8
HARRBBORG TELEGRAPH
A SmvSPAPBR FOR THE HOME
Pemmdtd it#
Published evenings except Sunday by
THE TKLEGRirH PBDTnHO CO,
Telimib BdWu. Federal Soare.
HJ. STACKPOLK. fW amd Editor-in-C kit f
K B. OYBTKR, Butmoa Manager.
OtJS V. STEINMBTZ, Managing Editor•
Member American
■ylvanl* Asaoclat-
Batm office.
Story. Rrfioks &
New
em office. Story.
B*ooks & Finley,
Gas Build-
Entered at the Post Otrice in Harris
burs. Pa., as second class matter.
~-ciW-2y>.. By carriers, ten cents
week: by mall. $5.00 a
•aSlJ**' year in advance.
SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH St
The unffratefvl shall not prosper.—
KORAX.
■
THE REPUBLIC
THOU, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail en, O Union, strong; and great!
Humanity with all its fears.
With all Its hope* •( future years.
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
.We knew what Master laid thy keel,
What Workmen wreught thy ribs ef
steel.
Who made each mast, and sail, aad repe.
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
la wha't a forge aad what a heat
W'ere shaped the anchors ef thy hope!
Fear not eaeh sudden sonnd and shock, '
Tie ef the wave and not the rock)
"Tls but the flapping of the sail,
Aad not a rent made by the gale!
la spite of rock and tempest's rosr.
In spite of false llghta on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Oar hearts, onr hopes are all with thee.
Oar hearts, onr hopes, onr prayers, our I
tears.
Our faith triumphaat o'er our foes,
Are all with thee are all with thee!
-—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. j
At the risk of interminable repeti
tion the TELEGRAPH again urges the
owners of vacant lots and open space.*
everywhere to plant food stuffs of every j
kind as soon as the weather will per
mit. Let the girls and boys and thot>e I
of maturer years aitl in this important i
work.
WILLING TO AID CITY
SO long as the city is managed un
der the commission form of
government, it Is the duty of
every citizen to uphold the hands of
those responsible for the duties vested
in the City Council. It ought also to
be the aim and ambition of every one
of tiie commissioners to give his very
best effort to the working out of the
problems which are involved in the
maintenance of an efficient adminis
tration. It is unfortunate, of course,!
that Mayor Meals is incapacitated for |
any serviee and that there Is a va- j
cancy by reason of the death of Com
missioner Bowman.
However, these facts should not In- !
terfere with effective service in every j
department. There are hundreds of j
good citizens In Harrisburg who are J
willing to give their aid to the com- !
missioners and nothing should stand j
In the way of practice aiuniclpal ad- |
ministration.
Too often projects affecting widely
the welfare and best interests of the '
city are menaced by over-zealous per
sons. who mistake criticism and per- j
sonal abuse for conductive effort. The
controversy over tffe selection of an
architect for the school building pro- j
gram is a case in point. This is a mat
ter so important to the city from every
point of view that great good sense :
should be exercised in every phase of j
the discussion.
HK'LP THE HOTEL PROJECT
A FINAL conference is being held
by the directors of the Harris- I
burg Hotel company this after- '
noon preparatory to approving tße j
plans of the collaborating architects |
and the United Hotels Company, which
will manage the Penn-Harris. The Im
portance of this conference cannot be
overestimated in view of the present
hotel situation in the city.
With the passing of the Common
wealth to-day the inadequate facilities
for public entertainment are enor
mously emphasized. It was hoped that
the present hotels would continue
even after the Penn-llarris was in
operation, but as the largest of the
old hotels has now closed Its doors
the need of prompt and expeditious ac
tion in the matter of the line struc
ture which is to be erected on the site
of the old opera house Is forced~home
upon every Harrisburger who Is Inter
ested in the city and Its prosperity.
President Wallower and those asso
ciated with him In the business nego
tiations involved in this large under
taking realize the responsibility rest
ing upon them and. In spite of the ris
ing cosr in every direction, they are
determined to supply this one big need
without a moment's loss of time. In
this connection, however, It may be
said that those who have not yet In
dicated their Interest in this enterprise
by becoming stockholders should
come to tha front and show their
abiding faith in their home city and
their continuing interest in its wel
fare. It ought not to be necessary to
canvass the town further In this mat
ter. A telephone call or a letter to
the Secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce Is all that Is necessary to have
your name enrolled among those who
have done a patriotic public service in
subscribing to the fund necessary to
provide this greatly- needed hotel.
