CHAS. R. KURTZ DESTRUCTIVE | FOREST FIRES Sweep Over Vast Areas of Val uable Timber Land ENVELOPED IN DENSE SMOKE Monday Dark Clouds of Smoke Swept Over the County—The Sun Was Obscured Forest Fires Caused by Incendiarism—A Bad Act of Assembly The loug continued dry spell caused much destruction property in the mountainous sections of Centre county, by raging forest fires. The dead leaves and brush were dry as tinder and the slightest spark from locomotives soon started a fire wherever it fell, which in a short time was fanned into furious seeth- | ing flames extending over vast areas. During the past week conditions were most favorable for forest fires. In every direction, by day clouds of smoke arose from the mountains on every side, and at night presented a magnificent displav, leaping up the mountain sides tothe very summits like rolling billows of the sea, in its pathway. to sweeping everything The climax came on Monday afternoon. The wind was coming from the north, over the Alleghenies, where thcusands of acres of wil were The get denser and by four o'clock t The atmosphere was 1 land burned over. smoke began to heavy and he sun was almost obscured. so impregnated with smoke as to effect breathing and the eyes. The continued to gather in density, and 1! five o'clock the sun was obscured, a pale vellow halo or light seemed to hover over the sky. lights in stores and offices, and by 6 » smoke )Y It was necessary to use artificial it was quite dark. The atmosphere was so heavily laden with smoke as to become eppressive. At last reli Deep, heavy | er told of ¢ atmospher Monday's experience was remarkable, the like of which few have ever ex perienced. It was immediate locality the entire con tory. Some alarming reports pres here aere, The smoke came from the n and the report was current that Snow Shoe town was a victim of the flames and was Ww There | Mi OVET In burning down. Telephone messages that place soon put all was much mountain that vicinity, but at no time was the town in immediate danger From all secti came reports of the fires burning fences, cord wood, paper wood, bark and timber, while in some instances mu valuable growing timber was damaged. ORIGI OF FOREST FIRES no doubt originate Many forest fires from burning cinders thrown from the But far conclusion is stacks of locomotives. then there from railroad that Some were SO many fires, lines, that the only they are motive prevails for a deed. started. It is deliberately said some people start forest fires to burn away undergrowth and brush to make conditions favorable for a good crop of huckleberries to burn out the low brush to make trav. eling easier. Many, no doubt, start fires of this kind from malicious motives, to injure the property of another, or from a pure develish to do something mean and cause distress and consterna. tion. The large amount of fires this season beats all records and there seems to be another explanation for their fre quency. In March 1897 an act of assem. bly made every constable a fire warden, and authorized him, in case of forest fires in his balliwick, to endeavor to extinguish | same and could call any number of men to assist him. For this work he was to 5 cents per hour, and his assist. ants 12 cents per hour, return of which | is made to the county commissioners and the county pays one-half and the state bears the other half. A late decision by the court authorizes any citizen who dis. covers a forest fire to put it out, without order from the warden, and that upon making return to the constable and re. ceiving his approval, can collect full pay for his work. This act was created for protection to our forests, but without a doubt, it has had the opposite effect. Go into mount. | ainous regions of our county and you | find a large per cent of idle, worthless, | unemployed, desperate characters, who, for the purpose of getting a chance to do something, will fire the forests to collect | a bill for fighting fires of this kind, | Land owners tell us that it was simply | astounding to see fires spring up on every side, no matter how often they were ex, tinguished. All over Centre county last Some hunters stait fires spirit receive | | their | Now, Ed. and Prop. week hundreds of men were fighting forest fires by day and night, and when | the returns come in at next August court, the county commissioners expect to face some enormous bills from these fire wardens for services of themselves and hundreds of assistants. BILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL. At Warren, Pa., recently, Judge Lind. sey handed down an opinion declaring the act compensating fire wardens and unconstitutional on the ground that the title of the act was de. fective. If that decision holds, it will be the thing that can happen forests, as the worthless rak assistants best our and bums can not gain any more revenue by burning and destroying our forests, which affords them an opportunity to | make a false padded return to pull mon- ey from the public treasury. If the act is not unconstitutional the next legis- should repeal it at once. The purpose of the act was good, but the effect the intended lature is direct opposite from .