Dri
~The first sleighs of the season were seen
on our streets on Wednesday.
—The little matter of prosecuting the
Pennsylvania state capitol grafters seems
to bave been lost sight of entirely.
—The President’s most recent message to
Congress contains nothing new. In truth
it reads very much like the condition the
turkey was in that we had to eat the day
alter Thanksgiving.
—Now is the time to do your Christmas
shopping. Don’t put it off until the elev-
enth hour. You will get better selections,
better bargains and waste less time shop-
ping now than two weeks later.
—The announcement that the Hon.
HENRY GASSAWAY Davis “is to marry a
young woman socn’’ eliminates Bellefonte
from the possibilities of ever claiming the
wonderful old West Virginian as a resi-
dent.
—JAKE FroM acknowledged the corn
but he drew the line on chickens, probably
because he knew there would be enough to
cackle without him. And there was, and
the jury found him guilty on general prin-
ciples.
—With dae apologies to the two distin:
guished gentlemen who have been serving
them our Episcopal friends bave grown
tired of lay-preaching and are seriously
considering salling some one who can de-
liver something better than canned ser
mons,
—The campaiga for local option in Penn-
sylvania was formally launched at Pittshurg
on Monday. It is begun as a movement
of the W.C. T. U. and it might as well
be understood right now that when the
women get really earnestly busy something
is going to be done.
—If vou takea peep at the left hand
show window in MoNTGOMERY & Co's
store you will realize what Col. TAYLOR
meant when he told Mr. MONTGOMERY
aod W. B. RANKIN that it was very ap-
propriate ; as that was about all college
men bad under their bats, avy way.
~The determination of H. BURD CA#SEL
not to ran for Congress again probably
saves Pennsylvania the humiliation of see-
ing a perfectly indifferent people re-elect to
a high office a man at present under indiot-
ment for participation in one of the most
gigantic steals that has ever disgraced this
State.
—*“The war against sucoessful dishon-
esty”’ sounds very grand in the latest
message from the White House. The
trouble with it seems to be, however, that
the officers in command are only dress
parade artiste and further thav blatant
threats have not au single battle to their
oredis. \
—We welcome Mr. SHOPE into the
realm of news gatherers in Bellefonte and
il the Daily News isn’t better because he
has become associated with it it won't he
for lack of energy and application. From
childhood he has been a doer. The future,
alone, can tell whether he is in the most
fruitful field of his activities.
—A yourg man out in Illinois is suffer-
ing from blood poisonivg because he held
hands with his sweetheart. The dis-
patches do not say whether the infection
was caused by her father’s boot or whether
she sat so long on his knees as to suspend
cironlation. However it may have come it
is a very serious matter and should prove a
warning to these boys who are satisfied
with holding hands.
—Mrs. NANCY A. NEASTON, aged ninety-
five, died at Bellefontaine, Ohio, on Sat.
urday as a result of the first bath she bad
ever had. It is too bad that the old lady
wet such a cruel death but when we think
of what her husband had to endure in his
lite time it is only reasonable to suppose
that he was standing on the other banks of
the Jordan insisting that she swim over if
she was to be admitted to the promised
land.
~The acquittal of Mrs. BRADLEY for the
murder of Senator BROWN is another evi-
dence of the trend of public mind barking
back to medieval times when every man
was a law unto himself. The taking of a
life can only be justified when it is done in
sell defense and the BRADLEY acquittal is
surely a finger board pointing the way toa
kind of socialism that knows no law and
must eventually overthrow all she instita-
tions that we have cherished and built upon
for more than a century.
——The call of the comptroller of the
ourrenoy bas disclosed the faot that most of
the country’s money is looked up in the
banks. Why be surprised at that? When
the people get foolish enough to shink the
banks are not good the banks are only aot-
ing wisely when they prepare toshow them
that they are. The foolish people are the
ones who suffer, however, for with their
money locked ap in the bank vaults there
is nothing to do business on and industrial
progress must neoessarily he retarded.
