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James M. Moore
ARKANSAS CITY.
[Served for some time as Street Commissioner.]
Arkansas City Traveler, Supplement, December 19, 1883.
Amount of scrip issued by city clerk from May 1, 1883, to December 15, 1883, inclusive.
J. M. MOORE, JOB WAGON LICENSE.
[DRAYMEN.]
Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1884.
Draymen’s Meeting.
We, the undersigned draymen of Arkansas City, Kansas, held a meeting on the evening of January 15, 1884, for the purpose of establishing a uniform price for hauling. After due deliberation the following prices were adopted.
Coal, 1,000 lbs. Or under: $25
Coal, 2,000 lbs. Or over 1,000 lbs.: $35
Lumber, 500 ft. Or under: $25
Lumber, 1,000 ft. Or over 500 ft.: $40
Plastering sand, per load: $75
Canal sand, per load: $50
Water, 1 bbl. To 2 bbls. 25 cents; 3 bbls., 40 cents; 4 bbls., 60 cents.
Wood, ½ cord: $35
Wood, 1 cord: $50
Moving families, per load: $50
Organs, each: $1.00
Brick, 500 or under from brick yard: $.75
Brick, over 500 and under 1,000: $1.25
No delivery of any kind to be less than 25 cents.
HENRY CORYELL, W. J. GAMEL, P. JONES, J. M. MOORE, J. C. MOORE, W. WARD, W. D. KRAMER, LEWIS JOHNSON, S. C. AND R. L. COWLES.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 4, 1884.
Council Proceedings.
The resignation of Archie Dunn as street commissioner was accepted, and James M. Moore was appointed in his place.
Bill of Chicago Lumber company for $36.54 was allowed and ordered paid; also bills of J. M. Moore, Ed. Malone, and Clark & Coombs were allowed and ordered paid.
Moved and carried that the treasurer, clerk, police judge, street commissioner, and water commissioner be required to make monthly statement of their receipts and expenditures, to be presented at each regular meeting of the council.
Arkansas City Republican, June 7, 1884.
We are sorry to learn that Archie Dunn has resigned his position as street commissioner; he has performed the duties of his office well. To fill his place, the council have selected a fine substitute in the person of J. M. Moore, an industrious, honest, honorable man.
[COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.]
Arkansas City Republican, June 7, 1884.
The city council met Monday night, with F. C. Leach, president pro tem, in the chair.
Present: Leach, Thompson, Rarick, Davis, and Fairclo.
The reading of the minutes of last meeting was dispensed with.
On motion of Rarick, the resignation of Archie Dunn was accepted. The president appointed James M. Moore to fill the vacancy, and his appointment was confirmed by the council. It was moved that Jas. M. Moore be notified of his appointment as street commissioner, and that he report to the committee on streets and alleys.
On motion, the bill of the Chicago Lumber Company for $50.54 was allowed and ordered to be paid. On motion the bill of James M. Moore for labor in running water tank engine and blacksmithing by Peak for $39.75, was allowed and ordered to be paid.
Arkansas City Republican, June 14, 1884.
Street commissioner Moore is doing excellent work on our highways.
Arkansas City Republican, June 28, 1884.
DIED. Died on Thursday night, in this city, of cholera infantum, the little nine months’ old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Moore. The bereaved parents have the sympathy of their entire circle of friends.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 9, 1884.
Council Proceedings.
The reports of James Benedict, C. R. Sipes, Jas. Moore, and W. D. Kreamer were received and placed on file.
Arkansas City Republican, August 2, 1884.
Arkansas City may well congratulate herself upon the efficiency of two of her officials. W. J. Gray is a man who does his duty without fear or favor. If a party violates the law, he is arrested without hesitation. If a party is requested to attend at the police court, he always accompanies Mr. Gray. We believe we are speaking within bounds when we say that W. J. Gray is the best marshal in the state. Our road commissioner, J. M. Moore, is equally efficient in his branch of business. The streets have been straightened and graded by him in a satisfactory manner. We are thorough believers, in civil service reform, and we are in favor of having them retained in their positions as long as they may desire to keep them, and so long as they perform their duties with the promptness and energy that has heretofore characterized them. . . .
