JMftw mmt
VOLUME 7.
McCONNELLSlJURG, PA., APRIL 4, 190(i.
NUMBER 28
est
mm.
mm
ON APRIL'S WEATHER.
Rev. Irl Hicks Predicts Plenty of Bad
Wenther. Storms are Due to Strike
Us This Month.
EQUINOCTIAL DAY REMNANTS.
The partial effects of the earth's
spring equinox will bo felt, in di
minishing force, until after the
central storm period in April.
The first regular storm period
extends from the 2d to the 7th,
haviug its center on the 4th. This
period is also embraced in the
Mercury period, which covers the
1st to the 12, central on the 7th.
By the 3rd, marked fall of the ba
rometer will be noted in western
sections, change to warmer will
be advancing eastward out of the
same region. By about the 4th
these conditions will grow into
cloudiness and rain. During the
4 ih, 5th and Oth, wide areas of
cloudiness and ram will pass east
wardly across the country, break
ing into severe squalls, thunder
trusts and hail in various locah
ties. Wherever the barometer
falls much below normal, with
great increase of temperatureand
close, humid atmosphere, severe
storms of thunder, wind and hail
should be anticipated. In all rea
sons ble probability the Mercury
disturbance will cause prolonged
cloudiness at this time, with un
settled and threatening weather
up to the ensuing storm period.
On the northern and western
hides of storm centers during
lias Mercury period, our readers
need not be surprised at decided
snow squalls, and stiff, boreal
winds and weather.
A reactionary storm period is
central on the 9th, 10th and 11th.
This period is at the culmination
of the Mercury period, with the
moon on the celestial equator on
the 8lh, full on the 9th and in per
igee on the 10th. These combin
ed facts, all blending with the
Mercury and the Vernal equinox
es, will conspire to bring on very
high temperature, low barometer
und forceful sooruis, beginning on
and next to the 9th in western
sections, and jessing eastwardly
across the country from about
N on day the 9th to Thursday 12th.
Late sleet and snow will most
probably attend the northern and
western tangents ot these storms
coming with the high barometer
out of the northwest after the pas
sage of high temperature and
Vernal thunder and rain storms.
Change to decidedly cooler weath
er will follow for several days,
causing frost in many sections
during the nights ranging be
tween the 11th to 15th. Hail
storms will be most natural re
sults, with violent local gusts, du
ring the passage of these April
thunder clouds. Barometic con
ditious, cloud formations and all
other atmospheric phenomena
should be noted, on the gathering
of all storms, not only at this pe
riod but during all the storm pe
riods throughout this spring and
early summer.
A regular storm period extends
from the 15th to the 19th, having
its ceater on Monday the 16th.
As we enter this period a rapid
chauge to much warmer will ad
vance from western parts, the ba
rometer will fall correspondingly
fast and low, general cloudiness
will increase from the west and
more storms of rain and thunder
will touch many parts during the
eastward march of storm areas,
from Monday the lGth in the west
to Thursday the 19th in the east.
Another change to rising barom
eter and much cooler will push
tlio western sides of these storms
causing more very cool nights,
with decided frosts in central to
northern sections, from about the
lKth to the 21st. '
A reactionary storm period is
centrol on the 122 ud, 23rd ind
24th. This period will be hurried
in its development by the passing
Moon across the celestial equator
on the 2l8t, it will be intensitled
by the new moon in apogee oa ths
"f'th, A series of threatening to
violent thuuder storms will be
WALKER-SLOAN NUPTIALS.
"Everything Went as Merry as a Wed
ding Bell.
The home of Mr. and Mrs.
V. A. Sloan on West Water street
was the scene of a very happy
event last Wednesday, March 2H,
190(5, when Mary Scott, their old
est daughter, was led to the altar
by Thomas Wilson Walker, a
young business man of Mercers-
burg.
