davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
GRAI|OT COUNTY GAS COMPANY PLANT
Buildings Nearing Completion Machinery Being Laid
And Residences Being Piped-Gas Promised August 10

be an oil storage tank. This will con-
tain fifteen thousand gallons.
AS soon as the work of erecting the
buildings is completed the work of i'm
proving the exterior appearance of
the plant will be commenced. A beau
tiful lawn will be laid out, as will also
cement walks. Flowers, shrubs and
plants will be placed here and there
on the lawn so that the new gas fac
tory will not suffer by comparison
with the handsomest of modern fac
tories. The office of the Company
will still remain in the new block on
State street, being more centrally To-
Gated.
Already ten miles of mains have
been laid. All of these have been laid
in the city proper. Should the success
of the new concern be assured by
ever increasing business as it un-
doubtedly will and ought to be, it will
extend its lines within a short time to
st. Louis, supplying all intermediate
customers. This will be not only a
great boon to st. Louis, which, like
Alma has always been without this
commodity, but it will probably get a
most cordial reception from the farm
ers to whom the benefits of gas and
electricity have always been denied.
The main line will run along the
"angling" road, and will be laid within
a short time. The farmers have al
ready shown a great interest in the
project. From st. Louis direct route
will be made TO Ithaca to furnish gas
to that town also. AT both places sub
sidiary offices will be established, the
central one remaining at Alma.
Plans for the future call for other
lines branching off to Breckenridge,
Wheeler and the big farming section
surrounding these towns. The GER
tainty of the carrying out of these
plans depends upon the reception with
which the efforts of the Company are
met The enterprise of the Gas Com
pany merits the largest patronage.
At its Offices in the three cities, Alma,
st. Louis and Ithaca, the Company will
sell gas appliances of the most mod
ern make, Incorporating all the latest
conveRiences.
The American Gas Construction
Co. is doing all the work of construct
ing and Quitting the buildings and is
under contract to operate it for thirty
days after its completion.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
EDWIN 5. NAGAR DEAD
Prominent in Montcalm County Bus
mess And Political Circle

Edgar S. Wagar of Edmore, well
known in Alma, died at his home in
Edmore last Wednesday at 1880 a. m.
Mr.. Wagar was a director of the
Union Telephone Company, where his
advice and counsel was always high
ly considered.
He was a member of the state legis-
lature two terms 1896, and was on
the ways, means, finance, appropria-
ton, and other important committees,
and at the time of his death was a
member of the Board of Control, of
the Traverse City insane hospital, APP
pointed by Governor Warner.
Mr.. Wagar was an active member
of the Methodist Episcopal church,
president of the Epworth League and
superintendent of the Sunday school.
He was also member of the state
senate two terms, 1S97-1900, a 32nd
degree Mason and Shriner. Mr.. Wa
gar was united in marriage with Miss
Louisa Pfeifier, at Cedar Springs,
Mich, October 29th, 1875. To this
union was born one son, Harry +.
He leaves a wife, son, and daughter,
Mrs. Lloyd Luther, of Douglas town
ship, one brother, DR.. f. G. Wagar, of
Wolverine, and two sisters, Mrs. An
nette Brewer, and Miss Luella Wagar,
both of Constantine. A complication
of kidney troubles was the direct
cause of his death.
j. w. Robinson of this city attend
ed the funeral services which were
held Sunday afternoon.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
ALMA AT.PLEASNA1
PLAYED Best Game of Season
Last Friday
ON DAVIS FIELD LARGE CROWD
Final Score 9 to 3-With Alma
Team At The Long End

Alma caused the Mt. Pleasant team
to take drop of forty points in the
percentage column of the Hub League
Friday afternoon, when the visitors
were defeated 8 to 3. The result of
this game pat little crimp in, their
hopes for the pennant. A comedy of
errors started the game when the Mt.
Pleasant short stop, Grounds, singled
to short and was called safe on poor
peg, Belonza bunts and because on an
error by McCloy was safe, Grounds
reaching third, Belonza attempts a
steal to second, Vogt begs to Rogers
who does not try to tag Belonza, but
by quick headwork shoots the ball back
to Vogt who puts out Grounds on a
slide for the home plate. La Franboise
singles and Belonza is caught steal
ing third. Crandell was easily struck
out and the side retired without run.
Stimson was handed walk, Rogers
slammed o two base hit to right and
Stimson was caught sliding home.
Vogt singled over second and Rogers
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
KILLED IN RUNAWAY
Frank Walter of Emerson,
Township
HAS HEAD CRUSHED BY WHEEL
Hauling Timber From Ithaca To
Farm For Barn Building

