The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-12-06
Picked Up in Capital
of the Buckeye State

Uncle Sam has reached out and taken
an Ohio man, George A. Burren of
Cleveland, and put him in one of the
major posts in the vast war machine
that has been constructed to crush
Prussian militarism.
Burrell has been made director of
gas warfare for the army and navy,
and his particular task is that of
matching his skill against the in
genuity of German chemists, in manu-
featuring death dealing devices.
Burrell was born and reared in
Cleveland. His parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
A. A. Burrell, reside at 1OO1O Somer-
set avenue N. e.
He attended Broadway school and
was graduated from South High
school and Ohio State university.
Most of his years since completing his
education have been spent in chem
ical laboratories. Many of his expert
ments proved useful to the Newburg
steel mills, where he was a one time
employed.
Burrell made a study of mine gases
during his employment with the bu-
reau of mines at Pittsburg. Under
his guidance, federal employees fitted
out mine rescue car that has been
adopted by several governments.
He participated in thrilling rescues
of entombed miners, and his name is
a familiar one in coal mining circles.
1t was at his suggestion that the
canary bird was first used to ascer-
tain whether men could work in the
gas found in certain mines.
With bird cage strapped to the
shoulder of the leader of a party of
explorers, eyes were kept fastened on
the little singer during the under
ground voyage, and if the bird col
lapsed or showed signs of weakening,
a hasty ascent was made and the
mine gas labeled poisonous.
ohioans Thankful for Coal.
Ohio's Thanksgiving, from a state
standpoint, was one of thankful feel
ing over the prospect for coal relief
with the lifting of the lake priority
order.
The order, imposed by the federal
fuel administration which gave rail-
road and mine priority to shipments
of coal to the lakes for transportation
by water to the northwest, has been
dissolved, according to the promise of
Washington.
Immense quantities of coal, stand
ing on railroad tracks throughout the
state, which was subject to lake pri-
ority regulations, were released for
distribution in Ohio through the reg
ular channels of the coal trade.
The state almost at once began to
feel relief from the pinch. The diver
sion of more coal into regular trade
channels in itself is sufficient to re-
lieve conditions considerably.
The effect on the morale of the
state will be considerable.
The state will have to bear in mind
in the future, as it has in the past,
however, that this is a time of war
and that conditions, even after the
priority order is lifted, will not be
what they were in normal years.
Warns of Food Enemies.
While taking further steps to pre-
vent waste of food through the hold
ing of food cars on city tracks for un-
reasonable periods, Fred C. Croxton,
Ohio food administrator, sent a new
note of warning to county food COM
mittees.
This letter was sent every county
warning of anti-American propaganda
and asking details.
Complaints have reached US from
various sources that in a few COM
munities in this state anti-American
interests have stirred up opposition to
the food conservation plan, particu-
larly to the food pledge campaign. In
at least one county, members of our
committee have received warnings to
cease their activities in behalf of food
conservation.
"Will you please report at once
whether you have met with any op-
position indicating anti-American sen.
timent, and if you have, give us all
particulars, so that proper steps may
be taken in the matter"
"Pen Mightier Than Sword"
There lies on table in the Office
of the state auditor a penholder a
foot long and an inch in diameter.
The pen itself is an inch across. Any.
one welding it has the appearance OF
writing with a broomstick or a cane
But it is good pen, and is called "the
emergency board pen" because it is
used in signing some of that boards
documents. The pen was given to a
state auditor more than rs years ago
and has been handed along. State Au
ditor A. v. Donahey expects to pass
it on to his successor.
I'VE only use it on strong stuff" )"
Donahey explains.
Will Stop Food Loss.
Commission merchants called here
for a conference with Fred C. Crox
ton, Ohio food director, pledged their
cooperation in preventing losses OF
food in cars.