If yoa can't take much, you should
at least show your interest by buying
one share of stock and thus become
SATURDAY. EVENING.
enrolled among thooo who want tp see
Harrisburg placed more largely upon
the map than ever before. Those who
have studied the comprehensive and
attractive plans for the Interior and
exterior of the hotel have expressed
widespread satisfaction over the in
telligent study which haa been made
of this important problem. It is going
to be a hotel of which any city might
be proud.
When the TELEGRAPH strongly ad
vocated, two years ago, the introduc
tion of military training in the schools
of Harrisburg, especially the organiza
tion of a battalion composed of on*
company each from the Harrisburg
Academy, the St. Patrick's Parochial
schools and the two high schools, there
was little Interest manifested outside
the Technical school. Our people In
this respect are not different from those
the country over. Indifference has
characterized this whole important
matter from the start and from those
in high places down the line.
ELISHA LEE AND THE RAILROADS
THE. appointment of Elisha Lee to
be general manager of the
Pennsylvania railroad lines east
of Pittsburgh was made on merit, as
most Pennsylvania promotions are.
Mr. Lee is a big man In the railroad
world. Big men are required at this
stage. The government at Washing
ton and those of the several States
have been the upper and the nether
millstones between which the life is
being steadily ground out of tKe rail
roads of the country. Many of them
already are in the hands of rtceivers.
Others will follow If conditions do not
improve. Despite the fact that they
have more freight than they can
handle, the railroads cannot meet the
ever increasing expenses imposed
upon them.
President Willard, of the Baltimore
and Ohio Company, it is understood,
will appear shortly before a congres
sional committee to advocate the fed
eralization of railroad control. This
is a radical step and all the more re
markable that It Is to be taken by the
I railroads themselves. The reason lies
back of the unfair legislation, State
and national, that has been directed
against them.
About the only expense entering
into the life of the community that is
much cheaper to-day—outside of
steel products—than twenty years ago
Is railroad transportation, but not
even the Elisha Lees of the service
will be able to maintain that distinc
tion for long under present conditions
and they have come to the point where
they propose to shoulder the respon
sibility for rate advances on the gov.
ernment, which has taken such an
active interest in railroad affairs from
other angles.
Real estate Is about to have a boom
in this city. Upon every street activity
is shown and a number of important
developments are said to be under con
sideration. While we are preparing for
war, we must also prepare for peace.
ENCOURAGING THE BIRDS
THE HARRISBURG TELE
GRAPH Is heartily In accord
. with a movement set afoot In
America by the National Association
of Audubon Societies to have the min
isters of the country use their influ
ence for the conversion of ceipeteries
into bird sanctuaries. Responses al
ready indicate a wide interest
throughout the country. Some types
of landscape architecture are said to
have driven the birds away from these
haunts. The removal of underbrush
has deprived the feathered songsters
of food supplied by the berries, as
well as nesting places. Modern tree
surgery has removed dead limbs and
filled with cement holes formerly
used as homes by some vrrieties of
the little songsters.
The plan is said to involve little
expense. It provides for the planting
of bushes which will supply berry
food, the growing of rye, wheat and
sunflowers in spots where the beauty
of the landscape will not be marred,
bird-houses In trees, the providing of
drinking fountains and other inexpen
sive helps to the birds. Cat-proof
! fences are recommended, especially
j where the cemeteries are in or near
cities.
Said T. Gilbert Pearson, secretary of
the Audubon societies:
What isolated spots could be
more welcome to birds? No place
in the world ought to speak
more forcibly to us of the
Resurrection than the cemeteries of
our land. In them we should hear
inspiring bird-songs, note the nest
ing of birds and the little ones
preparing for their flight into the
world. There we should And beauti
ful flowers and waving grain,
typical of the spiritual harvest
which should be associated in our
minus with comfort and peace.
The movement is worthy of atten
tion Iri every community. Bird-life
is not alone an attractive feature of
summer life; it serves a very useful
purpose. It should be encouraged.
It is pleasant to hear from so many
of the readers of this newspaper com
mending this or that feature of the
evening visitor. These are the letters
which encourage those who are making
the newspaper from day to day to do
their utmost to produce a paper that
will always be welcome in the homes
of Central Pennsylvania.
THE NEWSPAPER'S PART
THE TELEGRAPH 1s pleased to
be one of the instruments chosen
by Secretary Daniels to assist In
procuring recruits for the Navy. Its
columns are at the disposal of the gov
ernment in this crisis. It will do what
it can. Throughout the war with
Mexico, tho Civil War and the Spanish.
American War the TELEGRAPH,
both as a newspaper and through the
men from Its own force who went with
the troops, has "done Its bit."
Just now It. with all other Ameri
can newspapers. Is called upon to re
frain from publication of certain lines
of military and naval news.
Like other loyal journals. It will go &,
step beyond the government's require
ments. No matter how Interesting or
Important the item, nothing will be
published that may "give aid or com
fort to the enemy." If you wonder
why you do not get more "war news"
of the preparedness kind, that Is the
reason.
HXRItIBBURG tlfijftl TTXEGKXPH
The Days of Real Sport By BRIGGS
Copyrighted 1917 by Hi* Tribune Assoc. (N* York Tribune)
EDITORIAL COMMENT
THEY'LL LEARN IN TIME
Of course Russia does not yet know
how to conduct popular elections so
as to get the most out of them, but
we dare say that after the first one
some muhdek will be trundling a for
mer prince around the block in a
wheelbarrow and an ex-premier will
be rolling a peanut with his nose, just
like Americans who have enjoyed the
blessings of the franchise for 140
years—Grand Rapids Press.
NEED STENOGRAPHERS
Evacuating Noyon, the enemy
carried oft by force 50 girls from 15
to 25 years of age.—Official French
bulletin. "Military necessity," of
course.—New York World.
THEY'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS
One thing negligent and inefficient
parents should remember. The Legis
lature will*never have wisdom enough
to do .successfully for children at a
distance what parents fail and neglect
to do on the spot. The Legislature
can't reach the spot.—Houston Post.
Labor Notes
Additional facilities for giving re
turned soldiers technical training to
fit them for new occupations in civil
life have been provided in Montreal,
Canada.
A scheme has been devised in Man
chester. England, to indicate by a
shop-window sign businesses which are
being carried on by soldiers' wives. .
The judiciary committee of the Con
necticut General Assembly favors a
bll that will end the practice of im
porting armed guards during strike
times.
Eighty per cent, of the Canadian
operatives employed in the execution
of new and continuation contracts for
shells of all sizes from 2.75 inches to
4.5 inches are women.
A Lesson in Patriotism
(New Bedford, Mass., Standard)
How many times the ignorant for
eigners In this country have taught
us the lesson of patriotism! An inci
dent happened some time ago in New
York City.
Downtown there is a store where
one can trade cigaret coupons for
premiums. If you want cash, the cou
pons are worth half a cent apiece.
The store is filled with glass cases, in
which there are sliver coffee urns,
genuine chinaware, collar buttons,
fish poles, etc.
I was cashing a number of coupons
when a swarthy Italian entered and
shuffled up to the counter. Hie hair
looked as if It had never felt a comb.
His hands and face were covered with
mud from the building excavations
across the street. In his fist he held a
crumbled and greasy mass of coupons,
which he shoved half timidly over the
counter.
The girl clerk was a gum chewer.
More than that, she was painted and
powdered until her features resembled
the side of a newly painted barn.
"Whaddy ya wan?" she chewed, eye
ing the Italian closely from under her
penciled eyebrows.
"Gimme da biga flag," he whispered.
It was the most natural thing in the
world for the girl clerk to hand hfm a
cheap Italian flag. Thf man touched It
devotedly with his soiled fingers. A
far away look entered his eyes. "No
dis a-one. I wan' de Unita State flag."
1 left the store, gazing at my eighty
nine cents rather shamefacedly.
A Predicament
[From Answers, London.]
it was the night of nights. Isabella
had said "yes." Isabella's father had
said "yes," and Isabella's "young man"
was happy. So was Isabella.
Minutes ticked away as they sat
hand in hand, not caring for conver
sation. blissfully content to sit, and
sit In each other's proximity. But
suddenly Isabella's young man grew
restless. He began to twitch and pull
fearsome faces. His facial contortions
got worse and worse, till at last Isa
bella got scared and cried;
"What is It, beloved? Tell your
Isabella! Are you subject to fits?"
"No, no. •of course not," said the
young man soothingly. "My eyeglasses
are falling off and I don't want to
leave go of your lovely little hands."
Gurgles!
Her Faith Made Her WhoW
And, behold, a woman, which was
diseased twelve years, came behind
him, and touched the hem of his gar
ment: fot she said within herself. If I
may but touch his garment, I shall
be whole. But Jesus turned him
about, and when he saw her, he said.
Daughter, be of good comfort; thy
faith hath made thee whole. And the
woman was made whole from that
hour. —Matthew tx, 20 to 22.
'PoCtttco- £k
""ptKKOifCtfCUUa
By the Ex-Commit tee man
A general Democratic drive against
every Republican Congressman who
had a close election last fall is now
believed to be likely as a result of the
proceedings in the United States court
against Congressman O. D. Bleakley of
Vendngo. It Is understood that the
Democratic national leaders and the
State bosses made up their minds to
test out the election of the Venango
man and if successful in their effort
to swing in against other men elected
last fall. /
The plea of Bleakley late yesterday
came as a surprise to many people
here, Including Democrats who had
been watching the developments and
at the State headquarters there was
considerable buzzing. It Is now be
lieved that activity against congress
men whose elecUons were formally
contested in the winter will be started.
—Political strategists in Philadel
phia have about decided to allow the
war developments to occupy .the cen
ter of the legislative stage next week
and It is probable that there will be
no strenuous efforts to push the bills
making changes in the Philadelphia
city government or those to curb ac
tivity of 'its employes which were so
much discussed this week.
—An interesting move has been
started by people in the suburban dis
tricts about Philadelphia, the avowed
purpose to get a municipality which
will better protect suburban interests.
The idea was launched a few days ago
at a meeting in Haverford at which it
was proposed to have seven boroughs
and townships unite. Chester is also
moving to take in some outlying dis
tricts which would make it larger than
Harrisburg. The proposed Haverford
merger would make a population the
size o£ Harrisburg.
The Philadelphia Record to-day
says: The hearing on the Mandatory
Budget bill before the Senate Commit
tee on Municipal Affairs in Councils'
Finance Committee room in City Hall,
yesterday, resolved itself into one of
the liveliest symposiums on finance,
bookkeeping and politics held in this
city since the days of the Catlln Com
mission. Seated beside Senator Edwin
H. Vare, chairman of the committee.
Senator James P. McNichol opposed
the bill now before the Legislature,
heckling speakers who favored the
measure and defending the present
system of financing."
—The fall primary bill will be
amended In the Senate according to
gossip which is now being heard. The
bill conflicts with the Jewish new year
and the chances are that a chang#
which will not interfere with the regis
tration days will be effected.
—lndustrious efforts are being made
to work up a row among third class
cities over legislation. The usual mal
contents are at work and the Demo
cratic bosses In some localities are
lending their aid to creating dissatis
faction. Some attempts are even be
ing made to have the governor veto
the bill which would allow councils
to fill vacancies.
—Members of the Legislature were
to-day looking forward to the pre
sentation of the general appropriation
bill on Monday as the beginning of the
end of the session. The data Is being
compiled to frame the measure which
will contain a pretty fair idea of ap
i propriations.
Local Option Defeat
[Philadelphia Recprd.]
We hear much here and elsewhere,
every time a measure of the promi
nence of this one is voted upon by the
Legislature, of the lack of opportunity
of the people to be honestly represent
ed by members of the Legislature. As n
matter of fact no such opportunity Is
lacking under our form of government.
The trouble is that most of the people
who vote do not grasp the occasion
presented to them at the primaries
and at the regular elections to select
men who will faithfully represent
them.