A terrible and fatal accident oc-
CURED last Friday, to Frank A. Wal
ter, whose home was four miles east
and one north of Ithaca, while driving
through Centre street at Ithaca, when
his team became frightened and ran
away, throwing him against the curb
ing, crushing his skull and killing him
instantly.
Mr.. Walter was hauling some long
square timbers, which he had pur-
chased of Mccall Bros. of Ithaca, to
use in rebuilding the barn of w. n.
Newly, which was recently destroyed
by a cyclone, and as these timbers
were some fifty feet in length and he
had not uncoupled his wagon, it al
lowed the timbers to extend ten or
twelve feet in front of the wagon and
about the same in the rear. Several
feet of chain were attached TO the wag-
on tongue and the whifiletrees were
hooked to the end of the chain, the
tongue being wired up to the wagon so
that it could not drop.
When the team turned east off from
Pine River street at the Ithaca Ma
tional Bank corner, the incline of the
street caused the wagon to run down
grade and as one Of the team was a
young horse and nervous, Mr.. Walter
jumped off the load and walked in
front of the wagon, driving with one
hand and endeavoring to prevent it
from humping the team, with the other
hand.
He quieted the horses and they
started on, but the long timbers again
hit the horses launches, frightening
them badly and at about where the
alley runs diagonally across Centre
street he lost control of them and they
ran down the street. Apparently Mr..
Walter could not get to one side for
he clung to the lines and attempted to
steady himself by the arm thrown over
the timbers. 1t is not known whether
he tried to jump to the side of the
wagon out of its range or not, but
when the running team was few feet
east of the Jail, Mr. Walter was thrown
violently against the curb, the hind
wheel of the wagon skidding at the
same moment, crushing his head, be-
tween the wheel and curb, breaking
both arms and bruising his chest. His
body was thrown in complete somer-
sault and he was killed instantly. The
team ran on mile and half east af
town, stopping themselves near the
Mason farm. They were uninjured.
Onlookers had tried all the way
down the street to stop the team and
they hurried to the spot and were hor-
rified to find life extinct. His wife was
notified and the coroner was called but
decided that an inquest was unneces-
sary, as death was entirely acciden-
Continued on page !
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
SIX AND SIX PLAN.
High School Course of Study Is to be
Revised.

The high schools of Michigan are
each year increasing in Importance.
The last five years has seen remark
able movement of rural students to
the high school. There has been a
marked effort on the part of school
authorities to make the high school
teach the things that will be of most
use to the boys and girls. For the
purpose of aiding in this problem the
Department Of Public instruction will
publish in August a suggestive Course
of Study for Michigan high schools.
1t will indicate work along four dis
tinct lines: college preparatory, agri-
culture. domestic arts and commercial
The work will be outlined so that pu-
pills may begin to choose the line they
wish to pursue i'm the seventh grade
instead Of the ninth as at present. This
will make the division between the
elementary school and high school
come with the seventh grade. 1t is
believed the large number of children
who now leave school in the seventh
and eighth grades will be held in
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
JOHN HANER BURNED
Throws Oil in Fire Box, Which Back
Fired-Doctors Services Required

Mr.. John Haner, chief engineer of
the electrical department of the Alma
Grain and Lumber Co., suffered very
painful accident last Saturday even
ing, when some oil which he had
thrown in the furnace "back fired"
and badly scalded his face and arms.
While cleaning out the cylinder head
and filter, preparatory to the starting
of the engine, he drew off a pail of
liquid which he thought was water,
but which was in reality, oil. 1t had
been his custom to throw the refuse
on a heap of coal nearby, but he had
decided to dispose of it for good by
throwing it in the fire, which was
burning but slightly. The drafts Of
furnace were closed and consequently,
when it ignited, the burning oil burst
through the open door. Mr.. Haner
was struck on the bare arms, neck and
face. He showed great presence of
mind by staggering to the telephone
and calling up superintendent w. w.
Medler.
Mr.. Medler hastened to the engine
room from his home and assisted DR..
Lamb who was dressing the painful
burns.
Mr.. Haner will spend an enforced
vacation of two weeks at least at
home recovering from his accident.
He considers himself fortunate not to
have lost the use of one or both eyes.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
ITHACA POSTAL SAVINGS FUND CONESIOAMA
Third Assistant Master General Orders Postal Savings Deposit
From Ithaca and Ashley Sent To Alma Once Each Day