The attendants of the bridal
couple were. Miss Emma Sloan,
sister of the bride. . as maid of
honor, and Fred Witherspoon, of
Mercersburg, as best man. At
12 o'clock the bridal party enter
ed the parlor, the bride elect oti
the arm of her father preceded by
the maid of honor. Midway in
the length of the double parlor,
they were met by the groom es
corted by his near friend and
best man.
The beautiful and iraprossive
ceremony which made this young
couple man and wife, was con
ducted by Dr. W. A. West, of the
Presbyteriau church, assisted by
Dr. J. G. Rose, tlio pastor of the
groom, rne parlors, a siuay oi
green and gold, lent admirably tJ
the graceful arranj?ement of ever
greens and blooming plants em
ployed in the decoiative scheme.
The bride, who is a blonde of
very attractive lace and graceful
figure, was dressed in a beautiful
gown of white silk chiffon over
white taffeta, and carried a show
er bouquet of white roses.' This
gown was made en train and gave
added height and dignity to her
slight and girlish figure. The
wedding veil surmounted a high
coiffure and was held in place by
a garland of natural orange blos
soms. The dress of the maid of honor
was white embroidered net elab
orately trimmed with narrow
white satin ribbon. In the mem
ory of those present Miss Sloan
w'll long live as a vision of rare,
girlish loveliness.
Selections from Mendelssohn
were rendered by Miss Anna
Dickson, pianist.
The bride is a scion of two of
the oldest and most prominent
county families, tin Disksons and
Sloans, and is a graudnueof the
late Geo. O. Scott. She will be
much missed in church and so
ciety circles where she was most
active.
The very generous donation of
handsome and valuable gifts gave
abundant evidence of her popular
ity. Many guests were present from
Chambersburg, Mercersburg,
Greencastle, an l other points in
Franklin county, where the groom
is well and favorably known.
The young couple at 3:C0 o'clock
left in a much decorated cab un
der a shower of rice for a Cana
dian tour via Buffalo and Niagara
Falls.
L. H. Wible, Esq , of this place,
was called to Harrisburg, on bus
iness last week.
quite natural for three to five days
at this time, say from about Sat
urday, the 21st, to Wednesday
the 25th. With the atmospheric
pressure at and about normal du
ring these disturbances nothing
more than normal April thuud r
showers and hail may occur: but
should the barometer fall sudden-
denly to very low readings, violeut
to tornadic storms would be quits
probable.
A regular storm period extends
from the 20th to the 30th, having
its cootral on the 27th. The moon
is at extreme north declination on
the 29th, inducing atmospheric
currents from the south. Hence
very high temperatures will pre
vail, with low barometric press
ures; threatening storms clouds
will gather, and thunder storms,
with heavy rain and hail in mauy
localities, may be expected, pac
Ing eastwardly over the country
from Friday the 27th to Monday
30th. i Rising barometer end
change to much cooler will follow
up these florins from the northwest
THE NEW ROAD LAW.
Letter From the Highway Commission
er to Hon. Peter Morton, of
McConnellsburg.
AN EXPLANATION OF THE TAX LAW.
Dkau Sik : Reylying to your
inquiry would say that section 2
of the Actot April 12th, 190'),
known as the Supervisors or
townships of second class law,
provides for the organization of
the Board of Supervisors and af
ter such organization the act says
they shall proceed immediately
to levy a road tax, which shall not
exceed ten (10) mills on each dol
lar nf valuation; the valuation
shall be the last adjusted valua
tion for county purposes, etc.
The Act does not say that dupli
cate should be made out at once;
but the levy must be made and
duplicates should tie mado out as
quickly after the Spring assess
ment is made as possiole; this
will take out the names of those
who hae removed from the town
ship aud add the names of those
who have moved into the town
ship about April 1st.
(Taxable means, capable of be
ing taxed; liable by law to the as
sessment ot taxes; as, taxaole
commodities.)
This means that a woman own
ing property must be assessed
the dollar provided for in the Act
and every estate assessed as an
estate must be charged the dollar.
The dollar is assessed against the
property arid must be paid by the
non resident as well as the resi
dent owner.
It is not a poll tax. A single
woman who is not a real estate or
personal property owner cannot
be assessed the dollar; she is not
a taxable.
The tax of one dollar is to be
paid in cash and not worked out.
The treasurer appointed by the
Board of Supervisors is entitled
to a compensation a"nd the amount
ot money received and distribut
ed by him. This does not mean
however, il he received $2000 that
he is to be paid a percentage of 2
per cent., for instance on the
$2000 when he receives it and 2
per cent, on the same amount
when he pays it out. He is en
titled to the percntage once only.
He can receive no percentage on
the wcrk tax. He neither re
ceives nor distributes it. He is
not responsible for the work 1ax.
The amount of his bond must be
determined by the Board of Su
pervisors. It would not be a good
custom to appoint some one
Treasurer who is not an elector
In the township.
The Secretary of the Board can
and should receive compensation
for his services as Secretary, and
the amount to be fixed by the
Board of Supervisors.
A member of the Board of Su
pervisors must not furnish sup
plies of any kind to the Board, or
articles that are to be used by the
township In the . Improvement ot
its roads.
Any member of the Board of
Supervisoi a can work out his tax
es, where the work tax system is
still in force.
The discount to be allowed on
the payment of taxes by June 1st
is only to be alio ved on the cash
tax and not on the work tax.
The supervisors i eceive no com
pensation and do not give bond.
The Board of Supervisors must
direct the affairs of the township,
Divide the township into one or
more districts and appoint a road
master for each district aud tlx
their per hour wages. Also the
wages to be paid to laborers and
the amount for team hire, etc.
It is the duty of the sup ir vis
ors to sell the roads when that
system is in use.
The tax will have to go to the
treasurer of the Board of Super,
visor a to pay the- tax levied for
road purposes.
The fltteeu per cent to be paid
to townships that have abolished
the work tax will not be paid un
til after the first township state'
(('otultiued uu IuhI putft.)
DIRECTORS' CONVENTION
Which was Held in the Court House In
this Place, Last Wednesday Afternoon
and Thursday was a Success.
OR. BYRON W. KING WAS IN A WRECK.
The third annual convention of
the School directors of Fulton
county met in the Court House,
McConnellsbur;.', Pa., March LM,
1900, at 1:30 p. in.
Dr. W. F. Sappington, of Ayr
township, presided, and Rev. W.
F. Cline, a director from Dublin
township, conducted the devotion
al exercises.
The roll call showed an attend
ance of thirty-five directors, rep
resenting all the townships of the
county except Union. This dis-
tr ct would have been represent
ed had it not been for the swollen
condition of the streams.
Supt. Barton made a brief open
r.g address outlining the work
for the convention.
"What should be the Guide in
the Selection of Teachers" was
very ably discussed by Hon. J no.
P. Sipes. Mr. Sipes had made a
careful study of the subject and
his address was full of helpful
suggestions and was listened to
with marked interest.
A general discussion followed
in which Rev. Cline, M. L. Truax,
F. Johnston, and Supt. Barton
participated.
"Should Teachers be Required
to Attend Local Institutes and
Educational Meetings" was dis
cussed by J no. H. H. Lewis, Amos
W. Duvall, Rev. Cline, and others.
It was clearly shown from the
discussion of this topic that the
directors of the county are fully
aware of the vood to bo derived
from local institutes and that they
are thoroughly in sympathy with
this feature of our school work.
Byrnn W. Kwp, of Pittsburg,
was billed to lecture in the Court
House Wednesday evening, but
failed to put in an appearance.
The McConnellsburg band sub
stituted tor the lecturer and gave
the audience an hour of delight
ful musical entertainment.
It was notuntil Friday morning
that Supt. Barton learned of Mr.
King's whereabouts, when a tele
gram announced that he had been
in a wreck, while enroute to our
town.
The Tuesday morning session
opened at 9:30. Devotional exer
cises conducted by Uev. A. G.
