The Weather (Cont.)
Weather reporting in Sidney grew vastly more complicated in the next three years. The daily flag system atop the Monumental Building's tower was explained in the newspaper: No. 1, the white square flag, indicates fair weather. No. 2, the blue square flag, rain or snow. No. 3, the blue and white square flag, local rains. No. 4, the three cornered black flag, warmer. No. 5, black square in center white flag, cold wave.

The daily flag system atop the Monumental Building's tower was explained in the newspaper:
No. 1, with No. 4 above it, indicates fair weather, warmer. No. 1, with No. 4 below it, indicates fair weather, colder. No. 2, with No. 4 above it, indicates warmer weather, rain or snow. No. 2, with No. 4 below it, indicates colder weather, rain or snow. No. 3, with No. 4 above it, indicates warmer weather with local rains. No. 3, with No. 4 below it, indicates colder weather with local rains. No. 1, with No. 5 below it, indicates fair weather, cold wave. No. 3, with No. 5 below it, indicates wet weather, cold wave.
Shelby County Democrat, Dec. 23, 1898

Telephone Hook-Up
"The Inland Telephone Company has placed its toll station at C.J. Briggs’ drug store. This telephone line connects Sidney with the following places: Quincy, Degraff, Bloom Center, Lewistown, Jackson Center, New Knoxville, Botkins, New Bremen, St. Marys, and Wapakoneta."
Shelby County Democrat, Jan. 20, 1899