Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-17
EVENING Chat

The fact that there were abundant
rains in this part of Pennsylvania DUR
ing the Spring and summer and that
the ground was filled with water was
big boon to many people living in
the country and to farmers and stock
owners in general in the recent pro-
longed dry season. There have been
years gone by when the lack of wa
ter at this time of the year was much
more severely felt than 1t is at present
and people conversant with rural con-
ditions say that the heavy rains and
the general planting of trees combined
to conserve the water. In some sec
tions of the State springs have not
ceased to flow since the early summer
and while creeks and brooks are low
yet there are well authenticated rec
ords of much lower levels being re-
ported at this time of the year in the
last two decades. Some farms have
been found to be almost too dry for
planting of wheat this Fall, but they
are the exception. The country needs
rain badly, but not as badly as in
some years and the Susquehanna while
low does not present the serious state
that 1t did half a dozen years. ago
when one could walk from the island
to Wormleysburg. A real good rain
is going to wipe out the deficiency in
rainfall now existing on the weather
records and bring up the streets as
we'll as putting the fields into good
shape.
The Harrisburg exchange of the
Bell Telephone has put out a state
ment which Is of course an advertise
ment for the company, but which at
the same time is illustrative of the
growth of business in this section. 1t
shows that on September l there
fala IN In
Harrisburg, $50 in the West Shore
boroughs; 312 in Steelton; 2S5 in Hum
melstown, 65 in Middletown, 81 in
Halifax and 81 in Dauphin. Now the
Cumberland Valley people state that
they have approximately 5000 tele-
phones in use in Harrisburg, so that
the city has close to II, 500 telephones
in service. BY the time the Harris
burg district, that is the district around
Harrisburg covered in the Bells list,
is counted Up, it will be found that
there are not far from 10000 tele-
phones in use.
Men employed on the restoration of
the great painting of the third days
fight at Gettysburg by P. f. Rother-
mel have been compelled to wait until
the painting can be taken down in
order to properly handle the work.
The painting is so big that it can not
be moved until numerous glass cases,
which formerly held battleflags, are
taken out. The flags are now in the
rotunda. The painting is to be gone
over from top to bottom and the col
ors and figures brought out. over
dozen smaller battle pictures are also
to be fixed up.
If Auditor General A. w. Powell
does not change his custom he will be
the first auditor general within the
memory of old timers on Capitol Hill
to be smooth faced. The Auditor Cen
eral has neither mustache, sideburns
or beard and says he has gone so long
without any of them that he would be
ashamed to try. All of the portraits
of auditors general in the corridor of
the department at the Capitol show
men with boards or mustaches and
some of them wore big ones, too.
CITY Clerk Miller is getting a good
many letters from officials and indivi-
duals in other cities who are interest
ed in the way the commission govern
ment form is working out here. This
is largely due to the fact that Harris
burg was so successful under the old
act that the other cities have an idea
that 1t can show how to do things
under the new.
AS matter of fact, in spite of all
the talk and fuss there has not been
much betting on the election in this
city. Probably dozen authentic wag+
ers, involving sums of more than $50
or 500 have been put down, but as a
rule men inclined to bet have been
waiting until the week before the
election to make their wagers. This
campaign has been so full of surprises
that they are not taking any chances
on last cards.
DIR. John Price Jackson, State COM
missioner of labor and industry has
been honored by reelection to high
Office in the International Council of
Safety, composed of safety experts
from all over the country. Mr.. jack
son has been elected a director. The
convention, just held in Chicago was
the third to be held and attracted wide
attention.