If the vote in the House on Tues
day does not represent the sentiment
of a majority of the voters of Penn
sylvania on the question of the pass
age of a local option law the majority
of the people are to blame for It. The
question has been agitated for many
years. It has been before the Legisla
ture at all of the recent sessions and
despite the fact that Governor Brum
baugh opposed all of the members who
voted against the bill two year ago a
large number of them were re-elected
to the present House, while many of
those who voted for the bill were not
returned.
IS THE PRESENT
WAR GREATEST IN HISTORY
It seems to be generally accepted
that the present war Is altogether the
gretest In history; and so It Is In one
sense, for undoubtedly there are more
men under arms than ever before.
But mere numbers or mere size are
not themselves of supreme Impor
tance. A man is not of greater prom
ience because he weighs 280 pounds
instead of 150.
The present war is by no means the
greatest in history, proportionally;
that is to say, no one of the nations
engaged in the present war is throw
ing into the lighting line as many men,
in proportion to its population, as has
been the case several" times in the
past. The real test Is the effort a na
tion makes, and on a certain number
of occasions in the past those efforts
have been greater than those of the
present.
The greaest effort that the civilized
world has ever seen was made on
American soil. No nation, neither
France nor Germany, and still less
any other of the European natlons ; Is
throwing to-day Into the firing line
such a large proportion of its popu
lation as did the North in the Ameri
can Civil War nnd as did the South,
as the figures in the new Encyclo
paedia Britannica show.
Undoubtedly, the greatest effort
made by any people was that of our
own South. When the Civil War broke
out, she had a population of nine
milliohs, but of this nine millions not
less than three and one-half millions
were negro slaves who could not tight.
In the course of the war. during a
period of threp years and nine months,
she placed on the firing line a total of
slightly over one million men.
This was one in nine of her total
people, but if the colored are exclud
ed. because they were not allowed to
tight, she pui slighty more than one
million men out of a total of five and
one-half million population. In other
words, about one In five of her white
population, men, women and children,
entered the ranks and fought.
The record of the South is without
parallel in civilized warfare. What
makes it the more astonishing is that
the South, being entirely agricultural,
was not prepared and that the North
ern blockade, stopping the incoming
of supplies of every kind, was a con
stant serious han'dicap.
The population of the North in
1860 was twenty-one millions. In the
course of the war she put into the
field three million men. This was one
in seveij of the total population, a
number considerably greater than any
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Location of Old Hotel
Harrisburg, Pa.. March 31, 1917.
To Iht Editor of the Tejegrapli:
Sir: 1 want to ask a historical
question for your investigation. As 1
| recollect the original Coverly Hotel
was not on the site of the Common
wealth. It was on the corner of the
avenue directly across the street from
Market Square Presbyterian Church.
I can, of course, be in error on a fact
so remote "as the early fifties" but
it is clearly In my mind that that was
the location about 1852 or later. 1
was then a country lad, but occasion
ally came with father to market In
the old markethouses In the Square.
It is a matter which I think can be
definitely settled ana it may be of suf
ficient interest to you to Induce you to
make the attempt.
ALLISON HILL.
. (Wells Hotel was located
in Second street where the building
of the Johnston Paper Company now
stands. That corner was once tho site
of the Harrisburg postotfice and was
occupied by hotels for years under
various names. When Coverly retired
It became a business establishment. —
Editor).
Co-operating With France
(From the Troy Record)
On sentimental grounds it would be
a magnificent thing to pledge our un
limited financial support to France;
it would mean the paying of a long
standing dot't to French republican
idealism which aided us in our strug
gle with British Toryism. If we can
help In this way. there should be no
delay on the part of the next Con
gress. We trust such a loan or gift
can be made. If as a people we can
hearten France In its fight against
Junkerism we should respond willing
ly and promptly.
MARCH 31', 1917.'
of the European nations has yet
thrown into the firing line.
The European war has now lasted
two years and seven months. If the
war lusts another fourteen months (by
which time the duration of. the Euro
pean war will equal the Civil War)
a large number of additional men will
becalled upon to do their "bit," as
the English say; but It is improbable
that It will bring the fgures to one in
seven.