Postmaster V. p. Cash, under date
of July II received notice from the
United States postofiice department in
forming him that the Alma office
would hereafter be custodian of the
postal savings funds accumulating in
the postofiices at Ithaca and Ashley.
The Alma postoffice has for some time
received the deposits from Vestaburg,
Ednore and Riverdale and now has
ithaca and Ashley added. The recent
order is occasioned by the fact that
Alma banks qualified as repositories
for this fund while the banks in the
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

Alma defeated Clare Tuesday at
home by score of 6 to 4. Several ar
guments were entered into but no de-
cisions reversed. Johnson and Allen
pitched for Alma and the lineup was
the same elsewhere as in the Mt.
Pleasant game. Bleamaster, umpire,
Mrs. d. U. Uptagraph of st. Louis
and husband, were called to the home
of George Sheldon Friday.
Floyd Oswald played for a Central
Normal School dance, Friday evening.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

Within three weeks, the Gratiot
County Gas Co. will turn the gas into
their municipal mains and for the first
time this great domestic utility will be
at the service of all Alma housewives
who will take advantage of its great
possibilities. If the plans of the man.
agement of the new concern do not
miscarry, August 10th will be the first
day that this commodity can be served
in Alma. The work of laying the
principal mains along the streets and
the secondary mains to the various resi-
dences is fast reaching completion,
and by the time the machinery for
making the gas is ready for business,
this work will be practically finished,
though it is anticipated that the en-
ployees of the Company will be busy
for some time laying mains to the
homes of new users. The work of lay
ing the lines and erecting the buildings
has been rushed forward with all
speed. At present the main building is
nearly finished, the relief storage
building nearly as far advanced and
the supply tanks placed and ready for
use
The main building which fronts on
Superior and Elm streets, directly
across the street from the building
formerly occupied by the Miller Saw
Trimmer Co. measures SO ft. long by 60
#. wide. 1t is faced with paving brick
and presents a very attractive appear
ance. In this place the gas will be
manufactured from the raw products.
Coal and coke will be used principally
and various by-products will be made
from the residue. Ample space has
been allowed for the storing of the
materials from which the gas is to
be made. Here, also, the gas will be
compressed and scrubbed. A smaller
building which measures thirty two by
SO feet, and faced with paving
brick also, will be the relief holder
building. In the larger of these two
all modern conveniences, such as
shower baths lavatories, ETC., will be
placed for the use of the employees of
the firm. The Company will leave no
stone unturned to add to the comfort
of its workers, as this will indirectly
increase the efficiency of the factory's
operation
Back of the compressor and relief
holder will be six storage tanks, each
of ten thousand cubic feet capacity,
eight by forty feet. Near this will
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
EXCURSION NORTH
SevenTook Advantage of Saturdays
Fifteen Day Excursion

Excursionists on Saturday and Sun
day excursions over the Ann Arbor
from Alma to Northern resort towns
were not very numerous. In all, seven
persons boarded the train Saturday to
take advantage of the reduced trans
portation prices. All went to Frank
fort.
On Sunday eleven went to Frank
fort, four to Cadillac and six to inter-
mediate points. Though the company
offered some excellent bargains for
vacation tourists not many accepted
the chances.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

cities and villages whose deposits are
sent to Alma have not. The banks in
Alma. like every other commercial or
manufacturing institution in the city,
are up-to-date, hustling every minute
for business, and getting it. A little
red tape does not stand in the way of
an Alma bank; it IS business they are
after and the postal tavings deposits
from Ithaca, Ashley, Riverdale, Yes
taburg and Edmore are appreciated,
not only by Postmaster Cash, but by
the officials of the bank where the de-
posits are made.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

Arthur r. Hole, aged nine years,
climbed a maple tree in front Of his
home on Ely street last Thursday and
sat on limb, fifteen feet from the
ground. Several boys were playing
with him and some were also in the
tree. Arthur became dizzy and fell
TO the ground, striking on his arms,
breaking them both above the wrist.
DR.. Suydam set the broken bones and
at the present writing Master Hole is
resting i'm comparative ease.
Mrs. c. Harding returned to her
home in Durand Tuesday after a visit
at the home Of Mrs. E. Rumsey.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23
ON HIS WAY HOME.

