The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-06
iREDDlNG'S GRAND LIST INCREASES
 FIFTY PER CENT
Tax Equalization Conducted on a Generous Scale in Town Where Au-
 thors Live.
Mark Twain Library Fund Swelled by Dance and
 Sale of Fancy Work Other News of Bedding.

Bedding, Jan. 5-A dance was held last Friday evening at the Mark Twain library and in connection with it few articles of fancy needlework were disposed of by ticket. The prin- cipaI prize, a handsomely embroidered silk portiere valued at $50. was won by Louis Klein, and a sofa pillow went to Mrs. J. L. Blackman. To signalize the complete installation of the library in it's new home a recep- tfon will be held soon, probably within two Or three weeks. All the books are now in the new building and are being catalogued by Librarian Grum- man. When this work is completed the library will be open for the taking out and return of books on Wednes- day and Saturday afternoons.
 Some citizens will probably open their eyes when they see the valua- tions placed on their property under the new appraisement which is being made by the assessors. As has been stated the board estimates the aver age increase at 50 per cent, but in some cases 1t is only g per cent and tn others fully 100. Some large parcels are yet to be appraised, the Luttgen property beng among these. The property of the Gilbert & Bennett O.. usually reserved to the last, has been finally passed upon. the board having accepted the valuation submitted by the company. This valuation gave an increase of S100.oeo on the manufactur- ing buildings of the plant and few thousands more on their houses. The present total is $336,300 against a last years total of s2042 Part of the increase Is represented by new mill building. the cost of which was ap- proximately $S0,O00.
 Town Clerk Sanford is in something of a quandary over making up the list of town officials chosen at the Octo- Der election, such list being re- quired by the Secretary of State in the compilation of the Connecticut turned no list whatever for the town records and the one placed in the ballot box was returned to 1t and sealed up again after the opening of the box for the court recount at Dan- bury Besides this list was said to be imperfect One of the ballots would help out the clerk in his dilemma, but these are also under seal again. MT. Sanford VII do the best he can un- der the circumstances -''
 Builder McCollam is about to begin the renodelling the old house recently sold ty Marcus Burr to the Misses Waugh and Blanchard of Philadelphia All the ground floor of the building will be thrown into one apartment so as to get the benefit of the huge fire place, and the ceiling timbers or this room will be exposed. The house will also be enlarged by an addh on. ~ The condition of Caretaker Delaney of Putnam Park remains virtually ur- changed. there being periods of ap- parentlys slight improvement followed by rejapses. It will be eight weeks next Sunday since he was stricken. He. Ews~ l- s~1f frrr1Q ton by the demand, made on Tuesday of last week by Pres dent w. H. Burr of the Putnam Park commission that tho sicF van and his family vacate the park house by Jan. 1. Dr. White. Mir. Delaney's physician, declared that the sick man was in no condition to be moved. but MT. Burr is said to have insisted that he could not accept this judgment as final unless 1t was cert fled to by two doctors. The con- currence of another member of the medical profession will therefore be obtained by Dr. White. MT. Delaney's engagement as caretaker does not end until next June. but MT. Burr said 1t was desirable to have the house vacated as the commission might wish to put in a. new incumbent at any time now. The. personnel of the com mission has recently been changed by the resignation of George l.. Rock well of Ridgefield and the appoint ment as his successor of George w. Parker of Hartford
 Wh le a horse owned by Albert Will Hams of Hometown was being driven from Bethel on Tuesday it was seiz- ed with a hemorrhage without any apparent cause and in a short time had bled to death.
 Patrick Green. a respected resident of the Ridge and a veteran of the Civ Il War. suffered a severe paralytic stroke last Sunday and is in a serious condition.
 The funeral of Mrs. D. R. Goodale was held last Saturday afternoon from her residence at the Center. Inter ment was in the Read burying ground.
 Joseph Sullivan, 2nd. has entered the clerk at the Ridge store.
 NIT. and Mrs. D. $. Sanford are spending the week in New York
 Mrs. J. N. Nickerson has gone to Southinston for a prolonged stay with her daughter. Mrs. Helen Upson.
 Farming conditions in Bedding have changed materially from former days the changes being in the direction of lessened activities in general and of decreased production especially as re- gards the more bulky cornrnodf. ies with little to fill their place except a larger output of milk. Formerly the town sent to outside markets every year hundreds of tons of hay. hun dreds of barrels of apples. onions and potatoes by the thousand bushels and a considerable quantity of beef. the latter being largely steers. grass or corn fattened. There are various causes for the decline. For one thing people do not farm 1t with the whole hearted. unremitting intensity char acteristic of their predecessors. The time ar-fvel long since when cattle and grain could not be raised in com petition wi h the West The com parative scarcity and higher price of farm help is another reason. The towns meat products now consist mostly of a considerable quantity of high grade veal. a companion product of the milk industry and .he rest is made uD of 6ecadent cows. bulls and superannuated oxen. The virtual van- fshment of the apple crop is recent. and is accounted for by the injury done the trees by fungus growth and insect pests. The damage had been done before people realized that the trees could only be saved by vigorous measures to combat their enemies, spraying being one of the essential remedies. Some of the orchards might yet be restored to bearing through pruning fertilizing. soil breaking and spraying. but in the main the old trees. which formerly thrfved without any particular attention. are done for and plentiful production can only be