—Poor old Justice Musser. Bessie
was “Saved from the Slams’ on Tuesday
night at Garman’s only to convert the
quiet old Justice's office into a fighting
arena the ext day. We haven't heard
what caused it all, but there was some dif-
ference between the *‘loidy’’ and one of the
men of the show and the line of slum talk
_.and slum upper cuts she gave that fellow
left very grave doubt as to whether the
interests of society had been advanced to
any great extent by saving her from the
slums the night belore.
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
v
ES
_VOL. 52
Governor STUART has given the claim
that he is better than his party a rather
severe bump by pardoning the Philadel-
phia ‘‘registry list padders,”” who were
convicted daring the brief period in which
the people of that city were discontented
with the corruption which had prevailed.
It is said that technical defects in the trial
influenced the Governor to clemency. One
of the justices of the Supreme court had
expressed the opinion that they bad not
been fairly tried. Bat the other six mem-
bers of that tribunal, the seven members of
the Saperior court, from which it bad been
carried to the Supreme court as. well as the
local court before whioh the cases were
brought were all unanimous in the opinion
that the cases had been fairly tried, the
culprits properly convioted and that their
punishment was necessary and not exoes-
sive. Jadge MITCHELL, who failed to con-
cur in the findings of the other members of
the Supreme court, bad not even grounds
enough for his alleged belief tbat the cases
‘‘had not been fairly tried”’ to file a dis-
senting opinion, but is said to bave ex-
pressed that belief in a letter to the Gov-
ernor. So that we have the spectacle of a
Philadelphia Governor, who, to satisfy the
Machine that elected him and to protect
and encourage the theives and thugs who
have been debauching the elections in that
city for many, many years, setting aside
the unanimous verdict of the court that bad
heard the testimony, as well as the two
higher courts to which the criminals had
carried their case. Nobody even imagined
that they were not guilty, however.
In pardoning these men Governor STUART
simply performed the service to the ma-
shine whioh was expeoted of him by Sena-
tor PENROSE and his associates in the con-
trol of the organization. If those gentle-
men hadn't known that Governor STUART
could be depended upon in such emer-
gencies, be would neither have been nomi-
pated nor elected. They were ‘‘up agaivet’’
a hard proposition at the time. With the
revolt of the previous year fresh in wind,
the fall knowledge of the capitol graft in
view and the sbadows of prison walls in
imagination, they were anxious to keep the
office under the control of the party. But
they would have preferred to let things ‘‘go
to the dogs’ rather thuo elect a Republi-
can who would fail to serve them.
In the selection of Mr. STUART they
made no mistake,as his pardon of the regis
try padders olearly indicates. That isa
substantial notice to the crooks of the coun-
try that the business of ballot box stuffing
has been resumed in Philadelphia under the
old conditions. There will be no more con-
viotions for the courts will not again be
frightened by a wave of reform, as they
were two years ago.
STUART has done the work of the bosses
completely.
The Currency Famine.
The ‘‘ourrency famine,’ which has been
threatening the industrial life of the coun-
try, and ioflaenced the administration at
Washington to absurd and dangerous ex-
periments appears to have come to an end.
The illegal sale of three per cent. treasury
certificates has been discontinued, at least,
and the public is informed that the banks
in the big cities have resnmed payments
of their obligations in money. Clearing
house certificates are still in use, here and
there, but they are no longer forced on
people who have other kind of money com-
ing to them. These are encouraging signs,
hut not assurances of restored prosperity.
Industrial activity ie of infinitely greater
importance than ahundance of currency.
In tact the abundance of onrrenoy is fre-
quently in consequence of industrial par-
alysis. ‘‘Money makes the mare go,’ and
currency is essential to the operation of
mills and factories. If the mare stands in
the stable ‘‘eating her head off,’’ the mon-
ey that impels the motion is not needed
and if the mills aud factories are fenced in
to rust and rot, the currenoy which is neo-
essary to operate them is of no use. Is is
when mouey and labor are both in active
demand that prosperity prevails through-
out the country.