Arkansas City Republican, August 9, 1884.
Election Times.
A circumstance peculiar to election times took place one day this week. Commissioner Moore and Capt. Nipp were conversing concerning the number of votes St. John would poll in Arkansas City. The Captain offered Mr. Moore five dollars for the presentation of a St. John man. Mr. Moore readily accepted and offered five dollars in return if he failed to secure his specimen. Capt. Nipp refused, saying that cigars for the crowd would be sufficient. In good spirits, Mr. Moore started and having secured our fragile little townsman, John Lewis, asked him to go down the street and see a gentleman. John good naturedly consented and after the crowd had been reached, someone said, “Mr. Lewis, for whom will you vote for president?” “For Blaine and Logan, of course,” came the quick response. His hat was snatched from his head and torn in shreds, and in its place a $3.50 new one, purchased by Capt. Nipp, adorns his cranium. Mr. Moore furnished the cigars for the crowd with excellent grace.
Arkansas City Republican, December 13, 1884.
W. J. Sanders and family, of De Witt, Illinois, moved here the first of the week. Mr. Sanders is a friend of J. M. Moore.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 7, 1885.
Our City Dads.
COUNCIL ROOM, January 5, 1885.
Present: F. P. Schiffbauer, Mayor, and O. S. Rarick, T. Fairclo, A. A. Davis, councilmen.
The following bills were allowed.
James Moore: $12.75
Arkansas City Traveler, February 4, 1885.
Our Daddies.
Council rooms, Feb. 2. Adjourned meeting.
Members present, F. P. Schiffbauer, Mayor; C. G. Thompson, A. A. Davis, and T. Fairclo, councilmen.
BILLS ALLOWED. Jas. Moore: $5.00.
Arkansas City Republican, March 14, 1885.
J. S. Alter, while hauling some cane seed across the Arkansas bridge Monday, came near having a serious accident. Mr. Alter drives a handsome team and one of his horses stepped his foot in a hole. Fortunately, the horse was gentle and escaped uninjured. J. M. Moore was immediately sent down by the mayor to make repairs on the bridge. He laid over 1500 feet of hard lumber in re-covering the floor.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 6, 1885.
The city council on Monday evening appointed J. J. Breene assistant marshal, Jacob Dunkle, night watchman, and James Moore, street commissioner.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 27, 1885.
Street Commissioner Moore has graded the north end of Ninth Street near the foundry.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 27, 1885.
Sanitary Suggestions.
One of our city physicians in the TRAVELER a few weeks ago called the attention of the city government to the unwholesome condition of our streets and alleys. “The impurities that are allowed to remain,” he said, “infecting the air we breathe with their exhalations, threaten an infection which will involve our population in disease and death.” The necessity of the adoption of some sufficient sanitary measures was made evident to the senses a few days ago when Street Commissioner Moore made an ineffectual attempt to level a portion of Summit Street by dragging a heavy plank through the liquid mud. The stirring up of this noisome compost produced an effluvium that assailed the nostrils with the virulence of the sixty-seven different stenches which Coleridge detected in Cologne.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 18, 1885.
Council Proceedings.
Mr. Hight made a motion that the city attorney, police judge, and street commissioner be requested to resign. Mr. Dunn made some remarks on the subject and seconded Mr. Hight’s motion. Remarks were also made by Thompson and Davis. They were followed by Messrs. Stafford, Moore, and Bryant in defense of themselves. Mr. Hight insisted upon the motion being put with the exception of street commissioner, which was not consented to by his second.
The motion was amended that such should be voted on separately; carried.
Moved that action on street commissioner be indefinitely deferred; carried.
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 22, 1885.
A communication from S. S. Stiles, Parsons, Kansas, asking about a grader left with Street Commissioner Moore, was read. That official being referred to said it required three good teams to use it, the owner had guaranteed it could be operated with two teams. He had not the horse flesh necessary, therefore the grader was not available. The city clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Stiles of these facts.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
Answer to T. D. Ross.
ED. REPUBLICAN: In an article written by T. D. Ross, I will say he proves himself to be a terrible ignoramus or doesn’t try to inform himself when he says our city dads allowed 29 days work in June when the bid says May, and June also. When he says I hire help on the street, if he has any common sense, he knows that I have not hired a day’s work done this spring. Now, Mr. Ross, you are mad because the street commissioner would not let you put your rotten manure in that fill at west canal bridge to pay your occupation tax and beat the city. Oh, you are a nice man to holler reform. When the street commissioner came in your ward, you and yours were the last men to come out and work or pay, which you have not done yet. You may be an honest man, but things don’t look that way to a man up a tree.
J. M. MOORE, Street Commissioner.
Arkansas City Republican, August 22, 1885.
Archie Dunn, M. C. Copple, Wallace & Huff, W. Ward, Jim Moore, and others have secured the broken stones and brick bats on the burnt district and have been macadamizing the hill on depot street this week. This was a good idea and will make coming from the depot with a load comparatively easy on a team to what it formerly was.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 12, 1885.
Council Proceedings.
The city council met in regular session Monday evening with Mayor Schiffbauer, Councilmen Prescott, Davis, Hight, Dean, and Dunn present, and Hill and Bailey absent.
The following bills were acted upon.
Jas. Moore, work on streets, $23.70, referred to street and alley committee.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 26, 1885.
Council Proceedings.
Referred bill of Jas. Moore, work on streets; allowed $23.40.
On motion, Jim Moore, the street commissioner, was fired.
The city marshal was instructed to act in his stead until his successor was appointed.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 30, 1885.
A Good Road to the Depot.
The present building activity in the city encourages property holders to undertake other improvements. Lot owners on Fifth Avenue, east of Summit Street, are pooling issues with a view to grading the street down to the depot, and flagging the sidewalk, on the south side, a width of two feet. Considerable repairs have been made on the road by ex-Street Commissioner Moore during the summer, who has filled in the hollows with the stone foundations removed from the burnt district, and put the road into tolerable condition for loaded wagons. But it is still unsatisfactory. The increasing traffic of our city necessitates a solid and durable road leading down to the depot, and as the growth of our population is steady and continuous, it is believed that business, at no distant time, will take up its march in that direction. The new railroad is expected to arrive here before the present year expires, and its terminus will probably be located on the east bank of the Walnut. We are promised the erection of division buildings, such as a roundhouse, repair and paint shops, passenger station, freight warehouse, and other necessary appliances, and business activity will, as a consequence, be extended in that direction. This city has seriously suffered for several years past because of its defective approaches, and this movement of the lot owners on Fifth Avenue to furnish a durable and well finished road, for pedestrians and teams, leading down to the railroad termini, is creditable to their judgment and enterprise. We look to see the work set about without delay.
Arkansas City Republican, October 3, 1885.
Wednesday afternoon, in fraternity hall, mugwump Democracy held their primary pow wow. Friends, it was astonishing what a select crowd was in attendance. Just cast your eye on the following array of talent, which goes to the county convention today.
M. B. Vawter and Judge McIntire were chosen delegates from the first ward; Austin Bailey and Dr. Westfall, alternates. In the second ward, Ex-Street Commissioner Jim Moore and Dr. J. W. Sparks were made delegates and Pat Franey and Tom Braggins, alternates. The third ward, Jas. Benedict and J. M. Collins were denominated delegates, and Wyatt Gooch and E. Elerding, alternates. Fourth ward: Delegates, D. A. McIntire and Hon. E. C. Gage; alternates, John C. Willoughby and Capt. H. M. Maidt. Billy Gray and G. W. Ford were made delegates at large and C. T. Thurston and D. J. Buckley, alternates. Judge McIntire was chairman of the meeting and Edward C. Gage, secretary. A new departure was made in the convention. The delegates were left uninstructed. How are they to vote intelligently?
Arkansas City Traveler, October 7, 1885.
Council Proceedings.
City Marshal Gray was reappointed street commissioner to hold the office until his successor is appointed and qualified. A resolution was also adopted that ex-Street Commissioner Moore be instructed to make his report and deliver his records to his successor without delay.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 14, 1885.
