The Boone News-Republican from Boone, Iowa • Page 82

Good Old Days: When a Nickel Bet's It Was jWork or Pay Poll Taxes When were the good old days of Boone? Back in 1877 there was only a 10-mill levy, and this was before income taxes heard of, and the highest 'paid city official was the engineer who got a $1,500 yearly salary. Last year the city engineer drew $750 a month. Or would you pick 1894? Ev- iery able-bodied man between the ages of 21 to 45 was requir ed to work for two days "on streets, alleys, and public "grounds between April 1 to Sept 1." If he didn't he had to a poll tax. According to the ord- 'Inance passed by the city coun- 'cil on April 12, 1894, the city 'clerk was to make a list, the "street commissioner served not "ice and if a person didn't work was liable for a $3 fine for 'each day he was delinquent. First Autos The first automobiles gave the "city council a hard time.

On 4, 1903 an ordinance was Ipassed making fast driving a Whoever 'shall ride or drive any horse any other animal in any jhighway, thoroughfare or public quicker than or beyond moderate gait unless in case urgent necessity or cause "a collision shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." lAt that time this was the "for fast driving. Six years later it was against Ithe law to drive faster than ten an hour "in the closer inbuilt portions" or one mile ev- "ery four minutes elsewhere. The ''ordinance was worked over revision several times the next few years. A few the old timers recall when person was driving a car to he had to telephone beforehand as a warning and if met a horse and wagon he to pull off, turn off the and stand beside the car the horse would not be Lot of Work Early city councils had a lot work to do. On May 8, 1888, 'a council passed an ordinance the slaughtering' of and other health- mea-; needed for the One stated it was unlawful anyone to "locate, maintain, yceep or continue any privy 15 feet of the high water anark of said Honey Creek." Another section dealt with refuse near the water- then located in block Violators were liable for a per day fine.

I These were the days when pox was considered a AN EARLY STREET SCENE, east on Eighth street and north on Keeier 1907 dread disease. When a small pox victim died, the corpse had to be "wrapped in a clean sheet, wet with saturated solution of carbolic acid and buried in 24 hours." "Companies of persons (were) not permitted near the corpse," the section added. The ordinance provided for a health officer whose duty it was to enforce the laws. According to an ordinance dated Feb. 25, 1884, it was the duty of the council on or before the first Monday of September to certify taxes for the construction and maintenance of one 1908 the city council concluded the river was the best bet and started working on the present waterworks system.

Steam power was used to pump the water into Boone until the power plant was changed over to electricity. An article in the Des Moines Register and Tribune in 1922 announced that Boone's water department was operated without a tax cost of extensions and bonds were paid from the income which at that time amounted to $80,000 a year. Written sometime shortly before 1914 a writer in the "His- AND AN EARLY STREETCAR sewer district. It was not until 1927 that Boone had a sewage treatment plant. In 1926, the council.awarded a contract to- the McHose Sand and Tile Company for the plant and it was completed at a cost of $90,653.

Modernizations have been made since. East Wells Some of the oldtimers who remember way-back-when recall that the city first had deep wells the east part of town. There were two roundhouses then and lalf of the water pumped was used by the railroads. Around tory of Boone County" had this to say about civic improvements: 1914 Comment Boone "is 'essentially a home town, with beautiful residences and lawns. The thoroughfares and residence streets are substantially paved, while concrete sidewalks are deeply shaded by maple, elm and other varieties of trees indigenous to this latitude.

Almost everything within human ingenuity has been requisitioned to make life a pleasure in Boone and large sums of money have been ex- pended by the city itself hi contributing to the comfort, convenience and welfare of its inhabitants. Its public utilities compare favorably with cities many times its: size." The council, on July 8, 1909, passed a motion authorizing E. E. Hughes, J. H.

McBride and Andrew Stevenson to build and operate an electric light and power plant. On March 7, 1910 an electric street franchise was gran-ted to John Reynolds. Then it cost five cents a ride and children under six years old were allowed to ride free of charge. Phone Rates A franchise of Nov. 2, 1910 set telephone rates.

It cost $1.50 a month for a single line, $1.25 a month for a 2-party line and $1 a month for a 4-party line. Some early laws that may have caused some trouble (snow removal and the dog ordinance are often times unpopular now), concerned sporting on the streets, snow and ice removal and one about dogs. After Jan. 2, 1889, snow and ice could be removed from sidewalks without notice to property owners it was on the sidewalk for. 15 hours.

This was under the direction of the city marshail who reported the costs to the council, "which served notice to the owner and if they were left unpaid the costs be assessed to the property. Owners "were also requiredi to keep sidewalks in" Dog Laws Now for the dogs. Any person could "worrying, maim-', ing or killing any domestic or domestic fowls -or any dog attempting to bite or attack any person outside of the enclosure of the owner of such dog." Dogs had to be confined or be "properly muzzled." This law was passed Feb. 2, 1877. 1 An ordinance passed on March 20, 1893 banned sporting on the streets.

