"History of Decatur County and Its People" Volume I

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors

The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago IL, 1915.
 
Chapter II ~ Organization of Decatur County
Pages 16 - 29
Decatur County was named after Commodore Stephen DECATUR, who was born in Maryland, January 5, 1779, and was killed by Commodore Barron in a duel at Bladensburg, March 22, 1820. The territory was obtained from the Indians by a treaty which was ratified in March, 1843.
 
COUNTY ORGANIZATION

The County of Decatur was officially organized on the 1st day of April in the year 1850.

The first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held on May 6, 1850. The commissioners were: Josiah MORGAN, William HAMILTON and Asa BURRELL. Henry B. NOSTON was the first clerk of the board.

The first order issued by this board was one allowing Andrew STILL the sum of $30 for his services as organizing sheriff. The commissioners, at this meeting, also ordered that the District Court, Probate Court and Commissioners' Court be held at the house of Daniel MOAD until the county seat should be located.

FIRST TOWNSHIPS

At another meeting of the board of commissioners in July, 1850, the county was divided into four civil townships, namely: Garden Grove, Morgan, Burrell and Hamilton. It will be noted that the last three names were the respective names of the commissioners.

The following judges and clerks of election were appointed in these divisions: Garden Grove. William DAVIS. Victor DOZE and Hiram CHASE, judges; Joshua R. MONROE and Enos DAVIS, clerks. Morgan, Reuben HATFIELD, William ONEY and Christopher WAINSCOTT, judges; Thomas GILMORE and Samuel McDOWELL, clerks. Burrell, Asa HOWARD, John McDANIEL and John STILL, judges; James WOODMANSEE and Andrew STILL, clerks. Hamilton, William KATON, Jefferson DIMICK and William HAMILTON, judges; Wyllis DICKINSON and Gideon J. WALKER, clerks.

After the first board of commissioners had divided the county into four townships, County Judge S. S. THOMPSON organized the townships of Center, Decatur, Richland, Eden and High Point. In 1850 Judge THOMPSON was called to Princeton, Missouri, on business and he left his office in charge of Samuel FORREY, who had been employed to act as county attorney. He organized and named the following townships: Grand River, Long Creek, Franklin, New Buda and Woodland. Long Creek and Grand River were named after the streams of the same name, and Woodland because of its heavy growth of timber. The names of Franklin and New Buda were suggested by villages of the same name, both of which have now disappeared. The townships of Fayette and Bloomington were called Prairie, but were afterwards divided and given their present names. The name of Bloomington was suggested by I. McDONALD, who had once resided in Bloomington, Illinois.

COUNTY SEAT

On January 18, 1851, an act of the Legislature was approved, appointing commissioners and providing for the location of the county seat. The commissioners were Henry ALLEN and F. N. SALES. On July 21, 1851, they reported to the Board of County Commissioners that they had selected the east half of the southeast quarter and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 27, township 69, range 26, "being high, gently-rolling prairie, through which runs the main road from Fort Des Moines to Independence, Missouri, and in the immediate vicinity of good timber and stone, with good mill privileges." They also reported that they had named the town Decatur.

N. WESTCOAT was selected to survey the new town. A sale of lots was also ordered to take place in Decatur on August 25, 1851, notice being given in the Des Moines Republican and the Sentinel at Fairfield.

There were many people in the county who strenuously claimed that the selection of the county seat had been illegal, because, on account of the high water prevailing at that time, the commissioners had not been able to reach the site inside the limits of the time fixed bv the statute. The General Assembly accordingly ordered an election to take place the first Monday in April, 1853, to decide again on the location of the county seat. It was urged that the point to which it was proposed to take the county seat was very little more in a central position than Decatur, which had been selected. Also, that the county had gone to the expense in constructing a courthouse at Decatur.

The vote was counted, however, and showed the majority in favor of removing the county seat to Independence, afterward called South Independence, and now Leon, located on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 28, and northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 33, township 69, range 2.5. The county surveyor was employed to survey the new town.

At the next April term of the County Court a sale of lots was directed to take place on the second Tuesday of May, 1853, notice to be given by publication in the Des Moines Valley Whig, Fairfield Sentinel, Iowa City Reporter and the Pioneer at Trenton, Missouri.

