davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
By BRIGGS

on the basis of one-third of the total
cost plus the entire cost of street in
tersections, being paid out of the gem
eral borough funds, the balance being
borne by the abutting properties
However, of the a miles improved.
over one-third of the mileage was paid
entirely at general borough expense.
About three-fourths of a mile of new
paved streets have been dedicated to
public use.
over Il miles of previously inn
proved streets have been surfaced,
placing all the paved borough streets
IN frSt-claSS condition. With the COM
pletion of the 1916 street Improvement
program about rs per cent. of the
total street mileage will be paved
Approximately miles of cement
sidewalks have been laid. This miles
is greater than the total constructed
prior to 1914, and by reason of pro-
one side of most streets has increased
many times the usefulness of the fa-
cilities previously provided.
Additions to the sewer system,
which is paid for entirely out of gem
eral taxation, total more than one
mile. Flush tanks and other sewer
system betterments have been made.
Street traffic signs, bulletin boards,
etc, of an attractive and original de-
sign have been erected throughout the
! borough.
The use of gas for street lighting
has been discontinued and replaced by
electricity, and this service provided
on all borough streets. light being
supplied from ornamental electric
standards on over 21a miles of streets.
from which all poles and aerial service
lines have been removed.
A borough building has been erect
ed, which, with improvements to date,
represents an expenditure of about
$4,000.
or more importance than physical
improvements are the improvements
in organization, accounting, etc, re-
sulting in increased efficiency and
economy, and from which the physical
improvements are at least in part a
direct result.
The tax rate of S.S mills for all
borough purposes was in effect for
several years prior to 1914 and has
not been changed to date. The bor-
ough has not incurred any floating in
debtedness since the installation of
the present system, and the method
of appropriations now in force pro-
vides a safe cash balance at all periods
of the year. Conditions are now such
that substantial tax reduction can be
made at any time without affecting
the standards adopted and maintained
during the last two and three-quarter
years, but, for the present at least, 1t
appears advisable and desirable to ap-
ply the surplus revenues acquired
through the present millage to perma-
nent improvements and betterments,
thus making the borough more at
tractive and serviceable. This, after
all. is the fundamental object for
which municipal corporations are
created. However. a reduction in mill
age is n feature which will be undoubt-
edly given serious and favorable con-
sideration in the near future.
The success of any form of the
manager system is dependent upon a
burgess and council who will select a
manager solely for his fitness for the
office, will inaugurate a broad con-
! structive policy and firmly support the
/ manager in carrying it out.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
THE SUNSHINE SOCIETY

NTHAT a lesson there is for all of
wv us in the Roberta Disbrow-
Lloyd Sunshine Society, the
members of which have pledged
themselves each to take personal
supervision of some crippled child, to
ascertain its needs and how the So
ciety can best be of service to it!
Named for a young woman of
beautiful character and good deeds,
the Sunshine Society is living con-
stantly up to it's best traditions.
It's motto is Pass it on"-meaning
the smile or the good deed that can
only be appreciated as it is bestowed
upon another. Good intentions be-
come glowing realities in the hands of
the Sunshiners.
How many of us could qualify for
membership on that score? How
many of us get much farther than
THINKING our good deeds?
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEB. II
MOVING SLOWLY

VTTASHINGTON is moving with
wv commendable deliberation in
the German crisis. Always it is
for Germany to make the first move.
The President has put himself in the
position of defending the rights and
honor of the nation. There is no sur
face indication pointing to any undue
preparations for the extension of the
break in relations to an actual decla-
ration of war. But it is to be imagined
that the War and Navy Departments
are losing no time in preparing quietly
and without ostentation for the hostili-
ties which appear to be inevitable.
Dispatches from Washington to-day
indicate that the United States would
not join with the Allies in case of war
with Germany; would not send troops
TO Europe; would not agree not to
make a separate peace, and would
confine activities to a campaign on the
seas and to conveying foodstuffs and
munitions TO England. Russia and
France. This would be a sensible
course. Our fight is not that of the
Allies. Thousands of Americans do
not sympathize with them, although it
is probable that an overwhelming ma
jority does. Their aims and ours, in
case of war, would be similar only in
our mutual desire to defeat Germany.
Aside from that our objects would
have little in common.
We do not want to get into the war
at all if it can be helped. People gem
orally are pleased that the President
is moving slowly, but they also want
to believe that he is moving very
rapidly. if secretly, in preparations
against the time when hostilities may
be suddenly thrust upon us.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