The present indications are thas the
money famine bas been ohecked at the
expense of industrial activity. In other
words mills and factories are being closed
up aod the fande which would have been
employed in operating them are ‘‘herding”’
in the financial oentre, seeking employ-
ment. If this is the best the RoosEvELT
administration could do io relieve com-
meroial disorders it is a poor instrament.
As amatter of fact if the government would
keep out of business affairs altogether we
would be better off. But insisting to ges
in it ought to achieve more.
A ———————————————r
——That thieves in Bellefonte are not
confining themselves to any particular com-
modity is shown by the fact that one night
last week she entire washing of clothes was
stolen from a family on Logan street. From
a kuowledge of some of the articles of wear-
ing apparel carried off we are impelled to
wonder what he intended doing with them;
that is, supposing the thie! was a man.
BELLEFONTE, PA., DECEMBER 6,
A Case of “Hoss and Hoss."
The Philadelphia Civil Service Reform
association professes to he greatly encour-
aged because Mr. ELIAS ABRAMS, a muni-
cipal employee and member of the Republi-
can City committee, admits that he is vio-
lating the Shern law and declares that “‘he
has no intention of obeying it.” The Shern
law provides that ‘‘no officer, olerk, or
employee of any city of the first class shall
serve as a member or attend the meetings
of any commistee of any political party or
take any active part in political manage-
ment or in political campaigns.” In view
of Mr. ABRAMS’ official relationship to the
municipal government and his membership
of the political organization committee, the
Civil Service Reform association assumes
that Mayor REYBURN will be compelled to
dismiss him from office and thus make the
future work of the Reform association easy.
Obviously the managers of the Civil Ser-
vice Reform association do not know Mayor
REYBURN and are not on speaking terms
with the places and parposes of his admin-
istration. The Shern law was enacted
during tbat penitential session of the Legis-
lature called by Governor PENNYPACKER
to save the Republican machine from the
wrath of an outraged public conscience. The
government of Philadelphia had come
under a transient spasm of reform and the
object of the law was to prevent officials of
the reform period from participating in
political work to the prejudice of the ma-
chine. When the reactionary spirit re-
stored the administration to the machine
the necessity for the law ended and the law
lapsed into ‘‘inocouous desunetude.” In
flonting it, therefore, Mr. ABRAMS has done
precisely what the Mayor wanted him to do
and he is more likely to be promoted than
punished.
As a matter of fact, however, the Phila-
delphia Civil Service Relorm association is
hardly worthy of the respect even of the
Philadelphia machine. It has proven itsell
reoreant on every onoasion when fidelity to
the ideals it professed was essential to the
promotion of political morality. With the
help of the Democrats it and kindred or-
ganizatiovs elected a number of officials in
1905 and last fall every one of them went
back to the machine garage in the hope of
being continued in office. The Philadel-
phia machine is atrociously bad and has
been guilty of about every crime in the
calendar. But we can see no material dil-
ference hetween the political morale of
PENROSE, DURARAM and MeNiocHou and
those of ViviAN GABLE, MAHLON N.
KLINE and their associate reformers. At
this distance it looks like a case of ‘‘hosa
and hoss.”
The Sixtieth Congress.
The Sixtieth Congress opened on Mon-
day with every promise of an unusaally
fruitless session. There is plenty to do
and iu the history of the country there has
never been greater need for industry and
inteiligence. But io the re-election of Jo-
SEPH G. CANNON to the speakership the
purpose of evading rather than expediting
business is clearly expressed. Mr. CANNON
is essentially a ‘‘stand-patter.’’ Not alone
ou the tariff, bus on all questions of publio
interest he would ‘‘sprag’’ the wheels of
legislation if he conld. His partisanship is
#0 intense that he would sacrifice the coun-
try to promote the interests of his party.
The Democrats enter upon the first ses.
sion of the Sixtieth Congress under moss
auspicious conditions. Their members as
compared with the last Congress are con-
siderably inoreased and they present a force
80 formidable asto command attention. The
selection of JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS as mi-
nority leader is a sign of security, moreover,
that is encouraging. Mr. WILLIAMS is not
only the best equipped member on the
Demooratio side but on all sides. He is
the best informed man avd the ablest de-
bater on the floor. He will make the mi-
nority an efficient and respected force on
the floor. He is the right man in the right
place.
In the last Congress there was but one
Democrat from Pennsylvania and in this
session there are seven. This splendid gain
will work an improvement in various ways.
The Pennsylvania delegation in the House
in recent years has been something in the
nature of a joke. Taking out the one Demo-
orat and about three Republicans the in-
fluence of the others was nil. This year
the seven Democrats, though new at the
work, will give force and character to the
delegation. They are all young men but
earnest and capable and RoTHERMEL, of
Berk#;"NicHOL, of Lackawanna, LENAHAN,
of Luzerne, McHENRY, of Columbia, WiL-
soN, of Tioga, and Krprp, of Bradford, and
BROADHEAD, of Northampton will give a
good account of themselves,
——Prof. A. Reist Rats, who was at one
time assistant principal in the Bellefonte
High sobool but who is now superintendent
of schools in Lower Merion township, Ches-
ter county, wae the principal speaker at a
meeting of the Womau's Clab of Ardmore
a week or two ago and made quite a his.
His subject was ‘‘Europe in the Nineteenth
Century.”
Foraker's Belated Annomnnce ment.
Senator FORAKER'S announcement of his
candidacy for President is oharacteristio
but not promising. Even if he were of
presidential size, it would be uvavailing,
because it came too late. Secretary TAFT,
as the ROOSEVELT ‘‘decoy duck’ has Ohio
securely anchored and without that bome
support FORAKER is not likely to get much
outside help. If the announcement bad
come six months earlier it might have had
a different effect. The growing opposition
to the President might have centered upon
him, unfit for the office as he is. But with
his own State alienated that is out of the
question. The ‘‘antis’’ must find a more
available man.
What Senator FoRAKER says both di-
reotly and inferentially of present political
conditions ie true, and like the announce-
ment of his ambition would have been bet-
ter if declared earlier. That is he expresses
the opinion that the recent action of the
Republican clubs of Ohio serves as a re-
buke to the President for degrading the
office of Senator in Congress. Because
FORAKER refused to obey the orders of Pp
RoosEVELT during the last Congress,a pur-
pose to eleminate him from public life had
been indicated in Washington. That was
an ontrage upon the fundamental prin-
ciples of the government and is properly
resented. Theat the President's policies
and his garrulity have contributed to the
existing industrial paralysis is equally true.
Of course Senator FORAKER magnifies
both the importance and the significance of
the action of the Ohio Republican clubs.
That organization in that State as in this is
composed of office holders whose opinions
are formed for them by the heads of the
political machine they represent. They
were for FORAKER on the occasion of their
meeting, for the same reason that FORAKER
ventures his eleventh-hour attack on
RoosevVELT'S policies. He and they imagine
that the effect of the panic has so weaken-
ed RoosEVELT that he will be powerless to
resent what they do. If the near future
developes the contrary they will rash back
to RoosgvELT and leave FORAKER to bis
rain.
Discount Mr, Cassell.
Congressman CAssELL, of Lancaster,
didn’t qualify as a member of Congress on
Monday. He was in Washington, all right,
with ample oredeniials in his inside
pooket and if he had presented himself at
the bar of the House with his associates,
he would have been permitted to take the
oath of office. But Senator PENROSE and
State Chairman ANDREWS advised him
against doing so. They suggested to him
that his presence on the floor might subject
him to bumiliations. Some fellow who
didn’t like to fraternize with felons might
get up at any moment and say a few words
on the subject of the graft in the capitol at
Harrisburg.
The kindly disposed newspaper corres.
pondents in Washington commenting on
the incident express the opinion that ‘‘by
taking this course,” Mr. Casserr ‘“‘will
provide himself with a strong argument
for a speedy trial to the end shat his con-
stituents may not be kept withont repre-
sentation in the House.”’ They are not aware
that Mr. CASSELL'S anxiety is not fora
speedy trial but for a prolouged delay. He
oould have heen tried and oconvioted long
ago il he had desired a jodicial investiga-
tion of the charges. Bat that is what he
doesn’t want. Before the eleotion he made
a false pretense of wanting an early trial.