Ex-Street Commissioner Moore is having a lively time with chills and fever.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 9, 1885.
City Council Proceedings.
The following bills were presented.
J. M. Moore, $27.25, allowed.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 30, 1885.
Keeping Christmas.
Holiday times infused increased life into the city, and the police court derived some benefit from the revelry. On Christmas Eve there was a lively scrimmage in Rosenberg’s restaurant, and the proprietor received a bad beating from some unruly customers. Douglas Shaw, Hayes Love, and James Moore were arrested for raising the racket, and were taken to the police court to settle with offended justice. The first named had to answer the charges of disorderly conduct and destroying property; he was assessed $9.50. The same charges were entered against Hayes Love, but the complaint was withdrawn on his paying $5 for property destroyed, and $4 cots. The charges against James Moore were drunkenness and assault. The mulct was $17.50, against which he took an appeal.
[OCCUPATION TAX.]
Arkansas City Republican, February 20, 1886.
The “occupation tax” seems to be a bone of contention in our city. Many have objected to paying it, but generally after a growl, came around and liquidated. But Wednesday there came a legal clash. It was between the draymen and the city. The city marshal requested the payment of the occupation tax. They refused. Warrants were issued by Judge Bryant, for the arrest of Frank Wallace, W. F. Huff, W. Ward, W. J. Gamel, J. M. Moore, W. H. Bryson, Scott Brandon, and L. Hartman, who were taken before him. All, excepting Bryson, pleaded “not guilty.” Bryson pleaded “guilty,” paid his tax and costs, and was dismissed. The remaining seven draymen were found guilty by “His Honor” upon trial, and was fined $2 and costs, each, and committed to jail until paid. An appeal to a higher court has been taken. Judge Sumner appeared in behalf of the draymen and C. T. Atkinson for the city. The reason the draymen refuse to pay the tax is, they claim, because no protection is afforded them nor are all teamsters compelled to pay. They allege that the coal dealers deliver coal to all parts of he city and receive pay therefor, yet they pay no tax for draying purposes. Again, there are parties contracting and hauling dirt from the cellars of store rooms which are being dug and pay no license. Those arrested claim they would be willing to pay up if all teamsters and draymen were served alike.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 24, 1886.
DRAYMEN’S REVOLT.
They Declare They Will Not Pay Their License Unless the Ordinance is Better Enforced.
The draymen of the city have been raising a sort of racket over the payment of the occupation tax. Mention having been made in the city council that a number of persons were delinquent in this tax, the city clerk was instructed to prepare a statement showing the names of all who had paid their occupation and dog tax. This was presented at the last meeting of the council, and referred to the finance committee. A cursory glance over the list showed that the draymen of the city were defaulters, and City Marshal Gray was instructed to arrest them and take them before the police justice for a hearing. Accordingly on Wednesday afternoon Frank Wallace, William Huff, William Ward, W. J. Gamel, Jas. Moore, Henry Bryson, Scott Brandon, and M. Hartman appeared before Judge Bryant, who fined them each $2 and costs for violation of a city ordinance.
This puts the draymen in a bad light before the public, but they have their grievances which they put in as an offset. Their first demurrer is that the section in the city ordinance relating to draymen is so bunglingly worded, that no lawyer has yet been found in the city who can construe it. One clause in the section sets forth as follows:
“Any wagon used or kept for use for hauling or transferring for his profit or compensation, any goods, wares, or merchandise, or other property of any kind, except ice, coal, wood, sand, stone, brick, and building material not owned by the owner of the wagon, shall be deemed a job wagon.”
According to the ordinary rules of construction, this would exclude the hauling of the articles above named by an owner of a wagon, to whom the goods do not belong, from liability to pay occupation tax on a job wagon. But it is not so construed by the police justice, and it is not so understood by the draymen implicated. According to the decisions of Judge Bryant, a coal dealer who delivers coal in his own vehicle is not the owner of a job wagon, and hence not liable to the tax on the same; but the man who delivers coal, who is not the owner of the same, and receives money for the service, is running a job wagon and should pay the tax.
