The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-05-03
NEWS CULLED
IN THE CAPITAL
ACTIVITIES OF STATE DEPART
MENTS - OTHER HAPPENINGS
Farmers Respond to Call.

| OhiO ldA HSlb 66ucIdlly "a q 'SSPOhN
ing to federal and state requests for
increased planting this year, so Head
Master L. ]. Taber of the Ohio State
Grange reported after a flve-day tour
in the state. At every point he had
visited he had found the movement
already under way or had been able
to help start it. He says there will be
few laggards among the farmers.
This weeks issue of the Ohio
Grange news, that goes to $4,000 mem
bers in the state, carried strong ap-
peal from Taber to plant little more,
cultivate a little better and conserve
with greater care that on hand and
that to be harvested. For the next
few weeks Taber will be travelling
over the state and he will keep the
grange spirit bubbling.
The state council for defense will
be broadened shortly by Gov. Cox, who
will call in one or more transportation
men to lend their aid. Other add.
tions will be made as needs develop.
The Good Roads Federation had a
conference here at which plans were
laid out for activity and cooperation
on it's part. 1t will report to Gov. Cox
at what points quick construction Of
incomplete parts of paved roads would
supply direct lines for use Of transfers
of troops or stores by auto trucks. The
whole force of the organization will be
used in helping put forward the state
plans. ,..
Six thousand churches in the state
have received a request from the Ohio
Rural Life Congress officials to let
the pulpits thunder forth patriotic ser
mons and that patriotic gatherings be
held in the churches.
Ruling Affects All Ohioans.
Because of the hazard and uncey-
tainty of the business. gas companies
should be allowed to charge rate
that will yield them 10 per cent return
on their investments.
The Ohio public utilities commits
sion so decided in fixing "a cents as
the rate consumers shall pay the Ash
tabula Gas Co. in Ashtabula, and the
Northern Eastern Oil & Gas Co. in
Geneva and Conneaut. In addition to
this rate each consumer must pay
readiness to serve" charge Of 70
cents a month.
The rate fight in Ashtabula, Geneva
and Conneaut has been bitter and has
been on several years. Originally, un-
der old ordinances which have ex-
pired, the rate was 80 cents. The COM
panies raised the rates to SO cents
net, and the municipalities involved
passed ordinances keeping the rate at
80 cents net. The decision is COM
promise, putting the rate at "a cents
with the right to make the readiness
to serve" charge of 20 cents month
for each customer.
The ruling affects all cities in Ohio
where consumers or companies are
seeking new rates and means gas com
panies will be permitted to charge a
rate high enough to yield them 10 per
cent on their investments.
Need Help for Harvesting.
Farmers in many Ohio counties
have ample labor with which to get
their crops planted, but will be in need
of extra help during harvest and nay-
ing, according to preliminary reports
that reached the state house from
county and district agents.
i Clinton county reported the largest
acreage of corn in its history, plenty
of help now, but harvest help will be
needed The two corn canning estab-
lishments there had enough acres Of
sweet corn under contract to supply
their needs
Coshocton is short of labor and
seed, wants Il minimum price fixed.
Belmont will need help at harvest, but
is in good shape now. Columbiana
labor is ample. Guernsey has plenty
of labor and work we'll along. Mus
kingum is short of labor and seed.
Neutral on Woman Suffrage.
Mayor George J. Karb of the Capt.
tai City is neutral. He is not neutral
4 in regard to the war, because he is
one of the foremost hackers of back
yard gardening in the state. He is
pro-American all the way, but when 1t
comes to suffrage for the women, the
Columbus Mayor is going to stay on
the neutral side. He has announced
that he will not sign the ordinance
passed by council to give the women
of Columbus the ballot. Columbus is
under the charter plan. The supreme
court held that in certain cases the
women could vote under the charter.
! The ordinance passed by the Colum-
: bus council provides that a vote shall
be taken on the question of women
: voting on municipal matters at the
! general election next November.
" Mayor Karb has sent it back to the
clerk of the council unsigned.
Putnam Makes Good Showing.
: Putnam county is in the crop pro-
! duction race this year to be the ban
> ner county of the state, A. P. Sandles
of Ottawa reported when he reached
: the city. More acres are under plow
/ than ever in the history of the county.
r There are other counties in the
, state in which no special effort has
d. been made and where only negligi.
, BILE response has been made to federal
/ and state appeals. Most counties, how.
} ever, are showing a ready response,
E increasing acreage and seeking to
/ help meet the situation. The great
shortage is labor.
Some Counties Ladgards.
: There are laggards among the coun'
4 ties of Ohio in the work of seeking to
Y increase production on the farms. Re-
3 ports told of 1000 acres Of tillable
K land in Union county where there