davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
j. III. BURKE LEAVES
NORTHERN RAILWAY
Former Station Agent in Brattleboro
Offers Services to Government
On Way to New York.

James H. Burke, formerly station
agent i'll Brattlcboro and for the past
several years general superintendent
of the Northern Railway of Costa Rica.
with headquarters at San Jose, has
given up his position with that road
and offered his services to the United
States government through the minister
at Costa Rica and the VERMONT repre-
sentatives in congress.
The Northern Railway is part of
the United Fruit Co. property, the bust
ness of which has been seriously inter
fered with through the taking of ships
and the loss of foreign trade. Mr.
Burke does not know whether his serv-
ices are to be accepted He has left
Costa Rica and will stay while in
Cuba in order not to make too sudden
change from the hot climate of Costa
Rica, and then will come to New York,
reaching there late this month. and he
is likely to come to Brattleboro in a
few weeks.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
AMERICAN TROOPS
ARE WELL TRAINED
Remarkable for Their Health and
Morale and Keen About the Game,
Says General March

AN ATLANTIC PORT, March l.
Mai. Gen. Payton March, new chief of
staff of the United States army, ar
rived here today after nine months
abroad as chief of artillery of the
American expeditionary force. He will
90 at once to Washington. Describing
the American troops in France as so
well trained in modern warfare as to
be able to handle themselves with
entire credit to the United States he
said the censorship was lamentable =
and intimated he would advocate that
the regulations be made less stringent
so that the people of America might
learn as much as possible about the
activities of the expeditionary forces.
THE American forces are remark
able for their morale and health,' he
continued. "They are keen about the
game. | inspected the troops on the
line Just before l left France and they
are extraordinarily cheerful and con
tented, notwithstanding the mud and
the German shells.
| ''Their health is splendid. There is
no sickness and there is better morale
than there was at the Mexican border
where ! was stationed before going
abroad.
Gen March was accompanied by Mai
Gems. S. D. Sturgis and F. H. French.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
STREET RAILROAD
PLOW GOES SKATING
Leaves Track at High Street and Runs
Into Tree and Pole-Employe
Shaken Up. =

The street railroad companys snowplow
went skating this forenoon soon after 9
o'clock and brought up against tree and
electric light pole at the corner of Oak
and High streets with bent nose, frac-
tured roof and dislocated foundation
Perley LaPlant, one of the occupants who
was riding on the plow and sanding the
rails was severely shaken up and sus-
tanned minor injuries to one leg He was
taken home and placed IN bed
Snow and rain in the night froze to the
rails and this morning the plow was put
into service to open the track As the
plow was running down High street hill
with George Martin as motorman it was
running faster than conditions warranted
and at the turn at the junction Of Oal
street the wheels left the rails. aided by
the ice on the track, and headed for the
Colonial, running some distance clear o.
the track and stopping with the nose be
tween the tree and pole near the side
walk. The resistance Of the tree KEPT
the pole from being broken off
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
BARBER PHELPS IS
FOUND NOT GUILTY
Jury in South Londonderry Acq,iits
Former Brattleboro Tonsorial Artist
Crowd Is Present.
Especial to The Reformer. }

SOUTH LONDONDERRY, March /.
A lawsuit of more than ordinary in
terest took place in the town hall here
yesterday afternoon, and the hall was
filled, some $50 persons crowding
into 1t. 1t was an action alleging
breach of the peace and was brought by
Town Grand Juror o. r. Clayton
against Frank Phelps, a barber in the
Melendy building, formerly employed
by ". E. Sturges of Brattleboro, and
was tried by Municipal Judge a. E.
Cudworth and a jury of IL men, nine
from Jamaica and three from this place
Attorney Clayton appeared for the
prosecution and Attorney R. C. Bacon
of Brattleboro for the respondent, and
after being out about Is minutes the
jury returned verdict of not guilty.
Mr.. Phelps Is barber shop is in the
basement of the building, and on the
ground floor ID. l.. Benson, formerly a
blacksmith and a man of large proper
tions, conducts store. Early in Jan
uary Benson and Phelps had some
trouble in the latter s shop and Benson
threw something at Phelps while there
was a man in the chair and made GER
tain remarks not altogether reassur-
ing as to what he intended to do, and
Phelps let a cuspidor drive at Benson
and picked up shovel with which 10
defend himself.
Both were arrested and Benson plead
ed guilty to a charge of breach of peace
by assaulting Phelps. He was fined $5
and costs by Judge Cudworth Phelps
pleaded not guilty and called for a
jury trial. The case was to have been
tried a week ago, but was postponed
on account of bad travelling.
The case was set for 10 yesterday
morning, but it was late starting and
| only one witness was called before din
ner. A recess was taken at noon until
l.45, and the evidence was all in at
l.30. Then the attorneys took 4 few
| arguments and the court a few minutes
to charge the Jury.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
500, 900 LOSS IN
ST. ALBANS FIRE
Foodstuffs Destroyed When Freight
Sheds Were Burned-Thought to
Have Been Incendiary

ST ALBANS, March I.-Firc last
night destroyed the freight sheds here
of the Central Vermont Railway com
pauv, causing an estimated loss of
100000. 1t is believed to have been
incendiary. Part of tho building, con
tanning the business offices. was saved
but the main shed. filled with freight,
burned, as did part of the building
which waa packed with goods held by
customs officials awaiting shipment to
Canadian points.
The blaze, which is the fourth Of n
series to break out on the property of
the Central Vermont within three
months, gained great headway before
it was discovered, having at least a
45-minute start The interior of the
shed was mass of flames before the
fire department arrived.
Thousands of dollars worth of food
stutfs consigned to stores in st. Albans
and vicinity served as fuel for the
flames or were damaged beyond use by
amokc and water. Heavilv-loaded ears
on the sidings were run out of danger
The origin of the fire is unknown.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
DEER FARM OWNER
SUES FOR DAMAGES
Seeks $500 from Town of Halifax for
Loss of As Sheep Said to Have Been
Killed by Dogs.

Papers in suit for $500 against the
town of Halifax were filed in the
county clerk 8 office this afternoon, the
plaintiff being H. N. Ward of New
York, owner of the deer park farm in
Halifax of which Fred H. Miller is
manager. He seeks to recover compen-
sation for the loss of sheep, alleged to
have been killed by dogs The suit was
brought through the law office of H
6. +. +. Barber and the papers were
served on Town Clerk Harry Good
enough b. Sheriff Frank l.. Wellman.
Mr.. Ward alleges that dogs killed 81
sheep in 1915, 20 sheep in 1916 and
four sheep in 1917, also that the Sc
lectmen have not complied with the
statutes relating to the payment of
damages for the killing of sheep by
dogs The town sent check for $50,
which was returned by the plaintiff 5
counsel.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
DIES AFTER SERIES
OF MLSFORTUNES
Senator Boyd Had Lost Wife, Property
and Mind-Wandered from Home
and Worked as Laborer.

LONDONDERRY, n H. March l.
Senator Daniel NJ Boyd suffered the final
misfortune of a remarkable series Of trag
edies when he died yesterday from pneu
monia He was 60 years old
Mr.. Boyd had never recovered from the
illness that attacked him in New Jersey
recently, restoring his memory after he
had been working as laborer in a ship
ward without knowing his identity. and
he sustained a relapse when he found up
on returning home that his wife had died
during his absence.
Until luck turned against him so Sc
verely, Senator Boyd had been one of the
most prosperous farmers and dairymen of
the state At one time he had herd Of
100 high grade cows, and did large lunch
business as well.
The unlucky streak which pursued him
seemed to begin with the fire a few Years
ago that destroyed his fine set OF farm
buildings Then his large barn with
nearly 80 head of cattle and several
horses, was consumed. and last year
another barn and lot of cattle and eight
horses were burned. He was also Sc
riousiy injured year ago last December
by having his legs caught by the ma
chinery of gasoline pump, which con
fined him to his bed for several weeks
and again last fall he was injured by fall
| ing upon the ice and fracturing severa
ribs. This series of misfortunes, it is be
| lieved, unbalanced his mind and causet
him TO leave home mysteriously on Jan
| l6, last He said he remembered moth
ing OF his experiences until he awokc il
| a hospital
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
SAVED BY POOLING
FERTILIZER ORDERS
Farmers Secure Reduction of So to $40
Ton by Paying Cash and Sending
for Large Amount

In his weekly report to the state
director of county agents County
Agent A. W.. Sweeton says: "The co
operative fertilizer orders have been
delivered and everything worked out
o. X. An agent for the same kind
stated that he had to get nearly so
per ton more for exactly the same
brand sold in the usual way in small
lots on time. So or SO per ton on 60
tons shows what a few farmers were
able to save by pooling their orders
and paying cash. We hope that these
cooperative orders may be put in ear
lier next winter and that many more
may join in this method of purchasing
their fertilizer
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 2S, by The Asso-
ciated press.-Thc American consul left
Petrograd, where he remained after the
embassy 5 departure, according to in
formation reaching the American dele
cation here. The consulate has been
taken over by the Norwegian consul.
This bare report appears to indicate
that the situation III Petrograd has
taken an unexpected turn for the worse
in view of the fact that the latest pre-
vious messages from the Russian capital
said the American consul would remain
there after the departure of Ambassador
Francis and his staff in order to keep in
touch with tho American legation here
and with the state department. News
agencies, the press and diplomats here
are without any but the most meagre
dispatches from Petrograd in the last
n hours.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
Invasion Continued After a
Brief Pause, PetrOgrad
Despatch Indicates
ALLIED EMBASSIES
LEAVE THE CAPITAL
Ambassador Francis and His Staff, the
American Consulate, Military Mis-
sion and American Red Cross Started
for Vologda Wednesday.

LONDON, March 1.-Despatches re-
ceived by the Exchange Telegraph com
pany, filed in Petrograd at p. m,
Thursday. indicate that the German ad-
vance into Russia has been resumed.
A forward movement by the invaders
of some 80 miles beyond tho Polotvk
midway between Dvinsk and Eitebsk is
reported and in these adviees the Ger
mans are pushing on despite the fact
that the railway has been blown up
and the stores and provisions in their
way destroyed
German troops are also reported to
be moving slowly toward Luga from
Pskov, where they are said to have
captured q division of infantry sup
ported by cavalry and heavy and light
artillery. The Germans likewise arc de
elarcd to be moving on Sebezh, so miles
northeast of Dvinsk
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
President Wilson Studying
Question of American
Participation Carefully
EARLY DECISION
Is NOW EXPECTED
Belief in Washington That Some Ar
rangement Of an International Char
acter Will Be Made to Prevent Ger
mans from Getting Vast Stores.

WASHINGTON, March Japan s
proposal for action in Siberia has
crowded German Chancellor Won Hert.
ling's speech into second place in the
consideration of officials here and there
were indications today that decisions
were being formed which soon would
show themselves in some arrangement
OF an international character to prevent
the vast stores at Vladivostok and con
troll Of the trans.Siberian railway from
falling into the hands Of the advancing
Germans.
Outward indications today were that
the President was studying the ques
tion of American participation with the
japanese in Siberia TO the exclusion Of
other sub bieets.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
URGES POWER TO FIX RATES.
Gov. Mccall Favors Increase for the
Boston Elevated Railway.

BOSTON, March l.-Gov. Mccall, in
a special message TO the legislature to-
day, urged that the public service com
mission for the period of the war and
for one year thereafter be given power
to fix just and adequate rates of fare
on the Boston Elevated railway. The
preaent income, he said, manifestly was
insufficient to meet tho increasing cost
of operation aud to pay employees d
living wage Referring to crowded
conditions on the subway lines Gov.
Mccall declared that "they are such
that human beings should not be sub
.iected to them =
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01

Jchno +. Benton has long been promi-
nent in New Hampshire as a lawyer
and public official. He was born at
Maidstone, VI, - years ago. He at
tended Phillips Exeter academy and
was graduated from the Boston Uni
versity law school.
Mr.. Benton has served as city solici-
tor of Berlin and keene, n. H., a mem
Der Of the New HAMPSHIRE legislature
and of the public utilities commission
of that state which he took a prominent
part in having enacted. He was also
the father of the direct primary law,
which passed the legislature in 1909.
lie has been a Republican in politics
and in 1908 was vice president of the
New Hampshire Taft association.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
Plan Suggested by Select
men Would Equalize
Tax Burden
LARGE BONDS DUE
FEW YEARS HENCE
Statute Directs Selectmen to Levy Ex-
ira Tax to Meet Payments-Provides
Restrictions as to Future Bond Is

heStflCtlOnS dS 10 uLuIe bono Is
sues
Persons who have considered the recon-
mendation Of the selectmen relative to the
establishment of a sinking fund for pay
ing off the town bonds are convinced OF
their annual report the selectmen say:
I'VE would recommend that 10 per cent
tax be assessed each year to establish
sinking fund to meet payment ON bonds
as they become due
There appears to be no question as to
the authority of the selcctmen to levy
tax sufficient to pay off the bonds as they
become due, without any vote of the
town, in fact the statute is mandatory in
its wording.
Section 8 OF the Act No. los, Acts OF
1917. which relates to municipal bonds,
reads as follows: The legislative branch
OF said municipal corporation (which IS
defined elsewhere as meaning the select
men, IN case of town. shall annually at
the same time OF assessing the general tax
levy, in addition to all other taxes, pro
vide for the collection each year, until
such bonds are paid, OF a tax sufficient
TO pay the interest on such bonds and
such part OF the principal as shall be
come due prior to the time the taxes are
due in the next following year
| 1t will be noticed that the word
| shall IS used in this section OF the
! statutes. In view of the varying amount
OF bonds coming due each year, however,
1 it has been thought wise by some to be-
gin setting aside an additional sum now
to meet the large amounts which will fall
due few years hence, which would make
the burden easier by spreading it over
series OF years. In 1923, for instance
bonds of $4,000 will fall due and in each
Of the two following years S9. 600, and in
1893 the amount viii be $500
Hereafter. under the new law, it will Be
impossible to issue bonds under such
terms and conditions which have been
specified in some preceding issues The
new law specifies that the interest shall
not exceed four per cent interest and
that each issue must be fully paid off in
not more than 20 years from the date of
| issue. The statute in that regard, which
is Section Of Act No los, Acts OF 1917,
reads
"All bonds issued under this act shall
be OF a denomination not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than one
thousand dollars, and shall draw interes.
at rate not TO exceed four per cent per
annum, payable semi-annually; said bonds
shall be payable serially, the first pay
ment TO be deferred not later than from
one to five years after the issuance of the
bonds and subsequent payment to be con
tinued annually in substantially equal
amounts 50 that the entire debt will be
) paid in not more than twenty years from
the date of issue"
Brattleboro's bonds and the dates upon
! which they fall due are as follows:
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
Agricultural Leaders Are
Considering Plans of In
creased Production
VERMONTER HEADS
MILK PRODUCERS
Frank H. Clark of Williston Is Pres
ident and Richard Pattee of Laconia,
N. H, Secretary of the New England
Association.

BOSTON, March Ito help win
the war; was the slogan of leaders in
all departments of agricultural activ-
tiles who gathered here today to con
slider plans of increased production and
better methods of distribution during
the coming season. The occasion was
the l2th annual meeting of the New
England Federation for Rural Progress
The annual meeting of New England
Milk Producers association, held at
this time in order that members might
attend the session of the federation.
adjourned last night after electing the
following officers: President, Frank H.
Clark. Williston, Vt; secretary, Rich
ard Pattee, Laconia, n. H; treasurer,
Roger Sherman Hoar, Boston.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
BODIES FROM CHEROKEE.
Three Out of Five Landed at Cape May
Have Been Identified.

WASHINGTON. March 1.-Three of
the five more bodies of the lost on the
navy tug Cherokee picked up and land
ed at Cape May, n. j., have been iden-
titled as follows: James Sova, seaman.
Reading, Pa; Rudolph Frank Elders,
quartermaster, naval reserve, Brooklyn;
Frank Wargo, fireman, Bridgeport, Conn.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
High Explosive Shells De-
stroy Position Held by the
German Artillerymen
STRAY SHELL KILLS
TWO r. S. SOLDIERS


