The Matagorda County Tribune. (Bay City, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, September 1, 1916 Page: 1 of 8
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VOLUME 71—NUMBER 35.
BAY CITY, TEXAS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1916.
FIVE CENTS THE COPY
Collectible Taxes Decreases $13,212.45.
Voting About 50 Per Cent of Primary
Will Seek Oil in the Big Hill Field.
Vote.
State Advalorem 10 Cents Off;
Forerunner of Sulphur
COLQUITT LEADS IN HEAVY GER-
Road and Drainage Higher.
Development.
MAN-ABERICAN SECTIONS.
more as
1
Home Counties
■ ■
-o-
-o-
THE SOUTH IS COMING BACK.
died
$1150:
Total
155
the
Carried
NEW FAMILY FOR BAY CITY.
-o-
•o-
FROM PALACIOS BEACON.
Tulane
a spe-
At
-o-
o-
Texas,
H. E. MOORE ELECTED CLERK.
has
Jackson
in
live
parties
Storm-Tossed and, Battered Men Have
Narrow Escape.
COUNTY'S PROSPERITY
DEPRECIATES IN VALUE
CULBERSON CARRIES
EVERY SECTION
OF THE STATE
PRODUCERS COMPANY
PUTS RIGS ON GROUND
Bay City
Wadsworth ....
Clemville
Markham
Collegeport ....
Pledger
Caney . ✓
Midfield
Van Vleck
Blessing
Palacios ......
Ashby
Matagorda
Citrus Grove ...
Hawkinsville ...
value
value
CHARGED WITH
CHILD DESERTION.
b
his
re-
I
I
53
12
5
12
5
2
3
2
4
17
12
r
13
0
2
A.
Taken Care of Along Border, Also
in Ferguson’s, Bailey’s, Camp-
bell’s Brooks’ and Henry’s
TO SAVE HIS LIFE:
DR. BAT SMITH DIES
CULBERSON CARRIES
IN WRECK FRIDAY COUNTY OVER 3 TO 1
Plant Has Been in Hands of Receiver
for Two Years—Lessee Is to
Pay $750 Per Month.
Asherton, Dim-
Mr. Grisham is
stockman
- -----~ jyxuxvv; W'-'XVz
brought to town where the captain
reported their sorry plight to head-
quarters.
It has not been reported to us what
disposition will be made of the ves-
sel which is fully equipped with all
comforts for that kind of business.
The captain and crew are leaving to-
day for Galveston by Santa Fe route.
j
532
-o—o---
J. J. MANSFIELD FOR CONGRESS.
Texas, August
1” of the Gulf
of Galveston,
• I
1
I
In this county the election in the
run-off primary last Saturday, the
race was so one-sided that practically
twenty-one at midnight last night,
with several incomplete counties giv-
ing a possibility of his leading in
them also. In all sections of the
State, even in that where Culberson’s
strength was supposed to be the
lest, the records showed the result
of an' extraordinary campaign as con-
ducted by the senator’s friends.
On the basis of scientific estimate
as adopted by the Texas election bu-
reau, the ultimate figures as between
Culberson and Colquitt in the elec-
tion has been forecast as follows:
Culberson 177,000, Colquitt 102,000.
This gives the probable majority of
75,000. This .is 35,000 greater than
the claim of the Culberson campaign
committee, made just prior to the
election.
Counties
Resided.
Senator Culberson not only carried
■ his home county, Dallas, which also is.
i the present home of Mr. Colquitt, but
- I
■I
Bell County Also Is for Culberson.
Culberson County went for the man
after which it is named. Bell Coun-
ty, Governor Ferguson’s home, went
for Culberson over three to one.
Cooke, former Senator J. W. Bailey’s
home; Anderson, former Governor
Campbells’ home, and McLennan, the
home of Dr. S. P. Brooks and R. L.
Henry, also went for Culberson over-
whelmingly.
The outcome o'f the race was ap-
parent an hour after tlie last ballot
had been cast. Although Colquitt had
a plurality in 114 counties in the July
primaries, he was leading in but
The Houston Art League has pur-
chased and now has on exhibition the
second largest piece of ivory portrait-
ure in America.
The work is “A Boy in a Dell,” by
G. H. Hite of New York, in 1855. The
picture has been purchased by popu-
lar subscription from an aged man
who was afflicted with cancer and
wanted to sell the picture to pay for
an operation he hoped may have saved
his life.
Besides its artistic, value the pic-
ture has a historical value. The fi-
nancial statement of Dr. Bat Smith
shows that the .committee composed
of Mrs. Fred Carleton, Jr., and Mrs.
