Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, January 24, 1907, Image 1

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T)K. IWYIM; H JKNNINHS,
D /vA '/t>7.
'fj/iee Jlvur«
A. M tori M * SI -
* I'. M /' ■" IhiKville. /'a.
p UIIULTY., >l.
4'_ T. Mil t ST., I) ANVILI.K, PA.
ilisenses of th L Stomach and Intestines
a Specialty
iiaffl si®.
Election day approaches.
Once more we have visions of au ice
crop.
The slippery sidewalk is a great
peril.
The cold weather is welcome to the
majority.
No progressive community ever goes
backward.
Folly aud repeutance are never very
far apart.
The man with the ideas is always
in demand.
"Good Roads" is an interesting sub
ject just now.
Free aud 112 auk discussion promotes
right results.
The primaries are radically import
ant events.
The ruler of nations is often the uu
happiest of men.
Poverty has saved mauy a man from
becoming a fool.
A soug in the heart is better than a
piauo in the parlor.
A boy who isu't worth more than
his wages isn't worth much.
The piimaries should be attended by
every citizen who can vote.
Albert Greenplate, of York, has been
arrested on a charge of attempting to
kill bis wife and assaulting his 13-
year-old daughter. Greeuplate claims
that his wife and others had bewitch
ed him and that he was trying to kill
the witches.
Sara Ciemeus, of Shamokrn. had an
arm terribly burued nnd is under treat
ment. at the Miners' hospital. Skin
grafting is necessary and her father is
submitting to a removal of a square
foot of his skiu by small pieces to heal
his daughter's terrible wound.
James Burdy, 83 years of age, of
Montgomerv county, has been arrested
and committed for trial for numerous
burglaries he is accused of having
committed in that couuty. He is the
oldest man ever arrested in that coun
ty for burglary.
Ex-Governor Frank Wayland llig
gins.of New York.is lyiug iu a critic
aland semi conscious condition at his
home in Oleau, aud he is expected to
die within a few hours. His heart and
kidneys are seriously affected.
» A telegram from Calumet, Mich.,
says the United States Steel corpora
tion is preparing to spend $.',000,000
in drainiug Trout lake, and reiluciug
a body of water four miles long and a
mile wide to a mud hole.
The order directing that all the
negro soldiers in the country be sent
to the Philipiues has been modified in
such a way that two troops of negro
cavalry will remain here after the
three colored regiments have gone
across the Pacific.
The volcano of Mauna Loa, on the
island of Hawaii, continues in a state
of violent eruption. The light from
the flames ascending from the crater
is so intense that it is possible to read
fine print by it a distance of thirteen
miles.
The announcement comes from Wash
ington that President Roosevelt has
taken the bit between his teeth and
intends to carry out his Brownsville
policy without regard to consequences,
political or otherwise.
The Governor of Rhode Island is re
ported to have a lame arm,brought ou
by too much hand-shaking on his in
augural day. Presumably he has re
covered from the lame leg with which
the candidate generally comes out of
the campaign.
An English physician has discover
ed that high collars produce head
aches. The kind produced by the com
bination of high collars and high balls
must be particularly fierce.
One hundred thousand barrels of
pretzels were shipped bv one baker of
Reading within the past four years.
Two sons of James O'Neal, of Mid
way, Washington county, aged respec
tively 15 and 12 years, took a lauteru
to explore an abandoned mine ou Sat
urday An explosion was the result,
aud both sustained injuries that may
prove fatal.
Masked robbers are rather numerous
in various sections of the country,
mauy reports appearing iu the oapers
of the robbery of men and womeu iu
country byways or citv streeis.
Seuator Allee, of Delaware, defeat
ed for re-election. has beguu to get
even with his foes by filling all the
federal offices in' Delaware by his
friends, thus expecting to pre-empt
them for four years, at all events.
Governor Hughes, who is the sort of
a Sunday school governor that couuts,
has promised the people of Brooklyn
that he will take part iu the next an
niversary day parade of Brooklyn's
Sunday school army.
B. F. Dorsheimer, of Coatesville
who recently sold his hotel to N. B.
Keely, of East Greenville, for |155.-
* 000, has presenter! SSOO to each of his
four bartenders. Mr Dorsheimer paid
about $50,0"" for the hotel about eight
years ago.
"THIS COI NTRY WILL NEVER Bli ENTIRELY FREE UNTIL IT SUPHI liS MX OF ITS OWN DEMANDSWITH ITS OWN PRODUCTIONS."
OL. 53-NO 4,
PROCEEDINGS
of con
David Rank, .lac >b Vau Blotm, |
Heury Moulter, Juo. Wilhelui and Jo- 1
sepli Carpenter,residents of the fourth
ward, appeared before council Friday
night, to protest against the vacation
of Cross street crossing by the P. &
R rail way company.