—— NEWSPAPER LEASED On Wednesday morning it was an- nounced that the office of the Bellefonte Republican and Daily News, of place, had been leased by Editor E. T. to Harris, of Hastings & Co's. bank, for a T! political circles and a Tuten Johan P. cashier Jackson, period of five years, 1aturally ripple caused a in the deal, outside of business purely Mr. Tuten been engaged in the newspaper busiz here for venture, has significant, many years, since 1573. T concern, we understand, will be manag- ed by Wilber Harris Hastings who during Gov. term at Harrisburg was his From that it is safe papers will be in ith the Hastings element of publicans in this county. For some ese papers have been publishing columns of Quay 8, from the Quay bead. e an can others are lege of ng editors newspaper We extend to hand of fellowship i ir that al path they can ¢ st the shop, from us We hope they may have | f rt with their wayward reg ican brethren, prosper abundantly and grow as fat and sleek as an old rat in a Holland cheese DE e brethren the ve e, with the promise when they cross our to get the ON THE OTHER the were Strolling about town following variety of comments heard from Quay politicians, on the paper deal “If Hastings keeps on at this rate some of us fellows might as well lay down, or KO west "The political cat will soon commence to jump in our camps; even if the insur. gents are baying newspapers, keep an eye on the indicator “Oh I expect they will run a right decent paper for a while; but just you mind, if it is necessary, that gang will try to cut the livers out of some of us.’ » » - “What need the Quay crowd care for Dan's papers, why they are all right. Stone is governor; Quay wid be senator love is the judge; Montgomery is the postmaster with that nephew as clerk Jack Dale has a fine appointment; John | Hamilton got all he was after; Chambers is boro solicitor and recently got another nice job at Harrisburg. Haven't they been getting there, in addition to naming all the postmasters over the county’ tell me what has Dan and his crowd captured? Can you tell “The only reason Hastings got it was that he offered Tuten $100 more than we did. We will have to have a paper of some kind," "Say, ain't Harter's Gazette a sort of on the fence? Don't know where to drop Don't it look that way?’ - . » These and many similar comments were the talk among the Quavites. Here and there were little knots and groups in consultation, philosophising, and none of them seemed in the happiest frame of mind. What will be their line of action # hard to say, but if they must have a Quay organ and the Gazette won't flop, come up here and we will help you along with an extra, for a political faction without an organ is like a cat in hades without claws. r8, outlaws | | the fol { Chairman that | this | BELLEFONTE, PA., THI C. L. GRAMLEY RE-ELECTED. County Met on Tuesday. Centre School Directors SALARY REDUCED TO $1300. Resolutions Against a Reduction of the Regu lar State Appropriation Interesung Statistics Relative to the Public Schools of the State and County Ou Tuesday noon the school directors of Centre county assembled in the court house to elect a County Superintendent for the ensuing term of three years, and transact other business that might come before them. At 12:4 called the convention to » Superintendent C. L. Gramley order and then lowing organization was effected C. T. Fryberger, of Philips. burg. Secretary. Tellers—H. C. Quigley, Esq., Bellefonte, and Dr. S. 5. Frank, of Millh Before the secretary CG. Fink, of Huston Twp. the roll, the gues dent's salary for the eusuin thrust before the convention by a motion quest of the smaller that the County Sup be not lower than $15 larger counties could fix any amount above which they deemed th the i proper; and salaries deducted from the state 1 to the re. spective coun party seconding After some confusion th » next