Gentry Waldo deposted in the pur-
chase fund $269.22 and that there was
paid out $264.87, leaving a balance in
the fund of $4.35.—Chronicle.
The portraiture referred to is a
hand-painted likeness of a brother of
Dr. Bat Smith, who died Friday. Dr.
Smith had it in his possession for a
number of years and took a great
deal of pride in showing it to his
friends. He was offered at one time
considerably more than it finally was
sold for, but at that time the doctor
was not so .badly in need of the funds
and refused the offer. The picture
was executed at a great expense to
Dr. Smith’s mother, who took her son
t<"> New York several times for sittings
for the artist.
J
El Campo, Texas, August 28.—The
first rice of the season was brought
in Saturday from a 1200-bag 'crop
that is now being threshed. The rice
was threshed Friday and consisted of
56 sacks grown by George Raun. It
was stored with the Wharton County
warehouse. Much rice will be har-
vested within the next few days if
the weather will permit.
pense will have been solved.
If, on the other hand, a paying
quantity of oil is struck two im-
mensely important industries will
have been added to the county.
------o—o------
IVORY PORTRAITURE IS
NOW PROPERTY OF THE
HOUSTON ART LEAGUE.
Dr. Bat Smith of Bay City sacri-
ficed a picture that was very dear to
his heart to save his life.
The picture now hangs in the Hous-
ton Art League, where all the people
may see it, but Saturday at Bay City
Dr. Smith was buried. His sacrifice
had been in vain. .
The ^picture that hangs in the Art
League is an ivory portraiture enti-
tled "A Boy in a Dell.” It was pur-
chased from Dr. Bat Smith for $259
raised by popular subscription. The
piece of ivory is said to have cost
j Dr. Smith $4100 many years ago. It
i was painted by G. H. Hite, an Amer-
ican artist, in 1855. It shows the
I marked differences in the art work
; of ante bellum days and now.
But to Dr. Smith the picture had
another value—for the boy in the dell
is no other than a young brother of
his who died many years ago.
Dr. Smith was forced to part with
the picture that he might go to Bal-
timore and have an operation per-
formed for cancer.
He went last April, after receiving
the money for the picture. He
Friday.—Chronicle.
------o—o------
DR. BAXTER SMITH.
Wharton, Texas, August 28.—In a
county election, ordered by the White
Man’s Union Saturday, to fill the of-
fice of district clerk, H. E. Moore was
elected over his two opponents by 52
votes. Heretofore this office
been filled by the county clerk.
-----o—o-----
RICE HARVEST OPEN.
Matagorda,
“Fortuna No.
Fisheries Co.
fishing off the Brazos for red
per, was driven off her course dur-
ing the storm Friday night and after
24 hours the crew of 8 men found
themselves stranded on Matagorda
Peninsula at the Phillips ranch 15
miles from town (Matagorda.)
The captain and crew were very
much buffeted and bruised by the
winds and waves and threw them-
selves on the mercy of summer camp-
ers at the Phillips place, and were
Last week Mr. L. E. J. Grisham
rived with his family, consisting of
eight people, from
mett County, Texas,
a diversified farmer and
and brought with him a good team
and farming outfit, some fine Jersey
cows and a stock of White Leghorn
chickens, of which he makes
cialty. At present he is located at
the old Bernard place in South Bay
City on the Matagorda road, but he
wants to rent a small improved farm
in reach of school.
Mr. Grisham came to Bay City as
a direct result of a hews letter in the
Dallas Farm and Ranch, written by
G. M. Magill, in June, setting forth
the fact that Matagorda County was
in the rainbelt, sure crop country;
that thousands of catle had come in
from the drouth-stricken districts
west, etc. Mr. Grisham had fought
drouths-for six years, bought a ticket
for Bay City, returned for his family
and has come to stay. The Tribune
bids the good family welcome.
------o—o------
McFADDIN-WIESS-KYLE RICE
MILL LEASED TO McFADDIN.
and voters went to the polls
a matter of form than for
else.
The vote polled was about one half
that polled in the regular primaries
because of the absence of any local
interests or to the fact that a large
number of the voters, principally the
farmers, were too busy to attend.
The vote which follows by boxes
was reported to The Tribune office
at an early hour Saturday night from
presiding officers in the various vot-
ing precincts.
The total vote
which Culberson
Colquitt 155.
The vote by boxes:
Culberson. Colquitt
. 202
. 19
. 23
. '27
.. 14
7
.. 7
. 17
. 18
.. 13
. 121
. 3
. 47
. 11
. 2
County Tax Assessor J. D. Moore
has completed the task of making up
his tax role for 1916 and has furnish-
ed The Tribune with an interesting
array of figures in which he makes
an itemized statement of the tax sit-
uation, using the years 1915 and 1916
in comparison.
The total- taxes for the county for
1915 were $217,119.90; for 1916 $203,-
907.45, or a decrease, of $13,212.45.
Every item rendered with the ex-
ception of cattle and goats show a
decrease in value and a consequent
falling off in tax moneys receivable. ,
The table as compiled by Mr.
Moore is as follows:
Land—1916, 715,012 acres, value
$6,859,165; 191'5, 700,933 acres, value
$6,979,825; decrease $120,660.
Mr. J ,W. Powell went to Comanche
Monday on a business mission. Mrs.
Powell is visiting in Bay City during
his absence.
Mrs. Joe Love went to Bay City
Friday morning where she met Mr.
Love, who came up from Freeport
and returned home with her for a
brief visit.
Mr. G. B. Truitt received the sad
intelligence late yesterday that his
mother, who lives in Eagle Lake, is
critically ill. Mr. Truitt as once de-
parted for Eagle Lake in his car. It
is hoped he finds his mother im-
proving.
The Campbell Land Co. has just
issued from the Beacon press one of
the handsomest, and which we are
sure will be one of the most fruitful
and effective advertising folders of
the Palacios country that has ever
been printed. The folder is some-
what on the style of the railroad
booklets but is quite original in its
design and make-up, and is the handi-
work of Mr. H. I. Martin of Lansing,
Mich., who compiled and arranged
the printing matter. As a specimen
of letter press printing, the Beacon
invites comparison with the highest
class work turned out by > any city
shops. The folder is especially de-
signed for the information of farmers
who may be seeking new location,
and in its subject matter clearly but
briefly answers every question any
man looking for a farm or agricul-
tural location in any department
could ask. We look for large results
from the work just inaugurated by
Campbell and Mr. Martin, and
expect to see many new farmers lo-
cated in this, the finest agricultural
country on earth, in a very short
time; and once they start coming the
rest will take care of itself in the
right way. Palacios and the Palacios
country are just on the, eve of com-
ing into their own.
i
snap-
ar-
Total Tax for Two Years.
State—1916, $65,328.95: 1915, $83,-
664.66; decrease $18,335.71.
County—1916, $85,653.65; 1915, $89,-
| 749.62; decrease $4,095.97.
Road districts —1916, $27,065.43;
1915, $18,253.46; increase $8,811.97.
Common school districts—1916, $25,-
859.42; 1915, $25,452.16; increase
$407.26.
Total tax—1.916, $203,907.45; 1915,
$217,119.70; decrease in tax $13,212.45.
State polls, $3,520.00; county polls,
$581.00; total polls $4,101.00.
Number of polls, 2358.
Tax rate—State, 45c ;
total, $1.04.
cast was 683, of
received 532 and
Two large deep well oil rigs have
arrived at the Big Hill field near
Matagorda for the Producers Oil Co.
and will be put into operation at
once, it being the intention of the
company to find fuel oil for the sul-
phur development which is to be in-
augurated there within the early
future.
J. C. Carrington, a surveyor, is
now engaged in laying off the lots
for the two wells and states that as
soon as this work is complete the
■ drilling will begin.
The search for oil in this section
is no new thing, as Big Hill has for
several years produced more or less
oil. Fuel, however, is a big item in
sulphur development and if the Pro-
ducers tap a flow sufficient to feed
City property—1916, value $2,055,- the sulPhur plants a big item of ex-
700; 1915, value $2,197,200; decrease
$141,500.
Horses—1916, 7556 head, value
$281,240; 1915, 7692 Ifead, value $349,-
660: decrease $68,420.
Cattle—1916, 46,803 head,
$706,780; 1915, 38,526 head,
$591,140; increase $115,640.
Jacks—1916, 20 head, value
1915, 29 head value $2145; decrease
$995.
Sheep—1916, -750 head, value $7)5;
1915, 809 head, value $815; decrease
$20. ; ‘ f
Goats—1916, 198 head, value $195;
1915, 7 head, value $5; increase $190.
Hogs—1916, 2046 head, value $5950;
1915, 2060 head, value $6960; decrease
$1010.
Dogs—1916, 13 head, value $145;
1915, 29 head, value $400; decrease
$255.