Wolf, ot the Lutheran church of
McConnellsburg.
The Text Book and Supply Pro
blem was well discussed by T. U.
Truax, Amos VV. Duvall, M. L.
Truax, Jno. P. Sipes. Jno H. H.
Lewis,' and others. It was shown
from this discussion that the Sup
ply Problem has been pretty well
solved within. the lastyear, as the
plan laid down by the superinten
dent last fall has reduced the cost
of supplies about one-half over
previous years and without iujury
to the schools. But the text-book
problem is yet a hard proposition
for directors, yet we believe that
it too will in due time be master
ed. The township High School was
well discussed by Dr. capping
ton, Geo. W. Sipes, L. H. Wible,
Rev. Chue and Wilson Waltz. It
was quite evident from this dis
cussion tnat centralization ana
Hifilh Schools are both growing in
favor with our school boards.
The closing address of the con
vention was made by Prof. H. M.
G nuith. Thlsaddress was full of
Interest and ruceived the appreci
ative attention ot all present.
A resolution was passed by the
convention, relative to codify mg
the schools laws of Pennsylvania,
and L. 11. Wide was elected a rep
resentative from this county to
moot with delegates from other
counties, at Harrisburg, next
spring, for the purpose of simpli
fying our school laws
L. U. Wiulk, .
Secretary. :
l .l -L' '-1 -1
Miss Sadie Han n, who had been
vlhitingher mother, Mrs. Anna
Hann, of Sal u via, returned to
Chambersburg last Tuesday,
TRIP THROUGH CALIFORNIA
A Description of Lake Tahae, Which is
Said to be One of the Most Beautiful
Mountain Lakes in the World.
fiRAND SCENERY OF SIERRA NEVADA
Our last letter left us in the City
of the Saints, from which wo con
tinue our journey toward the City
f the Angels. (As to the saintly
or anerelic dualities, Salt Lake
City compares favorably with Los
Angeles).
Leaving SaltLakeCity we skirt
ed the lake to Ogden, aud thence
via Southern Pacific Railway, ve
crossed it by the new road, con
structed right through the lake.
These waters are the concentrat
ed residue of the vast prehistoric
sea once occupying the basin be
tween the Wasatch and the Sier
ra Nevada Mountains. Tne wa
ter lines are plainly seen along
the foot hills, and the deposits in
the lowlands are tilled with fresh
water and land shells, indicating
comparatively modem origii..
The blue rolling surface of the
lake looks refreshing, sweet and
pure, until the eye catches the in
crusted shore-line aud stumps of
piling, which suggest the briny
waters they are. After a couple
of hours ride over the desolate
salt plains to the west darkuess
graciously drew a curtain on this
dreary scene, and we wake up
five hundred miles westward
from Ogden, in the land of the
Mirage; wheu we could see beau
tiful lakes ' and groves of green
trees in the distance. Here mauy
poor emigrants, in the Overland
days, were lured from the well
beaten path by these phautom re
freshments of the desert to find
only disappointment and death.
Perhaps in the mineral kingdom
Nevada has treasures to oiler the
human race; but with its desert
soil, brackish lakes and few sink-
in'' streams, it is an uninviting
habitation for man or beast.
' On reaching the uorders of Cal
ifornia a remarkable cnanga is ob-
served. Here are lakes Tahoe,
Donper, Webber and Indepen
dence, waters of crystal purity
and whiteness, dashing streams
and wator-lalls and virgin forests
of red, yellow aud sugar pine, fir
and cedar.
Tahoe is said to be one of the
most beautiful mountain lakes in
the world. It lies in the heart of
the Sierra of an attitude of 0280
feet, surrounded by mountain
peaks two to four thousand feet
higher. Its pure crystal waters
at e so perfectly transpareut that
the fish, which abound in great
numbers, can be seen swimming
80 feet beneath the surface. It
contains about three hundred
square miles; is twice as long as
it is wide, aud is eighteen hun
dred feet deep. In this, the
Truckee Basin, lumbering is ex
tensively carried on; millions of
feet cut every year. . It is esti
mated that there is euough tim
ber to ko p the mills running, at
present rate, for one hundred
years.
