davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
SMITHS STORE WAS
ENTERED SUNDAY
WITH SMALL LOSS

When III. A. Smith went TO his store
early Monday morning he found that
some one had broken through the win
dow on the south side of the building
late Sunday night. The damage done
to the stock Of goods was very slight
The intruders had emptied a quantity
Of peanuts out of a bag and took the
bag. There was also evidence that the
cracker box and a smoked ham had
been disturbed. Aside from this there
was nothing missing. Mr.. Smith has
no clue TO the persons entering the
store but believes that the parties be-
came hungry and entered the room to
appease their feelings
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
WARNER-SPENCER
CASE DECIDED IN
PLAINTIFFS FAVOR

The case Of Charley Warner vs.. Jud
II. Spencer came to trial before a jury
in Justice A. l.. Spencer's court last
Thursday morning. Warner claimed
that the sum of SIC was due him for
work done on Spencer's dwelling
house. II was claimed by Spencer
that Warner agreed to take SIS worth
Of music lessons from him as part pay
ment.
The jury brought in finding
against Spencer, for s15.7S and costs
in the case amounting 10 about $3.50.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
FAN VENT|LAT|NG
SYSTEM CONSIDERED
FOR CENTRAL SCHOOL

During his recent visit mere, Nor
ley T.. Osborne, who will be the sup
erintendent of the Belding schools
during the coming year made one
strong recommendation to the Board
of Education. This was that the fan
system of ventilation be installed in
the Central school building, at pre-
sent there being no way Of ventilat-
ing whatever except by opening the
windows.
At the regular meeting last week
Wednesday, June 3, the board con-
sidered the matter pretty thoroughly
and Mr.. Osborne's recommendation
will undoubtedly be favorably acted
upon although no definite decision
has yet been made by the board.
The board has accepted the resig-
nation of Cora B. Williams, who has
been one OF the teachers in the second
ward school. Miss WILLIAMS will
teach next year at Amasa. in the up
per peninsula.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
QUARTER CENTURY
EDITION MARKS AN
EPOCH IN HISTORY
HALF CENTURY MARK THE GOAL
FOR EARNEST FUTURE
ENDEANORS

Since last weeks issue of the Ban
ner reached the subscribers the Ban
ner Office has been in receipt of many
complimnts on the manner of cele-
brating the beginning of the second
quarter of a century of activities.
The communications from Judge +.
b. Lapham and Chas r. Cowdin es-
pecially were read with interest by the
older subscribers Twenty-Five years
is not long in comparison with eternity
or in the history of a nation, but in
the shaping and moulding of the life
of an individual or in the building up
of a newspaper il represents a long
hard struggle. Season after season has
brought it's disappointment TO the ow-
ners. Periods of doubt and anxiety
confront the business during all Of
these years
Only through the indomitable cou-
rage and bull dog grit of the owners
was it possible for men, who gave the
Banner existence. to pilot the paper to
successful position.
Having obtained n prestige and
sound footing through it's slogan of
fair and square dealing, the Banner
expects to earnestly and faithfully
continue the same policies and make,
withal, a growth that means success
1t is only through growth that all
nature is permitted to live and make
itself felt among the fellow beings and
inamimate things surrounding it,.
AS a booster of the best interests of
Belding and vicinity the Banner has
always stood and will continue to
stand in the front ranks. 1t is with
an eye 10 absolute fairness and future
good of the community that all mat
ters of import shall be treated.
At times the personal feelings OF
certain individual or possibly col
lection of our esteemed subscribers
may be brought into immediate light
in way that will for the time being
incur their displeasure. This will be
done, not for love of offending, for in
deed it is with feeling of pain that
criticism is rendered Only through
the realization that the welfare of the
should come before that of
an individual are we led 20 question
the acts or motives of the individual.
{ Continued on Page Five)
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
GREENv|LLE WILL
HAVE BIG WEEK
JUNE 29 To JULY 4
BELDING DAY. JULY 2-BELDING
HAS TWO QUEEN CAN
DIDATES