On the site of the town forty acres of land had been donated to the county as an inducement for the removal of the county seat, and the survey of the town was made in May, 1853. On the 12th of the same month a courthouse was ordered constructed and Peter C. STEWART was awarded the contract, the price being $1,650. For some reason he failed to discharge the contract, and at the June term, 1854, another order was made for a courthouse, to be built of brick, 24 by 40 feet, and two stories in height, with three rooms below for offices and one above for a courtroom. A contract for the brick work and plastering was let to Arnold CHILDERS for the sum of $900 and the wood work to F. PARSONS for the sum of $800. This building was in use when burned, with all its contents, on March 31, 1874.

One of the voting places in the April (1853) election was at the store of SWITZLER, DAVIS & Co., located half a mile south of the residence on the Marion ONEY farm in Eden Township. The store was in charge of I. N. CLARK. Mr. CLARK recalled the following voters as being among those who were present: Reuben, Calvin, Stanley, Andrew, Hiram and Myers HATFIELD, James HATFIELD (father and son), Hiram, Calvin and Abel STANLEY, Alf STANLEY (father and son), John and Anthony VANDERPOOL, William ONEY, Johnny PATTERSON, P. C. STEWART, Harrison WELDON, Dan and Elisha MOAD, Thomas MANN, Oliver STANLEY, the McILVANIES (three in number). Dr. S. C. THOMPSON, Sam McDOWELL, Dan BRADLEY, Thomas EAST and I. N. CLARK.

As soon as it was known that the proposition to move the county seat had carried. Doctor THOMPSON mounted his horse and started for Chariton, where the land office was located. It was his intention to enter the land on which to locate the new town and also the surrounding territory.

At that time one of the officials in the land office was Oliver L. PALMER, who was a son-in-law of Isaac LEFFLER, of Burlington. In some way PALMER heard of the result of the election in Decatur County and at once proceeded to take advantage of his information.

Doctor THOMPSON called the next morning after his arrival and entered the land on which Leon is now located. He then discovered that Oliver L. PALMER had entered an 80-acre tract east of the proposed townsite and Porter W. EARL an 80-acre tract on the west side and Samuel BAIRD 120 acres on the south. The 18O-acre tract north of Leon had been entered by Uriah SHAFFER in 1850, and hence SHAFFER'S Addition to the Town of Leon.

PALMER assigned his land to Isaac LEFFLER, who afterwards moved here and sold many lots in LEFFLER'S Addition. Mr. LEFFLER had served several terms in Congress from Virginia, and was a man of ability and a prominent democratic politician. He lived here some time with his family and built a house on the lots now owned by John HOLDEN.

EARL'S land was afterwards sold, and part of it is now known as the STOUT and GILLHAM'S Addition.

Doctor THOMPSON donated forty acres of land to the town, which was surveyed in May, 1853.

REGARD TO THE COUNTY SEAT

The following article was prepared by "one who knew" in 1906 during the controversy over the location of the comity seat, and when Decatur had presented a petition to have the seat of justice moved there from Leon. The article has to do with the controversies in former years and mentions many things which are not found in strictly formal history:

"As an early settler in Decatur County, March 12, 1851, at that time there had not been any townsite located for the county seat. But in the spring of 1852 there was a proposition made to take a vote at the April election, and a location was to be made as near the geographical center of the county as the lay of the ground would admit, which was about 10 miles west of the town plat of Leon, on what is known as the TASH farm and called Greencastle.

"Another site was at the present Town of Decatur City, located there by two men who lived in Garden Grove at that time, and had a claim on a part of the land where Decatur City now stands. There was no legal call for the vote, but it was intended to ascertain the feeling of of the settlers of the county as to where the county seat should be. The April election was to elect the township officers, but the general election was the first Monday in August for all state and national officers. When the yote was counted Greencastle had the majority of the votes cast, although Garden Grove gave several votes for Decatur City.

"At the August election in 1852, Decatur and Wayne counties had to elect a representative to the Legislature. O. N. KELLOGG, of Garden Grove, was a candidate, and Harvey DUNCAN, of Wayne County, was a candidate for the same office. Mr. KELLOGG was in favor of a commission to be appointed by the Legislature of Iowa to locate the county seat of Decatur County, while Mr. DUNCAN was in favor of the voters of the county locating the county seat by vote of the electors, and said if he was elected he would use his influence to have a special act of the Legislature allowing the voters of the county to locate by vote at the April election in 1853, and at that election a large majority of the votes were cast in favor of Leon.