The geutlcniau, all of whom with
one exception, reside on Cross street,
appeared on behlaf of the residents of
the fourth ward, who it is alleged, are
much inconvenienced by the closing
of the crossing. Men goiug backwards
and forwards to aud from work object
to going out of their way to use the
undergrade crossing, which, it wasal
lged, is muddy aud wholly objection
able. The committee claimed that peo- i
pie living in the vicinity of Cross
street are in a manner cut off, and to ,
reach the southern side of the railroad j
it is necessary to travel tiie alleys,
i The committee was informed that
' the ordinance vacatingthe crossing was
j duly published, when the citizens
should have taken advantage of the
, opportunity and made their objections
known to council. Thupreseut, it was
[ urgod, is too late a day.
Osi motion of Mr. Russell the a ward
' ing of the contract for priuting the
hook of borougli ordinances was post
poned nut i 1 next Friday night, when
a special meeting will be held to ex- 1
amine samples and awari bids. Fred
R. Miller, of William-port, who is a
prospective bidder, wa9 present at
meeting last night aud explained to
the couuciliueu the difference between
a '"sowed" an! a "stitched" book, a
distinction which was not well under
stood here. The specifications call
for a "sewed" book, which it was
learned,would add cousiderablv to the
cost. The samples to be submitted next
Friday night are to coutaiu both sew
ed aud stitched books and different
grades of paper, none of which are to
be below the six cents grade.
At 9:3() o'clock council weut into
excutive session for the purpose of
considering t he report of Burgess Rog
ers aud George B. Jacobs relative to
their interview with President Trues
dale aud other officials of the D. L. &
W. railroad company concerning the
matter of piping the abandoned caual,
an account of which was printed in
these columus last week.
The follo%ving bills were approved
for payment:
BOROUGH DEPARTMENT.
Regular employes $115.00
Samuel Mills 11.60
J. G Lake 2100
United States Tel. Co 18.00
Washington Fire Co.. 2.90
James Gibson 7 50
Standard Gas Co 75
Sweeteu-Crossan Elec. Co 3 50
Rumsey Elec Mfg. Co 93.65
State tax on $45 300 bonds 181 20
Harry B. Patton(Sec'y) 4.50
Labor aud hauling 57.51
Lahor on sewer 26 25
Welliver Hdw. C 0.... 15.54
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Regular employes $ 164 30
P. 11. Foust, Agt 101.60
P. & R Coal & Iron Co 178.13
Friendship Fire Co . 25.36
Harry Elleubogen 308.00
Labor at water works ... 8.25
Standard Gas Co 3.23
Atlantic Refining Co . 28.38
Boiler insurance 20.00 \
Oyster Dinner.
There are indirect as well as direct!
benefits that accrue from rural tele- ]
phones, as was shown yesterday, when :
a large number of the subscribers on
the Peoples svstem on line No. 9,gath
ered at the home of Jackson Balliet in ;
West Hemlock township, anil partook j
of one of the finest oyster dinners that j
was ever served in that section. The
pleasant affair lasted all day, and ev
erybody had a fine time.
The guests were Mr. and Mrs. A. J.
Balliet, Mr. aud Mrs. Chester Balliet,
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Shnltz, Mr. and
Mrs. T. J. Bet/., Mr. aud Mrs. Lloyd
B( mboy, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Ande,
Mr. aud Mrs. G. W. Wampole, Mr.
and Mrs. J. H. Hartman, Mr. and
Mrs. C. J. Deighmillei, Mr. and Mrs.
W. Boyd Moore, Mr. and Mr*. W.
Parke Moore aud Mr. B. F. ('rosdev,
Mr and Mrs. I). C. M uisteller, Mr.
aud Mrs. B. F. Brobst: Misses Ella
ttrobst, May Mausteller, Grace Mau
steller, Ethel Deigluuiller, Bessie,-
Sarah and Edna Ande, Myrtle Shnltz, [
Myrtle Ande, Ivy and Mary Betz,
Hazel Shnltz. Mildred Sliultz, May
Wampole; Harry Heberuud Paul Mau
steller. Truman Aude,Reginald Shnltz,
and Earl Wampole.
A Box Car Avalanche.
David Sliumati and his family live
ou a side hill near Maiuville, aud the
Pit R. tracks run al nig the hill just
abov I their home. Yesterday as .a
freight train was passing the sjMit, a
heavily loaded hou-e car toppled over
and came rolling aud hounding down
the hill directly toward the Shaman
home, stopping, however, about ten
feet from the kitchen door.
The car was loaded with plows and
other heavy farming implements, aud
for a while it looked as if destruction
was the fate of the Shtimans, bat an
ipple tree in the way diverted the
course of the car. Wheu it stopped the
roof of the car flew off and plows, har
rows and other of the contents were
distributed over the house aud sur
rounding country.
It is well to be slow to anger when
the other man is the better fighter.