In order to reach the figures of one
in seven Germany must place in the
fighting line between i and 10 million
men: France, approximately ti million;
Russia, 24 million; Great Britain,
from her snug little islands, 6'a mil
lion, without counting any from her
colonies or from that vast empire on
which the sun never sets and whose
morning drum is heard round the
world.
One other point in this matter of
size should be considered. The battle
of Waterloo was decisive of the
Napoleonic struggle and the battle of
Gettysburg of the American Civil
War. At Waterloo there were not far
from 70,00(0 men on each side; at
Gettysburg about the same number.
In comparison with the vast aggre
gate of troops engaged In Europe at
present, these figures seem small, but
in comparison with many of the most
important battles that have ever been
fought, the numbers are large.
If one examines the figures given
in the new Encyclopaedia Britannica
of the numbers engaged in the fifteen
battles commonly considered "the fif
teen decisive battles of the world,"
one finds that only two or three were
fought by greater numbers than at
Waterloo and Gettysburg, and several
much smaller. At Hastings, William
the Conqueror had, perhaps, 50,000
men; at Marathon, where European
civilization was saved, the Greeks had
but 10,000, and at Saratoga, where
the decisive battle of the Revolution
was fought, each side had less than
10,000. The Roman armies which
conquered the ancient world were not
large, and the armies with which
England won India could be placed
in the present European fighting lines
without one's knowing the difference.
It will be seen, therefore, that mere
numbers are not of prime importance.
A fight between two featherweights Is
just as real as. and In fact probably
calls for more skill than, one between
two heavyweights. Americans may
well be proud that the two greatest
efforts made in the modern world
were those of the North and the
South in our Civil War.
j OUR DAILY LAUGH
ARISTOCRATIC.
Dobbs—What train do you take
:oming Into town In the morning?
Bobbs—l used to take the Pinochle
Express at 7.44, but since I became
t member of the firm I've been
'.raveling on the Bridge Whl*t Lim
ited. which leaves at 8.23,
WILLING TO SHARE HIS WAD.
Teacher (sternly) Willie Jone
give that chewing gum to me.
WJlie —I'll let you have half of II
STRATEGIC NOTE •
The ruthless destruction wrought, by
Germans In French towns they left In
a hurry is significant. They don't ex
pect to return.—Toledo Blade
fr—* B====~g"~~ .1 ■
Ebenittg <Bl|at|
An Increutt of over * million dol
lars a year in the valuation of th
property taxable for city purposes la
Harrisburg in the last decade 14
shown by the recently published state
ment of the city finances, prepared
by Commissioner W. L. Gorgas. This
statement is printed as an advertise
ment every year by the municipal
authorities and the average man never
looks at it. It is the city's balance
sheet and it contains a lot of mighty
Interesting facts. For instance, there
is the statement regarding the tax
able property, which means, generally
speaking, the real estate. The total
?ro ? thirteen wards is given as
$0,462,746. Ten years ago it amount
t° $41,096,520. Five years ago it
was $47,577,993. There aro some who
think the figures should be higher and,
of course, a lot who think that they
could be lowered, especially in spe
cific instances. But leaving all of
these ideas aside, it is interesting to
note that in spite of the wiping out of
big part of the Eighth ward for
Capitol park extension and the devel
opment of properties used for relig
ious charitable and other purposes
which are exempt, the city has gone
right along adding a million or so a
year to its valuation. The statement
of such property is also Interesting
because it shows that the Ninth ward,
which was reaching its stride some
ten or fifteen years ago, is about a
quarter of a million behind the Third
ward, the .business part of the city
in valuation. The Third shows J S.-
JOS, 128 as its value. The Ninth has
$8,;96,714. These figures are gener
ally regarded as conservative. An
other interesting thing is that the
Tenth ward beats the wealthy Fourth
by $190,000.