Greenvillc is to have gigantic
Homecoming Week, June 29 to July
4, inclusive. The National Exposi-
tion Shows, one Of the largest carni-
val companies in the country, with ten
complete shows, has been engaged to
show there during that week Shows
and concessions will fill Lafayette
street from the bridge To the city hall.
1t is during this week that Green
Vile will celebrate it's SEVENTEEN birth
day, for in June, 1874, John Green
came to that city and started to build
the first house.
Special programs have been prepar-
ed for every day and Thursday, July
2, has been set apart for Belding Day.
In the forenoon the Belding and
Greenville base ball teams will play
in the GreenviIie park, and in the af-
ternoon will occur the crowning of the
Queen OF the Carnival, and also the
million dollar automobile parade.
Belding is interested in the Carnival
Queen contest for two young ladies
from this city are already entered in
the Beautiful Girl contest, the winner
of which Is to be crowned Queen of
the Carnival. Miss Marie Reed and
Miss Agnes Arnwine, both of this city
are candidates for the Queen. The
winner is also to receive q 5000 dia-
mond ring, which is on exhibition in
the window of Bakers jewelry store
in Greenville.
on Friday and Saturday nights Of
the Homecoming week, the committee
has arranged for a duplication of New
Orleans famous Mardi Gras, and every
body will appear on the streets with
masks over their faces. This will be
a carnival of enjoyment throughout
the week and the last two nights are
expected to be the equal of any night
of the great Mardi Gras.
{ Continued on Page Five)
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
Special Singers Coming

People in charge of the events for
commencement week feel that they
have been very fortunate I'm securing
the services of several out of town sing
ers to feature the programs. Bope
Butler from the Alma Conservatory
of Music will take an important part
in the Operetta, "Pinafore." Miss Eva
Engel, contralto from Grand Rapids,
and teacher Of music both in Belding
and the former city will sing at the
commencement exercises on Wednes-
day night. Miss Retta Jacobson, of
Greenville, lyric soprano, has also
been secured for special music on the
same evening. Each of these people
is talented and each will give some
thing very pleasing and instructive.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
WILL INACCURATE
C0ATlESS SERVICE

Rev. w. L. Doty of the Methodist
church announced TO his audience last
Sunday morning that he is going to
inaugurate a coatless church service
for men during the hot summer
months. Rev. Doty believes that the
men should be accorded the privilege
of attending the church in comfort.
during the sweltry days, even at the
expense of dame fashion or old time
custom. He will ask, suggest and
even urge that the men come to
church in their shirt sleeves if the
practice will make them more COM
Portable. He expects TO take off his
own coat if he gets overly warm with
it on during the preaching hour.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
VALUATION or CITY
INCREASED MORE
THAN ONE.F0URTH
TOTAL INCREASE IN VALUATION
is S5s6.13O OVER THAT OF
LAST YEAR
RATE REDUCED FROM
EIGHT ONE-HAlF MILLS
Total Money to be Rasicd for General
and Sinking Funds Is
$20.55S.0S

Much agitation and talk has been
going the rounds of the city regard
ing the work of the State Tax Som
missioners ever since their advent into
Belding late in the winter.
Following the recommendation of
the state board on several of the re-
preventative properties of the city and
"A canvass of other properties in the
adjacent territories it was the common
belief that the total assessed valuation
of the city of Belding would be raised
at least fifty per cent.
Before the board of supervisors of
the county began their work they
were called together at Ionia to re-
ceive further advice from the state
tax board. At this meeting the sup
ervisors were instructed to assess the
properties in their wards or districts
at what they considered a fair cash
market value. AS result of this in
struction the total assessed valuation
assessment and review, by the Board
of Review, stood at so, 4S9, SO.
The work Of the supervisors was
then inspected by special men from
the state with the result that the
total valuation now stands at $2,569,-
760, or an increase over the super
visors figures of $79,950.
Last year the rate of taxation for
the general city taxes was .01 per cent
on a valuation OF S1,9S3, $50. This
meant that total of 19,S36.30 was
raised for the general city taxes.
Before the last inspection by the
state commissioners the council had
set the rate of taxation for the general
taxes for this year at .00S5. After the
raising of the valuation by $79,950 the
question of rate was brought up in the
council last Friday night and the tax
rate was reduced from .00S5 to 00S.
Continued on page 81
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
BELDlNG GRANGE NEXT
REGULAR MEETING SAT,

The next regular meeting Of the
Belding Grange will be held in the
hall here next Saturday afternoon,
June 13. The meeting will be called
to order promptly at o'clock. The
following program has been arranged
for the day:
Music.
Roll call Of Members-Each mem
ber is expected to respond with quo
tation for the good Of the order.
Reading-Mrs. NJ. Howe.
Discussion-7"Does il Pay The Far
mer TO Keep Accounts of His Crops
Under the Present System OF Prices?"
Reading-M Mrs, Henry Skellenger.
Music.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
SITE IS CHOSEN
FOR HOLDING THE
COMING CHAUTAUQUA