Wagons, buggies and automobiles—
1916, 1634, value $62,770; 1915, 2046,
value $84,555; decrease $21,785.
Merchandise—1916, value $266,265;
1915, value $323,235; decrease $56,970.
Implements and. machinery — 1916,
value $148,065; 1915, value $185,480;
decrease $38,415.
Engines and boilers—1916, value
$39,260; 1915, value $42,985; decrease
$3725.
Money—1916, $45,445; 1915, $83,905;
decrease $38,460.
Notes and credits—1916, $248,875;
1915, $432,220; decrease $183,345.
Miscellaneous—1916, value $158,940;
1915, value $235,920: decrease $66,980.
Railroads, etc.—1916., value $3,433,-
320; 1915, value $3,478,760; decrease
$45,440.
Banks;—1916, value $240,370;' 1915,
value $258,750; decrease $18,380.
Total value — 1916, $14,517,520;
1915, $15,211,770; total decrease
$694,250.
Splendid! The South is coming into
its own at last. For the first time,
the comptroller’s report at Washing-
ton shows that the percentage of in-
crease of bank depositors in the
Southern States is the largest in the
country. This evidences the remark-
able growth and progress, industrially
and in every other way, of the South-
ern States. The rapid increase in
the number of banks in the South is
a surprise to the financial circles of
the East and West. Banks mean
business and business means pros-
perity.
•> IS"no longer confined to
F‘s**k’,its'" agricultural development. Its
enormous supplies of ra wmaterials
are giving it a commanding position
industrially. Ultimately the South
will join the industrial East and West
in demanding protection for its fac-
tory output. With the growth of the
banking business in the South and
the large increase in the number of
bank depositors, there is marked
abatement of the outcry against bank-'
ers as “money sharks” and “Shy-
locks.”—Leslies Weekly.
LaGrange, Texas, August 26.—The
Ninth Congressional District conven-
tion was held here Saturday after-
noon in the courthouse. All of the
counties in the district except one
were represented and J. J.( Mansfield
was declared the democratic nominee, i. ' *“*' —
0_0 ihe carried Mr. Colquitt’s voting box;
' carried Kaufman, Camp and Morris
Counties, where Mr. Colquitt former-
ly lived, and also carried each of the
home counties of the men who were
active for Mr. Colquitt, with the sin-
gle exception of Menard, the home of
James Callan.
Taylor County came nearer than
any other , to turning out as .arge a
vote Saturday as on July 22. In the
first election Taylor cast 2,644 votes,
giving Colquitt a plurality of 60
votes over Culberson. Saturday Tai-
lor cast 2,583 votes, 1,514 for Culber-
son and 1,068 for Colquitt.
The vote was smaller in other
counties than on July 22, but in the
counties he carried ,as far as shown
by the returns, Mr. Colquitt did not
run ahead of his first primary
strength, as a general rule.
The border counties, including El
Paso, all go to Culberson, according
to present returns, with the excep-
tion of Jim Wells County and pos-
sibly Brewster, that went for Colquitt
July 22 and voted for him' again Sat-
urday.
No election was held in Hansford,
Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Chambers, Ed-
wards, Hartley, Lamb, Live Oak, Rea-
gan, Real, Terry, Upton and Zapata
Counties. The average vote in the
other counties of the State will be
about two-thirds of the vote of July
22.
With the exception of Brewster (re-
turns from which are incomplete and
not decisive) Mr. Colquitt appears
not to have carried any county Sat-
urday that he did not carry July 22,
while as of course is apparent, he lost
the bulk of the counties that he did
carry on July 22.
the
Jim
and
L
L •
From Saturday’s Dally.
Dr. Baxter Simth, noted physician,
a learned man and an ex-Confed-
erate soldier, died in this city yester-
daj? afternoon at 5:20 o’clock and
was buried under the auspices of the
E. S. Rugeley Camp Confederate Vet-
erans this afternoon at 3:30.
Religious services were conducted
by Rev. John Sloane at the Episcopal
Church. v
Dr. Smith was 70 years and eight
! months of age at the time of his
TV here Colquitt death and is survived by three sons.
Some months ago Dr. Smith read
j a history of his life to the writer and
requested us to publish it when he
.' died. As soon as it can be found we
will follow the instructions and give
, it to the public.
We know enough to say, however,
that Dr. Smith descended from one
of the old aristocratic families of
Alabama. His mother was one of the
foremost of Southern women and at
one time was immensely wealthy and
influential. She lavished upon her
son (the subject of this sketch) all
the polish and education money could
buy, graduating him. at the
Medical College of New Orleans and
sending him to Berlin, Paris and
other European educational centers
for additional training in the medi-
cal colleges of Europe.