• •
Turning to another part of Mr. Gor
gas' array of figures one finds thnt
the city in spite of its tremendous
public improvements, which have at
tracted national attention, has dem
onstrated the value of the Harrisburg
plan of financing. When we all took
off our coats back in 1901 to make the
rest of the state watch Harrisburg
grow we were warned by economists,
students of municipal affairs, statis
ticians and others that we were head
ing for the brink of bankruptcy. The
result is that the city stands at the
head of third class cities in mileage
of paved street, has the only flood
control that works in the state, has
made a park system that brings people
heie from Canada to study its general
scheme and has done other things
including treatment of an unsurpass
ed river front in a manner that lias
won praise from the widely travelled
and the rural visitor alike. The aver
age man probably has no idea of what
the debt amounts to. The visitor would
put it down as awful. Well, it isn't
much over $2,000,000 and that in
cludes $lll,OOO of street grading and
paving bonds that rest on the abutting
and benefitted properties for payment,
the best kind of an investmest. I told
this to a man from one of the State's
most progressive cities and he did not
believe me. And when 1 added that
the debt included some water bonds
put out at three per cent, he asked
for the statement. The city has to
show against this debt an aggregate
of resources amounting to $3,509,075
or a surplus of resources of not far
from a million and a half dollars.
♦ I*
Another interesting thing is that in
cluded in the debt are a lot of bonds
which have been due and payable for
years, just like those old securities of
Father Penn that State Treasurer
Young would like to get hold of. The
bonds of the city outstanding and on
which the interest ceased include some
due in 1899, 1904 and 1913 and jaou
of the first public improvement loan,
the one that started to make Harris
burg famous, which was due and pay
able last September and for which the
city has the cash waiting.
• • •
According to reports which are
coming to the State Capitol and to
business men in tills city the State of
Pennsylvania instead of enjoying a
record crop of wheat which was hop
ed last year when an increased acre
age was sown, will probably run short.
Weather conditions are reported to
have caused considerable damage to
the young grain in several of the big
wheat growing counties of the Sus
quehanna valley and also to have re
sulted in freezing in some of the east
ern counties. Reports from northern
counties are rather more favorable be
cause there has been more snow than
in the lower counties. The chief dif
ficulty reported by farmers in the
central counties has been that when
hard freezing weather came the
ground was almost bare of snow. If
the reports are correct it will mean a
pretty good sized acreage will have
to be plowed down next spring. Judg
ing from some of the reports coming
here farmers have prepared for this
emergency by arranging to sow corn
or potatoes if the seed price is any
thing reasonable.
• • •
Prospects that there will be author
ization given by the State Board of
Public Grounds and Buildings for
completing the mural decorations of
the first floor corridors of the Capitol
have gone glimmering as the Board
has cut out the item of $20,000 on
the estimates for the coming two
years. The plan was laid last year fol
lowing the death of John W. Alexan
der to have some noted Pennsylvania
artist take up the work and the gov
ernor and other state officials made
inquiries. Several artists were dis
cussed and some are said to have gone
so far as to outline what themes
should be employed in the decorations
which were planned for the north cor
ridor. The south corridor contains
paintings showing the religious ele
ments which entered Into the making
of Pennsylvania. Recently the Board
decided to economize and sacrificed
the art.
• • •
Speaking of municipal matters
members of the legislature, have got
ten the habit when third class city
legislation comes up of making in
quiries as to b oi a law operated in
J Harrisburg. This city was so success
ful under the old luw and has worked
out its problems under the new witli
such credit that its wpys of doing
things are belli;; watched.
T WELL KNOWN PEOPLE
—Dr. George Woodward has offered
to give the city of Philadelphia a new
firehouse site.
Henry <!. Frick is having plans
innde for some, extensive new building
operations in Pittnbuvgh.
■ —Rodman Wanamaker, the Phila
delphia capitalist, has tendered to tin;
government a new aerial station, the
first of the kind to be offered.
—Mayor Thomas R. Smith, of Phila
delphia. personally invited mayors of
Pennsylvania cities to attend the
patriotic meeting in Philadelphia.
—E. M. C. Africa, chairman of the
Huntingdon county safety committee,
is head of one of the county's biggest
business enterprises.
| DO YOU KNOW
| i
—Tlnt Hanishnrg hn< (lonb''il
the number of its motor vehicles
| In a few years?
HISTORIC HAKRISHIRU
In 1800 there were even stage lines
lout of Harriaburs.