' PENSKL GEISI :
YEAR IN PRISON
William E. Pensvl, who with J. H.
j
Ethworth aud Samuel Dunmoyer, was
found guilty,Wednesday,of conspiracy
ot defraud J. M. Vought of a horse,
was ou Saturday senteuced to one year
in the couuty prison.
Pursuant to adjournment,court con
vened at three o'clock. Saturday after
noon, to hear argumeut on a motion
for a new trial in Peusyl's case. His
Honor C. C. Evans aud Associates
Frauk G. Bloe aud Lloyd W. Welliver
were ou the bench.
1 W. E. Pensyl was brought down
from jail where he had been confined
since his trial. At the courthouse he
i was met by his wife, who remained at
his side until the case was disposed
of.
William Kase West addressed the
' court at some length, setting forth
1 various reasons why a new trial should,
be granted,the principal of which was
that in the attorney's opiuiou Pensyl
should have had a separate trial. Hon.
H. M. Hinckley, private attorney for
the prosecution, followed, sustaining
: the validity of the verdict, the court's
charge and the conduct of the case
throughout. Charles V. Amerman, at
torney for Pensyl.followed stating his
objections. j
Judge Evans very promptly gave his
decision, discharging the rule and
deuyiug the motion for a new trial.
Attorney Gearhart immediate
ly moved that sentence be passed on
the defeudaut. Pensyl was according
ly called before the court.
The sentence of the court was that
William E. Pensyl pay the costs of
prosecution and a fine of $25 to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for
the use of Montour county and that he
undergo au imprisonment in the couu
ty jail of Montour county for one
year, to be computed from this date
and to stand committed until the sent
ence of the court is complied with.
Ethworth and Dunmoyer with whom
Peusvl was convicted, were sentenced
to two years iu the penitentiary last
Wednesday. Pensyl was recommend
ed to the mercv of the court.
A PLEA FOR CLEMENCY.
Ralph K'sner, Esq., addressed the
court in behalf of Mrs. Elizabeth
Krebs and Mrs Laura ITarr. who plead
ed guilty to larceny and were sentenc
ed to a year in the county jail.
He presented a petition signed by
143 persons, including the victims of
the shop lifters' theft aud others,
which prayed the honorable court to
reconsider the sentence imposed upon
the two women and to extend clem
ency.
Mr Kisuer iu a strong light set
forth the extenuating circumstances
allegel to exisj; He repeated the story
printed in the News, as the result of
au interview with the womeu, to the
effect that they were doped and didn't
know what they were doing wheu
they purloined goods from the stores.
Mrs. Krebs. the attorney explained,
was taken ill on the train coming to
Dauville, and drank of some liqaor
proffered by astrauger,which immedi
ately caused odd sensations and finally
led to a condition in which all was a
blank. It was while in the latter state
that the woman's nature changed and
she became a shop lifter.
Judge Evans heard the attorney's
j plea and then asked the latter how he
i would explain Mrs. Harr's conduct, i
Mr. Kisner then stated that Mrs. i
| Harr had also partaken of the myster- i
I ious bev.erage ou the train.
Later in the afternoon" Judge Evans
made au order refusingthe application
for a modification of sentence.
I ——— j
Second Ward Primaries.
I •
The Democrats of the second ward
held their primary election last night.
P. .T. Keefer was choseu president and
Newton Pursel, secretary.
The following nominations were
made: Councilmeu, 3 years, Ira C.
Everhart: 2 years, William Mover;
school director, P. J. Keefer; const
able, Jacob Winters; auditor, Grant
Gulick; judge of election, Alex. Ash
ton, Sr ,; inspector, Samuel W. Wel
liver; overseer of the poor, Thomas
Welliver. George W Leighow and
. Samuel Welliver were chosen as dele
gates to the borough aud district con
vention.
Will Take in Hardi Gras.
Joseph Loweustein aud C. P. Harder
will leave this morning for a tour of
the southern States, with New Orleans,
Lmisiina. as the objective point
Mr. Lowenstein and Mr Harder
will time their trip so as to be in New
Orleans during the week of the world
112 imed Mard i Gras carnival Theirfirst
stopping place will be at Washington,
D. C Tliev will also stop ovor at
Atlanta. Georgia; Birmingham, Ala
h'vua and many other southern cities.
They will be away about six weeks.
Road Law Valid.
An opinion has been handed down
Ly Judge MoClure, of Union county,
relative to the constitutionality of the
Sproul road law, which was called in
to question in an action brought by
the taxpayers of Kelly aud Buffalo
towusliips, that county, against the
election of supervisors iu those town
ships. Judge McC lure's position on
the question is entirely oppos d to
those opinions which have been hand
ed down by other members of the
bench, including Judge Evaus. He
maintains that the law is constitu
tional and valid.
DANVILLE. PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1907.