to attend to home affairs. The legis-
lators would be asked to speed up
work for the next two weeks and to
clear decks for appropriations, local
option and other big things to be
taken up after the recess.
Under the terms of the bills pre-
sented yesterday by Representative
Lex n. Mitchell, of Jefferson, one of
the Progressives, there would be no
more of the advantage enjoyed by
candidates whose names happened to
begin with the letter A. This has been
estimated to be worth thousands of
votes in state contest and hundreds
in others. BY the Mitchell plan the
names would be rotated so that Mr.. Aa
would be the head of the list in Har-
risburg, for instance. and at the tail
in Steelton, working his way up so
that he would be in the middle of the
list on Lykens ballots. Mr.. Bee would
be affected the same way. In a long
list of candidates. such as Harrisburg
will probably have for Council next
fall. this act would destroy any chance
of a man with a name beginning with
ply goes to show that the practical
working out of some such heralded
legislation does not always bear out
the claims
The legislative committees in
charge of municipal legislation will
probably be about the busiest of any
in the Legislature. There is more
legislation than usual of that kind and
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
Trolley Service

To the Editor of the Telegraph:
We have read so many complaints
already about the way the Harrisburg
Railways Company is handling their
patrons but this case is too good to
hold so ] will, let her rip. Not long
ago. one Saturday evening, I boarded
a Third street car and when we got
to the Relker street markethouse
the motorman stopped the car and
both he and the conductor alighted
and went into the restaurant across
the street while Capitol street car
was right behind waiting to move on.
After holding conversation in the
restaurant for several minutes they
came out, got on the car, and the
motorman presented the conductor
with sandwich taken from a bag
under his arm, and he himself took
a sandwich, put it in his mouth, put
the bag under his arm and went on
his way. Everytime he had to make
stop he had to either put the sand
wich in his mouth or lay down the
bag so as to get the free use of his
hands to manipulate the levers to
open the door.
We do not deny any conductor or
motorman to eat his meals but a
traction company that allows such
doings is not fulfilling it's duties to the
public.
UP-TOWNER.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
THE NEW 1. w. W.

TN New York City has been organ
lied the new Il. w. W." which
might we'll be emulated by the
people of Harrisburg.
Il. w. W." stands for II Walk
to Work"
The purpose of the organization is
to get men and women to use their
legs instead of their nickels in get
ting to their daily grind, so they may
get at least some exercise every day.
The great bane of the American
people, the life insurance companies
tell us, is their failure to get proper
exercise. Many, because of enforced
indoor work, are seemingly unable to
find time for eighteen holes, a rapid
I fire set at tennis, plunge in the
river, or any of the dozen possible
means of outdoor recreation. Now
along comes the II. w. W." with the
suggestion that indoor workers get
up fifteen minutes to half an hour
earlier and hustle down town of a
morning via "Shanks Mare" The
idea has been heartily endorsed by
physicians and physical culturists.
Why not try out membership in the
new organization yourself. It doesn't
cost you a cent. After filling your
inner man with flannel cakes and sy-
rup, "puddin' and mush" or any of
these other delightful concoctions of
the culinary art don't jump into a
street car or a jitncy. but hit out at
a good brisk pace for shop, office or
| factory. If it's cold, bundle up in
your warmest clothes; if it's wet. keep
your feet dry and your umbrella up;
if it's warm and balmy, all the bet
| ter.
| Try it for week and sec with how
much more vigor you get dos n to the
days work
Carrying the idea bit further, walk
home after the days toll is over and
note the keenness of your appetite fol-
I dinner
And give your nickels to the Bel
gian or the Polish funds.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

some of it calls for very careful con-
sideration. The remarks of Repre-
sentative Boyer that it would be better
for the Legislators to sit long and do
their work on laws well than to ad-
journ early. Half baked municipal
regulations in view of the approach
ing municipal contests all over the
state, will create no end of annoyance.
Senator Sprouts proposed tax on
gasoline and the proposition discussed
among memb bers to raise the minimum
fee for automobile licenses from 50 to
s12 have caused a flood of protests
to come into legislative post office
boxes.
The difference between the notice
of the Democratic national chairman
that Democrats must vote to investi-
gate and the vote of the Democratic
member fromNHarrisburg on the probe
was commented upon freely to-day.
Discrimination to take orders in one
so young and so promising is dis
tressing.
1t would seem that all of the can
didates get on the ballot for Coates
ville's primary for it's mayor.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

be expected to render this additional
health service requirement without
additional inspectors" he points out.
To expect the city to be safeguarded
against disease epidemics with a force
no larger than that of twenty years
ago would be amusing were 1t not for
the seriousness of the matter. Little
wonder that Harrisburg was swept
with the greatest typhoid epidemic in
its history when the number of men
employed to guard against such epi-
denies is the same as when the city
was but little more than half its pres
ent size.
Dr. Raunicks suggestion that the
city police be enlisted in the enforcing
of health ordinances is well worthy
of thought.
Auto transportation for health offl-
GERS, contagious disease hospital,
rigid inspection of the city milk supply
sources, the need for social and child
welfare workers. the adoption of a
modern housing code, vaccination
against typhoid of all persons handling
milk, ice cream and other milk pro-
ducts, drastic legislation against mis-
branding and other Misrepresentation
of foodstuffs, and the extension of the
food division-other recommendations
made in its report-are certainly not
mere vagaries. Sound common sense
lies back of every one of them, and
IL Council refuses to put them into
effect, they, and not the city health
officer, must be blamed If epidemics
recur.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
THE BOROUGH MANAGER
PLAN IN EDGEWORTH. PA.
By Edward A. Beck, Borough Manager, Edgeworth
in The American CITY
a trial of nearly three

nURING a trial of nearly three
- years the borough manager plan
has worked we'll in the borough
of Edgeworth, one of Pittsburghs SUBJ
urbs, and present indications are that
the old system of munipical manage
ment is gone forever.
The experiment was begun on Feb
ruary 2, 1914, when the present in
cumbent took office. The borough
managing and budget committee out
lined its plans. which, in general, had
been in operation since that time, as
follows:
I'VE understand the purpose of es-
tablishing the office of manager is to
bring the borough government under
one operating head, thus replacing the
cumbersome, unsatisfactory and eX-
pensive operation of municipal gov
ernment through council committees;
and with view to having the business
of the borough conducted on the same
general principles as a well-organized
corporation.
ITO this end we believe that the
manager should assume all adminis-
trative functions of the borough and
have direct control of all departments
and employees of the borough. He
should prepare contracts for labor and
supplies, subject to approval of coun-
ell He should act as engineer and
prepare plans, make surveys and SUI
perintend all construction work, in
vestigate and present recommendations
to council as to repairs, improvements,
etc. lie should keep records of the
finances and all expenditures which
will enable him to report at any time
as to the condition of funds and how
they are being expended and he
should prepare data for the annual
budget. To sum up, the manager
should perform all administrative
work of the borough. only the gen
eral principles of which need be de-
termined by council. The manager
turn will be responsible for his acts,
as well as their own, to the people of
Edgeworth.
"Under this plan council would act
in capacity similar to that of a board
of directors, and would adopt ordi-
nances, fix the rate of taxation, formu-
late the general policy, direct the eX-
penditures of the borough's revenues,
and in general administer the financial
and auditing functions by law in
vested in them. (Signed)
"a o. PEARCE, Chairman,
LAWRENCE c. WOODS,
"A. l., DAVIS.
Borough Managing and Budget
Committee"
The results have been so satisfac-
tory that when the borough held its
election last fall the entire council
which instituted the reform was re-
elected without opposition.
Edgeworth was Incorporated in 1904
and contains approximately one square
mile with a valuation of 81, 100, 600.
The salary of the borough manager is
IS2,400
Approximately 3H miles of streets
were improved the first two seasons
with modern hard-surface pavements
of standard construction, a concrete
foundation being used for all new
work. During the ten years preced-
| ing 1914 less than u miles of streets
were improved, although some paving
had been done prior TO the ihcor-
poration of the borough) Street inn
provements in Edgeworth are made
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
WHO CARES =?

TDITORS are constantly worrying
IT. about the fashions. Perhaps it
is because they are mostly
poor lot and know their wives will
want to follow the styles. Anyway,
after every dressmakers' convention
the newspapers are burdened by
columns of sarcastic comment and
bitter TRADES on the folly of modern
dress. In recent years mems tailors
have come under the ban also and
even the hand -me-down" makers
have been hooted at and harangued
But all to no purpose! Politicians
and money kings may dread the news
papers, but not so the style creators
male or female. They dote on pub
| licity-the greater the crime the
prouder they are.
For example, down in Philadelphia
yesterday the National Association of
Merchant Tailors decided that there
will be "a return to the old braided
cutaway coat for morning wear and
the discarding of white vest edging."
It's not likely, however, that there
will be any outburst of rage on the
part of editors over this. In the first
place an editor who possessed a morn
| ing coat wouldn't be an editor long
led have money enough to quft-and
in the second place no editor is going
to get excited over white vest edging
being discarded, because anyway, most
of 'em have long been accustomed to
clip the fringe off every time the
laundryman brings home that poor old
crippled waistcoat. The tailors will
have to try again il they want to get
q rise out of us.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
DIR. RAUNICK's REPORT

TOO close attention to the recon-
mendatons included in the an
nual report of DR.. j. NJ ]. Rau-
nick, city health officer, cannot be
given by City Council.
Special consideration of the sugges-
tions relative to ash and garbage COL
lection and milk and food inspection
should be in order because of the dis
graceful typhoid epidemic of last sum-
mer and the deplorable failure of the
Pennsylvania Reduction Company to
maintain its schedules of ash and gar
bage collection this winter.
Municipal garbage collection is
urged by DR.. Raunick in no uncertain
language, and in view Of the fact that
this recommendation has already been
endorsed by Labor's Open Forum, the
City Labor Union and by several ex-
perts in city management, it would
seem more than advisable to give this
matter early action.
No time should be lost in making a
comprehensive survey of the whole
problem in order to see what it will
cost, how the work should be carried
on and what the possibilities for reve-
nue. from a garbage disposal plant
may be. Officials of the Pennsylvania
Reduction Company declare they have
lost thousands of dollars on their con-
tract during the last several years be-
cause of the rapid growth of the city.
We have but little doubt that their
statement is true. If so, any plan
made for municipal collections should
include provisions for the steady
growth of the community
DR.. Raunick is certainly justified in
asking for more sanitary officers. "For
more than twenty years the city has
had but two sanitary inspectors and
to-day with our phenomenal extension
and increased population we cannot
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

.T<HE Telegraph appears to have
been some f1fteen years ahead of
the times when it was instru-
mental in organizing a military com
pany in the high school. This COM
pany led a precarious existence for a
time and fipally passed out for lack of
interest. Now comes the Technical
High School, volunteering it's entire
student body for military training.
Schoolboys are no more warlike to-day
than then. There is no more of the
militaristic spirit in the land now than
then. Only, boys realize now the need
for preparedness as they did not when
the company was first formed.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
: WELL. KNOWN PEOPLE

R. II. Hugus, postmaster of jean
cite, is the president of the Western
Pennsylvania postmasters, who will
hold their annual convention at
McKees Rocks this month.
Colonel Hamilton ID. Turner, COM
mander of the Second Artillery, which
has just returned from the border. Is
one of the veteran officers of the
Guard.
Senator II. w. Schanzt, of Lehigh,
who is a Republican, used to be dis
trict attorney of that Democratic
stronghold.
"A. A. Hammerschlag. director Of
the Carnegie Museum. and well known
here, was hurt in an automobile acci-
dent
Congressman III. w. Temple, of
Washington, does not think the Presi-
dent needs laws to enable him to get
use of munitions plants.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
Ashes Again

TO the Editor OF the Telegraph:
l have seen much in your paper
lately about the ashes. After all the
promises that have been made by our
$2,400 year council, yet some of my
neighbors have been compelled to take
advantages of the vacant lot here al
Seventeenth and State streets. 1t looks
something like a public dump. Coun-
ell had better get on the job and have
SOME results instead of promises.
have paid twenty cents a week to
have my ashes hauled and l don't quite
make $500 per month. Can't some
thing be done?
HILL MAN,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

he is justified in taking the last nickel
from the shivering consumer, that
there is no coal combine in restraint
of trade. And yet Congress and the
Legislatures of the States so on and
on, spending our money by the hun
dreds of thousands of dollars, alter
nately chasing industrial or political
wild geese and applying the whitewash
brush with skill and vigor worthy of a
better task.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
PROBING

MO wonder the public is tired of
IN probes and inquiries! Take the
pure food investigation. for ex-
ample. 1t has been going on under
federal direction for months. the while
prices have been climbing higher and
higher, until finally President Wilson.
exasperated, has demanded that it
produce some tangible results. And
now comes the Pennsylvania Coal
Commission, after a painfully long in
terval. to tell us that the anthracite
operator is ministering angel, that
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
A Prospect

k"I don't like the self-reliant, self
type of women. | prefer
the clinging vine type"
"You won't, sonny, when you find
how persistingly that type can cling
to all of your weekly salary and what
you can raise on your credit"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Why Not, Indeed

TO the Editor of the Telegraph:
They tell me they are at loss for
a name for their new newspaper. Let
me offer a suggestion. Why not call
it the ADVANCE?
U. r. S. TRULY.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14
DO YOU KNOW
That Harrisburg has a big ca
pacity in machinery that could be
used for national defense?

HISTORIC HARRISBURG
In old days Market Square was the
place where the fairs were held and
sideshows were as numerous az at
present fairs.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

Published evenings except Sunday by
THE TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO..
Telegraph Building. Federal Square,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

u. J.STAcRPOLE. Pres't and Editorin. c hiff
i. r. OYSTER. Business Manager
GUS NJ STEINMETZ. Managing Editor.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

The State League of Boroughs,
which is holding its sixth annual meet
ing here, is the work of n couple OF
men interested in the minor munich
palities of the State, although some of
them are larger than certain cities:
The men are r. +. Chrostwaite, OF
Hanover, who labored to get the bor-
ough men together, and ID. l.. Starr,
of Bellevue. Mr.. Chrostwaite has
done an immense amount of work for
the boroughs.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-14

The cornplanter Indians appear to
be getting their usual share of atten-
ton from Father Penn. These In
dams are the only ones in PennsylVa-
MIA to which the State pays much at
tention and they are given good treat.
ment biennially. Years ago this tribe,
which has extensive lands of its own
in Warren county, used to come dow
here, but lately they have been too
busy making money as farmers. The
State gives them money for schools
and pays to keep up the roads in the
reservation.