper vein. Casing has been put down the whole depth and the water that flows in from the 240-foot vein will be used in fitting the swimming pool. Excavating for the pool has already commenced. Mr. Dryden wants to coat it with white or blue so the bottom will be visible. Mr. Dryden has had much experience in deep well boring.

W. D. Reed & Company of Kansas City was awarded by the county commissioners on Friday of last week the contract for plumbing, heating, ventilating and temperature control of the new courthouse building for $15,155.00, subject to alteration. This depends on which one of the two boilers differing in price will be finally decided upon. Ward & Bissing, who has the wiring and lighting contract, appeared before the Board and asked to be released from the contract for reasons not given to us. It will be awarded to somebody else.

For some time a mechanics soap has been made in Stockton from a soap clay and a number of ingredients and samples given away at the Cooper & Wilson suitatorium. It was made from a patented formula owned by Dr. W.T. Travis, and has proven very successful in removing grease and direct from hands, leaving them soft and smooth. It has been decided to make it on a large scale and place it on the market, so a company has been organized, machinery and appliances ordered, and the manufacturing will be done in the Dr. Viers’ horse sanitorium on First Street south. The officers of the company are Dr. W. T. Travis, Dr. A. W.Viers, C. B. Cooper, C. A. Wilson and H. E. Dunn. It is styled The Stockton Soap Company and will be incorporated. The plant will be able to make a thousand cans a day. This new industry promises to be very successful and will help to put Stockton on the map.

Miss Cora M Frazier of Courtland and Mr. Carl E. Moore of Stockton were married by Probate Judge Jones on March 15th. A bountiful wedding dinner was served in the groom’s parents’ home in Iowa Township. Mr. and Mrs. Moore began housekeeping at once in an apartment at the Simmons place on South First Street.

Dr. Hansen, who is a missionary from China, gave a talk at the Woodston High School on Wednesday morning. His talk was about the uprising of Old China and its recent progress into a new, well-educated and industrious country.

The great drought was broken so far as Rooks County is concerned the latter part of last week when .82 of an inch of moisture was precipitated. Coming as it did every bit of the wet snow and the slow rain went into the soil. It will very soon be determined what proportion of the dormant wheat will be revived and give its promise of a crop. We hope March will go out with a record of at least ten inches.

Mrs. Matt Prinz was stricken with paralysis last Friday afternoon while out in her garden. They found her lying on the ground and carried her into the house. She was very low for a while, but is improving.

L. E. Keeton is constructing a lubricating oil plant where he will do his own compounding of lubricating oils and make the different grades from material shipped in by the carload. He will have in shortly a shipment of King Oil Burners for rangers and furnaces, and expects to place a large number of these burners in homes of Stockton and vicinity.

The west elevation of the courthouse is being brought up to the height of the other three sides. Every stage of this magnificent structure is interesting to the spectator who has the time to watch the progress made day by day.

Elmer Norris has been engaged as salesman for the Coolbaugh Motor Company and will sell Ford cars in this territory. Elmer is a hustler and knows the Ford language well.

For the first time in many years, Stockton is to have a track team. Mr. Russell is the track coach and under his supervisor a splendid track team is expected to be developed. Also, baseball practice has started under the supervisor of Don Burlin. There are only about seven boys out during the first evening of practice but more are expected. A meeting was called at the high school by Lester Simpson, captain of the team last year, and a new captain was elected. Everett Wooden will have the pleasure of directing the baseball nine this season.

The reason there were fewer wrecks in the old horse and buggy days was because the driver didn’t depend wholly on his own intelligence.