■I REFUSES
PEIIIS
The petitions of Liberty, Limestone
aud Derry townships of Moutourcouu
ty, preseuted to court last week pray
ing that the system of working out the
road tax be abolished, were refu.-ed by
Judge Evaus iu au opinion handed
down Saturday, ou the ground that
the proviso of the act of assembly of
April 12, 1905, is unconstitutional aud
void. Judge Evaus' opinion is clearly
in line with those rendered by several
other courts iu the State.
The questiou of abolishing the sys
tem of working out the road tax was
voted on iu several of the districts of
Montour county, but, with the excep
tion of Mahoning township, it did not
carry. How the unconstitutionality
of the act may affect the latter town
ship, where the system of taxation for
working the public roads has been
changed to conform with the new law
remains to be seen. It was in consid
ering the petitiou from Liberty town
ship that Judge Evaus hauded down
his opinion, which of course applies
to all.
The opinion is very clear and con
vincing and makes the court's position
plain. Omitting a few paragraphs,
where the views of other courts are
quoted, Judge Evans' opinion as haud
ed down follows:
The petition in this case sets forth
■"That they are taxpayers of the said J
township of Liberty, said county and
State and as such desire to avail them
selves of the benefits of the act of the
general assembly approved April 12th.
1905, wherein it is provided, an.oug
otlier things, as follows: That auy
township may by a majority vote of
the electors thereof at. the February
municipal election, after thirty days' ,
prior notice thereto, change the sys
tem of taxation for working the pub
lie roads ; such electiou shall bo auth
orized bv the court of q"arter sessions
upou petition of at least twenty-five ,
taxpayers of said township.
The portion of the act of general as
sembly of April 12th, 1905, P. L. 142,
which purports to authorize the court !
to order and direct au election to de- I
termiue whether the system of tax
ation for working the public roads
shall be changed is fouud in the third
proviso of section two of the act,
which provides as follows: "Provid- j
ed, however, that a township, may, |
by a majority vote of the electors
thereof, at the February municipal
electiou, after thirty days' prior no- :
tice there if, change the system of tax
ation for working the public roads. |
Such electiou shall be authorized by
the court ot quarter sessions,upou peti
tion of at least twenty-five tax payers
of said towuship anil auy such town
ship which shall have abolished the
work tax, shall annually receive from
the State fifteen per ceutum of the
amouut of road tax collected iu said
township, as shown by a sworn st tte
meut of the board of towuship super
visors, furnished to the State highway
commissioner ou or before the filteeuth
day of March of each year."
Under this section of the act have
wr the power aud authority to grant
the prayer of the petitioners? sNe think
not.
Under section 33 of the general road
law of April 15th, 1834, it is the i«uty
of the supervisors to give parties rated
with taxes lull opportunity to work
them out, before proceeding to collect
them The act is meudatory aud must
be substantially obeyed. Otherwise
there is uo power to issue a warrant
for their collection. The opportunity
to work out the road tax isacouditiou
precedent to collection by legal pro
cess.
Thus the law stood at the time of
the passage of the act of April 12th,
1905, now binder consideration. The
legislature does uot attempt to take
this right from the taxpayer by direct
euactmeut but delegates to a majority
of the electors or the different town
ships of the Commonwealth the righ'
to do so.
This, as we view it, is a clear de
legation of legislative authority. II
this petition were allowed and the
order made as prayed for, a majority
of the electors of Liberty township,
voting at the municipal election held
ou the third Tuesday of February next
would determine whether or uot the
taxpayers residing within said town
slap would have the opportunity to
work out their road tax lor the endu
ing years. This would be a clear dele
gatiou of legislative authority to the
majority of the electors votiug at said
electiou and clearly offends against
sec. I article II of the constitution cf
Pennsylvania, which provides "The
legislative powur of this Common
wealth shall be vested iu a general as
sembly, which shall consist ot a senate
aud house of representatives."
The tax payer, under the sreueral
road law of April 15th, 1834, without
au electiou, has the right to work out
his road tax. and of this right lie cau
not be deprived except by positive eu
actmeut of the law making power of
the Commonwealth.
Sec. 7, art'cle 111 of the constitution
provides that, "The general assembly
shall uot pass auy local or special law
regulating the affairs of counties,
cities, townships, wards, boroughs or
school districts." The act ot assembly
uuder consideration clearly offends
against this section of the constitu
tion
(Quotation of authorities confirming
the last paragraph)
We are therefore of the opinion that
tlie third proviso of sec 2 of the act
of April 12th, 1905, P. L 14i is clear-
Iv in conflict with sec. 1. art I and
sec 7, art 111 of the c institution
We therefore hold that tlie proviso
of the act ot April 12th, 1905 is un
| constitutional and void, and we have
1 uo power to order the election prayed
for. And now .launarv 18th. 1907 peti
i tiou refused. Bv the C mrt.
CHARLES O. EVANS. P. J.
(iold Tied Ah >ut Waist.
