8 HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH A NEWSPAPER FOR THE HOME Founded IS}i ■ Published evenings except Sunday by THE TELEGRAPH PRISTISO CO., Telegraph Building, Federal Square. U. J. 6T A CKPOLE, Pns't & Editor-in-Chirf V. R. OYSTER, Biuinfii Manager. OUS M. STEINMETZ, Managing Editor. Member of the Associated Press —The Associated Press is exclusively en titled to the use for republication of *ll news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein. ▲ll rights of republication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. Member American f Newspaper Pub- Eastern °j^ Avenue F.ulldlng, Entered at the Post Office In Harrls burg, Pa., as second class matter. By carriers, ten cents a week; by mail, $5.00 a year in advance, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1918 A Christian's usefulness depends solely upon his relationship to \ Christ and the accuracy tcith which he reflects the divine likeness.— HENRY DRUMMOHD. THOSE FLOUR CARDS MRS. HOUSEHOLDER, this is for you. Toil must report to the lo cal food administrator the amount of flour you have on hand—and your report must be mailed not later than to-morrow evening. There is a heavy fine for failure to comply. This Is not a request. It is a gov ernment demand, backed up by law. If. you don't obey you will get Into trouble and will have to file your report at all events. Don't be a flour slacker. Fill out the flour card published elsewhere In the Telegraph to-day and send it to Donald McCormlck, Federal food administrator for Dauphin county. Harrisburg Chamber pf Commerce, Harrlsburg—and do It at once. Germany is going to find her "free route" to India will cost a lot before the gates are closed again. TAKE THEM OVER THE Senate having tacitly ac cepted the amendment to the general deficiency bill providing for acquirement by the government |of the German-owned docks and Wharves in New York, it is to be hoped that there will be no further objection to the measure. Presi dent Wilson Is right in deciding to take over these vast and important holdings; both because the nation needs them in the war crisis and because their German owners should [be punished for their dastardly con duct previous to and following th beginning of hostilities with Germany. While they were enjoying hos pitality of a land that was pro tecting their ships and other hold ings here from a watchful and de termined foe, whose cruisers hung constantly In the offing, and while the members of the crews and the officials of the shipping companies themselves were being treated most courteously, one and all connected with steamers, offices and docks were burning our property, bombing our steamers and in general treat ing us like sworn enemies, instead of the friends we were trying to be be. But the shoe is on the other foot Jow. We have the wharves and the (earners and they should never be -returned to German ownership. More than that, there is opportun ity to eliminate German control of many industries now in the hands of Mitchell Palmer, administrator of alien-owned property in the United States. Wherever possible German investments here should be sold to American interests. We had quite enough of German intrigue before the war; we want nothing further to do with these same slimy-handed scoundrels after the war. li The American woman who wrote **lCeep the Home Fires Burning," was killed by a German bomb, but the Potsdam Gang can't kill her song, kWhich one of these days the English Americans will sing in the streets of Berlin. LIKE A FAIRY STORY THE annual report of the Bell Telephone Company is anything but a dry corporate* document. Indeed, it reads more like a chapter from Jules Verne than the care fully phrased statistical records of a conservative business organization. Where is, for example, the record of the growth of the phone as a means ef long distance communication. Ten years telephone transmission braA limited to about 1,200 miles of Bpen wiresi This area has been so Breatly extended, that it is now Hracticable to give telephone service Between the extreme limits of con tinental United States, over distances ■of 4,000 miles or niore. Important ■-•suits have been obtained through TUESDAY EVENING, the development of underground I and aerial toll cables. Recent im provements- show that telephone cables of 1,000 miles are now prac tical. The company has successfully transmitted messages by radio com munication across the Atlantic ocean from Washington to Paris an£ from ' Washington across the North Amer ican continent and over the Pacific ocean as far as Hawaii. It has es tablished telephone communication with a battleship at sea, when the land lines of the Bell system were used in combination with the radio telephone service which bridged the space between seaboard and steam ship. The company's engineers have been confronted