Ije Jmlton Coutttg SCetus.
volume 10
McCONNELLSBURG, PA., NOVEMBER 12, 1908.
NUMBER 8
CAUSE OF BAL ROADS.
Road Bosses Should Be Made to Pass an
Examination Showing Their Efficiency.
Change Needed in Road Laws.
THE RIGHT SYSTEM LACKINQ.
A back number the bad coun
try road is a back number. It 18
as much out of place and date as
the grain cradle or flail thrasher.
They had bad roads away back
in grandfather'sime ever since
people began to travel, to haul
stuff in modern narrow tired wag
ons. They had good roads away
back in Caesar's time in the old
world. What progress have we
made in road building? Very lit
tie. Over three-lou rths of all the
miles of country roads in the mid
west are still unimproved, says
the Agricultural Southwest. In
most states 90 per cent would be
more nearly correct. Of course,
every bit of road gets its annual
tearing up by the road officials,
who draw a salary for calling it
road "improvement."
Why is it thus? There's a rea
son why country roads are bad.
Can't lay it to the weather or the
road material either. As one
farmer says. "I have seen in
twenty-three years hundreds of
thousands of dollars of taxpayers'
money expended on the roads in
town and country; but, after all,
our roads are still as bad as ever. "
As bad as ever ! What a com
ment to make upon the appear
ance of country homes had it
been said that the farms had not
rjeen improved in twenty-three
years.' But, no; the farms have
improved, the towns have grown,
and business places are better
than they were twenty three
years ago, but the country roads
are as "bad as ever" after amend
ing fortunes upon them.
The reason is this road build
ing is not done in the same busi
nesslike manner as other things
are managed. We have seen the
creamery come into existence.
We have seen the skilled butter
maker turning out carloads of
butter finer than that made by
the farmers before the creamer
ies took the job off their hands.
Science and business methods
have made the change in butter
making. But the roads are "as
bad as ever" because it is a farm
er's job, to be done when it suits
his convenience. It is done by
men who have never studied the
science of road building. It is
done in a bit and miss method de
void of business principles. This
is why hundreds of thousands of
the taxpayers' money have failed
to make the roads any better.
And again we say it is not be
cause of bad weather or poor road
building material. The butter
maker takes bad cream and
makes pretty good butter from
it because he knows how. Of
course, he could do better with
good cream. Likewise, the skill
ed road builder can make good
roads out of just piain country
dirt because he knows how. Of
course he could do better with
orushed rock and all of that It
is not a scarcity of money or of
material, but a lack of the right
system, that is responsible for
bad roads.
Dollar for dollar what we
want to see is a dollar's worth of
good roads for a dollar spent in
road tax. And why not have it?
Isn't it about time to quit pour
ing money into a mudhole? Most
roads could have been nicely
paved with the dollars they have
cost since first laid out Where
has that money gone? Don't cry
"graft" Of course there lias
been too much politics ah, poli
tics; there's tbe rub but there
has been no political grait to
speak of in connection with coun
try roads. The trouble 4s the
oystem is and has been wrong.
Hoad building is for . the public
Kood, just as mail carrying is.
'i'he mail carriers are under civil
ervice, out of politics entirely.
Tliay are 'oaid for knowing their
business. They must give a dol
lar's wo.-th of service for a dollar
MORE BRYAN MEDICINE.
PROSPECTING FOR COAL.
The Election of Taft Gave Operator John
Jones of Hustontown a Free
Wheelbarrow Ride.
NORRIS E. HOOVER STAR PERFORMER.
Hustonlown, November 9. A
political discussion a few weeks
ago resulted in the following
wager being made between Nor
ris E. Hoover, an enthusiastic
Bryan supporter, and John E.
Jones the American Telegraph &
Telephone Go's operator, an
equally enthusiastic disciple of
Taft: If Bryan was elooted,
Jones was to wheel Hoover in a
wheel-barrow from a point op
posite W. R. Evans' house in the
east end of Hustontown to J. C.
Lamberson's and back to the
Amencan Telephone & Telegraph
Go's office, a total distance of
about H miles; and should Taft
be elected, Hoover was to per
form the stunt
At 5:30 p. m. sharp, Saturday
following the election, Harry
Keller generously brought forth
a new wheel-barrow which had
been liberally oiled by Jere
Laid'ig and the procession start
ed. Before starting, however,
a "Square Deal" was agreed up
on. In cofisideration of Jones
sitting well foward on the wheel
barrow, Hoover agreed to hit as
few stones as possible. Preced
ed by a drum corp and followed
by a large crowd of admirers,
two thir.ds of whom were Bryan
adherents, the principals in the
wager wre enthusiastically re
ceived by the large crowd of peo
pie who lined up on botli sides of
Main street. Judging from the
number of people on the street
and amount of noise that was
made, a stranger would natural
ly have thought Buffalo Bill's
circus had struck the town.