Mrs. Margaret H. Phillips, of Slia
raokin, who lived a sort of hermit
lite apparently iu want., died oil Sat
urday wheu it was found that she had
tweuty S2O gold pieces sewed in little
bags about her waist aud was also the
possessor of government bonds upon
which the interest had not been col
lected.
Reading has 22 180 buildings, of
which 18,339 are constructed of brick.
PEBI.IL
Pill
i
L. P. Wagner, of Washiugtouville, I
left yesterday for a business trip to I
New York aud Philadelphia.
Mrs. I. Grier Barber returued yes- 1
terday from a several days' visit with I
her son. Miles, at Wilkes-Barre.
' ]
Mrs. Margaret Eyerly,who has been i
apen ling several months with her son
at. Hloomsburg, has returned to reside
on East Market street, this city.
Mrs. Walter Fields aud Mrs. Harry 1 (
Fields will spend today with friends
at Cameron. * ,
Mrs. Samuel Frazier. of Scrautou,is i
visiting at the home of her sister, Mrs. ' ,
W. H. N. Walker, East Market street, j ,
Win. L. McCov aud R. E. Disque.of <
Pittsburg,arrived yesterday from State :
college, 1' >r a visit at the home of the , ;
former's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John
B. McCoy, West Market street.
W. R. Clark returned Monday eveu
iug from a pleasant vacation trip to
Philadelphia and Now York Citv. Mr.
Clark will this morning ouce more '
take up his duties at the South Dau
ville station.
Miss liea Johnson lefr yesterday for
an extended stay in Philadelphia
Miss Julia Argrave is visiting friends ,
in Philadelphia and Chester.
Public Urged to Attend.
Tiie svhoul director's association anil ,
especially those who have charge of
the arrangement of the prograhi, feel
confident that- the sessions in the Y. ,
M. C. A. hall ou Friday will be among
the most interesting ever held in this
city. For t'lis, aud some other rea
sous, the News has been asked to urge
that as many of the people of Montour (
count v as possible,both from town aud
country, attend the meetings.
This will the fiist time that Dr. ,
N. r. Scliaeffer,superintendent of pub
lie instruction, has ever visited Mon
tour county. He is our foremost ed- j
neat j.\ nmm of forceful ideas and
j,'isse»seii of tlie power to express tlieni
clearly and interestingly. He will
spjak at bit i rho nnruiug and after
noon sessions. D. K. Fortney,Esq., of
Bellefoute, is also au able speaker. He
is one of the prominent school direct
ors at Bellefoute, and has ou a num
ber oi occasions read papers but'oie the
State directors' association at Harris
burg. Like Superintendent Schaeffer,
he will speak both morning aud after
noon.
These two men will discuss subjects
pertinent to the practical side of the
public schools. They will not deal with
theories, but will get right down into
the pupil's seat, as it were, aud tell
of things that they know to he true
from years aud yeais of experience.
There is a strong disposition, aud
rightly so, toi, nowadays, to advance
the standards of education. New stud
ies are added to the curriculum, high
er staudiug iu class is demanded, aud
rules are being more strictly enforc
ed. It is nearly always the case, how
ever, that the directors arc auxious to
tdvauce further aud faster than their
constituents will permit.
The directors, as a rule, have made
i more or less close study of the needs
of education. They see the demand for
increased activity aud thoroughness in
this ago of progress.
Every citizen should become by his
own appointment a school director,and
make it his business to study the needs
if the most important institution tor
good that the country possesses. There
will l:o no better opportunity to be
come conversant with some of the
more important phases of public school
.activity, than ou Friday, wheu Dr.
Schaeffer and Mr. Fortney will ad
dre-s tlie directors of Montour coun
ty. Th ■ morning session will convene
at 10 o'clock sharp, an i the afroruoou
session af 1:30.
Annual Report.
At the last meeting of the trustees
of the Thomas Beaver free library a
report was presented, which show d
that the circulation of books amount
ed to 2(1.449 during tiie year ending
with December 31st last. The largest
number issued in auy month was dur
iug January—3.44o. During February
the library most of the time was clos
ed fur repairs aud only J9t» books were
issued In March 3 283 books were tak
en out. From this ou as spring advanc
ed the number of books taken out each
month grew less. In August,wheu peo
ple probably are not iucliued to read
very much but 1,423 books were issued,
which is the smallest number found
Oil the report. As winter approached
the uumber began to climb again. In
November the number of books takeu
out numbered 2,753.
During the year 205 cards were is
sued, which implies that that number
of new patrons were added to the list
of library readers. Fines duriug the
year aggregated $79 47, a sum which
j paid for more than one-half of the
: light required.
Has Danville Any ?
It is said that civil service men are
in this vicinity for the purpose of se
curing evidence against some persous
who have been selling lottery tickets
which are said to be fake schemes.
Some of these lotteries are nothing
morn than frauds as no drawings are
ever held and uo prizes awarded.
