4
9
VOL. LXXXV.
GRANGE COOPERATION Ar WORK,
How Conditions Were Improved In an Is-
olated Town us Seen by a Writer for
the Country Gentleman,
[BY JAMES ALVIN, }
[ A few months ags the Reporter made men-
tion of the fact that Lynn BR. Meekins, Esq. a
writer for the Country Gemtleman, one of the
Curtis Company publications, had been in Centre
Hall gathering material for an article on cooper-
ation. In the Country Gentleman of May 4th,
Mr. Mecking, under the name of James Alvin
writes a two-page description of ** Grange Co
operation at Work.” There are four illustra
tions, all of which are well cxecuted. The ar
ticle, which is well written, is published
below, ~EDITOR. ]
PART 1.
Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, a town of
five hundred population, has four defi-
nite cooperation enterprises ; and all
are successful. Farmers who belong to
the grange combine in buying, do their
own fire insurance, manage a unique
telephone system and own a valuable
fair-ground equipment, which they run
on original and profitable lines.
The more we study the cooperation
movement in America the more we real-
ize that the best criterion of coopera-
tive effort is to be found in the small
community. The two things that have
delayed cooperation most are big math-
ematics and glittering generalities.
Again and again we have had figures
to show the wonderful savings and the
greater returns that are to come from
getting all the farmers in a hsrd-and-
fast buying and selling agreement.
Moreover, we have had the benefits of
the plans put before us in fine language
and have been lifted from earth by the
spirit of brotherhood. But it takes
trouble to corral even a small crowd of
farmers in a general business proposi-
tion, and it is difficult to hitca a glitter-
ing generality to dollars and cents.
While we in Pennsylvania and else-
where are considering cooperation in
the large it is well to visit Centre Hall
and see how the farmers of Centre
county have worked out their problems.
First we are struck by the fact that
they had a good leader ; and second,
that they really cooperated. This is
vitally important, for to many people
cooperation is simply a new business
benefit which will enable the farmer to
save on what he buys and make on
what he sells, whereas in order to get
benefit of cooperation the farmer
must himself cooperate.
Just about at the center of Pennsyl-
vania is Centre Hall ; and it is also
near the center of Centre County.
Here the undulating acres stretch away
like great billows and look down upon
Penn's Valiey and other fertile sections
are Nittany Mountains, a part of
the Blue Ridge. The population is of
German and English origin and very
orderly and thrifty in its ways. lhe
little town has five churches, some of
them of stone and architecturally
noticeable. It is as neat as a pin. It
never has rowdyism and over its life
breathes, a peaceful prosperity, All
around is a high and beautiful country
with no great riches but with universal
well-being Here, then, are saving
and serious people who have the capac-
ity to deal with the problems of cooper-
ation and who have worked out their
success with the materials at hand.
They have had a good counselor in Mr.
Leonard Rhone, who for eighteeu years
was master of the Pennsylvania Grange
and who has devoted his later life to
doing what he can to put into operation
the grange forces and principles in his
own neighborhood. Under Mr. Rhone's
leadership they have shown the real
spirit of getting together and enjoying
the labors and the results We find, for
example, what this spirit did in
the building of the grange hall at
Centre Hall. The local grange is
" Progress, No. 96. It was organized in
1874. It has 180 members and is in-
corporated. For a long time the mem-
bers wanted their own hall. The town
needed a central auditorium. It was a
somnolent, indifferent place without as-
sociated interest. The grangers, there-
fore, ambitiously planned a building
with plenty of room for their own needs
and a hall that would seat 400 persons.
The year 15808 was good for building.
They could get lumber at $12. They
did the hauling and made a contract
with the planing mill. Every Moaday
morning they had reports of the work
done and the cost of labor. The mem-
bers brought stone from the mountains,
did the excavation and put in the
foundations, They hauled the brick.
They watched every step of the con-
struction and saved on each detail
They erected a building of first-class
material and good workmanship which
cost them only $5000. Today iv could
not be duplicated for twice that sum.
They financed it themselves and paid
the
a
there was no burden.
A HALLMARK OF PROGRESS,
The completion of the hall meant a
new era in the town.
