VOL. LXXXYV, STATE ROAD-BUILDING. Question Moch Discussed in Rural Seo tions Since Sarveyors are in Valley, Since the surveyors, under the direc- tion of the State Highway Depart- ment of Pennsylvania, have been sur- veying through Penne Valley, a new question is up for discussion among those interested in the welfare of their community, With a view of casting light on several phases of the road question the writer quotes a few para- graphs from the aot of June 1, 18911, which act establishes the State High- way Department, and is the only law under which counties, boroughs and townships can secure state-aid for road building, previous a:ts on the state-aid points baving been repealed, To begin with it will be well to un- derstand that the two bundred and pinety-six ( 296 ) routes, from county seat to county seat, laid oit by the act referred to above and to be built and paid for wholly by the state, will be known as State Highways, and roads otherwise built by counties, boroughs end townships to which the state con- tributes a part of the cost, are known as State-aid Roads. The route now being surveyed from Lewistown to Bellefonte, which is route number twenty-seven, will be built by the state and wholly paid for by the state, and is therefore a State Highway. Township roads, abandoned and condemuped turnpikes forming a part of State Highways will be taken over by the state prior to June of this year Oentre Caualy # Ministerial Union, At the meeting of the Centre County Ministerial Union, which met in ses- sion on Monday morning, January 29th, after its reorganization, by re- electing the officers to serve another year, the object of the call of the meet. ing was stated. The secretary of the Bellefonte Ministerium presented the resolutions adopted by that body, and recommended them for adoption by the County Unlon. After careful con- sideration and discu-sion, the follow- ing resolutions were then adopted by this body : We most earnestly and courteously request that you use your inflo- ence in securing as the nominee of your party for the Pennsylvania Btate Legislature, a man who will pledge himself : (a) favorable to and willing to vote for the Local Option Bill that will be presented to the Pennsylvania State Legislature by the Anti-Saloon League ( b) opposed to all bills that may be introduced in tbe Penopsylvanis State Legislature in the form of anti-temper- ance legislation. The Executive Committee was in- structed to present these resolutions to the various chairmen and also to inter rogate each individual candidate for the primaries. The County Ministerial Union ad. jourped to meet at the next esl! of the Executive Committee, —————— a ————— Growth of the Grange, Toll roads, owned by corporations or individuals, all the routes now laid out are com- | Highway from Lewisburg to Belle- fonte will be built as far as Centre Hall, and then, after all other State | Highways pow laid out have been built, the state will take over the pike from Centre Hall to Bellefonte, Dur. fog this time the pike company will conduct their improvements, collec tion of tolls, ete,, as heretofore, Bection three of the law provides that the state may purchase machin. ery, wagons, horses, ete, for road building purposes, or it may have the roads buiit by contract. Section seventeen provides for the erection of suitable signs, haviog tae words ** State Highway, '' the year of construction, distances and directions to villages, ete. Trees may also be planted along the B ate Highways and taken care of by the state, Section eighteen provides that the material used In construction of Btate Highways ahall be selected by the State Highway Commissioner and may be of brick, gravel, cinder, oyster-ahell, or other materials ; the width of road bed to be not less than twalve feet, Hection tweoty provides for the pur. chasing by the state of material and labor for repairing State Highways STATE HIGHWAYS THROUGH BOROS The question which most interests the residents of Centre Hall is whether the State Highway Commissioner will build a State Highway through the borough limits of Centre Hall, The Btate Highway Commissioner has the power to do so and pay tre bill out of the state fuuds