Mrs. H. W. Muvett.of Weruersville,
Berks county, has a cactus with 146
flowers.
MI IB !i
ICIEi
Peter J. Keefer, superintendent of j
the water works, is just now battling I
with the microbes aud from present i
indications it does not seem that he is j
goiug to get worsted.
As is natural duriug high water the ;
river is dirty aud objectionable in the
extreme. What makes people more 1
than usually dubious of its immunity
from germs is the fact that it is the
first flood of auy proportious since the
outbreak of typhoid fever at Scrautou,
Berwick aud other towus, the sewage
of which fiuds its way into the North
branch. The cleansing out of the chan
nel, which has brought dowu an im
mense quantity of coal dust and dirt
of otlier sorts from the coal regiou
towns, is not above suspicion of de
positing ou our shores with the above
waste matter the microbes that breed
typhoid fever.
Believing that the state of affairs
forms an exigeucy that demaudsprompt
and careful action, Mr. Keefer has ad
dressed himself to the task of bringing
the filter plant up to its highest de
gree of efficiency. Notwithstanding
that the crews at the water works are
careful and reliable the superintend
ent is giving everything his personal
supervision. He was busy as a uailor
about the plant yesterday.
It was with a dubious shake of the
head that he watched the inflow of
dirty water that fell into the settling
tank; this, however, gave place to a
smile of gratification as he viewed the
stream of crystal and apparently pure
water that poured out of the filter tubs
iuto the reservoir, ready, to be pumped
into the mains. Contrasting a glass of
the later with the dirty water pumped
directly from the river he suggested
the question whether it would be possi
hie for the process of filtration to
eliminate so much dirt without taking
with it a fair proportion, if not all,of
the bacteria.
It is tine that the maximum of alum
is being used iu the process of filtra
tion but no oue will object to the
greater use of alum if it carries with
it additional assurauce that the bac
teria are eliminated.
The filter tub that is being re-equip
ped with shaft aud gearing of larger
pattern will probably go into commis
sion today. While it was out of service
the plant has been laboring under con
siderable handicap, tsvo tubs being
obliged to do the work that was form- i
erlv accomplished by three. That good !
results have been achieved speaks all i
the better for the efficiency of the sys- ;
tem.
net Death Under the Cars.
Will.am Martin.sou of Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Martin, Spring street, was kill
ed under the cars at Sdiuylkill Haven
at 9:30 o'clock yesterday moruiug. {
The sad news/ reache I this city a
short time after the accident aud was
in the form of a telegram addressed to
P. H. Foust, P. it R. station ageut.
Details were lacking. All that could
be gathered beiug that William had
met. his death under the cars aud that
he was instantly killed.
The deceased had been iu the employ
of the P. & R. railway for several
years as brakeman. For a while he
was fliginin, but recently he was em- j
ployed as brakemau iu the yard at |
Schuylkill Haveu.
lie was oue of a large family of sous
aud daughters of this place, his sur
viviug brothers beiug John, Thomas
and Frank; his sisters, Winifred (Mrs.
James Daileyj, Alice (Mrs. llarrv
Weuiger), Ella (Mrs. Robert Paugh)
aud Misses Mary and Maggie.
The deceased was iu his twenty-sec
ond year and was a single man. He I
was popular and was much beloved not
only by the members of his own house
hold, but by the wide circle of young
people with whom lie was acquaint
ed.
A visit to the Martin homestead yes
terday found the family stricken with
grief; the aged mother especially could
hardly bring herself to realize the
dreadful import, of the telegram, which
had been received only a short time
before. William,it was explained,was
a kind brother aud a dutiful son. £Io
paid a visit to his parents the day fol
lowing Christinas and that was the
last that ho was home. The family
then, in view of the perils, tried to
persuade him to abandon railroading
but tie didn't seem to view the matter
in a serious light aud coutiuuod on as
brakemau.
Frank aud Thomas Martin, father
and brother of the'deceased. left yes
terday afternoon for t-chuylkill Haveu
and will return this afternoon accom
panied bv the remains. Due notice of
the funeral will be given.
Hi at Allentown.
Harold Heller, who is associated in
the electrical construction business
with his father. W. A. Heller, in this
citv, is seriously ill with typhoid fev
er nt the home of his father-in-law at
Allentown,where he aud his wife went
to visit about Christmas time.
flail Carrier Off Duty.
Arthur Freeze, local mail carrier,
was uot able togo over his route yes
terdav owing to a injured baud Frauk
H. Russell,regular substitute, tilled the
vacancy.
At Old Rush Baptist Church.
The weekly prayer and praise ser
vice at the old Rush Baptist church
will be held this evening. Preaching
i service will be held Sunday moruiug
at 10:30. All are cordially iuvited.
ESTABLISHED IN" 18o."»
