Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-04
HAPPENINGS AT HAGERsTOwN.
Municipal Middle on Account Of the Aus
tralian Ballot Law-Notes.

A Municipal Middle on Account Of the Aus
tralian Ballot Law-Notes.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
HAeERsTowN. Feb. 8, 1892
Hagerstown is trying to extricate itself from
a middle. The Australian ballot law enacted
in 1850 by the legislature was made to apply to
municipal elections in Hagerstown. Some time
after the passage OF this law a vote was taken
upon the issuing of bonds for the purpose of
drainage. While the measure carried the cleo
ton was not and could not be heldby the ballot
law, because there was no registration of voters
and the other machinery necessary to carry out
its provisions. The question of the issuing OF
these bonds came up before Chief Judge Al
vey, who set aside the election and declared
the bonds invalid. Under this decision when
the time came around last spring for the regu-
lar election of mayor and council it could not
be he held because there were no appliances
for observing the requirements OF the election
law and the mayor and three Of the councilmel.
held over. To get out of the difficulty which
blocks the wheels of municipal management a
bill has been sent to the Legislature now in ses-
sion asking the enac tment OF a law providing
for the registration Of voters by five registrars
and for the appointment by the governor of a
board of election supervisors. The bill will
doubtless pass and our citizens will. then breathe
easier. Drainage is also needed here-badly
nee ded-and bill to authorize the city author
tiles to provide the same has also been sent to
the legislature.
Mr.. John Gassaway lives down in Mont
gomery county, not far from Washington. He
frequently comes to Hagerstown and remains
some time. He Is gentleman of influence and
means. He has made investments here, and
has received judgment on a mortgage of
50, 700 against the Hagerstown Fruit Package
Company. Mr.. Gassaway is n stakeholder in
he n Of
Mr.. James b. Sewel OF Washington owned a
vacant lot on North street, this city. He sold
it for S225 to . Mr.. Stevenson. also of Washing
ton, who will erect handsome dwelling house
on the same.
Rev. Jacob H. Riser Of near State Line is
dead at the age Of sixty-five years. He was a
pastor OF the Mennonite Church for many years.
He is survived by wife and six children.
For q, 500 DR.. d. w. Raglan bought the old
Hagerstown iron works property, fronting on
$50. This is one Of the largest factor prop
critics in the town, and real estate dealers con-
| slider the price paid very low.
The first patent ever issued at Washington
for threshing machine was to Lawrence Hoke
of Hagerstown. The parchment, now yellow
with age, has been discovered in the possession
OF Judge Hoke of Clarksburg, VIVA. 1t is
signed by Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, Secre-
tary of State. and Cesar A. Rodney OF Pennsyl-
vania, Attorney General of the United States.
1t has also tie great old seal of the United
States on it and is numbered No. IL. The
model OF the machine was destroyed in the
great fire of 1886 in Washington, which also
wiped out the other patent Office records.
Washington county has two new postmasters
j. L. Davis, at Bakersville, aud L. W. Ditto,
at Fairview.
James NJ. benjamin, a contractor and builder
of this city, has applied for the benefit Of the
insOlvent laws.
Mr.. Jacob Mullendore has sold his farm of
| 1GS acres. near Rohrersville, this county to
Daniel Gloss for sos per acre.
The Hagerstown Table and Furniture Com
| pany is one OF the new industries lately added
to this city, and is at present working seventy
| five men and turning out from seven to ten
cars OF tables per week.
Hagerstown is looking up and onward. 1t
has been made distributing point for the
great Standard Oil Company, which has pur-
chased the buildings OF the Rock Mineral Paint
| Company and will convert them into depot
for their oils.
An electric railroad is projected and it is ex-
pected the same will be in operation early in
| the spring.
Mr. VIM F. Cowden of the Wilson district,
| this county, gentleman styled the unknown
poet" is dead at the age OF fifty-fve years He
| had u collection OF a hundred or more choice
| selections neatly published in book form, the
product Of his natural gin, and which are
highly spoken or
Vim. Updegraff has sold to Charles Cramer
| for 90, 900 BRICK house and lot Of ground ON
East Franklin street.
| Eli Stern, a well-known miller Of this county.
is dead at the ripe old age of eighty -onc years.
Mrs Elizabeth Bear, residing JUST across the
line in Pennsylvania was found dead IN bed
yesterday. She was aged seventy-nine years.
Philip Skinner, residing near Dry Run, died Of
the grip. He was q prosperous farmer aud
had two children killed by lightning last
spring George y Bowman, one of tbs most
| widely known and oldest Hagerstown NOR
chants, died this morning after an illness of blu,
| a few days, aged seventy-onc years.
Henry Vincent, . col0red man in Jail at Car
lisle under slight sentence, refused to take
| food in order to break down his health and OBJ
tain release. He carried it too far and died
on Sunday. b