if he wishes, but he cannot be compelled to build through boroughs. Section ten of the act covers this feature, and ie reprinted below : Bection 10. Anything herein con- tained, ot muy apnortionmeat of the Btate ioto highway districts, shall not be construed as including or in any manoer interfering with the roads, streets, and highways io any of the cities, boroughs, or incorporated towns of the Commonwealth: Provided, That where any road street or high- way within the limits of any borough or in any Incorporated town shall form a part or section of any State Highway, as herein described, and the same, orany part thereof, is vot al. ready improved or reconstructed ac- cording to the standards of the State Highway Department, or in soy msn per «qual tu said standards, by the borough or inwrporated town, the Biate Highway Commissioner, by and with the consent of the borough or town councils, may improve or recon. struct such unimproved section or e«ctions of such road, street, or high. way at the expense of the Common. wealth, Auvnd provided further, That soy such road, street, or highway, or suy part or parts thereof, forming a Btate Highway within the limits of avy borough or Incorporated town, shall only ve taken over, at tue diegre- tion of the Biate Highway Commis- sioner, for reconstruction and main. tenance by the State Highwsy Depart. ment, when the failure to go take over such road, street, or highway would leave an unimproved gap ln a contin. uous improved State Highway. The maintenance of any road, street, or highway, or of any part or parts thereof, improved or reconstructed as a Btate 'dighway in any borough or fp ooryorated town, or the maintenance During the year 1911 there were or. ganz d jo the United Btates 453 new greuges ; there were reorganized 60 granges There were issu«d during the year 453 dispensatious; 453 original {Charters ; 63 duplicate charters; 688 | Bevent Degree certifica’es ; and 3432 Hixth Degree certifioates. The Bell telephone subscribers st Millbeim, Coburn and Rebersburg are on a fair way to get the rates adjusted in a way that will be satisfactory to all concerned { Continued from Previous Column, | of any State-ald rosd heretofore im- proved or reconstructsd, and which road forme a part of a State Highway ia any borough or incorporated town, shall be done by the State Highway Department ; and fifty per centum of the cost and expense of sald mainte nance shall be paid by the respective borough or Incorporated town in which sald work Is done, as is provid. ed for in the Lane of the maintenance of State-ald roads: Provided, That where any road, street, or highway, or soy part or parts thereof, in any bor- ough or incorporated town, has been heretofore reconstructed, ss a State-nid road, with bricks, or other material than a telford, water-bound maseadam road, or which may bereafier be re constructed as a State Highway, with bricks or other permanent paviog material, the said orick or paved road, #'reet, or highway shall be malutained according to the standards of the State Highway Department, by the borough or incorporated town, wholly at the cnet and expense of the borough or in- corporated town {on which said road, street or highway, may lie : Provided farther, Taat if soy borough or in- corporated town shall neglect or refuse to malotain any such brick-1aved road, street, or highway, forming a part of a State Highway, according to the standards aforesaid, the State High- way Commissioner is hereby author. ized and empowered to maintain sod repair sald road, street, or highway at the cost and expense of said borough or ibcorporated town, after giviog thirty days’ prior notice to the ooun- cils of any such borough or incorpor- ated town of the inteation to do said work of msaiotenance and repair: Pro- vided further, That upon the neglect or refusal of any borough or incorpor- ated town to pay such cost and ex. penses within sixty days after the completion of such maintenance or re. pairs, the State Highway Commission. or shall take such action as is neces sary to golieot the same from the said borough or incorporated town refusing to make the required payment: And provided further, That all improve. ment, reconstruction, and