Edito tially Speaking!
Education Costs Money? .. . We Wonder
It is amazing that in a supposedly enlightened area like our own
there should be two school districts where pupils are denied the
broadening influence of good books.
Unfortunately that is true. The districts are Monroe and North-
moreland Townships in Wyoming County.
When Back Mountain Memorial Library was founded there was
considerable discussion whether service should be extended to
schools in Wyoming County. There was some doubt whether the
library would have books enough to go around.
But those who had the vision to found the library, also had the
vision to include book service to all schools within the area. There
was no monetary stipulation, although the library naturally appre-
ciates support from any and all school districts.
The reason Monroe and Northmoreland Townships do not enjoy
the services of Back Mountain Library is because their school boards
are indifferent to the welfare of the children they are elected to
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serve.
There is something wrong with school districts,
school direc-
tors and teachers who are too shiftless to see to it that good books
are within easy reach of the children they are supposed to instruct.
It is not a matter of having to pay for these books. The library
will furnish them without charge. It is simply a matter of initiative
—enough initiative to come to the library and select the books that
these schools should use.
FROM
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PILLAR TO POST
By Mrs. T. M. B. Hicks, Jr.
The article in the September McCall's on the subject of contest win-
ning must have been a boon to the big soap companies. Sales, zoomed},
overnight. kitchen shelves became stocked as never before with soap
in boxes, soap in flakes, soap in beads, soap in diamond crystals. Every
bath-cabinet sports a Shick Injector Razor whether the man of the fam-
ily clings to his trusty Gillette or
has been weaned on an electric
model which mows the whisker
without benefit of soap or soften-
ing cream.
Nation-wide contests—aside from
the universal appeal to the gamb-
ling instinct, are sure-fire adver-
tising for whatever product it is
that is currently offering the twen-
ty-thousand dollar lump sum or
the seven brand new Fords. A
good lively contest moves more
goods in less time than any other
brand of advertising, so the huge
first prize and the modest little
items such as new cars are not
really out of line with the results.
Contests are good business, though
I am inclined to agree with the
disgruntled man who. had kept his
name on the new-car list for two
years and found at the end of that
period that he was occupying the
same position near the end of the
line. “Take my name off the list”,
he wrote, “and send me a thousand
box-tops.”
; With roassurance
as to the actual valid
contests, folks who have sit back
and refrained from submitting en-
tries on the suspicion that.the:en-
tries were probably stirred up with
a stick and the top layer skimmed
off for actual reading and judg-
ing, are now sharpening their pen-
cils and their wits.
McCall's assures us that the en-
tries are actually read, every one
of them, but that a great deal of
elimination necessarily takes place
on technical grounds very early in
the sorting process.
Did you remember to include
your box-top or reasonable fac-
simile thereof? You didn’t? Your
entry, no matter . what gem of
pertinent prose or poetry it con-
tains, automatically hits the waste-
basket. Did you count your words?
If the rules call for twenty-five
words or less, better make it
enough less to be immediately ob-
vious to the naked eye. One word
over twenty-five and you're out.
Hyphenated words count as two. .
Is your entry neat? Can it be
read without benefit of an inter-
preter ? Is it typed or printed leg-
ibly? Is it placed in the mid-
dle of the page if plain paper
is used instead of a contest blank ?
As’ between an entry submitted
on an oficial blank and one typed
on paper, it is the blank entry
which will be given the edge in
the decision, the entry most likely
to be included among the favored
few which are judged on points
by the senior judges.
Digest the rules thoroughly, so
that your priceless blurb about the
quality of the soapsuds produced:
by the soap company’s pet will
not be thrown out on technical
grounds before it has a chance to
register. Millions of people enter a
big contest, and a goodly percent-
age of them are people who en-
ter contests by the score and are
therefore contest-wise. They are
formidable opponents.
Preliminary sorting does not
take into account’ the quality of
the entry, but its technical correct-
ness, its strict adherence to the
simple rules which the majority
of people do not read with suffi-
cient care. If you can once get
your entry beyond the sorting table
where = the envelopes are first
opened and the box-tops checked,
you have a chance to win a prize.
