Happings in 1912 - 110 Years Ago.

 

January 1912 – Marion in Winter's Icy Grip

Not for many years has such frigid weather been felt in this vicinity a that which swooped down on us last Saturday and continued on until now. The snow flew furious all day Saturday and attained a dept of 8 inches on the level and with the thermometer down to 18 below there was great suffering. Sunday some of the churches had no Sunday School or church services as the building could not be heated comfortably. Monday school was dismissed as the buildings were not heated sufficiently to prevent sickness.

County court day Monday the 8^th, witnessed the smallest crowd seen here on a similar occasion for many years.

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Jan. 11, 1912 – Ollie James Is Elected Senator

Frankfort, Kentucky, Jan. 9, 1912.At noon today both houses of the General Assembly voting separately, most in their separate chamber, elected Congressman Ollie M. James of the First District, as a member of the United Senate to replace Thomas H. Paynter. 

 His Future Gilded. Ollie M. James, of Kentucky, is one man whose future appears gilded with most splendid possibilities. In appearance he is most fortunate. Some six feet six or seven inches in height, he is erect, well proportioned and commanding. His voice is that of an orator. He is only 40 years of age. In habits he is studious and persistent.

Several terms in congress have shown him gifted with admirable qualities of leadership. Never dictatorial, never harsh, he has a host of devoted friends who love him for his heart qualities as they respect him for his head qualities.

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Jan. 11, 1912 – A Popular Official

George M. Crider, who for 11 years has dispensed the mail at Marion post office surrendered same to his successor last week. Mr. Crider had been considered almost a stability as his first appointment dates back to the days of the lamented McKinley. When Mr. Crider was first given this office in 1897, it was not a Presidential one, but the year following in 1898, it became one, and he was at once re-appointed by President McKinley.

 

 President Roosevelt re-appointed him in 1902 and again in 1906, the term of which later

appointment expired last fall, since which time various rumors have been afloat as to who would be his successor, and the one most generally believed was that eventually he would be reappointed.

Marion has had many postmasters but none who has ever served so long.  Back in the seventies Warner Wagar, later Dav Stinson, Robert Coffield, Bob Walker, A. M. Hearin, and then George M. Crider; but n one more popular or beloved that the last named.  Mr. Carl Henderson will be the new Marion postmaster beginning this month.

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Silver Discovered Near Mexico

The Pigmy Mining Co., of Louisville have struck silver on their property near Mexico in the southern part of this county. This company bought the W. B. Myers property and have been operating it since early in the spring, and have been getting a fine quality of Spar rich in lead and containing silver ore.

The company work a large crew of hands and have every facility for mining on a large scale. Their mine is located on the I. C. railroad and they are putting in a branch and will load their ore on the cars direct from the mine. They have built a large washer to wash their gravel spar and will soon begin the erection of a crusher to separate the different minerals.

This is supposed to be the same vein of silver that was worked before the Civil War, when a lot of it was made into money.

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Big Tobacco Meeting Here.

Henderson speakers deliver addresses to Crittenden Growers. One of the biggest and most enthusiastic meetings of tobacco growers ever held in the county was held Saturday afternoon. The speakers told the growers that unless the tobacco pool holds this year tobacco buyers will lower the price of the weed. The meeting was largely attended and was presided over by Judge John W. Blue, Jr.

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Great Activity In All Mining Enterprises In this Field

The fluor spar, lead and zinc mining interests in and around Marion are in a stronger position today than ever before. In other words, the effervescing frothy period has been passed. Legitimate business methods combined with intelligence in mining have taken the place of the earlier days with all of their absurdities of statements regarding this section of the state and its mineral resources.

 

Fluor spar, zinc and lead mining in western Kentucky is not a poor mans game, the mining of ores and mineral here not only requires patience and pluck but a good strong bank account. Given these requisites, the returns are as sure as in any industrial enterprise known in this country.

 

The past few years have proven that in the counties of Crittenden and Livingston great veins of these ores and mineral exist. It has also been proven that with proper facilities as regards mining and preparing the ore for market the demand is constant and the money returns are large enough to declare superb dividends.

 

The demand for fluorspar is a constantly growing one, many new uses are being found for this wonderful mineral and from a few hundred tons per annum thirty years ago the consumption in 1912 will be in excess of 125,000 tons.

 

Mexico, Ky., eight miles south of Marion on the Illinois Central railroad shipped in 1911 according to the railroad agents statement 252 car loads of fluorspar, aggregating some 10,000 tons while from Marion an equal tonnage was probably made but largely of the ground product which brings the highest price on account of its purity.