Thomas C. Blaisdell, Jr., sailed Sat
urday, July 18th, from Liverpool, on
the steamer Laurentic of the Allen
line for Montreal from which city he
will come to Alma, reaching here the
last of next week.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

George Sheldon, aged s3 years, is
seriously i'll at his home ON Grover
Avenue. His sickness is caused by
"a general breaking down caused by
old age. He has been resident of
this county almost all his life. His
wife died last February and he has
several children living. Not much
hope of his recovery is held by his
friends and relatives. Mrs. Nora
Schaffer, his daughter, is caring for
him.
Joe Ford and Arlo Eckert, visited
Paul Herrod in Ithaca Monday.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

Total ...--.---...-.34 . y 27 y Z
Umpire, Prof. Ellsworth.
Two base hits-Rogers.
Hits ofr-Allen, 2; Mcnamara, y.
Nelson, 0.
Base on balls-Allen, 2; Men, >.
Stolen bases-La Framboise, Cam
eron, Mcnamara, Belonza, Reynolds,
3; Rogers, 2; Vogt and Wood.
Strike outs by Allen, Z; Nelson, A;
Mcnamara, 3.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-07-23

Master II. c. Richardson, Jr cele
brated his eighth birthday Saturday
afternoon from so 5 o'clock n the
home of his parents on South Jetfer-
son avenue. Twelve were present,
and during the afternoon games were
played and refreshments were serv-
ed.-Monday's Saginaw News
Abe Mindell of Grand Rapids was
the guest of his brother Ben last week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-03

gathered from a different part of the world Some of the barley came from Smyrna, some from Servia, and some rom Russia and the western highlands of the United States. Other rows were of seeds from Manchuria, the high plat eaus Of India. and others were from the plateau of Thibet All of these barleys are growing we'll and many of them far better than that from the native Peruvian grain. There seems to be no doubt but that almost any kind or hardy barley will grow on the pampas, and the experiments or MT. Harlan may open up new future for the highlands of Peru
 The soil of the plateau is almost free from stones. It's soil Is rich that of this region being mostly alluvial. Ii is composed or the shrunksn basin of Lake Tltlcaca and there are millions of acres Of 1t which have never been touched by the blow. Indeed. it is doubtful whether any of 1t has ever been thoroughly farm ed. The Indians use blows made of wood that cut the ground to a depth of three inches. They have bullocks to drag them, and farm the same way they did generations ago. Nevertheless they grow fairly good crops, and with deep blowing large crops or barley might he produced.
 I talked with MT. Harlan about the grasses of the pampa We went together out on the plain. and he showed me the sod It Is compact turf made of short native grasses, mixed with the wild clover that lies close to the ground
 It seemed to me very poor, but MT. liar Ian said that the sheep and alpacas and llamas live well on 1t, although it is short for the cattle
 Leaving this place we went to the grass plots where experiments are being made With hardy grasses from different parts of the world. There I saw American timothy and red clover sprouting through the brown soil. I saw patches of Russian grasses that were growing luxuriantlv and also wheat grasses from our west ern plains as we'll as one Of the families or niue grass that thrive on the high plateau of the Rockies. So far the ex- periments have not advanced enough to make decided predictions, but there is no doubt but that great inprovenep+ can be produced by new seeds from abroad
 The 1armfng have referred to is where the moisture is supplied entirely bv tbe rainfall This is scanty, but it is enougb Tor barley and grasses OF various k,nd. and 1t Is a question whether with arv farming 1t would be sufficient for wheat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-03