mainte nauoe of any road, street, or highway in boroughs or Incorporated towns shall be of the same character as that done in townships, BTATE AID ROADS Beotlon eleven provides that boroughs may build Siste-nid Roads, fifty per oentum of the cost of which shail be borne by the state, and twenty-five per centum of which be borne by the county. The section further provides— “ That any borough which Is will. ing to pay one-half the owt of oon struction of any such road may make direct application to the State High. way Department. In all cases in boroughs the state will render aid only where a Hiate Highway or Btatessid Rond has heen | Conthunded at foot of dérs ddlumn.] Mt t bo a ri LE —— FROM SUBJURIBERY Reporter Sabseribars’ Correspondent Col umn-—New Department. MEADOWDALE, Washington, Dear Friend : Enclosed you will ind a money order for one dollar for which please extend my subscription one year. I see by reports you have some below zaro weather in Pennsylvania. These enld waves we are fortunate enough to escape. The grass here is green the year ‘round as it never freezes hard enough to kill it, We have had one snow of a few inches in depth which laid only a few days when a Chinook wind came and it soon disappeared. This will no doubt be all we will have as we only have about one snow a season, Yours truly, W.H FPorrer — —— ———— From 26th West 58'd Bireet, New York, Hon. Henry W, Bhoemsker, formerly secretary at a foreign post, story-writer and owner of the Reading Times, published at Reading, Pa, and the Bridgeport Telegram, published st Bridgeport, Connecticut, writes the Reporter this complimentary sentenor: “I could pot get along without your valuable paper and enjoy it more with every issue ’ ———— At AAR Laureiton ¥, OU BEobbed, The other morning when Poatm ae. ter Frank Schnure, theobliging official who serves the public at Laursiton opsued his office for the transsction of the day's business, he discovered that his strong box eontaining the office money and a lot of stamps had been sppropriated during the night by some robber, and he was shy a nice sum of cola of Uncle Bam's realm. Mr. Behnure has been accustomed to taking his eash box home with him every night when he closed his busi ness. Monday evening he was in at. tendance at some social funetion ip the town, and his son was in charge of the postoffice. The young man when he closed the office, locked up the funda in the strong box and forgot to take the case along with him. The thief evidently was aware of this fact, and made an entrance through the cel iar of the building and then easily got in tourh with the treasures. He took the box containing about $150 in cash and other valushles in stamps, ete , the loss to the proprietor being nearly $250, AAAS New Agoutsa Un LL. and T, Quite a number of changes in the Pannsy's big family have been unof- ficially snnounced, the promotions having taken eflnct February 1: D. W Wendle, station agent at Montgomery, and formerly of Lewisburg, Is transfer redd to Watsontown : A. E Grove, of Millmont to Elizabethville; E. ¢!. Ra. del f om Liverpool to Osk Hall; G W Meyers, for five years a clerk in Milton Rove to MeElattan ss agent Meyer's place in Milton will be taken by H. C. Moyer, formerly chief clerk st MiMinburg. G M Johnston was transferred from McElhattan to Glen Iron, succeeding W. A Odenkirk, who retires from the railroad service, at least for the present, ie ——— Yietor Grange Visited, Twenty-seven members of Progress Grange paid a fraternal visit to Vietour Grange, at Oak Hall, Saturday after. noon. Messrs. Samuel Durst, Cloyd Brooke, Carl Auman and Samuel Gingerich farnished the sleds and aleighs to take the members to Oak Hall. A regular meeting was held by Vie tor Grange, and during the sessions a number of addresses were made by the visitors, a... Oard of Thanks, Mrs. J. H. Lambert and family, of Centre Hall, return thanks to their friends who so kindly assisted them in oaring for her mother, Mrs. Franors Colyer, during her last illness, and farther aided them after her death, and at the burial. paid. SAI HUA AAPA, Transters of Ren! Estate. W. Fred Reynolds et ux to John A Witmer, tract of land in Bellefonte $225 