and most 10a Lount D. 1 ‘ , Bsq., in a strong speech out the re juirements and qualifications necessary to Il the office, and gave his reasons why experience so eminently fitted his ms for the position, and he presented pame of C. L. Gramiey, the former cumbent Senator Wm. ( cloquently spoke of the pecu. Heinle next took the floor and liar fitness of another gentleman, Prof, A Rutt, School. Last came Dr. S Reist of the Bellefonte High Mill heim, who in well chosen words spoke of Frank, of the worth, character, learning and su H. C. Rothrock, of the Millheim schools, for the position At W. Reese fonte, aznounced, before the balloting perior fitness of Prof this point G of Belle began, that he was authorized to with. draw the name of Prof. Rutt nominations the secretary began reading No more the roll of delegates and the first ballot resulted in the re-election of C. L. Gram. ley by the following vote C. L. Gramiey H. C. Rothrock At the of Gramliey was called upon for a speech conclusion the vote Supt 'RSDAY, MAY 4 1800. State appropriation $5.5 Value all school property. . $45,917,002.59 Total expenditures........ $19,644,401. 31 AVERAGH of male teachers female \ Length of school term, months month LLUDI PHILA. $41 $12.0 ve ries male teachers female Length of school term, months Mills tax « , month n fi for school purposes AVERAGE AGES IN CENTRE CO n WW Male teachers per month. Female teachers per month Length of school term, months Average age of teachers CENTRE COUNTY STATIST! Permanent certificates issued Feb 1897 10 June 15 School houses rooms houses insuffi New houses built Good schoo! buildings Number with suitable farniture . Supplied with farniture during year. Graded schools Bible read in schools Higher branches, in schoo Provisional cer : Professional »” went size uiHicates granie wrmal graduates 1 normal ommon Sch attended schoo ng schoo nt of attendance ' monia ar, -— EMAINS MASGLE! leceased was s supposed pe of these while 1 | under the wheels, or struck while walking on the t: remains were interred ard Ihe young man was Jerry Bland, who is now in the city recovering from inju sustained by being struck by a car above Mill Hall H ocrat a few weeks ago, 1 Dem. .— Ordered to the Danville Asylum The ined George C. Brungard Saturday found the His attending physician states that on ommission on lunacy who exam man in a semi Conscious « ndition the day before Christmas he was struck on the head, which blow produced con- Since that time he The in a state in. cussion of the brain has been acting strangely at times commission found the man dicating that he was on the verge of a The com. Monday, mental and physical collapse mission made their report whereupon by order of the court Brun. ! to the Brun. gard ordered to be taken Danville asylum for treatment and he responded briefly in appropriate | gard is the man who confessed to burn words for his re.election to the third term, which he accepted as an endorse. ment and approval of his past labors. No further business, journed convention ad. “- .-—-——— SCHOOL STATISTICS From the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, of Pennsylvania, for the year ending June 6, 1808, the fol. lowing statistics have been compiled for this paper relative to our public schools, | that should be of interest to our people : | School Districts... . Cann 2490 | Graded Schools. ....oovus Male Teachers. ........ Female Teachers............ Total no. of teachers... ........ 28, Total no. of puplls............ 1,143,100 Teachers wages. ...... 10,332,759.97 Cost of school books... ... .. $099.248. 16 16,842 C9 348 hEaae 18,732 | 7 | $4,000,000, ing the Dornblazer barn, near Salona. A $4,000 000 Building Joha Wanamaker will erect a gigantic store building at Thirteenth and Market streets, the site of his present store, in Philadelphia. The proposed is 10 be twelve stories high and will prob ably be completed in two years. The pew structure is to be soox 250 feet in size and it is proposed to build it fu such a fashion that the operation of the present store shall not be interfered with. To do this the new store will be constructed in structure 27,347 | four sections, each section to represent a quarter of the building. It is understood that when finished the building will cost . .o-—— Penny Photos at the Mallory Taylor Studio, Saturdays. 