Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-02
Elrrtttttg Gfrat

December has not brought the
customary suspension of river coal
dredging operations on the Eusque-
hanna and even on the Swatara, tne
Wiconisco and other creeks which
carry down the small coal from the
mines men and dredges are at work
getting out the fine coal which is
providing such an important addi-
tion to the supply of coal for indus
tries and even for homes. Ordtnar-
lily the first of December brings a
cessation of the coal gathering be-
cause of the cold and the vagaries
of the Susquehanna. This fall there
have been o number of periods OF
high water which have brought
down large amounts of coal and
furnished O considerable additional
supply to work. The dredges have
been moved frequently ands the dis
trict between the northern end OF
Harrisburg and Rockville falls"
which has supplied hundreds of
tons has now been abandoned for
stretches nearer the center of the
city where small islands and rocks
have caught the coal and sand. Be
low the municipal sanitary dam,
clear down to Middletown dredges
are working and some of the boats
will be kept at the harvest until the
cold makes work on the stream haz-
ardous. There have been more
dredges and flats working this year
than ever known before.
South Carolina wants to get out
of the mud. With that idea in mind,
and learning that Pennsylvania on
election day took the first step out
of the mud when it approved the
proposition to bond the state for
$50, 100000 for road purposes, South
Carolina has asked Pennsylvania for
information. The Charleston, S. c.,
Chamber of Commerce in a tele-
gram to M. III. James, of Harris
burg, secretary of the Associated
Highways Organization of Pennsyl-
vania, and also secretary of the
William Penn Highway Association,
asks complete information relative
to the Pennsylvania campaign; the
nature of the proposition voted
upon; and information relative to
the bond issue itself. The Charles
ton Chamber of Commerce proposes
a campaign to bond South Carolina
for money sufficient to give that
Commonwealth start on better
roads. 1t is tired of the mud. That
the southern state is on the right
trail is the belief of Pennsylvania
road enthusiasts.
II
In Williamsport, Pennsylvania,
the women have been taking the
war to heart, and have striven by
every means to do not only their bit,
but their uttermost. There are sew
eral munitions plants there, and
many of the patriotic women of the
up-river city donned overalls and
blouses to take their places in the
second line of defense as inspectors
and workers in munitions plants.
They are not women who were
| forced to seek lucrative positions.
They are members of the chapter
| of the American Red Cross. One of
the young women who trudges off
to work daily, carrying her dinner
pail, and who comes home in the
evening, greasy and t-begrimed,
| is the daughter of the proprietor of
the largest department store there.
Another is the daughter of a prom
inent lawyer, with young son who
also is working in munitions plant.
The pinch of manpower shortage
| has been severely felt in the pa
triotic town, and the women have
been doing their best to relieve con-
ditions.
| DR.. J. George Becht, secretary of
| the State Board of Education, has
sailed for Europe on leave from the
State Board, to engage in consulta-
| tion work for the Y. NJ. C. A. and
United War Work activities, with
which he has been much identified.
DIR. Becht sailed from New York on
Saturday and his going was a sur
prise to friends here. 1t is under
stood that the opportunity to assist
| in work abroad and to make some
| observations in regard to continua-
ton of education among young SOL
diers presented itself suddenly and
| he left as soon as arrangements
could be made. DR.. Becht will be
gone several weeks, but return in
time to present educational legisla-
ton to the next general assembly.
His son, Howell Becht, is q mem
ber of the "Gas and Flame" regi-
ment of Engineers and has been
| in active service for over year.
The fact that there is q transport
in the United States service that
bears the name of Harrisburg, which
turned up in a news item the other
day, was brought home to people
at Union Station on Saturday when
they saw sailors with "U. S. S. Har-
risburg'' on their hats. The men
were here on their way home on
/ laoya