The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-08
sykesyilIe Items.

sykesvilIe Items.-e- rex
There was unloaded here on Tuesday last
15-horse power ssGeiserY traction engine
for Mr.. Frank Brown. Quite a number of
prominent citizens were present to see the
machine start. Steam was very quickly got
ten up, when Mr.. Frank Schowi, of Waynes-
boro, an expert engineer, skilfully handled
the throttle and guide wheel, and took the
machine triumphantly through the town,
mounting with ease the high hill beyond, and
in twenty-five minutes was safely landed on
'tSpringheld' farm. Allpresent were greatly
pleased with the way the Geiser worked, and
saw power that must shortly take the place
of the horse on all well ordered farms. Mr..
Brown intends the machine for general use
on his farm. This is probably the first one
used in this county for all kinds of farm work.
MIR. Brown is one of the most progressive
farmers in the state, and intends to keep pace
with the times. Many farmers will be at
| tracted to Springfield this spring to see this
wonderful engine. 1t will indeed be novel
sight to see an engine crossing the ploughed
helds with three or four large harrows follow
ing in its wake. Mr.. ]. d. Linton, the enter
prising agent, informed us that their orders
for 1884 will greatly exceed their most san
guine expectations, and we expect soon to see
the traction engine as common on the farm as
the self binder.
Winter has worked its way back here again,
and the people are enjoying short season of
sleighing. "Old Prob must certainly be a
politician, as his predictions are not very re-
liable.
We still ask for another school term and
more schoolhouses. The book fees we find
little objection to from those who are able to
pay. Many, We contend, are not able to pay
these fees. 1t is true, as you say, 'that it is
misfortune to be poor" but remember that
with misfortune generally comes a houseful
of children. The laborer with his one dollar
per day finds it hard work and many denials
to clothe and feed his little ones, and then
when he pays his book fees, in a so;called
free school, l claim that he is taxed, and taxed
heavily, for all he gets. Now, the leave for
bill to increase the taxes for the benefit of
the public schools emanated, we have been
informed, from the School Board of Carroll
county. These gentlemen have probably
better means of knowing what the county
wants in that respect than the majority of the
taxpayers do, and we know, too, that any
citizen has a right to criticise the action Of
men in public places, yet we believe the ma
jority will sustain them in their petitions for
more money. We heartily endorse the five
branches of study you limit, and think them
sufficient. You are right, too, in saying that
the people of the county should be made ac-
quainted with the contents of all local bills
brought before the General Assembly. You
give much valuable space to your correspon-
dents, who could give the opinions of their
localities on the different measures. We get
but skeleton of the news from Annapolis
We did, it is true, get full report in the
dailies of the Colts Ball."
On Friday night last literary and musical
entertainment was given at st. Paul's NJ. Z.
Church, which, we hope, will be repeated.
tod h,yt he
extreme cold weather. The exercises were
excellent. Carroll and Howard counties sup
piled the talent.
PatapscO Items.
If the old adage be true, the ground hog
acted wisely in going back on the End day of
February. Had he fingered around here I'M
til the latter part of February, or even the
first of March, he no doubt would have sui.
fered death from freezing for his temerity.
The thermometer ON the 18th and Doth of
February stood at 50 above zero and at zero
respectively, at our place. The continued
bad weather, which seems to be getting worse
as the days succeed each other, has caused
many persons, upon whom large families are
dependant for support, to be thrown out of
employment, a fact to be deplored and one
that should interest their employers.
Two octogenarians of our vicinity have
passed away during the last week IN the persons
of Martha Beckley and Rachel Abbott. Mrs.
Abbott was the mother of our present Dele
gate, John W. Abbott.
On the evening of the LIST inst, at Carroll
ton Station, Mr.. j. A. Bush, met with pain
full accident and was almost miraculously
saved from being instantly killed, or at least
having his legs broken to pieces. In attempt
ing to jump into the hind part of Mr.. H.
Rausch wagon while it was moving off, upon
which was a stone bed and some freight, his
foot slipped from the end of the coupling
pole, which threw him into the revolving
wheel in such manner as to drag him into the
spokes and between them and the bed and
sand bolster. Soon as he saw the situation
he halloed as loudly as he could, and fortu-
nately Mr.. Rausch heard him and managed to
stop just in time to avert what might other
wise would have certainly been a fatal acct
dent Mr.. Bush was badly hurt and very
much bruised, but expressed much gratitude
and satisfaction at making such fortunate
escape from being killed. We are glad to say
that he is now able to hobble obout his room,
and will be able in few days perhaps to be
out again. 1t is a common practice for per-
sons to jump or spring into wagons while
moving, but an exceedingly dangerous one.
Mr.. George Rooms, son of Mr.. Edward E.
Rooms. returned home few days since from
the West, where he has been soiourning for
nearly year past. He brings with him some
thrilling accounts of the late floods which
have caused so much suffering in those river
valley sections.