Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-28
Errtrtttn Glrat

Some people were trying last even
ing to estimate the value of the
vegetables grown in the war gar
dens' in and about Harrisburg and
no one seemed to be within $1,000.
Inc guesses ran all the way from
$4,000 to $4,000. AS a matter of
1act 1t would be hard to estimate the
value of the crops gathered in the
war gardens" or to be gathered for
the simple reason that there is no
way of finding out what was raised,
put there were literally hundreds of
gardens that were set out and tended
throughout the summer to fight off
the high cost of food. And these
gardens yielded not only continual
messes of fresh vegetables. but have
ailorded their cultivators consider
able produce to preserve or store for
me winter. while the gain in health
,py getting back to nature as Com
missioner of Health Dixon pointed
out in one of his talks a short time
ago, Is worth as much as the veg
etaoles every time. The estimate
published last night that the gar
uehs under the eye of the Chamber
oI commerce men produced $4,000
as the result of careful study, but
mere was as much additional area
cultivated which put forth its increase.
IN any event the green grocers have
thelr own opinions about the war
gardens and these enterprising gen.
tiemen who bought up potatoes in
the ground at $1.75 a bushel and
never came around again knew what
they were going up against. A busi-
hessman who keeps pretty close
track of daily life in Harrisburg
made his guess at the value of the
produce raised by people at home
or on vacant lots at about $4,000.
lie did not tell how he reached that
ngure, but he said that IL one only
got the latest price of potatoes and
then took ride on q trolley car he
would get an idea of how many
patches were cultivated. This man,
like DIR. Dixon. did not count in tho
penehcent results of work. That was
clear gain, not expressed in cash.
Speaking about trolley cars it is
the belief of trolley men that the
people of Harrisburg do not appreci-
ate the fine rides to be had around
Harrisburg. 1t may be pretty prosaic
TO ride to Middletown and back or
over to Mechanicsburg or down to
New Cumberland, but by so doing a
person can gain a first class idea of
the industries that are making this
district rich and notable and the
splendid farming country in the
midst of which Harrisburg is set,
While a ride to Marysville or to
Rockville gives a first hand knowl-
edge of the railroad activity which
has made this city a pre-eminent
| distribution point. A trip to Hum
melstoWn will give an idea of what
the Reading is doing, while just be-
yond Hershey has an industry and
town all his own which belongs to us
5ust as the farms on hills and in
valleys Of the country traversed by
the Linglestown line are part of our
section of the State. A trolley ride
WIFE the eyes open, assert old-time
motormen like Curt Chronister or
Sam Albright is worth something
from an educational standpoint.
Colonel Frank G. Sweeney, the
officer in charge of the state draft
Headquarters, says that he is becom-
ing an expert in circumlocution. The
! Colonel has to go over the letters
which shower into the headquarters
every hour, many of which are pro-
tests and based upon desire to get
out of service. The human mind,
says the Colonel, has many turns
recorded of it. but the list has been
added to since June 5.
The Scranton Republican, which
Messrs. Barrett and Pattison are now
directing, Is getting ready to cele-
brate fifty years of busy newspaper
life. The anniversary will be cele-
brated on November l and the plans
are now being worked out for a
notable edition.
Lew R. Palmer, Chief Factory In
Ispector, who is being congratulated
upon his appointment as chairman
of the industrial preparedness COM
mittee of the National Safety Coun-
Gil. was one of the organizers of the
safety organization which now in
lCludes many of the prominent en-
Cineers of the country. Mr.. Palmer
has just retired as president of the
Council and the greatest increase in
membership in the history of the
organization occurred in the year he
served. Before entering tate service
he was safety engineer for the Jones
& Laughlin Steel Company.
Captain w. f. Harrell, who leaves
the command of the Harrisburg re-
crJliting station of the United States
Army to join an infantry regiment
at Syracuse after making a notable
| record here, won quite a reputation
among the foreigners here. In some
way or other they found out that he
was the man in charge of recruiting
and they were very respectful to him.
Most Of the foreigners had had ex-
perience with officers and the man
who takes people into the Army is
one to be saluted on all occasions.