School of Agriculture at the State Col-
lege, and Dr. Crosby, of the United
States Department of Agriculture,
Every two weeks the ladies of the
grange have their programs and excell-
ent work is done in home economics.
There is a free state library and the
building is open every Saturday after.
noon for the exchange of books. I
went over the building and found it at-
tractive. The hall has a good stage.
The second floor has ample rooms fos
the men and women and the various
uses of the grange. There are all the
facilities, including a kitchen. Grange
members themselves constructed this
building, and it is therefore a product
of that cooperation which means per-
sonal sacrifice and service.
The hall is given precedence because
it is the head-quarters of other cooper-
ative work, and because its benefits
have spread beyond the grange and be-
come a factor in community progress.
Itstands as a sign of the other work
that the grange is doing.
The grange practices cooperation in
buying. It has a purchasing committee
of four members who collect from mem-
bers orders for supplies that are to be
bought in bulk, particularly fertilizer,
salt, binder twine and fish, The com-
mittee is unpaid. Its purchases amount
to $4000 a year or more. As the total
losses in all the years have been less
than ten dollars itis readily seen that
sound business principles prevail. The
plan is gradually unfolding.
[ Concluded next week. |
m———————
Sayder County License Court.
Judge Johnston held license court in
Spyder county and refused seven re-
tail licenses. The old stands refused
licenses were :
8. 8. Bowersox, Centre township.
H. H. Stratiff, Chapman township.
8. D. Bargo, Perry township.
The refused applications for new
retail stands were :
Levi Herrold, Jackson township.
Louis E. Young, Monroe township.
Jerome F. Kerstetter, Washinglon
township.
Dr. Eyer
borough,
N. W. Vaohorn withdrew his appli-
cation for renewal of hia retall privi-
lege in Washington township at the
notorious * Bummit House..”
L =
Wy Ny
Hoflar street has been very much
improved, in fact, it is io first cinse
condition now, and will remain so for
s number of years if it is given any
attention whatever. The work was
done with a road scraper hauled by a
traction engine. The scraper wae
manipulated by Willlam Lucas and
the engine was driven by John Durst
with Christ Durst as fireman,
The street from Church street to its
terminus et Foreman's grain house
was given attention. The work is a
very great credit to the men in charge
of the machinery. The road bed Is
well rounded up and is uaiform io
ite grade to the ditches.
With a King split-log drag, Street
Commissioner Floray will be able to
keep Hofler street in fine condition.
————— A ——————
After School Boards,
The county is being overrun with
school book agents who are making
a special drive to sell geographies of all
grades. Oa reflection it would appear
sitogether sensible to postpone the
purchasing of new geographies until
the iodastrial matter of the 1910
census could be incorporated. It may
ve claimed that the geographies now
offered for sale contain the late census
report, but how can they when the in-
dustrial feature of the census is not yet
given to the public by the cen-
sus bureau, snd the industrial fea-
tare is the one valuable item gathered
each census year by book publishers
from the reports issued by the census
department,
Walter, Belinsgrove
i
| Hoffer Street Improved.
Woodward.
Mra. Kessler spent Saturday at
Millheim,
Mr. Glantz entertained his brother
from Green Burr Saturday and Sun
day.
Mrs. L. L. Weaver and daughter
Maude spent several days last week at
Cobarn,
Holomon Von Neils, of Laurelton,
spent several days last week with his
daughter Mrs, Treaster,
Prof, and Mrs. Charles Kreamer,
snd son Carl, of Asronsburg are
spending a few days at the home of
the former's parents, J. L. Kreamer,
Communion setvices were held In
the Evangelical Association Church
sunday evening, conducted by Rev,
Wentz, P, E , from Allentown and the
pastor Rev. C. D. Caria,
————— YF ——————
President William Howard Taft,
Republican, and ex-President Theodore
Roosevelt, Republican, are oalling
each other liars. That's bad enough,
but the worst is that both are speak.
ing the truth,
—————— AP I ——
Remember tid Malos sud Malowe,
»
Secretary Campbell's Address,
A npumber of interested citizens
gathered in the Reformed church last
Friday evening to hear Mr, W, J,
Campbell, State Becretary of the Y. M.
CO. A. County Work, discuss the sub-
ject of organizing Centre county.