ARRESTED FOR
HORSE STEAII
G. H. Lewis who stated that he
lives ou "The Widow Vastine's farm,
near Boyd's station," drove into town ;
with a horse aud buggy yesterday af- |
tfruoon, bent ou a trade. He got into j
a horse deal at the White Horse hotel, i
North Mill street. There were many
conflicting stories concerning the
terms of the trade but the outcome of
it all was that Mr. Lewis got arrested
ou the charge of horse stealing, aud
was put to any amount of trouble.
The hearing took place before Jus- j
tice of the Peace W. V. Oglesby at 8
o'clock last night aud attracted an ,
enormous crowd. The information was j
made by Charles Beyers, charging the
accused with stealiug a horse, which ,
lie described as a "sorrel, with white 5
face aud three white feet."
The testimony of the complainanf i
was to the following effect: Lewis j
came to the White Horse hotel aud j
soon let the fact be known that he was j
open for a deal. In no time Mr. Bey- j
ers, the landlord, and Lewis had ef- ]
fected a trade of buggies. Mr. Lewis j
then indicated that he wanted to get
rid of his horse aud set the pirce at
fifteen dollars. Mr. Bever was willing
to give only teu dollars. Later it was
decided to split the difference and a
price of $12.50 was agreed upon, the
money being paid over iuthe presence
of a witness.
The question then arose as to how
the'mau from Boyd's statiou was to |
get to his home. At the suggestiou of
the laudlord it was arranged that Mr.
Lewis was to be permitted to use the
horse aud the road buggy obtained
from Mr. Beyers ou the homeward
drive ; lie was to ba accompanied by a
second party who was to ride the horse,
back to Danville.
Before the time arrived for starting,
however.it was alleged that Mr. Lewis
broke open the stable, abstracted the
horse and the top buggy, both now the
property of Mr. Beyers,aud by a rapid
drive by way of Ferry street, soon
struck the riyer bridge. Mr. Beyers
alleged that he detected Lewis just as
he was starting ou the circuitous route
homeward aud saw him thrash the
horse to get a good start.
Mr. Beyers ran up Mill street aud
caught the horse ou the river bridge
The horse auii buggy were handed over
to the chief of police, while Mr. Lewis
fell into the bauds of Officer Voris.
The heariug was very amusiug. The
man from Boyd's station denied that
there was anvthiug like horse stealiug
about it: it was only a trade, he said.
He denied everything that had beeu
testified to, aud was disposed to dom
inate the situation. The chief of pol
ice was endeavoring to throw a little
light on a disputed point when Mr.
Lewis told him to keep still, that
he had nothing to say iu the matter.
Justice Oglesbv dismissed the case.
The man from Boyd's paid ttie costs
Mr. Beyer aud Mr Lewis settled all
differences.the former taking tlie horse
aud the top buggy and gave the latter
the road buggy, as his share.
It was nearly uine o'clock by the
time Lewis emerged from the squire's
offi e aud began to devise some means
of getting home with his horseless car
riage.
A Social Dance.
Oue of the largest and most pleasant
dauces of the season was held 011 Mon
day evening at the home of Mrs.
Augusta J. Mans, Valley township, iu
honor of Charles Maus,.J. Blaine Hart
man and Jacob S. Tanner. During the
evening elaborate refreshments were
served. Delsite brothers furnished the
music.
| Those present were Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Hartman, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram
Shultz, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kitcher,
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Mans, Mrs. •
John Tanner, Misses Florence Wilson, j
Blanche Pursel. Mary Fry, Carrie |
Flick, Bessie Ande. Mary Crim, Lib- j
bio Pursel, Flora Fruit, Annie Turner.
Bessie Wilson, Naucy Fruit, Blanche
Wilson, Lillian Cleams, Edna Ande 1
ami Margaret Gable; Messrs. Walter
Wilson.Peter Saudel. Wellington Purs- j
el, Roy Shultz, John Fruit, Spencer
Arter, Joseph Bryant, Freeman Rob
bins, William Davis,Charles Johnson,
Harry Beusiuger, Purdy Arter, Frank
Fry, Elwood Crossley, Raymond Pur- j
sel, Charles Crim, Roy Vought, Harry !
Hawkins, William Gable, Frank Tan- ,
ner, Samuel Laubacli, David Tanner,
Lloyd Umstead, Albert Tanner, George 1
Betz and Thomas Ande.
Funeral of Hrs. Nevvham.
The remaiys of Mrs. Mary Newham,
who died at Denver, Colorado,ou Fri
day, arrived iu this city last evening
ou the Pennsylvania's 5:55 train The
funeral will take place tnis afternoon
at 2 o'clock from the residence of
Mis. William Sheppersou Sr., East
Front street. Interment will be made
iu the Episcopal cemetery.
Friendship's Annual Inspection.
The annual couipauy inspection of
the Friendship fire compauy will take
place at the regular meeting on Satur
day evening. All the company prop
erty. including uniforms, etc.,will be
inspected by the foremau and his as
sistants.