The entire trip was made with
out a mishap (to Jones,) and
"Noc" says he woald like noth
ing better, as an appetizer each
morning before breakfast, than
to wheel Jones a mile and a half.
Resolution of Respect an the Death of
Conrad Gress.
Whkueas, It has pleased our
Almighty Commander, in his in
finite wisdom to remove by the
grim reaper, Death, our beloved
Brother; Therefore it seems right
and proper to place on record a
small tribute to express our just
appreciation of his moral worth.
Resolved, That we the mem
bers of King Post, No. 365, G. A.
It., Dept., Pa., of McConnells
burg, Pa., join in extending our
sympathy and prayers to the
widow and friends. And, also,
our Post has lost an earnest mem
ber. While we mourn the loss of
our Brother, aud miss his pres
ence in our PrBt, we feel that our
loss is his eternal gain.
The march of another Comrade
is over, and he lies down after it
in the house appointed for all the
living.
Thus summoned, this reminds
us of the frailty of human life
and the tenure by which we hold
our own. In such an hour as ye
think not the bou of man cometh,
Resolved. Tim a copy of these
resolutions be entered upon the
minutes of tbe Post and be print
ed in the County Papers, and the
Post room be draped in mourn
ing for the space of thirty days.
T. N. Hamil,
Hen u y Tayloh,
D. A. Gii.lih,
Committee.
in pay. Why not handle the road
problem that way? Remove the
road bossfrom politics and make
bim pass an examination showing
bis efficiency. Keep him just as
long as he does his work well.
Then you will see good dirt roads
wherever there is nothing better.
Euougb money will soon be savad
in road tax to macadamize every
mile of tbe maiu traveled country
roads.
The Magsams Have Installed Machinery,
and Are Busy Prospecting For Coal
on Their Lands East of Mc
Connellshurg. During the past hundred years
the belief has firmly existed in
the minds of many people that
coal exists in the mouutain east
of McConnpllsburg, and at var
ious times slight efforts have been
made at several places to develop
the supposed treasure. The out
croppings along the mountain for
miles is such as to attract the at
tention of those in any way famil
lar with the appearance of coal
lands. In order to put the matter
at rest the brothers John and
George Magsam, who own sever
al hundred acres of land along
the mountain, have purchased
necessary machinery for develop
ing the project, and the same is
now installed, and men are at
work near the residence of Geo.
Magsam, about a mile east of
town.
The drift of the rock formation
dips down into the mountaiu from
the western slope, and the trou
ble heretofore in all the efforts
made to get into the mountain,
has been that the hole coon tilled
with water, and thus shut off
further operations. The Mag
sams have installed a steam jet
pump capable of throwing out
4,000 gallons of water per hour
and have purchased 300 feet of
strong wire cable for the purpose
of bringing the excavated matter
to the surface. A slope is being
made and timbered as they go,
so there is nothing in the way
of their going after Mm coal to a
successful linUh, if the coal is
there..
Prom analyses that have been
made by reputable chemists,
there is no doubt about there ex
isting a carboniferous substance,
that strongly points to the exist
ence of anthracite coal. T.ie
question to be settled is: Does it
exist in paying quantities?
HORRIBLE DEATH.
WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING.
Inspector for the State Department of
Agriculture Now in the 'County.
How Are Your Trees ?
Mr. H. B. Weiss has been ap
pointed and is authorized to act
as inspector for the State Depart
mentof Agriculture, and is now
in thiscounty inspecting orchards
and other premises, for the pur
pose of detecting the presence of
San Jose scale and other, injur
ious pests. His findings are re
ported to Prof. H. A. Surface,
State Zoologist, who sends print
ed instructions for getting rid of
the scale to the owners of infect
ed premises. It is very import
ant that our pet pie avail them
selves of this free service, while
they have the opportunity. Do
not fear to apply for his service.
It will not cost you anything, and
it should mean much to you to
know the condition of your fruit
bearing trees.
trfct
ThouiDson District S. S. Couventon.
A district Sunday School con
vention will be held in Antidch
church, Timber Ridge, on Sat
urday, November 21st. After
noon session at 2:30 and an even
ing session at 7.00 will be held.'