John LL Holmes et nl to OC. M Cronemiller, tract of land in Ferguson township $300 Sarah J. Breoo to 8B, Ward Giramley, traot of land in M Ilhelm $425. Howard R. Pratt ot al to Seth B Pratt et ux, tract of land in Union. ville. $1. Harvey J. Markle ot ux to Ardell Lou's, tract of land lu Spring twp $850. } H H Eisenhath to John P, Walt, tract of land in Pann twp. $150. Rachel M. Walker to Hezekiah Walker, tract of land in Boggs twp $l. AA — A regular meeting of Progress DECREASE IN AREA OF FARM LAND Average Value of Farms 85715 -Horses Lead 1 Valve of Domestic aAulmals Pennsylvania's farms decreased number and acreage, while their value increased in the decade of 1900-1910, according to a bulletin on agriculture statistics for the state, just issued by the United States census bureau. Notwithstanding the fact that the population of the state increased 21.6 per cent. from 1900 to 1910, the number of farms decreased 2.2 per cent., the acreage of farm land 4 per cent. and the acreage of improved land 4.1 per cent. the decrease in farm acreage be- ing greater in proportion than that in the number of farms. The average size of farms decreased 1.6 acres. Farm property, which includes land, buildings, implements, machinery, and li estock ( domestic animals poultry and bees ) has increased in value dur- ing the decade $201,646,000, or 19.2 per cent. This great increase was principal- ly due to increases of $87,759,000 in the value of buildings,of over $55 000,000 in the value of land and of $58,850,000 in the value of farm equipment, includ- ing implements, machinery and live- stock. Of the increase last mentioned, about two-thirds represents that in the value of livestock. AVERAGE FARM WORTH $5715. in The average value in 1900 of a farm with its equipment was $4000, ten years later it was $5715. average value of land alone 20.70 per in 1900 to 1910, The land area of Pennsylvania is proximately 28,692,480 acres. Of this or 64 8 per cent included in farms. Of the 12 673,519 acres, reported as improved . of the total while The from $3392 rose acre in ap- area, 15 586 832 acres, are acreage, cent. are representing 44.2 per cent land area of the state. The total acreage of farm land decreased 784,183 acres, or 4 per cent during the last dec- ade and the acreage of improved land decreased 535,604 acres, or 4.1 per cent. 219.295 The number of all farms, and there- fore of all farm operators, is 219,295. Of the operators, 164,220 are owners, 3961 managers and 51,105 tenants, Of the owners, 154,088 operate exclusivesy land owned by them while 10,141 operate land which they rent in addi- tion to that which they own. Three-tenths of the farms in Pennsyl- vania are in the “50 to 99 acres group, while more than one-fourth are in the “100 to 174 acres” group Thus, more than one-half of all the farms in the state range from 50to 174 acres in size. Of the Pennsylvania farm operators, 93.4 per cent. are native white and 6.3 per cent are foreign-born white. Oaly 546, or two-tenths of 1 per cent. are non-white ; 543 being negroes and 3 indians. Of the native white farmers, 23.7 per cent. are tenants, as compared with 17.5 per cent. of the foreign-born white. farm or 68.2 per land, FARMS IN STATE. HORSES PASS CATTLE, During the decade, domestic animals, poultry and bees combined increased in value $39,041,000, or 38.1 per cent. While most classes increased in value, they changed in widely differing degrees. The greatest absolute increase is noted in the value of borses and colts, being nearly seven-tenth of the net gain for domestic animal as 8 whole. The rela- tive increase was 66.2 per cent. Horses are now the most important class of livestock in the state, as judged by total value, whereas in 1900 csttie ranked first. The latter class shows an in- crease in value of only $4,167,000 or 9.7 per cent. The largest relative increase is found in the value of mules, 120.9 per cent. Lhe total value of swine in- creased $1,794,000, or 30.8 per cent, and that of poultry, $3,191,000, or 71.2 per cent. Sheep and lambs show the only noteworthy decrease, amounting to $708,000, or 15.3 per cent. The value of horses and cattle repre- sent about 82 per cent. of the value of all livestock. Swine and poultry are almost exactly the same in value, and together represent about 11 per cent. of the total. Mules represent 4.5 per cent. and sheep 2.8 per cent. FARM WAGES INCREASE, Nearly two-thirds of the farmers hire labor, the average amount expended by the farmers hinog being $184. During the decade the total expeuditure for lapor increased $8,964,000, or 53.8 per cent. which is one of tae greatest reia- tive incronses in Pennsylvania agricul ture during the decsde. About one- fourth of the amouut reported as ex- pended for labor is in the form of rent and board, At prior censuses no tabu - Intion was made of the number of farm- ers reporting expenditures for labor, About six tarmers out of every ten report some expenuiture for feed, and about six out of every ten purchase fer. tilizers. The total amount reported as paid for fertilizers has incressed $2,116,- 000, 9r 4301 pas cunt, a, daviag the decad:, average per farm repartiog being Grange will be beld Saturday after. | 0° uwdad. ®2:41 CENTRE COUNTY CENSUS REPORTS, Array of Figares of Great Interest to Far. mers end Others in the County. The fluures below ure tsken from a census bulletiy just issued by the ceonstis buresu sud refer to Centre exnty, A study of them will bs of interest and vulue to every farmer in the county, Population, 1910 reas Population, 1900......cccoonieieres Number of farms, 1910......... Number farms in 1900 Color and nativity of farmers Native WHEEL... commreorns ssnrsnss sessnsssss Forelgn born white, Negro .. » po Number of farms classified by em Under 3 acres ersten BAD DABIEE ssssssesrsvnsscanssssnsssas sorsenes 10 10 19 acres. 20 1049 acres... 43.4% 42,80 2.608 2.358 2,466 100 10 174 acres 175 Ww 20 acres 250 10 499 acres OO to “99 acres. ease 1000 acres and over............ ! LAND AND FARM AREA Approximate land area, scres —........... Land in farms Improved land in farms. Woodland in farms. Other improved land in farms... Per cent of land ares ju farms . Per cent of land Lmproved Average acres per farm... RA Average imp oved acres per farm VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY All farm property .....c. cose 8 13.886 911 All farm property in 1900. 8 12.028 v4 Per cent. Increase, 1900 1910... 10.9 land. Soh . 6.220914 land in 1900. a 6,903,200 Buildings - 4.209 484 Bulidings Ri SUB..conmmsnrince 8,186 200 implements and machinery..... B22 Implements ete. in 180 05.760 Domestic animals, poultry, bees 1.961 617 Dodestic animals, ete, io 190 1,258 764 Averays Ya Utes | properdy per farm. — 5,114 Ta d bull dings per farm... LE Fa Land peracre....... —— 2.70 Laud per acre in 1900 8.20 DOMESTIC ANIMALS Farms reporting 4 mestic stlmals Value of domestic animals. ........ Catto Total number......... Dairy cows Other cows Yearliug helters Calves —— Yearling steers and bulls Other steers and bulls Value Horses Total number... Mature horses....... Yearilog colta ...... Bring colts Yalue Mules - Total number... Mature moles Ya'ue Swine Total number............. Mature hogs Bpring pigs Value Bheep Total number Rams, ewes, and wether. Epring ianbe.. Vaiue Goats ~ Number ...cc Vaiue...... A ————— POULTRY AND BERS Number of poultry of all kinds... Valoe ; Number of colonies of bees. Value. ——— Farms operated by © OWENS... cocvssn cones land in farms opersted by owoem, acres. Valoe of land and baidiogs on tarme operated by owners. — NC % Farms operated by tenants. —- we Land in larms operated by ‘tenants, acres. — - Value of land and bulidings | on terms operated by tenants. Farms operated by managers... wo Land in farms vperated by managers, Valve of land and buildings o on 2 farms operated by managers... will FARM EXPENSES Ml “he 1100 > fd, 2.510 1.888 472 23,208 11,95 1,910 1.923 3,762 1.864 up K #5888 3% - a 130,066 “4,221 1.042 8,934 1,632 151,064 126.32 -§ 4BE514 * B80, 090 Labor Farms reporting... Cash expended... Rent and board farnished... Food — Amount expended... Fertilizer Farms reporting... Amount expended... - PRINCIPAL ¢ CROPS Com FEE La — —— ————— Timothy and clover mixed ~ BEI oes cons soins Sinem saemns Sivssm. FESR ACI. crismin — — TOMB omsn sermon crn ws sss AOIOB.c.covnne vis srmins consis wsrisvmmsins PERE SEE ir NO. 6. TOWN AND COUNTY NEWS, HAPPENINGS OF LOCAL INTEREST FROM ALL PARTS. Domer 8. Ishler, who Is tesehing school in Harris township, will be- come a student in Valparaiso College, Valparaiso, Indiana, at the close of his school term. " Dr. E E. Bparks, president of Penn- eyivanias State College, with his fami- ly, will sail for Egypt on 2ist instant, He will return in time for the June commencement exercises, Jobn C. Rwsman is recovering rapidly from a recent serious illness, “undsy he was down stairs for the first time, snd hopes soon to be able to be out of the house. The borough councilmen did not hold a meeting last Friday nizht, which was the stated time for the Feb. raary meeting. Hpecial meetings are held without notice to the public. The professors, their wives and sweethearts, the stenographers snd book-keepers, making up the agricul- tural department at Pennsylvania Mtate College, were at the Centre Hall hotel on Friday evening. The stove In the Sand Hill school house, 1:1 the vicinity of Howard, toppled over, The tescher, Mies Ethel Bitner, organiz-d a BNOW-CAITY« fog brigade, and this saved the school bhouee from destruction by fire, A large milk condensing plant will be erected at Lewisburg, the construo- tion of the building to begin at once. Che bulldiog alone is to cost $30 000, Watsontown brick will be used, and the plant set on one scre of ground ale ready purchased. Two Elk lodges, one in Franklin and one iu Oil City, were adjudged guilty of selling liquor illegally by the Vensogo county court. Visiting members had been sold liquor, and the court instructed the jury to bring in verdicts sgaivet the Jodges. Treasurer John D. Miller will be- come & resident of Bellefonte by April 1st, sod will live on Curtin Street. Mr. Miller will make sale of bis farm «tock and implements Wed- exday of pext week, as will be seen by referring to the sale register. Miss Effie Ishler, daughter of Mr. sod Mrs. George lshiler, is teaching instrumental music in Tyrone and has a oless cf thirty five. Hhe attended grandmother in Centre Hall, on Friday, but was obliged to return to Tyrone immedi. ately afler the services, Mrs. James BSpicher, of Cresson, Mre. Emma Hofman, of Derry, snd Mrs George W. Ishier, of Tusseyville, were the children of Mrs. Frances Col- yer, who attended her funeral on Fri- day. Mrs. Probert, of Derry, was aa- able Lo be present on sccount of a babe 102 young to be taken on such a long journey. The estale of Chambers O. Temple. ton, former state senator in the Blair and Huuotingdon distriot, was settled up in court st Holidaysbarg. His creditors were mainly trusting clients, who gave him $108 000 to purchase fradulent and bogus mortgages. They will receive two cents on the dollar, Fempleton is now in the western pen- tentiary. A week or two sgo mention was made of the fact that Geo. P. Thomse, of Nittany Moun‘ain, was looking sbout for a farm with a view of pur ohasing it. From the Howard Hustler it is learned that be bought the A. GQ. Confer farm in the ridges in the vicinity of Howard. Mr. Thomas’ Nittany Mountain farm is included in the penitentiary site. From the Gozstte it is learned that C. Y. Waguer, the miller, is one of the men who believes with all his heart in improved and modern meth. ode, as wae illustrated when he recent- ly purchased a twenty horsepower traction gasoline engine, gaog plows and other machinery in order to cone duct his farm in Esover township. He expects to do his plowing, cut «rain, haul it and hay to his barn, ss well as do all other heavy work with the engine and improved machinery, thas introducing inv Centre county the methods typical to the greatest farm o:« the west, The following is taken from the Orangeville ( [ilinols ) Courler, and re. fers to sons of Mre, 8. R. Kamp, of Lock Haven, who is now with them in Belvidere : Rufus Lee moved to Belvidere where he and his brother, John Camp, have opened a grocery store. Mr. Lee has bean a resident of this vicinity for a number of years. About twelve years ago he oame west from his home at Look Haven, Pa, and since that time has resided here, He is a young man of good charscter, hoaest and reliable in every way.
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