Did I ever win a contest prize?
Nope. But I dust out the garage
occasionally and reflect upon how
handsomely a brand new Ford
would decorate the premises. And
there is a spot down in the or-
chard where a prefabricated house
could be erected with good effect,
a spot sufficiently removed from
the main works so that the babble
of childish voices might simmer
down to a gentle hum, After all,
it doesn’t take long to beat out an
entry, we can always use an extra
cake of soap, and the family Gil-
lette is about shot. If your entry
isn’t entered, how can it win?
Bear Season
Opens Monday
Commission Expects
Kill To Exceed 570
(By Pennsylvania News Service)
Bre'r Bar season gets under way
in Pennsylvania on Monday (No-
vember 15) and it is estimated that
near 250,000 nimrods with weapons
well-oiled will takefto the woods
day battle with bruin.
g { thie” year is expected
ueavy, according to the State
ty Commission, with indications
now pointing to a kill of better
than the 569 knocked off last year.
Considerable damage from forag-
ing bears has been reported in
some counties, mostly in the north-
eastern tier, and it is expected that
the kill will be fairly high in these
areas.
Again the Commission is trying
to hammer home the need for ex-
treme care in hunting, pointing
out that with high-powered rifles
being used, a hit can very easily
be fatal. Last year there was only
one death reported plus two in-
juries during bear season. The
Commission would like to see that
cut to nothing this year.
And while big brother is hunt-
ing the big bear, little brother
(and in many cases big brother
too) will be well under way in
his annual fur-bearing animal
trapping season.
Better than 40,000 trappers are
expected to be counted working
their trapping lines. The season
opened November 1 with racoons
and skunks in stellar roles.
Trapping annually in Pennsyl-
vanie usually yields some thing
like 500,000 muskrats, 90,000
skunks, 12,000 minks, 50,000 opos-
sums, 1700 beavers, racoons and
22,000 weasels.
Brace Class
Visits Natona
Enjoy Refreshments
In Mill Cafeteria
Brace Bible Class of Dallas Meth-
odist Church enjoyed a tour
through Natona Mill on Tuesday
evening.
Groups of ten were conducted by
Robert Milne, Harvey Hoffman,
James J. Gellnghey and Moilon L.
White.
Professor Charles Jame fered
the blessing = whi refresh-
ments were served in the mill
cafeteria by chairman, Robert
Milne, Alton Sprout, Henry Welch,
Thomas Kingston, Howard Bailey
and Niles M. White. Present were:
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Roberts, Mr.
and Mrs. Edwin T. Roth, Mr. and
Mrs. Richard H. Disque, Mr. and
Mrs. Daniel Waters, Mr. and Mrs,
Lewis LeGrand, Sr., Mr. and Mrs.
Howard Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd
Ide, Mr. and Mrs. Wardan Kunkle,
Mr. and Mrs. Niles M. White,
James J. Gallagher, Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph P. Jewell, Mr. and Mrs.
(Continued on Page Eight)
Tue Darras Post!
MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER, A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION
DALLAS
Vol. 58, No. 46
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 12, 1948
6 CENTS PER COPY
Back Mountain Highway Deaths and
INGSTON 4
TOWN
RPGeumng
a
Architects’ drawing of the new
central office building on Church
street which will house the head-
Proposed Central Office For Four Companies
o& i)
quarters staffs of Commonwealth,
Luzerne and Bradford Telephone
Companies as well as Harvey's
Lake Light Company executive
office of Commonwealth Telephone
Company.
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The drawing shows the remodel-
ed exterior of the present building
and the new wing that will be
added.
Youth Drowns
In Beaver Run
William Renard Faints
While Removing Rocks
William Renard, 18, Baltimore,
son of Mr. and Mrs. George S.
Renard, was pronounced dead by
drowning Monday afternoon at
2:30 at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital,
after he had suffered a fainting
spell and fallen face down into
six ‘inches of water in Beaver Run
Creek. i g
Renard was removing stones
from the creek, located ih the rear
of the Renard summer home and
hunting lodge “Shangri-La” on the
old Renard homestead.
Chief Fred Swanson was sum-
moned immediately after the boy
was found by his mother, Mrs.
Renard, and Dr. A. A. Mascali,
Dallas, was also called.
Failing to respond to two hours
emergency efforts to revive him
by use of an inhalator and artificial
respiration, the .boy was rushed
to Nesbitt Memorial Hospital in
Harvey’s Lake sedambulance.
Artificial respiration was kept up
by first aid crews all the way to
the hospital. Traffic on the high-
way outside Luzerne was shunted
to one side as the sedambulance
rushed to the hospital.
Rescue attempts were continued
at the hospital before the boy was
pronounced dead by Luzerne Coun-
ty Coroner L. S. Reese, Jr.
~ The boy is survived by his par-
ents, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Ren-
ard, and a sister, Barbara, of New
York.
The funeral was held yesterday
afternoon from a Wilkes-Barre
funeral home. Interment was in
Mt. Greenwood Cemetery.
LehmanP.T.A.
Attracts 150
Plans are Made
For Farmer Dance
More than 150 persons attended
Lehman Township Parent-Teacher
Association meeting on Monday
night.
Basil Steele, president, presided.
Estelle O’ Donnell, membership
chairman, reported 460 members
enrolled during the recent drive.
Prizes will be awarded to the pup-
ils securing the greatest number
of members at the December meet-
ing.
L. E. Cottle, First Aid Chairman,
Wyoming Valley Chapter,
Cross, spoke on the origin of the
Red Cross and Miss Taylor, case
worker of the chapter, talked on
phases of the local Red Cross pro-
gram and urged all persons in this
area to assist in the blood donor
program,
V.oil. WW. Glos’ Club of Kings-
ton, directed by D. H. Lewis sang
several well-received selections.
Red |
Four Bands Add
Color To Parade
Four high school bands, of which
all residents of the Back Mountain
Region might be proud, contributed
to the success of the Armistice
Day parade yesterday morning in
Wyoming Valley.
Leading the second division and
the first band in line was Dallas
Township Band in its"fiew red and
white uniforms and led by Captain
Alfred Millner-Camp. CompgSed of
seven color guards, ten twiflers and
sixty musicians it was one of the
most colorful organizations in line.
Its trumpet section included three
outstanding soloists, Harry Bellas,
Earl Lamoreaux and John Roberts.
With the military units that
followed was Lt. Col. Frank Town-
end of Dallas Township, assistant
parade marshal.
In the third division composed
of Naval units in which many local
men marched was Kingston Town-
ship’s black and orange band of
forty-five pieces led by Verus
Weaver, director. The band made
a striking appearance and won
praise all along the route.
Lehman High School's Scottie
Band, one of the county’s top
musical organizations, was in the
sixth division composed of vet-
erans of Foreign Wars Posts. It
Bernard J. Gerrity lost a big per-
centage of his band by graduation
last spring, but nobody would ever:
know it by the way the youngsters
played.
Dallas , Borough Band led the
seventh division composed of Vet-
erans of Foreign Wars Posts. It
has come a long way in the past
year under the direction of Prof.
Lewis and capably unheld the repu-
tation of Dallas for producing a
good band. Marching in the same
division was Back Mountain Post
7836 Veterans of Foreign Wars and
in the eight division was Daddow-
Isaacs Post 672.
Warned Against Hunting
In Borough Limits
Elmer D. Swelgin, Trucksville
R. F. D. was fined $25 in proceed-
ings instituted by the State Game
Commission for shooting within 150
yards of a dwelling while hunting.
Chief Russell Honeywell, /has
warned that hunters who discharge”
firearms in Dallas Borough in’ 'vigla-
tion of a Borough Ordinance” “will
be prosecuted if apprehended.
Postpone Hearings
Public Utility Commission has
postponed the hearings on the pro-
ceedings of Dr. F. Budd Schooley
and Howard Cosgrove et al versus
Dallas Water Company; and Alice
B. Reese and F. O. Pettitt et al
versus Shavertown Water Company
which were to have been held at
Luzerne County Court House at
10 A. M. on November 18 to De-
cember 18 at the same place and
hour.
ise -
TWO PLAIN HUB CAPS LEAD
TO IDENTITY OF MOTORIST
Close cooperation between
Dallas Borough and Pennsyl-
vania State Police led last
week to the apprehension of
a hit-and-run motorist who
early Sunday morning a
week previous ran into Dallas
Borough Honor Roll, destroyed
shrubbery, broke a flood light
and “no parking’ sign, and did
considerable’ other damage.
There were no witnesses, al-
though a sleeping bus driver
was awakened by the crash
too late to catch the fleeing
license number.
Chief Russell Honeywell had
only two hub caps and a piece
of radiator grille as clues. The
hub caps had no identifying
markings, although®he reason-
ed they must have come from
either a Kaiser or a Frazier
automobile.
He notified Pennsylvania
State Police and within a
matter of hours Private First
Class Billows had his man.
The driver was brought to Dal-
las where he voluntarily offer-
ed to pay something over $50
for the damage. He stated
that he had planned to re-
turn and make good for the
damage but hadn’t got around
to do it before the State
Police found him.
On ‘many previous cases, the
State Police have been just
as quick to cooperate with and
assist Chief Honeywell.
= ae
Local Dog Wins
Championship
Cottle Terrier
Sold In Hawaii
Mrs. Louis E. Cottle, Shavertown,
has just received a breeder's cer-
tificate from the American Kennel
Club announcing that “Portmaker
of Merricourt” has attained cham-
pionship honors.
“Portmaker” is a two year old
smooth fox terrier, sired by Ch.
Queensburg Last Word” ex “Cloie
of Fenbor”, bred by Mrs./Cottle.and
of Westbury, Long Island.
This is the second champion bred
by Mrs. Cottle—the first being Ch,
Brass Check of Fenbor (Portmak-
er’s aunt). It is also “Cloie’s” sec-
ond champion son—the first be-
ing “Ch. Archibold of Fenbor’—
a full brother to “Portmaker” from
a. previous litter.
Having completed his champion-
ship “Portmaker left by plane for
his new home in Honolulu where
he will continue to be shown and
also used in the stud to introduce
WHO DAMAGED HONOR ROLL
sold by her to Robert Burmét Neff |
his excellent: Hloodlines in) the |
: lands.
Parking Limit
Now One Hour
On Main Street
Borough Will Enforce
Parking and Speed
Limit Regulations
On the recommendation of Dallas
Business Association, one-hour
parking signs have been erected
on Main street.
Action on restricted parking was
taken earlier this year by Borough
Council. Chief Rugsell
has been instructed fo warn first
offenders of the parking regula-
tion and then to take more drastic
action.
It is the opinion of the Business
Association and Council that much
of the parking congestion on Main
Street in the past has been caused
by Main Street business people
who have parked their cars there
all day long and by others who
have parked their cars there for
indefinite periods while they took
the bus to Wyoming Valley.
At the same time Street Com-
missioner Ralph Eipper and his crew
erected the new parking signs they
also erected school zone signs on
Huntsville Road, Franklin Street
and Lehman Avenue. “Twenty-Five
Miles an Hour” speed signs have
also been erected on all Borough
streets.
Chief Honeywell warns that he
will enforce traffic regulations with-
out favor and has asked for the
cooperation of" all local motorists
so that he will not have the un-
pleasant duty of arresting a neigh-
bor.
Banker Burned
By Explosion
Eck Injured While
Working In Cellar
Frederick J. Eck, cashier of First
National Bank, was painfully
burned about the face and right
ear yesterday morning @ at 8:30
when a gasoline can exploded while
he was disposing of rubbish and
tin cans in the furnace at his
home in Shavertown.
The cellar was quickly enveloped
in flames but in spite of his burns,
Mr. Eck extinguished the blaze
while one of his childrén who was
with him at the time ran to the
second floor to inform Mrs, Eck
of the accident.
Mrs. Eck, a former nurse, ap-
plied first aid and summoned Dr.
Charles Perkins who treated Mr.
Eck for second degree burns. Al-
thotigh his hair and eyebrows were
badly singed, Mr. Eck had fortun-
ately closed his eyelids so that
there was no damage to the eyes.
Unless complications set in, he
will be in bed for about a week.
BOX SCORE
Serious accidents since V-J Day
Hospitalized Killed
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"$500,000 PHONE OFFICE FOR DALLAS
'Sordoni Firms
To Have Main
Offices Here ,
Sixty Employees {To
Be Transferred To
Dallas Headquarters
Pursuing the two million dollar
post-war expansion program of
the Commonwealth, Luzerne and
, the Bradford County Telephone
Companies, Senator Andrew J.
Sordoni today disclosed that
plans and specifications for a new
central office building at Dallas
are being prepared by Lacy,
Atherton, Wilson & = Davis.
Plans call for complete remodel-
ing of the present building and
an extensive addition as shown
in the architects’ proposed sketch.
Construction of the new Dallas
building will “start in the spring
and together with dial conversion
is expected to cost more. than
$500,000. Equipment = necessary
for conversion to dial operation is
expected to be received next fall
and installation will be made im-
mediately. /
Headquarters of Companies
In addition to serving as-the cen-
tral office € Commonwealth
Telephone Company in the Dallas
area, the new building will also
serve as the main office for
Commonwealth, Luzerne and Brad-
ford County Telephone Companies
which are operated under the
management of Senator Sordoni.
The mangement, plant engineers
and entire telephone accounting de-
partment, . which heretofore has
been centered in the Sordoni Or-
ganizations’ Forty Fort office, will
be moved to the Dallas location.
Approximately sixty employees will
be transferred from Forty Fort to
the Dallas office.
The new main office, as designed,
will be of fire-resistant construc-
tion and will be air-conditioned.
In addition to space necessary for
dial equipment, it will accommo-
date a switchboard room for toll
calls, accounting department, en-
gineering department, business of-
fice and storagé for materials and
trucks servicing the Dallas area.
The Commonwealth Telephone
Company was acquired by Senator
Sordoni in 1928. Since then, a
steady program of rehabilitation of
equipment and service has been
instituted. Chestnut poles were re-
placed with creosoted long leaf
yellow pine and iron wire has been
replaced with copper wire and
gable. Additional circuits have
been added to keep pace with de-
mand.
In conjunction with the telephone
companies’ expansion program,
construction of a new central office
at Clarks Summit with installation
of dial equipment at a cost of ap-
proximately $450,000 is progressing
rapidly and new dial offices have
been constructed at New Albany,
Huntington = Mills, Muhlenburg,
Wapwallopen, Nuangola, Nurem-
berg, Ringtown, Drums, Conyng-
ham, Laceyville, Wyalusing and
Dalton.
Senator Sordoni in commenting
on the expansion of the three tele-
phone companies stated: “We in-
tend to give the people of the Back
Mountain district just as good tele-
phone service as is humanly pos-
sible. We deeply appreciate the
fine cooperation they have al-
ways given us. We are proud of
the business expansion that is go-
ing on in this district, and, we feel
that by giving good telephone ser-
vice it will be an asset toward at-
tracting additional industries and
home owners”.
: Area Served
Commonwealth, Luzerne and
Bradford County Telephone. Com-
panies serve one of the largest
“independent areas” in Pennsyl-
vania. Starting at Ringtown, near
Shenandoah, they serve suburban
Hazleton, suburban Wilkes-Barre,
suburban Scranton and then up to
Susquehanna, which is along the
southern border of New York
State, and then across, with the
exception of Sayre, serving practic-
ally all the area over to Troy, a
distance of almost 120 miles north
and south and 60 miles east and
west. It is the desire and inten-
tion of the management to merge
the three telephone companies into
one.
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