The following subjects will be
discussed:
1. In what ways does it benefit
a school to be a banner
school aud how obtaiued ?
2. How best" to make the schojl
attractive during the winter
monthB for all.
8. Why should the Sunday
School be kept open through
the winter.
4. General discussion for the
betterment of schools and
the communities in which
they exist
All Sunday School workers are
respectfully requested to attend.
By order of Committee.
Elmer Trogler Hi I ten By a Stray Dog Six
Weeks Ago. Hydrophobia Developed.
DIED IN HOSPITAL MONDAY NIGHT.
Prank Mort and wile, of Clear
Ridge were among the uumber
who attended the auction at Fort
Littleton last Saturday oveniug.
Mr. Elmer Trogler, aged about
thirty years, owner of the big
Trogler farm on the pike between
Mercersburg and the Gap, and
mirried to a daughter of II Scott
Daniels, Esq , near Harrisonville,
was bitten by a strange dog about
six weeks ago. Rabies .develop
ed and Mr. Trogler was taken to
the Pasteur Institute. Baltimore,
where he died Tuesday morning.
The deceased was a son of Wil
liam A. Trogler, formerly of Mer
cersburg, but now living in Den
ver, Colorado. He Is survived by
a young wife and two children.
Besides owning the fine farm on
which he lived, he is said to have
been quite wealthy, having over
$20,000 on investment and pros
pering finely.
Monday's Franklin Repository
(Chambersburg) tells the story
as follows:
"One of tho most horrible
sights ever seen in Chambers
bnrg was witnessed this morning
at the Cumberland Valley Rail
road station here by men, women
andchildren, whenElmerTrogler,
ayoung farmer living on the Trog
ler farm a mile west of Mercers
burg, on the pike between Mer
cersburg and the G ip, was
brought here on his way to tho
Pasteur Institute in Baltimore,
for treatment for an aggravated
case of hydrophobia. The man
is a fine looking fellow of about
2 and not the least of his trou
ble was his almost complete men
tal collapse due to his apprecia
tion of his almost hopeless con
dition. He was frothing at the
mouth, snapping and barking
like a dog, jerking, twisting his
body and throwing his head. His
limbs were constantly twitching
and one handkerchief after an
other was quickly saturated by
the saliva which came like a
stream, frothy and stringy, from
his mouth. With him were his
father-in-law H. Scott Daniels,
Esq., of Harrisonville, and his
physician Dr. J. S. Swartzwelder,
of Mercersburg, and the two men
had a hard task to keep the af
flicted man quiet and in a seat
He was brought here off the
South Penn in the baggage car
and was placed in tbe baggage
car from here on the main line
train, his condition making it un
safe to carry him in a coach with
other passengers.
"From those with him the
story of his being bitten was ob
tained. Six weeks ago a stray
cur was running along the road
near Trogler 'b house, with a
chain stringing from his neca.
Mr. Trogler happened in the
road and the animal Hew at him
and bit him in the cheek, along
side his mouth, making not a
very great nor apparently serious
wound. Mr. Trogler applied
some tahe, the wound healed.
He thought nothing more about
it The dog ran on to Mercers
burg, biting other dogs aud fight
ing with some he did not bite.
He chPsed George Masser into a
wagon and almost bit him and
tried to bite other people in the
town. He pursued his course
through the town and out into
the country and was Baid to have
been killed.
"On Friday last, Trogler became
first affected with an uncommon
twitching of tbe muscles and with
a constriction of the tbroat He
got nervous paroxysms and grew
worse rapidly util Sunday when
several doctor were called in,
and all pronounced Ins case one
of true rabies, hydrophobia in its
most virulent and deadly form.
, "Chief of Police G. M. Swisher
was among those who saw the
man here. He said to a Reposi
tory man. 'That was oue of the
moat awful sights I have ever
seen in my public career. 1 wish
some of the people who seem to
value dog more than human be
ings cbuld have seen poor Trog
ler. Some of those who pretend
to believe there is no such dis
ease as hydrophobia should have
seen him also. They would have
a good time explaining what was
the matter with this poor young
father .and husband doomed like
ly to a horrible death strapped to
a cot The life of every dog in
Chambersburg would not begin
to make up for what that man is
going through, let alone hit
friends and family, it has me
all upset'
"The big hearted Chief was not
the only person who was upset by
the dreadful sight, but the streets
of Chambersburg are as badly
polluted by tho worthless and ap
parently ownerless curs as they
ever were, and your children
stand a fair chance to be in the
same state as is that unfortunate
man. This is not sensationalism,
it is facts. What is to prevent
your child from being bitten and
infected as Mr. Trogler was?