by difficult prob lems, growing out of disturbance produced iby the electrification t>f the trunk line railroads and power and lighting circuits in various parts of the country. The toll line plants of the now represent an Investment exceeding $200,000,000. The engineers have plans under way for an increased development fifteen years hence of about 6,000,000 sta tions, representing an additional plant investment of about $600,- 000.000. Of all our marvels of modern ac complishment none surpasses that of the telephone, developed from nothing to an instrument essential to everyday life and contributing greatly to the well-being and prog ress of the world, all within less than the life-period of one man. And it is just in its infancy. Save wheat; no matter what the other fellow does, you do your part. NEW NATIONAL PARTY THE new National Party may be come a factor in national poli tics, but unless all signs fail it will never dominate a national elec tion. Had It succeeded in annexing the Prohibition party, as Its found ers sought to do, there Is no telling how far it might have gone, for pro hibition is a live and growing issue. The weakness of the Prohibition party has been that the average voter declined to see in it anything beyond an instrument for the regis tration of antiliquor sentiment and the National party might have used it simply as a plank in the broader platform on which it proposes to stand. , The Nationalists believe there is a steady trend away from the two old parties. That's what the Progres sives and some others before them thought, but their party appellations are now little more than historical references—milestones marking the period of this or that campaign and dead as the proverbial door nail. There is nothing to indicate that the new party is different. There is room in the United States for two great parties and there is no present indication that the National party iS likely to become one of them, although it may attract to its fold all manner of eccentric men, each of whom thinks his own particular pet scheme is a panacea for all the ills that flesh is heir to. iXnd right there is where the trouble will start, for there is nobody so unreasonable or intolerant as the one-idea man. Get any number of these together and the National party will die of in ternal strife. \ The British have occupied Hit. which the English general staff pro nounces a good stroke. REED AND FOOD GRANTING that Mr. Hoover and Dr. Garfield have made mis takes and that the "fuelless" Monday order was a grave and cost ly blunder, there is small excuse for the tirade of abuse turned loose in the Senate the other day by Senator Ffceed, Democrat, and some others who savagely attacked the adminis tration for interfering with food, food prices and coal regulations. Whatever may be said of the errors for which government agents were responsible, the truth remains that we would be in bad state at this mo ment if it had not been for Federal control of provisions and fuel. For example, if Hoover and the law back of him had not put the fear of Jail into the hearts of profi teers sugar would now be selling at twenty or twenty-five cents a pound and flour for thirty or forty dollars a barrel. Washington has stood be tween the country and the commis sion man, much to the advantage of the country. Perhaps Senator Reedi may have had something to sell on which government regulations pre vented him realizing a fifty per cent, profit. His speech does not have a purely disinterested sound. Even Berks county has taken to refusing liquor licenses. SAUCE FOR THE GANDER NO BETTER evidence that the German attempt to win the war by the use of deadly gas has failed and that the Kaiser dreads the introduction of gas by the American forces in France, could be produced than the recent feeler put out by Berlin to find if the Red Cross can be persuaded to use its good offices to have the use of gas stopped during the war. The effort will fail. Th only way to meet the Hun and beat him is by using his own measures. The only reason he would withdraw from the use of gas In battle is that he is getting the worst of the argu ment. He has learned to his sorrow al ready that the American gas is far more deadly than his own. He must know by this time that there is in construction In this country a gas plant for the manufacture and load ing in shells and other containers of the most violent and insidious forms of gas ever devised. He must be aware that only a few more months will elapse before the Ameri can forces will be ready to pour into the German positions, for as| much as twenty miles back of the i front line positions, unlimited quan- j titles of the most poisonous gas; known to man. So he wants to quit while the quitting is good. But ho will find the Americans determined to end international frlghtfulness by the only methods Germans