VOL 23
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOLS
OF COLUMBIA COUNT?, 1893.
During the past year 233 teachers
were engaged in the 129 schools of
the county. This was an increase
over last year of t s teachers and 11
schools. This necessary increase in
the number of schools and teaching
force of the county makes more work
for all school officials, but it proves
that the directors are wide awake and
progressive and that just demands for
better schools will be promptly and
prudently supplied.
The schools and the working of the
public school system of this county
are in a good condition. There is,
however, properly and necessarily,
room for improvement, yet it certainly
may be justly said that the schools
never were in as good condition as at
present and that the aim and the ef
fort of all connected with them are
evidently in the right direction.
Five new school houses were erect
ed during the year. A ona-room build
ing in Centre, a one stoiy, two room
building in Fishingcreek, a one room
building in Orange, a one story two
room building in Scott, and a one
room building in Sugarloaf.
These are good substantial build
ings, supplied with patent desks andj
slate blackboard surface.
A number of school houses were re
paired and repainted and better furn
lture was put into many of them.
Anatomical aids were put into the
schools of Beaver, Centralia, Fishing
ingcreek, Main and Pine.
Again this year entertainments were
held by several schools and money
thus raised to purchase books.
These schools which had libraries
added new books to their collections
other schools started libraries.
This is one of the most encouraging
and praise worthy efforts that has
been made by teachers and pupils.
Everything possible is being done to
encourage and assist this movement.
It promises much.
Many of the schools have intro
duced a complete series of supplemen
tary reading. It is a decided success.
Webster's Unabridged Dictionaries
weie put into sixty seven schools this
year, and most of the schools not yet
supplied with this necessary book will
be furnished with one the coming
year.
. . Several of the districts supply part
of the text books free.
It is understood that some districts
will follow the example set by Jackson
and supply all books free.
Columbus Day was quite generally
and appropriately observed. A num
ber of schools were presented with
flags on that day.
The High Schools of Catawissa,
Centralia, Berwick and Bloomsburg
sent out a number of graduates this
year. Some of these graduates join
the Senior class at the Normal and
are graduated from that Institution at
the end of one year.
The Normal prospers, the largest
class (113) in the history of the school
was graduated this year.
Improvements are still being made
in the buildings and the Faculty has
been increased to meet the demands.
The following districts lengthened
the school term one month: Benton,
Berwick, Briarcreek, Catawissa, Fish
ingcreek and Greenwood. Montour,
Orange and Scott increased the length
of the term two months, and Millviile
Borough, incorporated within the year,
commenced with eight months.
In the following districts the aver
age salary paid teachers, was increased:
Beaver, Benton, Berwick, Bloom, Cat
awissa, Centre, Centralia, Fishingcreek,
Greenwood, l'ranklin, Jackson, Mad
ison, Mifflin, and Mt Pleasant.
Every district in the county has
done something to advance materially
the cause of education.
During the year, 315 visits were
made to schools. Some were visited
three times, about 75 were visited
twice, and every school in the county
was visited at least once.
Nearly all schools are visited by
Directors. In some districts Direc
tors visit regularly. It would be well
if this were so in all.
Our teachers, with but few excep
tions, are careful, industrious and
faithful.
The majority of them are doing
more professional reading than ever
before and their work is better and
more fully appreciated.
The best teachers naturally and
properly seek positions where salaries
are highest ana terms longest.
It is gratifying and encouraging to
observe that many of our Directors
appreciate the fact that the little boys
and girls, the primary pupils, should
have the very best teachers.
That the work of the primary teach
er in many districts is more fully ap
preciated than two years ago is indica
ted by the fact that a salary equal to
or greater than that paid to grammar
school teachers is now paid to some
of our primary teachers.
It is hoped that still closer attention
throughout the county will be given to
the selection of teachers for the small
children.
It is thought timely and proper to
repeat the statement made in our last
report that the small children in the
rural schools should receive more at
tention and better instruction.
The directors are to be commend
ed for the careful attention given to
school matters and for the successful
management of the schools of their
respective districts.
The people of Millviile Borough
elected two women as members of
their School Board Mrs. Frank Hel
ler and Mrs. E. B. Hogue. Both
these ladies are experienced teachers
and take great interest in schools.
It would doubtless be a benefit to
the schools of every district if the
Hoards would more generally avail
themselves of the provisions of the
school law in reference to the Pennsyl
vania School Journal. It is generally
conceded that the director's great duty
is the selection of teachers. For many
reasons it is evident that if directors
would more freely consult principal
in the selection of teachers for graded
schools, or the superintendent in the
selection of those for ungraded schools,
and sometimes in both cases, that
there would be fewer failures on the
part of teachers in the school room.
Eight successful local institutes were
held. As brief accounts of each were
given in the monthly reports nothing
further need now be said.
The county institute was a success.
The address of welcome was delivered
by Rev. P. A. Heilman of the Luther
an church of Bloomsburg.
Excellent instruction was given by
State Supt. Waller, Dept. J. Q. Stew
art, Dr. E. E. White, Supt. J. M.
Coughlin, Miss Ella L. Richardson,
Mrs. Welsh, Profs. Noetling, Welsh
and C. C. Case, and Rev. I. M. Pat
terson of the 1 st Presbyterian Church
of Bloomsburg. Good work was done
Dy some 01 tne teachers ot the county.
An excellent essay read by Mrs. Cora
Holmes of Montour district deserves
special mention.
Evening entertainments were: Lec
tures by Rev. Theo. F. Clark, Dr. S.
P. Henson, Rev. Russell H. Conwell,
and a concert by the Schubert Male
Quartette of Chicago.
The Berwick schools, under the
judicious supervision of Prin. E. K.
Kicnaruson ana Dy reason ot the liber
al aid of the directors sent carefully
prepared work to the World's Fair.
I thank the directors, the teachers,
the pupils, the press of the county,
the Denartment of Public Instruction.
. ,
and all others who by kind aid and
wise ana willing counsel have mater
ially helped to make the work of the
past year reasonably successful.
William C. Johnston,
Co. Supt.
COURT PR00EEDINQ8.
An adjourned session of court was
held on Tuesday afternoon, all the
judges on the bench.
Restaurant license of John S. Mann
in Berwick transferred to C. W. Freas.
Petitions of Sunbury, Hazleton and
Wilkesbarre R. R. Co., for appoint
ment of viewers to assess damages for
taking of lands of Rebecca and An
drew Hunsinger, Lavina and Philip
Rabuch and , Alexander Robinson
filed. '
Petition of Mt. Carmel" Water Co.,
for leave to file bond presented to L.
A. Riley & Co., filed. - . i
Etta Barrager vs. Russel Karnes.
Time to file bond extended to Aug.
9 '93- 1 ' . ' . " 1
C. G. Barkley continued as auditor
in matter of sale of property of Will
iam Roup to report Aug. 9, '93. "
In matter of sale of real estate of
Michael Fetteroff. Leave granted
for heirs to bid at sale.
W. H. Snyder appointed commiss
ioner to divide school property of
Catawissa township.
Est. Henry Hosier de'ed. Rule
granted on executors to show cause
why real estate shall not be sold and
distribution made. .
In rel unacy of Jacob Beers, J. C.
Rutter M. D., T. B. Hanley and F.
C. Eyer appointed a committee to in
quire into his sanity. . Court adjourn
ed to meet August 9 at 3 o'clock.
Don't Kill Birds.
An exchange warns its readers
against killing the robin red breast as
follows : A person killing a robin in
this state is liable to a fine of $2 to
$30 for each offense, or imprisonment
for twenty days, or both. In fact the
law prohibits the killing of any or near
ly all the birds on the list of those that
are habitants here except the sparrow.
BLOOMSBURG. PA., FRIDAY, JULY 21. 1893.
ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA.
One of the most beautiful sections
of country that it has ever been our
privilege to traverse, is the valley of
the North Branch of the Susquehanna
River. Starting at Bloomsburg, as
clean and pretty a town as there is in
the state, we boardeJ a train on the
North & West Branch railway last
Saturday morning. The view of the
town from the other side of the river
is grand. There is so much foliage
through the town that it looks as
though it were built in a grove. The
Normal School buildings stand out
boldly on the hill, and present an im
posing appearance, while the towers
and steeples of the churches and other
public buildings, and the steam and
smoke ascending from the many mills,
furnaces, foundries, shops and other
industries, give to the stranger riding
by in the cars, some idea of the im
portance and prosperity of the place.
At the point near where the N. &
W. B. station is located, great changes
have taken place in the past fifteen
years. The ravine was then a very
pretty spot, and used to be a favorite
resort for picnic parties. There was
an excellent spring of water, and other
accommodations. This was before
the railroad was built and there was
plenty of room near the bank of the
river for the erection of tables. Those
who desired could climb the moun
tain, while those whose tastes ran to
water, could indulge in fishing and
boating. It was here that the first
picnic of the Bloomsburg Literary
Institute was held, in the days of Pro
fessor Henry Carver, and those who
remember it, will agree with me that
it was a delightful occasion. Now
there is no place for a picnic. The
railroad embankment has spoiled the
little grove that used to stand close by
the river, the pretty ravine has grown
up with underbrush, and a number of
shanties have been erected at the foot
of the glen, so that there is no longer
anything wild or romantic about the
place.
But the whistle of the locomotive puts
and end to these thoughts of the past
and the train comes rushing and snort
ing around the curve, and stops at the
little station, and we are soon on our
way up the river. The tracks follow
the water pretty closely most of the
way to Wilkesbarre, and at this season
of the year it would be hard to im
agine a more charming ride. The
placid waters with their numerous
beautiful islands, the tree-clad moun
tains rising majistically on the oppo
side side, the pretty little hamlets and
the large and busy towns on either
side, all combine to make the scenery
beautiful and attractive. We pass
through Nescopeck, Nanticoke and
Wilkesbarre, changing to the Lehigh
Valley road at the latter city ; then on
through Pittston, Tunkhannock, the
county . seat of Wyoming county,
Laceyville where the news agent sup
plied the passengers with ice cream
made by the Laceyville Creamery Co.j
Wysox, noted chiefly for having been
the home of the late Victor E. Prollet
who was well known in this county ;
on past Towanda, and up through the
loreign section of Bradford county,
Ulster, Milan and Athens, to Sayre,
our destination. Besides the three
places above mentioned which are
named after foreign cities, Bradford
county has a Rome, a Troy, and a
Canton.
Sayre is a prosperous borough of
about 3000 inhabitants. It has been
built up entirely within the past twenty
five years. It was laid out when the
Lehigh Valley railroad was first built
up the river, and was at first distinc
tively a railroad town, the shops and
offices of the road were located there,
and Robert A. Packer, the President
of the company erected a magnificent
mansion with extensive grounds, and
all the adornments that great wealth
could provide. At his untimely death,
this fine property went to the Packer
heirs, and was by them presented to
the public and converted into a hospi
tal, and is now known as the R. A.
Packer Hospital. A beautiful stone
Church, the Church of the Redeemer,
stands near the hospital. It
was erected by Mary A. Packer,
now Mrs. Chas Cummings, a daugh
ter of the late Asa Parker, and one ot
the richest women in America. The
Wilbur House, another familiar Le
high Valley name, is the largest hotel
in the place. It is a fine brick struc
ture, elegant in all its appointments,
and the proprietor, T. R. Jordan, and
his estimable wife arc among the best
known people in the northern part of
the state.
Sayre is just now excited over a le
gal war between two electric railway
companies, and the outcome of the
contest is hard to predict. Under the
new management of the Valley road
the offices have been removed to
Buffalo, and many of the employees
discharged, which makes some con
siderable difference in the activity of
the place. The borough lies entirely
on the level and has plenty of room to
grow. There ate many beautiful resi
dences, and the town is supplied with
gas, electricity and water, the latter
system being somewhat similar to that
of Bloomsburg, supplied from a reser
voir on the hillside. The water is
pumped up from the river.
After a brief stay at Sayre. business
-called me to Towanda, the home of
my childhood, and about which cluster
very many pleasant recollections. But
of this town we have .written on sever
al former occasions and tuere does
not appear to be anything new to be
said. Although a great business cen
tre, the two banks recently showing a
line of deposits amounting to a million
and a half dollars, it has not made
much progress in the past few- years.
The electric railway through the town
is now contemplated. The water supply
is brought sixteen miles through pipes
by gravity, and is of excellent quality,
being pure spring water. The court
house of this large and wealthy county
is out of date, and the town clock in
its steeple has stood at a quarter past
ten for many years. Somebody ought
to prod the county commissioners, and
waken them up to a realization of the
fact that this is the nineteenth cen
tury and that progress is the watch
word.
Strangers who visit Towanda and
desire first class hotel accommodations
would do well to call on Landlord
Reed Nelson, at the Park Hotel. This
house is centrally located, and is well
kept, the table being especially attrac
tive, and the rates very reasonable.
We have enjoyed his hospitality on
several occasions, and can speak from
personal knowledge.
COMPLETE SURPRISE.
A complete surprise was given E.
C. Caswell, one of the proprietors ot
the Bloomsburg Woolen Mills, on
Saturday of last week. It was his
birthday, and the family consisting of
Mrs. Mame Caswell, Miss Emma
Caswell and J. M. Staver, conceived
the plan of inviting a few friends to
dinner and thus give a surprise to E.
C. as he came in from his morning's
toil. A handsome silver tea-set had
been selected as the birthday gift, and
T. F. Forrest of New York presented
it in a short, but interesting speech.
Among the guests present were Mr.
Pierson Smith and wife, Mrs. John
Bubb and daughter, all of Jersey Shore;
and Mrs. John Sypher, wife and
daughter of Milton. In the afternoon
and evening the visitors took a drive
through the principal streets of our
town and noted with pleasure the
many evidences of prosperity. The
Bloomsburg Woolen Mills, of which
E. C. Caswell is the senior partner
was the first of the many substantial
industries to locate in Bloomsburg.
Jacob Beers was taken to the Dan
ville hospital Tuesday. For a short
time he has been confined in
the County jail, while the necessary
papers were prepared for his removal.
The crowded condition of the hospi
tal, prevented earlier removal j the
authorities of the hospital said that the
only thing that could be done would
be the release of some one of the pa
tients confined there from this county.
Hiram Albertson who has been there
about eight years was judged, suffic
iently improved to admit of release,
and accordingly after the preparation
of the necessary papers he was brought
home, and thus a place provided for
Beers. While Beers was confined in
the County jail he had vague ideas,
he thought he was in a great manufac
turing business, and very wealthy.
On Monday he tore up his iron bed
stead, and then proceeded to tear out
the pipes of the water closet ; he
said he was making bicycles and need
ed the iron. The Sheriff ordered the
Warden to remove him to the jail
yard while the repairs are being made.
In the yard he began to tear up the
flag stones and broke the iron gratings
on the windows. When taken to the
cell again he began tearing up the
stone flooring. The sheriff was ac
companied by Commissioner Sands
and J. S. Williams in removing him.
Beers was told they were going to
take him along to bail out a triend at
the hospital. When they arrived
there Beers wanted to buy the whole
institution and was ready to write a
checK lor the price of it.
The first trip of the steam-boat Col
umbia was not a success. It took
four hours to go to Espy and back.
The machinery, heini? new. iliil not
work smoothly, the wrong kind of coal
was usca. ana there was not enough
of it, and the propeller being set too
high was half out of water. After
everything is properly adjusted, the
boat will make good time.
MRS. J- J- BRON?ER-
On Friday, July 14th, at 7 o'clock
in the evening, Mrs. Eliza Brower,
wife of J. J. Brower, breathed her last,
after an illness of more than two
years, though she had not been con
fined to her bed until the last few
weeks. Her age was 76 years,
months and 26 days, she was a
daughter of Dr. Eleazer Brothwell,
and three members of her father's
family survive her, Mrs. Bradley, Mrs
Baldy of Danville, and Mrs. Henry
Doak of Bloomsburg. She was mar
ried to J. J. Brower at Mifflinville in
1841. Since 1850 they have resided
in Bloomsburg. Besides her husband
she leaves four children, E. B. Brow
er, Mrs. L. S. Wintcrstcen of Blooms
burg, Mrs. Jas. Brugler of Port Jervis,
N. Y, and Mrs. J. H. Lingle of Belle
fonte. The funeral took place at the
house on Monday at 5 o'clock, the
services being conducted by Rev. W.
C. Leverett, rector of St. Paul's Epis
copal Church, of which Mrs. Brower
was a member for many years.
Avoid tbe Hump.
Condemnation of what is known as
the "bicycle stoop" is becoming gener
al and rightly so. That eminent auth
ority, the London Lancet, has point
ed out the serious damage to the
spines and chests of bicyclists which
the prevailing habit of bending low
over the steering bar of the machine
must inevitably produce. As a health
giver and muscle developer the bicycle
13 unequaled, if properly ridden. But
there are, unfortunately, a large num
ber ot wheelmen who seem intent on
perverting it into a means of deform
itory and disease. The awkward and
unnatural stooping position while ride
ing is copied from the attitude assum
ed by bicyclists on race tracks in order
to gain the utmost purchase possible
and lessen the resistance ot the wind.
In racing it may be useful. Elsewhere
it is folly.
The Elk County Democrat con
tains the following notice of Alonzo M.
Ent, son of the late ex-sheriff U. H.
Ent.
' A. M. Ent, as it now looks, is like
ly to be the nominee of the Demo
cratic party in this county for prothon-
otary, etc He was appointed by
Governor Pattison to fill the office
made vacant by the death of Col.
Horton. Mr. Ent, as the Democrat
predicted, got right hold of the work
at once and to day the several attor
neys who practice at these courts
speak of his official acts in the highest
terms. He is competent beyond all
question and has the office in excel
lent shape. Mr. Ent is a thorough
bookkeeper by profession and has
lived in Fox township quite a num
ber of years."
NINTH REGIMENT
The Ninth regiment infantry, Third
brigade, National Guard of Pennsyl
vania, will encamp at Berwick from
Saturday, July 22nd to Saturday, July
2Qth. Governor Fattison and staff
will be in Berwick Tuesday, July 35th,
to inspect the Ninth regiment and will
leave in the evening for Shickalimy,
(Northumberland) to inspect the
Twelfth regiment. A dress parade
will be given every evening at seven
o'clock and a band concert until nine
o'clock.
No Fees For Deputy Coroners.
An important decision has been
rendered by Cyius I Pershing,
President Judge of Schuylkill coun
ty courts, refusing to allow
fees to Deputy Coroners and
holding that the Salary Board must
fix the number of deputies in a county
and the salaries to be paid. This is
the first decision rendered in the case
of a Deputy Coroner and will effect
many counties of the State where like
cases are awaiting disposition.
Have you wen the comet ? Bor
dame's comet so named after the
Salt Lake man who first spied it. If
not you should make it a point to get
a peep at this celestial straneer. es-
decially as it is full of mystery, since
noooay can laenmy it or knows any
thing about it. For several nights it
has been away down low in the north
east behind the Big Dipper, but it Is
going west and south, and therefore
apparently rising higher, and is now
above the Dipper. It is visible to the
naked eye and more brilliant than the
stars around it.
Rev. E. H. Yocum, the newly
chosen Presiding Elder of this district,
preached in the M. E. Church Sun
day morning
The School Furnishing Co. are
crowded with orders and have a bright
outlook for the future.
NO 31
BRIEF MFNTION.
About People You Know.
U. J. Campbell of Mainville was a
visitor to Bloomsburg on Tuesday.
W. A. Marr Esq. of Ashland was in
town on Tuesday on legal business.
Miss Grace Neal is visiting Mr. and
Mrs. E. W. Elwell in Towanda.
W. B. Cummings is off on a two
weeks vacation.
Mrs. William Leverett is making a
summer visit at her father's, I. W.
McKelvy.
Mr. James Glisson and Mr. F'ord
of Phila. will sing in the Lutheran
Church Sunday evening, July 22nd.
Dr. Honora A. Robbins and Mrs.
J. E. Robbins arc at the World's
I air.
Mrs. J. G. Wells is visiting her
sister Mrs. Dr. Kirby. in Mauch
Chunk.
1
Mr. T. F. Forrest of New York
City who has been the guest of the
Caswells and other friends in this
section during the summer will return
to New York soon.
J. R. Townsend and son Harry
were in New York and Philadelphia
this week. Harry will take a course
of instruction in cutting before he re
turns. Mr. George C. Yocum, a son of
Presiding Elder Yocum, has accepted
a position in the home office of the
Mutual Reserve Fund Life Associa
tion, of Brooklyn.
Cletus Jones who was working in
the Sun office at Nanticoke, was con
fined to the bed for nine days by an
attack of rheumatism. His parents
went up last Saturday and brought
him home on Monday. He is able to
walk now with the aid of a cane.
The Berwick school board will
build a four room addition to one of
their school buildings.
Mountain Grove Camp Meeting
will begin Thursday, August 31 and
will be in charge of Rev. E. H. Yo
cum, the new Presiding Elder.
The Methodist Episcopal Sunday
School will attend preaching service
in a body next Sunday. The Infant
School will sing selections, also the
larger school, while the services of the
day will, as a whole, have reference to
the children.
Editor Smith of the Benton Aram
is making an effort to get up an ex
cursion from the upper end of the
county to Atlantic City. If he goes
at it with his usual persistency, the ex
cursion will take place. His announce
ment is that the round trip shall not
exceed $8.50.
An address was given Sunday morn
ing in the Presbyterian church by a
young man, a native of Macedonia,
who is preparing himself in this coun
try for the ministry. He confined
. .
nimseu to me manners ana customs
of his native land. In the evening he
addressed a large audience in the
Lutheran church.
Hay is selling in Europe at $50 a
ton. Last year's crop was a failure
and the indications are that this will
also be one 1 in which event, America
will be called upon to supply the de
mand. Hay baled from last years
crop is now being sold in New -York
city at $30 a ton and shipped over
the water. The short crop in this
country this season will make hay ex
ceedingly high, as the reports reach us
that in many parts of Europe there
is no hay and all of last year s is ex
hausted. .
The Presbyterian Sunday School
which had their picnic at Central
Thursday, returned to the good old by
gone days and spread one common
table for all. They argued that Sun
day School picnics were intended for
the younger people and the only way
to rrmice it a success woum oe 10 mane
ample provisions for all of them by
having a great variety of eatables fur
nished from one table through the
generous hands of all the older people
of the Sunday School.
- -
We copied last week an item fronl
the Shickshinny Echo which fijititid
that Cummings & Verdy had sold
their branch store at that place. We
are informed that the store did not
belong to the firm, but was the indi
vidual property of W. B. Cummings.
Some of our readers, bv overlooking
the fact that the notice was -oni.
from a Shickshinny paper, got the im
pression that Cummings & Verdy had
sold their Bloomsburg store, which is
incorrect. They have no intention of
doing anything of the kind.
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