WHAT ?"
Dr. Swartzwelder and Mr.
Daniels reached the hospital in
Baltimore with Mr. Troglei"
about 4 o'clock Monday after
noon. All the way to the city
Mr. Trogler was in a highly ex
citable state of mind and was
taken with convulsions twice
during the trip. During these
spasms he became violent and it
took tho combined efforts of his
father-in -law and the physician
to restrain him. Upon arrival
of the party in the city he was
greatly agitated and seemed anx
ious to get to the hospital, as ho
thought he then would be reliev
ed from his sufferings, Several
times during the trip Dr. Swartz
welder found it necessary to
administer an opiate to quiet
him.
Upon his arrival at the institu
tion he was taken immediately to
the surgical ward, and several
sedative were administered by
the physicians in an effort to
quiet him. Dr. Gibbs, tbe as
sistant to Dr. N. G. Keirle, the
head of the Pastaur institute,
finally removed the patient to a
private room. As the doctor
and Mr. Trogler were leaving the
ward on their way to the room, a
gust of wind blew in tbe latter's
face, causing him to go into convulsions.
I The patient tossed about in his
bed, at times he would become
violent and thrash about, but
would soon lapse into unconsci
ousness. One of the nurses or a
doctor was constantly in attend
ance, and Dr. Gibbs kept a close
watch on the patient. During his
delirum the patient would cry
for fresh air and repaatedly ask
ed those m the room whether he
would get well or not. Owing to
the fact that the victim was not
brought to the hospital until the
disease had taken a hrm hold up
on his system the physicians held
out scant hope for his recovery.
The trip was a dangerous one
for Dr. Swartzwelder and Mr.
Daniels, tor the saliva from Trog
ler 's mouth was thrown in every
direction.
Dr. Swartzwelder had a small
abrasion on his left thumb and,
fearing that some of the poison
ous saliva might have found its
way into the cut he had the wound
cauterized.
Although the victim was well-to-do,
he made no will, for no one
had told him that he was so near
death's door. He did not realize
that he was so ill, but called con
stantly for air and sunshine,
which, he believed, would benefit
him, but he could not bear the
slightest bit of air. With every
draft, no matter how slight, tbe
victim went into convulsions.
During the trip from Merces
burg to Baltimore the Doctor aud
lather i n law had to hold Trog
ler and shield bim from the wind.
Every breath of air gave him
pain.
From the time be entered the
hospital each succeeding convul
sion was more violent, and it wan
evident that ho could not last
long. Ac 2:30 o'clock Tuesday
STOCK DEALER HELD UP. ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Only the Quick Display of Nerve Saved
D. B. Martin, of Chambersburg,
From Being Robbed.
EVIDENCE OF A WELL LAID PLOT.
Last Monday morning, about
two o'clock, David B. Martin, the
well known stock dealer of Cham
bersburg, left his home to drive
to McConnellsburg to the home
of Judge Morton to get a hun
dred sheep and a bunch of cows.
About four o'clock, as he was
nearing Fort Loudon, he noticed
a suspicious looking man stand
ing on the side ot the turnpike,
and as Mr. Martin was in the act
of driving by him, the stranger
pulled his hat down over his fore
head and advanced threateningly
toward Mr. Martin. If he thought
Mr. Martin would be an easy vic
tim, he soon had reason to change
his mind, for the plucky stock
dealer quickly drew his gun and
pushed it close into the highway
man's face, at the same time yell
ing an epithet at him that would
not lock well in print, and warn
ing him that if he made another
step forward he would perforate
his anatomy. The stranger took
to his heels and disappeared in
the haziness of the early morn
ing. Mr. Martin describes his as
sailant as a short stout man with
a beard of about two weeks'
growth, and wearing a good hat.
That a plot had been laid to rob
Mr. Martin is believed by the fact
since learned by Mr. Martin, that
two or three postal cards had
passed through tho mails, and at
least two telephone messages rel
ative to Mr. Martin's coming to
McConnellsburg that morning.
NARROW ESCAPE.
Ditch Run School House Narrowly Es
caped Being Destroyed By Fire
Last Friday Night.
The Ditch Run schoolhouse, in
Thompson township, where Miss
Nettie Stouteagle of this place is
teaching this winter, came near
being destroyed by fire last Fri
day night, or rather during the
early hours of Saturday morning.
About two o'clock in the morn
ing, Mr. Richard Johnson, who
lives near the schoolhouse, was
awakened by a light shining in
through his bedroom window,
and arose to investigate the
cause, when he found that a 'hre
was fiercely burning iu the woods
which surrounds theschoolhouse.
He gave an alai m, which brought
together the near neighbors,
who went to the tire, and while
some of them tried to control it
others gained entrance to the
schoolhouse, and began remov
ing the furniture. The building
became ignited, but the men
there w?re able to get it out, and
after a desperate tight succeeded
in saving the building.
Republican Rally.
In order to make Mr. Taft feel
more comfortable after his elec
tion the Republicans of this place
have decided to show him that
they do not harbor any ill feeling
by having a ratification meeting
and parade on Saturday evening.
The parade will consist of foot
men and horsemen led by the
McConnellsburg Band, and will
form oq the west end of Water
street at seven o'clock.
Mr, and Mrs. Ahimaaz Cleven
ger returned homo last Sunday
after having spent a week very
pleasantly among friends in Han
cock, Martinsburg, Germantown,
and Washington.
morning Death seemed merciful
ly to end his dreadful suffering.
Mr. Trogler's remains were
placed in the bands ot an uudertau
er, who prepared the body for
buriai and shipped it to Mercers burg,
where it arrived Wednesday
morning. Tbe fuueral will take
place from bis late residence today.
Snapshots at Their Comings and Goings
Here Iota Vacation, or Away
for a Rcstful'Outing.
NAMES OP VISITORS AND VISITED
Mr. Norman Johnston, of Indi
ana, Pa. is visiting his mother
and other friends in the Cove.
Mrs. W. H. Peck and son Ray
mond, of Gem, spent last Friday
shopping in McConnellsburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse W. Car
mactc, of Hustontown, were in
town a few hours last Saturday.
Mrs. Prank Ktrlta, of East
McKeesport, Pa., is visiting her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Mort
at Clear Ridge.
Miss Bess Patterson has gone
to Philadelphia to visit in the
home of her brother, T. Elliott
Patterson, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. Roland Sharpe,
and Mrs. Sharpe's mother Mrs.
Geo. W. Sipes. were in town a
few hours Monday.
Mrs. Eliza Michaels, of Everett
Pa., is visiting her daughter Mrs.
George W. Hays, and other
friends in McConnellsburg.
Mr. Irvin Cook, of Fort Little
ton, called in while in town last
week and renewed his subscrip
tion to the News for another
year.
Mrs. Mary Stinson has return
ed to her borne at Clear Ridge,
after having Spent several days
visiting her son Easton Stinson
at Knobsville.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Sloan re
turned from Mercersburg Mon
day where they had been visiting
their son in law and daughter,
Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Walker.
Miss Nora Fisher, teacher of
the Primary school in this place,
spent the time from Saturday
morning until Monday evening
in a trip to Shippensburg. Her
brother, A. J. FiBher, had charge
of her school Monday.
Mrs. M. A. Kelly went down to
Thompson on Tuesday to spend
a few days among hex relatives
and friends. She was accom
panied by her mother, Mrs. Susan
Bishop, who had been visiting in
the borne of Mrs. Kelly for sever
al weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Wible and
their sons William and Harry,
spent tbe time from last Friday
until Monday visiting among re
latives and friends in this com
munity. Mr. Wible owns a farm
and lives about two miles south
westoof Chambersburg.
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Varues
and their three children, of Wind
ber Somerset county, are visit
ing among their Fulton county
relatives and friends. Mr. Var
ues is in the employ of the P. R.
R. Co., and says business is be
ginning to take on new life again.
Mrs. J. C. Fryman.
Mrs. J. C. Fryman died at her
home in Berrien Springs, Mich.,
on the 26th of October, after an
illness of two weeks, aged 52
years. Mrs. Fryman had been a
sufferer from a cancerous disease
for several years. Two weeks
previous to ber death, she went
to Richmond, I ml. for treatment,
but returned home in a serious
condition.
She leaves to mourn their loss
a husband J. CaL Fryman, a
brother of our townsman, Robert
M. Fryman and three children,
namely, Mrs. Mabel Oliver, of
Saginaw, Mich., Miss Ethel, of
Berrien Springs, aud Walter, of
Buchanan.
Mrs. Fryman was a member
of the M. E. Churcb, president of
the Ladies Aid Sootety, and as
sistant superintendent of tho
Sunday school. She had been
teacher of the primary depart
ment but had to roslgn on ac
count of ill health. She was one
of that rare type of geuilewo
men, whose loss a whole commu
nity may mourn.