Telephone Operator Trapped in
Dugout, Continued to Work the I'm
portant Lines.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Feb. 2S, by The Associated
Press-Swift retribution has fallen upon
the German batteries which this week
bombarded the American trenches north
west of Toul with gas shells. American
heavy artillery concentrated its fire on the
German Mlnenwerfer batteries for halt
an hour today and obliterated the posi-
tion. Many direct hits with high explo
sive shells were made by the American
gunneIs. Timbers were thrown high in
the air and explosions, probably of enemy
ammunition and gas, resulted. The
ground about the German batteries was
turned upside down and if there were any
German soldiers there they certainly sui
fered death
Thus far SIX men have died from the
effects of the German gas shells, More
than 50 are in hospitals suffering from
gas poisoning Most of these cases art
slight and only one man is reported to b,
in grave condition.
While an empty ammunition train wa
| halted at a place called Dead Mans Pom
a stray enemy shell dropped nearby anc
| killed two men and two horses anC
| wounded four men
| In a certain town behind the front
German shell exploded near the door lead
ing to a telephone dugout, locking tn
passage way The operators in the dug
out, although in considerable danger
continued to work the important lines
Mt the same time calling for help Sol
dlers were sent to the dugout and tn
| rasSageway was reopencd
Late this afternoon the Germans at
| tempted to retaliate for the destruction
OF the Minenwerfer batteries They BON
barded the American heavy artillery wit
their biggest guns, but their shooting ha
little effect The American sector is nov
an ocean of mud
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
BENTON OF KEENE
GETS FEDERAL JOB
Named Solicitor of Bureau of Commerce
Board-Former Head of Public
Utilities Commission.

WASHINGTON, March John +.
Benson of keenc, y. H., was appointed
yesterday solicitor of the bureau of
valuation Of the interstate commerce
commission to succeed ?. j. Farrell of
Newport, Vt, who recently became chief
counsel for the commission
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
HIGHER FREIGHT RATES.
Increase Asked on Shipments from New
England to Pacific Ports

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The inter
state commerce commission today was
asked for rate increases on automobiles,
boots and shoes, leather, machinery,
paper and miscellaneous manufactures
from New England points to Pacific
ports for trans Pacific export.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
Red Mems Hall

Friday. March !. : p. m.-Spccial
meeting of Quonekticut tribe, No. >,
I. o. r. NJ. Adoption degree. Tribal
by laws will bc voted on. A large at
tendance Is desired.
Dances will be held in Red Men S
hall every Saturday until further no
ticc. beginning March ..
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
SUNK BY U-BOATS.
Loss Of Two More British Steamships
Cne an Anchor Liner. Reported.

NEW YORK. March 1.-The British
merchant steamship liberia, of 1850
tons gross, owned by the Anchor line,
was sunk by a German submarine about
Feb. q while bound for this port, ac
cording to information received in ship
ping circles today. The crew was res
cued
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
SENTENCED TO DEATH.
Belgian Socialists Are Condemned
by German Court Martial.

AMSTERDAM, March IA Ger
man court martial at Antwerp has
condemned to death, for espionage
the Belgian Socialists, Colleaux and
Legras, according to an Amsterdam
paper, Pieter Troelstra, the Dutch
Socialist leader, has telegraphed to
Philip Scheidemann, the German ma
jority Socialist leader, appealing to
him to use his influence to prevent
execution of the sentence.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
First Baptist Church

Friday, March ]. AIS p. m.--Imior
Christian Endcdvor meeting All boys
and girls S TO II years oi age are invited,
Friday, March !, 730 p. m-Regular
prayer meeting OF the church Subject,
The Duty Of Church Jude 7.23
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
SENATORIAL CANDIDATE.
Gov. Keyes to Try for Republican Nom
ination in New Hampshire

CONCORD, \. H., March 1.-Gov.
Henry W. Kcyes today announced his
candidacy for the Republican nomina-
tion for United States senator at the
primaries in September. George II.
Moses, formerly minister to Greece, al
ready has entered the contest for the
nomination on the Republican side. No
party opposition has developed thus far
to the candidacE of Senator Henry +.
Hollis, Democrat, whose term expires
next March.
An hour after it became known that
GOV. Kcycs had decided definitely to
seek the nomination former Gov. Ro-
land II. Spaulding, Republican, an
nounced his candidacy. Rosecrans w.
Pillsbury Of Londonderry formerly
owner of the Manchester Union, also
will go into thc primaries as a Rcpub-
liCan candidate.
Energy is the motive power Of thc
human machine. Don t waste il IN
blowing the whistle.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-01
THE WEATHER.
Generally Fair Tonight and Saturday
Colder Tonight in Vermont.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The
weather forecast: Generally fair to-
night and Saturday except snow to-
night in East Maine Somewhat cold
er tonight in New Hampshire and Yer
mont. Moderate north winds, except
fresh on eastern Maine coast.