When the war broke out Dr. Smith
returned home and entered the serv-
ice of his country, serving gallantly
and with honor throughout the
struggle.
Dr. Smith possessed a wonderful
mind and memory and at one time
was considered one of the foremost
and most learned physicians in South
Texas. His acquaintanceship was
broad, his practice of former years
especially taking him over all the
section of the State south of Houston.
During the past several months the
doctor has been the victim of cancer.
All that friends and associates could
do for him was done, but to no avail.
He was sent to New Orleans and later
to Baltimore x to scientists but
trouble gradually grew worse,
suiting in his death yesterday.
. Peace to the ashes of so great a
mind. May his soul rest in peace in
the Great Beyond.
United States Senator Charles
Culberson swept the State in the sen-
atorial run-off primary held Satur-
day, receiving a majority of about
75,000 votes over former Governor O.
B. Colquitt out of a total of about
267,000 votes cast.
Senator Culberson carried every
section of Texas, north, south, east
and west ;carried each city of the
State, and each large county.
Totals of the Texas election bureau
at midnight Saturday showed Cul-
berson 148,826, Colquitt 84,527, a total
vote so far accounted for of 232,353.
This total is from 206 counties in-
complete. The result cannot possi-
bly be changed by later reports.
Mr. Colquitt carried the counties
of heavy German vote-: Austin, Colo-
rado, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Guad-
alupe, Gillespie, Lavaca, Lee, Victoria
and Washington.
He also carried Archer (where
there is a German setlement), An-
drews, Bastrop, Brewster (indicated
on partial returns wtih a possibility
of complete returns changing
county), Callahan,' Hardeman,
Wells, Kinney, Menard, Medina
Scmervell.
Wharton Spectator.
Last Saturday night Sheriff Kemp
was called upon by a man who had
alighted from a west bound train and
with an infant about three weeks old
had gone to the Wharton Hotel, op-
posite the depot, and advised that a
woman who was on the train had
asked him to carry her baby to the
hotel, where she was going to stop.
She had another child with her and
a grip, he said. Taking the baby, he
went across to the hotel, presuming
the woman was following him. When,
county, #59c; he arrive<i, the train had pulled out,
the woman with the child having re-
entered it after giving him the baby.
Sheriff Kemp got busy. He tele-
phoned stations tq the west, but at
first could get no trace of the wo-
man. He called up the train crew
and learned that the woman got on
at Rosenberg and got off at Edna.
He had already talked to officers at
Edna, and while he was doing so the
man in the case disappeared. When
he called up the second time he was
told that the woman had been lo-
cated. She was brought to Wharton
Sunday and later the man was ap-
prehended and also brought here and
placed in jail.
Charges of infant desertion were
filed against both parties. They gave
bond in the sum of $250 each Wed-
nesday and were released from cus-
tody.
Both
County.
Beaumont, Texas, August 27.—
Judge W. H. Davidson in the Fifty-
eighth District Court Saturday ap-
proved the lease of the McFaddin-
Weiss-Kyle rice mill to W. P. H. Mc-
Faddin for a period of 10 months, at
$750 a month.
The plant has been in the hands of
Receiver S. W. Pipkin for about two
years. It was operated last year un-
der lease to Mr. McFaddin.
Two bids on the lease for this sea-
son were submitted to the court Sat-
urday morning, one by Mr. McFaddin
and the other by P. H. Weiss. Then
each began to bid against the other
and Mr. McFaddin finally secured the
lease on the above figure, with the
understanding that he is to pay ilie
cost of making certain repairs in the
plant, which will cost about $600.
The lease was granted subject to
sale at any time.
r
■
®ljc llliitngoviiii Coitnij) Wribtmc
TO OUR COUNTY, OUR WHOLE COUNTY AND EVERY SECTION OF OUR COUNTY. TO OUR PRIDE IN ITS FAST AND OUR HOPE FOR ITS FUTURE, ADD VIGOROUS WORK IN THE LIVING PRESENT
25.—
Coast
while ■
i all interest ceased early in the day Present United States Senator Is Well
ar>/I 4._ ---more ag
anything ■
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Smith, Carey. The Matagorda County Tribune. (Bay City, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, September 1, 1916, newspaper, September 1, 1916; Bay City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1291601/m1/1/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Matagorda County Museum & Bay City Public Library.