Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-06-18
EVENING CHAT

HofmanS woods is commencing to
come into its own again. Last week
tnere were couple of picnies held
under the shade of it's lofty trees and
Yesterday half a dozen bands of young
Sters We're To be seen enjoying tea
party on the grassy places, while in
the upper end a band of Boy Scouts
Kept watch and ward against any in
Nasion of Indians from Susuuehanna
township with detail in charge of
their camp fire and others carefully
exploring the slope toward the river.
A lew weeks ago the lying portion
OF the woods was overflowed by drain
age from nearby land and there was
an abundance of small turtles. who
were IN turn succeeded by bullfrogS
Win me BASS voices. Yesterday the
water had evaporated or soaked into
the earth and a bunch of blackbirds
was engaged in digging in the mud for
worms. IL the woods could be ac-
quireu by purchase or lease by the city
ana drained it would not only do away
with choice breeding ground for
mosquitoes but furnish a delightful
place Tor children to play in safety,
proViding. of course, the gypsy camps
were kept away. The trees with
little attention could be made to last
tor Years TO come instead of being
allowed to go to pieces and to be
damaged by every storm because dead
limbs are not removed.
Not much attention has been paid
oy harrisburg people to a series of
conferences that has been going on
at the State Department of Labor
and Industry the last two months,
but they are of the utmost impor-
tance, ultimately. to many hundreds
OF thousands of workers in the state.
ihese conferences are being held
by employers and employees together
with State officials and insurance
men, with a view to getting down
TO standard of safety. In other
words. it is the idea to get certain
definite rules of safety. for the guard
ing OF machinery. the construction of
buildings and the sanitary conditions
so that they will rule throughout the
trades. 1t is a gigantic task, but il is
being worked out. slowly, but with en-
cellent prospects of success.
The display of crimson ramblers on
the homes of people about the city is
well worth noting as one rides or
walks along. There is hardly section
OF the city where this beautiful rose
or summer time does not grow and the
number of blooms to be seen now is
remarkable. Up in North Second, out
state, out Derry and in many other
streets there are porches covered by
the climbing rose, which is in all its
glory of coloring now.
Speaking about flowers, the wild
roses on the grass plots in State street
east of Thirteenth are we'll worth
noting, too. These bushes were plant
ed when the public improvements be-
gan TO spread to that part OF the city
and they are so high now that the
mowers bloom within a few inches of
the car windows as they speed between
the shrubbery. The street is one of
the prettiest spots in Harrisburg.
The city highway department has
maze up its mind that it will not be
Dothered with the rush of water from
the hillside streets to Derry street any
longer and advantage is being taken of
the paving of the old pike east of
ElShteenth street to put in large catch
basins. These basins, which are gen.
orally called sewers. are considerably
larger than the ordinary basins and
VIII care for the heavy drainage of
water which runs down into Derry
street during storms and washes dirt
all over the streets.
William Theurer. of Oil City. assist
ant general agent of the State Board
OF Public Charities. was here to-day
ne Is IN charge of the work of the
ooard IN Western PENNSYLVANIA and
spent few hours here on his way to
carlisle to arrange for the meeting of
the poor directors of the state of
whose association he is a member.
Mayor Ira w. Stratton, of Reading
was prominent figure here yesterday.
lie came to attend the meeting of
municipalities and was inclined to be
somewhat severe on the public utilities
law ana its operation toward munic1.
palities.
Among the bequests announced a
rev days ago at Princeton University
was $4,000 from Judge Nath,. MEL
Ewing. president of the Public Service
commission. Judge Ewing came of a
tamlly of Princeton men and seldom
failed to return for commencement or
TO attend the big football games.
Samuel Rea, the president of the
Pennsylvani Railroad, who was here
yesterday for the hearing on the North
ern Central lease, took a look about
the station just before he went to his
train. Mr.. Rea is we'll remembered
by many Harrisburgers and although
his hair is white he is as full of energy
as of yore and his handshake is as
hearty as ever.