Belongs Chautauqua, the dates
for which are August to IL inclu-
sive, will he held on the property of
the Belding Land & Improvement
Co, west OF the Belrockton, This
was decided Thursday evening when
the executive committee having the
local Chautauqua In charge accepted
the offer OF the grounds made by the
Belding interests.
At the Thursday evening meeting
IL was decided to ask the city coun-
Gil to accord the grounds the proper
policing and. in addition, TO install
closets and furnish water for the
grounds.
The committee voted TO consult
Belding Bros. & Co, and the Belding
Land & improvement Co, concerning
the parking Of automobiles
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
SUMMER CARE
OF POULTRY

Your real troubles in raising poul-
try come with the hot summer days
Lice are the first enemies the poultry
must face. Housecleaning is there
fore an early job.
Then there are the trials Of hot
weather; the necessity OF shade. pure,
fresh water. etc. Green foods grow
scarce i'm midsummer. In fact, the
poultry raiser's work is cut out for
him at this peroid.
The Banners poultry column will
help the poultry raiser this summer.
Don't fail to read IL each week.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
SIXTH ANNUAL |NTERSCHOLAST|C
TRACK MEET WON BY IONA HIGH
CR0TSER HAS HEARING
IN SPENCER'S COURT

4. l.. Crotser was brought into JUS
tice Spencer's court last Friday
charged with taking and using an
automobile without permission
and without intent to steal. II ap-
pears that Crotser and others used an
automobile belonging to +. A. Wash
burn early in the spring to go to Low
ell and that the machine was broken
during the trip.
The hearing Friday was adjourned
until this Wednesday morning. 1t Is
being completed today.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
BELDiNG GOOD ROADS
ASSOCIATION PLACED
DIRECTING SIGNS

The Belding Good Roads Associa-
tion have just completed the placing
of tourist signs on the main roads and
streets leading into and out Of the city.
The purpose OF the signs is to direct
automobilists and others to other
towns i'm the surrounding country
The porcelain part of the signs were
made by the Ingram & Richardson
Manufacturing Co, Of Beaver Falls,
Minnesota, and they were mounted at
the Belding-Hall Co.'S plant They
were erected by the Spencer Electric
Light and Power Co.
Automobilists generally are appre-
ciating the kindness of the local asso-
citation.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
BLACK BASS SEASON
OPENS ON JUNE 18TH

State Game and Fish Warden, w.
L. Oates has issued warning TO fisher
men against catching black bass on
June Is. He says that anyone found
catching them on that day will be
prosecuted.
The law, says oates, provides that
no black bass shall be caught from
February To June Is, inclusive"
Black bass are the only kind covered
by the law.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
Open Air Meetings

The Ministerial Association OF the
city met Monday afternoon and voted
to hold the Sunday evening services
in the open air during the summer
months as they have done in other
years.
The location of the grounds for
holding the meetings has not been de-
cided upon as yet. The first services
will be held in the open air on Sunday
July s.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
Attended Opening

r. l.. Crotser reports very encour-
aging day at his ice cream opening
last Saturday afternoon and evening.
At the close of the days business one
could see scores of people wearing
flowers that they had secured while
visiting Crotser's Cool Retreat.
Mr.. Crotser is always ready TO deliy-
er ice cream, in quantities, to any
part of the city.
A visit to his Retreat will convince
you of the excellent quality of the
goods he handles.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
FARMERS MAKE MORE
BY SELLING CREAM

Farmers everywhere are realizing
il is more profitable and involves less
labor to sell cream to a good cream
cry than to do the churning at home.
The Orleans creamery has a good
talk on this subject on page eleven of
this issue which every farmer should
read.
This talk is the first of series Of
talks which the orleans Creamery will
give to the farmers throug> the coli
umns of the Banner.
Every farmer i'm the locality knows
that the Orleans Creamery is one Of
the best creameries in Michigan and
any information given out by the man
agement will he given consideration.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
FOR HIGH GRADE
CITY LAUNDRY WORK

Everyone in western Michigan
knows that the Baxter Laundry of
Grand Rapids turns out practically
perfect work. The name Baxter is a
guarantee of perfect satisfaction. l..
w. Gephart of this city is the local
Baxter agent. If you want perfect
laundry work call him up and he will
take care of your laundry for you.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
DAWSON BOUND OVER
To CIRCUIT COURT
FOR AUGUST TERM