But that was for political effect. Now he
doesn’t want any trial.
The people of Lancaster county will not
suffer materially, moreover, on account of
Mr. CASSELL'S absence from the floor of the
House. He will be recognized as a mem
ber of Congress in all the departments of
the government at Washington including
the White House, and he will draw the
salary just the same as if he had been sworn
in. That being the case, what was the
use in him taking chances of a bump dar-
ing any political debate which might arise?
When he did enjoy the privilege and pre-
rogatives of a member he never did any-
thing bat vote and with a safe majority his
vote is not needed this session. All things
covsidered Mr. CASSELL was wise. ‘‘Dis-
oretion is the better part of valor.”
——Bellefonte readers of the WATCH-
MAN will be interested in an avnounce-
ment which comes from Washington that
former United States Senator Gassaway
Davis, of West Virginia, multi millionaire
and Democratic candidate for vice president
in the last campaign, is soon to he married.
Tobe reputed bride to be is Miss Mande
Ashford, until quite lately earnivg her
living by working as a society reporter on a
paper. It is said the wedding bells will
ring out before the dawn of the new year
and that with the marriage of their father
Mrs. Stephen B. Elkins and Mrs. Arthor
Lee will be oat off from their sbare in the
thirty million dollar Davis fortune, outside
of two hundred thousand dollars which he
gave each of them only recently. Senator
Davis will be remembered by some Belle-
fonters at least, as it is only about a year
ago since he made a visit bere.
i ——
1907.
NO. 48.
The Presiden's Message in a Nutshell,
Citizenship for Porto Ricans.
A postal savings bank system.
Extension of the eight-hour law.
Income and inheritance tax laws.
Repeal of ihe duty on wood pulp.
Provision for an emergency currency.
Legislation to limit abuse of injunctions.
That no astempt be made this session to
revise the tariff.
Federal control and supervision of inter-
state corporations.
Extension of the parcels post, especially
on the rural routes.
Promotions in army and navy to com-
mand rank by selection.
Railroad inspection, like steamboat in-
speoction, to prevent accidents.
Establishment of a bureau of mines in
the department of the interior.
Participation by the United States in
the Japanese exposition at Tokio in 1912.
That congress appropriate campaign
funds for each of the great political parties.
Increased pay for regular army officers
and a greater increase of pay for enlisted
men.
Educational aid to China by promoting
the coming of Chinese students to America.
That congress create the machinery for
compulsory investigation of industrial dis-
utes,
That trust companies within federal
jurisdiction be subjected to the same super-
vision as banks.
That foarth-olass postinasters be included
in the classified service under civil service
regulations.
Amendment of antitrust law to make it
more efficient and more in harmony with
actual conditions.
Additional legislation for proper control
of great business concerns eugaged in in-
terstate commerce.
Improvement of inland waterways on a
hage scale ; production of water power at
government dams.
Compulsory publication of accounts of
interstate corporations ; keeping their
books open to government inspection.
A oomprehensive law relating to the
employment of women and children in the
Distriot of Columbia and the territories.
A national incorporation act for railways
ora law licensing railways to engage in
interstate commerce upon certain condi-
tions.
That corporations be forbidden to con-
tribute to presidential campaign fands and
that contributions and expenditures be
published.
That interstate commerce commission be
empowered to pass upon future issues of
railways eeourities, and make physical
valoations of railroads.
Provision this year for foor battleships ;
lenty of torpedo boats and destroyers ;
os coaling stations, ete. jespaially 1!
oe Pacific ; ample fortifications of bar-
8.
That antitrust law prohibit nobealthy,
orushing competition ; prevent inflation of
capital ; prohibition of a oor tion's
making exclusive trade with itself a condi-
tion of having any trade with itsell.
Weston and Osler.
From the Phi'adelphia Public Ledger.
Weston’s pedestrian feat resones part of
the reputation of old age from the damag-
ing doctrine to which Doctor Osler unwit-
tingly gavea name. It goes far to eu-
courage men of threescore when one who
has also the ten years behind bim walks
nearly a hundred miles a day, and that
day only one ion a continuous endurance
test of weeks.
Doctor Osler would aoswer that he did
not hint at a disappearance of powers a
middle age. He spoke only of the high
spirits, enthusiasm and creative energy of
early manhood. If he were inclived to
analyze Weston’s performance he would
say that the old pedestrain bad proved
nothing ; that he wonid be more interested
to see a man of threescore and ten years
ran a handred yards in ten seconds. And
there wonld be no reply, because assuredly
speed does slacken, not only after forty
years, but after twenty-five.
The true rejoinder to Oslerism is to sepa-
rate effective action from mere animal en-
ergy. In many walks of life action which
is readily effective is more abundant be-
tween forty and fifty, or even between
fifty and sixty, than ab earlier ages. The
expeuded energy may Hb less, as the ex
pended energy of even twenty is less than
shat of the incessant movement of [ree
childhood, but the energy concentrated on
a given product of high quality, without
lost motion, mistake and waste, is often
greater ; more often, perbaps, than not.
Let the elderly get all the comfort they
can from Weston’s walk. It will do them
good and nobody the least harm. The
world will go on taking all it can get of
product from men of every age. Men will
strive as long as they oan, and the longer
the better.
Teddy In Trouble,
From the Lancaster Intelligencer.
The president's ship is not sailing with
the flowing sheet that it is wont to have,
aud there is that dreadful man Foraker
taking advantage of the situation to thrust
himself forward as a candidate for the pres-
idenoy against the president's man Rate,
and getting out of the boat for the Senate
for a harder pull on the presidential ears.
Probably the wretched man has no notion
that he will ges the ential nomina-
tion, and is solely intent on beating the
ent and his man Taft, In this view
bis motion is save enough, aud likely to
bring the answer.
The Taft boom is in a considerably dil
idated state, any way, and the
sails are feeling adverse breezes in divers
directions. The water is not as calm under
his beat as it used to be. The dear presi-
dent's ready aptitude at formulating opin-
icone on all sorts of subjects has got him at
last into trouble ; not that he bas been
Wrong, Or more w than usaal, on any
cular opinion, but he has unbappily
run into several wasp nests, which have
strained his trust in God.
S——
~fSubsoribe for the WATCHMAN.
Spawls from the Keystone.
—Two hundred and twenty-five mothers
and children were fed on Thanksgiving day
by the Salvation Army in Williamsport. In
addition seventy-five persons received well
filled baskets.
—Miss Elizabeth Ann Robbins, 60 years
old, after lifelong service as a servant, died
at Greenford two weeks ago, leaving a for-
tune of over $8,000. She had no kin. She
had saved the entire sum out of her scant
wages.
—Frauklin Fox, of Temple, Berks county,
has found a new way to make money. He
runs a birch distillery and finds that there is
more money in producing birch oil than
most people believe. He sells the output at
$2 per pound.
—Measles are epidemic at Bloomsburg,
Health Officer Thomas Webb reporting that
there are over 300 cases in the town. As a
result the attendance at a number of the
schools is very light. There are alsojfifteen
diphtheria and two scarlet fever cases under
quarantine.
—B. F. Godard, of Huntingdon, who is
securing the right of way from property
owners in the Big valley for the Juniata
Electric Railway company, is winding up his
work this week. The length of the proposed
road, frem Mill Creek to Belleville, is seven.
teen miles, and the right of way is practical-
ly all secured.
—While Mrs, Thomas W. Moran, of La-
trobe, was eating oysters from the half shell
on Thanksgiving day her teeth gritted ona
hurd substance which she thought was a
piece of shell, but noticing its peculiar shape
an examination was made, when it proved
to be a pearl. An expert on precious;stones
stated that it was easily worth $30.
