Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-24
COLUMBIA NEWS.


Along the River Front.
A walk along the banks of the Susque.
hanna, in company with two brother re-
porters, show us the ravages made by
the frequent heavy rise Of the water.
Here and there the earth 10 worked
out for several rods, making deep
cavities trees have been washed away,
sand piles destroyed; in fact tho shore, as
far as the We could see, presented the ap-
pearance Of devastated. acres. It would
pay our Lancaster neighbors, who have
not the chance to SEE this sight any nearer
home than Columbia, to come to our
borough and see what is to be seen.
Badly Burned.
Jas. Rhoder, an employee in tho Susque-
hanna rolling mill, was this morning the
perpetrator of a mean trick, which resulted
in the most unfortunate consequences We
have ever heard Of. It appears that a young
lad named Edward Cassell, aged IA years,
was running through the mill when Rhoder
tripped him up, causing him to fall on q
pile of red hot iron bars, burning his hands
in a terrible manner. His injuries are so
great that that there are fears he will be
unable to work for the next month or
two. His father entered suit before Squire
Grier, where the trial will come of this
evening.
False Alarms and Races.
Between 8 and o'clock last evening q
false alarm Of fire was started on Cherry
street, causing the entire fire department
to turn out, but after finding there was no
fire they returned to their respective
houses. These alarms are becoming too
frequent and should be stopped. They
are generally raised by a number Of small
boys who do it to "see the fun" and row
between the different companies, for the
latter generally ensucs. There are several
reasons why it should be stopped. First,
an alarm of fire, whether false or true, is
not a nice thing to hear merchants have
to suspend business and are anxious to.
know whether their homes are in flames or
not mothers are worried about their
children. who may happen to be on the
street, fearful that they may be run over
or trampled under foot, and last but not
least, the result of the racing. This not
only with the loss of property but also the
loss of life and again hard feelings are
generally raised. For instance, two COM
panies are racing and one beats the other,
shouting, insulting remarks and tho like,
arc then used. The defeated company feel
badly over their defeat, but at the same
time had they been the winner the<esult
would have been the same. And it is only
natural. We do not mean to reflect dis
credit upon our fire boys in writing. this
way, for they are as brave aud daring a
set as can be found anywhere. But it is
for their own and the safety of our citi-
zens that we advise the stoppagc of this,
what may seem fun to many, but in the
end will prove detrimental.
Borough Government.
Our charter is private act, containing
most of the powers conferred by the gen
eral act. The corporate officers are Chief
burgess and nine councilmen. The chief
burgess has concurrent powers with JUS
tices of the peace in the borough in certain
criminal cases defined. Council is author.
ized to appoint subordinate officers,
to define their duties, and to fix
their compensation. They have appointed
a regulator, defined his duties minutely
and fixed his fees. They have appointed
two policemen, but have neither defined
their duties nor fixed their fees, but pay
them monthly allowance. We have Or
dinances against boys jumping on
the cars, using hand sleds on the side
walks and streets, assembling after sun
set and on Sunday. Corner lounging and
many other evils Of the nineteenth centu-
ry. inflicting fines and penalties, but none
of them have recently been enforced. The
charter provides that the chief burgess
shall have power to enforce the by. laws,
ordinances, rules aud regulations of the
borough, to preserve tho peace, to hear
complaints, to abate nuisances and do
many other things too numerous to men,
tion. Query The borough must be
plaintiff in all actions for fines under its
ordinances. Can the chief burgess hear
these complaints and impose these fines,
he being at tho same time the executive
officer of the plaintiff Section SO Of the
charter provides "That where judgment
is obtained before justice of the peace of
! said borough for fines and penalties,
against any person for breach or violation
of any ordinance, rule or regulation of the
borough, execution may be issued thereon
aud levy and sale made without regard to
any claim to exemption under tho act Of
April 9, 1849." Our charter and many of
the ordinances are full match for the Is
II puzzle but if our chief burgess and
| council will enforce them as others have
| done before them, our citizens will have
much less cause for complaint than they
now have. They have never authorized
the special policemen to make arrests for
| violation of the ordinances, yet they
grumble tho constables have no power to
| arrest without complaint and warrant,
| yet they make no complaint except to
grumble like the dog in the manser.
Little Locals.
The household effects of J. D. Cottrell,
esq.,, were sold at public sale, yesterday.
A large crowd was in attendance.
Go to the opera house this evening, and
see the " German Volunteer" It Is said
to be immense.
The box sheet for "East Lynne" is
now open.
The Bethel church's supper opened last
evening with large crowd present, and
bids fair to be a success.
Squire Frank is building a new Office
besides his present place Of businesss. 1t
will be handsome one.
Mr.. Isaac Peck, of Altoona, is visiting
his son William.
"Shipmates is booked for the opera
house, April 1st. Don't get April fooled.
l.. A. NJ. Rambo has been re appointed a
notary public by Gov. Hoyt.
All day yesterday two drunken shoe.
makers paraded our streets to the infinite
amusement of the small boy 8, who followed
them around. Their actions were comical
in the extreme, but, though drunk, moth.
ing out of place happened.
a number of friends of Mrs. Hartman,
living on Fourth street assembled at hel
residence last evening to participate in q
taffy pulling. An enjoyable but sticky
evening was spent.
| In hacking tn attach arotber co,. tbe