"The citizens of Decatur City would not encourage the building up of Leon, but discouraged strangers from setting in the county seat at Leon, with the result that these strangers did not settle in either place for more than twenty-five years, but went to other counties where there was no factional fight over the county seat. As the result of that factional fight there were hundreds of men who came to Decatur County and would have settled here, but did not from that very cause.

"Do the voters of the county want to repeat that factional fight again? I think not.

"In trying to keep Leon from building up they not only injured Decatur City just as bad, but the whole county suffered in the price of every acre of land from $5 to $15. That was the condition of our county before the railroad came to Leon.

"As I have stated, the price of all land was from $5 to $15 an acre less than in adjoining counties until the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built to Leon and the narrow gauge from Des Moines to Leon, when in a year or two the price of land began to raise in value, because there was a feeling that the county seat question was settled.

"There is but one question for every voter to ask himself, and that is, is there one reason why the county seat should be removed to Decatur City after being fifty-three years at Leon?

"I say there is not one single reason. But there are many reasons why Leon should remain as the county seat, and one reason is Leon is very close to the center of the county. But the greatest reason is the price of land would not depreciate if it remains the county seat as at present.

"Another reason is that the people of the east half of the county have spent thousands of dollars to secure the two railroads built to Leon, the county seat, which was done by personal subscription and tax levies on Eden, Center and Leon townships to aid the roads in building.

"Now let every voter in the county who is opposed to removing the county seat to Decatur City sign the remonstrance.

"I am satisfied that a great many have signed the petition who do not honestly believe that the county seat ought to be moved. Now let them sign the remonstrance, and their names will count on the remonstrance and not on the petition.

"Now to correct an error in regard to the second term of the District Court of Decatur County being held in Decatur City. From my personal knowledge it was not held in Decatur City, but was held in a log cabin some three miles east and south of Decatur City. John J. SSTANLEY was sheriff. Judge TOWNSEND, of Albia, was the judge, and I was one of the grand jurors at that court.

"The grand jurors were sworn and Judge TOWNSEND gave us instructions, and we left the room and went out on the grass near the cabin and talked for an hour or so, and reported there was no business to do, and we were discharged, and the judge got through with what business there was to do and adjourned court the same afternoon. Judge TOWNSEND and I were neighbor boys in Indiana, and he made his stopping-place at my home at that time."

The desire of Decatur City to have the county seat there was short lived, for in 1906 the County Board of Supervisors turned down their petition.

FIRST COURTHOUSE

At a meeting of the board of commissioners on October 27, 1851, it was determined to erect a courthouse, to be 20 by 22 feet, and 14 feet in height, and to be constructed of hewed logs. This building was put up according to plans, but of course did not serve more than a few years in its proper role. It afterward became a hotel.

John J. STANLEY built the structure for $375 on land conveyed to the county by Allen SCOTT.

The next county building was a large frame structure which stood upon the lot where the VARGA home was afterward located. Court was held therein two terms when the county judge filed objections, and finally refused to receive it from the contractors. Another building was started, but before it it was completed it was destroyed by a windstorm.

Another was built upon its ruins, but fire swept it out of existence. It contained no fireproof vaults, and was long considered an unsafe place for the county's records.

On the morning of March 31, 1874, about 3 o'clock, G. P. KNOTT discovered flames issuing from the building. The alarm was quickly given and the citizens made every effort to save the building, but all to no purpose. The structure was destroyed, together with all of the records of the county. One book from the office of the recorder and one from that of the clerk were the only records saved outside of the treasurer's office. A snowstorm came just in time to keep the flames from destroying other portions of the town. The safe in the treasurer's office contained over thirty-three thousand dollars in money, but when the rubbish had been cleared away and the safe opened the contents were found to be intact.

The courthouse, which was torn down to make room for the present handsome structure, was erected in 1875. This building, which had served Decatur County for so many years, was erected in the following manner:

There had been many sales of lots laid out in the forty acres given to the county. The proceeds, together with the ordinary resources being sufficient, the county judge contracted for the brick, which was burned in 1874, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The board of supervisors had secured plans for the building, which was estimated to cost about twenty thousand dollars.

The state had years prior donated swamp lands to the county, which had been sold from time to time, and from this source the county had $10,000 of swamp funds. The board offered to appropriate this money if the people would furnish enough money to finish the building. A Leon contractor scaled the price down, and the Leon people raised $6,600 and completed the building.

On the morning of April 1, 1877, the entire west side of the structure was blown out with dynamite.

COURTHOUSE BURGLARY

Three years prior to this time the county was wild with excitement, for in March, 1874, the courthouse had burned to the around and no one knew or has ever known just how the fire started. The loss to the county, not only in property, was large, but the greatest damage was the loss of valuable records. Then the second courthouse, described in the preceding paragraph, was constructed, costing about fifteen thousand dollars. Everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly and the people felt themselves fortunate in having such a fine building when, at 5 o'clock on Sunday morning, April 1, 1877, the heavens were lighted with a sudden flash and the whole town trembled as with an earthquake.

As this was the 1st day of April, many who heard it were slow to go out, thinking it was some one getting up an "April fool." But those on the square Mere convinced that something more serious had occurred, and they leaped up and went to their windows to see what was the matter. Those who could see the west side of the courthouse were struck with horror at the sight, for nearly the whole west side of the building was blown to the ground.

W. H. DAKE, who lives upstairs on the southwest corner of the square, saw the house about the first man, and took in the situation at a glance. He saw that the fire had just caught, and with great presence of mind, snatched up the pail of water in his room and ran with all his might to the ruins. When he arrived the blaze was about four feet high. He dashed on the water and subdued the fast-increasing flames. The wind was blowing a strong gale at the time, and in two more minutes the building would have been a blaze. While running to the courthouse he saw some men, but did not recognize who they were, as it was still too dark to notice who persons were unless close at hand.
 Mr. DAKE raised the cry of fire, and when he had time to recover from putting out the fire these men were nowhere to be seen. John KLING, who keeps a restaurant on the west side of the street, sprang up at the sound and saw three men in an alley, and one of them went back and looked at the work they had done; then came back, spoke to the others and turned and ran south.

In a few minutes people gathered at the scene and found that the explosion had been caused by a charge of powder within the building. It was soon broad day-light, and then an inspection began and revealed the fact that it had been done by burglars who had entered the building during the night with the intent of robbing the treasurer's office.

Many were the speculations that were advanced as to what would be the result if the parties could be found. Even after hours had passed many would not believe the facts when told.

Parties immediately notified the sheriff and treasurer, who soon appeared on the scene and began to search for the county safe, which contained a large sum of money, some twenty thousand dollars. The safe was discovered buried deep in the ruins, and it took some time to get it out, but with ropes and levers it at last was dragged out in the yard and found to be in sound condition.

The treasurer, Mr. VARGA, tried the combination and found it all right, and when he opened it found every dollar of money in its proper place, and the people breathed freer. But when they turned and beheld the ruined condition of their handsome courthouse, a frown settled on each face. Each asked the other, "Who are the guilty parties?"

After the first blast of excitement had passed and people began to come to their sober senses and think the matter over, suspicion was fastened on two of the citizens of Leon, and these two were found missing. They had been seen late the night previous. These two were W. W. Van SCHAICK and Howard REED. The former owned a stove and tin store here, and had been in business some six years. The other one failed in a hardware store here the preceding summer, and had only been here occasionally afterwards himself, but his family had remained all the time. The sheriff visited both of their houses early Sunday morning, but they were not at home, and their wives said they had not been home the night previous, nor were they to be found.

The officer soon found that Van had been east the first of the week, and had returned on Saturday and brought a strange woman with him. She stopped at the hotel, and Saturday evening paid her bill and was not seen afterwards.

A visit to the livery stable revealed the fact that Van had hired a livery team and started for Osceola just after the explosion, in company with said woman.

Pursuit began at once. A telegram was sent to take them in as soon as they got there. Sheriff BACKUS and Deputy Sheriff LINDSEY started at once for the same point, on horseback, and they got there soon after Van and his charmer, and before the dispatch reached there. They found them both there and took them in and started back to Leon.

The woman is a girl about eighteen years of age, and passed by the name of Lee, but her real name is ROBINSON. She is a "fast young bird," and her home is in the east part of the state. She became frightened and confessed the whole matter, telling the story of where they were during the first part of the night, who were the parties she saw, where the tools were placed when they left the courthouse to await the explosion.

Their rendezvous was over Van's old store, on the west side of the square, and she was looking out of the window and saw the explosion. Van then came to her and they went up in the north of town, and there they got the buggy that took them to Osceola. This she told to several parties on their return to Leon.

The officers soon found that REED had engaged a team to take him to Allerton on Monday morning, so as to catch the train going south early, and they were certain he was secreted somewhere in town. A diligent search and close watch was kept, and about 10 o'clock he was found in an upstairs room over Van's old store, asleep.

The officers kept this to themselves, but put a watch on the premises, and waited until the excitement had subsided a little, for there was a prospect that if he was brought out he would taste the end of a rope.

About 1 o'clock they went in the room and told the said REED they wanted him. A search revealed the fact that the room was a perfect arsenal. Pistols and knives of the finest make were there, quite numerous. He was taken to jail to await the arrival of his partners in crime, who arrived after dark and were placed under lock and key to answer a charge of burglary on the courthouse.

It is not positively known how they entered the courthouse, but the woman says they went in at an upstairs window, pried up the floor, drilled through the top of the vault, but made a mistake in the distance and got into the recorder's vault, which is separated by a heavy wall from the treasurer's vault.

They then took off the lock of the recorder's vault and came out in the recorder's office. They then pried open the side door to the hall, then went to the treasurer's office, burst it open and found that he had not locked his vault, for he had intended to come back after supper, but some unseen power seemed to keep him at home, and this was the first time he ever left things in this shape over night.

This had taken the whole night, and daylight was coming in the east, and they had but just got to the safe in the vault, and what must be done must be done at once.

The safe is the same one that passed through the fire when the courthouse burned. They found it locked, and resolved to finish up by putting several pounds of powder under the safe, putting a fuse to it and get out of the way.

Their theory was that the powder exploding under the safe would spring open the doors. In this they were fooled, for instead of throwing open the safe it threw out the whole side of the house, including both the treasurer's and the recorder's vaults, burying the safe several feet under the debris.

The treasurer's and the recorder's offices were on the west side of the courthouse. The treasurer in the southwest corner, and the recorder in the northwest. The vaults for both offices were in the center between the two offices. The powder was exploded in the treasurer's vault, and the force was terrific, tearing out the center of the wall from the ground to the roof, and throwing it out and tearing the vaults to pieces and throwing down about half of the partition wall on the west side of the hall, at the south end, opposite the treasurer's office.

Across the hall from this was the auditor's office, the door of which was blown wide open and burst terribly. The office in the northeast corner was the clerk's office. This received very little damage.

The floor over the west half of the lower rooms was torn to pieces, and such was the force that all the supports to the roof were blown down, and had there been a stronger wind the roof must have fallen in. The forcing up of the floor and joists bulged the east wall out some.

The books of the treasurer and recorder were in a terrible shape — all mixed up with the fallen walls and timbers, many of them almost entirely ruined, but not defaced.

The two culprits spent six years in the prison at Fort Madison for their work. The courthouse was repaired at considerable expense.

THE NEW COURTHOUSE

During the year 1898 the question of a new courthouse for Decatur County was first discuss id. It was finally ordered by the board that an election be held in the county on November 7, 1899, for the purpose of deciding on the question.

The election was held and resulted in a vote of 2,167 to 847 against building the courthouse. Another election, held May 27, 1902, resulted the same way by a vote of 1,754 to 1,280. Finally, at the election held November 7, 1905, the question was carried by 1,536 to 1,293, and the contract was let to Lauritzen Brothers of Waterloo, Iowa. J. J. PETERSON, their representative, who erected the courthouse, arrived March 9, 1907, and operations were begun on the 20th.

The cornerstone of the new courthouse was laid on May 23, 1907. The ceremonies were in charge of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Judge H. I. TOWNER of Corning delivered the address of the afternoon.

The dedicatory services of the new courthouse were held on July 4, 1908. The day was a memorable one in the history of Decatur County, as Leon was packed with people from all over the county and many nearby counties contributed large delegations. The day was taken up with band concerts, drills, baseball game, trade parade, and dedicatory exercises, the latter directly after dinner.

The dedicatory address was delivered in a masterful manner by Judge Smith McPHERSON of the United States District Court. Judge H. I. TOWNER of Corning and Judge H. K. EVANS of Corydon also spoke.

The courthouse is fireproof throughout. The floors are constructed of cement and marble, the floors inside the offices and in the court room being of oak laid over the cement. Iron, steel, stone, tile, brick, marble and granite, with very little hard wood, are the materials used in the construction. The fixtures in the various offices are of steel, the counters are covered with polished granite. The building is replete with the most modern conveniences and the various offices and rooms are arranged with the idea of most efficiency and facility of use. The estimated total cost of the building was $70,000.

JAIL

In 1846, under Judge KELLEY, a substantial log jail was erected at a cost of $1,800. This was used until 1884. The present jail is of brick and was erected soon after the old one was abandoned. It cost $12,000. It stood near the northeast corner of the square, at the corner of Eighth and Idaho streets.

POOR FARM

For the purpose of housing the county poor a tract of 160 acres was purchased January 4, 1866, on motion of S. P. McNEIL of High Point, for $2,700. It is located on section 14, Eden Township, and was owned by D. B. GAMMON. His residence was enlarged and fitted up as an infirmary. In the autumn of 1878 a frame addition was built, as an insane hospital, at a cost of $2,000.

THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM

The county road system comprises 155% miles of road. This is to be taken care of by the revenue derived from the automobiles thus:

In 1913 the automobiles brought into Decatur County $5,706 and in 1914 about seven thousand five hundred dollars. This system brings an average of about sixty dollars per mile for its entire length. There are in the neighborhood of fifteen county road superintendents to look after this road. These road superintendents look after the grading of the road in preparation for dragging, as well as the dragging itself and the repair of the wooden bridges and keeping approaches to bridges smooth. For this work, if the superintendent does the work himself, he receives the same compensation that he would have to pay others to do the same work. If the superintendent does not do the work himself he hires it done and has the supervision over it and receives for such services 20 cents per hour for time. For any mileage of said system the superintendent is not allowed to spend over an average of $60 per mile. If it is necessary to have some few corrugated tubes to take care of small drainage areas temporarily, these are taken care of out of the $60 limit also.

A great portion of the dragging is now contracted for at the rate of $10 per mile per year. Concrete work and heavy grading come over and above this limit.

Contracts for steel bridges, for bridge lumber, reinforcing bars for concrete work, have been let by bids and not as heretofore.

Last fall a contract was made with the A. E. Shorthill Co., of Des Moines, for three 50-foot steel spans and one 80-foot span, all riveted trusses and designed to carry a heavy traction engine and a concrete floor.

The 80-foot span was to go over Long Creek above De Kalb on a proposed new road. One 80-foot span goes over Little River on the Cannon Ball, another goes on the Corn Belt west of LeRoy near the Alda ROE farm, and the other will go on what is called the Griffith cut-off, along the railroad between Davis City and Lamoni, on the Inter State and Waubonsie trails.

The Tacoma Lumber Co., of Tacoma, Washington, received the contract for bridge lumber for the year 1915, at an average price of $25.50, instead of about thirty-odd dollars per thousand as at some previous times.

Reinforcing bars were bought in a carload shipment from the Monmouth Bridge Co., of Monmouth, Illinois, as they were low bidders.

Before construction on any concrete culverts is begun the county road superintendent is required to file with the auditor plans for the same, giving the estimated cost, drainage area and location. After the construction he is required to file the actual cost sheets, showing the itemized expenditures and to whom paid. These are to be found in the auditor's office and are open to public inspection at all times. For any new work on which the estimated cost is $300 or over, a resolution of necessity is adopted and published in order to give the public notice and if they think such expenditure is not necessary, a chance to make a kick is given at the time named in the resolution.

If work is estimated to cost $1,000 or over, it must be advertised for sealed bids. And if bids are thought to be too high, all can be rejected and the same put in by day labor if done under the lowest bid received.

It is quite probable that a plant for the manufacture of reinforced concrete pipe for culverts will be established in Leon in the near future. These pipes are now being made in one or two counties in the state at prices that are below the same sizes in corrugated tubing.


Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2013
 
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