~The Keystone Coal and Coke company,
of Greensburg, on Saturday paid out to em-
ployees their semi-monthly wages amount-
ing to $120,000, of which 80 per cent. was
paid in cash and 20 per cent. in scrip. The
company would have paid all in cashibut it
was impossible to get a sufficiontiamount of
small bills, hence $1 and $2 clearing house
certificates were issued.
—The first rails of the Chambersburg,
Greencastle and Waynesboro trolley road
were laid at Greencastle on Wednesday.
The poles have been set along§Washington
street, Greencastle, and the road has been
graded. The work of laying the rails will
be rushed as rapidly as possible. It is ex~
pected that as soon as the rails are laid
through the town the overhead work will be
begun,
~The completion of the dam of the Juni-
ata Hydro Electric plant at Warrior Ridge
has taken away from Huntingdon a large
pumber of officials and workmen who are
now living at the ridge. The change was,
of course, necessary as the men are compell-
ed to be where their work demands them.
It is also said that as soon as suitable quar-
ters can be obtained the companyjwill move
its offices from Huntingdon to Tyrone.
—About midnight, Saturday night, there
was a telephone call &t the home of Lee
Hughes, at Waynesburg, Greene county, for
Mr. Hughes. Mrs. Hughes answered that
he was not at home. Soon afterwards a
door was forced open and two burglars con-
fronted Mrs. Hughes, telling her they had
made the telephone call and it was useless
for her to make any resistance now. They
ransacked the home and secured considera-
ble booty.
—Arbitrators granted George 8S. Grove $2,-
000 for damages sustained by him because of
running through his land by the Huntingdon
and Broad Top railroad in the straightening
of the road in the vicinity of Hummell. The
distance of new road constructed was three
and one-half miles aud, it crossedjthe proper-
ties of a dozen men, but the company made
amicable settlement with most of them ex-
cept Grove, who demanded the appointment
of arbitrators to fix the damages.
—William Yoder, of Scalp Level, Cambria
county, a well known young man employed
as a farm hand by Uriah Weaver on the outs
skirts of that town, was driving home in
company with Louis Weaver from the Men-
nonite church meeting between Scalp Level
and Geistown late on Friday night when
the horse drawing their buggy took fright
and ran off. Yoder was thrown from the
buggy when the vehicle collided with a
stone and his neck was broken. Young
Weaver finally succeeded in stopping the
runaway, and walked back and found his
companion lying beside the roadside dead.
Yoder was 23 years of age and a member of
the Mennonite church.
—Failing to reach his home in Tunnelton,
Indiana county, for supper on Wednesday’
evening, a number of friends went out to
look for Andrew McCreary, who had spent
the day in helping some men on his farm,
but no trace of him could be found that
night. On Thanksgiving morning the
searchers discovered a dead chicken floating
ona reservoir maintained near Tunuelton
by the Penusylvania Railroad company. As
the reservoir is near the farm and as Mr. Mc.
Creary was taking a fowl home for the holi-
day dinner, the party decided the man bad
been drowned. The dam was dragged and
the body was found. It is supposed in the
darkness he became bewildered and fell into
the reservoir. Mr. McCreary was 72 years
of age.
—Friday afternoon Sheriff Bagley exposed
for sale at the court house in Somerset what
was probably the largest mass of property of
a single company ever sold by a sheriff in
Somerset county. This was all the holdings
and property of the Connelsville and Ursina
Coal and Coke company, a now defunct cor-
poration. The sale took place at the in-
stigation of the Metropolitan Life Insurance
company of New York, which foreclosed a
mortgage held by it. The principal pieces of
property exposed were 6,413 acres of land
situated in Upper and Lower Turkeyfoot
townships; 28 lots in Ursina borough, a grist
mill, » telephone line seven miles in length,
t | several power stations for furnishing elec-
tricity, a water system with reservoirs and
pumps which have been used for supplying”
the town of Humbert with water, a power
house for use in lighting the town of Hum.
bert with electricity, two mine locomotives
and 207 mine cars, a coal cutting machine,
various other machinery, a railroad seven
miles in length connecting Humbert and Ur
sina, and practically the entire town of
Humbert, including about 200 houses and a
hotel. The properties brought $176,000.