This included flying kites, rolling hoops or participating hi any sport or "exercise on any street, alley or avenue devoted to business, or on where there is much travel A key, perhaps, as to how early councils helped businesses get started is shown in an ordinance on March 25, 1891. It granted permission to J. M. Doud and Company to do business as a pork packer and the firm was exempt from municipal taxes for the "term of five years from and after Jan. 1,1891." Sunday Selling selling was classified as a misdemeanor along with keeping a gambling house, according to an ordinance passed on March 20, 1893.

However, anyone who was deemed guilty of a misdemeanor those days could be fined from $1 to $100 or given 30 days in jail. the depression years local building activity bolstered the economy. On March 27 1931, the council iet a contract to Lippert Bros. Construction Company for the swimming pool. The contract totaled $24,335.

A' month later, a $35,000 bonded indebtedness was paid off enabling the city to lower water rates. Construction was started on three new school buildings and an addition to a fourth one. Dur- the of 1938, the thinking about hew city hall. the a PWA grant and a election present municipal, constructed at Cost 'of $188,091. It was occupied in 1940.

OLD DOBBIN 7 TOO Two incidents stand out during the 1940's. On Jan. 16, 1945 the Chamber of Commerce urg ed the council to select an airport site and there was a tie vote that a job on the council. Charles Schollmeyer and Rollie Edgerton tied in the number of votes cast for them on the job as councilman from the first ward. Schollmeyer won a drawing held after the votes were officially canvassed.

At the- time city thought was the first time this had happened in Boone's history. The 1950's Much of what the council did during the 50's concerned transportation. Six days after the Union Pacific announced the cancellation of passenger train service on the CNW line from Chicago to Omaha, the council rvo.ted to back the Chamber of Commerce in fighting "the impending of U.P. streamline trains." A -hearing was re- quested before the Iowa Commerce Commission. The; announcement of the cancellation was made Sept.

,20, 1955 and the council voted its motion to support the C. of C. on Sept. 26. On Sept.

21, a Chicago North Western official said the CNW would put on two more passenger trains after the switchover. Two days later a union official reported Boone would lose a $50,000 to $60,000 payroll because of the switchover. The hearing before the Iowa Commerce Commission wasn't very fruitful. -The passenger trains are gone. A year before, the council was involved with the Highway Commission over the re-routing of Highway 30.

On Dec. 6, 1954, the council and of business' men registered their opposition --Highway Commission about moving U.S. 30, Almost a year later on Sept. 6, 1955, an alternate route which was closer to Boone was proposed by Mayor Robert Mahoney. Mahoney reports the Highway Commission later gave in to this proposal, Concerning things historical: The council approved a request of the DAR for a marker at Mamie.

Eisenhower's birthplace during a meeting held Oct. 4, 1954. It's still there. In conclusion, it -may be said "good old days." These exist in the minds of people but.not' for a city. Its greatest single concern should be for the future.

Buffalo Bill It was in 1885 that the greatest plainsman of all-time made a triumphal tour of his old home state, Iowa. Buffalo Bill's first "Wild West Show" had its beginning in. Dennis Barnes' pasture near LeClaire, Iowa. At that time, the man we know as Buffalo Bill was William Cody Bill're- ceived his nick-name in 'a buffalo shooting contest with Billy Cpmstock, another buffalo hunter who claimed to be the greatest. A match was arranged between the two and Cody killed 69 and Comstock 46, so Cody received the' name which stuck to him all through his life: One of the smaller creeks In Boone county is Bear Creek which lies entirely in Marcy In the early days a Captain William P.

Berry and another hunter-'are said to have Mlled. a bear'on its banks- and from that incident the name of the creek originated. A GREAT NAME IN THE LUMBER COMPANY -AND BUILDING NEEDS Lumber Company 1016 Marshall St. in Boone CONGRATULATES BOONE ON IT! -100TH HELPING BOONE MOVE AHEAD WITH ALL KINDS OF BUILDING SUPPLIES, PAINTS, PLANNING SERVICE, ETC. LUMBER BUILDERS HARDWARE ROOFING FENCING INSULATION COMBINATION DOORS WINDOWS Whatever Your Building Job See S.

Hanson Lumber First! A Pioneer town in 1865 Now a Century later over 12,000 people with modern churches, modern business establishments and modern homes. Truly a century of modern improvement and broadening of all those things that make for modern living. We in the insurance business have grown and modernized coverages right along with our great community. A modern policy on your home covers such hazards as fire, explosion, air craft, vandalism, breakage of glass, burglar damage and many other perils. Like our city, the coverage is modern, up-to-date, and provides broad protection with strength, savings, security and Congratulations to Boone on Its Centennial Anniversary 1965 Insurance Agency 203 Citizens National Building Boone, Iowa.