plague of the official socialist party as It's recognized prophecies. In those days Germany's socialism was split up into only two factions, the radicals and the re vlsionlsts. The radicals, under Rebel. controlled the machine, and persecuted as schismatics the revisionists under Bern stein.
 AS revisionism consists in watered down Marxist doctrines and opportunist tac- ties Red Rosa who, by the way, has tne university title of doctor, stood with the radical majority She even consid- cred herself an official socialist. The malcontents accused Dr. Rosa of running the party on Kaiser Wilhelm's autocratic lines and they classed her with two other dlctators. the ''theorist of socialism.
 Karl Kautsky. and Mehring. With them vas Bebel These pushed the extremist rradical' policy ruthlcssly, and expelled six of the ablest editors of the s''Vor- warts' for daring. to disagree. Then Rosa was at the height Of her power Since then .he revisionist movement has gained ground. Bebei before his death moved long way in its direction. and at the last annual congresses Bebel and the official chiefs were an intermediate party half way between the tame re- visionists and the remnant of the old urcompromising extremists whose leader was Dr. Red Rosa.
 Since then Rosa has been devoting her energies and h+~ talents to forcing on the teniporizing party certain extremist principles and certain extremist expedl- ents which 1t desires to shirk. Such are the proclamation sof an immediate gen. eral strike as protest against the re- actionary Prussian franchise, and the initiative of au actives no longer merely doctrfnnire. republican propaganda dl- rected against the reigping German sov- ereigns. The official leaders say that the geenral strike would fail as the time has not come for 1t, and they know that an active republican propaganda would Ret them into jail. Hence Rosa's extreme faction is always voted down. But Rosa takes her defeats imperturbably and. meantime she has the joy of proving to all genuine. that Is revolutionary. social- ists thaf the 6fficial leaders are falterers. and polttQons. s.s
 'Ret1 Rosa" .s alrnost the only leading spirit of German socialism who accepts the "soclat revolution" in the sense indi- cated by Marx m the Communistic Maui- festo. that is An overthrowa1 of tho pxoe- ent order bv vtoIenee. Tho "Russ1an spe-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-03
It relates mostly to the pampa, which is 13OO0 feet high.

It relates mostly to the pampa, which is 13,O00 feet high.
 It is different where the soil can be irrigated. Everywhere along the rail- road from the sea to the tops Of the Andes there are irrigated valleys. On the western slopes tEs water supply is poor, and the streams are small, but d little water makes the desert a garden. The Chile river is one s.rip of green all the way from the sea to the tops of the of the Andes, and about Arequipa 1t raises wheat, barley, corn and all of the vegetables and fruits of the tropic and temperate zones.
 Crossing over the coast range and coming into the platead. you find cul- tvated lands, along both sides of the Vilcanota river all the way down to Cuzco The valley in the plateau is in fact a series of little gardens of Eden, the water being carried out over them so that it falls from level to level. The fields are in terraces that are now green with luxuriant crops. In coming here to Sicuani I saw many patches of barley. potatoes and beans; and also hundreds of little fields of Indian corn This crop now reaches to the height of my knee in the high attitudes. but to the height of my shoulder where the lands are d little lower and consequently warmer.
 In the valley of Cuzco,. which we shall go through tomorrow, the crops are still more advanced and the barley which is green in the highlands. is there almost ready for harvest. The lands of thse valleys look very different from the pla- teaus that are fed alone by the rains The irrigated lands are exceedingly val uable. They have all been taken up by the whites or the Cholos. and are exploited by them with Indian labor Here the lands are often divided by mud fences. The fields are consecutive and you see the villages made of mud huts which are occupied by the Indians, who do the hard work. On the noi.-irrigated plateaus the land yields much less and the great CT part of them are given over to pas lures. Here you find hundreds of Indian squatters. each of whom has his little mud hut, with corral or so made of stones or mud into which his flocks are driven at night. He may have two or three acres of potatoes or uuinua, and perhaps small patch of barley but as rule the crop is growh only to supply his own needs. The methods of such farming are rude to an extreme. but the patches seem clean and the Indians work very hard.
 The chief industry of this great plat eau of the Andes is the raising of stock. I have seen millions of sheep on-my way across the plateau. and tens of thousands of alpacas, llamas, as well as many horses. cattle and donkeys. The donlleys and llamas form the beasts of burden. and you see them driven in long caravans over the plain. followed by Indian men. and women, who are either their masters or in charge ofNthem for their masters never get tired of watching the llamas. One can see them everywhere on the plat eau. They walk in caravans along the