The attendance was not as large as the
importance of the subject demanded,
still a goodly number were present
aud listened attentively. It was the
firel of a series of like meetings to be
held throughout the county ; and Mr.
Campbell was so well satisfied with
the result of this meeting and the sup-
erficial survey of the county previous-
ly made that he gave expression to the
opinion that Center would soon be or-
ganized and provided with an expert
Hecretary ; and so join the sixty or
more counties of the United Bates al-
ready at work supervieing the re-
ligioue, educational, social, and
physical development of boys and
young men,
HBome of the points made by the
speaker are that the Y. M, C, A, is
not an organization apart from the
church but is simply the church do
ing a special work, AY. M. C, A, is
a group of christian young men seek-
ing growth in a well-rounded chris
tian character and desiring to help
boys and young men live a true fe,
This particular phase of the associa
tion's work is called County Work be-
cause the counly is the anit, The
county employs a secretary who lays
bis life along side of the young
wherever possible helping them to re-
alize the best that is in them by find.
ing and training leaders for groups,
aod by inspiring them by his own ex-
ample and enthusissm. The aim of
the county secretary is to find leaders
in each community who in a natursl
way will gather sround them a com-
pany of boys or young men, and, by
taking an interest in the thiogs that
they are interested in, shall enable
them to learn to appreciate and strive
for the things that make for true man-
hood,
Bible study is the basle of all work.
This alone makes the work enduring.
Then an effort is made lo satisfy tue
young man's craving for social and io-
tellectual advantages, Lhe want of
which in the country takes so many
to town. Attention is also given to
the physical life, the need of which is
manifested by the fact that, while the
death rate in the city is decreasing, in
the country it is incressiog or stand-
ing still. A boy's religion is not to be
measured by a man’s standard. Un-
der the influence of this work boys
have been found able to eradicate evils,
such as profanity, even when the law
and other sgencies have failed : and
this is proper work for a religious boy.
Finally, this agency, belong loterde-
pomioational, has power to combine
the religious forces of a community,
which combined are all powerful. It
promotes a community consciousness
which leads to a comwmunity coun
science. After the address an loformal
conference was held and several joints
elucidated by questions. Mr. Camp-
bell is a pleasant speaker aud made a
good impression by his courtesy and
evident understanding of the subject
in which be is deeply Interested >
AP ————
Mr. Malin Misre presents the Reporter,
Ia pleading his case for a perpetual
electric franchise in Centre Hall
borough before the town council at its
regular meeting on Ffiday night, Mr,
Malin misrepreseried this paper in
one or more s.atements. He charged
that the Reporter conveyed (he idea
in one of its articles that he was ask-
ing for an ‘exclusive franchise,’
which is a misrepresentation. What
was said on the subject Ye tuls :
The proposed franchise ordinance is very
brief, but it means very mnch. The fran
chise is not exclusive, but would not the eiti-
gots of this borough have much difficulty in
persuading a second corporation that there
was enough business here for competition ?
If a perpetual fmanchise were granted to one
corporation, would it not oppose the isuing
of a charter to a second in the same territory
dealing io the same commodity 7
The writet’s reply to Mr, Malin be-
fore the council was that his ordi-
pance as presented, if adopted, would
in effect be an exclusive franchise
And #0 it would regardless of what
Mr. Malin states Lo the contrary, Mr,
Malin is not comiog to Centre Hall for
love, he comes here fcr business ; he
is trying to force through the council
a mensure in the loterest of his com-
pany ; the welfare of the citizens of
this town is secondary to him, To
date his methods may at least be
termed cunning,
AIA A ATA
Talking about ' knocking, '’ what's
knocking barder than bigh taxes
without adequate returns for the mon-
oy whoo again expended. The last
who should accuse of ** knocking " are
those who through a series of blunders
for which there was no excuse have
obliged the citizens to lay down good
money. The best boosting force any
town can have are officers who ex-
pend revenue judiciously ; exercise
Jud t in all matters; sod
to say *' no'' when
a
%
LETTERS FROM SUBSURIBERN,
Reporter Subseribers Qorrespondent Col.
umn~—Interesting Uommanications.
C. D. Runkle, formerly of Centre
Hall, who ls employed by the Hill
Top Ice Company, at Knoxville, in
the Pittsburgh district, writes the
Reporter thus :
Enclosed you will find one dollar
for the Reporter, which is a welcome
guest every Friday noon.