John Dawson, who recently had an
examination before Justice y. l.. Spen-
Ger was called TO trial in the same
court last Friday afternoon
Dawson was bound over to the Cir
cult court. The case will come to
trial at the August term.
Dawson's bond was placed at $500
which he was unable 20 furnish. He
is confined in the county Jail.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
IN LOVING MEMORY

OF our dear little son and brother VIII
bur Byrne, who was so cruelty taken
from us one year ago today. He is
gone, but not forgotten. He is sadly
missed and greatly needed by his par
ents, brother and sisters, who with
grief mourn his loss.
Mr.. and Mrs. John A. Byrne and
children.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR
COM MENCEMENT GIFTS?

If you are wondering what you
ought to give for commencement pre-
sents you can cease your worrying
right off.
The A. b. Hull store has a splendid
line of articles which are sure to be
appreciated. See the adv. of the Hull
store I'm this issue.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
BELDING HARDWARE co.
TO CHANGE LOCATION

July the Belding Hardware Co.
will move into the Millard block on
South Bridge street. In order not to
have 10 move any more of their stock
than possible the company have cut
prices on practically every line of
goods carried in stock. See their
adv. on page four of this issue.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
THIEF TAKES TOOLS
FROM CEMETERY

W. NJ. Smith, sexton OF River Ridge
cemetery, reports that some person or
persons have recently taken straps
from the cemetery tool house. Tools
of various kinds have also been re-
moved. Mr. Smith respectfully re-
quests that the property be returned.
lie says he has a pretty good "hunch'
as to who has done the dastardly
deed.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
MISS ENGEL

will take a limited number of pupils
during the summer beginning July %.
Apply by mail before July 1, to
2I9 Williams ST.. Grand Rapids. Mich.
Adv.-2-2.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
SPENCER COMPANY
MAKES IMPROVEMENTS

Beginning about the sixth of July
the Spencer Electric Light and Power
company will begin repairing and re-
constructing their power plant on Flat
river about four miles south of Beld-
ing.
The company expects. at that time,
to reset two of their old water wheels
i'm concrete penstocks, and will also en-
stall new one Of the latest type. a
water wheel governor of an up-to-
date type will be added TO the equip
ment. II will regulate the speed Of
the wheels and thus establish a more
uniform power. A voltage regulator
will be placed to guarantee a constant
voltage
During the time when the install
lation and improvements are being
placed the Spencer Company will give
constant current. II circumstances
demand they will either draw on the
power from the Richardson SILK Com
pany's plant or attach to the steam
plant Of the Belding Bros & Co.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
RECORD BREAKING CROWD At
TENDED DAYS EVENTS,
SATURDAY
ALl-R0UND MEDAL WAS
TAKEN BY WILL MILLER
Pole Naulting and Running Broad
Jump Records Broken
by Ionia

Two carloads OF happy and jubilant
school children from this city boarded
the special train from here to Ionia
for the Sixth Annual Interscholastic
Meet The day was ideal and the
track at the Fair Grounds in the best
of condition. A record breaking
crowd from all over the county attend
ed the days events.
Will Miller of Ionia won the day as
being the best all round man and took
the All-Round Medal, Leland Hicks,
Of Ionia, won second place; Miller
broke the record for the pole vault,
8 #. 6 in. with vault OF
fl. 10 in. and both Hicks and Swindt
of Pewamo broke the running broad
jump record 19 TT. y in. The dis
tance was 8 IT. in
summary:
100 yard dash-Mitchell Ionia,
first; Hicks, Ionia, second; Brunn,
Pewano, third. Time-11 seconds.
II pound shot-MitcheA, Ionia,
first Benedict, Ionia, second; Hicks,
Ionia, third. Distance, 3S TT. in.
Running hop, skip and jump
Swindt, Pewamo, first; Brunn, Pewa-
mo, second; Hicks, Ionia, third. Dis
tance-4O fl. in.
220 yard hurdle-Miller, Ionia, first;
Spicer Belding, second; Beattie, Ionia
third. Times 4-5 seconds.
Running high jump-Kyser, Sara
nae, first; Miller, Ionia, second; Brunn
Pewamo, third. Height IT. in.
120 yard hurdle-Miller Ionia,
first; Beattie, Ionia, second; no third,
disqualified Time-20 1-5 seconds.
one Mile Run-Ray Price, Belding,
first; Lowrey, Portland, Second; Pen
ny, Ionia, third. Time min. 10 sec.
220 yard dash-Hicks, Ionia, first;
Mitchell, Ionia, second; Caldwell. Bel
ding. third. Time-23 As seconds.
Running broad jump-Swindt, Pc
wamo, first; Hicks, Ionia, second;
Moon, Belding, third. Distance-ls
#. 5inches.
(Continued-on page 81
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
NOTICE