understand. He must be taught that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. T><,toic4. uv By the Ex-Committeeman Now that Senator William C. Sproul has declared himself of the same mind as Highway Commis sioner J. Denny O'Neil In regard to the prohibition amendment interest in state politics is centering on what the Democrats are going to do. On the Republican side things have set tled down to an interchange of broadsides between the two leading candidates with Asa A. Weimer, of Lebanon, and Robert P. Habgood, of McKean, industriously pushing their booms in the hope of fishing up something from the troubled Re publican sea. Senator Sproul has made a semi humorous retort to the bombard ment against him by Mr. O'Neil and the Philadelphia Inquirer says that he will at once open headquarters and begin his campaign. The Phil adelphia Press says editorially that Sproul's declaration "links his can didacy for the Republican nomina tion with the cause of prohibition." The Philadelphia Bulletin says that the Philadelphia City Committee will meet soon to declare Itself. The Bul i letln and Philadelphia Record are !of the opiplon that the Vares will finally swing in for Sproul, but O'Neil men deny this. William A. Magee's presence in Philadelphia has revived the report that he may be a compromise for Lieutenant Gov ernor. —The Philadelphia North Ameri can to-day says that "new pledges of support" were received by Sena tor Sproul yesterday following his declaration "that he is for the ratifi cation of the national prohibitory amendment." The Rev. Dr. Carl- E. Grammar, president of the Philadel phia Inter-Church Federation, de clared Sproul's declaration will add to his strength." —The Philadelphia Press says that Vance C. McCormick, the Demo cratic national chairman, will not engage in any "losing" contest for Governor, but the Philadelphia Rec ord in discussing the visit of A. Mitchell Palmer to Philadelphia yes terday, said: "Palmer said he was still hopeful that' Mr. McCormlck would consent to run for Governor, but said McCormlck was hopeful that he will not be called upon. He admitted, however, that it was im possible to forecast just what situa tion might arise. The attention of Mr. Palmer was called to the oppo sition manifested over the state to wards the candidacy of Joseph F. Guffey. Other names than that of Mr. Guffey have been mentioned," said the National Committeeman. "For instance, the position of Wil liam H. Berry, collector of the port of Philadelphia and former Jsta£e Treasurer on the Prohibition ticket, if he were to become the candidate for Governor, would not be In doubt, would it?" Asked If Mr. Berry might become the candidate. Palmer ad vised the questioner to "draw your own conclusions." —A. Xevin Detrich, chairman of the late Washington party, now re established in the bosom of the Re publican party, last night contribut ed four closely typewritten pages to the literature of the campaign. The material was addressed to Thomas L. Hicks, one of the officials of the Washington party organization in j Philadelphia in the strenuous days of 1912 and thereafter, and assailed him for espousing the cause of Sena tor William C. Sproul. Mr. Detrich takes pffence at a circular sent out by Mr. Hicks, and Col. George E. Mapes, a prominent Philadelphian, urges progressives to be for Sproul. He declares that in his opinion Com missioner O'Neil is preferable for Governor to Senator Sproul, whose legislative record he attacks. Mr. Detrich is examiner-in-chief of the Statu Insurance Department, hav ing been appointed by Mr. O'Neil, and with offices lately moved here. It is understood that Mr. Hicks will add to the joy of the spring season by an appropriate reply. —The announcement that Repre sentative Lt F. Benchoff will run again and that F. S. Magill will run with him has brought out re ports that A. B. Zarger and A. M. Stager will run against them for the Republican nomination. A hot contest at the primary is forecasted in Franklin this year. Representa tive Charles Walter, one of the big men in the last House and with many friends here, will not be a candidate. —Up in Lackawanna county they say that Representative Hugh A. Dawson's friends will intiuce him to run for renomination, which ought to be without much trouble. Mr. Dawson js reported as red hot for Sproul. —William H. Coleman, of Me- Keesport, former congressman, is a candidate for Republican nomina tion and will likely have to buck Congressman Clyde Kelly, who was elected on a fusion ticket two years ago after being defeated for the Republican nomination. —Lycoming county will have 94 drinking places. Last year there were 97. Five remonstrances have been filed against places, which have been'held up by Judge Harvey W. Whitehead. —Lawrence X. Crum, prominent Mt. Union businessman, is a candi date for the Republican Legislative nomination in Huntingdon county, i —M. T. Stokes, the Potter county terrified progressive, will be a can didate for the Legislature in his county. Several others have ambi tions. —Clem Chestnut, the Fulton county legislator, who is styled by the North American as a noted pure food advocate, will have the Demo cratic nomination for the House in Fulton all to himself. Fulton Is a Democratic county. —Representatives H. B. Scott, Centre; G. W. Williams, Tioga: John P. Statler, Somerset and H. M. Show alter, Union, are reported candidates for re-nomination. —Col. H. R. Laird, of WUliams port, is said to be under cover as a possible candidate for a state nom ination -on the O'Neil slate. He is a colonel on the Governor's staff. —The Scranton Republican says that both Sproul ans O'Neil are strong In Lackawanna and just how the county will line up "is a much discussed question." —Congressman Thomas S. Butler, of the Delaware-Chester district, says the sentiment of the country Is for the "dry" amendment HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH! AIN'T IT A GRAND AND GLORIOUS FEEUN'? .... T - . AFTER Yow HAVJ<= TAKEKI - ANJD Tne OUTLINJ£ .Looks - AND Th6nJ Vbo £o ThRoUGH 3)ic"TA~r<OfO of a very AS if The. NAJof*.s> might i H e TeDiog.s Process of LETTER. ArvJD V*JTh The THIMKIN6 OP ALL. ThE WoRSXS Tneße S owe \AJORD IM "a" T"' 5 LeTrep W ®wth~d ouTLtwe {£'&? .r BLE Ybo CAW-T DectPHER - . IKe-XIG^ AMD - THtMV<INJ<S OF MOThimG ~ AMD JUST A3 A*E ABOUT ✓A II _ ( _ m (TI RIS ! ' ' C S= A*N'T IT A fSTsI^A - ."ne GRR R- RAND @s remember! pi THe f j otr tfwe Jojo HPeaviuu i I can't afford two-dollar ($2) seats To see a show, I can't afford a box of sweets At one ($1) a throw. The movies, though, at fifteen (15c) cents Have pleasing powers. A bag of peanuts is immense— The world is ours. * * • A curious result of the Govern ment insuring its men and paying them such handsome wages Is aj general campaign of divorced wives to get back the money-maker. Learning that he is now of high value the wife, here, there, every where, decides that she made a mis take in divorcing him who is now a hero and good meal ticket, and it is common for her to try get him back. The first case reported was that of a Mrs. Lane, who has suc ceeded in her effort, receiving now J45 a month and SIO,OOO in event of friend husband never returning. • • • Sympathetic Hun —Now, Kind, ask Gott to look after your mother and father. Petit Pierre —Ask him) yourself, you big stiff; I can't speak Germanl —Harvard Lampoon. ' • • Fifty members of the Altoona Ministerlum have placed themselves unreservedly at the call of the country's farmers as soon as spring farm work begins. 1917 IN THE PHILIPPINES It was a pretty lively gait that 1917 led us, says the Philippines Free Press, and it looks as if the world is going to have a still livelier whirl during 1918. However, we are getting accustomed to accelerated motion, and what our forefathers would have accounted as fast and giddy and breathless is by us deem ed rather slow. Each year, it seems, sees a speeding up, a tightening of higher gears, a resolve to smash all past records, and a general reckless ness and wilingness to take the con sequences. Here in the Philipppines we have been caught up in the common whirl and are goinfc faster than ever be fore. Automobiles are muptiplying at an astounding rate; an aviation corps has been organized and aero planes with their 150 miles an hour, will soon be humming overhead; the we have our National Guard and are talking big of a patrol on the Mex ican border of a flutter in the great game in Europe; Japanese and Ha waiian capitalists are coming to our shores and spying out the land and finding it very good; fortunes are being made in copra and in coconut oil, and soon we shall have our sugar barons and our hemp barons and our tobacco barons; we are beginning to feel like a little world power, offer ing our destroyer and our subma rine to the United States; and on every hand we are making more money than ever before. We have kicked the lid off our currency, and generally we are experiencing such prosperity as these islands have never known. The year just passed brought flush times to the Philippines. What the year now opening has in store onU' the gods know. But all the indie; tions point to another such bumper twelve months as those just clos<- the only cloud on the horizon being the lack or possible lack of shipping to carry out our products and bring us merchandise in return. And even that cloud doesn't look very men acing. A Song of Foot Faring Oh, the days of skipping and sing ing, Of leaps with a laugh between. The days of the merry "Hail! good friend," In meadow or forest green! For now one must needs look sober Or folks will think one a fool; We have lost the ways of out truant days In a weary session of school. But the heart may quiver with music. And the lungs of the soul may fill, And fancy may Jig through a city square In spite of, the cold world's will. The face is dull and the pace Is dull As we tramp the dull gray streets— Thank God for the lilt of a heart that laughs, And the ligfatness of fancy's feet! —Charles W. Stork in Everybody's Magazine. In the "Good AT CHURCH we displayed our best clothes—rich, not gaudy. At church the bride made her flrst appearance, the "new people" made their first advent, the widow first wore her weeds, the young folks did surreptitious "sparking," and the unbeliever sat under the gospel picking flaws in the argument, Bays the Indianapolis News. Sunday was a pretty and exhilar ating day. Our streets had been quiet all week. The men attended to business. The women worked or visited at home, bxit on Sunday the little town blossomed with bright frocks, black broadcloth, pretty chil dren and glorified faces. The sweet toned bells rang, the voice of song thrilled the listening air. There was handshaking and visiting, news to be told, }ove affairs to be revived by a mere glance, religious vows re newed, feuds smoothed over, God's purposes explained, and his pres- EDITORIAL comment"! Russian bear looks more like a dachsund every day.—Wall Street Journal. With Bulgarian and Turkish troops joining the Prussians In Bel gium, the prospect brightens a. bit for less barbarous warfare there. — Boston Heralfl. If shipping space were not at such a premium it would seem desirable to send some of our German spies to France for trial. —Philadelphia North American. The Russian Bureau in New York says that Russia is sound at the core. The trouble is that Germany seems to have got the core.—Rochester Post-Express. , Carranza has put a head-tax of $8 in gold on persons leaving Mex ico for the United States. But no dQUbt the privilege is worth the price. New York World. McAdoo has decided that the baby-carriage factories are essential Industries. If that doesn't reconcile IT. R. to the Administration, he's hopeless.—Cleveland Plain Dealer. The German Crown Prince says he would like to visit Canada after the close of the war. He has managed to keep at a safe distance from the Canadians participating in the war. —Minneapolis Tribune. m The bolo is a crooked blade used by the Philippine head-hunters for decapitating their victims. The French 8010 is a weapon of much the same description used by the Kaiser for similar purposes.—Pittsburgh Post. POISE In these days of stress and dis turbance is at> element of character that is very useful, and that is poise or serenity. It Is an enjoyable,state, in which one preserves his pefsonal ity. There Is no setose in one's catch ing the flurry of outside events and making it a part of himself. In case of a fire, there Is no sense In* man getting all "het up," too. If there is a fight going on, it is perfect folly for an outsider to clench his first and go to swearing, too. A man is better off if he remains calm when a bill is presented, or he is rebuked by his wife or he loses his collar button. The very sprenlty is a salve to his woes. But it is said the receipt is hard to follows. Well, the best things of life are not had for the asking. Poise is a growth, like a flower. It is sometimes the victim of frosts, winds and inseots; but they must be overcome if the flower is to be saved. And so must poise be de fended against vexations, inconven iences, impatiences, in order that It may preserve the true quality of character and render to society the service of a fine personality.—Ohio State Journal. , THE INCOME TAX THE DOCTOR'S HOUSE When a physician, or other professional or business man, rents n home and uses a portion of same for professional pur poses, he may claim a portion of the rent paid for that home as a business expense, provided he maintains no other office. The proportion of the rent paid, which Is properly chargeable to the number of rooms so used, may be claimed as a deduction. • . ..... ence re-established, a tangible üb stance In our midst. A wonderful influx came into the family conver sation, enough to last a week, at least. Of course, there were some side issues. People had dinners and parties occasionally and equally, of course, young folks gallivanted. They always did and they always will. They had a dance once or twice a year. They went buggy riding r.ml horseback riding. There were also scandals. Occasionally a couple in high life got tangled up in the meshes -of sex attraction and the devil was to pay. But for the most part the men of the community ruled their house holds pretty well. They saw to it that their ewe lambs did not stray out of the fold. Herein lies the secret of domestic felicity. The man must be big enough for his Job. LABOR NOTES Pittsburgh (Pa.) Upholsterers' Union is conducting an organizing campaign among upholsters, carpet layers, sewers and women employed in shops and stores. Complete control of the fishing and fish canning Industries on the Pacific coast has been invested by the Federal Food Arminlstrator in the State administrators of Wash ington, Oregon, California and Alaska. Danbury (Conn.) hat manufac turers have refused the request of citizens to save the town from fin ancial ruin by opening their factories under old conditions. The employ ers locked out their workers last May, when the latter asked that a contract be renewed. A nation-wide weighing and mea suring eff babies and children of pre school age will begin April 6 to be followed by an educational campaign which it is hoped will diminish at least one-third the annual total of 500,000 preventable deaths of chil ! dren under 5 years. Andrew McAndrews, president of the Tobacco Workers' International Union, says several uniorr factories are packing soldiers' kits of union tobacco which will be forwarded by the Tobacco Workers' Union to any cantonment camp or individual at the request of a local union or other donor. Address queries to the offices of the Tobacco Workers' Interna tional Union, Iroquois Life Building, Louisville, Ky. RULE WORKS ONE WAY An informal, but quite reasonable rule has just been laid down by the collector of internal revenue relative to poker gains and losses. In con nection with the great American pastime custom has assessed the winner for whatever toll was taken by the "kitty." This practice is sup ported by the inexorable logic that the loser cannot pay, as the contri bution comes out of the "pot" In which the winner alone has concern, except as the other fellow may care to nurse reminiscent thoughts of what might have been, and ruefully compare his experience with his judgment. According to the revenue department, the law of the "kitty," if it may be so called, Is to be ex tended and given a wider applica tion. Poker winnings are to be as sessed as income and made subject to all the surtaxes and excess profit taxes known to the law, but without the comfortable counter-vailing per mission to the unlucky loser to de duct his losses from his taxable In come. Thus Uncle Sam takes cog nizance alone of the winner's gains, and denies to the loser even the questionable consolation of knowing that he is not to be charged for what he had but has no longer.— Omaha Bee. MARCH 12, 1918. | ©>oldUr A PERFECT DAY When you come to the end of a per fect day, And you sit alone with your thoughts, Whll§ the chWnes ring out with a carol gay, For the joy that the day has brought. Do you think what the end of a perfect day Can mean to a tired heart, When the sun goes down with a flaming ray And the dear friends have to part? Declaration of Magnanimity When in the course of martial events, It becomes necessary for vhe administration to issue another Lib erty Loan, and to solicit from Ameri cans that quantum of financial aid which the love of country and hu manity may prompi them to offer, a decent appreciation of the greater sacrifices that others are making re quires that everybody respond with out hesitation, stint, complaint or exaggerated idea of his or her no bility In so doing.—From Life. 1 OUR DAILY LAUGH | EXTRAVAGANT DRESSER. Hubby—You're carrying altogeth er too much sail. Wifey—Why should that worry you? Hubby—Because I have to raise the wind. I | V CHOICE OF EVILS. "Why do you let your wife rule he house?" "Because if I didn't let her reign fae'd storm." PRACTICAL AND PROPER. "What Is your favorite flower?" "Not using any. I'm for corn meal." ■f GETTING OFF EASY. Bill (eloquently)— This war makes me sick! ' Jim —Don't forget it has even killed a lot of people I I J Bmtittg ©ljat The Lancaster, Elizabeth Middletown turnpikes, purchase o 1 which, by the state will be rati fied at a meeting to bo held at Lan caster on Saturday and to which re ference was made in this column yes terday, Is said by men who have fol lowed the history of transportation in the eastern counties to be on the line of the first road west from Lan caster, barring that built to the site of Columbia. This road was begun long before the French and Indian war and Includes part of trails used by people who came to the ford o£ the Susquehanna from Philadelphia noon after John Harris began oper ation of his ferry, it, was a free road until after the beginning of the last century when the improvement in stagecoaches caused a demand for better highways just? as the auto mobile has brought about the recon struction of our roads to-day. in 1800 this section of the state, in common with central New York un derwent a substantial development of roads and the turnpike was con sidered to be the solution of the problem. Pew sections were more rapidly improved, it must be admit ted by students of history of the state, by the construction of turn pikes that Lancaster, Dauphin, L.eD anon, Berks and the southern coun ties. The Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg Company, which was chartered away back in 1803 was an ambitious project, whose western end was undertaken by the Lancas ter, Elizabeth and Middletown, which was incorporated in 1805. The stata authorities thought so much of its importance to the commonwealth at large that they voted SIO,OOO to help it. The road was originally twenty six miles long but the company never got beyond Middletown with its building. So to connect the old town by the Swatara with Harrisburg, which had become the capital a few years before, the Middletown and Harrisburg Turnpike Company, was formed in 1815 and the Legislature voted it $14,000. The company put up $21,000 so that the nine mile road cost $35,000. The construction of the pike began in 1815, the line including the old road, and the toll gates stood until about twenty-two years ago when the country condem ned the highway and the state haa improved it in spots. The part to ba freed is mainly in Lancaster County and is one of the historic highways of the commonwealth. The Lancaster pike, as we have come to know this road, will in time be the great highway for people coming to Harrisburg from Philadel phia. Many now come here from the eastern part of the state byway of Reading because of the indifferent condition of the Lancaster piko. With the toll-gates gone from this pike and State Highway workers giving it some of their best main tenance attention there is no reason why it should not be noted nation ally, just as are the Lincoln high way and the William Penn, the first because, of its history and excellenco and the latter because of its wonder ful scenery and the smoothness of the surface of the roadway in the valleys of the Allegheny Mountains. • * * With the project now under way for the rebuilding of sections on the William Penn highway between this city and Reading, and the Carlisle- Chumbersburg pike in sections in tho Cumberland Valley and the plans for the Susquehanna Trail up around Clarks' Ferry this city should bo made much easier to reach than now. It is an old coincidence that the Berks and Dauphin, the Harris burg, Carlisle and Chambersburg and the Ilarrisburg and Middletow Turnpike Companies, on which these improvements are projected, were all chartered in the same year, 1816. ■ * George P. Thorn, chief clerk cf the State Department, who sits in judgment on the nominating peti tions which are filed at the Capitol and who must decide if they are in form and a lot of other things, has a big window. It is as large as tho side of an ordinary room and when he opens it light and air comes in. It was opened the other day for ven tilation and in came in inquisitive Capitol pigeon. "Gee, George, they don't trust the mails any more, they send peti tions by pigeons" remarked one of the clerks. • * * The meetings of the Superior Court here are always occasions for great gathering of attorneys from the central counties, probably more than in the case of the sittings of the Supreme Court. One reason is that the Superior Court has larger calen dars. The sitting this week brought fifty lawyers together, among them attorneys active in the courts of nine counties. The court will not sit here again until next March. The Supreme Court will have its sitting in May. WELL KNOWN PEOPLE —W. S. Leib, resident clerk of the House, has retired as general manager of the Schuylkill Ratlways Company, afld become managing di rector. —Bromley Wharton, secretary of the State Board of Charities, has re turned from a trip to southern states. He used to be a member of the First City Troop and looked in on that organization in tamp. —General Charles M. Clement, who has been delivering lectures up on the war In France and what he saw, has refused to accept anything for his talks and even paid his own carfare. 1— Harry J. Smith, who will have charge of -the labor employment movement in Allentown, is one of the most active businessmen of that section. —President Judge George B. Or lady, of the Supreme Court, is the only -one of the original court now sitting. —Congressman E. E. Robbins, spoke at the raising of Scottdale's service flag which contained many stars. —L. K. Diffenderfer. long con nected with the Crane Iron Com pany, has resigned to go to the Wharton Interests. [ DO YOU KNOW —Tliat Harrlsburg's record for enlistments in one of the licst in the land this year as well IU last year. HISTORIC HARRISBURG In Civil War days young men practised rifle shooting along the river near the mountains and there were numerous rifle clubs. Washington's Able Men Senator Walsworth says that never before were there 'so many able men In Washington" as to-day. He might have added that more of them are working for a dollar a year than, for |7,500. —Syracuse Post
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers