125 years ago

MAY 22, 1885

The recent rains have furnished an excellent argument in behalf of stone-arch bridges. The one that spanned the spring branch, southwest of town, was submerged with water, but the angry billows beat over it and the rushing torrents swept under and around it, but like the Scriptural house that was built upon the rock, the elements warred against that structure in vain. Not so with the iron and wooden bridges for many miles farther up the stream. We understand that a number of them, we don’t know how many, were swept away though the stream was of course smaller and of much less violence where they were located than at the stone-bridge point. The Commissioners are expected to meet the day of this writing (Thursday) to arrange to replace these lost bridges. This is the county’s expensive experience after nearly every heavy rain, and will continue to be until the folly of erecting these destructible structures is abandoned, and good, solid stone bridges everywhere confront the turbulent waters.

People who want to keep up with the procession will have to quit designating the stream that meanders through Marion from the north by the ugly old name of Mud or Muddy Creek. The State Agriculture report calls it the Luta, and if you don’t want to be considered an old fogy, you’ll have to do the same.

Three companies of the 9th U.S. Cavalry (colored), camped near Marion, Tuesday night, and were visited by nearly all the young folks and many older persons, many of whom had never before seen any “sure enough” soldiers. These troops were returning from the Oklahoma country and were on their way first to Ft. Riley, and from there they go soon to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming.

Tramps are becoming rather to numerous for a novelty, in this city. The first thing some of them know they will have an invitation to assist in improving the streets.

The ladies of the Presbyterian Society will have a strawberry and ice cream festival at the rink, next Tuesday evening. They deserve your presence and patronage.

We have given the sizes and weight of many products of Marion county henneries, and here are a few more: Miss Lucy Coleman brought down from her brother-in-law’s (Tom Williams) and egg which measured 7 1/8 inches in circumference one way, 6 1/8 inches the other, and weighed 3½ ounces. Mrs. W.H. Mansfield brought us an egg which measured 7 5/8 and 5¾ and weighed 3½ ounces. If anybody’s hens can beat these eggs, let them proceed to cackle.