Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-02
EVENING Chat

The proposition to have the State
improve the historic highway between
White Deer and Loganton calls to
mind some interesting incidents in the
social life of the State years and years
ago. There are probably some Har-
rlsburgers living who recall hearing
their parents tell of visits to White
Deer Springs. These springs, which
are located right at the present town
OF White Deer. are of pronounced
medicinal value and long ago were ri
Vals of Bedford and other famous
american spas. The highway led off
the road that followed the river and
the wealth of Central Pennsylvania
used to go to the White Deer for the
waters and social diversions. The de-
Velopment of the automobile makes
possible a revival of the famous
springs and the aid of the State in fix
ing up the road will enable easy access
70 beautiful and healthful section.
Congressman Ben Focht, who has
the history of that section down
pat, says that White Deer springs
were great place century
ago and that before that they
deer hunting. In fact, we have the
authority of the congressman for stat
ing that the reason the district got itsI
singular name was there used to bel
some deer wearing whitish coats to be
shot in that section. These springs
have probably duplicates in other
parts OF the State, probably in the
Susquehanna Valley and they illus
trate how good roads and the automo-
bile are bringing long forgotten spots
back into the paths of every day
travel.
Telegraph linesmen are looking
carefully at the skies every morning
these days because now is the time
when they must look for trouble. Gem
orally early December brings a heavy
wet snow and makes trouble for the
telegraph men. They are on their
tip toes these days and at night are
prepared to move at moments no.
tice.
Alexander Roberts, who celebrated
his ninety-first birthday yesterday at
the residence in Market Square which
he has occupied for considerably more
than half century. is Harrisburg's
Oldest native born citizen and was con-
graduated yesterday by many of his
friends. Mr.. Roberts is the son of
Colonel John Roberts, one of the
prominent men of Harrisburg seventy
five years ago and in his younger days
was one of the engineers on the con-
struction of the Pennsylvania railroad
He had charge of important work near
Pittsburgh.
There were some pretty hard things
said about the new war tax yester-
day in the line of the people who stood
about waiting to buy their supplies.
one man who was rather quiet about
1t was rallied at by some of his neigh
bors.
Maybe you amt going to be hit
hard?" was a question asked of him
The man shook his head and an
other man asked, Haven't you got the
money to buy the stamps?"
"Cut it" tensely replied the man ad-
dressed "I am a Wilson Democrat"
Yesterday the first war tax stamps
appeared on documents at the Capitol
and there was q question about them.
Some officials thought that stamps
should be required on certain papers
and were at first inclined to return
those which were not stamped. How
ever, they received them and they are
Professionally filed. The whole thing
appears to hinge on what constitutes
a certificate. Federal rules and State
regulations are apparently not in har-
mony. The safe way is to buy a stamp
until the clouds lift.
Yesterdays meeting of the Public
Service Commission was the first that
Ex-Governor Pennypacker has miss
ed in many long day. He was de-
tanned in Philadelphia and people hav-
ing business with the commission re-
marked his absence.
Judge George Kunkel continues to
receive from admirers throughout the
State expressions of qualification at
the fine showing he made at the cleo
ton and there is a generally mani
tested desire that he shall take a
seat on the States highest court at
an early day.
Harrisburg Railways people are en-.
gagged in an interesting study of traffic
on lines along which people have pets-
toned for additional car service and
the results are being awaited with
eagerness. 1t has been generally saio
that trolley cars always follow the line
of the nickel and the neighborhoods
producing the most fve-cent pieces
can get the service, as a rule. OF
course. there are exceptions, but trans
portation is a business like everything
else. In this case the conductors are
taking note of the points at which
people enter and leave cars and if you
happen to see the conductor put down
a stroke when you get off the car you
may know that a problem is being
worked out Systematically.