Perhaps you would be interested
to hear something about Knox-
ville. We have three dally mail de.
liveries ; three voting precincts ; fifs
teen hundred voters, twelve churches,
two fine brown stone school houses
with twenty female and six male
teachers, a High Behool, The Y. M.
C. A. put up a fine building costing
$100,000. Just a half equare from us
is King’s Bchool of Oratory, which
cost $50,000, and two squares away is
the Knoxville family theatre,
quite au expensive building.
I must not forget to say that Hon,
Jobin P. Moore, assistant mansger of
also
DEATHS,
week Martin Luther Risbel, a
passed away. He was
bed but a few weeks, yet all through
the winter suffered from stomach
trouble which for many years attack-
ed him at times,
About 1800 there came to
German decent and probably of Ger-
man birth, He settled st Green
(drove, near Penn Hall, where he pur-
chased one hundred and thirty acres,
the farm now familiarly known as
the Gregg Burrell farm. In 1847 he
passed away, his remains being buried
in the Union cemetery, Farmers
Milla,
His son Col. John Rishel, father of
the gentleman whose name opens this
sketch, was born at Penn Hall, in
1808, and at the age of sixteen years
sccompanied his father to the Rishel
homestead, near Farmers Mills. He
the Knoxville Land Improvement
Company, was again nominated in|
the 45th senatorial district. Senator |
Moore is well known to Mr. Allison, |
Mr. Noll, Mr. Kepler, former mem- |
bers of the legislature from your coun-|
ty, as well as to yourself, Capt. G. MM. |
Boal, Landlord Runkle, D. A. Boozer, |
W. B. Mingle, of your town, whom he |
met in Centre Hall In company with
our mutual friends William Grim, |
cashier of the Knoxville Land Im-|
provement Company, sad William L
Runkle, my son, who is manager of |
the Hill Top Ice Company. |
4 a smal
7 / J Borough Coutiell Meets, |
The Centre Hall borough council]
met in regular session on Friday eve-|
ving, the members present being the |
president, Dauiel Daup ;
W. Frank Bradford, William H.|
Meyer, John Martz. The principal |
business before the body was the hear-
fog given to W. L.. Malin, represent.
ing Centre Hall Electric Light Com.
pany, a branch of a public service com-
pany dolog business in the central
part of the state. A month ago Mr,
Malin had introduced in the council!
sn ordinance giviog the corporation
named a perpetual franchise ; also a
contract calling for a term of ten years
street lighting at the rate of $60 for
arc lights and $24 for forty-candle|
power incandescent lights. The ordi-|
nance was referred to the light com.
mitlee, with instructions to sscertain
information on the sutjsct, The com-
mittee reported that nothing had been
dove to inform themselves cn the sub.
jasxt, and ss 8 consequence no action
was taken. Mr. Mallo suggested =
#pecial meeting be called for Saturday
evening, 11th instant, at which time
he will again appear to urge the pass
age of an ordinance,
A half dozen or more citizens were
present at the meeting, some of whom
expressed themselves freely as favor
ing the passage of the ordinance, and
others expressed themselves with con.
siderable earnestoess in opposition to
the movement,
The councilmen, aes individusls, stat.
ed that the borough could not afford to
light ita streets wilh sleciricity, and
this eliminated every bit of argument
in favor of passing the ordinance,
Mr. Malin, both in private conversa
tion and before the council, sdmitted,
that the borough could not have al.
forded to accept the contract presents
ed, but he now proposes to present an
ordinance without a contract for light.
ing the streets attached. This ordi-
nance, he claims, can do the borough
no harm.
Mr. Malin and his company are not
so much concerned whether or not
they have a contract with Centre Hall
borough. What they do want is a
perpetual franchise, and this in effect
means an exclusive privilege to do
business in Centre Hall, The orai-
nance Mr. Malin will present will not
ask for an exclusive franchise, but the
conditions locally will make it such,
The following bills were ordered
paid : W. F. Floray, labor on street,
$1065 ; Clymer McClenahan, lights,
$1300 ; Brisbin & Company, lumber,
$2 62 ; interest on bond (Mrs. Ruhl)
$18 00.
