The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-15
MAIL BOX ROBBER
 A WEE PICKANlNNY
He Got Nothing of Value and Will Be Dealt With
 Benignly.
Twenty Canvassers To Ask Contributions For Da1sSury Hospital.-Arctic Wave Hits Redding to the Extent of IF ] Degrees Below Zero:
6special to Tne Farmer.l )

= Special to The Farmer.)
 l Bedding, Jan. 15-When rural de. livery was first introduced in this sec. ton many had an idea that it might bring trouble from thefts of mai matter as such thefts could be com
 mitted with small chance of detec- ton. No instance of mail box pilfer- ing occurred however, until few days ago when Albert Gorham's box at the Center and the box at Pine Tree Corner were tempered with. II happened that the articles taken were of slight consequence, consisting of a i calendar from the Center box and o1 i two or three parcels, also advertising i matter from the other. The cu1prit 1 in both cases proved to be a ten year i old coIored boy, the Sone of Fred Deming of Lsonetown.e On account of his tender age the Bethel postmaster. to whom the thefts were reported, did 4 not cause a prosecution, but referred the case to the Bedding se1ectmen for such action as they thought prop CT. Se1ectman Barnes has the mat ter in charge and will endeavor to place the matter in charge and will endeavor to place the boy with some ! family where he will be under good influences. deeming this course pre- ferable to the alternative of sending him to the Connecticut School for Boys.
 About thirty attended the meeting held at the Sanford school last Thurs day afternoon for the purpose of se- curing contributions for the Danbury hospital. Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Mall lory were present as representatives of the hospital management and in brief talks explained the needs of the institution. They said that contrary to a common impression no public hospital in the state, with one <excep- ton was self supporting and but for the appropriations received from the state treasury all would be compelled to greatly curtal their benef1cient work orr face a heavy deficit. This could be readily understood when there was taken into account the fact that while the ordinary weekly rate for patients was $7 the cost was $17. The outlay for help constituted a large item of expenditure as the service must be competent and was therefore expensive. Besides, the demands for hospital service steadily increased and there was a constant need for new appliances and more accommodations of various sorts. Hence the appeal to the general public to aid in a cause SO helpful to suffering humanity. The Danbury hospital had recently been so fortunate as to receive the gift of a 5000 ambulance from a lady bene- factor and other private contrf butt ons which paid for new boilers and yet there was urgent need of additional funds to meet other requirements It was therefore proposed to appoint for Bedding a committee or two, each of whom should select ten helpers to make a personal canvass for contribu- tions The meeting made choice of Mrs. Randolph Bradley and Miss Eleanor Dayton as the committee. Each of the canvassers will be fur nished with a list of persons upon whom they are to calL thus sys- Implications. While the committee hopes for liberal responses to their ap- peal they say that small sums will be thankfully accepted. It is believed that a total of at least $100 can be easily raised After the business of the meeting was concluded those present were served with tea and cake by Mrs. D. $. Sanford.
 A report that George s. Banks would discontinue numbering opera tions until he could obtain protection by insurance under the workingmen's compensation act proves to be only measurably correct. The sawmill is still running, although with a reduced force which will not be increased to the former number until insurance is effected MT. Banks says that the reduction was made largely because the man who owns the mill wanted to replace some of the men he first hired with a gang that has previously worked him him.
 schools met at tie Center school Mon day afternoon for 8 conference on subjects pertaining to their work. Several of these meetings are held during the term and are found to be quite interesting and helpful
 Seventeen below zero was the read ing of Milo Osborne's thermometer early Wednesday morning. This was the extreme record for the Ridge sec- ton while the general report from the Center was IA below. On most ponds the ice had reached a thickness of twelve inches and ice harvesting be- gan in earnest E. F. Sanford of Pleasant Valley started to put in his usual large supply although his nego- tiations with the Bridgeport Hydrau- lie Co.,, the outcome of which may cause his discontinuance of the meat business, still hang fire.
 Tn order to be more conveniently transporting milk to Bridgeport Fer ris Read moved on Tuesday from hometown to the residence of Miss Abbie Sanford in Pleasant Valley.
 Daniel R. Warner has been reap pointed fire warden for this tovvn,. his new commission taking effect from Jan. 1
 William Behm, the Ridge black smith, lost a, horse on Monday night from collie, his second misfortune of the kind within a few months.
 The vital statistics of Bedding for the past year as compiled by Town Clerk Sanford show 2s deaths. 33 births, and IT marriages.
  JERSEY CHICKEN MAN