The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-02-09

| 0hEL1ON IROSPEO1S.--l mere j.
perhaps no other town on the Sount
with such bright prospects as Shelton
While little or no building was don,
IN most of the towns and cities o.
| Western Washington during last year
the best evidence of the substantial
| character of this town, is the fact tina
twenty-four buildings, of all classes
were constructed. Every commercial
traveller or visitor says ''Shelton is
the best little town on the Sound,
and we hear the same story wherever
we go. There were no failures Of
| banks or business firms, and while
most of our people haye been and are
| still 'hard-up", yet if the money due
this place from outside sources were
paid, everybody would be in goo6
shape, with little complaint oyer the
depression during 1898. Already the
prospects for good growth this year
are apparent, though the spring is
hardly in sight. No vacant houses in
town, and two dwellings, to go up al
once. While we cannot predict any
thing more than usual IN logging this
year, we expect for steady improve
ment until 1895, when a touch of the
good old times" is in prospect.
GROUND Hoo DAY.-Last Friday
was what is known in Pennsylvania,
and generally observed by Pennanites
wherever they may be, as Ground Hog
Day. This belief which is one of the
early traditions of the state, is that
upon this day the ground hogs, which
haye been sleeping in their holes all
winter, come out to look around and
see If winter is over and spring made
its appearance. He is supposed to
sniff the air and cast his weather eye
about. If he can see his shadow he
Immediately returns to his hole again
and remains for six weeks, which is a
sign that the backbone of the winter
is not yet broken. If, however, he is
seen running around, after his first
observation, it is sure sign of an
early spring. If there is anything in
signs, our winter is not yet over as
the sun shone last Friday.
VISITED THE OPERA.-A party of
fifteen chartered the Willie Tuesday,
to visit the Bohemian Girl" by the
Calhoun Opera Company, at the O1y1n-
pia theatre. The party arrived on
schedule time and enjoyed the opera,
Jul wv my " llC SUI Ill WCiC 1OiCC0 10
sojourn at the Olympia hotel, until
the regular morning trip, reaching
home at noon. The party consisted Of
Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. Knee1and, and
daughter Edith, Mr.. and Mrs. H. S.
Tren1per, Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Day,
Mr.. and Mrs. M. F. Knight, E. E.
Crowe11, Miss Zuela Shelton; J. F.
Riley, Miss Jessie Mcdonald; J. D.
Riley, Miss Della Walsh. The party
report good time in spite of the
vicisitudes.
Postal notes will soon be a thing of
the past. A bill has passed both hous-
es of congress abolishing these notes.
In order that small amounts of money
may be transmitted cheaply the new
law provides that the cost of money
orders shall be less-for sums not ex-
ceeding $3.50 the fee will be three
cents. The present form of applica-
ton for money orders is also abolished
verbal application only being neces-
sary. The smaller post offices which
are now permitted to issue only postal
notes are to be allowed to issue money
orders in SUMS not exceeding $500.
The new law is to go into effect July 1.
The failure of the Willie to bring
back the excursionists Tuesday night
left the Bank, Auditors office and
school without their regular officers
Wednesday morning. The school was
in charge of Miss Draham, assisted
by the ''big scholars" as follows:
Clarence Fisk, Mrs. Knights room;
Herb. Covil1 and Fred Day, Miss
Wa1sh's primary class, and Jessie
Knight the Professors room.
The O1ympian of Sunday has a
story of an alleged drove of wild
hogs, infesting Mud Bay point, in
Thurston County, frightening the
people, running down and devouring
fleet horses, and otherwise foraging
on the skunk cabbage patches in that
vicinity. 1t is suggested that Olym-
plans go out and lay in a cask of
''razorbacks,"
Farmers from all directions report
trees down on all roads, and the road
supervisors have considerable work at
hand. By the way, we have never
been able to learn why a man who
chops tree out of the road, cuts
gap just wide enough to squeeze
through, and leaves a good chance for
a smash-up.
The Elma Chronicle reports that
w. D. Mack will reopen his logging
camp near Elma, and ship his pro-
duct over the P. S. & G. H. Railroad
to Kamilche. AS this entails the use
of part of the N. P. line, the report
may be premature, by several years.
The Vidette says that Hiram Feiser
was committed to Jail for thirty days
for contempt of court at Montesano
recently, but ordered released by
Judge Irwin after ten days.
A. w. Wisner has been appointed
postmaster at Olympia, vice Val. Mil
roy, whose time has expired.