Barber shops will close every Wed
nesday afternoon from 2:45 until af-
ter the ball games
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10

Mr.. and Mrs Glenn Snyder and
daughter, Thelma, spent Sunday with
Mr. Snyder's parents at McCords.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10

Mrs. Josephine Connor has gone to
Bay View to spend the summer
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10

Wanted Car Load Potatocs-Phone
Il. E.Hudson, the grocer.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-10
Try BANNER Wants

II you wish 10 sell OF buy beea,
ever, b ,dy resdstae Banner
The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-15
A NOBLE MISSION FOR THE
POSTMASTER GENERAL

The way Postmaster General Burl
eson has enlarged the parcel pos,
system so that it becomes large anG
practical benefit to the whole coun,
try, emancipating it to very consid
erable degree from the monopolistic
exactions Of the express companies
has won him praise and thanks in
every State in the Union. And now
II Mr.. Burleson wants to win i'm
mortal fame and fix his place in his
tory as the greatest of all postmast-
er generals, let him concentrate all
the enthusiasm of his soul and DOW
ers OF his Office upon the task of
thoroughly and permanently depriv-
ing the frauds and fakirs of the use
OF the mails in "skinning suckers"
by the hundreds Of thousands every
year with their rascally, lying liter
ature sent through the postofices.
1t is one Of the monstrous iniuui.
ties of this age--the ease with which
credulous people are being robbed of
millions of dollars every year
through the use of the mails by
smooth knaves with seductive get
rich-quick schemes utterly fraudu-
lent and worthless. The annual to.
tai of such robberies is appalling
and is serious drain upon the coun
try. We notice that Mr.. Burleson is
arousing himself to the situation,
and II he can break up this gigantic
game which uses our postal system
as Its necessary ally he will earn the
gratitude of all honest people. Con-
corning this widespread system of
robbing, the st. Augustine Record
says:
such schemes are absolutely de
pendent upon the mail privilege.
When that is taken away from them
they cannot reach the suckers as
these gentry call the misled people
who invest In their worthless prom |
So the government has a
powerful weapon to use against such
schemers. But these crooks are not
easily discouraged. When thwarted
IN one scheme they Immediately try
another. and the so-called sucker
lists of persons who have bitten on
such fraudulent propositions as fake
mines, oil wells, new, world beating
Inventions and worthless real estate.
are sold time and time again by pro-
moters to others of their ilk."
The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-15

a news item in the Tampa Tribune
informs us that Willis Powell has
returned to Florida with view of
establishing daily paper at Clear
water, the county seat of Pinellas
county. Willis is a newspaper man
all right, born for the business, and
he will put Clearwater on the map
with such distinctness that unin-
formed people abroad who peruse his
columns are likely to suppose that
that town is the metropolis of Pinel-
las and St. Petersburg a promising
tributary village.
The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-15

George M. Chaplin, of Jackson
vile, has written a history of Flor
ida in two volumes which has Just
been issued from the s. J. Clark
press. Mr.. Chaplin has thus rem
dered a service of very great value
to his State, for it is only less i'm
portant to write history than to
make it. We have no seen the vol
umes, but have heard them highly
spoken of. 1t Is task of much diff
ficulty to write a history of endur-
ing value, for not only does it re-
quire the necessary literary ability
and courage for the drudgery of
seeking details and digging up a
vast mass of forgotten facts, but the
high conscientious spirit and rare
temperament of the true historian
must be present. and a man thus
qualified Is hard to find. We trust
tnat MT. Chapln Is that kind of man
and has done his work in that spirit,
A large proportion of our histories
are greatly impaired in value and
many Of them worthless because the
historians couldn't keep their preiu-
dices out of their work and wrote
like mere partisans to prove their
case and bolster their theories. This
is especially true of war histories
as one may see in the tremendous
mass of literature about. our civil
war, in very little of which is there
the calm, dispassionate spirit of the
historian seeking only to find the
exact truth and tell 1t fairly.