Privilege was asked by and granted
to W. Gross Mingle to sink a cess pool
in the alley at his residence,
ss —— A ———
Everhart Reed,
Samuel E. Everhart, of the Branch,
and Miss Grace Reed, of Huntingdon,
were married on Saturday morning at
the Graysville Presbyterian parsonage,
by Rev. R. M. Campbell. The groom
is a well-known young farmer, highly
regarded by all his soquaintances, and
exceptionally industrious. The bride
is a handsome and accomplished
young woman, and will be able to do
her part toward makiog a home what
it should be.
The Reporter extends its best wishes
to the young couple, who will be at
bome at the Braooh the Iatter part of
Necretary,
!
May.
erected the buildings on the home.
#lend named, and also added eighty
acres to the farm. He
was elected
to 18556—and was a justice of the peace
for a little over thirty-one years, and
at the time of his death, in 1878,
jury commissioner. He was also a
prominent figure in the Luthersn
church, and donated the ground on
which the Union church now stands,
His first wife was Rachel Reynolds,
Catharine
Homan, who died in 1897, aged eighty-
nine years, The children born to this
union were these : Samuel, Martino
Luther ; and Rosella, wife of Prof. E.
F. Bmith, of Freeport, Illinois, the
only survivor of the family.
Deceased was a son of Col. John
tisbel and was born on the old home-
stead near Farmers Mills on January
drd, 1850, hence was sixiy-two years,
three months and twenty-nine daye
old. Like all boys on the farm his
schooling was confined to from two to
three months a year, but his thirst for
knowledge was so great that he per-
sisted In his studies until he was
twenty-one years of age. Al that age
he went into partnership with his
father in farmiog the Rishel home-
stend and two years later he rented
the same. When his father died and
the homestead had to be sold to settle
up the estate Mr. Rishel bought one
bundred and twelve acres of it and
has made that his home ever sinoe.
Mr. Rishel was not only a progressive
sod successful farmer but 8 man who
took an solive interest in everything
pertaining to the welfare of the com-
munity in which he lived, He was a
Democrat in politics and for years one
of the leaders in Gregg township. As
evidence of the confidence the peo
ple of Gregg towaship had in him is
the fact that he filled the office of jus
tice of the peace for the past coosecu-
tive twenty-seven years, and was al-
ways regarded one of the fairest men
in the county. He was 8a member of
the Evangelical Lutheran church of
Farmers Mills and during his long
term of membership filled every
church office. He was the type of
s man that any community can ill
afford to lose and he will be greatly
missed by the church and the public
at large.
On January 12th, 1587], he was unit.
ed in marriage to Miss Catharine A.
Houtz, a daughter of Edward and
Catharine Houtz, who survives with
five children, namely : John E, of
Tusseyville ; William F., at home ;
Mre. Elizabeth J. Bradford, of Centre
Hall ; Mrs. Carrie E. Binkabine, of
Penn Hall ; and Miss Rosa Irene, at
home, and sixteen grandchildren ;
also the sister named above, who
came east three weeks ago and was
with her brother during his last ill
ness,
Faneral services were held at his
late home near Farmers Mille on Mon-
day morning by his pastor, Rev, F.
W. Barry, of Centre Hall, after which
burial was made in the Union ceme-
tery at Farmers Mills,
I —— A A ——————
After thinking the matter over ser
jously, Mr. Citizen, don’t you think
Mr. Malin rather insistent on the elec
tric light ordinance? Do you think
that any stranger ought to present a
matter in which he is personally in
terested to the council and insist on
action on the question in his pres
ence? Don’t you think, Mr. Citizen,
that common courteay would demand
that Mr, Malin present his proposition
and then retire and give the council
an opportunity to discuss the matter
in a free easy way. Really, there ls
room for objection to the mild form of
coercion practiced by Mr, Malin in the
past, althongh he pretends to be deep-
ly interested io the local aflairs of the
borough. It ls safe to say that his in-
tereats here will be much greater in
case his ends are accomplished socord-
lng to his present plans.
A MO AP,
Don't be either a clam, or a tool,
Was
5
NO. 19.
TOWN AND COUNTY NEWS.