0,000.00 | SECOND WEEK stown | testimony OF COURT. Commonwealth Cases of Last Week Fully Reported. REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY. Sentences Imposed-—Canes Continued or Set tled-—A Large List of Civil Cases on Trial this Week Keporwed w 5S Important Verdi D ts Rendered Getig indicted IcKinney second count receiv M uments t Phi stolen goods ; prosecutor Bunneil tr instr John- ' 1 dealer in musical with a branch store a lipsburg, this county. 1 cane ustice charged with larceny and forg rue bill urt, but upon peti found hy the grand ct attorney an indictment hereinbefore stated and the other charge ma lances payahis Bellefonte for o of the horses, Bank of wind represen ted to Mr. Olis the owner of a large «h P 1 dollar nton wat 3 : of owe A At the close of on motion of defendant's coun the Court held that there conid be no ae) was barred by the the conviction as the case ution not Verdict statute of limitations rose instituted time the having been in not ty and defendant to pay all guil costs of prosecution Com. va. Clair Rupert and Leo Reardon indicted for malicious mischief and ma liciously throwing stones, prosecutor Geo Spangler This case is from Liberty township near Fagleville, and the defend and stoning ants. who are boys thirteen ten Years of age, were prosecuted for the house of a Mr. Strawentter and hitting Mr old injaring Spangler & six-year son on the head with a stone the hoy to such an extent that he could not be in attendance Verdict of pot guilty but the defendants to pay two at court on Friday morning thirds of the costs and the prosecutor one third of the costs Blanche Twohey, indicted for fom a fornication and open lewdness, prosecutor Harry Simler, policeman from Philipsburg Verdict « the county to pay Wt guilty and the consis Frank Rockey, indicted for be- trayal, prosecutrix Minnie Ra hau case is from near Zion Walker ship. Verdict not guilty and the defend- ant to pay two-thirds of the costs and the prosecuttiz to pay one-third of the costs. The following civil cases were then taken up De. 8 F, Neviing vs HS, Continued on page 8. Com. ™» in town ———— - ing was returned by | This | VOL NO, Ix FACT, FUN ASD FANCY ' Bright, Sparkling Paragraphs Selected ane Original Hiram Baker's Meoralizing ‘ en I read of 1 k. s'pose 1'd hi y edication and tl mder if 1 could The And Tha } mb adder Jest as quick as he then It almost seems acrime t he should feast, while, all the tis There's but the hard, dry crusts for me jut, then again, I think, suppose That all our brains was same as his Whe'd plough the furrers, plant the rows And do the common stints there is * If everyone could greatness share This world would stop, | guess we'd find We can't all fancy work prepare The few have pleasant tasks and falr The many’'s got to git the grind God made us all, and put us here As part of His almighty plan And each one's gol his duly clear It's jest to do Lhe best he cab And if my place in life ain't what I'd like to have It, nor as great hy, fl can, I'll change my lot i wh I ve n ple er vf! er things The man who usually the last D oa guilty metimes tain people n A man who refuses to me without it ans mast live Girls who go "round because it's dewey then There'sa difference in lawyers’ charges some ask only a nominal fee, and what others ask is phenomenal When nothing t say the chances are that he could aman says he has say a good deal if he wanted to, should men who both ng to The golden rule work wavs. but most Are ww) do as they would be done by want to te done by first Every American husband should read this ‘In cold weather Chilean women, when in bed, keep their feet warm by placing them on a dog." Practical Father—If he says be loves you, I suppose he does; but can he sup- Daughter Why, papa, you that the chair port you know it wasn't his fault broke’ The late John Holmes, youngest broth. Dr Wendell Holmes, was also known among his intimates as a man of ready repartee and characteris. tic humor Mr, Holmes never married, but lived by himself in a little house in Cambridge, and once a friend rallied him on his lonely life “Nou ought to | marry, John,” said be, “and have a | jJarger house.” “Why, Yes,” replied Mr Holmes, witha quiet smile; ‘Wf 1 | should take a better half, I would have to improve my quarters.’ . Another Act Uscenstitutional. At Scranton Wednesday Judge Guns. ter declared the act of May 3, 18q3, em. powering municipalities to impose a maximum tax of $1,000 on itinerant mer. chants, unconstitutional. The decision was rendered in the case of the city against Morris Wormer, of New York, a man who conducted a fire sale, and who was arrested and fived $100, er ol oliver
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers