The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-29
Local correspondence.
JoHNsTowN. July 27, 1869.

OedF FTeeH1dn-1he specialltieS of toe
past week in our town were fighting and fun.
In addition to the quarrels that we noticed
in our last letter, there were several more
fights after l wrote. The parties were near
ly all fined from $5 to $25, aud the borough
realized a considerable amount of money from
the trials of the belligerauts. 1t is thought
that the origin of these fights can be traced
to the invoicing of q few barrels of uncom-
monty mean whiskey. Whatever the cause
may have been, there was more lighting dur
ing the past week in this borough than there
had been for the six months preceding.
The fun or amusement was brought about
by the serio-comic, dramatic, sangerbund,
horse-dancing menagerie, called the Mace
donian oil company. We suppose such
combination never travelled before. We
noticed them briefly last week, stating that
they came here in an elegant car drawn by
four horses. Their ostensible purpose is to
advertise the medicine, but really we think
they are a party of pleasure seekers, and
just sell the medicine to pay expenses. They
have an organ, violin and flute, and they
play exceedingly well. They are also good
singers, and they can speak both German
and English. Every afternoon and evening
of last week they drove their car to the Pub
lie Square, played choice music, sang droll
songs, and extolled their medicine in two or
three languages. They pretended to per-
form wonderful cures, and perhaps did help
some people. The folks were much delight
ed with their music and thousands could be
seen on the Square every evening. The only
objection we had to the proceedings was that
some of the songs were little rough. and
did not seem to accord very we'll with the ir
otherwise gentlemanly department, choice
music and excellent speeches.
9TH -
sought other sources of pleasure. On Thurs
day night party of very respectable young
people held moonlight picnic at Won Leu
mems grove, spending the greater portion of
the night in innocent amusements, and
returning in the morning with the convic-
ton that sleep is essential to health and
comfort.
We noticed last week that the tower of
the new German Luthern church was being
torn down. We were not then aware of the
reasons for so doing. 1t appears that the
foundation gave way, causing the tower to
lean over towards the inside of the church
about foot at the height of sixty feet. The
tower was completed on Thu rsday week and
workmen commenced tearing it down ON
Saturday week. A new foundation will be
put in and then the tower will be rebuilt.
Had it not been for this accident the church
would now be finished outside.
The water company of this place have put
i'll thirty-three fire plugs at the co; ners Of the
streets, and they Low ask the borough coun-
Gil the sum of fifty dollars for the use of each
plug annually, amounting to sixteen hun
dred and fifty dollars year. To this pro-
position portion of the council object, al
leging that the price is too high. Besides,
some citizens would get all the benefit, while
others in the suburbs of the city would get
none. We would suggest this compromise: !:
Let the water used from the plugs be meas
ured, which can be done approximately,
and let the council pay fair price for the
quantity of water actually used. There
might not be FIRE here for year, and six
teen hundred dollars is too much money TO
throw away for nothing. But there might
be fire that would require thousand bar
res of water to quench; if so let 1t be paid
for at fair price.
The last few days of good weather have
been worth millions of dollars to the farming
community, and " hie we rejoice that they
have good dry weather. we regret that they
have not more help during the throng.-
Harvest is hard time on the farmers. They
have no time to rest, but are hurried from
one post to another till they become done
out. There were but few of them in town
on Saturday, AID consequently the market
was limited, especially in the matter of but
ter.
A stream of electricity struck the dwell
ing house of Evan Roberts, of this place, q
few days ago, without damage to the in
mates. The theory that lightning only
strikes high objects is not correct, and we
doubt whether lightning rods will attract the
fluid more than few feet at farthest. If
some Yankee would invent plan of run
ming the rods up to where the lightning
begins, there would be a fortune in the in
vention. At present lightning strikes just
where it pleases.
One of our enterprieing citizens has pur-
chased Mr.. Shaffer's store, at East Cone
maugh, and Intends running it strong.
The Ashtola Mills are located in Somerset
county, only twelve miles from JOhnstown
The proprietors own six thousand acres OF
forest land, containing choice timber.
A bridge of trestle work two hundred feet
long. belonging to the Cambria Iron Com
pany and extending across Hingston's hun'
was blown down about week ago.
Episcopal services were held In Union
Hall ON last Sunday. in the forenoon and
afternoon. A large number of people at
tended, attracted thither by curiosity.
The passenger car recently brought here
runs regularly, drawn by four horses, and Is
crowded with passengers almost every trip.
We have no doubt that it will become
paving institution. 1t is very useful one
at any rate.
The people here are well pleased with the
position taken by Hon. G. L. Pershing in his
Philadelphia speech, to wit: that there
should be no politics in the judiciary.
The town council have not only ordered
the numbering of the houses, but also the
indexing of the streets. The names of the
streets are to be marked at every crossing.
Over two hundred index boards are being
painted and lettered for that purpose, and
will be put up Immediately.
There are several cases of scarlet fever IN
this place, proving fatal in few instances.
The health of the community, however, Is In
| other respects good.
Mr.. Phillips just finished the paving of
Main street on Monday evening, and as it