The climb of fifty miles up the
Sierra Nevada Range affords
scenery strikingly grand, but
the foity miles of snow sheds,
which covor tho road like a great
barn, permit only tantaliziug
glimpses of it. As we wind up
ward and around great shoulders
of the mountains, we could see
btlow us Donuer Lake gloaming
in its granite setting and reflect
ing back the rugged peaks and
giant pines around it. It was on
its shores in 1840, that thirty-four
of the Dounor party died of star
vation and gave to it its name.
From tho summit, at 7000 feet
elevation, mountains tower above
us, aud lakes and waterfalls glis
teu below us; while a panorama of
pine clad hills and ragged moun
tain peaks spread out in the dis
tance. The weather was a de
lightful Indian summer kind, and
the sun almost down, as we coast
ed down the western slope into
the onco famous, gold field.1 of
California now devoted to fruit
growing. The old diggings can
be plainly seen from the tram,
DAVID ROBINSON
Who Went West a Short Time Ago, Seems
very Much Pleased with the Country.
Ai.exandku N. Dak.,
March 8, 1900.
Ei, FuiroN Co. News:-At
this writing the snow is all gone
here, with the exceptiou of some
that drifted here and there.
Wiiilij it was quite lonesome here
during the winter, things are on
the. move now. Wagons with
loads of lumber are moving in all
directions. Prairies that was so
desolate to kok at last fall will be
turned into a vast farming coun
try It takes some sand to take the
move Mint I did to better my con
dition, and I don't regret the
move. I have my 100 aen sof
good land; will have shortly, all
my farming utensils, and now
have my team and am better pre
pared to farm than 1 ever was be
fore; and all paid for and a little
left for a sore foot. No doubt
some will say it is too cold in
North Dakota. It does get a lit
tle colder here than it does in the
East, but not so cold that you
cannot attend your stock. In fact
some people worked out here all
winter. Would it not pay to come
here 9 I will leave it to all who
may read my letter. First I own
ed a small farm in the East, had
it half paid for.
Soon as the frost is out of the
ground, we will commence, as L.
C. Kelly said, to turn some of this
country upside down. With 100
acres, a man can have one hun
dred acres under plow. Would
this not be a great change from
the East ? 1 am not writing this
letter to encourage settlers to
'come to this country. I want ev
erybody to be their own judge. J
will say in addition, that your pa
per finds its way nearly all over
the United States. People have
written to me from various parts
of the country for information. I
will say for the benefit of your
readers, there is still land to be
had, but it will not last long, and
any one contemplating coming
northwest, will receive all infor
mation about the country and
railroad rates by writing to Mr.
Max. Bass, 220 South Clark street
Chicago. I give this information
as I am unable to answer so many
letters addressed to me inquir
ing about the country and homes.
The soil is what you may term a
volcanic ash, and ot lasting quali
ty. I will tell the kind friends I
left behind in the East, later, of
the many things of this country,
and many of its wonders no one
has mentioned heretofore. I will
say there is openings here for
capitalists in many ways. I will
uow close my letter with grati
tude to all I left behind.
David Rohinson,
Alexander, McKenzie Co.
North Dakota.
some of which are still worked.
But vineyards, orchards and
vegetable gardens now largely oc
cupy the foot-hills, aud for a dis
tance of twenty miles, we traverse
California's semi-tropical fruit
belt. But the fruit was all mark
eted, and less of it to be seen in
the local markets than in tho mid
dle west, or east.
Half way down the mountains
we rounded the famous mountain
pass "Uape iiorn. As we ap
proach it we can see the North
Fork of the American river, dash
ing and foaming in its rocky bed
fifteen hundred feet below us,
aud just beyond a branch of the
North river leaping down the
mou n tai n sides in snowy cascades.
Soon our train is clinging to a
mountain wall which drops to the
water beljw, and seems to rjach
to the clouds above. From the
car window you can drop a stone
like .a plummet into the chasm
two thousand five hundred feet
below. In carving the road bed
from the solid rock, the workmen
were suspended by ropes from
tho cliffs above, while they blast
f d sufficiently to gain a foothold.
: 1,
(Ouut'.Dued next ieeuj
)
DEATH OF C. M. DIXON.
A Former Resident of Fultoo County,
Passed Away at His Home In Cham
bersburg, Last Friday Niht.
NEURALGIA OF HEART, CAUSE OF DEATH
The sad news of the sudden
death of C. Mac. Dixon, was tele
phoned to this place on Saturday
morning, and was quite a shock
to his numerous friends in this
place. He was in town on Friday
in his usual health, and left hero
for Waynesboro during the after
noon.
For a number of years he con
ducted a general store at Pleasant
Ridge, this county, from which
place he removed to Chambers'
burg several years ago and enter
ed into partnership with Clippen
ger & Allen, wholesale confec
tioners. He was married to Miss
Hattie, daughter ot Elder Thos.
R. Palmer, deceased.
Wf, take the following notice of
his death from the Chambers
burg Repository of Saturday :
"Chas. M. Dixon, a well known
business man of town, died very
suddenly and unexpectedly a
short while before midnight on
Friday at his home at the corner
of Second and German streets.
M r. Dixon was a traveling sales
man for the grocery firm of Wit-man-SchwarzCo.,
of Carlisle,, and
had been in his usual fairly good
health. On Friday he returned
from a trip to" McConnellsburg,
via Mercersburg, and in the aft
ernoon went to Waynesboro to
see a customer. He returned in
the evening and after supper went
to the grocery store of William
Dittman, South Main street, and
there played checkers untilabout
10:30 o'clock. He went to his
home and retired but in a short
time complained to Mrs. Dixon of
a pain in his chest. She applied
a hot water bag and relieved him.
Soon afterwards he experienced
the same pain and at his wile's
solicitation he allowed her to send
for a physician. Dr. Hamlin was
summoned, but when he arrived
Mr. Dixon was again comfortable
and greeted the Doctor jestingly.
Dr. Hamlin sat for a few minutes
chatting when all at once a strange
expression creptover Mr. Dixon 's
face, he grasped and fell back
ward from a Bitting position up
on the bed. He was dead. An
gina poctoris, or neuralgia of the
heart, was the cause ot death.
Mr. Dixon was a native of Lick
ing Creek township, Fulton coun
ty, the son of Captain and Mrs.
Charles Dixon, of Saluvia, that
county. He was 40 years of age
and came to Chambersburg about
10 yeai s ago to become a partner
in the wholesale candy and groce
ry business with Clippinger &
Allen. A year or more ago he
left the firm to travel. He built
himself the handsome home, in
which he died, some years ago.
Mr. Dixon is survived by bis
widow and two daughters, young
ladies, Mabel and Ethel, his par
ents, two brothers and three sis
ters. His widow was a Miss Pal
mer, of Fulton county and to .her
and her children and tho afflicted
relatives go out much sympathy.
Mr. Dixon was a most estima
ble gentleman, a member of the
Methodist church and of C. V.
Council Royal Arcanum. His
death came as a great shock to
many friends.
Funeral Tuesday at 2 p. m., in
terment m Cedar Grove cemete
ry." Sudden Death.
A very sudden death occurred
in the family of Mr. John Ileiu
baugh, of Ayr township, on Sun
day night. Their little child aged
about two years lay dowu on the
lounge and went to sleep early u
the evening, and when the family
were ready to retire the child was
taken up and placed in bed, when
it gave a soreain and died at once.
Dr. Mosser was hastily summoned
but could do nothing as life was
extinct. The child was ranker del',
icate, and the doctor thinks neu
ralgia of the heart was the cause
of Its sudden takip o.