Underwent an Operation.
Mrs John Krieger, of Suydertown,
underwent a serious operation at Sha
mokin ->n Monday,when a large tumor
was removed from her abdomen. The
operation was successful aud unless
complications set in she will recover.
JOB PRINTING
The offica ot the AMERICAN
being furnished with a large
assortment of job letter and
fancy type and job material
genera ly, the Publisher an
nounces to the public tnat he
is prepared at ail limes to ex
ecute in the neatest manner.
JOB PRINTING
Of all Kinds and Description
THE IB OF
SUPERVISORS
The meeting booked for this city oil
February 7 for the purpose of organiz
ing the towuship supervisors, at which
State Highway Commissioner Hunter
will be present, is being looked for
ward to with a good deal of interest
not only by the supervisors,but also by
all those iutere-ed in good roads and
the methods to bo employed to obtain
them.
There never was a time when more
enlightenment was needed. The alleg
ed unconstitutionality of the proviso
of the act of assembly of April 13,
j 1905, will form a subject of discussion
; and the townships whose petitions to
change the system of taxation have
j been turned down by tiie court will be
| glad to hear the views of such an emin
j ent authority as the State highway
I commissioner.
j The State highway commissioner
I will also be asked to throw a little
light on the status of affairs relating
to the two sections of State highway
constructed in this county, which are
i still incomplete after the lapse of a
year or more. The whole matter is in
explicable both to the county and the
two townships in which the roads were
reconstructed. The first and most im
portant stretcli of highway lies in
Mahoning township, between the bor
ough line and Valley township. This
was partially constructed in 1904. The
contractors did some additional work
j on the highway during the fall of 1905
—but left it in a condition that did
not meet the approval of either the
county or the township. The county
paid Bfioo and Mahoning township
made a small payment, but both re
fused to pay their full allotment until
the road was made to conform to the
specifications. To inquire into the
state of affairs, State Highway Com
missioner Hunter visited our county
and after inspecting the road is alleg
ed to have agreed that the highway is
not finished according to specifica
tions.
It was thought that the result of all
this would be that the road would be
speedily finished in a way to meet ap
proval, but, although some work was
done in 1903, during last summer the
contractors did not appear on the
ground.
The tection of highway between the
valley township line and Wise's hotel
at Mausdale constructed during the
summer of 1903, is also alleged to fall
short of specifications. It was thought
the contractors would reappear last
summer and completo the work, but
like the contractors on the other prop
osition, they seamed utterly uuconceru
ed iu the matter.
Neither Montour c tunty nor Vulley
township has paid oue cent for the
second sectiou of the highway. Mean
while, it is true, the townships have a
fair!., good load, where a very poor
road existed before, at the outlay of
only a nominal sum in one case and
the expenditure of no ajont y at all in
the other.
What puzzles the most is to under
stand the secret of the contractor's in
difference; have they been paid for
their work? This is oue of the points
that the local road makers will seek to
be enlightened on. All will be glad to
learn why the State submits to such
dillydally ing and whether or not it in
tends to bring the contractors to time.
Meanwhile the county as well as the
townships are firm in their resolution
i<ot to mate any payment on the high
way until the work is completed ac
cording to specifications.
Zero Weather.
The second spell of zero weather
that we have experienced this season
came along yesterday morniug. At
3:4) o'clock, accord ins? to the Montour
house record, mercury stood at 2 de
; grees above, but the the coldest hour
had not been reached; at 7a. m.the
mercury stood at the zero point. Dur
. ing the forenoon, although the sky was
1 clear and the sun shone with brilli
i ancy, it remained very cold. The best
that mercury could do by 11 o'clock
was to climb to 6 degrees above zero.
I It was ou December 19th that we
had our other and first taste of zero
weather, mercury on that date going
down two degrees below. That night
was a trifle colder, but the weather
warmed up somewhat during the day
following. Outside of these two dates
i the only approach to really cold weath
er was ou Monday, December 24, when
: mercury was six degrees .above zero.
The most of the time this winter mer
cury has been considerably above 30
degrees. On Tuesday, .Tauuary Bth,the
i thermometers stood at 52 degrees
: above.
The ice men are again taking heart.
The ponds are already covered with
ice, but whether there will be a har
vest worth gathering will depend up
on whether or not the cold wave will
ooutiuue a week or more, or as in the
past tliis season it will be speedily
followed with a thaw.
Will Stop Smoking.
The Bloomsburg school board is de
termined to break up the practice
' which has beeu prevalent for some
1 time of the students smoking on the
school grounds and ou the way to and
from school. This fact was emphasiz
ed at a meeting of the board last week
when they approved the action of Sup
' eriuteudent Sterner in suspending two
boys who had beeu caught 6inoking.
r The boys were present at the meeting
aud when promising that they would
s refrain from smoking they were allow
. ed to return to school.