HAPPENINGS OF LOCAL INTEREST
FROM ALL PARTS.
Girass flelds have a very promising
appearance,
A regular meeting of Progress
Grange will be held Baturday after-
noon,
Read the advertisement in this jssue
telling of the Odenkirk Btore, Centre
Hall,
The Patrons Rural Telephone Com-
pany will meet to-day (Thursdsy
in the Grand Jury room, Bellefoute.
The Luther League, at 6:30 o'clock,
Sunday evening, will have a program
In keeping with the day-—-Mother’'s
day.
Upclaimed letters in Centre Hall
postoffice May Ist, 1812: Rev B. L.
Boston, John D. Curry, Martin Bart-
ley, J. R. Bmith, James Bmith.
Bunday night there was a light rain,
snd Monday morning a brisk thunder
shower came slong. Vegetation
doing ite best to cover the earth,
Willism R. From, rosd commis
sioner in Mifflioburg, is also using the
{ road scraper to improve the condition
| in thst
in
of the less important streets
| town.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry H. Luse, of
Centre Hall, and Mr. and Mrs. 1. J
Zubler, of Bpring Mills, attended the
the faoeral of Mrs. James Martin.
Iuterment was made at Jacksonville,
Rev. M. D. Geesey, of Asronsburg,
was thrown from & vehicle and nar-
rowly escaped serious iojury., The
horee he was driving was frightened
by an sulo car, and ran away afler up-
setting the vehicle he was hitched to.
{
f
Poplar and box alder are two species
of trees that ought not to be planted in
towns or near buildings. In many
boroughs and cities the authorities for-
bid the planting of these trees, and
in many municipalities the authorities
are ordering their destruction.
Rev. R. Raymond Jones, on Batur.
day evening, was seized with acute
indigestion and for several hours was
very seriously ill. His Banday ap-
pointments on the Reformed charge
could not be filled. He has now prac-
tically recovered.
Charles Burris, farmer, west of Cen-
tre Hall, was surprised the other
morning on seeing an ssh pile where
the evening before stood a brooder
with some thirty chicks in it. How
it happened, he does not kvow, but
the conditions the next morning prov-
ed conclusively that the brooder took
fire and with its contents was con-
sumed.
John B. Ream, one of the oldest
residents in Gregg township, was a
caller at this office on Thursday. Mr.
Ream is in his eighty-third year, and
is remarkably well preserved, physi-
cally and mentally. He expressed
great regret over the death of M. IL.
Rishel, who passed away on thst
morning, declaring he had been a use-
ful citizen all his life in that commun-
ity.
The new srraugement of matter in
the Mifflinburg Telegraph has greatly
improved the general appearance of
that paper. The first page is devoted
to news, exclusively to news, and
that is right. A newspaper that real-
ly fills its mission need not put its ad-
vertisemuents on the first page so that
they may be seen. Make your paper
newsy, and the reader will read every
page each week.
Union county experienced a severe
storm recently. A number of build.
ings were unroofed, stables shattered,
ete. Irvin Bhowalter, a huckster,
from Glen Iron, was caught in the
storm. He was driving two horses
bitched to a heavy covered wagon.
The storm turned the vehicle over,
and it was only because the driver
jumped clear of the wagon that no
harm was done him, for the team ran
away,
The Millheim Journal eays this : A
petition is being circulated by the
borough council for the erection of a
county bridge over Elk creek, on the
Peters road, in North Millbheim. The
old bridge now ooccupylog the site, is
unsafe for travel and must be replaced
by an entirely new structure. Elk
creek, at that place, is very wide and
will take a long bridge that will be too
expensive for the borough suthorities
to pay for,
A Ford five-passenger oar was de-
lived to C. D. Bartholomew and sister,
Miss Helen Bartholomew, or rather
the car was brought here by Miss Bar-
tholomew herself on Saturday afier-
noon, having mastered the machine in
the forenoon in Millheim sufficiently
to make the trip. The oar was purchas-
od trom C. H. Breon & Company, ‘Mill-
heim, who have put out a large num-
ber of machines during the past few
years. 4 This is the third machine
they sold in Oentre Hall, the fret
purchasers being Boozer and Fetter.
olf, liverymen, and the second, Dr. J,
V. Foster,