The draymen complain of other irregularities in the enforcement of this ordinance which are vexatious to themselves, one or two of which we will mention.
Some time ago several car loads of corn arrived at the depot, which the owner desired to have hauled to his crib. The draymen agreed upon $5 a car load as their rate of compensation. The owner of the corn found someone who was willing to do the work for $4.50, and set him to hauling it. The draymen complained to the city marshal that this man was running a job wagon without paying his tax, and he was arrested for the offense. On the trial the owner of the corn testified that he had sold the wagon used for transferring the corn to the man who was driving it, and had not yet been paid; on this he based his claim to ownership of the wagon. This was accepted as sound logic and good law by the court, and the charge was dismissed.
The draymen also object to the practice of licensing a job wagon for a fraction of a year. They allege that men who use their wagons and teams in farm work during the summer, will come to town when farm work is over and run job wagons during the winter months at a rate of compensation just sufficient to pay for horse feed. City draymen who are willing to take out a license and expect to support their families by their industry, are injured by this competition; and as a protection, they demand that these men be required to pay the tax for a whole year. It has been said in the council chamber that the licensing ordinance is not a protective tariff, that its sole purpose is to provide revenue, and those persons who seek protection from it, mistake its intent and purport. But the draymen maintain that they have a right to incidental protection, and the lax way in which licenses are granted deprives the municipal law of all usefulness and validity. Thus we have the great political issue of a tariff for protection or a tariff for revenue only, brought home to our city administration; and to Judge Bryant is committed the delicate duty of determining which rule shall apply.
The draymen made a picnic of the prosecution. Being committed in default of payment, and there being no jail to confine them in, they considered themselves under arrest, and demanded board of the city marshal. This officer was not prepared to feed so numerous a family, so to escape the embarrassment he skipped out, leaving his prisoners to provide for themselves. At supper time they repaired to a restaurant, called for a meal, ate heartily, enjoying the affair as a huge joke, and referred the perplexed caterer to the city council for payment.
One of the men tells an amusing domestic incident. It was told his children that their father had gone to jail, there was no one to provide for them now, and they would have to go to the city for support. This sadly troubled them, and when a grocer’s wagon stopped at the door shortly after to deliver some goods, a little toddler, four years old, said to the clerk, “My pa is put in prison, and you’ll have to go to the city for your pay.”
This revolt of the draymen against a city ordinance is an unpleasant incident, and we look to see the matter brought up before the city council at its next meeting.
Since the above was written, the draymen have paid the fine and costs, and give notice of appeal.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 1, 1886.
Street Improvement Wanted.
Some months ago a spasm of improvement seized the city council, and a resolution was adopted to grade and pave Fifth Avenue its entire length, from depot to depot. This movement was incited by a petition from a number of the lot owners on that thoroughfare who agreed to raise a certain amount of money for that purpose if the city would donate an additional sum equal to one-half of the amount raised. It was argued that strangers visiting the city, and their first impression being formed from the clean and thrifty condition of the street they first traveled along, would be prepared to think well of the enterprise of the people they were among, and thus be impelled to take up a home here, if that was the business that brought them. The money was raised by diligent canvass, the quota from the city council paid, and that portion of Fifth Avenue west of Summit Street was graded and paved, adding much to the beauty of its appearance. But east of Summit Street, leading down to the Santa Fe depot, the besom of reform has not been wielded, and the need of improvement daily grows more urgent. Street Commissioner Moore last spring started out to improve the road by scraping a gutter way each side, and throwing down a hundred or two loads of foundation stone and rubble gathered up from the burnt district. But the sidewalks remain untouched and are in a chaotic condition; and as the pedestrian approaches Summit Street, he has to flounder over hollows and broken stones, to the imminent peril of his equilibrium. If first impressions are to be regarded, it is certain that the eastern portion of Fifth Avenue must exercise a mischievous influence.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 8, 1886.
The Moore road grader was on trial in the third ward yesterday, under the direction of Capt. Thompson, appointed street commissioner pro tem. With three teams to propel it, the road grader did effective work, and it was considered a useful implement for the city to purchase.
